The Missing Piece: 貌合神离

Extra Story 12: Villa

Kids grow up quickly. When Ji Ning had first returned to China, he hadn’t even begun kindergarten yet, but in the blink of an eye, he was already about to start primary school. Living in the house at Jinxiu Villa was indeed comfortable. Still, after considering the school catchment area and the daily journey, Ji Mingxuan decided to move back to the Ji family home.

 

The house was where Ji Mingxuan and his sister Ji An’an had grown up. It was once a place of sorrow for him. Yet, as time passed, especially as he watched Ji Ning mature day by day, the wound in his heart gradually healed.

 

Since Ji Mingxuan had decided to move back, of course Shen Mo had no objections either. The house had been renovated just two years ago, but as it’d been left empty for a long time, there was still a sense of loneliness. Shen Mo planned to take some time to clean up the house before they moved in.

 

At first, Ji Mingxuan didn’t agree to this. 

 

“Can’t you leave those things to the house cleaner?”

 

“But Xiao-Ning will be living here. I don’t feel comfortable leaving the cleaning to someone else.”

 

After living together for several years, Shen Mo came to regard Ji Ning as his own child. He was more committed than even Ji Mingxuan, Ji Ning’s father. 

 

Unable to persuade Shen Mo, Ji Mingxuan could only nod and give in.

 

Shen Mo’s work schedule was quite flexible. He went out of his way to take an entire day off to do the cleaning. After the renovation, people were hired to clean the house regularly, so there weren’t many places left to clean. 

 

Shen Mo busied himself for the morning, mopping the floor and wiping the windows until the house looked spotless. He was going to tidy up the rooms that they’d be sleeping in in the afternoon. He made do with some bread at lunch and then sat down on the sofa to rest for a while.

 

The pleasant springtime sunlight shone warmly through the window. As he sat on the sofa, he gradually fell asleep without realising it.

 

When Shen Mo woke up again, he discovered that dark clouds had gathered outside the window, almost as if there would be a heavy storm soon.

 

Strange, the weather report didn’t say it’d rain today, though?

 

Shen Mo yawned and got up to close the window. Looking around, he felt that the living room’s furnishing looked vaguely different.

 

When he’d been cleaning in the morning, the room didn’t look like this… did it? But it was impossible that the house had changed in the span of just a short nap, right?

 

Shen Mo suspected that he was still half asleep. He rubbed his eyes and was just about to continue his work when he heard a sound come from upstairs.

 

Apart from him, somebody else was also inside the house?

 

Had a thief broken in?

 

Suddenly growing nervous, Shen Mo looked in the direction that the sound had come from. He only saw a boy slowly descending the stairs.

 

The boy had delicate features. He wore a white button-up, and his hair was slightly messy from just having woken up. 

 

Although his age was different, Shen Mo still recognised him at a glance.

 

M-Mr Ji…?

 

No. How could Mr Ji be so young…

 

Could this be an illegitimate son?

 

No way. He’s too old to be Mr Ji’s child.

 

Shen Mo was completely stunned. He stood there, not knowing what to do. The boy looked quite calm, however, only frowning as he asked, “Who are you? Why are you in my house?”

 

That’s exactly what I want to ask, Shen Mo thought.

 

Seeing that Shen Mo didn’t answer, the boy glanced at Shen Mo’s outfit and asked, 

 

“Are you the new cleaner?”

 

Remembering what he was wearing today, Shen Mo really couldn’t deny it. He could only mumble, “Yes.”

 

The boy didn’t doubt him and nodded. 

 

“You can keep working.”

 

As he said this, he was about to step on the last stair, but he slipped. He almost fell from the stairs.

 

Luckily, Shen Mo was quite close to him. He grabbed the boy’s arm and immediately asked, “What happened? Are you okay?”

 

It was obvious that the boy wasn’t used to body contact with others. He took off Shen Mo’s hand right after he steadied himself.

 

Shen Mo felt a warmth in his palm. Studying the boy’s complexion, he realised that, as expected, there was a faint redness on his face that looked strikingly similar to Ji Mingxuan’s.

 

“You’re sick?”

 

The boy replied coldly, “No.”

 

Shen Mo felt the boy’s forehead and confirmed, “You have a fever. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

 

Hearing this, the boy’s expression changed at once. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

 

“You’re afraid of the hospital?”

 

“I’m not afraid. I don’t like it.”

 

Shen Mo thought of Mr Ji. Ji Mingxuan also hated going to the hospital. Shen Mo hadn’t found out why until much later. 

 

Thinking for a while, Shen Mo said, “You don’t have to go to the hospital, but you can’t even walk properly. You should at least eat something. Do you want me to make you some congee?”

 

The boy was probably really hungry. After glancing at Shen Mo, he agreed reluctantly.

 

Shen Mo helped the boy return to his bedroom to rest some more. He found that the room the boy was living in was Ji Mingxuan’s.

 

On his way to the kitchen to make the congee, he checked the calendar inside the house; this was twenty years ago.

 

All right. So it seemed there was no doubt that the boy was Mr Ji.

 

Shen Mo didn’t understand why such a supernatural phenomenon would occur, but taking care of Mr Ji while he was sick was the top priority. 

 

So Shen Mo used the ingredients in the kitchen and, with dedication, cooked a pot of chicken-and-greens congee. Only after he tasted it, making sure that it was neither too salty nor too bland, did he take it upstairs to Ji Mingxuan.

 

Young Ji Mingxuan wasn’t asleep. Rather, he sat leaning against the bed’s headboard, absorbed in a book.

 

Shen Mo was somewhat surprised. He asked, “Trying so hard, even when you’re sick?”

 

“I have a younger sister. She’s always been in poor health.” Ji Mingxuan didn’t even look up as he spoke, his voice low, “I want to become a reliable older brother as soon as I can so that I can protect her.”

 

Ji Mingxuan was still so young, but he had made such a mature declaration.

 

Hearing those words, Shen Mo felt both amused and sad. “You will. I’m sure you will.”

 

Ji Mingxuan glanced at Shen Mo, finding him a bit strange, and asked, “The congee is ready?”

 

“Oh, right. Hurry up and eat it while it’s hot.”

 

Shen Mo hastened to pass Ji Mingxuan the bowl of congee. Ji Mingxuan tried a mouthful, and then glanced at Shen Mo again.

 

Somewhat nervous, Shen Mo asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

 

Ji Mingxuan’s expression was indifferent. “It’s not terrible.”

 

But in the end, he finished the entire bowl.

Shen Mo found it funny, thinking this was definitely the man he knew.

 

After Ji Mingxuan ate the congee, Shen Mo pulled the blanket over his body. “Stop reading. A sick person needs to rest up. I’ll buy you some medicine later.”

 

“You’re just a house cleaner. Why are you so nosy?”

 

Ji Mingxuan complained. But, despite his words, he still lay down under the blanket.

 

“Sleep well. You’ll feel better when you wake up.”

 

Shen Mo tucked Ji Mingxuan in and took away the book that Ji Mingxuan had left beside his bed. Watching Shen Mo’s motions, Ji Mingxuan suddenly said, “You know. My name is written on the book.”

 

Shen Mo was momentarily surprised. When he realised what Mr Ji had meant, he smiled. “I know what your name is.”

 

Ji Mingxuan made a sound under the blanket, satisfied with Shen Mo’s answer. But Shen Mo was curious now. “Aren’t you going to ask me what my name is?”

 

Ji Mingxuan covered his head with the blanket. “Why do I need to know the name of a house cleaner?”

 

In a while, a muffled voice came from the blanket. “Just tell me the next time you come.”

 

Shen Mo gazed at Ji Mingxuan, who had curled up into a ball. He couldn’t help but wonder: when would be the next time they met?

 

With no reply from Shen Mo, Ji Mingxuan lifted the blanket and asked, “Hey, don’t tell me you won’t come here again.”

 

Shen Mo didn’t know what answer to give him.

 

Disappointment flashed across Ji Mingxuan’s face, but he concealed it well. 

 

Soon, his expression was back to nonchalance. Waving his hand, he said, “Whatever. Don’t come again, then.

 

“It’s always been this way anyway. Mum left early after she gave birth to my sister. And even though my sister is really cute, the doctor said she could leave anytime. There won’t be anyone who stays by my side.”

 

No—that wasn’t it!

 

Shen Mo opened his mouth. He wanted to comfort Ji Mingxuan, but suddenly, he could no longer make a sound.

 

“Shen Mo.”

 

“Shen Mo.”

 

Someone seemed to be calling his name in the distance. Shen Mo felt dizzy. When he opened his eyes again, he found that he was still lying on the sofa in the living room.

 

Looking down at Shen Mo, Ji Mingxuan asked, “How come you fell asleep on the sofa?”

 

Not the cold, proud boy, but instead the handsome, mature man.

 

Shen Mo felt as if he was in a bit of a daze.

Just now… was that a dream?

 

“Good thing I came to check on you. If you kept on sleeping here, you’d catch a cold.” Ji Mingxuan dropped a blanket on Shen Mo’s body. “If you want to sleep, you should go sleep in your room.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Shen Mo stood up slowly, still somewhat immersed in the dream.

 

He parted his lips. “Mr Ji.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Someone will be there.”

 

“What?”

 

“Someone who stays by your side.” 

 

Gazing at Ji Mingxuan, Shen Mo stated, “They’ll definitely be there.”