By the time the healer arrived, Wang Jin had fallen asleep again. The healer quickly felt his pulse and administered acupuncture. Only then did Wang Jin slowly wake up.
Upon waking this time, Wang Jin felt his whole body hurt as if it had been run over by a cart, and his head hurt terribly too.
He glanced around but didn't see the familiar figure of that man. His heart tightened, and he grabbed Uncle Shan, asking, "Where is Brother Heng?"
Seeing Wang Jin awake, Uncle Shan happily turned to the figure with its back to the bed and said, "City Lord, the young master is awake."
Xi Ning quickly turned and stepped forward, reaching out to support Wang Jin. Wang Jin was momentarily stunned, then used his support to sit up.
His whole body still ached terribly. Scenes from the night he fainted flashed through his mind, and Wang Jin's face felt somewhat hot.
Noticing the faint blush spreading across the other's pale face, Xi Ning felt a flicker of amusement. A hint of mischievous teasing instantly appeared in his languid eyes. "As soon as you wake up, you're looking for your Brother Heng. Don't you want your own brother anymore?"
Wang Jin's expression paused. In that dream just now, Xi Ning had never teased Xi Yao like this. After he came to Ning'an City, he had acted much closer to Xi Ning than Xi Yao had, leading Xi Ning to become more intimate with him in turn. But according to the original owner's past interactions with Xi Ning, he wouldn't have been this close to him...
No wonder Xi Ning sometimes looked at him with a "this is good too" expression, he was probably also unwilling for him to remember and revert to that brother who feared him...
This Xi Ning seemed lazy and indifferent, but in reality, he cared quite a bit about the original owner. In the memories he just recalled while sleeping, Xi Ning repeatedly tried to get closer to the original owner, but was always put off by the original owner's fearful demeanor.
Worried about scaring the original owner, he always interacted with him in a way the original owner could adapt to. Perhaps to the original owner, this demeanor might have seemed too aloof and distant... But Wang Jin could perceive the truth—Xi Ning feared that excessive familiarity would only make his younger brother feel more uneasy and uncomfortable.
It was truly regrettable that this well-intentioned concern was never truly understood by the original Xi Yao, who persistently viewed himself as a nuisance and lived in constant fear of causing trouble for his older brother.
After Wang Jin returned to Ning'an City replacing Xi Yao, his first meeting with Xi Ning showed affection, and afterwards he grew even closer. Each time, Xi Ning seemed both surprised and pleased. Wang Jin hadn't known why before, but now he fully understood...
Because based on the original owner's past personality, he would never have been this intimate with his own brother...
Wang Jin felt a wave of relief, grateful that he used the original owner's body. Had it been otherwise, his recent behavior would surely have aroused suspicions that he was an impostor.
Now, Xi Ning remained convinced he was the genuine Xi Yao, taking comfort in their renewed closeness and showing him ever greater kindness—even personally attending to him during his illnesses.
A warmth spread in Wang Jin's heart. He spoke, "How could I not want my brother? If it weren't for brother building a pavilion for me as soon as he secured power, how could I live in such a nice room?"
Xi Ning's movements paused. He lifted his eyes. "You... remember?"
Xi Yao rubbed his head. "I remember some things, but not everything."
He remembered many past events, but the most important part—how the original host left the city—he couldn't remember at all.
He had completely recalled the original owner's feelings for Cheng Bai. It was indeed a profound and deep affection... but those emotions ultimately belonged to the original owner.
Wang Jin's emotions were somewhat complicated. Logically, the original owner's feelings should not affect him, but perhaps because he now used this body, he still felt a lingering sense of unresolved regret and dissatisfaction in his heart... This feeling made him want to do something for Cheng Bai... as if the original owner desired a proper farewell with him.
Wang Jin's deep contemplation did not escape Xi Ning's notice. Xi Ning glanced meaningfully at the healer, who promptly stepped forward to carefully examine Wang Jin and reported, "Congratulations, young master. Your memory has recovered seventy to eighty percent. I will prepare a prescription, after taking the medicine for a few more days, you should be able to remember everything."
Hearing this, Xi Ning asked, "Aside from that, how is Yao'er's body?"
The healer replied, "His body is fine. These next few days, just eat some nourishing stews. The main thing is no marital relations for one month."
Then, the healer looked at Wang Jin and said, "Young master, remember this. You must learn to refuse the beastman. Don't be too accommodating, and certainly don't gamble with your own health."
"..." Upon hearing this, Wang Jin's face heated up, his whole body feeling intensely warm. His eyes dropped, not daring to meet the healer's gaze, so ashamed he wished he could find a place to hide. And of all times, the man was not here at this very moment.
"Where exactly has Brother Heng gone?" Wang Jin couldn't help but mutter softly.
Xi Ning's sharp ears caught this. He helplessly reached out and tapped Wang Jin's head. "Brother Heng... Brother Heng... Think about how many times you've called for Brother Heng since waking up? Are you really that unable to be apart from that Ancient Beastman?"
"..." Wang Jin smiled apologetically. "Before, whenever I woke up sick, the first person I saw was always him..."
Every time he was sick, the man stayed by his side without leaving, especially this time, since it was because of...
That man couldn't possibly be absent.
Hearing this, a light flickered in Xi Ning's eyes. He wasn't completely unaware of everything his younger brother had experienced in Danmu tribe. He understood that his younger brother had nearly lost his life several times, and it was the Ancient Beastman who carefully cared for him and desperately protected him...
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