Chapter 54 – Greed

Ye Zhou walked home with Guan Heng, and when he was about to swipe his fingerprint at the door, he turned around to find that Guan Heng had suddenly vanished.

Ye Zhou stood there, stunned for a while before realizing what had happened, lingering at the entrance without moving.

Was he experiencing hallucinations again, just like last time?

On New Year’s Day, Ye Zhou lied to Guan Heng about mistaking someone else for him. In truth, the person he saw was indeed Guan Heng, not just a back view, but facing him. He couldn’t possibly have mistaken him, but the people around him were pointing and whispering about his strange behavior. That was the first time he realized he was seeing hallucinations. When he saw Guan Heng return in the living room that night, he hesitated before speaking, trying to determine whether the Guan Heng before him was real or a figment of his imagination. That’s why he didn’t immediately express his joy.

After that, he hadn’t seen any more hallucinations until tonight. His luck ran out.

He knew his recent behavior had been unusual; sometimes he would forget what he did one second later. He had been trying hard not to let Guan Heng notice anything amiss, hoping that these beautiful moments could last a little longer. But he knew he couldn’t hide it for long, and eventually, Guan Heng would find out.

As he was lost in thought, another Guan Heng appeared, walking towards him. “Ye Zhou.”

Ye Zhou stared blankly at Guan Heng, unsure if this was real or another hallucination.

Guan Heng reached out and touched his face. “Why are you standing here?”

His hand was warm.

Ye Zhou suddenly snapped out of it, forcing a smile. “I thought I saw you earlier, so I waited here for you.”

Guan Heng seemed to accept this explanation, smiling at him. “Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.” Ye Zhou unlocked the door with his fingerprint, praying that he wouldn’t see another Guan Heng after entering the house. Fortunately, such a thing didn’t happen, and the Guan Heng before him was real, carrying the familiar warmth and woody scent.

Ye Zhou suddenly understood that this might be the only way for him to distinguish reality from illusion.

When they went to bed that night, Ye Zhou took the initiative to snuggle close, not intending to do anything. Given his current state, he probably didn’t have the heart for it. He simply craved everything about Guan Heng.

Guan Heng sensed Ye Zhou’s dependence, wrapping an arm under his neck and gently stroking his nape and short hair. The other hand hugged his waist, patting his back softly. This embrace gave him a sense of security, almost like a comfort.

Ye Zhou obediently rested his head on Guan Heng’s shoulder, all his unease seeming to vanish.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms, just like every morning when they woke up.

Ye Zhou’s condition fluctuated. Sometimes, he would be normal for several days in a row, without nightmares. Other times, he would experience hallucinations or auditory hallucinations multiple times within a day.

Even Fang Ji began to notice something was wrong. He found that sometimes when he was talking to Ye Zhou, Ye Zhou would start to space out, forgetting what he said earlier and asking strange questions occasionally. “Fang Ji, did you see anyone outside?”

Fang Ji turned to look outside the bar. “No, there’s no one there.”

Ye Zhou seemed to have gotten used to it by now, laughing self-deprecatingly. “I thought I saw Teacher Guan.”

Throughout the night, he kept seeing Guan Heng standing outside, beckoning to him. Even though he guessed it was fake, he almost couldn’t resist going out to talk to the imaginary Guan Heng. After Fang Ji pointed out that it was an illusion, the Guan Heng outside disappeared.

At first, Fang Ji didn’t think much of it, assuming Ye Zhou was just trying to indirectly show off his relationship. However, the more strange occurrences piled up, the more he noticed something was off. He looked at him with concern. “Ye Zhou, are you feeling unwell?”

Ye Zhou was taken aback, then laughed. “No, I’m fine.”

Ye Zhou continued to act normally in public, but Fang Ji, who had known him for over a decade, could tell that Ye Zhou was becoming more reclusive and less talkative. Fang Ji remained silent, staring intently at Ye Zhou.

Ye Zhou understood what this silence meant, and his smile gradually faded. “Even you can tell…”

That meant Guan Heng couldn’t possibly be unaware. Was he waiting for Ye Zhou to speak up?

He didn’t mind Fang Ji knowing about his situation, but he was terrified of letting Guan Heng know. What was he afraid of? Perhaps both. He was scared that Guan Heng would let go, but also that he wouldn’t.

Fang Ji usually didn’t interfere in Ye Zhou’s affairs, but given Ye Zhou’s recent state, he felt compelled to ask. “Did something happen between you and Guan Heng?”

“No, it’s not what you think,” Ye Zhou said, stopping there. If he told Fang Ji, it would be equivalent to Guan Heng finding out as well. He wasn’t trying to hide things from Guan Heng forever, just wasn’t mentally prepared yet. “In short, it’s my own problem. I’ve been keeping some things from him.”

With Ye Zhou saying that, Fang Ji couldn’t argue further. He patted Ye Zhou’s shoulder. “Talk about your problems sooner rather than later.”

Ye Zhou sighed. After Guan Heng took a shower or was busy in the study, he secretly searched for psychiatric hospitals online using his phone, clearing his browsing history afterward.

One day, during his break, he went out, even though he had already scheduled an appointment. However, he stood outside the hospital, hesitant to enter.

Patients with mental illness often feel anxious and suspicious. Even though Ye Zhou was usually optimistic, he could clearly feel his negative mindset recently. He couldn’t describe the sensation, lacking motivation and feeling weak, as if his vitality was gradually fading. He had been healthy for over thirty years, never expecting this day to come. Yet, he now felt as if it was destined, wondering if he was finally following in his father’s footsteps…

Ye Zhou took a deep breath and finally stepped into the hospital gate.

But unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the hospital, he encountered a man struggling with two medical staff members. The man seemed agitated, cursing loudly. Many people were watching, but none dared to intervene since the man was wearing a long-sleeved restraint jacket, clearly indicating he was a psychiatric patient. A young woman followed behind him, crying and tugging at his sleeve. “Husband, calm down… Don’t do this…”

The man, in a fit of rage, shrugged her off, causing her to fall to the ground.

When Ye Zhou saw this scene, it was as if something exploded in his mind. He couldn’t hear the frightened screams around him, nor did he seem to notice the man seizing a scalpel from a sterilization tray as a weapon. Without hesitation, he rushed forward recklessly.

Ye Zhou moved quickly, but someone moved faster.

Guan Heng, who had been following Ye Zhou closely, immediately charged forward and wrapped his arms around him from behind. “Ye Zhou, Ye Zhou—”

However, Ye Zhou didn’t seem to hear, reacting similarly to when he saw someone taking photos in the cinema. He desperately wanted to rush forward, but this time he wasn’t as composed. Hearing the familiar voice, he turned to see Guan Heng. However, his response was indifferent, assuming it was another hallucination. He ruthlessly elbowed backward.

Guan Heng grunted but didn’t let go.

Ye Zhou didn’t realize that the person tightly hugging him from behind was real. He struggled to break free, his negative emotions amplifying. Until Guan Heng embraced him again from behind, covering his eyes with his left hand, his voice commanding yet soothing as he whispered in his ear. “Ye Zhou, calm down.”

Ye Zhou jolted, all his senses returning. The noisy sounds around him became clear, the hospital’s security guards already fully equipped, assisting the two medical staff in restraining the patient. The woman was still crying, her high heels making slow, heavy sounds on the floor. Children, frightened by the scene, wailed in their parents’ arms, being comforted with gentle pats on their backs.

Ye Zhou felt the firm chest behind him, the warm body temperature, the familiar scent, and the slender fingers covering his eyes…

He trembled in Guan Heng’s embrace.