Long Shi was the worst type of scum, there was no doubt about that, and getting a thorough understanding of a scum’s perspective was something that would revolt any normal human being.

Over a dozen minutes later, Shi Jin threw Long Shi, whose mind was blurry again, back to the lifeboat’s bottom and kicked him hard a few times, unable to restrain his anger. When he thought about the warm, gentle Lian Jun of Long Shi’s past, his heart was both sore and filled with fury. He cried out, “You wanted it but couldn’t have it, so you decided to destroy it? Die by yourself, you psychopath, instead of dragging others to hell with you! You call this a pure and noble love? Ptooey! Just how unlucky Lian Jun was to have met you, you piece of shit!”

Long Shi only groaned, not resisting. He probably wouldn’t remember saying anything because of the fever and the buffs’ effects.

Done venting, Shi Jin plopped down against the storage box and raised a hand to his forehead. He was feverish too. Knowing that he wouldn’t stay awake for long, he picked up the satellite phone he’d dropped at some moment and which had been ringing for a long time and answered Lian Jun’s call.

{What happened, Shi Jin? Why weren’t you picking up? Hold on a little longer, I’m already in the helicopter, I’ll be there soon,} Lian Jun said immediately. He spoke faster and with more urgency than ever before.

Shi Jin listened dumbly. Guessing the other man must’ve been distraught, he hurried to explain, “I’m sorry, I fell asleep… Lian Jun, I seem to have a fever. It’s probably because I went swimming in cold water and stayed in wet clothes for too long,” he added, to prepare Lian Jun for his half-dead appearance. He didn’t want to scare him.

Lian Jun covered the speaker, urged the pilot to fly faster, then explained the situation to the doctor accompanying him. The sound became clear again, and he soothed: {It’s fine. If you don’t feel well, go back to sleep, I’ll be with you in a minute.}

His voice made Shi Jin feel at ease. He replied with a low hum then noticed a few bright dots in the distant sky and had to smile. “I see you already, flying here.”

Lian Jun couldn’t help but call out, {Shi Jin.}

“I managed to get a part of the poison formula from Long Shi, he also had a syringe with some strange drug on him… Lian Jun, you will get better,” Shi Jin said, half to himself. Long Shi’s twisted words kept echoing in his mind. Tormented by the high fever and pain in his body, he could no longer suppress the grief filling his heart. He whispered, “I want to hug you, Lian Jun, you look really nice when you smile… I wish I had met you sooner.” If I met you earlier, you might not have suffered so much.

Lian Jun’s grip on the phone tightened. He turned away, calmed his breathing, and put the phone to his mouth again. His throat rolled, then he said, voice tense as if suppressing something, “Don’t fool around, Shi Jin, stop sounding as if you’re going to die. Don’t you dare even think about dying.”

Several helicopters hovered in the sky. Shi Jin laid on the lifeboat and looked up at the one directly above. Its door opened, a rope ladder fell down, and Lian Jun, wearing a full set of protective gear, slowly and awkwardly climbed down. He couldn’t help but smile—really, he knew this man couldn’t endure and would have to pick him up himself.

It should take no more than fifteen seconds to go down the ladder, but Lian Jun took more than a minute. Shi Jin didn’t dare look away. He even sat up and reached out as if to support him, scared he might fall.

Finally, Lian Jun’s feet touched the lifeboat’s bottom, his forehead covered in sweat.

Shi Jin scrambled over to him. He was delighted to see him but couldn’t help but worry at the same time. He asked anxiously, “How are you, does it hurt, you—”

The second Lian Jun found his balance, he bent down and pulled the teenager into his arms, hugging him tightly. He stroked the back of his head and said hoarsely, “No next time, Shi Jin.”

“That was what you said after I got shot during that matter with Black Rose…” Shi Jin being Shi Jin, he didn’t fail to destroy the mood, but still instinctively hugged back. Forgetting whether Lian Jun could support him, his body went almost limp, and he just leaned on the other man, burying his face in his chest. He had been forcing himself to keep awake and clear-headed, but now, in these arms, he could finally relax. He whispered, his voice getting quieter and quieter, “Lian Jun, I’m sorry, I always seem to be giving you trouble.”

Lian Jun just shook his head. He hugged him tighter and kissed the top of his head. There were many things he wanted to say, but he couldn’t utter a word—he just wanted to hold this person in his arms and never let go.

No one cared about Long Shi at the far end of the lifeboat, but the noise and bright lights woke him up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Lian Jun embracing and kissing Shi Jin. He stared at the scene with an open mouth, then struggled against his ropes, and screamed, “Jun-shao, don’t hug him, don’t kiss him, he’s a monster! He’s a monster!”

Shi Jin had already passed out. Lian Jun made him lean on himself and carefully held him in his arms. At the sound, he turned his head to look at Long Shi, and his thin lips curled into a cold smile. “Really? That’s great, I happen to like monsters.”

Li, like—

Long Shi looked at Lian Jun’s indifferent, faintly murderous eyes, and saw his hand was gently caressing Shi Jin’s cheek. This, on top of everything else, seemed too much of a shock—his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.