Life-Saving Days by the Husky’s Side

Life-Saving Days by the Husky’s Side
Hello to this summer

It was not until the little boy got into the ambulance that Zhou Li finally understood his current situation. 

When his soul was ejected after the car accident, instead of following his body, it was bound to the jade pendant.

The little boy had been pushed away by him and was thrown to the ground,  sustaining some injuries. He cried erratically.

The nurse and the woman hurriedly soothed him. Seeing that there was a bloody colour on his neck, they examined the cut but found that there was no wound and let out a relieved sigh, then helped wipe off the other blood and cuts on his body. The woman followed the red string around his neck and saw the jade pendant. Seeing the blood staining the pendant, she coaxed the boy while choking through her tears and wiping the blood off. 

Zhou Li knew the bloodstains were because of him. He thought that after the blood was cleaned off, he would be able to return to his body. However, even after the blood was gone, he still stayed with the jade.

The little boy cried himself to exhaustion, and asked, “Then…that uncle, how…how is he?”

Zhou Li said, “What uncle, how much older am I? Call me Gege.”

Unfortunately, no one could hear his voice.

When the woman heard her son’s questioning, tears began pouring down again. She said, “Still being rescued. He’ll…he will be okay.”

She hugged her son, controlled her voice, and cried silently.

After a while, a man rushed into the emergency department. The woman stood up with her son in her arms, one big and one small person throwing themselves into the man’s arms before they all started sobbing again.

Zhou Li was forcibly squished as the transparent filling of this sandwich cookie. He felt a little melancholy.

The little boy cried himself tired again. He laid in the woman’s arms and gradually fell asleep, then developed a high fever later that night. Zhou Li was by his side the entire time. After learning from the adults’ conversation that he couldn’t be saved, a sigh escaped his lips.

The little boy burned from his fever for a whole day. Once he got slightly better, he was taken to the funeral by the couple.

Zhou Li raised his head and was instantly met with the sight of his family and friends. Tears almost fell from his eyes.

His family and friends also saw them, and a few came over to greet them.

The couple exchanged a few words with them and put the little boy on the ground, letting him kotow three times to the dead before making their way to the family area.

Zhou Li’s mother’s eyes were red. She touched the little boy’s head and smiled as much as she possibly could, asking, “What is your name?”

The little boy answered in a choked voice, “Ji…Ji Shaojie.”

Zhou Li froze. He glanced at the child.

His mother said, “En, you have a good name*. Be a good child in the future and live happily. Your gege, he…”

[T/N: the character for ‘jie’ means ‘outstanding person’]

She choked up and continued, “If your Gege knew, he would also be happy.”

Zhou Li’s heart felt stuffy and he gave his mother an empty hug.

The little boy nodded, a little confused, and sat beside his* mother.

[T/N: Zhou Li’s mum]

The couple originally wanted to stay and watch over the coffin with them, but then the little boy showed signs of a fever again, so the woman could only pick up the boy and leave first. Zhou Li took one last glance at his mourning hall before following them.

The little boy’s fever burned intermittently for several days before he recovered.

During this time of waiting, Zhou Li felt that he appeared to be growing more and more transparent every day, as if it could dissipate at any time.

The couple had no idea they were living under the same roof as a ghost. They saw that the little boy was always talking about his gege and were deeply feeling that things couldn’t go on like this.

Thus, that night, the man clapped his hands and said, “That huckster*…cough, didn’t the great master you two met last time say that your piece of jade can bless someone with a happy reincarnation?”

[T/N: 神棍: tricks people using supernatural-based lies]

The little boy’s eyes widened and he looked down at his jade pendant.

The woman was similarly startled, then followed up with, “Right, right, right, that’s what the great master said!”

The little boy said, “Really?”

The man said, “Really, really! There are records in ancient books; the jade has very magical properties, like the Pisces jade pendant* and the likes. It is very spiritual. Our family too, we have ancient books as well.”

[T/N: 双鱼玉佩: not sure if there’s a story about this or something]

He winked at his wife. She had an epiphany and hurried to the study. After a while, she brought out an old book and put it in front of the little boy. Zhou Li saw five words on the cover: Classics of Mountains and Seas*.

[T/N: 山海经/Shan Hai Jing: classic Chinese text about mythology, geography, etc.]

Zhou Li: “……”

That’s enough.

The frenzied couple pinned all their hopes on their son’s illiteracy. They flipped open the book and began to spout nonsense about how the jade pendant was worn by the Buddha all year round. Being immersed in the Buddha’s light that filled the whole sky, it definitely blesses the wearer to a good reincarnation, where they will enjoy endless prosperity and wealth.

Zhou Li couldn’t help butting in, “No, wait, you guys are letting him be instilled with a bunch of feudal superstitions at such a young age, how can this be good?”

The little boy listened very seriously and announced, “Then I want to give this to Gege.”

As soon as these words fell, Zhou Li felt the soul that was on the brink of dissipation instantly become complete again. The scene in front of his eyes suddenly bloomed, and then he arrived at the silent cemetery.

So it turned out that the alleged ‘the cause and effect from being involved with the Zhonglian will transmigrate with the user*’ had this meaning… He was so moved that he almost shed tears. He thought to himself that if he was ever able to return, he should buy a copy of《Classics of Mountains and Seas》for worship*.

[T/N: an item that you pray to for blessings]

He looked around for a long time and found that throughout the whole mountain, the only one floating about was him. The floating Zhou Li in the past couldn’t help but shout, “Is anyone here?”

[T/N: this is slightly confusing, but Zhou Li (present) is without a soul-body. He is looking at the past him (at the beginning of the novel), who will be the one talking in the following passage. Not in the story, but I will add Past if it is novel-beginning Zhou Li talking and leave present Zhou Li as normal]

There was dead silence all around.

Past Zhou Li: “Want to do some square dancing* ah?“

[T/N: you know those exercises asian seniors do in the parks?]

Still a dead silence.

Past Zhou Li: “Discos are also fine ah!“

The silence remained dead.

Past Zhou Li: “Loving even after death, head first, it’s all or nothing!”

[T/N: 死了都要爱: song called Love Beyond Death]

Dead silence, as before.

Past Zhou Li believed he might have gone to enter the reincarnation cycle and wasn’t too happy. He sat cross-legged in front of his gravestone to pass the time.

The next morning, Zhou Li saw his family and friends coming over to say their farewells to him. After listening carefully to some scattered sentences, he realised that today was the seven day after his death*.

[T/N: 头七: Chinese people believe that on the 7th day after death, the deceased soul will return to their home. Family are expected to stay in their rooms so the soul won’t see them, in case they remember something that affects their reincarnation]

He patiently listened to their goodbyes. Even though they couldn’t hear his voice, he still smiled and said his own farewells.

When he watched their figures grow smaller as they left, he came across a familiar view. The little boy made his way over while holding the man’s hand and then started digging a hole to bury the jade.

He felt that his soul was gradually leaving this world. Zhou Li watched the past version of him smile at the one-big, one-small pair and say, “I’ve received your feelings, there’s no need for this…”

The view in front of him faded away again, and when he recovered, he was standing back in front of the human-size jade.

He saw cracks slowly crawl up the jade petal before it suddenly shattered into a cloud of dust, disappearing without a trace. He watched in silent astonishment, feeling that Ji Tianyang’s speculation about ‘that time he was was whacked over on the head had been blocked by the jade’ was wrong. This is what it means for the jade to block a major disaster.

As soon as this thought appeared in his mind, he saw a blinding light take over his sight and when he opened his eyes again, he was met with the sight of a white ceiling.

In an instant, a group of people surrounded him.

Madam Zhou, Father Zhou, Zhou Luwen…and even Zheng San and the others were here. Zhou Lubo was the last one to make his way over, having the nurse go and call the doctor first before standing at the bedside.

Zhou Li looked at them, turned his eyes, and saw Ji Shaoyan, who was sitting beside his bed, completely motionless.

Ji Shaoyan’s eyes were bloodshot. He almost couldn’t maintain his usual gentle and refined appearance.

He stared at Zhou Li unblinkingly, without saying a single word. If Zhou Li had not been saved, the worlds would experience a jump at the instance of his death, and he also wouldn’t know who is the one who woke up in this body.

Zhou Li hooked up the corners of his lips. “A-Yan.”

Ji Shaoyan’s eyes grew hot and he held his hand in a tight grip. “En, I’m here.”

Zhou Li’s hand squeezed back, then he closed his eyes and fell asleep again.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already nighttime. Ji Shaoyan was still at his side.

Only then did Zhou Li realise that he was a miracle case. It was said that he had been fatally wounded, but he kept stubbornly hanging onto life and survived despite all odds. He was in a coma for seven days. When he opened his eyes today, he just so happened to have been released from the intensive care unit that day. Coincidentally, it was also a Saturday, so Zheng San and the others visited.

He murmured, “Seven days ah.”

Ji Shaoyan was in the middle of wiping his hands. Realising that his tone was slightly off, he asked, “What is it?”

Zhou Li said, “Just…I happened to pass the first seven days.”

Ji Shaoyan’s hands paused in their movements and he lifted his head to took at him.

Zhou Li told him about what happened during his coma. He felt that the first time he was taken in by the jade, it was simply a muddleheaded experience with no meaning. However, after facing a disaster this time, Zhonglian sent him back to the moment after his death, to let him understand how he came here.

Right now, Ji Shaoyan didn’t want to hear him talk about who or what is dead, directly interrupting him with a gentle question, “Need to drink water?”

Zhou Li heard him change subjects in such a blunt manner and was slightly startled. He looked at him, and thought about the scene at that time if he stood in the other’s shoes. He felt a pain in his heart and shuffled aside, motioned him to climb into the bed.

Ji Shaoyan quickly pressed his hand down. “Don’t make trouble.”

Zhou Li said, “Lie down with me for a bit.”

Ji Shaoyan: “I can’t, your body’s still injured.”

Zhou Li: “Just lie down for a while, it’s not like I’m making you sleep with me.”

Ji Shaoyan always gave into him*, so he put the towel on a table and climbed into bed with him.

[T/N: held no temper towards him]

Zhou Li looked at him. “Say, do you think that little boy is another you?”

Ji Shaoyan was afraid to get too close to him. With much self-control, he bowed his head and kissed him lightly on the lips before separating, then replied, “Who knows.”

Zhou Li couldn’t help but want to laugh. “Tricked by a copy of ‘Classics of Mountains and Seas’… Oh, you guys happen to have it here too. Buy me a copy tomorrow, I want to worship it.”

Ji Shaoyan naturally had no complaints. “Okay.”

Zhou Li leaned in close and studied his face, thinking he was far too good looking. He said, “Kiss me again.”

Ji Shaoyan smiled, pinching his chin and kissing him again. When hearing Zhou Li ask about Ji Tianyang and the others, he briefly brought him up to date on what happened after he fell unconscious.

Ji Tianyang was inserted into the dog’s body with the experimental technology, and his original body fell into a coma.

All those present were Ji Shaoyan’s henchmen and they all went through strict training when it came to keeping their mouths shut. One half of the men sent Zhou Li to the hospital, and the other half were put under the command of Yan Yunhui. They put away the lab technology and the dog, took down all the monitoring equipment, tied up Ji Tianyang’s body and subdued Lin Ye, then reported to the police.

This whole affair had too much evidence. The police did a little investigation and found that Ji Tianyang had been the mastermind behind everything.

The blood stains on Ji Tianyang’s body were consistent with those belonging to the corpses, and his fingerprints were still on the fighting knife, so it was fairly obvious he did it.

The Ji family were all shocked, wanting to know what reasons Ji Tianyang had for doing such a thing.

At that time, Ji Shaoyan was in a crazed state at the hospital. He wasn’t willing to give even one passing glance at his stepmother or father.

Yan Yunhui reluctantly explained that Xiao-Yang wanted to kidnap Zhou Li to force A-Yan to give up his inheritance rights. As for why he later fought with Lin Ye and the others, he had no idea, and as for why he fainted even later on, he had even less of an idea. Maybe it was from an accidental injury during the infighting ba.

The idea that he would fight for inheritance rights the moment he entered high school, no one in the Ji family could believe such a thing would happen.

But ironclad evidence was displayed clearly right in front of them. No matter what reasons Ji Tianyang had, he did all of this, and there was no running away.

Grandpa Ji was so furious that his nose went crooked on the spot. Madam Ji fainted, Father Ji’s face turned green, and unlike most cases, didn’t help her stay up.

Ji Shaoyan didn’t care about whatever happened from then on. The police would investigate it anyway, and it wasn’t like Ji Tianyang could wake up and record his confession, so things were left as they were.

Zhou Li said, “What about Lin Ye?”

Ji Shaoyan said, “He was rescued and also hospitalised, waiting to be sentenced later.”

It’s good he didn’t die. Ji Shaoyan will let people take good care of him when he is in prison.

Zhou Li was surprised. “Ji Tianyang actually didn’t kill him, how unlike his style.”

Ji Shaoyan sighed. “Do you dare to believe that? His heart is so crooked.”

Zhou Li: “……”

Ji Shaoyan continued with his report.

When Lin Ye was caught, he immediately confessed.

He and Er Ye were in a fated relationship. The second master and his brothers were arrested because they offended Ji Shaoyan and he was also forced to hide from place to place, living the life of a rat, so when Ji Tianyang approached him, he agreed to throw all caution to the wind and complete the job. He knew Ji Shaoyan liked Zhou Li. Although he still hadn’t figured out the ins and outs of the whole mess in the end, he still wanted Ji Shaoyan to taste this bone-deep pain before he died, and so he shot Zhou Li.

Ji Shaoyan touched Zhou Li’s face and whispered, “It was me who implicated you.”

Zhou Li clasped his hand and corrected, “We took on the burden together at the beginning. It is the same for this time.”

Ji Shaoyan didn’t answer, pressing their lips together again. Seeing that he was a little tired, he quietly watched Zhou Li fall asleep before getting out of bed.

The days of recuperating flew by quickly.

Every time the doctor examined Zhou Li, he would be amazed. This patient not only had an amazing will to survive, but he also recovered surprisingly fast. A normal person would need to wait half a year to recover from his wounds, but he would only need three months in the hospital.

Zhou Li naturally wouldn’t stay low for three months without getting up to his tricks.

He successfully missed the final exam and wanted to leave the hospital during summer break to recover on his own. After consulting the doctor, the Zhou family was told this option would be fine, so they brought the person home.

The golden retriever had also already been discharged from the hospital. With a wagging tail and loud whining, it came over and rubbed its head.

Zhou Li knew about its meritorious contribution this time and petted its head with a smile.

The golden retriever was overjoyed and instinctively wanted to pounce on him, but when it saw Ji Shaoyan take a half step forward and send a glance in its direction, it immediately became obedient.

Zhou Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and rubbed its head again, then motioned for Ji Shaoyan to take its leash, telling him to go out for a walk and take the dog along the way.

The golden retriever: “……”

Ji Shaoyan: “……”

The human-dog duo looked at each other for two seconds. The golden retriever wagged its tail at him fawningly.

Ji Shaoyan exercised patience. Taking Zhou Li in one hand and the dog leash in the other, they went out for a walk.

The Zhou family members had a slight psychological shadow, fearing that the remnants of the underworld mafia had not been cleaned up completely, so they assigned a bodyguard to follow them to quell their worries. Zhou Li did not reject their actions. Seeing that the bodyguard should be at a distance where he wouldn’t overhear their conversation, he asked, “Where’s your brother?”

Ji Shaoyan said, “Jingxiu is raising him. When you get better, I’ll take you to see.”

Zhou Li agreed, “Okay.”

Ji Shaoyan followed through with his promise. After Zhou Li rested for a while more, he took them to the beach and boarded a yacht, then set out to sea. They came to a stop over the endless ocean, and then he ordered the bodyguard to bring the dog over.

Ji Tianyang is not a person who gives up easily, and he is very afraid of death.

So even though he has fallen to this point, he did not give up his desire to survive. He didn’t know if Ji Shaoyan returning to his body after nearly dying last time was purely a coincidence, but he was too scared to try himself, so he could only stay in this state for the time being. 

Naturally, Liang Jingxiu did not feed him human food. He was only given dog ​​food.

Ji Tianyang had no way out, eating until he became extremely depressed, yet his fur had grown so smooth and beautiful, the type that made people want to rub if they laid their eyes on him.

Ji Shaoyan gestured for the bodyguard to leave. Holding two pieces of jade in his hand, he displayed them in front of the dog.

Ji Tianyang originally didn’t want to pay attention to them, but when the jades appeared in front of him, his eyes immediately focused. The two pieces of jade were placed very closely and the engraved characters glowed faintly, in an almost beautiful presentation.

Ji Shaoyan: “This time, it’s the real deal.”

Ji Tianyang didn’t hear him, still fixated on the two pieces of jade.

Ji Shaoyan didn’t mind at all. He retracted his hand and walked to the railing, then took a pendant and hurled it into the great sea.

Ji Tianyang instantly ran after it. “Wan wan wan wan wan!“

Ji Shaoyan changed location and threw the other piece overboard.

Ji Tianyang went mad. “Wan wan wan wan wan!“

Ji Shaoyan walked back and happily looked down at him. “When you return to your body and finish serving your jail time, remember to come to fish for the jade.”

Ji Tianyang: “Wan wan wan wan wan!“

Ji Shaoyan waved at the bodyguard and said, “Looks like he’s hungry. Open a can of food for him.”

The bodyguard followed his orders, carrying the mad dog away.

Zhou Li watched from the sidelines. Waiting after they walked farther away,  he asked, “You really threw them away?”

Ji Shaoyan proceeded to take out another two glowing jades, handing them to him with a smile. “After all, it is what sent you here. Let’s keep it as a memento ba.”

Zhou Li knew this would be the case. After a short consideration, he still decided to lock them up in the bank.

They heard a WeChat notification and saw the little brothers send a message, saying that the meal was almost ready and urging them to hurry back.

The two returned to land, arriving at a villa near the seaside.

The little brothers will soon enter their third year of high school. Right now, they should be making up classes at school, but instead they had applied for leave to come here.

Mingying students didn’t suffer from the pressure of university entrance examinations and the school term was set to start at the normal date. Zheng San and the others also came this time, and the giant group of teenagers were currently having a barbeque.

When Zhou Li and Ji Shaoyan made their way over, they heard the lot kicking up a fuss on the balcony.

Zheng San: “No, seriously, can you even eat this?”

Lao Dan: “Of course it’s edible, trust my technique.”

Liu Xiaowei: “You’re telling us to trust your ‘oven burnt chicken’ technique?!”

Tang Zixin: “Why did you even choose to have a barbecue on such a hot day? I need ice cream!”

Song Yingshi: “We have some, I’ll go get it for you.”

Liang Jingxiu: “Let her go by herself, she has legs for a reason.”

Tang Zixin cried, “Jing-shao, you’ve changed. Ever since you fell in love, you no longer recognise me as your Tian Tian!”

Liang Jingxiu: “En, my type is someone of the opposite sex who I didn’t grow up with*.”

[T/N: 我典型的有异性没发小: not sure what this means]

Er-ge: “Got it, I’ll get it for you.”

Tang Zixin: “Thank you!”

Er-ge: “No need for thanks, seeing how you will give me a reward of tens of thousands of dollars.”

Tang Zixin: “Is tens of thousands of dollars only worth a box of ice cream?!”

Er-ge: “This is the ice cream that an idol personally carried over for you.”

Tang Zixin: “What idol, you can piss off, I’ll get it myself!”

She suddenly got up and saw Ji Shaoyan and Zhou Li who were walking over from downstairs. It was as if she had found her dearest relatives, and she almost shed tears. “While you’re still there, help me get a box of ice cream.”

Zhou Li gladly responded in compliance, smiling with crescent eyes.

How great. Summer is here again.

The author has something to say:

It’s over~~ I will take a day off tomorrow, and the day after I will start releasing the extras~