Ling Xinlu was still asleep.

Yuri asked a nurse if he might have woken up and fallen back asleep, but the nurse shook her head and simply replied: “It’ll still be a while before he wakes up”, before leaving.

Yuri pulled a chair from the table to sit by the bed, silently looking down at him.

His complexion still wasn’t great, but it was much better than before. Earlier, his face had been so pale, drenched in cold sweat, that it was almost frightening to look at—like a corpse.

Fortunately that aside from his eye, the other injuries weren’t too severe. His arm was merely dislocated at the shoulder, and his fractured ankle would heal in about a month or two. Painful as they were, none of those injuries could compare to the critical damage to his eye. Yuri let out a quiet sigh.

Most of his face was obscured by the bandages wrapped tightly around him, yet the pretty porcelain doll-like features were still visible as he slept and breathing evenly. His lips were cracked and caked with dried blood, looking so painful that Yuri couldn’t help but frown.

So beautiful.

Yuri quietly reached out his fingers and very carefully brushed against the dried blood on Ling Xinlu’s cracked lips. He hesitated as his hand hovered over the bandages, but the memory of blood streaming from that injured eye flashing through his mind. He couldn’t bring himself to touch it—not even lightly. After hesitating for a moment, he instead let his fingers drift down to the cheek below, brushing it gently for a few centimeters before stopping.

The roughness of the scars contrasted so sharply with the softness of his skin—smooth, tender, like the cheek of a child. Yuri’s fingers brushed the soft surface again, almost unconsciously.

Truly, so young and beautiful.

And yet, this beautiful eye will never see the light again.

Yuri suddenly thought of siblings. He didn’t have any. As an only child, there had been moments in his childhood when he envied friends who had brothers or sisters. But he had never felt particularly lonely, nor had he ever desperately wished for siblings.

‘But perhaps this is what having a younger sibling would feel like……’ – Yuri thought. So delicate, so precious, and so endearing.

Of course, it wouldn’t make his heart ache like this.

As Yuri silently toyed with the thought, his fingers lightly pressed and prodded the soft and so plushy cheek—just like freshly baked bread. In fact, he wasn’t just stroking it; he was gently poking it here and there. Then, in the very next moment, he froze. A low and raspy voice slipped through the faintly parted lips of the sleeping figure.

“Don’t touch me. Move.”

The dark lifeless eye void of light had at some point turned to stare at the ceiling.

Yuri withdrew his hand and quietly sat back in his chair.

For a moment, Ling Xinlu lay completely still, as if frozen. Slowly, he blinked a few times before shifting his gaze slightly, turning his eye toward Yuri.

He seemed momentarily unaware of his reality. Confusion flickered in his eyes as if he were sorting through a chaotic mess of memories, trying to distinguish between what was real and what was a dream.

But that confusion lasted only an instant. Soon, as his reason and judgment returned, grounding him in the reality of where he lay, his gaze twisted into a cold glare aimed at Yuri.

“I should have killed you first.”

The words spilled from his lips like a muttered soliloquy. He began to sit up, lowering his legs as if to get out of bed, but stopped when he noticed the cast wrapped around one of them. His movements faltered. He slowly glanced at the shoulder restrained by a compression bandage and finally raised a hand to cover one of his eyes. His fingers brushed against the bandages wrapped around his face, tracing them tentatively.

A faint sound of teeth grinding echoed. The muscles in his jaw shifted slightly, and a dark burning flame flickered in his eyes. As if recalling the moment he had collapsed, his hand slowly clenched into a trembling fist, veins bulging across the taut skin.

After a moment, Ling Xinlu lifted his head and glanced out the dark window.

“What time is it? What day?”

“It’s just past 9 P.M. The date hasn’t changed.”

Ling Xinlu leaned slightly toward the edge of the bed but froze mid-motion. He remained still for a moment, his expression suggesting dizziness.

“Clothes.” – He said abruptly.

Yuri shook his head firmly after a moment of silence at the sudden demand.

“You can’t go out yet.”

Ling Xinlu’s fierce gaze shot straight at Yuri. While locking eyes with him, Ling Xinlu spoke again, this time his tone sharper and more resolute.

“Clothes.”

“No.” – Yuri replied. His voice is quiet but firm.

When Yuri gave his quiet but firm refusal, Ling Xinlu rose from the bed. Still unsteady, his dizziness not fully gone, he limped slowly toward Yuri. Without hesitation, he struck Yuri across the face as he sat calmly in the chair looking up at him. The chair creaked as it twisted from the impact, Yuri’s head snapping to the side along with it.

For a moment, Yuri couldn’t move. The pain was sharp enough to leave him breathless. Even after the initial shock, it was hard to catch his breath properly. Despite just having gotten out of bed and still far from fully recovered, Ling Xinlu hadn’t held back at all.

“Yuri Gable. Just because I smiled at you, did you start thinking you were something special? People like you, I’ve seen so many I could sweep them away without a thought. Staring blankly at me, desperate to touch me even once, and the moment I give a single smile, you puff yourself up as if you’ve suddenly become important. Overstepping your boundaries. I’ve dealt with countless pests like you before.”

Perhaps he thought he had something to rely on, something that gave him the right to act out. Yuri didn’t respond, instead silently rubbing the cheek that had taken the hit. Ling Xinlu had struck with enough force to rival any healthy man, but the dizziness caught up to him, and he stumbled back a step, muttering a curse under his breath. Then he turned away,  limped toward the built-in wardrobe, and pulled out a jacket that hung inside. Yuri, still rubbing his face, spoke quietly.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

There was no answer. Ling Xinlu didn’t even look at him.

“Whether it’s Seringe or back to China, it doesn’t matter. There’s no point in leaving now. There are no flights out to either destination at this hour.”

Ling Xinlu froze as he was about to put on the jacket. He glared at Yuri with a peculiar expression before finally walking over to the window. The nightscape of a meticulously organized city stretched out before him from the luxury suite, with its view better than most high-end hotels. It wasn’t the pitch-black expanse of Seringe at night or the dimly lit streets of Dar es Salaam, dotted with sparse yellow streetlights.

Ling Xinlu, who had been barely conscious since leaving Seringe, now fixed his gaze on the nightscape below. Yuri stood from his chair and approached, stopping a few steps away to look out the same window.

“Is this your first time in Berlin?” – Yuri asked.

Berlin, Ling Xinlu clenched his teeth after hearing that word.

The one he wanted to rip apart, piece by piece, was far away—too far away. His rage burned so hot it turned his vision red, as if his heart would turn to ashes from the sheer intensity of his fury. The thought consumed him: If he didn’t tear that person apart right now, this unbearable anger would destroy him first. Yet, the distance between them was insurmountable, and all he could do was seethe.

“Why……”

The words – ‘Why did you bring me here?’ – lingered on the edge of his lips but never fully escaped. His trembling lips blurred the words before they could take shape.

In the dark window, his reflection appeared, glaring out at the world beyond. He seemed frozen, unblinking, as if carved from stone. The only time he moved was when Yuri finally spoke.

“Ling???”

“…….”

Before Yuri could finish, Ling Xinlu turned sharply, closing the distance in an instant. He grabbed Yuri by the collar and slammed him against the wall with enough force to make it seem like Yuri’s spine might shatter. Yuri let out a choking gasp, struggling to breathe.

“From the start.”

A voice that was sharp as a blade, slipped out through gritted teeth.

“From the start, I never liked you. Yes, ever since you pointed that gun at me. The way you unnecessarily read people’s expressions, the way you run your mouth carelessly—there’s not a single thing about you that I find tolerable. I should’ve known you’d meddle where you didn’t belong. If I had, I would’ve gotten rid of you a long time ago.”

The hand gripping Yuri’s collar tightened around his throat as if it truly intended to strangle him. Yuri coughed and gasped for air; his face was flushing red from the lack of oxygen. Just before his breathing completely gave out, Ling Xinlu shoved him hard against the wall once more. The impact made Yuri’s spine ache as if it might crack, but the force also jolted his breath back into him.

Ling Xinlu shoved Yuri aside, leaving him coughing and hunched over. His fierce glare lingered on Yuri for a moment, sharp and cutting, before he turned away as if the very sight of him was intolerable. Though his steps were uneven, hindered by his limp, there was no hesitation in his stride as he made his way toward the door.

Without even waiting for his ragged breath to steady, rushed forward and blocked Xinlu’s path. Just as Ling Xinlu reached for the doorknob, Yuri stepped in front of him. This time, his eyes flared with visible anger, as though on the verge of snapping. Yuri lowered the hand he’d been using to rub his sore neck and spoke in a blunt steady tone.

“I received a message from Ling Tangyun. He asked me to take care of you for about a week until someone more suitable arrives to ensure your safety.”

Ling Xinlu glared at Yuri with icy intensity for a few seconds before letting out a short derisive laugh.

“So, you were Riegrow’s dog, and now you’ve become my brother’s dog, is that it?”

Yuri didn’t respond. As if deciding he had no intention of continuing the conversation, Ling Xinlu attempted to shove Yuri aside. However, Yuri stood firm and blocked the doorway without budging. As he resisted, Yuri couldn’t help but think to himself: ‘Even in this poor condition, with no balance or stability, he still has this much strength. Once he starts recovering, there’ll be no holding him back. What am I going to do then?’ A contradictory thought flitted through his mind: hoping Ling Xinlu would recover quickly while simultaneously wishing his weakened state might persist just a little longer, at least for the week he had to stay.

Ling Xinlu’s gaze grew even fiercer as Yuri remained unmoved in front of him.

“Move.”

His low command was met with nothing but a silent shake of Yuri’s head. Ling Xinlu glared at him for a moment before letting out another short derisive laugh.

“I thought you were sharp and perceptive. I hate wasting time convincing idiots, but for my brother’s sake, I’ll say this once. Even if I killed you here, no one would care. Killing a bug is no different. And let me make one thing clear—I’m not just making empty threats.”

“Even if you do.” 

Yuri suddenly replied, cutting him off before he could finish. After speaking those words, Yuri paused for a moment, as if in thought. But his expression showed no signs of regret or change of mind.

“Of course, you could kill me. Even if you don’t do it now, falling out of your favor or angering your father is a very real concern. After all, I need to make a living too, and cutting off my means to survive would be nothing for someone like you……But.”

Yuri paused for a moment again. He knew that finishing his thought would only provoke this man further. Still, he let out a quiet sigh and continued.

“If you leave here now and go after Riegrow, you’ll undoubtedly be killed. And if I knowingly let you go, despite expecting that outcome, it’s not your father’s wrath or even your own that would haunt me—it’s my own conscience. That would torment me more than anything else, for the rest of my life.”

Yuri wasn’t particularly obsessed with the idea of living, but that didn’t mean he wanted to die anytime soon. He harbored a modest hope of growing old peacefully—of one day sailing far out into the ocean, swimming in the middle of the vast sea, and eventually resting there forever. (And if that didn’t work out, perhaps he could catch a giant tuna, share a feast with the sharks until there was nothing left but bones, and then return to the earth that way.) But what he didn’t want, what he feared more than anything, was to become an old man burdened with a lifetime of regrets and guilt. That was a life he could not accept. And now, Yuri stood at a crossroads, teetering on the edge of that very possibility.

Before Yuri could even finish closing his mouth after speaking, a fist suddenly flew at him. Because the door behind him left no room to retreat, so the already painful blow landed even harder, sending a sharp jolt through his body.

The short gasp of pain Yuri let out was drowned out by Ling Xinlu’s sharp and furious shout.

“I’ll die? At his hands?”

“………….”

Yuri wiped his face with the back of his hand. At some point, his lip must have split, as blood smeared onto his hand. Before he could process it, or wipe his face again, a second fist came flying. The ragged breathing that filled the air wasn’t Yuri’s, but Ling Xinlu’s, he was trembling with uncontrollable fury.

He had anticipated that these words would deeply offend him.

“You can’t win against that man.” – He also knew that saying this would tear apart his already battered pride.

A bitter taste lingered in his mouth.

“You couldn’t defeat him when you were perfectly healthy, and now you think you can face him with injuries to your eyes, arms, and legs? Even so, if you’re determined to go, at least wait until your eyesight recovers—”

The calm rebuttal had been trailing off like a powerless sigh, now coming to an abrupt halt. His hand that had been massaging his furrowed brow, also paused.

“……Wait until your eyesight recovers. After that, if you look healthy enough, I’ll let you go.”

Yuri stopped there. He didn’t say another word. It was at that moment that he realized something he hadn’t been aware of before.

His throat tightened, a sudden warmth rising within him.

Now that he thought about it, it made sense. Those eyes of his would probably never see again, but he didn’t know that yet. He had no idea how serious his condition was. He was just upset about being injured.

Yuri unknowingly lowered his gaze. For a moment, he couldn’t bring himself to look at Ling Xinlu. He had always thought he was good at hiding his emotions behind a calm face, but this time, it wasn’t working. Aaaah, it’s so much harder when the other person has feelings too, he realized for the first time.

He stared at the tips of his shoes for a while to gather his thoughts. When he felt a bit more composed, he raised his head again—only to freeze in place. Ling Xinlu was staring at him. His eyes didn’t move, fixed intently on Yuri, as though time had stopped. His expression was strange, unreadable, as he quietly examined Yuri’s face in detail, as if memorizing every part of it.

“……?”

Confused, Yuri tilted his head slightly, his face showing just a hint of curiosity. Ling Xinlu blinked once, very slowly, and then finally opened his mouth to speak.

“My eye.”

Yuri fell silent. He wasn’t sure if Ling Xinlu noticed the faint twitch and tremble of his lips. But it felt like Ling Xinlu’s gaze briefly lingered on them, as if he did.

In a quieter and slower voice, Ling Xinlu whispered each word clearly and lowly.

“It won’t heal, will it?”

Half sure, half doubtful, Ling Xinlu pressed Yuri for an answer with a calm yet relentless tone.

Watching the expression fade from Ling Xinlu’s face, leaving only a blank look as if he had momentarily lost all anger or frustration, Yuri found himself unable to respond right away.

It wasn’t something he could keep hiding forever, and lying wouldn’t be wise. Yuri had seen many people who had lost their limbs or suffered other severe, permanent injuries. He had witnessed their initial struggle to process what had happened, how their minds might grasp the truth, but their bodies and emotions refused to accept it. And he had seen the overwhelming despair and anger that erupted when they finally realized what it truly ‘meant’ for their lives.

And now, in front of him, stood a young man who would never see the world the same way again. His pale face had lost all expression.

“……That’s not true.”

Yuri, who preferred silence over lies, could only murmur those words. No, it wasn’t a lie. Dr. Bayeren hadn’t said his eyes were ‘completely beyond saving’. Not yet. Maybe there was still hope. Maybe they could recover. He clung to those thoughts, trying to reassure himself.

Ling Xinlu stared at Yuri in silence. His eyes that already dark, seemed to grow even blacker.

And then—

*─Bang!!*

A chillingly massive sound, as if something had exploded, rang right next to Yuri’s ear. The intense vibration that momentarily shook the eardrum was not just a sound. A fist was so close it almost brushed against the skin near the ear, pounding on the door Yuri was blocking. The punch that swung with such tremendous force that it left a mark on the iron door, would have disfigured Yuri’s face if he hadn’t reflexively turned his head to the side.

“Looking at me like you’re about to cry?”

Ling Xinlu tilted his head slightly and brought his face close to Yuri’s. His whispering voice was so soft it almost sounded gentle. However, his face was so close it was hard to meet his eyes, and it was frozen cold enough to give chills.

“Is that so? Never going to see again? Now you’ll have to live with one eye for the rest of your life? Every time you look in the mirror, every time you become aware that one eye can’t see, you’ll remember who made it that way? ……Aha.”

He seemed to smile a little. While stroking the bandage covering one eye, he smiled with the other eye, but in the very next moment, he wiped the smile off his face. The fist that was still pressing against the iron door grabbed Yuri’s neck.

The immense grip that could easily break a neck dug into Yuri’s throat. The hand that squeezed his neck without any hesitation seemed intent on killing Yuri.

No, it was trying to kill him.

It wasn’t just because he was angry at Yuri. The anger at the entire situation, the frustration searching for an outlet, was bursting out at anyone nearby.

At this moment, Yuri realized with his skin that he was truly facing death. He thought this must be what it feels like to be pierced by a murderous intent like needles all over his body. Without realizing it, he reflexively grabbed Ling Xinlu’s hand. Yuri gripped the wrist of the hand cutting off his breath with both hands but soon gave up after struggling briefly.

It wasn’t resignation from the thought that he couldn’t withstand this grip or that it didn’t matter if he died, nor was it some shallow sense of human kindness. To be honest, it was a gloomy thought that came first: ‘What should I do with this man?’ This young beast, who couldn’t handle his beloved, his pride, his flawless body, all slipping out of his hands.

Yuri initially tried to pry off the hand tightening around his neck but stopped. Instead, with his fading consciousness, he simply gazed at him blankly.

Their eyes met.

Those Ling Xinlu’s eyes, which had been looking at Yuri but seeing another terrible object of hatred beyond him, suddenly returned to Yuri at that moment. The moment he met Yuri’s gaze, Ling Xinlu’s expression twisted. The anger that was not vague but right in front of him covered his face.

“──!!”

The hand choking his neck seemed to fall away. But instead, that hand struck Yuri. Yuri staggered from the door and slumped down in front of it, then rubbed his sore neck and looked up at him. Ling Xinlu looked down at Yuri and laughed, as if he was about to go crazy with anger.

“You’re smart, huh? You make killing you feel disgusting?”

A kick flew at him. Because he instinctively curled up a bit, the foot that would have originally hit his waist struck around his back instead.

“Ha, now I’m a one-eyed cripple for life, utterly defeated by the most detestable guy, and in a position to earn sympathy from a worthless guy like this? Me? Ling Xinlu?”

“Hahaha” – Ling Xinlu let out a hollow laugh. As he looked up at the ceiling, he laughed a few times as if he couldn’t believe it, then muttered: “I’m really going crazy.” Yuri slowly got up from the floor. His back throbbed when leaned against the door. His face hurt too. But more than that, with a heavier throbbing heart, he silently looked at Ling Xinlu.Ling Xinlu kept his eyes on the ceiling without looking at Yuri and muttered briefly:  “Look away.” Yuri slightly lowered his head and directed his gaze to Ling Xinlu’s tightly clenched fist.

It seemed like he was about to cry. But even after a while, there was no sign of crying. Perhaps he was barely holding onto his sanity, which seemed like it might really snap if he wasn’t careful.

“It feels really disgusting.”

Eventually, a low voice came out through his teeth. Muttering as if talking to himself, he threw the shirt he was holding in his hand at Yuri. When Yuri removed the shirt that had been thrown over his head, Ling Xinlu was limping towards the bed.

Yuri silently watched as he climbed onto the bed, turned his back to him, and pulled the blanket over himself. Then, Yuri quietly hung his clothes back in the closet and sat down on the chair next to the door.