Jiang Nan’an and Yan Jie didn’t stay in Qinxi for long. After leaving Xiaoer Shi village, they stayed for a day in the small county town where A-Shu had once worked, then drove back to Shanghai the next afternoon.
After returning, Jiang Nan’an fell ill with a persistent high fever that left him delirious and unable to speak clearly.
During this period, his routine had been extremely irregular, he hadn’t been careful about his diet, and he was under great pressure, both mentally and physically exhausted. Like a tightly stretched string that had been on the verge of breaking for a long time, once the tension was released, he collapsed along with it.
This wasn’t a major issue originally. He was young with a good physical foundation, and after taking injections and medicine to reduce the fever, then recuperating properly for a while, he would have been fine. But Yan Jie wouldn’t have it, insisting on putting him in a private hospital for a period, having all possible examinations done, and besides physical recovery, also arranging for specialists to provide psychological counseling, as if determined to restore all the damage Jiang Nan’an had done to his body and mind during this time.
Although Jiang Nan’an wasn’t very willing to be hospitalized, Yan Jie was unusually insistent, so he didn’t say anything more.
After all, he was in the wrong on this matter. According to Yan Jie, he had secretly harmed himself while Yan Jie was away, without letting Yan Jie know, making Yan Jie sad. So this time he had to listen to everything Yan Jie said, do whatever Yan Jie told him to do, until his body was completely healed, otherwise Yan Jie’s anger wouldn’t be appeased.
“Here.”
Outside the hospital room, Yan Jie leaned against the cold wall of the hospital and handed a manila envelope to Qi Hong across from him.
Qi Hong took the envelope, opened it to look, and poured out several developed photographs.
The photo paper looked quite old, somewhat yellowed, but the image quality was still clear. The angles were all candid shots, with the protagonist being a teenage boy curled up on the ground covered in injuries, being beaten by another man.
“Let me say this upfront, these can only be used as evidence. Once you have them, don’t show them to others or release them,” Yan Jie instructed.
“I know.” Qi Hong frowned as she sealed the photos back up:
“Where did you find these?”
“When we went back to Xiaoer Shi village, I secretly went back again the next day while Nan Nan was sleeping. There’s an old man surnamed Li living at the entrance of their village who kept two boxes of photos, one box of Nan Nan, and another box of other children… Damn, it doesn’t feel right.”
Yan Jie felt very disturbed seeing those two boxes of secretly taken photos, but this kind of matter was awkwardly positioned, with nowhere to reason and no crime that could be established.
“I understand. But these photos have also indirectly helped us as evidence, haven’t they? Otherwise, for these old matters, where would we find evidence to settle accounts?”
Qi Hong patted his shoulder in comfort.
Yan Jie nodded, then asked:
“How’s it been online recently? I haven’t had time to look.”
“Heh.” Qi Hong felt satisfied talking about this:
“I guess when Qijiang found Lin Disheng, they didn’t do any investigation, just focused on trying to destroy us quickly. They never expected Lin Disheng to be abusive, and even less expected Nan Nan to produce evidence. They were thrown into disarray and haven’t made a peep since. With Director Wei and Xiao Sheng, Shanshan, and others speaking up, the tide has already turned. Now we just need to deal with that scoundrel Lin Disheng, wait until Nan Nan’s condition improves to make a response, and that should be about it.”
After Lin Disheng’s blog post came out, the industry was in a wait-and-see attitude, with no one daring to easily wade into these troubled waters.
Wei Yinghua was the first person to stand up and speak out. She wrote a long article detailing her acquaintance with Jiang Nan’an and the Jiang Nan’an she knew, assuring everyone that he was absolutely not as unworthy as the whistleblower described.
Wei Yinghua’s status spoke for itself, and her words carried enough weight. With her taking the lead, other directors, actors, and staff who had worked with Jiang Nan’an all began to speak up for him. Sheng Yujia and Jiang Shanshan were among the earliest to stand up, followed by friends who had participated in “Burning Eternity” with Jiang Nan’an. This scene was dubbed by netizens as the “most fiery friendship episode of the year.”
After a pause, Qi Hong looked at Yan Jie and asked:
“By the way, did you find her?”
Yan Jie didn’t respond verbally, just nodded with a somewhat solemn expression.
Then, he sighed, gestured toward the hospital room to Qi Hong, and pushed open the door to enter.
“It’s hilarious, Teacher Jiang, do you know how miserable Liang Cheng has been recently? Several girls joined forces to expose him as a scumbag, he lost a basketful of endorsements, and his super topic is full of fans writing breakup letters. It’s so satisfying! It’s also avenging A-Qi!”
Jiang Shanshan sat at Jiang Nan’an’s hospital bedside, waving her fist, animatedly telling him about recent events.
Sheng Yujia was like a backdrop, sitting to the side listening to them talk, even opening a box of Jiang Nan’an’s milk and quietly drinking it.
“Well, what are you chatting about, looking so happy?”
Yan Jie had already put on a smile when he entered the door. He walked in, carrying two food containers.
Jiang Shanshan looked at him, then at what he was holding, and stood up conscientiously:
“Is Teacher Jiang going to eat? Then we won’t disturb you, hehe, let’s go, Teacher Sheng!”
Sheng Yujia, suddenly called out, was a bit confused: “I haven’t finished drinking.”
“Who says you can’t drink milk while walking? Do you have to sit here disturbing the couple?”
“Sorry. Xiao Shan, get well soon, I’ll come visit you again in a few days.”
Sheng Yujia immediately stood up and slipped out with Jiang Shanshan.
Yan Jie smiled as he watched them leave, then set up a small table tray for Jiang Nan’an and opened the food containers one by one.
During this time, Jiang Nan’an was recuperating, so Yan Jie hadn’t made any greasy or spicy dishes. He prepared light and nutritionally balanced food, arranging several small bowls in front of Jiang Nan’an like serving an emperor, then pulled up a stool to sit beside him and peel shrimp for his baby.
Jiang Nan’an arranged his chopsticks, looked at the food in front of him, then at Yan Jie: “Have you eaten?”
“Me? I’ve already eaten.”
Yan Jie brought the peeled shrimp to Jiang Nan’an’s lips. Jiang Nan’an instinctively wanted to use his chopsticks, but seeing Yan Jie’s bright, expectant eyes, he hesitated, then leaned forward and ate the large shrimp from Yan Jie’s hand.
He chewed slowly and swallowed the shrimp meat, then stirred the pumpkin milk porridge in front of him with a spoon.
He took a sip, savoring it, but as if discovering something, he raised an eyebrow slightly, looked up at Yan Jie, and after a moment said:
“You didn’t cook this porridge?”
Yan Jie was taken aback, not expecting him to taste the difference:
“You’re amazing, baby, how did you tell?”
“…It’s a bit scorched.”
“…”
Yan Jie smiled helplessly:
“If it’s scorched, forget it, put it aside and don’t drink it.”
He had brought plenty of dishes, so Jiang Nan’an would have enough to eat without the porridge.
“It’s fine.” Jiang Nan’an naturally wouldn’t mind the slight burnt taste.
“It’s not fine, I can’t let you settle for less, baby.”
Yan Jie reached out to take the bowl of porridge, intending to set it aside and finish it himself later, when he heard Jiang Nan’an ask:
“Who made it?”
“Well…” Yan Jie smiled at him, hesitated, but chose to tell the truth:
“It’s… my mom made it. She insisted on showing off her skills, but she hasn’t cooked for a long time, so she probably didn’t get the heat right. It’s okay.”
Jiang Nan’an nodded without saying anything.
He held his chopsticks but didn’t pick up any food, instead thoughtfully tapping the two chopsticks together lightly, making a soft sound, as if thinking.
After a moment, he looked up at Yan Jie, then at the bowl of porridge Yan Jie had set aside:
“Bring it back, please.”
Yan Jie was slightly surprised: “You want to drink it?”
A few days ago, Qin Xueru heard that Jiang Nan’an was sick and specially came from Beijing to Shanghai. But having recently seen the news online and having heard about Jiang Nan’an’s situation from Yan Jie before, she knew he might have trauma in this area and be somewhat resistant to establishing family relationships. So she didn’t presume to visit him, only glimpsed him from outside the hospital room. Seeing that he looked a bit haggard, she thought of making something for Yan Jie to bring to him, as a gesture of goodwill.
Yan Jie had also thought Jiang Nan’an might be resistant to concern from his family, so he hadn’t planned to mention it. Who would have thought Jiang Nan’an’s palate was so refined that he could tell the porridge wasn’t made by him.
He was worried this might upset Jiang Nan’an again and had planned to test the waters and then gloss over it without further mention. He didn’t expect Jiang Nan’an to actively offer to accept Qin Xueru’s gesture.
It seems that confession is indeed one of the best remedies. By speaking out about those things pressed on his heart, Jiang Nan’an himself must feel much lighter.
At least his guilt, self-blame, and those lingering shadows seemed far less deep than before.
“Mm.”
Jiang Nan’an took the pumpkin porridge that Yan Jie handed back to him and drank it in small sips.
After a pause, he asked:
“Only the porridge was made by her?”
“Not just that. This, this, and this, all show her culinary skills, including these shrimp. She chose the ingredients herself after looking at nutritional recipes. I’ve never even received such treatment.”
Yan Jie pointed to several dishes, then fed another large shrimp to Jiang Nan’an:
“Is it good?”
Jiang Nan’an nodded.
“Then eat more.”
Yan Jie felt truly satisfied in his heart. After his happiness, he thought of another matter.
Originally, he had planned to wait a while before telling Jiang Nan’an, but seeing that Jiang Nan’an’s condition seemed quite good now, and he wasn’t as resistant to these aspects as before… it might be better to bring it up sooner.
So while peeling shrimp, Yan Jie carefully crafted his words in his mind. After preparing his draft, he tried to gently introduce the topic:
“Baby.”
“Mm.”
“It’s like this, recently there’s someone who would like to meet you. If you’re willing, should we arrange a meeting?”
“…” Jiang Nan’an detected the unusual nature of this meeting from his somewhat cautious tone, his chopsticks pausing slightly:
“Meet who?”
“Yu Fei,” Yan Jie told him an unfamiliar name.
Then, he explained:
“Yu Xue’s… twin sister.”
After leaving Xiaoer Shi village, Yan Jie had used Yu Xue’s ID card to find her family.
Yu Xue was from Nanjiang. She had come to Qinxi for university, but during her senior year, while preparing for graduate school exams, she suddenly lost contact with her family. No one knew where she had gone; she seemed to have vanished from the world without a trace.
More than twenty years have passed, and Yu Xue’s parents have already passed away, but her twin sister Yu Fei is still persisting in searching for news of her sister.
After Yan Jie contacted her, he briefly explained Yu Xue’s situation. Yu Fei had probably been mentally prepared for over twenty years, so she didn’t have much of a reaction. She only said she wanted Lin Disheng to pay the price and get justice for her sister, and then expressed her desire to meet Jiang Nan’an.
After all, regardless of everything else, apart from that ID card, he was Yu Xue’s only remaining legacy.
But Yan Jie couldn’t make this decision; he had to ask Jiang Nan’an himself.
Upon hearing Yan Jie’s words, Jiang Nan’an remained silent for a long time, and afterward didn’t respond, just lowered his head and continued eating quietly.
Seeing this reaction, Yan Jie thought he probably wasn’t very willing.
That was fine too. This kind of thing couldn’t be rushed; they would take it slowly.
So after mentioning it once, Yan Jie didn’t speak of it again, just quietly peeled and fed shrimp to Jiang Nan’an, accompanying him as he slowly finished his meal.
Finally, when Jiang Nan’an had finished eating, Yan Jie gave him a wet wipe to clean his hands while he helped clear the dishes.
It was then that he saw Jiang Nan’an carefully wiping his fingers while abruptly asking in a soft voice:
“When will we meet?”
“Huh?” Yan Jie was taken aback, not immediately understanding what Jiang Nan’an meant.
Jiang Nan’an frowned slightly, seeming somewhat hesitant and struggling, but still asked:
“When… does she want to meet me?”
“It’s up to you, Nan Nan.”
Yan Jie quickly understood his meaning and sat beside him, unable to resist putting his arm around him and kissing his cheek:
“Are you willing? If you feel even slightly reluctant, we won’t meet. There’s no rush. I don’t care about others; you’re the most important to me. We’ll take it slowly.”
“It’s fine, I can do it.”
Jiang Nan’an paused for a moment, then asked:
“Twins, the kind that look exactly alike?”
“Mm.”
This was also what Yan Jie was concerned about.
He feared that when Jiang Nan’an saw Yu Fei, who looked identical to Yu Xue, he would inevitably recall those painful memories and fall back into a whirlpool of self-blame and regret.
But Jiang Nan’an didn’t seem as anxious as he had imagined. His condition was still acceptable, and after long hesitation, he again expressed that he could handle it.
So Yan Jie conveyed Jiang Nan’an’s willingness to Yu Fei. Yu Fei also hoped to arrange this as soon as possible, so she flew to Shanghai that same afternoon.
Yan Jie voluntarily covered her flight and hotel expenses and arranged for her to meet Jiang Nan’an the day after she arrived in Shanghai.
Yu Fei didn’t want to make this meeting too formal, so she didn’t set the location outside. She simply treated it as a regular hospital visit, bringing a gift to Jiang Nan’an’s hospital room.
The private hospital’s single room was spacious, and the furnishings didn’t have the cold feel of ordinary hospital rooms. When Yu Fei entered, Jiang Nan’an was on an IV drip, gazing out the window lost in thought.
The weather was beautiful today, with sunlight streaming through the glass, falling on the floor, divided by the window frame into regular small patches.
Hearing the door open, Jiang Nan’an’s body stiffened slightly.
He didn’t immediately turn to look, but lowered his eyes, slowly curling his fingers to grip the bedcover.
The sound of high heels echoed, step by step, getting closer.
Jiang Nan’an turned his face slightly toward Yu Fei, lowered his eyes, and nodded:
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
So it turned out that even twins’ voices were similar.
Jiang Nan’an’s clenched fingers turned white from the force. He slowly took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and gradually raised his eyes to look at Yu Fei.
His ink-stone-like pupils trembled slightly.
He opened his mouth, paused for a moment before finding his voice:
“…You look like her.”
Yu Fei gently curved her lips, her smile seeming somewhat sad, but more filled with complex, unreadable emotions.
She sighed softly, her tone gentle:
“So do you.”
#
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
