Additional Inheritance - Chap 94
Chapter 94
After running out of the cabin, Wen Xiaohui found that there really was a speedboat moored on the surface of the water.
Wen Xiaohui’s tears streamed down his face and blurred his vision. He scrubbed the tears away roughly, then hopped onto the speedboat, and turned the key to start up the engine. When the rumbling of the engine pierced his eardrum, he felt a stabbing pain in heart. He looked back at the boat, hesitating during this most crucial moment. He wanted to turn back. He wanted to grab Luo Yi and run – running as far away as possible and staying away from all the grievances, wrongdoings, threats and suffering. Running from this period of his life that was plagued with misfortune. As long as they were both alive, he didn’t care about anything else.
However, he wasn’t afforded the luxury to hesitate, he seemed to hear the ticking of the bomb despite leaving the cabin. At the same time, a few people ran out of Chang Xing’s boat, clearly wanting to come over. Under the dark and starless skies, he couldn’t tell who they were, but he knew Luo Yi was right – the bomb was remote-controlled, otherwise they wouldn’t come over. Chang Xing might have been among them.
Wen Xiaohui felt a little relieved and did a U-turn in the speedboat to head to shore. He couldn’t let himself become a burden to Luo Yi.
He’d only driven a boat once during his childhood when he was in Sanya. It was easy to operate, but he was impatient and started to speed. He was jolted along with the speedboat by the waves and nearly flew out. The sea water in winter was like ice, buffeting his face and body – he almost couldn’t open his eyes. The jet black water seemed as though it wanted to swallow him whole.
A hundred seconds passed, and the bomb still hadn’t exploded. Wen Xiaohui heaved a big sigh of relief. They weren’t out of danger yet, but he believed in Luo Yi. He would definitely live long enough to come home based on his intelligence and his way of dealing with things.
At last, he neared the shore, jumping off the speedboat with a plop. The chill of the seawater penetrated his bones in a flash and reached his thighs. He waded through the water with difficulty towards the shore. Teeth chattering from the cold, his whole body shook and tears froze like icicles on his cheeks.
As soon as he made it on shore, two shadows ran over to him. Wen Xiaohui panicked, not knowing if they were friend or foe, and he ran further away for the purposes of safety.
“Mr. Wen?” asked the other party tentatively.
Wen Xiaohui hurried to respond, “Yes!” He seemed to recognise this voice.
Walking closer to take a better look, it was one of the men Luo Yi had sent to watch over him. The strength left his body, and he nearly fell to his knees.
The man grabbed him by the arm, and said hurriedly, “Let’s get out of here quickly.”
“What about Luo Yi?”
“Don’t know. The boss told us to leave once we pick you up.”
“What about him? Has someone gone to rescue him?”
“We’re not sure.”
Wen Xiaohui pried his hand off him. His voice shook. “How could you not know? Doesn’t he have a plan? What if…”
BOOM!
A deafening sound pierced the stillness of the night skies. The dim and dilapidated port immediately lit up as if it was daytime and the heat of the blast could be felt by those onshore.
Wen Xiaohui froze. Immediately, the warmth was completely purged from his body and his heart suffered a blow so hard that it almost stopped beating. His breathing stopped in that instant.
Luo Yi…
Wen Xiaohui’s knees weakened, falling to his knees on the gravelly beach, unable to move an inch.
Luo Yi…
Luo Yi’s two henchmen were also speechless and both drew in deep breaths.
Despite the light from the fire illuminating the entire port and the sound of the blast burrowing into his eardrums, Wen Xiaohui couldn’t bring himself to turn his head and look. Amidst his despair, if he couldn’t see it, he could still pretend that it wasn’t real.
There was no way Luo Yi could die – he was so clever and strong, and also young… No, he couldn’t die. It was impossible.
As if he were paralysed, Wen Xiaohui slowly lay down on the beach. He was unable to summon even an ounce of strength.
Someone attempted to pull him up, but he gently pushed them away. Exhausting all his strength, he turned his body very slowly.
The flames on the surface of the water surged – the boat had already become a burning pile of broken timber.
Wen Xiaohui thought he was going crazy. He crawled towards the sea, and he hadn’t gone far before he was dragged back.
“Mr Wen, we need to leave.”
Wen Xiaohui’s voice came back as he shouted in agony, “Luo Yi –”
Luo Yi!
Luo Yi!
You told me you wouldn’t die! You told me you would come back!
Till the end, you never stopped lying to me.
Wen Xiaohui wanted to run into the sea like he’d gone mad. The gritty silt scratched his skin. His head plunged into the seawater, as he choked on a mouthful of water and tears poured down his face. He mumbled loudly, as if Luo Yi would miraculously appear if he shouted at the top of his voice.
Don’t die, Luo Yi. I’m begging you, please don’t die. I can’t bear to live in a world without you. Luo Yi, I’m begging you, please don’t die. As long as you’re alive…
Wen Xiaohui felt a tinge of pain at the back of his neck and lost consciousness.
———————————————
When Wen Xiaohui opened his eyes, he found himself in hospital.
He felt dizzy and his entire body ached. After feeling confused for a few seconds, his memories came flooding back and his heart throbbed with pain. He suddenly recalled the boat that was consumed by the blazing fire.
Luo Yi!
Wen Xiaohui sat up in bed abruptly.
“Xiaohui.”
Wen Xiaohui turned to find Cao Hai in the room. His voice trembled beyond recognition. “L-Luo Yi. Where’s Luo Yi?”
Cao Hai lowered his eyes, then dragged a chair over to sit beside Wen Xiaohui. He said in a low voice, “I’m here to execute Luo Yi’s will…”
Wen Xiaohui sprung up like a leopard to grab Cao Hai by the collar. “What? Where’s Luo Yi? What the heck are you talking about? What will? Where’s Luo Yi?!”
Cao Hai gripped Wen Xiaohui’s hand, gradually loosening his fingers and pushing him back down on the bed. “Luo Yi and Chang Xing were both on the boat. They settled their score this way…”
Wen Xiaohui flopped onto the bed and his eyes became unfocussed. Everything felt like an illusion – he couldn’t tell if it was reality or if he was in a dream.
Luo Yi died? How could he die? Luo Yi was so capable and full of life, so how could he be dead? Luo Yi’s expression when they were together on the boat for the last time sprung to mind – Luo Yi had wanted to look at him. Wen Xiaohui felt so heartbroken, he was going mad.
Cao Hai’s voice echoed in the sparse ward, as if it was coming from another planet. “Luo Yi asked me to notarise his will and asset transfer before this happened. He left everything to you. There’s also a letter.” Cao Hai passed an envelope to Wen Xiaohui.
Wen Xiaohui accepted it robotically and opened it with his trembling hands.
The letter only contained a few words:
I can’t live my life without you, but I shouldn’t be part of your life any more. Take good care of yourself. Luo Yi.
Wen Xiaohui let out a painful cry. His heart felt so sore, it felt like it was about to be yanked from his body.
“Xiaohui…”
“Get lost!” Wen Xiaohui shoved Cao Hai as if he was crazy and upset his own centre of gravity as he fell off the bed. He dropped to the floor, head spinning.
Cao Hai went to help him up and Wen Xiaohui kicked him away. Wen Xiaohui tried his hardest to get back up, but his legs were boneless and couldn’t support the weight of his body, so he crawled towards the door.
Luo Yi… Nothing was left in his brain except for these two words and Luo Yi himself. The affection he’d tried to suppress, that had been covered in dust for the past few years, was like a pack of wild beasts that had been freed from their cages. It was unstoppable. He recalled every little thing that he and Luo Yi had been through, regardless of whether it was good or bad. He remembered the depth of his love for Luo Yi – it was still impossible to snuff out even after he’d been left battered and bruised. He’d done everything he could to try and leave this relationship behind. In the end, it didn’t matter if it was three years or five years; his love for Luo Yi was engraved in his bone marrow and blood vessels, and it would never ever disappear.
But it was too late. He was no longer able to tell Luo Yi that he forgave him or give him another chance.
How did it end up like this? Why did this have to happen to him? He should have stayed on the boat, so that he’d die instantly in the blast. It would have been better than this hellish suffering.
The door to the ward opened, and a few people in white rushed in to restrain his hands and legs to the floor. He struggled like his life depended on it. Anyone who stopped him from going to find Luo Yi was his enemy.
“Let go! Luo Yi…” Wen Xiaohui glared at them with his bloodshot eyes as he shouted.
The sharp needle pierced his skin, and he became overcome with fatigue. His vision blurred again.
———————————————
Wen Xiaohui felt like he couldn’t wake up. His eyes were clearly wide open, but it was like he was cocooned in a colourless and indiscernible shell that separated him from the rest of the world. Nothing that happened outside concerned him while he was living in that desolate place.
He didn’t have the strength for anything. He couldn’t tell whether he was awake or not, or whether it was daytime or nighttime. He didn’t know what day or month it was, and it felt as though time had stood still and at the same time, like it was flying by. He severed all ties with the outside world.
His only thought was that if Luo Yi no longer existed in this world, a world without Luo Yi would have no meaning to him.
Some familiar faces gradually appeared in front of him – Cao Hai and Luo Rui, who were both talking to him. He might have heard them, but he didn’t understand and didn’t want to understand them.
Surrounded by all sorts of people every day, he still felt as though he was in the shell and he was reluctant to leave. He was worried that once he left, he would have to go back to the world without Luo Yi in it. He couldn’t bear to return to the world that would declare that Luo Yi was dead – it was too cold and unreal.
He wasn’t sure how many days had passed by the time he felt extremely weak, he hadn’t eaten in a long time, except he didn’t feel hungry. He knew he was going to die if continued like this, but he didn’t seem to care.
He didn’t know how many more days he would spend like this, whether it was just today, tomorrow, or every day in future…
