Chapter 76 Before the Storm 03

In the days following Lin Shuicheng's return, he spent most of his time sleeping.

That familiar feeling from when Fu Luoyin had lived with him before resurfaced – Lin Shuicheng was essentially a cat, so it wasn't surprising that he needed such long periods of sleep. This only stirred more tenderness and concern within Fu Luoyin whenever he faced him.

When Lin Shuicheng slept, the two cats usually followed suit.

Fu Luoyin contemplated moving the sofa into Lin Shuicheng's room to create another temporary base for himself – not being able to see Lin Shuicheng when he slept in the guest room made him anxious. However, given their current situation, he didn't dare overstep his bounds. Instead, he would occasionally come in to check on Lin Shuicheng and the cats.

During times when there were no meetings or work to attend to, he would sit at the desk in Lin Shuicheng's room, quietly reviewing documents and signing papers on his tablet without making a sound.

Lin Shuicheng would sometimes wake up, and the first thing he would see was Fu Luoyin.

For some reason, Fu Luoyin could sense each time Lin Shuicheng awoke.

He would turn around to look at Lin Shuicheng. If Lin Shuicheng appeared dazed and groggy, Fu Luoyin knew he would fall back asleep within half a minute. If Lin Shuicheng's eyes were clear, he would ask if he wanted something to eat or if his wounds still hurt.

His own schedule had completely adapted to Lin Shuicheng's, with his days and nights reversed. He would wake up, take a shower, and have a meal whenever Lin Shuicheng did.

Out of boredom, Fu Luoyin even filmed a few short videos, studying the sleeping habits of the two cats. The Chief preferred to lie down by the head of Lin Shuicheng's bed, but after a while, would get up to change positions, sometimes rotating a full 180 degrees throughout the night.

The nameless gray kitten, whom he didn't particularly favor, had the habit of waking up halfway through the night to groom itself, only to collapse back asleep afterward. This cat even snored and passed gas, utterly unbecoming of a leader and certainly not an elegant feline—how could Lin Shuicheng raise such an undignified cat? Fu Luoyin had thought about throwing it out of the room several times but ultimately held back, considering that Lin Shuicheng hadn't been disturbed.

He planned to take Lin Shuicheng to the hospital for a comprehensive check-up once the wound on his head healed. The stitches were the kind that would dissolve naturally, but a follow-up was still necessary. He also intended to bring Lin Shuicheng to the psychiatry department for a formal diagnosis.

However, given Lin Shuicheng's personality, he might resist psychological treatment. Fu Luoyin needed to figure out how to approach the matter.

At three in the morning, Lin Shuicheng stirred. Fu Luoyin turned to look at him and noticed signs of awakening. He asked, "Are you hungry for something?"

Lin Shuicheng glanced at the leader figurine by the bedside and the small gray cat at the foot of the bed, then shook his head.

Struggling to rise from the bed, his steps remained unsteady. Fu Luoyin hastily got up to support him, only to hear Lin Shuicheng say, "I want to take a bath. I can wash my hair today."

It was a statement rather than a question, causing a thud in Fu Luoyin's heart.

Due to the injury on his head, Lin Shuicheng had been unable to wash his hair for three consecutive days. Despite being cleaned daily, he still felt uneasy and uncomfortable all over.

He was fastidious about cleanliness, so Fu Luoyin had confiscated the shampoo in their room and rationed out a fixed amount of body wash for Lin Shuicheng.

To prevent any infection to the wound, he even turned off the showerhead and would affix a waterproof bandage on Lin Shuicheng's head before he entered the bathroom each day.

Fu Luoyin said, "Your wound is only three days old. It hasn't fully healed yet. Can you endure it a bit longer?"

Lin Shuicheng stared at him without responding.

With Fu Luoyin's tall figure blocking the bedside, Lin Shuicheng couldn't pass by. Trapped against the bed, he subconsciously took a step back and sat down on the edge of the bed again.

Lowering his head, Fu Luoyin gently stroked the tip of his fingers through Little Lin's hair.

It was winter, and Lin Shuicheng had been sleeping all this time. Their home was clean, and his hair was soft and fluffy. Fu Luoyin couldn't see any reason why it needed washing. He chuckled softly and pleaded, "Lin Shuicheng, Teacher Little Lin, Mr. Lin, please, just wait a little longer? For me?"

Lin Shuicheng murmured, "It's uncomfortable. How long do I have to wait like this? The wound isn't itchy anymore, and it doesn't hurt much either."

After some serious consideration, Fu Luoyin gave him an even more cautious answer, "Let's wait two more weeks before you wash it."

Lin Shuicheng looked at him, not saying anything. Climbing onto the bed, he got off from the other side and headed straight for the bathroom.

Fu Luoyin quickly went around to grab him, "Alright, alright. If you must wash it, I'll help you."

Lin Shuicheng glanced at him, pursed his lips, and remained noncommittal.

Fu Luoyin followed Lin Shuicheng into the bathroom with absolute propriety.

The chief was still asleep, but the little gray cat had been awakened by the noise. It clawed at the door frame, trying to get in, but Fu Luoyin shooed it away. "Scram, this place is only for me."

Lin Shuicheng gave him a glance.

Fu Luoyin corrected himself, "Only for me and Lin Shuicheng."

The bathroom in this rented apartment was relatively spacious, with a separate enclosed shower and a standalone bathtub.

The bathtub needed cleaning, so Lin Shuicheng had only tidied up the enclosed shower. Fu Luoyin had been taking his showers there these past few days.

Kneeling down and rolling up his sleeves, Fu Luoyin fetched some cleaning detergent and a soft brush and cloth. "Let's use the bathtub today. You can lean against the side while I wash your hair. I'll clean it first."

Lin Shuicheng spoke softly, "Let me do it."

"It's fine," Fu Luoyin promptly poured half a bottle of detergent into the tub and started scrubbing vigorously. Without turning his head, he continued, "When I lived with a roommate who needed stitches after surgery, I helped out too. Besides, you're the person I like... the one I'm pursuing."

His voice suddenly halted, then smoothly transitioned to another word.

Fu Luoyin continued his tasks in silence.

The word "like" was stuck in his throat.

He intuitively knew that these two words carried immense weight. In his entire life, he had never explicitly admitted to liking or loving someone because it seemed that expressing such feelings held no substance.

He would carry this silent heart with him to his grave. If someone understood, he would be delighted; if not, he wouldn't care.

After scrubbing the bathtub three times to ensure its cleanliness, Fu Luoyin turned on the hot water faucet for Lin Shuicheng.

Halfway through, he deemed the water level sufficient and called out, "You can come and wash..."

But as he turned around, his voice faltered.

Lin Shuicheng sat quietly on the sink by the door, completely naked.

With the air conditioner repaired and working alongside the radiator, the room was no longer cold. Lin Shuicheng had only worn a shirt and shorts to sleep, and Fu Luoyin hadn't even noticed when he undressed.

Lin Shuicheng seemed accustomed to this openness in front of him, an openness that knew no bounds – there was indeed no need to draw any lines.

They were already intimately familiar with each other's bodies, let alone now that they were living together.

Fu Luoyin averted his gaze, his Adam's apple tensing as his voice turned slightly stiff. "…Come here."

Lin Shuicheng obediently approached and stepped into the bathtub, beginning to wash himself diligently.

Fu Luoyin had no idea what he was doing. For a moment, he couldn't even recall where he was.

He had bathed Lin Shuicheng a few times before, treating it like washing a head of cabbage each time. None of those instances had carried the sultry atmosphere depicted in novels or movies.

Now he understood—it was like the full-fed not knowing the hunger of the empty-bellied. He wasn't sure if this phrase applied, but it seemed apt.

It had been over a month since he last touched Lin Shuicheng.

He was going out of his mind.

Every inch of Lin Shuicheng, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his fingers, seemed to emit a gentle warmth that seared through Fu Luoyin's chest, making his heart pound wildly. It felt as if the blood in his entire body was about to boil, reducing him to a molten state.

After washing himself for a while, Lin Shuicheng turned his head to look at him, his expression thoughtful as he asked, "…Should we do it?"

The words were like a bucket of cold water splashed over him, jolting Fu Luoyin awake. He took a deep breath and said, "No, no, I don't want to."

His refusal wasn't an act; he disliked seeing Lin Shuicheng neglect himself like this – just to make up for something or repay a debt?

If that was the case, he'd rather not.

Lin Shuicheng's gaze lingered on his face before drifting downward, lost in thought.

Fu Luoyin gradually regained his composure and reached for a towel to wipe Lin Shuicheng clean. Midway through, he froze again.

He heard Lin Shuicheng say softly, "But I kind of want to."

Four simple words, spoken in a calm and gentle tone, like a faint sigh devoid of any emotional fluctuations.

The cooling effect of the previous bucket of cold water evaporated instantly.

"Beating heart like a drum" was no longer adequate to describe Fu Luoyin's emotions at this moment. Blood rushed to his head, and it felt as if even his eardrums were pulsating.

His voice turned hoarse, tinged with a panicked ferocity, "…You're not allowed to be reckless."

"Rest well, my dear patient, and don't dwell on... such unhealthy thoughts," Fu Luoyin's voice trembled slightly at the end, though he was oblivious to it. "We'll talk about it when you're fully recovered."

Lin Shuicheng fell silent.

To divert his attention, Fu Luoyin devoted himself wholeheartedly to the task at hand. In that moment, he transformed into the world's most conscientious boyfriend – or perhaps bath attendant. He refilled the bathtub with slightly warm water, then layered two thick towels along the edge for Lin Shuicheng to rest his head upon.

Observing Lin Shuicheng's wound, Fu Luoyin noticed that it had scabbed over, though the scar appeared fragile, as if it could break easily with the slightest touch.

He applied a waterproof bandage over it before adjusting the water temperature and gently pouring it over Lin Shuicheng's hair. With his fingertips, he softly caressed the damp, soft, and jet-black tresses, lathering shampoo into rich foam, all while gently massaging Lin Shuicheng's scalp.

The gesture was gentle and careful, so much so that Lin Shuicheng actually fell asleep in the bathtub once more.

Fu Luoyin discovered that his movements grew even lighter upon realizing that Lin Shuicheng had fallen asleep. With utmost care, he gently rinsed the foam from Lin's hair, then lifted him up and enveloped him in a dry towel blanket before carrying him out of the bathroom and laying him gently on the bed.

Soaked as he was, he didn't have the energy to tend to it. Just like before, Fu Luoyin embraced Lin Shuicheng and fetched a hairdryer to gently blow dry his hair.

While blow-drying his hair, Lin Shuicheng woke up and didn't fall back asleep. He quietly leaned against him, cooperating peacefully.

After a while, the humming of the hairdryer faded away.

Fu Luoyin unplugged the device and examined Lin Shuicheng's wound – it was flawlessly untouched by water, so he smiled.

He lowered his head again and asked, "Would you like to eat something?"

Lin Shuicheng shook his head, disentangling himself from the embrace. He reached under the pillow and pulled out a USB drive. "I'll be in the study for a bit. You should get some rest."

Fu Luoyin rubbed his head, sensing that he was indeed feeling quite weary. He rose to his feet and prepared to head to the guest room.

Lin Shuicheng draped himself in a coat and stepped out to inspect the bedding in the guest room.

His luggage was minimal, and the blankets were purchased on the spot since he hadn't anticipated having guests. There were only two, both currently piled in the master bedroom. The guest room's bed held a meager, fluffy blanket.

Fu Luoyin watched Lin Shuicheng enter and pick up the blanket—only to return to the master bedroom, where he carelessly threw it onto the bed.

Startled, the Chief let out a mew and leaped up, alert and wary.

Lin Shuicheng turned his head to look at Fu Luoyin.

Fu Luoyin didn't dare to budge.

After a moment, Lin Shuicheng said, "You can sleep here."

Fu Luoyin felt as if the bubbles of frustration in his heart had burst all at once, exploding into a pink mushroom cloud.

But he didn't reveal any emotion on his face. He simply asked Lin Shuicheng for confirmation, "The bed?"

"You can move the sofa in if you want to sleep on it," Lin Shuicheng replied, then headed towards the study.

"Wait a moment," Fu Luoyin's smile was about to overflow, and he was even feeling a bit flustered. "Do… Do you have time tomorrow?"

Lin Shuicheng turned to look at him, confused.

Clearing his throat, Fu Luoyin spoke with earnest seriousness, "Department Seven issued us health check cards for the entire alliance. We can take our family members for free. My parents don't need them, and they'll expire in a couple of days. Would you like to accompany me to Su Yu's hospital? We can also visit Eddies while we're there."

Lin Shuicheng paused, his gaze becoming thoughtful again. "Okay."