A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can’t Hold the Knife After Understanding Love

If ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍it weren't for the fact that this kid had withered to a skeletal figure over the past few days, Ji Tingzhou would have slapped him without hesitation.

When the injection was first administered, Wei Yang vomited a bed full of foul-smelling black sludge. After that, he burned with fever for days, unable to eat anything, surviving only on IV fluids. He looked even weaker than before.

"Bro… sausage."

"Say one more word and I'll turn you into a sausage."

Wei Yang: "……"

Upon hearing Wei Yang had woken up, Bruce rushed over with his medical team to witness this miracle in the history of pharmaceuticals.

Wei Yang was still frail, so Bruce checked the readings from the machines while the doctor stood by the bed and asked him a few questions.

He managed to answer in fragments before slipping back into unconsciousness.

Seeing him asleep, the doctor was about to speak when Ji Tingzhou signaled with his eyes for them to step outside.

"As we predicted, the years of toxin exposure have left irreversible damage, even after complete removal."

"His cognitive abilities appear to have regressed to somewhere between the ages of twelve and fifteen. Further testing will be needed to pinpoint the exact stage, and memory assessments will have to wait until he recovers more."

Ji Tingzhou nodded to show he understood.

As long as Wei Yang regained his health, his cognitive state didn't matter.

Besides, Wei Yang had always been a kid in his eyes—whether his mind regressed or not changed nothing.

"Miss Ji is here."

The doctor's voice interrupted as he caught sight of someone approaching.

At first, everyone had hesitated to call Ji Nian "Miss Ji," watching Ji Tingzhou's reaction carefully. But seeing no objection, they gradually adopted the title.

"Is he awake?" Ji Nian asked as she approached.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, for a short while. He just fell asleep again."

Ji Nian had been delayed because the branch family had finally found the plant she needed. She had gone to inspect it earlier and, upon seeing the familiar little plum blossoms, was suddenly reminded of how You Er, half-starved and near death, had still brought flowers back for her all those years ago.

After returning with Ji Tingzhou, she had asked him if he knew someone named You Er.

Zuo Yi later informed her that the man had died years ago—from excessive blood loss. His body had been discovered by a servant two days later.

Ji Nian had fallen into a long silence upon hearing that.

Now, standing outside the room, she peered through the window at Wei Yang's sleeping form. The reflection in the glass showed her faint smile.

Confirming Wei Yang was stable, she prepared to leave for one of the Ji family's hospitals with the emergency medication she had prepared over the past few days.

But Ji Tingzhou stopped her before she could go.

"You're going out looking like that?"

His tone was dripping with disdain.

Ji Nian reached up and ruffled her hair.

Alright, fine. She'd been too busy to groom herself properly, and her hair was a mess.

"Come here."

He pointed to a wooden bench under the corridor's eaves and tilted his chin at her.

Puzzled, Ji Nian walked over, only to see Ji Tingzhou take a comb from a servant and motion for her to sit.

In her original world, Ji Tingzhou had rarely combed her hair after she grew up. This sudden gesture filled her with nostalgia.

Turning her back to him, she felt the teeth of the comb glide through her strands.

Years of alcoholism and mental illness had dulled his once-dexterous hands—she could even feel them trembling now.

These hands could no longer craft intricate hairstyles, only manage a simple ponytail.

Ji Nian didn't complain about his slowness or clumsiness. Instead, she waited patiently, her heart aching.

When Ji Tingzhou finally finished, she checked her reflection on her phone.

"Still got the touch, huh?"

She said it lightly, but both knew this was a far cry from his past skill.

...

At the hospital, an old acquaintance was waiting for her.

Gu Xiuyuan stood by the entrance, still in his school uniform. He had skipped class to come.

Gu Jing was aware of his son's whereabouts. Normally, he would never have allowed such a sudden absence, but after the rumors spread about Ji Tingzhou's miraculous recovery—and the mysterious girl who looked just like him—he hadn't interfered.

Gu Jing had more information than most. From his son, he'd learned that this so-called girl was none other than the disowned Ji daughter.

Gu Xiuyuan was texting Shen Qingtang, who had flown off to reunite with her grandparents.

Their conversation revolved around Ji Nian.

Shen Qingtang: Brace yourself. Seeing her is going to shock you.

She hadn't told him about Ji Nian's restored face. The first time she saw it, the chaos of the moment had left no room for reaction. Later, it took her a long time to get used to the sight of a feminine version of Ji Tingzhou's face.

Even now, catching an unexpected glimpse of "female Ji Tingzhou" in a dress, eating cake across from her, could still startle her.

Ironically, thanks to Ji Nian, Shen Qingtang had nearly forgotten her old fear of Ji Tingzhou. Now, she could calmly call him "Uncle Ji."

The "Dad" title had been the nanny's doing. As a child, she hadn't understood, but growing up, Shen Qingtang longed for her real parents. The moment she was free of her handlers, she had dropped the forced title.

Thinking of this, Shen Qingtang, now in another country with her family, smiled faintly.

Too bad she wouldn't get to see Gu Xiuyuan's reaction when he saw Ji Nian.

Meanwhile, Gu Xiuyuan read her message without much reaction.

Then a shadow fell over him.

He looked up from his phone—

A girl in a red jacket, short skirt, and thigh-high socks stood before him. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail with loose waves, a small braid tucked to the side. But what truly caught the eye was her striking face and those unusual jade-green eyes.

She tilted her chin at him.

"Gu Xiuyuan, did you use the medicine I gave you?"

But what left him speechless wasn't her question—it was her flawless face.

At first glance, he nearly blurted out Uncle Ji.

He had almost forgotten what Ji Tingzhou looked like.

Now, seeing Ji Nian, his mind instantly reconstructed the man's image.

"...Ji Nian?"

She smirked. "Mhm."

Gu Xiuyuan wanted to ask about her face, but after weighing the rumors and their relationship, he held back.

If Ji Nian wanted to explain, she would. And while she spoke of their closeness in another world, and though he felt an odd familiarity with her, their connection was ultimately built on the foundation of another Gu Xiuyuan.

So he resisted prying into her secrets.

Side by side, they walked into the hospital room to visit their mutual friend from that other world.