Chapter 3 – The Little Ingrate Goes Home

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Shi Qiu’s right hand had just been freed from the IV. He and Lu Chengyan quietly shared a meal in the hospital room. As night fell, Jiang Fengmian came in again.

“Brother?” Shi Qiu, who had just finished eating and was thinking about watching a movie with 09, instantly slipped into character, eyes bright as he looked up at him.

Jiang Fengmian looked a little tired. He smiled at Shi Qiu, and seeing that his spirits seemed fine, he asked, “How are you feeling now?”

“I feel much better.” Shi Qiu straightened up to show he was doing well.

“Then how about we handle the discharge paperwork tonight and go home?” Jiang Fengmian asked.

“Sure!” Shi Qiu agreed without hesitation.

Lu Chengyan glanced at Shi Qiu’s pale face and couldn’t help but speak up. “Isn’t it too soon to leave the hospital?”

“I’ve asked the doctor. Apart from the wound on his wrist, there are no other injuries. The stitches were done well. He just needs a few days at home before we can remove the bandage. No need to stay in the hospital.” Jiang Fengmian pressed his brow lightly, his voice still gentle as he explained.

Shi Qiu nodded along without a second thought. “I think I’m fine too. Brother, let’s go home.”

Lu Chengyan frowned, looking at the faint bruises where the IV had been on Shi Qiu’s right hand and the gauze wrapped around his left. “It’s safer to stay a couple more days.”

But the Shi Qiu who had been soft and tearful in his arms earlier that afternoon now lifted his head, eyes bright, completely losing that earlier obedient closeness. “Thank you, Brother Lu, but I really am fine. It’s just a minor flesh wound. Don’t worry about me.”

Seeing his distant attitude, Lu Chengyan said nothing more.

Wasn’t this just like Shi Qiu? Whenever Jiang Fengmian said something, he treated it like a royal decree.

Trying to persuade him to stay in the hospital was basically going against Jiang Fengmian. So of course this little brat turned on him. Still calling him “Brother Lu” but with a tone so detached it was almost laughable.

Lu Chengyan was nearly amused out of anger by this little ingrate.

Shi Qiu ignored him, wobbling out of bed and slowly putting on his socks and shoes.

Jiang Fengmian had brought him a long down coat. The late autumn nights were cold, and Shi Qiu’s hands and feet were icy from blood loss, so he pulled it on right over the hospital gown.

Once the zipper was up, the puffy white coat made Shi Qiu look bundled up and round-faced.

Jiang Fengmian smiled, then took his cold fingers in hand. “Let’s go home.”

He turned to Lu Chengyan and said politely, “Thank you for all your help today.”

“It’s nothing.” Lu Chengyan had also put on his black cashmere coat. Shi Qiu glanced at him and realised that when this President Lu wasn’t coaxing anyone and had no expression, his presence was still intimidating.

After the discharge was settled, the three of them walked silently toward the car park. Perhaps from the cold wind, the wound on Shi Qiu’s left wrist started to throb again.

Once he got into the car with Jiang Fengmian, Shi Qiu watched Lu Chengyan’s black Rolls-Royce slowly disappear from view, once again reminded that President Lu was from a completely different world.

Not the same kind of person at all.

Noticing Shi Qiu’s pained expression, Jiang Fengmian pulled some painkillers from a bag. “Do you need medicine?”

“Thanks, Brother,” Shi Qiu said softly.

His left hand trembled from the pain, but hidden inside his coat pocket it went unnoticed. With his right hand, he popped two pills and swallowed them directly.

It hurt, yes, but he figured this injury was a small price for getting a second life. In reality, he had died in a car crash. 09 had given him another chance, and compared to that, a few wounds and mission requirements were nothing.

Even without 09’s urging, he would work hard to complete the tasks.

After taking the medicine, Shi Qiu looked at Jiang Fengmian driving. He really did seem troubled. His attitude toward Shi Qiu remained gentle, but his mood was clearly poor.

Shi Qiu hesitated, then softened his tone. “Brother, was your exam today smooth?”

“It was fine,” Jiang Fengmian replied casually.

Which meant it hadn’t gone well.

Shi Qiu thought about how Jiang Fengmian’s happiness value was still in the negatives and figured this exam was part of the reason. But with someone like Jiang Fengmian, who had the looks, ability, and top academic performance of a main-character gong, there was no way he had truly messed it up.

He knew Jiang Fengmian wouldn’t tell him the truth, so he would have to find out on his own.

When they got home, the warmth of his room hit Shi Qiu immediately.

Jiang Fengmian had already turned on the heater when he came home earlier to get the coat. Now the whole house was warm and cosy.

“Brother.” Back in the comfort of the heated home, Shi Qiu felt much better. Standing in the entryway, wrapped in his white down coat so that only half his face showed, his bright eyes gave him an irresistibly cute charm.

Seeing him like this seemed to improve Jiang Fengmian’s mood. He helped Shi Qiu out of the coat. Shi Qiu slipped off his shoes and nudged at his own fluffy slippers with his toes.

Jiang Fengmian gently lifted his left hand to check the gauze on his wrist. Seeing no bleeding, he was relieved. “Don’t let the wound get wet these next few days. If you feel unwell or need help, tell me.”

“Okay.” Shi Qiu nodded obediently.

Jiang Fengmian smiled, rubbing his hair softly. “Have you eaten dinner?”

“Yes.” Shi Qiu nodded again.

His smile grew warmer. “Do you want to take a bath? I can wrap your left hand in cling film.”

“Alright.”

Shi Qiu sat on the sofa, arm extended, while Jiang Fengmian sat on a small stool wrapping it carefully.

The light in the living room was soft, casting gentle shadows over his features. Shi Qiu realised just how tired he was, despite hiding it well.

After wrapping the arm, Jiang Fengmian went to run the bath. Shi Qiu stared at the spotless white tub. That morning, it had been filled with blood, the bathroom floor stained as well, and the living room littered with a smashed phone. Now everything was spotless.

Even though he hadn’t been the one to cut his wrist, the brush with death had been terrifying. He didn’t want to get into that tub again. Tugging on Jiang Fengmian’s sleeve, he said quietly, “Brother, I don’t want to soak. I’ll just rinse off.”

Jiang Fengmian glanced at him, then agreed. “Alright. Do you need help?”

“No, go do your work. If I can’t manage, I’ll call you.” Shi Qiu smiled sweetly.

“Okay.” Jiang Fengmian left.

Once the bathroom door was locked, Shi Qiu slowly stepped to the mirror.

It was his first time looking at himself since crossing over.

The face was his, only softer in shape and more refined in features. The changes were subtle, but the temperament was entirely different.

Which made sense. His role here was the delicate white-flower shou.

Everything in the room matched his old habits, so there was no discomfort.

He took a quick shower, changed into pyjamas, and with a towel on his head went to find Jiang Fengmian.

The smell of instant noodles greeted him the moment he stepped out.

Jiang Fengmian was at the table, eating while looking over his textbooks.

Shi Qiu thought about the fancy, nutritious dinner he had shared with Lu Chengyan and felt a little guilty.

After a long day of work and an exam, Jiang Fengmian had come home without eating just to take care of him. No wonder the “cheap shou” fell for him.

“After all, he was abandoned by his parents as a child. The Shi family became his real family. Then he lost his parents too, so his whole life now revolves around you. You and he are basically relying on each other,” 09 said.

Shi Qiu slowly towel-dried his hair with one hand. “Then we need to find out what trouble he’s in and help him. I can’t just be a parasite.”

Seeing he had finished bathing, Jiang Fengmian looked up. “Go sit by the heater. Your hair will dry faster. When I’m done eating, I’ll remove the cling film.”

“Okay.” Shi Qiu shuffled over in his slippers, letting the warm air blow over him.

Jiang Fengmian quickly finished the noodles, wiped his mouth, took a pair of scissors from the coffee table drawer, and came over.

When Shi Qiu saw the scissors near the cling film, he felt a phantom ache in the wound and shrank back slightly.

“Now you’re scared?” Jiang Fengmian chuckled, cutting a slit in the film and gently peeling it away.

Shi Qiu gave a sheepish smile and stayed quiet.

Jiang Fengmian rubbed his freshly dried hair, voice soft. “It’s good you’re scared. Don’t hurt yourself again.”

“Mm.” Shi Qiu nodded, then looked up. “Do you have another exam tomorrow?”

“One more in the morning. Why?”

“I want to go to school with you. Is that okay?” Shi Qiu asked hopefully.

Before the college entrance exam, his parents had died in a car accident. Mentally collapsing, he skipped the exam, stayed home for months, and eventually attempted suicide.

This “no school” setting was something he was very grateful for. Having died at twenty-nine, going back to class and exams would have been torture.

Looking at Jiang Fengmian, tired and eating instant noodles while studying, Shi Qiu felt a pang of bitterness.

“I just want to go and take a look. I won’t cause trouble. Please?” Shi Qiu pleaded. “I’ll be good and won’t run off.”

Jiang Fengmian hesitated, then thought about how inconvenient it would be for Shi Qiu to be alone with his injured hand. He sighed. “Alright.”

“Thanks, Brother!” Shi Qiu’s eyes lit up.

“But you’ll need to get up at eight in the morning.”

“Mm-hm! I’ll get up on time,” Shi Qiu promised.

He had to go to school to figure out what trouble Jiang Fengmian was facing.

With that settled, Shi Qiu returned to his room and crawled into bed, letting out a long breath.

He was exhausted. Losing so much blood, keeping up the act for both men… it was draining.

“09, wake me up on time tomorrow,” he murmured, eyes closing.

“Alright. Goodnight, host.” The bedroom light clicked off as 09 spoke softly.

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Translator note: 📌

Thank you for reading 💖 see you agin in the next chapter my lovely cherries 😘

📍Note: I’m pretty free lately so I will be posting 3  to 4 chapters a day. Enjoy 🤭