Aunt Lim stood in the doorway, smiling. That smile was an act. He could almost hear what she really wanted to say: "You little bastard, get out here."
But she didn't say that. Not when people were watching.
She deliberately left the door open, pretending to be a caring mother.
Li Jace looked around, took a deep breath, and saw a small bag next to the chair. He opened it and carefully put his laptop inside. Those were his private belongings, his secrets. He couldn't leave anything behind. Then he walked out.
Aunt Lim was already ahead of him, talking to the doctor.
"He's a special child," the doctor said. "Please try not to expose him to the outside world, especially... don't let him near animals, especially rabbits."
"Oh, I understand," Aunt Lim said with an exaggerated smile. "My son is a very special child. I'll do my best to take care of him."
When Li Jace approached, she put her arm around his shoulders. Li Jace clenched his teeth.
They walked out of the isolation apartment and got into the car.
"Get in," she said coldly.
He got in and sat down, and she threw a thick black plastic bag at him – the kind used for rain or trash. "Put this on. I don't want to be infected by you."
She sat as far away from him as possible, like he would infect her just by breathing near her.
Li Jace stared straight ahead, a dry, cold smile on his lips. So, this was the truth.
Aunt Lim—"Mom"—clicked her tongue. "Hmph, infected? Of course, you would be. You're the kind of person who opens your legs for men. How could you not be infected?"
The words hit him like a punch to the gut, but he kept his face expressionless. She raised her hand like she was about to hit him for no reason, but then she stopped. She didn't want to touch him.
He didn't say a word, his face calm, but his hands were clenched into fists under the plastic bag. 'So, it was never about me.'
He had thought it was something he did wrong that always made her angry. But now? He finally saw – it was never his fault.
"After we get home, you can live in the pigpen... or anywhere, as long as you don't appear in front of me." After Aunt Lim said this, the fake smile on her face completely disappeared, revealing her true disgust.
Li Jace didn't respond. He looked out the car window at the world – the city he hadn't seen in eight months, still bustling but feeling unfamiliar. His ears fluttered gently in the wind, involuntarily tightening. It was a rabbit's instinct.
"Look at those ears, disgusting," Aunt Lim spat. "Can't you hide them? People can tell you're not normal just by looking at you."
Li Jace tilted his head, still silent. His fingers clenched and then slowly relaxed.
"You're only going home because of me," she continued, her tone a mix of reminder and threat. "Don't get too cocky. Don't think you can get sympathy with your little disease."
This was just the way she preferred him—not talking back and receiving all the hurtful blows from her venomous mouth.
"Why do you think I came to pick you up?" Aunt Lim suddenly asked, her voice full of mockery. "Do you think I came to see you? No, I came to see what kind of monster you've become."
Li Jace's mouth twitched slightly, but his eyes remained calm and collected. He finally spoke, "You didn't need to come. You don't need me."
That sentence was like a needle, directly piercing her pride.
"Shut up!" she snapped. "Do you know who you are? You're my dog! Without me, you would've died outside!"
He remained silent but in his heart, he thought, 'Die? Hmph!! More like I survived!'
She glared at him, trying to see shame or fear on his face. But he looked back at her calmly, unwavering.
"This time, you'd better behave," she said coldly. "Don't provoke me. If you say or do anything wrong, I'll make you regret being alive."
Li Jace nodded. "I won't cause trouble. But you should leave me alone too."
Aunt Jin was taken aback, seemingly surprised he dared to talk back. She raised her arm, but hesitated and eventually lowered it, gritting her teeth. She would teach him a lesson once they are home. Then she suddenly spoke, her voice cold and sharp: "Drive."
The car slowly started moving, heading towards the "home" Li Jace knew all too well but hated even more. That was where his nightmare began.
But this time was different.
He was no longer the child who would tolerate anything for a title, a smile.
Just as the car exited the apartment complex, another vehicle slowly pulled in – not an ordinary car, but a sleek, black machine that seemed to be lurking like a predator. It wasn't a Tesla, but it was heavier, colder, and rarer.
Was it a government vehicle or a high-ranking official's ride?
The door opened silently, and a hand in white gloves landed first. Then, a man stepped out.
He wore a long, ivory-white windbreaker that dragged on the ground, his posture straight as a pine tree. His face was hidden behind a smooth, pale mask, revealing only his eyes—golden eyes, not amber, not brown, but pure gold. Like molten lava burning beneath a layer of ice.
His hair was extremely long, silver-white with golden undertones, reaching his waist, and it wasn't tied up, but rather flowed in the wind like he didn't need to exert much effort to overpower everything.
He was dressed all in white – white suit, white shirt, white pants, white shoes, and even his gloves were as white as snow.
Above his head, a black umbrella was held steady by an attendant standing in front of him. It wasn't because of the rain or the scorching sun – it was just because he walked in this place, and it needed to be like this.
Two people led the way, and four followed behind him. His footsteps were neither hurried nor slow, but carried a sense of calm and dignity that only came from being in a position of power.
The hospital staff stood frozen in place, like statues, not daring to move.
One of the nurses, with a name tag that read "D12", who had been taking care of Li Jie, cautiously stepped forward, bowing slightly, her voice trembling. "M-Mr. Ye..."
He stopped, his voice clear and rhythmic. "This is the 12th district, Building E?"
The nurse nodded hastily. "Yes, sir, this is the place."
Mr. Ye's gaze fell upon the building like a knife. "I'm looking for the last patient in that isolation ward. He was here until the end."
The nurse looked troubled, speaking softly. "He... just left. His family member came to pick him up, not long ago."
Mr. Ye's golden eyes didn't blink, despite his slight disappointmen.. "Give me his contact information."
At this point, a doctor stepped forward, sweating, but still cautious and firm. "Sir... Mr. Ye, you know this falls under government jurisdiction, and I'm afraid we can't disclose personal information."
The air was thick, and even the sound of a pin dropping would have been piercing.
Mr. Ye suddenly smiled. Not a kind smile, but a cold, bone-chilling mockery. His lips curled up slightly under the mask, like a cold, sharp blade.
"Government?" he repeated softly, his tone mocking some ridiculous old system.
He didn't say another word, just turned around and left. His long windbreaker fluttered with each step, his eyes still icy and unreadable, like nothing had happened, or like everything was under his control.
It wasn't until he got back into the car that the hospital staff breathed a sigh of relief, like they had just escaped a silent storm.
And that cold smile he gave before leaving was like a nail, firmly hammered into everyone's memory –
Mr. Ye's smirk!!!!