Eighteen

On Monday afternoon, He Wei went to the school gate to meet Lu Heyang after swimming class. He had just passed through the turnstile when an urgent voice sounded behind him: 'Excuse me, let me through!'

He Wei hadn't even had time to turn around when he felt someone crash into his waist. He was tall—the impact meant nothing to him—but the other person stumbled forward, about to fall flat on the ground.

'Careful.' He Wei reacted with lightning speed, reaching out to grab the Omega by the back of the collar and steady them.

The Omega turned around, hastily said 'sorry,' then turned and ran toward the roadside.

He Wei stood there in a daze for a moment. Lu Heyang was just two or three meters away, looking at the road. He Wei walked to his side and said, 'Did you see that? The Omega who just bumped into me.'

'Not bad looking. How come I never noticed before.' He Wei was a walking case of love at first sight. 'I'll look into whose family they're from.'

At the Preparatory Academy, the most taboo thing—besides accidentally offending a child from a rival family—was accidentally falling in love with one.

Lu Heyang said nothing. He Wei, puzzled, followed his gaze and realized Xu Ze was still standing by the roadside. After opening the taxi door for the Omega, he got in as well.

'What does that mean—Xu Ze got there first?' He Wei asked Lu Heyang. 'Do you know about this?'

Lu Heyang glanced at him: 'Know what.'

'Last week at the lecture, didn't you sleep with him for a night?' He Wei said. 'Didn't he call his partner or anything?'

No call to a partner, but there was bringing food back late at night in the rain.

'Not sure.' Lu Heyang glanced at the time on his Wristband. 'Let's go.'

'The head nurse has already been bandaged. The injury isn't serious, don't worry too much.' Chi Jiahán was panting.

Xu Ze's hand was still on the car door handle, as if he'd forgotten to let go. He nodded.

The taxi stopped at the entrance of a Private Sanatorium. Chi Jiahán rolled down the window and waved at the guard. Soon the automatic gate opened to both sides, and the car continued forward until it reached the entrance of the inpatient building.

They got out and entered the lobby. The doctor was already waiting by the consultation desk, his expression somewhat grave. The two ran up to him, and Chi Jiahán asked, 'Dr. Zhou, how is it?'

'Given a sedative.' Zhou Zhen sighed. 'Go upstairs and take a look.'

'Let's go see the head nurse first.' Xu Ze said quietly.

The elevator stopped on the third floor. In the nurse's station, the head nurse's left wrist had fresh gauze on it.

'Xu Ze is here.' The head nurse smiled.

Xu Ze stood before her, lowered his head, and bowed halfway: 'I'm sorry.'

Such a scene was not unfamiliar to him. Before this, Xu Ze had experienced it many times—apologizing, compensating, taking responsibility for harm caused by another person.

'It was also our negligence, not noticing a missing cotton swab. I was only scratched a little, it's not serious.' The head nurse said.

'Go take a look.' Zhou Zhen patted Xu Ze's shoulder.

The transparent window on the door of the special ward was larger, making it easier for medical staff to check the situation inside at any time. Xu Ze and Chi Jiahán stood outside the door. On the bed inside lay an elderly person in a restraint garment, hair half-white, peacefully sleeping under the sedative effect of the medication.

After watching for a while, Chi Jiahán tugged at Xu Ze's hem: 'She's asleep, let's not disturb her.'

After learning the full situation from the doctor, the two walked to the stairwell. It was very dark inside, with only a small window at the very top letting in some light. Xu Ze sat on the steps, silent for a few seconds, then asked: 'How much is left in the account?'

'A little over fifty thousand.' Chi Jiahán had the hospitalization list and Xu Ze's hospital account statements in hand, answering him.

'A little over fifty thousand.' Xu Ze looked down at the pitch-black ground. 'Not enough money.'

'Not enough.' He repeated again, then reached for his Mobile Phone.

He had barely lit up the screen when Chi Jiahán came over and snatched the phone away: 'What are you doing?'

'Add a few more matches.'

'You can't add. Every time, the money you take is already the least. If you say you want to add matches now, they'll only exploit you more.' Chi Jiahán's voice could barely contain his anger. 'If they make you lose every match, beat you half to death, publicly humiliate you again, or even drug you and make you kill someone on the ring—would you do that too?'

Xu Ze didn't speak. Chi Jiahán knew he hadn't been persuaded—he was still considering adding matches.

'What about Tang Feiyi?' Chi Jiahán reminded him. 'If you're controlled by him, you'll never climb out in this lifetime, Xu Ze.'

Xu Ze was momentarily stunned, not knowing what—or who—he was thinking of.

Chi Jiahán stood before him, his tone softening: 'Don't worry about the hospital. We'll figure out the rest.'

'I know.' Xu Ze spoke.

He knew the hospital side could be set aside for now, because getting into this Private Sanatorium was something Chi Jiahán had arranged through his older brother speaking to the director. So even though the head nurse had been attacked and injured, the Sanatorium wouldn't hold it against them.

But the expensive monthly hospitalization and medication fees wouldn't be discounted because of this. Xu Ze understood that Chi Jiahán had already done more than enough, more than generous. They were essentially high school students. Chi Jiahán was constrained by his complicated family and had limited funds. Xu Ze had never planned to borrow money from him, even though Chi Jiahán had offered more than once.

This time he offered again: 'I'll find time to ask my brother.'

Before Xu Ze could say anything, Chi Jiahán continued: 'Anyway, you can't add matches. If you get crippled, that would be a loss greater than the gain. Even risking your life for money has to have a limit.'

Xu Ze pressed his forehead with both hands. He felt his body was heavy, sinking, utterly exhausted. After a long silence, he said: 'I'll think it through clearly.'

Tuesday afternoon's swimming class—apart from those who hadn't met the midterm standard—still didn't draw many people. Xu Ze put his bag in the locker and took his swim trunks into the shower room.

He had just taken off his top when his Mobile Phone rang in his school uniform pants. Xu Ze glanced at the caller, hesitated a few seconds, and pressed answer.

'I heard you want to add a few matches?'

'Yes.' Xu Ze looked at the school uniform on the hook, answering.

Tang Feiyi laughed: 'If you're short on money, why not just tell me? How long are you going to keep earning like this?'

'Can I add?' Xu Ze ignored Tang Feiyi's words and asked quietly.

'Sure, as long as you say so.' Tang Feiyi's tone was flippant. 'But if I add matches for you, the other fighters might not be too happy. Some people can't even get one match scheduled in half a month.'

Xu Ze's hand holding the phone tightened slightly: 'What do you want me to do?'

'I have a gathering tonight. Come by, have some drinks, play some cards.' Tang Feiyi smiled. 'As long as you're a bit obedient, a bit cooperative, I guarantee you'll earn money with dignity.'

'What time, where.' Xu Ze asked without much inflection.

'Eight-thirty tonight, Yunwan Hotel, twelfth floor. Have the server bring you up.'

'Eight-thirty, Yunwan Hotel, twelfth floor.' Xu Ze repeated mechanically. He said, 'I understand.'

He hung up the phone, stood quietly for a while, changed out of his pants, and pushed open the stall door.

Almost simultaneously, the stall door diagonally across to the left also opened. Lu Heyang came out with his school uniform, a pair of goggles hanging around his neck. He looked up and gave Xu Ze a faint smile: 'What a coincidence.'

Xu Ze couldn't respond for a moment. He hadn't heard any sound of anyone entering or leaving the shower room, so he had no idea when Lu Heyang had been there. He quickly reviewed the content of his earlier phone call and confirmed that even if Lu Heyang had heard, he wouldn't have revealed any weakness.

'Mm.' Xu Ze answered after a pause.

He stood there unconsciously watching Lu Heyang until the other walked past him. Xu Ze tried to say something, not just a single 'mm,' not wanting to give such a boring response every time, but he quickly realized that Lu Heyang's greeting was just out of politeness, with absolutely no intention of chatting more.

Besides, Lu Heyang probably didn't have much in common to talk about with someone like him.

After swimming class ended, Lu Heyang and He Wei left the school gate. On the way to the parking lot, He Wei called Gu Yunchi and asked where he was.

'Yunwan. I'm here this afternoon accompanying my grandfather on some business.'

'How nice, having grandpa to skip class with.' He Wei said. 'Have you eaten dinner? Want to eat together?'

'Come over. I'm too lazy to go out. Yunwan has a new head chef, you can try their skills.'

'How does your family's hotel always have new chefs every few days? Are you actually running a five-star culinary school?'

Gu Yunchi didn't want to engage with him at all and hung up directly.

'Then Yunwan?' He Wei turned to ask Lu Heyang.

'Whatever.' Lu Heyang answered, his gaze sweeping past the Alpha pushing a bicycle out of the non-motorized vehicle shed not far away.