Chapter 11: Dialogue of Desire · Jack

Jack held the medical report in his hand—it felt like a death notice, weighing heavily on his steps and slowing his pace.

When he returned to the house, he was surprised to find the unfamiliar figure he had seen downstairs earlier now inside his home.

There were two chairs in the room, and Wen Xishu was seated in one of them.

He had come straight to Jack’s house.

“Hello, you are... do you need any help?”

In the Three Towers, language barriers did not exist, so communication between tower climbers and the locals was seamless.

Wen Xishu found this somewhat amusing.

Faced with someone breaking into his home, Jack’s first reaction was to ask if the intruder needed help, without even inquiring who he was.

Truly, good people are simple and pure until pushed beyond their limits, unleashing the darkness within.

Wen Xishu said, “I do need a bit of help, Jack. But I believe we can help each other.”

Jack was taken aback that the stranger knew his name.

“I... how can I help you?” he asked.

Wen Xishu appeared approachable, sitting casually and relaxed, while Jack seemed a bit tense.

“Relax, Jack. Think of me as a friend to you and Jennifer. You just need to answer a few questions.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

They resembled a therapist and a patient, with Jack clearly bearing some ailment.

“Of course, as payment, I hope to help bring you closer to Jennifer.”

Jack’s eyes lit up briefly, but the thought of his impending death quickly dimmed that light.

Wen Xishu noticed this change immediately—he knew it well.

When he engaged in high-risk extreme sports, he had seen many like this: eyes dimmed and lifeless.

Some seek thrills in extreme sports; others seek a dignified death.

Bungee jumping always attracts a certain type of person—whether from seventy meters or three hundred—they jump as if they have no attachment to the world.

“You seem despondent. It looks like the illness has dealt you a heavy blow. But Jack, your condition might not be what you think.”

“From now on, treat me as a doctor and be honest with me. Think of this as all for Jennifer’s sake.”

At the mention of Jennifer, Jack’s suspicion and guard dropped instantly—he had always lacked such defenses.

“Alright, what do you want to ask? I don’t have long to live. I believe no doctor, no matter how skilled, can change my fate.”

“Besides, I have no money. But whatever you want to know, if I can answer, I will.”

Jack was frank, and Wen Xishu admitted he was fortunate—having a core person like Jack, a genuinely good man, made the task much easier.

“Do you like Julia?” Wen Xishu’s first question was blunt.

“I don’t like Julia.”

As expected.

Jack’s answer did not surprise Wen Xishu.

Julia’s importance was not in herself but in being Jennifer’s mother.

He nodded.

“So, Remian thought you liked Julia, but in truth, you just want to get closer to Jennifer.”

Jack now trusted Wen Xishu knew Jennifer well and spoke sincerely:

“She’s a good kid, makes you feel happy, makes the world seem less harsh.”

Wen Xishu agreed. Though unfamiliar with Jennifer, in the strange tower, he surprisingly found her to be a likable child.

“And Jennifer also enjoys being with you,” Wen Xishu added.

Jack shook his head uncertainly.

“I... I don’t know. I just like being with her. It’s a bit selfish, really, because it only makes me happy.”

“But I... I’m not sure if Jennifer is happy.”

Wen Xishu smiled gently.

“As far as I know, Julia has some charm. If this were a romance novel, she might just attract a domineering CEO who falls for her despite her divorce and child.”

“But she certainly isn’t short of men eager to court her. Among them is Remian. They probably don’t treat little Jennifer badly, right?”

Jack nodded softly.

“Yes, everyone loves little Jennifer. Who would have ill intentions toward her?”

Wen Xishu said,

“Though you’re uncertain if Jennifer likes being with you, do you think she is happier with you than with others?”

Wen Xishu’s smile was comforting, and his tone gentle, like an old friend.

Jack still nodded.

“Little Jennifer does seem to prefer being with me.”

“Good. Thank you very much. I hope you two can spend more time together. To answer your question, Jennifer truly feels happy when she’s with you.”

Jack’s smile grew noticeably.

Wen Xishu continued,

“By the way, do you like other children?”

Jack shook his head.

“Honestly... apart from work, I don’t really like being around other kids.”

Wen Xishu’s suspicion grew stronger.

There was a special bond between Jack and little Jennifer.

“Next question: Were you surprised by the late-stage stomach cancer diagnosis?”

Jack looked puzzled, and Wen Xishu remained silent for a moment.

“Don’t wonder how I know everything, Jack. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“What I want to ask is whether you found your stomach cancer diagnosis unexpected. Do you feel some of your symptoms don’t really match stomach cancer?”

A very direct question.

Jack thought carefully before replying:

“I don’t know. My body started changing months ago.”

“My appetite grew huge, but sometimes I’d vomit frequently... as you can see, I’m very thin now.”

Wen Xishu’s interest peaked.

“Do you have any photos of the vomit?”

Jack shook his head in surprise.

“Sorry, I didn’t take pictures of that.”

“That stuff? The things you vomit—aren’t they food?”

“No... you might find this hard to believe. Eh, never mind, maybe I shouldn’t say.”

“Please tell me clearly.”

“I often vomit black liquid, but it feels like there’s something else in it.”

Wen Xishu’s pupils flickered sharply. This was no ordinary stomach ailment.

He asked again:

“As far as I know, you’re not wealthy. But the medical report in your hand is from Moen City Hospital.”

“If I were you, I’d say the full set of tests would be unaffordable, right?”

Jack didn’t deny it.

“That doctor was very kind. He took me through various tests. Said it was his lucky day because I was so thin, and he wanted to do a good deed.”

“He didn’t charge me, but said I’d have to raise funds for treatment myself. All he could do was the tests and tell me what was wrong.”

A chill ran through Wen Xishu’s heart.

“Could you give me the doctor’s contact information?”

Jack trusted Wen Xishu completely and left him a number.

Finally, Wen Xishu asked:

“Jack, has Jennifer ever felt unwell? Not just stomach issues, but anywhere?”

Jack’s eyes widened in surprise, as if amazed that Wen Xishu picked up on things others missed.

“She said she sometimes hears strange sounds, even when no one’s around.”

Wen Xishu had nearly gathered all the information he needed.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Jack. Lastly, I want to leave you a little gift.”

He fetched paper and pen, wrote something quickly, then tore off the sheet, folded it neatly, and handed it to Jack.

“You can think of this as an invitation letter, but don’t open it now.”

“Only open it when the pain becomes unbearable and you want to see Jennifer.”

Jack was puzzled, but Wen Xishu’s gratitude made him feel he had some value.

He accepted the invitation.

Wen Xishu asked no further questions, bid Jack farewell, and left the old building.

He had confirmed his suspicion about Jack.

“I was indeed misled. It’s not the painful experiences that turned Jack into a monster.”

“But rather, at the very moment when he was about to become a monster, he endured a day of suffering.”

“Jack’s transformation into a monster is inevitable. Perhaps Jennifer will be the same one day. They share a certain commonality and are drawn to each other.”

Only after verifying Jack’s monstrous logic could Wen Xishu proceed with the next phase of his work.

The verification went smoothly. Though Jack had no desire sequence, he remained kind and answered all questions.

But before starting the next phase, Wen Xishu had to clarify a deeply troubling figure.

He had thought only Jack and Jennifer were noteworthy in this mission.

Now, he had discovered another person worth attention.