CH 81

The two had a lively debate over this ‘great question,’ and finally came up with a brilliant plan—

They could completely create a fake lab under the guise of MP for the little dog, calling it Merry Christmas Party, pretending to conduct illegal human experiments, and then have Si Chu expose this sham operation.

This way, they could meet the plot requirements without anyone getting hurt. It was a win-win.

Since this wouldn’t happen for several years, Xiao Zhenyun was in no rush to worry about it now. Si Di, using the excuse of looking for someone outside and not wanting to be bothered, stayed with him for two days, only hurrying back on the morning of Xiao Jiali’s funeral.

Few people attended the funeral. Duan Fei was still bedridden, barely awake for more than two hours a day and unable to get up at all. Xiao Jingfeng was at the National League, arguing with the head of the Soren Land Guild, unable to return in time. Xiao Zhenyun, who should have been in charge of the funeral, had to hide his identity and pretend to be missing due to plot reasons.

In the end, Si Chu was nominally in charge of the funeral, but due to his inexperience, he wasn’t very effective, leaving Xiao Nian to do most of the actual work. This made Si Chu seriously doubt himself, feeling like his work competence was less than an eight-year-old’s.

The long-absent Si Di was immediately surrounded by the puppy and chick upon his arrival at the funeral.

“Any news about Little Uncle?” Si Chu asked.

Si Di looked at Si Chu’s face, full of genuine concern and anxiety, but according to the 21-episode drama ‘Imprisoned’ he watched three days ago, his Brother should currently be on bad terms with Little Uncle.

Even if Si Chu was kind-hearted and didn’t hold grudges, deciding not to cut ties with Xiao Zhenyun, he shouldn’t be so deeply worried about him…?

Damn, what kind of charm did Xiao Zhenyun use on Si Chu while he wasn’t looking?

“You…” Si Di decided to test how far Si Chu’s self-redemption had progressed. “You don’t resent Little Uncle for all the bad things he did to you before?”

“I know everything,” Si Chu said sternly. “Little Uncle was forced into it… I don’t blame him.”

This time, Si Di was genuinely surprised, his green eyes widening slightly. “How did you know?”

“Really forced into it?!” Si Chu’s eyes bulged, and his next words immediately made Si Di realize he had been deceived. Si Chu had only been guessing before, but his statement now confirmed the answer for Si Chu.

…Wow, Si Di thought to himself, when did the little dog evolve like this?

Words spoken couldn’t be taken back, so he could only keep quiet, feigning ignorance, as Si Chu persistently circled around him, trying to squeeze out more information.

“Brother, what really happened? Did Little Uncle protect me in that way?”

“Brother, Little Uncle was wronged… If it weren’t for Feiran hinting to me that there might be more to the situation, I don’t know how long I would have misunderstood him… I should have been more sensitive at the beginning, thought more, and been more meticulous…”

“Brother, Little Uncle really loves you. What he told me was all lies. Please don’t doubt his sincerity anymore, don’t let him be misunderstood again.”

“Brother, your spiritual domain’s fusion mark is still there, right? At least we can confirm that Little Uncle is still alive, right?”

Xiao Jiali’s ashes were buried in the morning light, and it wasn’t until evening that Xiao Zhenyun sat in front of the tomb holding a bunch of white chrysanthemums, his face covered with a mask and sunglasses, his hair gently lifted by the breeze. He sat quietly, lost in thought.

At first, Si Di didn’t even dare to approach him, until the guide removed his sunglasses and tucked them into his collar, then cast a glance at him standing in the distance.

Familiar smoke-blue eyes, like the misty water town after the rain.

“You actually cut your hair.” Si Di walked lightly to Xiao Zhenyun’s side, reaching out naturally to touch the other’s thick short hair. The texture was not as smooth and shiny as when it was long, and it was a bit rough, but the quality was excellent, jet-black and glossy.

“Yeah, I got tired of it. If it weren’t for plot constraints, I probably would have cut it on the first day I arrived.” Xiao Zhenyun said indifferently.

In contrast to him, Si Di’s silver hair was gradually growing longer each day, now long enough to tie into a small ponytail at the back of his head, though he still preferred it loose and natural. He might consider getting a wolf tail haircut when it grew longer.

Taking the flowers that Xiao Zhenyun had placed on his knee, he bent down to place them in front of the tombstone, then stood up and bowed. “Jiali, may you have a smooth and peaceful afterlife, living as an ordinary person with a happy family…”

“Does he want to be an ordinary person?” Xiao Zhenyun suddenly asked. “Although we’ve never discussed this topic, I feel… he seems more inclined to be a special individual.”

“…After experiencing such cruelty, would he still think being special is good?”

Xiao Zhenyun lowered his gaze, pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh. “I’m not sure anymore.”

Si Di chuckled lightly, embracing his shoulder gently but firmly. “Then let me rephrase it, Jiali, may you have a safe and smooth afterlife, may everything… be as you wish.”

With that, he looked at Xiao Zhenyun, and they smiled at each other.

“A truly good wish.”

After paying their respects, Xiao Zhenyun disappeared again, while Si Di finally made a long-overdue trip home.

In just three days, Xiao Nian had completely won over Si’s Mother with his tragic and dramatic life story, his handsome face, and his righteous character.

“Poor thing, he’s been gloomy since his father disappeared and his friend passed away.” Si’s Mother sighed, holding her face in one hand. “Xiao Chu, you should spend more time with him when you’re free. Don’t let him feel like he’s being taken in. I think Nian Nian is mature for his age, and sensitivity to dignity is strongest at his age.”

Si Chu immediately promised that Little Uncle’s son would be his son in the future.

Si’s Mother: “…That’s not necessary.”

Meanwhile, Si Di exchanged a subtle glance with Xiao Nian, and they found an opportunity to talk privately. Si Di informed Xiao Nian that Xiao Zhenyun was fine, then gave him his new terminal number.

Xiao Nian, in turn, shared his future plans with Si Di.

In the original script, ‘Xiao Zhenyun’s’ scenes have already wrapped up, so there’s no need for him to be constantly by Xiao Zhenyun’s side. Xiao Nian hopes to stay in the Si family to observe the progress of the Male lead 1 and Male lead 2’s plot from close quarters.

Of course, Xiao Nian also doesn’t want to have too much contact with Si Chu, because after all, he’s a character who shouldn’t exist in the book.

“I think these two things can’t coexist.” Si Di pondered. “I’m referring to ‘staying at my house’ and ‘not having contact with Si Chu.’ They’re completely contradictory.”

Xiao Nian frowned and looked at Si Di with a puzzled expression.

“Why don’t I just ignore him?” Idealistic Xiao Nian said so.

That night, Xiao Nian, whose face was as dark as charcoal, was forcibly taken out of the door by the enthusiastic Si Chu, with the reason for the abduction being ‘Would you like your Brother and Feiran to take you to the neighborhood convenience store to buy snacks?’

Xiao Nian immediately opposed, saying he didn’t want to go out, thank you for the offer. But Si Chu didn’t give him a chance to object at all. He hugged him and rushed out of the door, laughing and shouting ‘vroom vroom vroom, Nian Nian is flying on a plane~ Go go brand big airplane zoom zoom zoom~’

Xiao Nian: “…”

Xiao Nian cast a terrified look to Si Di, pleading for help.

Save me, save me!

Si Di, leaning against the wall, shrugged, indicating he couldn’t help.

After washing up, he lay on the bed and told Xiao Zhenyun about this incident as if it were a joke.

The latter had just finished showering, with his short hair wet and dripping on his forehead. He didn’t like blow-drying his hair even when it was long, and now that it was short, he was even less inclined to do so. “Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold? Go and blow-dry your hair quickly.”

Xiao Zhenyun was in the process of unwrapping a large package and raised his gaze at the comment. “I’m waiting for you to help me blow it dry.”

Si Di immediately sat up on the bed, his black and white heterochromatic wolf ears perked up on top of his head. “Don’t tease me randomly. I’m young and hot-blooded. What if you keep me awake all night with wild thoughts?”

Xiao Zhenyun cut open the tape with scissors, chuckling with his head lowered. “Now, this is teasing… My body may not be well, but my mindset is young. I would also think of you tossing and turning all night.”

“Should I come find you then?” Si Di said, ready to act.

“It’s late, don’t bother.” Xiao Zhenyun took out a long item from the box, tightly protected by a foam box, with another identical box stacked in the corner. Si Di furrowed his brow and asked, “What did you buy?”

Xiao Zhenyun glanced at him. “This is something we bought together, don’t you remember?”

Si Di had completely forgotten, but he was cunning and sly in private. He immediately pretended to have an epiphany. “Oh, that thing.”

“What thing?” Xiao Zhenyun put down the blade and looked at him calmly, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

“…” Si Di.

“Why stop now?”

“It’s a bit complicated…” Si Di pretended to ponder, and as he thought, he casually unbuttoned two buttons on his pajamas. By the time Xiao Zhenyun returned with a glass of water, Si Di inadvertently flicked his right index finger again, and the third button came undone, revealing most of his chest.

“I’ll tell you once all the buttons are undone.” Xiao Zhenyun took a sip of hot water.

Si Di smirked triumphantly and boldly stretched his chest, twisting and turning in front of the floating screen as if it were a mirror. “It’s strange, Little Uncle, is my left pec slightly larger than the right one?”

Xiao Zhenyun: “…”

“It’s the same size after I flex.” Si Di lowered his head. “But after flexing, the color on the right side becomes darker… One side is raised while the other is flat, my OCD finds it very uncomfortable to look at. Should I flex the left side again? But if I do, the left side will be bigger than the right side again.”

“…” Xiao Zhenyun admitted defeat to this shameless big wolf. “Stop showing off, aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to sleep tonight?”

Si Di became even more smug. “Anyway, if I can’t sleep, there’s definitely someone to keep me awake all night…”

Xiao Zhenyun unwrapped the foam packaging and revealed the mysterious item inside — a pair of dark-colored metal prosthetic limbs. Indeed, it was the one Si Di had accompanied Xiao Zhenyun to get earlier. Just collecting the leg data measurements took an entire day, and the production cycle lasted for a month and a half, thanks to the power of money rushing the urgent order.

Without waiting for Si Di’s urging, Xiao Zhenyun immediately began trying on the prosthetic limbs.

“Can you manage alone?” Si Di leaned in anxiously, as if being closer to Xiao Zhenyun would help. “Isn’t Hedgehog’s room next to yours? Let him help you.”

“He’s playing Silent Clubbing.”

“…”

Xiao Zhenyun removed the cool facade, carefully followed the instructions, and securely fastened the assistive prosthetics to the sides of his thighs. Then he took out the brainwave signal receiver and sensor, placing it as close to his scalp as possible, between his hair.

He glanced at Si Di, and both of them involuntarily held their breath. One person quietly and excitedly clasped his hands, staring at the screen without blinking; the other exerted all his strength, trying hard to control his legs that had been silent for many years, wanting to stand up and walk again.

“Be careful, be careful!” Si Di shouted. “Don’t force it. Wait for me to be by your side before you try again.”

Xiao Zhenyun didn’t speak, just focused on his two legs. He gritted his teeth, using his hands to prop himself up in the wheelchair, his legs stiff and unresponsive. It was his first time using the prosthetics, and he felt like he was taming two unruly beasts, full of bumps along the way.

He wasn’t greedy, not expecting to walk immediately, but he was eager to stand up.

In no time, Xiao Zhenyun, with a determined effort, pushed himself hard with both hands, and his whole body went from a 45° angle to a 90° angle as he pushed himself upright. Si Di shouted excitedly, “You’re standing—”

Xiao Zhenyun stood up straight, then fell straight down to the ground, turning into a 180° angle in a second.

“Little Uncle!!!”

The author has something to say:

At this moment, Xiao Nian, who was shoved into the shopping cart in front of the supermarket, driving the wobbly cart: …

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