Chapter 68 - SIXTY-EIGHT

Chapter 68: Chapter SIXTY-EIGHT

Xin Linhua checks the time again. It’s way past midnight. The dishes are getting cold.

"Maybe I should go find him."

He grabs his car keys and coat, swapping his slippers for boots. He pulls the door open.

"Xin Linhua."

The youth almost bumps into the man he’s going out to search for.

"Yaras?!" He brightens "You took forever. Where did you–"

Xin Linhua stops himself. He had sworn not to question the man’s movement or private life.

"I had something to take care of." Rong Yizhan pulls off his coat "I had to make a detour so I got back later than expected."

"It’s fine." Xin Linhua waves it off "I made a few dishes. Wanna try it?"

"Is this another method of reconciliation?"

"Will it work?"

Rong Yizhan’s attention shifts towards the few plates on the kitchen island. He can smell them from where he’s standing.

"Maybe."

"Alright. Let’s eat."

"Haven’t you eaten? You had dinner with–"

"Uh?" Xin Linhua blinks "How did you know I ate out today? Have you been stalking me?"

"I don’t have time for that." Rong Yizhan waves him off.

Xin Linhua grins and follows after him. They settle onto the stools and he starts placing food on Rong Yizhan’s plate.

"Your ways of pacifying people have changed." Rong Yizhan mutters.

"I know. I–"

A sharp ringtone cuts him off. He grabs his phone, frowning in confusion at the caller id. He picks up regardless.

"Eldest brother."

"Where are you?" The man calmly asks.

"At the institute..." Xin turns to the other side "What’s going on?"

"Something happened with Zhao Xi. He needs you here right now. He keeps asking for you."

"What!?"

Xin Linhua is fumbling with his keys and coat once more. He’s at the doors in seconds, both his Sentinel and late night snacks are forgotten.

"Share your location. I’m on my way."

"Hurry. Also, he specifically asked for you alone. No third party."

"I understand." Xin Linhua cuts the call and turns to Rong Yizhan "Yaras?."

"Go." The man nods "Your friend needs you. It’s not like I have anywhere to run to. We can talk when you get back."

"Okay! Wait for me!"

And he’s out the door in a flash, scrambling down the hallway in mismatched steps.

Rong Yizhan stares at the food in front of him, his knuckles turn white from how tight he’s clenching them.

"You went too far this time." He grits out "You can’t just fucking take control whenever you fucking want."

"You...are weak willed."

"Bullshit!" He slams the chopsticks down "Will you be satisfied when he hates you!? You almost killed Zhao Xi."

"He cares...too much for him."

"And? You can’t control the people he likes or mingles with. Don’t forget, he has someone he likes now and that person is not you. Or me. If you act out one more time, you can forget the pact!"

"Are you...threatening me?"

"Don’t give me that crap. You say you care for him, you say you love him, yet you hurt him by harming the people around him."

"He’ll never...find out."

"And what if he does? What then? Will you kill everyone around him? You almost took over in that alley– you wanted to attack his brothers. Now you almost killed his friend."

"Zhao Xi... won’t die."

"Yeah, no shit. If I hadn’t intervened, you were ready to shatter his soul and make him an empty shell!"

The voice has no comeback. All Rong Yizhan just said was the absolute truth.

He takes control whenever he feels like it and he harms the people Xin Linhua cares about, all because he loves him. All this...just because he can’t stand seeing Xin Linhua so much as smile at someone else.

This version of Rong Yizhan is nothing but a shadow. A Phantom. An existence that loves Xin Linhua so much, but the youth will never know. The outer shell is Rong Yizhan.

If Xin Linhua ever loves his Sentinel, that’ll be Rong Yizhan, not him, the shadow that has to stay hidden in the dark... forever.

"He’s our guide!" Rong Yizhan snaps the chopsticks in half "That means he’s not going anywhere. But our existence in his life will bring him nothing but pain, miserable and death. You can’t cage him."

"I don’t...want to."

"Yeah, you sound very convincing." Rong Yizhan stands "This is the last time. If I have to burn through my wavelength to keep you in check next time, we might as well die together. You know that does not faze me."

He clears the island, shoving the dishes in the fridge for later.

"This is really the last time." He walks towards his bedroom "One more shit show and I’m killing us both."

"I... understand."

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Xin Linhua rushes towards the front desk of City hospital, his coat fluttering behind him.

The young lady sitting behind the desk is startled by his disheveled appearance.

"A patient was brought in not long ago!" He says frantically "Zhao Xi. Twenty. He has blue hair, hard to miss!"

"My Xin brought him in." The young lady hurriedly stands "Down the hall, left wing. Last room on your right."

"Thanks!" He yells as he hurries down the hall.

He finds the room the lady had described. He rushes in.

Inside the bright white ward, Xin Linhai is sitting beside Zhao Xi’s bedside. His coat is resting on another stool, the sleeves of his shirt is rolled up. He’s carefully wipes the youth’s face with a towel.

"Brother." Xin Linhua breathes out.

"You’re here." Xin Linhai answers, his gaze still on Zhao Xi "Did you run all the way here? Why are you breathing like that?"

He didn’t actually run all the way to the hospital, but the elevators were filled when he arrived. He ran up the stairs instead.

"How is he?" He walks towards the bedside.

"Stable, according to the doctor."

"Stable?" Xin Linhua’s fingers twitches "What do you mean, stable?"

Xin Linhai finally raises his head. His gaze clashes with his brother’s. Xin Linhua hiccups.

"I mean, he was unstable when I brought him." The man’s tone is icy "He kept asking me to call you. He kept holding on to his head and yelling about someone attacking his mind."