After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 24

After listening to Cheng Yi’s brief explanation, Shen Ran was full of amazement, momentarily forgetting his dizziness and nausea.

There really was such a profession as a hypnotist in this world—and there was even one right by his side!

“Don’t be fooled by how unserious Wei Hailan acts,” Cheng Yi said. “He’s actually a top-tier hypnotist. He travels around the country—and abroad too—handling all kinds of cases.”

Cheng Yi was being deliberately vague, but Shen Ran understood enough.

It was hard to believe that Brother Hailan turned out to be someone doing such important work…!

“Wait a second!” Shen Ran suddenly had a thought. “If Brother Hailan’s such an expert hypnotist, what if he was the one who hypnotized me when I was a kid?!”

At this point, Shen Ran was so paranoid he was suspicious of every ant and leaf that crossed his path.

But Cheng Yi looked at him as if he’d lost all hope:
“…Shen Ran, Wei Hailan is only a few years older than you. When you were a kid, he was still a wild monkey running around. How could he have hypnotized you?”

“…Oh. Right.”

“Alright, stop overthinking.”

Cheng Yi gave him a light knock on the head and casually took the cup of warm water from Shen Ran’s hands, tilting it back and draining it in one gulp.

“Wei Hailan will be here soon. Just relax a little. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

But Shen Ran had no intention of letting his thoughts go—his attention had completely shifted to Cheng Yi’s action.

“Ch-Ch-Ch-Cheng Yi!” Shen Ran stammered, his face flushing red as he pointed at him. “I-I-I-I already drank from that cup!”

“So what?” Cheng Yi replied nonchalantly. “You drank from it. Big deal. I’ve slept in the guest bed you slept in, and I didn’t see you making such a fuss.”

Shen Ran had no comeback. His outstretched hand trembled uncontrollably, like he’d developed Parkinson’s.

Off to the side, Ai Ziqing smiled warmly at their banter.

“You two really get along,” Ai Ziqing said. “Ran Ran, I used to worry that you might be mistreated out there. But seeing you now, I feel relieved.”

His tone was that of a parent watching their child fall in love—comforted, trusting, even a little sentimental.

Shen Ran’s face turned scarlet. “No! It’s not like that!”

But Cheng Yi only curled his lips into a smirk and clamped a hand over Shen Ran’s mouth.
“It is like that, Director Ai. Just as you said. As long as I’m around, no one else will ever bully this guy.”

“Mm! Mmmmmm!”

Shen Ran mumbled furiously in protest, but Ai Ziqing only laughed even more.

“I understand. I understand everything.”

No, you don’t understand!

When there wasn’t a threat around, Cheng Yi was the greatest danger in his life!

The cheerful atmosphere lasted until Wei Hailan arrived, slightly out of breath.

He crouched in front of Shen Ran, grasping his hand. The usual sunny, carefree expression was gone, replaced with a rare seriousness.

“Shen Ran, I’m going to check if you’ve really been subjected to psychological suggestion. If so, I’ll do my best to remove the hypnosis.”

Seeing Wei Hailan so solemn, Shen Ran unconsciously straightened up.
“Alright, Brother Hailan.”

“Let me say this first: the process of removing hypnosis is painful. Since we don’t know the original intent behind it, recovering your memories might bring you even more pain.”

Wei Hailan looked him straight in the eye.
“Shen Ran, even knowing that, do you still want to proceed?”

Shen Ran nodded.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t afraid of the unknown. It wasn’t that he didn’t fear the pain.

But at this point, there was no turning back.

Only by learning the truth—breaking away from the Shen family and facing the pain—could he finally be free.

Seeing his determination, Wei Hailan silently patted him on the shoulder.

“Alright. I’ll prepare now. Um… Old Cheng, and… this gentleman—would you two mind stepping outside?”

Wei Hailan didn’t know Ai Ziqing and wasn’t sure how to address the gentle man with the long hair.

Cheng Yi and Ai Ziqing quietly exited the room, and silence fell inside.

“Shen Ran, look into my eyes.”

Shen Ran obediently held Wei Hailan’s gaze.

He saw a faint contraction in Wei Hailan’s pupils—and then his own mind began to fade, drifting away.

——

Without Shen Ran between them, the atmosphere between Ai Ziqing and Cheng Yi turned slightly awkward.

Seeing that Cheng Yi didn’t seem eager to start a conversation, Ai Ziqing smiled and broke the silence.

“I’m going to check how lunch preparations are coming along in the cafeteria. The new year’s just around the corner, and I want to make sure the elderly and children get a little something extra. Would you like to join me, President Cheng?”

Cheng Yi shook his head.
“I’ll stay here and keep watch.”

Ai Ziqing didn’t mind the rejection. After all, it made sense for Cheng Yi to stay.

Just as Ai Ziqing was about to turn and leave, he suddenly heard Cheng Yi ask behind him:

“Director Ai, what was Shen Ran like as a child?”

“Ran Ran…” Ai Ziqing paused, a soft expression rising in his eyes. “He was a bit timid, wary of strangers. But once he got familiar, he became quite lively. He was thoughtful and caring—a truly sweet little boy.”

Cheng Yi seemed to fall into deep thought and said nothing more. Ai Ziqing quietly took his leave.

On the way from the lounge to the cafeteria, he passed through an open courtyard.

Dusk was falling, and the elderly residents who had been chatting outside were beginning to head back in.

“Ah, Xiao Ai! Off to the cafeteria again?”

“Uncle Zhang,” Ai Ziqing greeted with a warm smile. “Yes, quite a few have fallen ill lately. I’m going to ask them to prepare a stewed pear soup for dinner.”

Uncle Zhang chuckled. “Pear soup is good. The children love it. And this gentleman behind you—is he your friend? Will he be joining you?”

Behind him?

Ai Ziqing turned around—only to find Luo Mu had somehow appeared at his back without him even noticing.

Ai Ziqing’s brows instinctively furrowed.

“You…”

His voice turned cold, ready to cut off the conversation, but when he saw the elderly nearby, he swallowed his irritation and forced himself to stay calm.

Without acknowledging Luo Mu further, Ai Ziqing turned and continued walking.

The cafeteria was located in another building.

He quickened his pace. But he could still hear the steady rhythm of leather shoes on pavement behind him—Luo Mu was following.

Closer. Louder.

“Ziqing.”

Ai Ziqing walked faster.

“Ziqing.”

“Zi—”

“Luo Mu, that’s enough!”

He finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. He stopped abruptly and spun around. Sure enough, Luo Mu was following at a careful distance.

But even after being shouted at, Luo Mu showed no reaction. He simply stared at him with dark, ink-like eyes.

It was maddening. It was…

Suppressing the frustration building inside, Ai Ziqing snapped, “What are you doing back at the welfare home? A place like this can’t accommodate someone as important as President Luo.”

“I was the one who told Shen Ran to come find you at Qingshan Welfare Home.”

That’s what he heard Luo Mu say.

“So what if you did?” Ai Ziqing gritted his teeth. “Shen Ran had Cheng Yi with him. What does that have to do with you?”

“Because we grew up together. Ziqing, I wanted to see you.”

“…You wanted to see me? Hah.”

Ai Ziqing let out a cold laugh. His voice was calm, but his eyes were brimming with sorrow too thick to hide.

“You’re the one who left me. You abandoned this place and walked away. And now you say you missed me? Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?!”