XINGYU DID END up coming. Of course he did. He finished up whatever he was working on at the time Weiran called and then rushed immediately to the hospital, his tie loose around his neck, his shirt unbuttoned. When he showed up, Xiao-Xiao rolled his eyes and turned over in bed, avoiding his eyes, while Weiran stood to greet him before he stepped through the doorway.

“How is he?”

“He’s fallen asleep a few more times, but he’s been alert. The nurse came by a few times to take some blood. They said everything seemed to be okay.” He lowered his voice. “Did they tell you about all his injuries?”

“When we first found him, the nurse gave me a rundown, but they sent me the more complete list later.” What had been written there was too much to even think about again. “Whoever did this to him is going to pay for it.”

“I know.” Weiran chewed on his lower lip and jerked his head toward the room. “He didn’t want you to come.”

“I figured.”

“He also didn’t want me to be here, to be clear.”

“Yeah, I figured. But he has a lot more patience for you.” Xingyu sighed. He raked his hand through his hair. “I wanted to talk to him about something. Do you mind if I talk to him alone for a while? You can get yourself something to eat at the cafeteria.”

Weiran huffed out a laugh. “And how long should I make myself scarce for?”

“Probably around fifteen minutes. If I haven’t come out or messaged you that I’m done, just wait outside.”

“Fine. Let me know if you want me to pick anything up.”

Xiao-Xiao looked over his shoulder at Xingyu as he came in, rolled his eyes, and then shut them again.

“Can I ask you about something?”

He cracked open one eye. “If it’s about where Bai Xue is, I really don’t know. And I’m not sure I’m willing to tell you, either.” His voice was strained, weak. Xingyu clenched his fist at the sound of it.

Xingyu already knew it wasn’t time to ask Xiao-Xiao about what happened yet, but he did have something that might be easier to talk about—something that’s been gnawing at him for a while now. “First of all, I’m still unclear on why you’re so against it.”

“I don’t want you to go to prison for an extended amount of time just because you can’t control your temper.”

“I’m not sure why I should control my temper when a man almost killed my little brother.”

Xiao-Xiao just sighed and closed his eyes again. “What do you want to know?”

“I found a bottle of pills in your medicine cabinet.”

“So you snooped around in my room. And?”