Chapter 112
“Ah…!” Su Bin exclaimed at the same time, not because of Jessie’s words, but because of the photos on the bookshelf. The color photos from the 90s didn’t have particularly high resolution, a bit blurry, but it didn’t hinder Su Bin from recognizing the people in them—slender figure, soft, slightly curled black short hair, fair face, pointed chin, green eyes… In the center of the photo, wasn’t it the green-eyed little girl whom Su Bin once called a “monster”?
Su Bin, in terror, grabbed the photo. His initial reaction was that this person was Allen’s sister, but he quickly felt that something was off. Allen had mentioned not having siblings, and there was no reason for him to display someone else’s family photo on the bookshelf. Therefore, the person in the center of the photo was Allen himself!
Jessie’s words confirmed his speculation: “This is a photo of the Duke when he was eight years old, taken with the Louis family. It’s the last family photo they left in the world.”
This discovery made Su Bin’s heart race—he had actually met Allen when they were children! Oh, heavens, the world is so small; what a terrifying coincidence!
Su Bin tried to connect Allen’s image with the girl in the wheelchair from his childhood memories, feeling a sense of dissonance, mainly because of the gender—he had mistaken Allen for a girl! QAQ
At that moment, Jessie suddenly took another album from the shelf and handed it to Su Bin, saying, “There are many photos of the Duke from his childhood here.”
Su Bin took it and immediately flipped it open. The first photo surprised him; the baby in the picture had skin as white as snow, eyes sparkling like green gems, and was smiling sweetly.
“Hehe, this is a photo of the Duke when he was one year old,” Jessie said.
Su Bin’s heart was melting; he wanted to pluck this green-eyed little monster, no, little angel from the photo and hold it in his hands… >_< Continuing to flip through, but as he did, Su Bin’s smile gradually faded. The people in the photos became paler, the carefree and sweet smile from the first picture was gone. Allen became thinner and weaker, his deep green eyes almost taking up half of his face. One could imagine the intense struggle he had with the illness.
Many photos after that showed Allen sitting in a wheelchair. He became calm, like the “little girl” Su Bin had seen years ago, sitting quietly with closed eyes on the wheelchair, like a doll.
“This is when the Duke was six…” Jessie sighed, sympathetically saying, “At that time, he could hardly move his body, a slight bump would cause a lot of bleeding. The doctors said all his joints were painful, he couldn’t sleep at night, but he never told us. He endured it alone.”
Su Bin was about to ask if painkillers were effective when Jessie continued, “And hemophiliacs can’t take painkillers. Most painkillers exacerbate bleeding, and a few can lead to addiction or have strong side effects.”
Su Bin couldn’t bear to listen anymore…
“At that time, the doctors at the Royal Hospital had given up, everyone predicted he wouldn’t live past ten years old. We thought the tragedy would strike the former Duke and his wife first. The Duke’s condition improved after gene therapy at the age of twelve. Some said the former Duke and his wife exchanged their lives for the Duke’s survival, but the people at Roland Manor knew it wasn’t true. The Duke himself proposed the ‘gene therapy’ to the Royal Hospital when he learned he had a short time left to live.”
Yes, in that situation, anyone might feel “life is not worth living.” How did Allen manage to live until now?
The photos in the album mostly stopped at the age of eight or nine. It seemed that after Allen’s parents passed away, he stopped taking photos… Su Bin gently touched the last photo, closed the album.
“It’s hard to imagine the Duke being so tall now,” Jessie smiled, taking the album back.
Su Bin touched his nose, saying, “He’s very strong.”
Jessie pointed to the cane next to the wheelchair in the corner, “Ah, because he has been doing rehabilitation every day since he was partially recovered. He lifts himself from the wheelchair and walks with the cane for a long time. It’s a very strenuous thing for his arms.”
Ah, so Allen wasn’t naturally powerful…!
Jessie looked at Su Bin, “In all these years, it’s the first time I’ve seen the Duke being so special to someone.”
Su Bin’s heart warmed, “He’s special to me?”
Jessie was surprised, “Didn’t you notice the way he looks at you?” —that overflowing tenderness and affectionate gaze, all women could understand; that look meant something.
“He must really like you…” Jessie smiled faintly, saying, “So, I hope you treat the Duke well… He has put in all his efforts to live until now, maybe just to meet you.”
Su Bin: “…”
In the evening, Allen returned, and Su Bin greeted him, “How’s the medical check-up?”
Allen gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, “It’s good, don’t worry.”
Su Bin looked at Allen’s handsome face, both excited and nervous, “I saw photos of you when you were a child. We met more than ten years ago, did you know?”
Allen was momentarily surprised, then smiled, “I knew.”
“When did you know? When you asked me about my childhood in China, and… the questions about little girls, did you already know?” —! Su Bin wanted to kneel; did he say anything strange?
“In the room, before that, I saw photos of you when you were a child,” Allen said.
Su Bin was astonished, “Ah? You still remembered what I looked like back then?”
Allen walked towards the living room, “I remember everything after the age of three.”
Su Bin followed him, calling out, “Three years old? Are you kidding me?”
Allen, sipping the tea Mary prepared, turned to Su Bin, “I remember, your upper front tooth was only half-grown at that time, right?”
Su Bin was stunned. Upper front tooth?… Oh, he was indeed losing baby teeth around that time, but it had been more than ten years. How could he remember the exact age when his upper front tooth was only half-grown?… The key point wasn’t this; it was that if Allen knew so early, why deliberately keep it from him? Ah, it’s really too bad!
With a satisfied look, Allen looked at him and asked, “What did you call me the first time you saw me?”
“…Little girl?” Su Bin felt a sense of unease in his heart.
“And?” Allen put down the tea cup, took a step towards Su Bin.
“What else?” Su Bin took a step back, thinking, “Monster…? (in Chinese)”
Allen smirked evilly, suddenly reaching out to hold Su Bin’s waist, lifting him off the ground.
“Ah!” Su Bin was startled; what did Allen want to do?… Did he understand “monster” in Chinese?
Allen carried him to the sofa, pressed him down, imitating Su Bin’s tone, repeated, “Monster?”
“…” O皿O|| Don’t imitate me speaking Chinese! It’s terrifying! Su Bin remembered now! He had said that the green-eyed girl in the hotel looked like a “monster” to Allen.
“You told me that fairies eat people, right?” Allen, one hand pressing Su Bin’s shoulder, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
Did Allen learn about fairies eating people during the discussion of “White Snake”? Wait, wait, why are you unbuttoning my shirt? Are you going to…
“Eat you…” Allen smirked, glancing at Su Bin’s conflicted expression, then lowered his head and bit his neck, hearing the muffled groans from the person beneath…
“Gentle… be gentle…” Begging for mercy, but it only brought a stronger bite from Allen. Recently, Su Bin couldn’t help but struggle. At this moment, a phrase Jessie said during the day suddenly floated into his mind—Allen had struggled so hard to live until now, maybe just to meet him.
Is that really the case?… Well, the slight pain on his neck doesn’t seem that uncomfortable now… Go with Allen, treat him well… but don’t really bite into my neck! QA
“You’re so docile today…” Allen licked Su Bin’s neck satisfactorily, and when he looked up, he saw tears in Su Bin’s eyes from the pain.
—Looking at me with such eyes makes me feel guilty if I don’t do something to you.
With a smile, Allen kissed Su Bin’s lips and whispered, “Come to a banquet with me tomorrow night.”
Su Bin touched his fiery neck, puzzled, “What banquet?”
“A banquet hosted by a noblewoman,” Allen looked at him, smiling, “The ‘prince’ you’re interested in will also attend.”
“Ah?” Su Bin was surprised… Wait, what does “the prince I’m interested in” mean? (=_=) “Didn’t you join the crowd watching the ‘prince’ in front of the medical building with those people?”
“…Because I’ve never seen him before!” Su Bin suddenly recalled the blue-eyed person who looked similar to Allen and the person in the car whose face he could only see half of…
Allen smiled, “You’ll see him tomorrow.”
Although curious, Su Bin also worried, “Is it a high-end banquet? Is it appropriate for me to go?”
Allen pulled out a suitable tailcoat for Su Bin, the one he wore when he was fifteen; it still looked new—well-fitting suits never go out of style.
Robert drove them to the venue, and Su Bin followed Allen’s lead.
After entering, Allen glanced at the banquet hall and narrowed his eyes slightly… Not far away, several young men in black tailcoats were smiling mischievously, raising their glasses in his and Su Bin’s direction.
Allen muttered, “Oops,” and led Su Bin to a corner, turning to him, “Listen, stay here and don’t leave. If anyone comes to talk to you, just say you’re Lance’s friend. Don’t say anything unnecessary.”
Su Bin, nervous, asked, “Where are you going?”
“I have some things to take care of,” Allen looked at him, saying, “If you’re afraid, just look at me. I’ll be within your sight the whole time.”
Su Bin didn’t know what was happening, so he could only nod, “You come back quickly.”
Allen kissed his forehead and left.