In the end, Xiao Qiang was subjected to a barrage of rigorous tests by his attending physician, who had him hooked up to every piece of diagnostic equipment available—they even checked the functionality of his "little brother."
The final conclusion was that the lad was as fit as an ox.
"Little brother, why don't I run a sperm motility test for you as well? Just in case it affects your future fertility?"
Xiao Qiang felt his head spinning. "Thank you, Doctor Zhang, but please, spare me. I don't want to be a lab rat..."
"This isn't being a lab rat; you’re contributing to the advancement of human health!"
"Isn't that just a fancy way of saying 'lab rat'?"
Ultimately, after Xiao Qiang’s strong protests, Doctor Zhang finally let him be and processed his discharge papers. There was no helping it; the lad was in better health than any of them, and there was simply no justification for keeping him in the hospital any longer.
"Honey, shall I go buy you some new clothes? And then we can go home?"
Qin Zhaoyue clung to Xiao Qiang like a shadow, refusing to leave his side for even a moment. She didn't even spare a glance for her foster brother, Chen Zihao. Seeing that Qin Zhaoyue was no longer staying at the hospital to keep him company, Chen Zihao simply snuck out of the inpatient building to follow her.
Xiao Qiang, who had been walking in front, suddenly stopped. "Qin Zhaoyue, I once loved you so very much, but what does that matter now? From the moment I died, I understood one thing: there is a fundamental problem between us. I cannot tolerate the lack of boundaries in your relationship with your foster brother. And what I found even more intolerable was that your life had become a series of multiple-choice questions."
"If we watched a movie, you had to choose between being with me or being with your foster brother. When it came to getting our marriage license, you chose to celebrate your foster brother’s birthday instead. Whenever there was a conflict between him and me, you chose to believe him... And this time, heh!"
"If it weren't for my sheer luck, Qin Zhaoyue, I would already be lying in a cold morgue right now!"
As he spoke, Xiao Qiang’s eyes grew moist. He had once loved her to the point of desperation, and now, this breakup felt like a sharp blade piercing his heart, causing him excruciating pain.
However, he wiped away his tears and continued. "In truth, from the moment you began making those choices, I had already lost, because I was no longer the only one in your heart. Since that’s the case, let’s just end it."
"Love is not something this world lacks; I have no need to beg for it so humbly. You have your foster brother now—whether you two want to be ambiguous or sleep together, no one will care. Do as you please. I’ve only got a few items of clothing from all these years since graduation; just throw them away when you get home. I won't be going back to get them. From now on, let us be strangers to one another."
With that, Xiao Qiang ignored the tear-streaked face of Qin Zhaoyue and walked away alone. After walking a few meters, he paused. "Oh, and as your ex-boyfriend, I’ll give you one last piece of advice: this foster brother of yours isn't exactly a saint. Don't end up losing both your heart and your fortune one day."
Having said his piece, he walked off alone. Behind him, Qin Zhaoyue collapsed on the ground under the scorching sun, weeping uncontrollably.
"Sister, let's go, let's head home! Don't be sad. Maybe he's just acting out of anger; once he cools down, he might come back!" Chen Zihao advised her cautiously, worried that Xiao Qiang’s parting words had sown seeds of suspicion in her mind.
Hearing Xiao Qiang's parting words, Qin Zhaoyue’s body stiffened. "Yes, you're right, Zihao. Your brother-in-law is probably just hot-headed right now. Once he calms down, I’ll explain everything to him properly..."
"Let’s go, Sister. Let’s head home."
Qin Zhaoyue wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Let’s go..."
Fifteen minutes into the drive, Chen Zihao suddenly spoke up. "Sister, this doesn't look like the road to your villa. Where are you going?"
"Zihao, your brother-in-law was right. Sometimes I really don't consider his feelings enough. We are just foster siblings, after all, and we should keep a certain distance. I’m dropping you off at your dormitory. You’ll just have to work hard and take care of yourself."
Chen Zihao’s expression shifted. He hadn't expected that after moving under the same roof with Qin Zhaoyue just yesterday, he would be kicked out today—and all because of that ex-husband of hers!
*Damn it! Damn it!*
In that instant, he felt as if his most prized possession had been snatched away, and his hatred for Xiao Qiang reached a fever pitch.
"Oh, alright, Sister..."
Qin Zhaoyue noticed the disappointment in Chen Zihao's tone and immediately consoled him. "I'm not in a good mood, and I’m going to stay at my aunt’s place for a few days. I wouldn't be able to look after you anyway. Living in the dorm means your colleagues can at least look out for you."
Chen Zihao could tell that the tone his sister was using had become somewhat stiff; her explanation felt more like a cover-up. *If you're going to your aunt’s, I could just stay at your place myself! But now you're kicking me out!* Even though he thought this, he couldn't voice it.
"Alright, Sister. Take care of yourself! Once my wounds heal, I'll come visit you."
Qin Zhaoyue offered a strained smile. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she asked, "Zihao, why did your brother-in-law hit you yesterday? He isn't a man who can't tell right from wrong or has a violent temperament. Did you say something to him?"
Hearing this, Chen Zihao immediately tensed up, but he had already prepared his story. "Sister, when he saw me that day, he said I was only getting close to you for your money and for you yourself, and told me not to harbor any illusions. When I heard him say that, I got a bit heated and angrily replied that you and I were just a simple foster brother-sister relationship, and that I would never leave your side. I think he got embarrassed and furious, and that’s when he lashed out at me."
Chen Zihao’s story was clever. Since Xiao Qiang had already pointed out his inappropriate attraction to her, if he pretended it didn't exist, it would only raise Qin Zhaoyue’s suspicions. By diverting the blame and openly acknowledging it, he made his story sound more credible.
As expected, Qin Zhaoyue found the explanation reasonable and didn't press further.
After dropping Chen Zihao at his dorm and sending him 10,000 yuan via WeChat, Qin Zhaoyue finally left.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qiang walked the streets of Haizhou, feeling a sense of both heaviness and relief. Giving up on a relationship so suddenly would leave anyone feeling unsettled. What felt light, however, was that he would no longer have to suffer through the ambiguous, messy relationship between those two.
"It's all in the past! From this day forward, I’m making a fresh start. Xiao Qiang, you're the best!"
After giving himself a pep talk, he suddenly realized his dire predicament. In his daily life with Qin Zhaoyue, his food, clothes, and living expenses were all covered by her; even his WeChat was linked to her bank card. Now that they had broken up, he wouldn't spend a single cent of her money—not one! Xiao Qiang had that much pride.
Being cast out so suddenly left him penniless and facing the prospect of sleeping on the streets tonight.
"No, I have to find a job this afternoon, or I'll really be homeless."
Finally, after wandering the vast streets of Haizhou for two hours, Xiao Qiang stopped in front of a massage parlor called "Mingshi Health Club."
Looking at it from the outside, it was even more luxurious than "Heima Club."
A massive LED screen flashed a recruitment advertisement:
"We are hiring male massage therapists year-round. Height requirement: 175cm or above. Age: 18-28. Must be attractive, physically fit, and have no bad habits. Base salary: 3,000 yuan, plus high commissions. Guaranteed monthly income of 50,000+ yuan! Room and board provided."