Chapter 13: Dressing the Wound

Chapter 13: Dressing the Wound

In the cramped rental apartment, the air was humid and stifling. After turning on the air conditioner, the temperature dropped abruptly, but heat rose in Yu Zechuan's body bit by bit, accompanied by an indescribable discomfort.

Lying on the couch, Yu Zechuan had lifted the hem of his sweatshirt to bite on it, exposing a well-built waist that was blindingly white. The one-inch-long wound stood out in stark contrast, looking particularly vicious and raw.

Yu Zechuan felt as if he was being stripped naked, an uncomfortable sensation that made him frown and turn his head. "Hurry up!"

His voice was raspy and muffled, as if he was eager to complete some task.

Lu Yan crouched beside the sofa, holding cotton swabs and medication. He hesitated before asking, "Shouldn't we go to the hospital for this kind of injury?"

Yu Zechuan disliked Lu Yan's fussiness and spoke irritably, "If you're not brave enough, I'll do it myself."

As he reached for the cotton swab in Lu Yan's hand, the latter nimbly evaded him. "Are you sure we don't need to go to the hospital?"

Meeting Lu Yan's worried gaze, Yu Zechuan paused for a moment before giving an emotionless "Mm" in response. "We don't need to."

Five years in prison had taught Yu Zechuan that such injuries didn't require a hospital visit – his body could heal itself.

He reclined back onto the sofa, clenching his teeth on the hem of his shirt. The veins in his temples bulged from the intensity of his bite. The pain in his abdomen momentarily deceived Yu Zechuan into thinking he was back in the familiar confines of prison, where injuries were a daily occurrence and pain kept him tossing and turning at night.

Half-closing his eyes in the dim light, Yu Zechuan's mind flickered through past memories. His heart remained still, like a stagnant pool that couldn't produce a ripple.

The first aid kit held limited supplies, enough only for a basic treatment before wrapping the wound with gauze. Fortunately, Yu Zechuan had managed to block Xue Jin's stab, resulting in a shallow wound. He should be able to hold out until they could reach a hospital the following day.

As Lu Yan leaned over, his hand brushed against Yu Zechuan's damp hoodie, the moisture uncomfortable against his skin. "Take it off. Isn't it uncomfortable wearing it?"

Yu Zechuan's eyes snapped open, his gaze hostile. His expression made Lu Yan think he had somehow offended the innocent man. "…."

Glancing aside, Lu Yan said, "There are clean clothes in the wardrobe. You can change. It's not like I'm going to take advantage of you since we're both men, right?"

Yu Zechuan couldn't admit his fear. He sat up on the sofa, swiftly removing the black hoodie and tossing it aside, leaving him in a white undershirt soaked by the rain, clinging tightly to his body, revealing hints of his flesh.

What an impressive physique.

Lu Yan couldn't help but whistle inwardly. He retrieved a clean, light-colored hoodie from the wardrobe and handed it to Yu Zechuan. The soft fabric felt pleasant to the touch. "Put this on. It might be a bit loose."

Yu Zechuan took it, glanced at it, then silently turned to enter the bathroom without a word, the door slamming shut behind him.

Lu Yan spoke lazily, "Don't worry, I won't peek."

Behind the door, it was uncertain if his voice had reached inside.

The bathroom was cold and damp, with a scent of soap and shampoo lingering in the air. The enclosed space offered a sense of security.

Yu Zechuan stood before the mirror, lifting his hand to take off his clothes. Unintentionally, he caught sight of his cold, unfeeling face. His movement paused, and he reached up to touch the scar on his right cheek. The uneven texture made him yearn to rub it away harshly.

In fact, Yu Zechuan did just that.

He rubbed the scar fiercely, his fingertips tinged with resentment. Instead of erasing it, he only succeeded in turning the already pale skin bright red, as if someone had slapped him.

Realizing the foolishness of his action, Yu Zechuan's expression darkened, and he stopped. Supporting himself on the edge of the sink, he panted softly, questioning why he had let Lu Yan off time and again when he had come here to kill this 'vixen'.

Was it because Lu Yan's sins were not as grave as Jiang Boyun's, so subconsciously, he placed his death after Jiang Boyun's?

Regardless, both men would die.

A chill permeated Yu Zechuan's eyes. He splashed cold water on his face, changed, and stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Lu Yan awkwardly tending to the wound on his palm. His footsteps faltered.

Lu Yan couldn't be considered ruthless, nor was he brave when it came to pain. With a swab soaked in medicine in his hand, he hesitated for a long time before daring to apply it to the wound, his entire face reflecting the word "dilemma."

Standing behind for quite some time, Yu Zechuan inwardly cursed, "Useless." He then remarked sarcastically, "Are you tickling the wound?"

Startled by Yu Zechuan's appearance, Lu Yan quickly regained his composure and held out his open palm towards him, stating matter-of-factly, "Then why don't you help me apply the medicine?"

He truly lacked the resolve to be harsh with himself.

Yu Zechuan's eyelids twitched. "Why should I?"

When Lu Yan smiled, his eyes narrowed slightly, giving him a fox-like appearance. "I've already tended to your wounds; isn't it only fair that you return the favor?"

Yu Zechuan was someone who kept track of favors and debts. Even if he helped Lu Yan now, it wouldn't deter him from dealing with the man later. This thought made the task more palatable, and he reluctantly took the medicine and swab, frowning as he did so.

Sitting on the sofa, Lu Yan obediently held out his hands. His eyelashes were excessively long, making every upward glance seem like the fluttering of butterfly wings.

Lu Yan warned, "Be gentle, don't take this as an opportunity to get back at me."

Yu Zechuan sneered, thinking that Lu Yan was already fearful now. Wouldn't he be even more scared when his life was on the line? Despite this, as he applied the medicine with the swab, he inadvertently applied less pressure than usual.

Their proximity was so intimate that Lu Yan could even hear Yu Zechuan's shallow breaths. He gazed attentively at the other and suddenly said, "You're the first person to ever tend to my wounds."

Perhaps it was because Lu Yan's tone sounded too pitiful, Yu Zechuan finally looked at him. "Really?"

Lu Yan's smile widened, his hands trembling from the effort. "Of course not."

He had spent more time in the hospital than at home, with countless doctors and nurses dressing his wounds.

Yu Zechuan found him to be a skilled liar. He applied a bit more pressure with the cotton swab, and as expected, Lu Yan's expression changed. He quickly begged for mercy. "Ouch, ouch, ouch. Be gentle, please, be gentle."

After applying the medicine to the palm of Lu Yan's hand, Yu Zechuan wrapped it elegantly with gauze, much better than Lu Yan's attempt. Just as he was about to put away the medicine bottle, Lu Yan suddenly tilted his head, pointing at his bruised lips. "What about my face?"

Yu Zechuan sarcastically asked, "Do you even have a face?"

A face that was willing to be Jiang Boyun's mistress?

Lu Yan felt slightly wronged. "Of course I do. I'm so handsome, why wouldn't I want one?"

Yu Zechuan: "..."

Perhaps it was because the face was too beautiful that Yu Zechuan felt a strange sense of loss. He slightly bent down, dipped the cotton swab fiercely into the medicine bottle twice, then furrowed his brows and held Lu Yan's chin to apply medicine to his lips.

Feeling Yu Zechuan's warm breath, Lu Yan couldn't help but blink. His gaze fell on the right side of the other's face, and he suddenly asked as if he had noticed something, "Why is your face red?"

It wasn't the kind of red from shyness, but rather a red caused by being vigorously rubbed, with faint fingerprints still visible and yet to fade away.

Hearing this, Yu Zechuan paused in his actions. His dark eyes seemed bottomless, and his voice carried a hint of danger, "Has anyone ever told you that curiosity killed the cat?"

Lu Yan seemed not to have heard him, "Did you rub it yourself?"

This question pierced through the veil, tantamount to courting death.

Yu Zechuan's expression grew increasingly grim. Just as he snapped the cotton swab with a sharp sound, ready to explode, Lu Yan suddenly lifted his head. His warm lips brushed against Yu Zechuan's chin unintentionally, and both of them froze for a moment.

"Rumble—!"

Another dull thunder rolled outside, mirroring the sudden explosion in their hearts.

Yu Zechuan's hand trembled, and he tried to retreat in a near-panic, but Lu Yan grabbed his wrist and pulled, causing Yu Zechuan to lose his balance and stumble, falling onto the other's lap.

In that instant, their eyes locked, and both of them held their breath, able to hear each other's pounding hearts.

"Lu Yan,"

Yu Zechuan stared at him intently, his voice laced with danger as an aura of menace surrounded him, "You're courting death—"

Each word was enunciated deliberately, almost as if he were grinding his teeth.

At this moment, Lu Yan didn't sense any immediate threat of death. Yu Zechuan didn't exude a murderous intent; instead, he seemed more frustrated and embarrassed. Lu Yan leisurely chuckled and asked, "Is it really worth getting so angry just because I kissed you?"

It wasn't the first time, after all.

His half-truth, half-lie words were particularly tantalizing, "I didn't do it on purpose. If it were someone else, I wouldn't even bother."

As Yu Zechuan was momentarily lost in thought upon hearing this, Lu Yan's lips brushed against his earlobe, sending a faint itch that tingled all the way down to his spine. The false sweet nothings flowed effortlessly from his mouth without any second thoughts:

"I ache when I see your face hurt..."

This was the closest they had ever been, but alas, the moment was far from beautiful. One harbored hidden malice, while the other spouted nothing but lies.

Lu Yan suddenly found Yu Zechuan to be delightfully amusing, even with the edge of death hanging above his head. He grasped the hand around his neck and effortlessly pulled it down, caressing the uneven scar on the right side of the other's face with the tip of his finger. He whispered, "Did you get this in prison?"

Upon hearing those two words, Yu Zechuan couldn't help but close his eyes, overwhelmed by the painful memories. His voice was hoarse as he demanded, "Let go!"

Lu Yan let out a half-smile, half-sigh. "President Yu, you really have a heart of stone. I've liked you so much."

Yu Zechuan retorted coldly, "But I don't like you!"

Nonchalantly, Lu Yan stroked the scar on Yu Zechuan's cheek – a spot that was especially sensitive and fragile. The other man visibly trembled for a moment. "So what?"

Yu Zechuan's eyes reddened from anger, his hostility intensifying. It was as if he was reminding Lu Yan, and himself, "Lu Yan, I'll rip you to pieces sooner or later!"

Lu Yan's gaze softened. "Then Jiang Boyun has to suffer more. You'll have to tear him into a million pieces."

Otherwise,

Fixing his eyes on Yu Zechuan's reddened ones, Lu Yan moved his lips, his low, trailing voice fading into the air:

"It wouldn't be fair to me..."