Chapter 26: Fourth Brother Has Mania

The reason she slapped him was because he had forced a kiss on her—more than that, a deep, intrusive kiss. She did not feel she had done anything wrong. When a girl is faced with something like that, instinct naturally brings resistance and anger.

Her neck still throbbed painfully, burning hot, and her throat felt as though it had been scraped with a blade. Nan Zhi had no desire to respond to Lan Yanzhi’s words. She had no fondness for that man, nor for his dangerously charming friend.

Lan Yanzhi looked at the back of Nan Zhi’s head, thinking to himself that this young lady was quite stubborn. His gaze flickered to the shocking marks left on her neck, and the smirk that usually lingered at his lips faded. He spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness, “Actually, you can’t entirely blame Fourth Brother for nearly strangling you. Because of something that happened in his childhood, he detests more than anything being slapped by a woman.”

Nan Zhi kept her eyes closed, ignoring his explanation. If she ever crossed paths with that man again, she would make sure to steer clear.

“Fourth Brother is a business prodigy—a rarity in a century—but no one is without flaws. He has some shortcomings in his character.” Lan Yanzhi paused briefly. “He has manic disorder. After years of treatment, his condition has improved somewhat.”

“I didn’t expect that your appearance tonight would make him lose control again.”

Nan Zhi’s hands, resting on her knees, tightened slightly.

She had truly never imagined that the man was a manic disorder patient.

“Miss, let me apologize on Fourth Brother’s behalf. I don’t know if you understand this illness. The main symptom is that, when angered, they can’t control their emotions. It’s not that he truly wanted to kill you—it’s a sickness.”

Understanding was one thing; forgiveness was another. Fortunately, she had no reason to ever come into contact with that manic patient again.

“Let’s just leave it at that. I wasn’t entirely blameless tonight either. We’ll call it even from now on,” Nan Zhi said coolly.

Lan Yanzhi looked at her with new interest. Although Fourth Brother suffered from manic disorder, he was handsome, well-built, wealthy—women desperate to cling to him came one after another. It was nothing out of the ordinary for them not to be put off by his illness. This was the first time Lan Yanzhi had met a woman who felt not the slightest infatuation for Fourth Brother.

“Do you truly want nothing to do with him, or are you playing hard to get?” Lan Yanzhi arched an eyebrow. He was no stranger to complicated women—some would use all manner of tricks to try and win his heart. But the woman before him was cool and indifferent; either she was hiding her intentions very well, or she genuinely felt nothing for Fourth Brother.

Nan Zhi’s lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. “Why would I play hard to get with someone who almost ended my life?”

Lan Yanzhi laughed, unrepentant. It was rare to see Fourth Brother on the receiving end of a woman’s disinterest!

Before he had come looking for Fourth Brother tonight, the club’s new head hostess had entered the private room, and only then did everyone realize they had truly mistaken someone else for her—the young woman who had walked in earlier was not the club’s newly arrived star.

Nan Zhi refused Lan Yanzhi’s offer to take her to the hospital. When the car reached a street where it was easy to hail a taxi, she got out. Lan Yanzhi, ever the playboy, was not one to concern himself much with women; once she had stepped from his car, he sped away in his sports car.

Nan Zhi took a taxi back to the hospital.

Yanran had found her an apartment, but she couldn’t bear to leave Xiaokai. Every night she still came to the hospital to sleep beside him.

By the time she arrived, Xiaokai and the nurse were already asleep. Nan Zhi stood quietly by the bedside, watching the little boy for a while.

Her precious child was so lovely and adorable; as long as she saw him, all the dark clouds in her heart vanished.

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