Chapter 2450: Another Me 19

How could Jin Chen fail to notice Lai Chi's bad mood?

"Little Chi," he gently kissed his eyelids, his voice low and slow, his pity appearing deep.

"But big brother wants you to be healthy and happy."

Lai Chi's eyelashes twitched, his eye sockets grew moist, mist spreading.

He was a little dazed, slowly raising his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing Jin Chen's cheek, "Brother... do you want...?"

Jin Chen looked at the mist filling Lai Chi's eyes and softly sighed.

Those past heavy hardships shaped Lai Chi into a child habitually pessimistic, fearful of any happiness.

He needed a fulcrum, absolutely safe and absolutely trustworthy, to support him as he slowly let down his guard and fear.

And that fulcrum is him now, and only him.

"Mm," Jin Chen replied, in this hazy white light he held Lai Chi's lips, unclear whether it was possession or promise, speaking against the corner of his mouth.

"Yes, big brother wants."

The mist in Lai Chi's heart seemed to have been dispelled somewhat.

He rubbed against Jin Chen's palm pressed to his cheek; his fair skin, bathed in the cloud-light halo beneath him, glowed like translucent jade, as fragile as glass.

Lai Chi embraced Jin Chen's shoulders, all the emotions previously forcibly suppressed pouring out.

"I will..."

"As long as big brother stays with me, I will be happy, I will be healthy."

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +6, total 53!】

The clinic's pure white light was a bit glaring.

Lai Chi opened his eyes, the therapist's gentle smile came into view.

"Mr. Lai Chi, the diagnosis is finished."

Lai Chi lightly nodded and sat up.

He restrained himself, not looking at the mirror at the table corner, not wanting to be caught with any leverage, he directly got up and left the room, and also didn't listen to Lin Wan and the therapist's conversation.

Lai Chi came to the washroom, the mirror cold.

He stood before the mirror, fingertips brushing his neck, eyelids slightly lowered.

"Brother..."

"Huh?"

"Not a trace left."

Such a foolish question, after asking himself Lai Chi felt embarrassed, he splashed cold water on his face to cool down.

Jin Chen laughed aloud in his consciousness, "Little Chi's senses aren't mistaken, right?"

A faint red suffused Lai Chi's ears, he pressed his lips together, "Hmm."

The body remembers, the soul also remembers.

That feeling, once experienced, is like becoming addicted, knowing the taste of the marrow.

Corridor.

Lin Wan looked at the report in her hand, finally relaxing.

The therapist in a white coat spoke calmly, "Ms. Lin, based on current examinations and evaluations, Mr. Lai Chi does not meet the diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder."

"However, he has shown depressive tendencies, needing more understanding, companionship, and support from his family."

Lin Wan nodded repeatedly, "Okay, thank you, doctor, we'll pay attention."

Zhou Shuo, who had accompanied them, took out his phone and quickly sent a message to Lai Donglai.

"The results are out, no dissociative disorder."

Lai Donglai's reply came almost instantly.

"Impossible, there's definitely a problem; he himself admitted it, that personality calls itself his brother!"

Zhou Shuo furrowed his brows and put his phone away.

Lai Chi's change is indeed too great, as if he were a different person; he too felt doubtful. But the black-and-white diagnosis report lay there, seeming to leave him no choice but to believe it.

Lin Wan saw Lai Chi come, smiling on her face, "Little Chi, the results are good, Mother is relieved."

She shifted tone, "However, after a while Mother still wants to take you abroad for a more comprehensive evaluation, their technology..."

Lai Chi's steps stopped.

He really didn't understand.

"Mother," he interrupted her, "You came back specially just to... prove I'm sick?"

Lin Wan's smile froze, she instinctively looked away, not daring to meet her son's eyes.

"How could that be! Mother only wants to see you well, healthy and sound..."

She was lying.

Lai Chi thought.

"Mother, go back. I'm fine."

Lin Wan immediately interrupted, "No! Mother came back this time just to properly accompany you, at least until summer vacation ends!"

——

Villa

The night grew deep.

Lin Wan held the report showing no dissociative tendency, sat on the living room sofa, and began using her phone to contact overseas medical institutions, whispering inquiries.

Lai Chi stood silently at the stairwell for a few seconds, said nothing, turned and quietly went upstairs, returning to his room.

In the room, moonlight shone coldly through the gap of the not fully drawn curtains.

Li Chi sat on the carpet in front of the full-length mirror, moonlight outlining his thin silhouette.

"Brother..." Lai Chi whispered.

"Little Chi," Jin Chen warned, "Don't make a sound."

Lai Chi's words cut off as he heard light footsteps stop outside his room.

It was Lin Wan.

She was eavesdropping... was she looking for evidence?

A chill spread from the soles of his feet throughout his body, colder than the moonlight.

Lai Chi instinctively covered his mouth, turned his head toward the tightly closed door, and furrowed his brows.

The mirror reflected his eyes, filled with hurt and fear.

Deep in his consciousness, Jin Chen's heartache and anger surged instantly.

He had never so clearly sensed Lai Chi's fear and grievance at this moment.

An intangible, icy spiritual power burst forth instantly.

Zizzle!

All the lights in the villa flickered, emitting short electrical sounds, and the entire villa plunged into darkness.

Outside the door, Lin Wan was startled by the sudden darkness, her steps becoming frantic as she hurriedly left Lai Chi's doorway, feeling her way downstairs where candles or emergency lights might be.

The suffocating feeling of being watched finally vanished.

Lai Chi weakly leaned against the cold mirror surface; in the darkness, he panted, "Brother..."

"I'm here."

Jin Chen's breath also grew ragged; he wished he could take Lai Chi away right now.

"Guabao, don't be scared."

Lai Chi pressed his forehead against the mirror; moonlight fell on his pale face.

He gazed at his blurry reflection in the mirror, his eyes vacant, like a lost child.

"Why." He murmured, "Why can't I become a real little turtle?"

The image in the mirror trembled slightly with his movements.

He extended a finger, lightly tapping the mirror, tracing.

"Brother raises me, hides me in his shell, places me where only he knows, nowhere else can I go."

"The wind and rain outside can't harm me; when it's safe... Brother will pat my head again."

Lai Chi's gaze grew unfocused: "Brother, I don't want to stay here; I'm scared... will you take me with you?"

"Okay."

Jin Chen replied, his voice as gentle as his pain: "Let's leave this place."

"No... not right."

Lai Chi shook his head again, recalling the days he and Jin Chen had restored the villa and arranged new furniture; tears fell.

"I like this place; it's my and your home, and also Mother's home... what should I do?"

"Little Chi, we will still have a home," Jin Chen hoarsely comforted, "a home that belongs only to us."

Lai Chi's emotions, which had barely steadied, fell into turmoil again; how could Jin Chen not feel heartbroken?

Ling Gun Gun panicked, terrified that the Host would directly turn this little world into one where even ghosts could exist.

【Host, don't get angry, don't get angry; the Heavenly Dao didn't arrange a body, that's fine—I've already gotten some good stuff from the boss!】

【It's a hooligan magical artifact taken from the Execution Department; as soon as it's used, it can create a brand-new identity, blending into the plot!】

【When can it be used?】

【Creation progress at 50%! By the way, a friendly reminder: the dream card has... four uses left.】 Ling Gun Gun slipped away quietly.