— Ou Yunchen on the phone —
/
Z was somewhat hunched, perhaps due to burns. He looked emaciated, like a skin-and-bones old man.
The private nurse Maggie mentioned was sitting nearby, eating a sandwich. As Ou Yunchen approached, the nurse cautiously stopped him.
Ou Yunchen: "Maggie sent me."
The nurse gave him a thorough check, ensuring he wasn't armed, before letting him pass.
At this moment, Z appeared to be asleep, basking in the sun with his eyes closed.
Ou Yunchen couldn't bear to look directly at Z's face. The disfiguring scars were shocking, and a large patch of his hair was gone.
Perhaps this was the real reason Z had said he wouldn't turn off the special effects during that video call. He didn't want his former brothers to see him as he was now...
Ou Yunchen gently pushed the wheelchair, taking Z to a fountain. A breeze passed, offering a moment of coolness, perhaps bringing some relief to the sleeping man.
Memories flooded his mind. Z would never again follow him around like a puppy. He could no longer stand up and imitate Michael Jackson to make everyone laugh...
Ou Yunchen gripped the wheelchair handles tightly, unable to suppress his grief but not daring to cry out loud.
Ou Yunchen whispered, "Brother, I've come to see you..."
Z didn't respond, perhaps still deep in sleep.
Ou Yunchen: "I will avenge you. For our fallen brothers, I will make Axe pay!"
Z: "..."
Ou Yunchen: "Trust me."
Ou Yunchen stayed with Z for a short while longer, recounting his current achievements. He even envisioned that once the mission was truly accomplished, he would come back for Z.
They would be like before, with Ou Yunchen as the big brother and Z as his loyal subordinate.
Ou Yunchen: "I will heal your face. I'll find the best plastic surgeon..."
Ou Yunchen finally patted Z's shoulder and quietly departed.
But just as Ou Yunchen left, Z's eyes opened, his eyes already moist from some unknown time.
He slowly turned his head to look at the receding figure, just as he had years ago, watching his brother depart on a mission.
Z: "It seems you've truly forgotten..."
Forgotten what? Forgotten that the sacrifices of the War of Adopted Sons were also the instigators of the war... Forgotten that the real beast was himself...