On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, Qi Yi returned, bringing Lin Hu with him.
Qi Zhenzhen was surprised when she saw Lin Hu, as it was almost the New Year, and under normal circumstances, Lin Hu should have been home to celebrate with Lin Ruixue and Zhang Erniu.
In front of Lin Hu, Qi Zhenzhen asked nothing. After Qi Yi had arranged accommodations for Lin Hu, he came to find Qi Zhenzhen alone and explained.
Lin Hu had been targeted at Songhe Academy, or more precisely, he had taken the blow meant for Qi Yi.
Previously, Qi Yi had performed exceptionally well at the academy, earning the favor of the teachers. This made some people resent him. Before they could make a move, Qi Yi had already left. Because Lin Hu was close to Qi Yi, after Qi Yi's departure, those people shifted their animosity towards Lin Hu. Although they hadn't taken any substantial action, they ostracized Lin Hu daily, leaving him with no friends at the academy.
This time, when Qi Yi returned, they seized the opportunity to plot against him.
Even though he was protected by Gu Sinian's men, no one expected teenagers to be so ruthless.
Under the guise of an invitation from an academy teacher for a small gathering, Qi Yi was lured.
However, the tea served to Qi Yi contained a vile drug, and in a large dosage.
Lin Hu sensed something was wrong and drank the tea in Qi Yi's stead.
"Hu Zi thought they would at most put some purgative powder in it, but he never imagined..." Qi Yi gritted his teeth as he spoke, "that they would be so vicious."
"Haven't I told you to be vigilant when interacting with people when you're out? You knew your classmates harbored ill will towards you, so why did you attend the gathering? Knowing the tea was problematic, why did you drink it? Did you just assume? With your and Hu Zi's skills, if you hadn't drunk it, could they have forced you?" Qi Zhenzhen's expression was stern.
Qi Yi lowered his head in shame, "It was my carelessness. I didn't expect..."
"You didn't expect that despite their young age, their hearts would be so cruel, right? Who told you that only older people commit evil deeds?" Qi Zhenzhen reprimanded mercilessly. "Because of your assumptions, you almost put yourself in danger and now you've implicated Hu Zi. Have you considered how heartbroken Aunt Xue will be with Hu Zi in this state?"
"I..." Qi Yi felt a little wronged. If Lin Hu hadn't taken the blow for him, he would be the one suffering the consequences now. He felt fear and guilt, and sought comfort from Qi Zhenzhen. However, he never expected his sister, who had doted on him since childhood, to scold him so severely.
"You still feel wronged?" Qi Zhenzhen said angrily. "Have you considered that if anything else had gone wrong, Hu Zi could have lost his life? At that point, would killing those who harmed him bring Hu Zi back to life? Or, if you had been the one affected, how would Mother and I cope? If people in the manor found out, what would your fate be?"
Due to the excessive dosage of the drug, Lin Hu suffered severe damage to his reproductive organs. The conclusion from the doctors who examined him was that he would be permanently incapacitated.
In other words, although he still possessed the physical attributes, he would be unable to perform sexually in the future.
Lin Hu was young now, and perhaps out of affection for Qi Yi, he didn't think much of it. But what about the future? As he grew older, would he still feel the same? When Qi Yi married and had children, Lin Hu would not be able to, and would their relationship remain as close and intimate as it was now?
What would Lin Ruixue think then?
This was something that could have been prevented, but due to Qi Yi's arrogance and assumptions, it could not be avoided.