Chapter 56

“Hard to explain quickly. News was suppressed earlier; our family only just found out. There’s a very nasty infectious disease—kind of like SARS. The notice we got says Hongcheng has already been designated an epidemic zone. Take Jing Miao home immediately. If you can avoid going out recently, don’t go out. Damn, that’s a megacity with tens of millions of people, and spring-travel routes connect nationwide! Fuck!”
As he spoke, he grew increasingly agitated.
“My dad has already been urgently recalled to the bio institute. Uncle Xi will probably be called back for overtime soon too. On your side, my mom already went to notify people and deliver supplies. Send me a list of Jing Miao’s regular meds right now. If this outbreak goes worst-case, some of his special meds will be very hard to get. I’ll arrange everything and send it to your place with disinfected masks and protective supplies. Are you heading to the Mingyue Lake villa or your parents’ place?”
Gan Zisen spoke fast. Even through the phone, Xi Siyan could feel his anxiety.
Xi Siyan’s face darkened; his heart pounded hard.
“Mingyue Lake villa. I’ll send details now. Thank you, Zisen.”
Gan Zisen said, “Okay. Take care. We’re preparing to go to Hongcheng.”
Xi Siyan froze.
“Stay safe.”
There was a light laugh from the other side.
“Relax. I’m one of our country’s best angels in white—*one of*. Hanging up. Take good care of Miaomiao.”
Xi Siyan turned back to look at Jing Miao’s unknowing face.
A tearing pain rose in his chest, along with crushing fear.
He lowered his head and typed quickly to Gan Zisen on WeChat. Just as he sent it, Su Wan called.
“Mom, Zisen told me. How are you all?”
Su Wan sounded relatively calm.
“Your dad has already gone back to city hall. Auntie just went out in a mask to buy food. You take Miaomiao to the villa. Don’t go back to that apartment and don’t come here—we may need to follow government directives at any moment, it’s too chaotic. Miaomiao’s immune system is weak. Current confirmed cases are all elderly and children.”
“Is it that serious?” Xi Siyan’s heart sank.
“In a few hours, best case Hongcheng is locked down. Worst case, the entire Northern Province is sealed. There’s already a lot of news online.”
“Mom, are you sure you and Dad are okay?”
“We’re fine. Your Aunt Gan just had someone deliver a huge batch of supplies, and she said Zisen is preparing things for you too, right? What about daily necessities?”
“We’re in the supermarket now. We’ll buy quickly and head back.”
“Good, good. I won’t keep you. Finish fast and go.”
Jing Miao watched Xi Siyan’s expression get worse and worse and asked worriedly:
“Gege, what’s wrong?”
Xi Siyan looked at him and suddenly couldn’t find the words. He lowered his head and kissed him in reassurance.
“Miaomiao, let’s buy quickly and go home.”
At this hour the supermarket wasn’t crowded yet. People moved slowly.
Xi Siyan’s anxiety surged. He had no time to pick carefully—within a little over ten minutes he had filled a whole cart.
After paying, Xi Siyan kept himself steady, tore open the mask package, put one on Jing Miao, pulled up his hood, and hurried him toward the underground parking lot.
On the way, Xi Siyan broke into cold sweat. His face was frighteningly grim.
Jing Miao rarely saw him like this and could only follow in silence, not daring to speak.
They got stuck on the capital overpass in afternoon traffic.
The snow grew heavier.
Amid blaring horns all around, Xi Siyan hovered at the edge of breakdown.
After New Year it would be nearly ten years.
Even after so long, that pain still crossed time to torture him.
No one had forgotten.
No one had truly moved past it.
Jing Miao, who had nearly died in that crash, had not become healthy just because time passed.
The aftereffects, the medications—they would tangle with him for life.
Xi Siyan checked his phone. His heart dropped to the bottom.
Information reached ordinary citizens with delay; frontline government systems were already in emergency mode.
That meant reality was far worse than what had surfaced.
Outside was dangerous now.
Every breath might be contaminated.
The stream of cars around them might include people just returned from Hongcheng.
Every extra second outside was risk.
Xi Siyan slammed his horn in frustration.
“Gege.”
That soft call pulled him back from the brink. He turned to look at Jing Miao, chest still heaving.
Jing Miao’s concern was total, transparent, unwavering.
Xi Siyan cursed under his breath, yanked off his seatbelt, leaned over, cupped Jing Miao’s face, and kissed him urgently—hungry, rough, almost desperate—as if drawing life from him.
Caught off guard, Jing Miao flinched reflexively at first, then let him kiss.
Heat rose in the car.
Jing Miao let out small breathy sounds.
It took a long time before Xi Siyan calmed down.
Forehead against forehead, he breathed:
“Baby, I love you.”
Like a prayer.
When proposing, he had said he would tell him “I love you” three hundred times every day.
It was symbolic—no one literally says it three hundred times—
yet Xi Siyan *did* say it every day.
Every time, Jing Miao’s heart raced and he felt Xi Siyan’s tenderness and love.
But this sudden confession carried something else:
Jing Miao could feel the pain inside Xi Siyan.
“Gege, what’s wrong?”
Xi Siyan stroked his face, forced a weak smile, then returned to his seat and fastened his belt.
“Let’s get home first.”
The drive took an extra hour more than usual before they reached the villa.
The supplies Gan Zisen sent were already at the door.
In silence, Xi Siyan first carried Jing Miao inside, told him to change all clothes, send them to the UV laundry room, then stay in his room for a while and not come out.
Jing Miao obeyed.
Xi Siyan moved at high speed to sort and place supplies, turned on the air purifier, and disinfected the entire outer area of the house.
When he finished, Jing Miao stood on the second-floor stairs watching him, panic in his eyes.
Xi Siyan paused.
At least, the disinfection was done.
By habit he put on a soothing smile.
“Miaomiao, hungry? Gege will cook for you.”