A Midnight Despair and an Unexpected Encounter

“Grandma, no one wished me a happy birthday this year.”

Midnight.

The autumn wind, desolate and biting, swirled with icy droplets, assailing a face that, though pale and sorrowful, remained exquisitely beautiful.

A faint film of white mist clung to Lin Yu’s lashes, his gaze hollow as he watched the long river flow sluggishly beneath the streetlights.

In the pitch-black night, the streetlights stretched his silhouette long and solitary.

Few vehicles passed by, their occupants hurrying through the city, none noticing the frail young man standing alone by the bridge, or what he was doing there.

On Fu Ning Bridge, H City’s most magnificent landmark, his slender frame, clad in a somewhat worn white sweater, softly uttered to himself—

“Lin Yu, Happy 21st Birthday…”

His voice, imbued with despair yet tinged with profound release, was whisked away by a sudden gust of wind, leaving no trace.

Indeed, he was unworthy of blessings; even his own would be erased by the wind.

A pang of sorrow constricted Lin Yu’s nose.

Thus, he resolved to choose the path that belonged to him.

His excessively slender fingers gripped the icy railing, and without a moment’s hesitation, he climbed over.

“Farewell, I am free…”

Lin Yu smiled bitterly, closed his eyes, and leaped.

Spinning, endlessly spinning.

His head reeled, as if he were perpetually floating high in the air. A persistent ringing in his ears drowned out the sound of the wind. He wondered how long it would be until he plunged into the water, and if the sensation of drowning would be unbearable.

A flicker of fear touched Lin Yu. He yearned to open his eyes, yet all he saw was an expanse of black, interspersed with countless golden specks of light.

Waves of nausea surged from his chest, his breathing grew shallow, his head spun, and an intense discomfort enveloped him.

Was he… already in the water?

Was he dead?

He truly wished to die quickly.

Lin Yu’s consciousness blurred; he simply yearned for death…

****

“Lin Yu? You mean he was sent to the emergency room for resuscitation?” Cai Xinyu, Associate Chief Physician of Cardiology, furrowed his brow upon hearing the nurse inform him that his boyfriend, Lin Yu, had been brought to the emergency room by the film emperor, Jiang Yan.

“He actually knows Jiang Yan?” Cai Xinyu, 32 years old this year, wasn’t a celebrity chaser, but he knew of Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan was 28. His family background was undeniably among the most prominent and aristocratic in all of Huaguo.

He acted purely out of interest, investing his own money for his own amusement, yet he unexpectedly shot to fame. Subsequently, every project he undertook became a massive hit, securing his position as film emperor for five years and maintaining his enduring popularity.

He was an evergreen in the entertainment industry, his professional capabilities undisputed, and his popularity and reputation impeccable, with virtually no anti-fans. His public image was so perfect it was almost flawless.

It was said that Jiang Yan was extremely low-key, with a calm and detached personality, often simply smiling things away. When not filming, he lived a reclusive life, rarely socializing.

Given that Lin Yu also possessed a quiet disposition, rarely venturing out, when had he managed to get acquainted with such a high-ranking, elusive figure?

Cai Xinyu immediately asked the junior nurse, “Has Film Emperor Jiang Yan left?”

The junior nurse, having finished speaking, was about to rush off, thrilled at the chance to get close to a big star—an opportunity she couldn’t miss.

Although Jiang Yan was heavily disguised, veteran fans still recognized him. The hospital was quickly swarmed with people, prompting the duty manager to swiftly organize all hospital security guards to maintain order.

Currently, only doctors and nurses were permitted into Lin Yu’s exclusive VIP ward, allowing them close proximity to Film Emperor Jiang Yan.

The junior nurse didn’t want to waste a single minute.

However, the fact that Associate Chief Physician Cai Xinyu showed not the slightest concern upon hearing his 11-years-younger boyfriend had been sent to the emergency room, instead first asking if the film emperor had left, evoked a strong sense of repulsion in the junior nurse.

Normally, when this Associate Chief Physician Cai mentioned Lin Yu, he always adopted a condescending attitude, like an old ox grazing on tender grass—utterly disgusting.

He always claimed Lin Yu had actively pursued him, only interested in his money.

The junior nurse had seen Lin Yu a few times, and her intuition told her that a boy as gentle, handsome, and soft-spoken as Lin Yu was not the kind of person Cai Xinyu described.

Yet, as a junior nurse, she dared not contradict the associate chief physician, nor openly question him.

The junior nurse replied, “He hasn’t left.”

“Oh.” Cai Xinyu put down the medical record in his hand, picked up his phone, and said irritably, “I’ll go take a look.”

He wanted to see this film emperor.

His face bore no expression of concern for Lin Yu’s health, but rather the full demeanor of someone about to catch a cheating spouse.

‘The little brat actually hooked up with Jiang Yan. If you two didn’t have something going on, why would he bring you to the hospital in the middle of the night? Most likely, you almost caused a death during your tryst. Otherwise, why would a good Samaritan bring someone here and not leave? Does he need to stand guard?’ Cai Xinyu cursed in a low, vicious tone. ‘Hmph, shameless!’

His menacing appearance thoroughly startled the junior nurse trailing behind him.

Cai Xinyu pushed open the door to the VIP ward, only to find no sign of Jiang Yan.

“He left?” Not seeing anyone, some of his anger dissipated.

इनटू Lin Yu, who lay deeply asleep on the hospital bed with an extremely poor complexion, his eyes were filled with impatience.

Cai Xinyu closed and locked the ward door, then walked to the bedside, a grim expression on his face, and kicked the bed with his foot.

Yet, the sound failed to rouse the frail Lin Yu.

Inside the ward, Jiang Yan, who was washing his hands, heard the noise and initially intended to come out. However, upon witnessing the white-coated man’s crude actions, a flicker of doubt arose within him.

He left the restroom door slightly ajar, observing the doctor.

When Jiang Yan brought the boy to the hospital, a duty nurse recognized the person he was holding as Associate Chief Physician Cai’s boyfriend from this very hospital.

‘So this was Cai… what was his name again?’

The hospital lobby had a dedicated physician display wall, and Jiang Yan, with his excellent memory for lines, recalled it with a brief thought.

Cai Xinyu, 32 years old, Associate Chief Physician of Cardiology.

‘He looked so respectable in his photo, yet how could he be so crude to his own boyfriend behind closed doors?’

Jiang Yan saw no concern or worry for his boyfriend on this man’s face.

Instead, the man was filled with anger, disdain, and impatience.

The boy had just fallen asleep; after being wheeled out of the emergency room, nurses had moved him to the hospital bed, and he had woken up once.

At that time, his gaze was vacant, unable to focus, as if his mind was not entirely clear.

Jiang Yan offered him a cup of hot water, and the boy stared blankly for a moment before slowly extending a pair of slightly trembling hands.

His physical condition was poor; he appeared exceptionally fatigued.

He almost vomited after two sips of hot water, finding it difficult to swallow.

The doctor gave him an injection of something, Jiang Yan didn’t know what, but after the shot, the boy quickly fell asleep.

It was likely a sedative, as the boy seemed to have been in a state of high tension, with delayed reactions and a very taut emotional state.

The boy had been asleep for less than five minutes. As Jiang Yan was washing his hands, preparing to leave, he witnessed the scene unfolding before him.

Completely unaware that Jiang Yan was observing his every move, Cai Xinyu kicked the bed twice. Seeing that Lin Yu hadn’t woken up, the impatience in his eyes intensified.

He then directly took a photo of Lin Yu’s face with his phone.

Jiang Yan subtly shook his head. ‘To condescendingly photograph someone’s face with an object was an act of profound disrespect.’

‘Is this truly his boyfriend?’

Jiang Yan was highly skeptical.

“Director Cai, please open the door.” Just then, the junior nurse outside the ward mustered her courage to knock, stating she needed to check on the patient.

She worried that Cai Xinyu, with his fierce and menacing demeanor, might be bullying Lin Yu, especially with the door locked.

After all, she occasionally heard Cai Xinyu mention Lin Yu in a tone that suggested he was worth less than a dog.

She also knew that Dr. Cai had violent tendencies, having driven away more than one boyfriend or girlfriend.

The junior nurse felt it was necessary for her to step forward at this moment.

Cai Xinyu rolled his eyes at the door, then went to open it.

Lin Yu had already been startled awake by the heavy slaps, but his dizziness and tinnitus made his reactions sluggish.

The pain in his face seemed to take dozens of seconds to register.

It wasn’t until the junior nurse walked to the bedside, feigning to check Lin Yu’s eyelids, forehead, and temperature, that Lin Yu realized he wasn’t dead, but in a hospital.

He felt profoundly disappointed.

However, Lin Yu disregarded the pain in his face and the anguish in his heart, looking around.

He seemed to recall seeing someone just now.

‘That was… his idol, Jiang Yan.’

Lin Yu propped himself up to a sitting position. The junior nurse quickly helped him, propping up his pillow and pulling up his blanket.

“What are you looking for?” she asked considerately. “Are you hungry or thirsty?”

Lin Yu slowly shifted his gaze. Not seeing Jiang Yan, he concluded it must have been a dream. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes met Cai Xinyu’s.

Upon encountering Cai Xinyu’s oppressive stare, he involuntarily trembled slightly.

The junior nurse, thinking he was cold, pulled up his blanket further.

Jiang Yan, however, caught Lin Yu’s subtle tremor and the fleeting fear and revulsion that instantly colored his eyes.

“Xiao Yu,” Cai Xinyu feigned concern in front of the junior nurse, though the underlying resentment in his eyes was unmistakable. “How could you suddenly faint? You’re so troublesome. Haven’t I told you to eat more regularly?”

“I remember,” Lin Yu murmured, biting his lower lip and casting his eyes down, his voice soft and compliant, like a tiny kitten.

His appearance melted the junior nurse’s heart.

Seeing Cai Xinyu’s seemingly kind and concerned demeanor, she felt it inappropriate to remain and thus left the ward.

As she left, her intuition prompted her to glance at the restroom, where she spotted a dark silhouette. Just as she was about to loudly question it, Jiang Yan, from behind the slightly ajar door, made a “shh” gesture at her.

The junior nurse didn’t understand why a distinguished film emperor would peek in on a young couple. However, based on her knowledge of the film emperor’s reputation and her familiar contempt for Associate Chief Physician Cai’s character, she seemed to grasp that the film emperor shared her concerns, so she said nothing and left the ward.

To be honest, she also felt Cai Xinyu was merely putting on an act in front of her.

After the junior nurse left, Cai Xinyu indeed revealed his true colors.

He complained bluntly, “You fainted in the middle of the night and were brought in, and now my colleagues are all talking about me abusing you. Don’t stay in the hospital where I work; you’re embarrassing me.”

With that, he performed no proper procedure, instead crudely yanking out Lin Yu’s IV drip.

A sharp pain shot through Lin Yu’s hand, a sensation that seemed magnified dozens of times over. Unable to bear it, his eyes immediately turned crimson, yet he bit his lower lip fiercely, uttering no sound.

“What’s there to feel wronged about? How much can it hurt to pull out a needle? You’re so delicate all the time, I truly can’t be bothered to cater to you,” Cai Xinyu said without a trace of pity.

Lin Yu lowered his head, saying nothing. His hand truly ached, and for some reason, it felt as though something was continuously cutting into his hand.

Soon, blood began to seep from the needle puncture.

“Wipe it quickly, don’t get the bed dirty. You don’t have money to pay for it,” Cai Xinyu tossed a packet of tissues at him. “All you do is spend my money all day, how unlucky!”

Lin Yu pulled out a tissue and gently placed it over the back of his hand.

He dared not press down, dared not wipe, for the wound was truly excruciating.

The pain made him unable to hold back his tears.

‘Jiang Yan’s brow subtly furrowed. Wasn’t this outright abuse?’

‘How could such a gentle and handsome boy fall for a scumbag like this?’

‘No wonder he tried to jump into the river and commit suicide.’

‘He felt the boy deserved better.’

‘Yet, it wasn’t his place to interfere in others’ affairs.’

‘He was simply inexplicably drawn to the boy and didn’t want to leave.’

Constantly hiding in the restroom, eavesdropping on private matters, was not proper behavior, so Jiang Yan decided to emerge.

He first tapped on the restroom door, then emerged and offered an apology. “I just came to wash my hands and leave; I didn’t mean to overhear your conversation. My apologies.”

However, as he pushed the door open and offered his apologies, Cai Xinyu, in a fit of temper, was roughly yanking the pale and frail Lin Yu off the hospital bed.

Upon realizing someone had emerged from the restroom, Cai Xinyu’s expression immediately turned grim.

Since he had been caught, he couldn’t be bothered to feign affection any longer.

“Great Film Emperor Jiang, how do you know my Xiao Yu?” he demanded.

“I took on a new role, and I was looking for a scenic spot late at night to familiarize myself with the lines when I happened to see him faint,” Jiang Yan stated truthfully.

He didn’t know this boy.

Yet, at this very moment, an inexplicable impulse stirred within him; he particularly wanted to get to know this poor, abused boy.

However, reason compelled him to suppress his unbidden emotional surge, apologize again, and prepare to leave the ward.

Cai Xinyu, seeing that Jiang Yan genuinely seemed not to know Lin Yu, said nothing further. He tugged Lin Yu’s wrist, bumping Jiang Yan aside, and hurried out the door first.

As Jiang Yan was knocked off balance, the corner of his clothing was also grasped.

His gaze traced from the pale, slender hand that easily slipped away with a tug, up to the boy’s face.

In the boy’s beautiful eyes, there was a desperate, piteous plea for help.

His still somewhat vacant eyes also held a faint glimmer of despair.

In the mere one or two seconds of his hesitation, the emotion in the boy’s eyes instantly transformed into numbness, and he followed Cai Xinyu out like a soulless automaton.

The boy had given up on seeking help.

Yet, Jiang Yan felt as if he were under a spell, his heart inexplicably throbbing with sorrow. He reached out, and as if by some strange compulsion, pulled the boy to his side.