174: To live and die together

Sun Binghe felt as if his heart had been violently thrown high into the air, and before it could fall, it was suddenly squeezed, almost exploding.

Teacher Shen, oh, Teacher Shen... The next second, Sun Binghe retreated to the side, and a tall figure strode in.

Chu Yilan's gaze was urgent, almost immediately locking onto Shen Lian, but he seemed to disbelieve it. His pupils were rigid, and his chest showed no rise or fall, as if all his mental energy was focused on confirming.

"You're here?" Shen Lian's gentle voice broke the almost solidified atmosphere.

Shen Lian then shook off Chu Changqi. In fact, in this situation, no one paid attention to Chu Changqi.

Shen Lian's taut muscles relaxed little by little. For a moment, he felt dizzy, but he still stood steadily in place. When his vision cleared, Shen Lian didn't miss the panic and helplessness in Chu Yilan's eyes—that fear and grievance. No one present, except Shen Lian, could perceive it.

Shen Lian raised his arms and smiled rather carelessly: "Come, let me hug you."

Chu Yilan's mind was still blank, but he had already rushed forward.

Shen Lian almost thought he was going to be strangled to death.

Chu Yilan's heavy breathing echoed in his ears. There was no need to say how long he had been worried and scared.

Chu Yilan pressed one hand firmly against Shen Lian's back, inch by inch, feeling his body temperature through the clothes, finally confirming that the person in his arms was Shen Lian.

"So cold." Chu Yilan said hoarsely, "Why are you soaked?"

"I got caught in the rain." Shen Lian leaned on the man's shoulder, feeling a deep weariness amidst his calm heart.

Following that, Shen Lian softly said, "Let's go outside and talk."

Chu Yilan's mind and eyes were entirely on Shen Lian; he hadn't noticed the furnishings of the room yet.

Chu Yilan's vision was blocked by Shen Lian, and only when they were about to leave did he notice Chu Changqi lying on the ground.

The old dog was in a sorry state, yet he still managed to cast a nostalgic, smiling glance at Chu Yilan.

Sun Binghe's sixth sense told him that letting Chu Changqi speak now would be far more than just spoiling the mood, so he casually tore off a nearby curtain and violently stuffed it into Chu Changqi's mouth.

"Get him..." Shen Lian's tone paused, "...away."

For no reason, Sun Binghe looked at Shen Lian again.

His subordinates immediately packed up Chu Changqi and took him away.

Shen Lian then gestured for Sun Binghe to close the door.

Standing outside in the brightly lit area, Shen Lian's pale face was fully exposed.

Chu Yilan was startled: "How..."

"It was my fault for telling you not to indulge too much before." Shen Lian interrupted, "I didn't know..." He thought of the things in the room, and the suppressed sadness surged through his chest: "I..."

Shen Lian suddenly fell silent.

He swayed slightly, as if he couldn't stand steadily, but the next second, he slumped into Chu Yilan's arms. Although he wasn't heavy, he pulled Chu Yilan down to his knees with him.

"Shen Lian... Shen Lian!" Chu Yilan's voice changed.

"I'm, I'm fine." Shen Lian waved his hand, smiling to reassure him, "Just a bit of exhaustion, nothing serious. When dawn breaks, we'll go home..."

He didn't even finish his sentence when a warm, metallic taste rushed up his throat. Shen Lian only had time to cover his mouth, and his vision instantly plunged into darkness. His consciousness fragmented. Shen Lian didn't know what was supporting him until he could see things again. What met his eyes were drops of blood splattering on the ground.

It's over, Shen Lian thought.

He looked up at Chu Yilan, anxious to explain something, completely unaware of how terrifying he looked. Even Sun Binghe's eyes were filled with horror.

Actually, the moment he saw Chu Yilan, all of Shen Lian's tense nerves snapped. But he didn't want Chu Changqi to see it, didn't want him to use it to say anything that would hurt Chu Yilan. Only after closing that nightmarish room did Shen Lian dare to relax.

But even he hadn't expected his body to be so overdrawn.

"Don't be afraid..." Shen Lian reached out to touch Chu Yilan's face, but left large streaks of crimson.

A certain emotion Chu Yilan had been desperately holding onto finally shattered. He seemed to be terrified to the extreme, yet also as if he hadn't quite understood what had happened, as he numbly raised his hand to touch the warm blood.

"Yilan." Shen Lian leaned on Chu Yilan's shoulder, and before his consciousness faded, he grabbed his arm and whispered, "Do you remember what I said? Roses never wither."

But the moment he closed his eyes and his fingers drooped, that sentence lost all meaning.

All sounds in Chu Yilan's ears fell silent.

He held Shen Lian, his arms unconsciously tightening inch by inch.

Sun Binghe suddenly snapped back to reality and strode forward: "Boss, Teacher Shen needs medical attention. We must immediately..."

"Slap!"

Chu Yilan slapped away Sun Binghe's outstretched hand.

Sun Binghe didn't understand at first, but the moment he looked up, he was stunned.

Chu Yilan's eyes were full of tears, which rolled down with the slightest tremor of his eyelashes. He cried silently. If it weren't for his actual face, Sun Binghe would have thought it was a silent movie.

"Binghe..." This was hardly Chu Yilan's voice, "Binghe!"

Chu Yilan's eyes were filled with "help me." He desperately wanted someone to immediately treat Shen Lian, yet instinctively, he didn't want anyone to approach Shen Lian.

He knelt on the ground, protecting Shen Lian carefully, trembling slightly from the exertion.

Shen Lian was unconscious, and the blood on his exposed chin was warm.

All his meticulous planning, all his ruthless decisiveness, Chu Yilan's rationality was shattered. He was like a half-grown child, who, when his world was collapsing, could only keep calling for help.

This was the first time Sun Binghe had seen such a scene. He forced himself to calm down, then squatted down to look Chu Yilan in the eyes: "Boss, Teacher Shen waited for you, he's still alive, do you understand what I mean? But Teacher Shen needs urgent medical attention. We need to take him to the hospital."

"To the hospital." Chu Yilan repeated.

Sun Binghe knew that it was impossible to take Shen Lian from Chu Yilan's arms at this moment. He could only guide him with words: "Yes, to the hospital. I'll drive. We're going to the hospital right away."

Sun Binghe walked ahead and looked back. Chu Yilan indeed stood up, holding Shen Lian. And as he took one step forward, he seemed to lose his balance and knelt on one knee, but before Sun Binghe could help, Chu Yilan stood firm again.

Chu Yilan seemed to have regained some of his composure.

Along the way, Sun Binghe drove at top speed, simultaneously calling Yang Bin. The mess at the port could only be left to him.

Inside the car, light and shadow flickered, cutting Chu Yilan's expression into pieces. He looked as if his soul had been completely drained, or as if he was grieving to his very bones.

Sun Binghe slammed on the brakes at the hospital entrance. He had already contacted the hospital on the way. The moment the car door opened, a transfer bed was swiftly pulled up.

Sun Binghe got out of the car with large strides, realizing it wouldn't be needed.

Chu Yilan carried Shen Lian from the entrance to the operating room. He walked with steady steps, and when he finally laid the person down, his movements paused.

Sun Binghe saw Chu Yilan's fingertips slide across Shen Lian's face. Although nothing was said, he perceived something called "living and dying together."

Sun Binghe's heart trembled, and then he noticed Chu Yilan's expression had returned to normal, as if his previousLoss of composure (loss of composure) and vulnerability were all illusions.