Forgiveness Part 1

That night, Shi Jin had a rare dream. It was a monotonous dream where he saw everything from the perspective of the original owner. He repeatedly called and messaged Fei Yujing on his phone, but there was no response.

In the end, he put down his phone and walked out of the door numbly.

His eldest brother hated him, his third brother disliked him, his fourth brother ignored him, and his fifth brother always looked at him with murderous eyes. Only his second brother had not expressed his opinion directly. He must be busy and not intentionally ignoring him like the other brothers. He must not change into a different person like the others.

People around him were pointing and whispering at his disfigured face. The buildings on the street looked unfamiliar, and he felt like he had been walking for a long time without knowing where he was going.

Suddenly, he saw Fei Yujing's figure outside a building and froze. Then, as if grasping at the last straw, he ran towards him frantically. However, Fei Yujing turned back coldly after hearing his call, glanced at him, said something to the people around him, and had them stop him. He got into a car parked on the side of the road and left without looking back.

"I don't know him, make him leave," Fei Yujing said.

The last shred of hope shattered, and he watched the car leave with dry eyes. He couldn't even shed a tear. This was the last sentence that the original owner heard from Fei Yujing, and it was also the last time the original owner saw Fei Yujing.

"Why, why?" a voice asked in agony.

Shi Jin suddenly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling of the hospital room for a moment. Then he sat up, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, furrowed his brow, and patted his forehead.

Why ask why, don't you already know why? The guy is someone who prioritizes his own interests. What can you possibly gain from asking? Besides, he doesn't remember anymore! It's a new life now. Is it meaningful to be so obsessed with the past?"

He suddenly became angry, but he didn't know who he was angry at. In the end, he acted impulsively and pulled out his phone, found Fei Yujing's number, and sent him more than a dozen meaningless harassing messages!

Fei Yujing was the kind of person who, even if you asked him, would surely say: "I never considered you my little brother before"; "I admit I was wrong, if you want to hate or seek revenge, it's up to you, I won't force you to forgive me"; "Next time you want to use me, I'm happy to do so, consider it my repayment..."

These were all responses that left people completely speechless. Faced with such a guy, getting angry or holding a grudge was a waste of time. The best thing to do was to annoy him, use him, and bully him! Vent all your emotions on him, and then ignore him completely.

Buzz buzz.

The phone vibrated, and a text message came in from Fei Yujing: Did you have a nightmare? Or are you missing me?

Shi Jin's emotions were in a jumble, but they all froze as he read Fei Yujing's almost instant reply. Glancing at the clock, which showed it was after three in the morning, he remembered Fei Yujing's disheveled appearance leaning against the captain's cabin when they were at sea.

Shi Jin raised his hand to cover his forehead, then dropped it and replied expressionlessly, Even a pig wouldn't think of you. Just go to sleep!

After sending the message, Shi Jin threw his phone aside and turned to look at Lian Jun, who was sleeping soundly in the hospital bed. He got up, walked over, sat down beside him, and watched him for a while. Then he reached out and grabbed Lian Jun's hand, leaning over to press his forehead against the back of it.

Get well soon, my dearest.

......

When Shi Jin woke up in the morning, he found himself lying on Lian Jun's sickbed, with no trace of Lian Jun. This scene was too familiar, giving him a feeling of time reversal. He sat up abruptly, threw off the covers, and ran outside without even putting on his shoes, his face pale.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and Lian Jun slid out in his wheelchair. Seeing Shi Jin in a daze, trying to run outside, Lian Jun frowned and called out, "Shi Jin, where are you going?"

Shi Jin abruptly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. He stood there frozen for a few seconds before his mind finally cleared. He let out a sigh of relief and relaxed his body, turning back to squat in front of him.

He held onto his knees and said weakly, "I'm just glad you're okay. I thought...I must have been half asleep. When did you wake up? Wait here, I'll go get you breakfast." He started to get up.

"Shi Jin." Lian Jun grabbed his arm and looked into his eyes. "What did you think it was?"

What could have scared him so much? When Shi Jin stopped and looked at him, he had intended to say something vague to brush it off. But when he met Lian Jun's serious gaze, he hesitated and chose to tell the truth: "Last time was the same. I woke up from your sickbed and you were gone... I had just woken up and hadn't fully realized what was happening. When I saw the familiar scene, I thought I was dreaming and misunderstood. Don't worry about it."

Last time... it must have been when he had gone to get his treatment while Shi Jin was asleep. Did Shi Jin also rush out like this when he woke up that time? And the mention of dreaming... had this situation become a nightmare for Shi Jin?

In that moment, Lian Jun thought about a lot. He looked at Shi Jin's forced smile and the cold sweat on his forehead, and couldn't help but grip his arm and pull him closer. Shi Jin was confused, but he still obediently leaned over.

Lian Jun hugged him and listened to his heartbeat.

It was too fast, a heartbeat that only appears due to fear.

So, that day, was it with this kind of feeling that Shi Jin woke up from his sleep and saw himself in the isolation ward, not knowing whether he was alive or dead? He didn't want to worry Shi Jin, so he deliberately didn't wake him up and went to take his treatment early, but it turned into his nightmare.

It was terrible. He had hidden something from Shi Jin to avoid worrying him, but it only made him more worried. He was the one who started it. He didn't give Shi Jin peace of mind, so Shi Jin subconsciously didn't give it back. He had taught Shi Jin wrong.

"I'm sorry." He touched his hair and apologized sincerely, "I didn't wake you up before taking the treatment that day, I'm sorry." Even though he was the older one, how could he make the mistake first?

"Don't be afraid." He hugged Shi Jin and patted him gently to comfort him, "I'm fine now, don't be afraid."

Shi Jin was stunned, then suddenly hugged him, buried his head on his shoulder and rubbed it hard, trying to speak in a relaxed tone, "Why are you saying such things again... I didn't blame you, I overslept that day."

Lian Jun touched the back of his head again and said, "I'm not a qualified lover, I made you worry, I'm sorry."

Shi Jin felt a bit ashamed of himself. He had lived for two lifetimes, yet he was suddenly moved to tears by a few words from the person he liked. Was it because he had suppressed his emotions too much recently?

He tried to find a reason for himself, took a deep breath to adjust his mood, then stepped back and kissed Lian Jun's cheek with a smile, saying, "If you must apologize, then I forgive you!"

Lian Jun touched his mouth, which was trying hard to smile, but didn't say anything.

"So don't overthink it. If you really feel sorry for me, then take care of yourself and get better soon." Shi Jin held his hand, kissed the fingers he had touched, leaned in and happily rubbed his face, sincerely exclaiming, "It's great, you finally made it through. I feel like I can eat an extra bowl of rice today!"

Lian Jun turned his head to get closer to him, his eyelids drooping slightly.

Why does this person always forgive him so quickly...

"Idiot."

Shi Jin frowned and tried to move away, displeased. "What did you just say? I heard you cursing at me."

Lian Jun pushed his head back gently and sighed before finally smiling. "Shi Jin, I won't teach you how to be a good deputy leader because it's not necessary. But I will learn to rely on you, and I hope you can rely on me more too. Let's not keep secrets from each other and take risks alone in the future, okay?"

Shi Jin's furrowed brow relaxed, and he tightened his lips before reaching out to hug him. "Okay, I'll tell you everything from now on... but you can't sleep for so long anymore. You know, if you're not watching me, I might do something reckless again."

"Mmm, I know," Lian Jun turned his head and kissed him, saying again, "I was wrong this time, I'm sorry."

What's with all the apologies? Who's the real idiot here?

Shi Jin muttered to himself, then satisfied, he kissed him back and smiled with his eyes closed.

His Baby was truly the best.

......

Shi Jin had returned to his previous, less mature self. Lian Jun didn't want him to worry about work, so he stopped worrying about it. Every day, he focused on competing with Lian Jun over their three meals a day, trying his best to get Lian Jun to drink more milk or eat a little more rice according to the list given by Uncle Long.

Lian Jun seemed to have also let go of a big burden, his aura becoming relaxed and gentle. He began to obediently follow Uncle Long's plan to slowly improve his health, no longer playing recklessly.

Uncle Long breathed a sigh of relief at his own awareness. After all the trouble they went through on this voyage, Lian Jun's physical condition had suffered some damage. Although he didn't fall into a coma, he slept for long hours every day and had very little energy. If he continued to be reckless, his body might collapse.

Uncle Long had been worried about how to stop Lian Jun from acting out, but now that Lian Jun was willing to take it slow, he felt like he was living in a dream.

Since Lian Jun had already cooperated voluntarily, Uncle Long chose to turn a blind eye to his occasional handling of work while he was awake. He secretly went to Shi Jin to "complain" and hoped that Shi Jin could manage Lian Jun.

Shi Jin certainly didn't want Lian Jun to return to work so soon, but... as someone who had made a mistake, he had no right to interfere. Faced with Lian Jun's determined gaze, he could only compromise and settle for setting a daily work schedule for him, making sure to keep a close eye on him and not allow him to work a second longer.

Fortunately, there were no major issues in the underworld that required Lian Jun's attention. Number Five and Number Nine were in charge of the waterway, while Zhang Zhuoyuan was in contact with Number Three. The Meridian Gate and a few other organizations were busy dealing with their own aftermath, so they didn't have time to bother Lian Jun. Therefore, all Lian Jun needed to do was to follow up on the business integration, which wasn't too busy.

Everything was slowly improving, but outside, various storms were brewing due to the issue from the sea battle. Meanwhile, the mastermind behind the event was living a secluded and leisurely life, thanks to the intentional isolation imposed by Lian Jun. His biggest worry each day was how to get Lian Jun to rest a little more.

Time flew by, and a week later, Number One and Number Two returned from their punishment. They looked like they had been through some kind of torture, with a pale complexion and a strong fishy smell emanating from their bodies.

Seeing their state, Shi Jin felt extremely guilty and struggled to find the right words to say. "Don't apologize, and don't ask us what we did. I barely managed to hold back from vomiting," Number Two interrupted, before asking, "How is Young Master Jun doing?"

When Lian Jun was mentioned, Shi Jin's expression brightened a little. He smiled and replied, "He can eat normally now and his spirits have improved a lot. Uncle Long said that if the toxins don't suddenly become active again, based on the current situation, he should be able to start rehabilitation in about a month."

Rehabilitation? Does that mean Lian Jun will be able to stand up again?

Number Two's eyes lit up and he confirmed, "Is it the same rehabilitation that I know of?"

Number One also looked at Shi Jin with an unusual excitement.