Reluctantly Willing

Since the arrival of the medicine, more and more prisoners visited the infirmary and kept An Xiaoyan busy all day.

At 9 p.m. in the evening, An Xiaoyan was about to close the door when he saw a teenager peeping at him.

"Come on over."

The teenager continued to peep at him without moving.

"Come and tell me your problem. I'll try my best to help you."

Only then did the teenager come forward, and An Xiaoyan noticed something unusual in his way of walking.

"What happened to you?" An Xiaoyan asked with concern.

"I... My body hurts."

"Where does it hurt?"

The teenager blushed, "There."

Looking at the awkward expression on the teenager's face, An Xiaoyan understood why. Fortunately, he was prepared.

"Take off your pants and lie here. I'll apply some medicine for you."

The teenager hesitated and did not move, his juggling fingers showing his unrest.

"You will soon be well once I help you apply the medicine, otherwise it will never heal."

The teenager finally made up his mind and lay on the bed, then slowly took off his pants.

An Xiaoyan saw his underwear was soaked with blood and asked, "Was it consensual?"

The teenager buried his head in the pillow and did not speak.

"It's alright. You only need to say what you want," An Xiaoyan knew that he should not meddle too much. Now that he was privileged to have his own room and protection of prison guards, he should not cause any trouble.

"Brother, they, they..." The teenager burst out crying before he could finish the whole sentence. An Xiaoyan passed him some tissue.

"It's alright. Take your time."

"They forced me. There were several others threatening me that if I didn't do it, they would beat me to death."

"Does it hurt?" An Xiaoyan gently used cotton balls to absorb the blood.

"Yes."

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"What's your name?"

"I don't have a name. I've been called Dong Zi since I was a child."

He was only eighteen and he ended up in such a place. An Xiaoyan felt sad and wanted to save the child.

"Go back and have a good rest tonight. I'll think of a way to save you."

Dong Zi was so excited that he accidentally touched his wound. He winced in pain but still had a smile on his face.

"Thank you, brother."

An Xiaoyan looked at the innocent smile on his face and patted his head.

"Warden, I'm overworked every day and need an assistant."

The Warden forced himself to calm down, "Half of your money has already been used to purchase medicine. I'm reminding you for your good. It's really not worth it to help those people!"

"Warden, this is not a matter of whether they are worthwhile or not. I'm a doctor. They're all equal in my eyes."

"Well, Xiaoyan, you're too kind, and you'll learn your lession if you go on like that. Forget it. I'll transfer that kid to live here with you. As for the money, you two can decide how you want to split it."

Dong Zi never dreamt that he could leave the nightmarish place. When he looked at An Xiaoyan smiling at the door of the infirmary, he felt that An Xioayan was the best person in the world.

"Dong Zi, how did you end up in prison?" An Xiaoyan asked, lying in bed.

"I used to do things for my boss, who was involved in a crime. I was still a minor, so he told me to be his scapegoat for a minor will not be sentenced with the death penalty and might even get a reduced sentence. He promised to give me money when I'm out."

Thinking about how the boy was being exploited at such a young age, An Xiaoyan grew painfully aware that he suffered the same fate. Only that in his case, the hospital sacrificed him for their reputation.

"How old were you when you came in?"

"Thirteen years old."

Thirteen years old was such a tender age, yet he spent his best years trapped in prison.

"When would you be released?"

"Brother, I still have two years before I can get out. What about you, brother?"

"I still have one more year to go."

Dong Zi looked up at An Xiaoyan as he lay on his stomach, "Brother, I will go find you when I'm out. Wait for me."

"Sure. Right now, you can be my assistant and share half of my salary."

Dong Zi shook his head, his eyes twinkling, "Brother, you are my benefactor. I won't take your money. Besides, I will have a sum of money when I get out."

An Xiaoyan did not reply, just covered Dong Zi with the quilt and said goodnight.

A year passed in a blink. The day of An Xiaoyan's release had finally arrived. He had packed up a few things that belonged to him and was waiting for the release notice when he saw the Warden come with a solemn face.

"An Xiaoyan, come here."

An Xiaoyan went over and the Warden's words came as a rude shock.

The Warden said he could not be released yet. An official document arrived stating that he had been convicted of intentional homicide and sentenced for another three years.

"Warden, you are kidding, right?" If it were just another year, he could still handle it. But three more years in prison was enough to destroy his life. In three years' time, he would be 25 years old. Who would accept someone like him who had nothing?

"Xiaoyan, I'm not kidding. It is from the municipal office. Did you offend anyone?"

An Xiaoyan forced himself to calm down and scanned in his mind all the people he knew. Suddenly, a name stood out.

Gu Jun, are you still blaming me?

Gu Jun was at home rejoicing at the thought of the facial expression on An Xiaoyan's face.

An Xiaoyan, you think everything will be over in just a year? This year is only a small punishment to warm you up. The next three years is going to be your real nightmare!

[Sobbing loudy]

The nanny next to him coaxed the child in the cradle, "Guo Guo, don't cry, don't cry."

Gu Jun grabbed the baby and looked at the face resembling his, said with a laugh, "My dear son, your father is avenging your elder brother."

As if he understood the sentence, the baby cried even louder.

An Xiaoyan accepted the reality that he had to stay for another three years. It was supposed to be his big release day, who knew it would turn out to be the start of more suffering.

Dong Zi looked at his brother who was sitting at the window and gazing at the sky. He knew his brother must be hurting inside.

Why would a good man like him end up in here? He is like a saint. He deserves heaven, yet he came to hell.

"Don't be sad, brother. Life still goes on."

An Xiaoyan reluctantly forced a smile, "Dong Zi, you don't understand. I have already wasted a year, and I can't afford to waste another three more. My parents still don't know that I'm here yet."

After Dong Zi heard this, he took off while An Xiaoyan was not paying attention.

"I want to go in. I want to see the Warden."

The guard at the door stopped the teenager from entering, "Do you think you can see the Warden as and when you wish? Who do you think you are?"

The Warden was just coming out when he saw a teenager shouting.

He recognized that the teenager was the one An Xiaoyan was trying to save, "What are you doing?"

"Mr. Warden, I want to discuss something with you."

"What is it?"

"Can we discuss it inside?"

The Warden gestured to the guard with his eyes, and the guard released his hand to let Dong Zi in.

"What is it?"

"Mr. Warden, I'm begging you to allow An Xiaoyan to call home once a month."

The Warden slammed hard on the table and said, "How dare you! What do you think this place is, your home? It seems that you haven't learned a thing in the past five years, and yet Xiaoyan begged me to transfer you to the infirmary!"

Dong Zi knelt down and kowtowed incessantly, "Warden … Brother didn't think that he would have to stay for another three years. His family doesn't even know he's here. Please take pity on him. A good person like him shouldn't even be in such a place in the first place."