Chapter 24: A Crack in the Armor

Chapter 24: A Crack in the Armor

The living room lights were off, and the sunset beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows had painted the sky a deep red. The sun was sinking slowly, slipping behind the high-rises, casting a dim, mottled pattern of light and shadow across the carpet.

A man was slumped into a black leather sofa, his body curled up tight. His right hand clutched at his abdomen with such force that blue veins popped beneath the pale skin of his wrist. Cold sweat trickled down his ashen cheeks, betraying the agony he was silently enduring.

When Yu Zechuan arrived at Lu Yan's home, this was the scene that greeted him. Pausing in surprise, he quickly stepped over to the sofa and crouched down, frowning as he tapped Lu Yan's face. "Are you alright?"

Just now, Lu Yan had suddenly called, complaining that his stomach pain was almost killing him. He asked if I could come over to lend a hand and then hung up after revealing the door lock password.

Yu Zechuan initially thought it was a prank, but to his surprise, the other person seemed genuinely unwell.

Lu Yan's eyelashes fluttered upon hearing this. After a few seconds, he slowly opened his eyes, seeing Yu Zechuan in the room. With a weak smile, he made a lighthearted remark even in this state, "I just made a casual call, and you actually came."

Yu Zechuan was indeed ruthless and foolish in his own way. They had only known each other for a few days, at most being neighbors. Lu Yan never expected him to rush over just because of a phone call.

Upon hearing this, Yu Zechuan's expression darkened instantly, "You were joking with me?!"

Lu Yan replied weakly, "Do I look like I'm joking to you?"

Yu Zechuan choked, indeed not sounding like himself. "What's wrong with you?"

Lu Yan pondered for a moment before responding, "Hmm... Maybe it's because I haven't eaten anything all day, and my stomach is a bit painful?"

Yu Zechuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Didn't you go to the convenience store in the morning to buy some Okonomiyaki?"

Lu Yan replied with conviction, "It didn't taste good, so I threw it away."

Yu Zechuan: "..."

Yu Zechuan felt as if Lu Yan was on the verge of collapse, so he swiftly bent down to help him up from the sofa, his voice low and firm. "My friend just arrived, and he has a car. I'll ask him to give you a ride to the hospital."

Lu Yan thought that wouldn't do; he had come home to avoid Xue Jin in the first place. He couldn't let him know about the hospital visit. With a hint of suspicion, he asked, "Friend? You don't mean your boyfriend, do you?"

Before Yu Zechuan could respond, Lu Yan reclined back onto the sofa, lowering his gaze as he softly said, "Forget it. It wouldn't be good if he misunderstands. My condition isn't severe, I can endure it."

Hearing Lu Yan refer to Xue Jin as his boyfriend, Yu Zechuan was initially taken aback. Then, his dark eyes flared with thinly veiled anger. He wished he could strangle Lu Yan right there. "I said he's a friend, and that's what he is! Do you think everyone is as frivolous as you?!?"

In their initial meeting, Lu Yan had seemed relatively serious, but his subsequent remarks had become increasingly absurd. Yu Zechuan had already silently labeled him as a playboy.

Lu Yan lounged lazily on the sofa, lifting his eyelids to look at him with a tone of grievance. "Where have I been promiscuous? I've never even had a boyfriend in my whole life."

Yu Zechuan's forehead twitched with veins. "Are you really going to the hospital or not?"

Seeing that Yu Zechuan's patience was wearing thin, Lu Yan reluctantly held out an arm, signaling for help to stand up. "Then give me a hand. I'm out of energy. I know a private clinic with a pretty reputable doctor."

As an adult male, Lu Yan's body was quite heavy. As Yu Zechuan supported him and walked out, he noticed Lu Yan sneakily taking out a mask from his pocket and putting it on, causing him to frown. "Why do you always wear a mask?"

Lu Yan blinked. "I don't want to risk infecting others."

Yu Zechuan was about to say that stomach pain wasn't contagious, but seeing the amusement lurking in Lu Yan's eyes, he realized he was being toyed with. He decided to shut up and, suppressing his anger, took the elevator down with Lu Yan.

Lu Yan had been worried about bumping into Xue Jin, but fortunately, that didn't happen. He had overheard Xue Jin mentioning old accounts in the neighboring room, which had made his heart race in fear that Xue Jin might reveal something he shouldn't. Thus, he pretended to be sick and called Yu Zechuan over.

Lu Yan did have some stomach pain, but it wasn't as severe as he had portrayed. While the doctor examined him, he half-lay on the bed, appearing much more energetic than before. "Doctor, my stomach doesn't hurt as much now. Could you just prescribe some stomach medication for me?"

The doctor seemed to have seen through his act and asked nonchalantly, "Are you really not in pain anymore?"

Lu Yan weakly nodded. "Much better."

The doctor had no choice but to say, "Alright then, I'll prescribe some stomach medicine for you. Avoid spicy food for the next few days. If the pain gets really bad next time, it's best to send him to the hospital."

This clinic wasn't too big or too small. When it was time to dispense the medication, Lu Yan only gave his nickname "Ayan," and the doctor didn't press further, turning a blind eye.

While Lu Yan was being examined, Yu Zechuan stepped out for a cigarette. When he returned, he saw that Lu Yan had already gotten his medication and was now paying for it.

Approaching Lu Yan's side, Yu Zechuan's clothes carried a faint scent of mint, similar to menthol. "No need for an IV drip?"

Lu Yan shook his head, maintaining his act of weakness. "An IV would take too long and might waste your time. Plus, I'm much better now... By the way, is your friend still at your place?"

Yu Zechuan's voice remained calm. "He left."

Lu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Zechuan was still unaware that Lu Yan was his enemy. He supported Lu Yan as they hailed a taxi on the roadside, displaying an unprecedented level of patience. Despite his short temper, he didn't complain even once throughout the entire process.

Even someone as carefree as Lu Yan felt a bit awkward. Sitting in the backseat of the taxi, he began to feel carsick, so he simply laid down and rested his head on Yu Zechuan's lap. The latter frowned, but whether it was because of Lu Yan's illness, he ultimately remained silent.

With his eyes closed, Lu Yan felt the gentle rocking of the car, yet his mind was flooded with the scene of his death from his previous life. He chuckled to himself, "Yu Zechuan..."

Lowering his gaze, Yu Zechuan heard Lu Yan whisper softly, "Actually, you're quite a decent person."

But your end in the last life wasn't so good.

Silent, Yu Zechuan gazed out the window at the swiftly passing scenery. A vague sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he had once shared this taxi ride with Lu Yan, mocking himself with a faint smile, "I'm not a good person, and I don't enjoy pretending to be one."

So,

"Next time, don't say things like that."

By the time they arrived at the apartment complex, it was late at night. Yu Zechuan accompanied Lu Yan home and entered the living room, bending down to toss a bag of medicine onto the coffee table:

"The medicine is on the table. Remember to take it. I'll be going now."

As Yu Zechuan turned to leave, Lu Yan suddenly called out to him, "You haven't eaten all day. Would you like to stay for a meal?"

Lu Yan was aware of the risk of exposing too much of himself while spending extended periods with Yu Zechuan. However, he realized that the man seemed less insane than he'd imagined. At least when Yu Zechuan wasn't having an episode, he mostly behaved like a normal person.

Yu Zechuan paused in his steps but didn't turn back. After a moment, he uttered two words:

"Not necessary..."

Last time, Lu Yan had helped him; this time, by assisting the sick man, the favor was returned. There was no need to drag on the debt of gratitude further.

Click.

The sound of the door softly shutting echoed, and the room fell into a complete silence.

Yu Zechuan returned to his room, turning on the living room lights. However, due to the cold-toned decoration, the warm yellow glow didn't brighten the space as expected, instead, it seemed somewhat out of place.

A few lunch boxes were placed on the table, leftovers from Xue Jin's midday meal. That bastard had eaten his fill and left without even bothering to dispose of the trash.

Sitting on the sofa, Yu Zechuan lacked the mood for cleaning. He didn't want to play with his phone nor did he feel like staring at the computer screen again. Instead, he found himself blankly gazing at the dark projection screen on the TV wall.

Tick.

Tick.

Under the dark sky, a gentle rain began to fall, leaving trails of water droplets crawling across the glass windows. Yu Zechuan felt a strange sense of déjà vu with every rainfall since his release from prison; as if each drop had once drenched him.

He sat up straight, slowly realizing his hunger. Reaching for the cold lunch box on the table, he found it empty except for some bitter green pepper shreds, causing his expression to shift.

That bastard Xue Jin didn't even leave him a bite of food.

Yu Zechuan got up, bundled all the lunch boxes, and threw them into the trash, feeling somewhat irritated. Just as he was about to take a shower and go to bed, there was a knock on the door. Through the muffled sound, he heard Lu Yan's voice: "Yu Zechuan, open up, it's me."

"..."

Why, thought Yu Zechuan, does my door have to open just because it's you?

He tossed his jacket onto the sofa but still went to answer the door. There, he saw Lu Yan holding a tray with two steaming bowls of instant noodles, complete with boiled eggs, vegetables, and ham. The aroma was strangely enticing.

Yu Zechuan was momentarily stunned, feeling uneasy. "What are you doing?"

Lu Yan seemed to have just showered, wearing loose, relaxed clothing with slightly damp hair. Without a mask, his handsome face leaning against the doorframe made quite an impact. "Come, eat. I happened to have two extra packs of noodles at home, don't want them to go to waste."

Without waiting for an invitation, he squeezed through the doorway uninvited. Yu Zechuan had no choice but to step aside, only to see Lu Yan already settled on the sofa, beckoning him over. "Hurry, it won't taste as good if it gets cold."

Yu Zechuan shut the door with a flick of his wrist, then approached Lu Yan with a frown, his tone low and discontented, "I told you, I'm not eating."

Lu Yan was puzzled, "Why?"

Yu Zechuan's lips curled coldly as he fixated on Lu Yan, enunciating each word, "Because I don't like sharing meals with others. It's nauseating."

It seemed Yu Zechuan relished in such moments, whenever someone approached him with kindness, he would suspect their intentions to be poisonous or thorny, and then, in front of them, he would crush them ruthlessly underfoot.

"..."

Lu Yan fell silent for three seconds before lifting his bowl of noodles and turning to walk towards the door. Yu Zechuan's expression changed as he swiftly grabbed him by the arm. "Where are you going?"

Lu Yan replied matter-of-factly, "I'm going back to my room to eat."

If Yu Zechuan preferred to eat alone, Lu Yan thought it would be acceptable for him to retreat to his room.

Strangely, Yu Zechuan felt a sense of frustration building inside him. Almost to the point of exasperation, he managed to squeeze out a response after a long while. "Sit down and eat together! Do you want me to bring the bowl to you instead?"

Lu Yan was indifferent. "You can just throw it away."

After all, a bowl wouldn't cost much.

Yu Zechuan gritted his teeth silently, "..."

Damn it, this guy!

Whenever Yu Zechuan faced Lu Yan, he felt like his fists were hitting cotton, powerless. He held the other's wrist tightly, neither letting him go nor willing to invite him to stay for dinner. The situation became awkward.

Lu Yan asked in confusion, "Do you have something else?"

Biting his teeth, Yu Zechuan remained silent. He realized how ridiculous his behavior had been, but apologizing wasn't his style; he had never bowed his head to anyone in his life.

As Yu Zechuan's mind raced, trying to figure out how to keep Lu Yan there, a soft laughter suddenly rang in his ear, somewhat abrupt in the quiet atmosphere:

"Never mind, I was just joking. Come, sit down and eat together."

Lu Yan had only been teasing him. After speaking, he returned to the sofa with his noodles. Seeing this, Yu Zechuan's stern expression softened slightly. With a sullen face, he reluctantly sat down on the sofa and started eating his noodles alongside Lu Yan.

In a foul mood, Yu Zechuan found everything displeasing to his eye. He frowned and picked at the vegetables in his bowl, deliberately nitpicking, "I don't like vegetables."

Lu Yan continued eating while scrolling through his phone, not lifting his head. "As long as you like noodles, that's fine."

Yu Zechuan violently stabbed the omelet in his bowl with his chopsticks, his tone filled with resentment. "I don't like noodles either!"

Lu Yan finally lifted his gaze, wondering if Yu Zechuan wasn't usually easygoing when it came to food. "Then just eat the egg. If it's not enough, I can give you mine."

Upon finishing his sentence, an eerie silence suddenly descended upon the room.

"..."

Yu Zechuan glared at Lu Yan with a frown, his voice laced with danger. "What did you just say?"

"Cough!"

Lu Yan choked on his food, realizing the ambiguous nature of his previous statement. As he covered his mouth and stood up to find tissues, he tried to clarify, "That's not what I meant... I meant... You can have the omelet in my bowl too... Cough, cough, cough..."

It was clear that Yu Zechuan was clueless about daily life; there wasn't even a pack of tissues on the coffee table. Lu Yan had no choice but to turn around and fetch some from the bathroom.

Feeling disgruntled, Yu Zechuan seized the opportunity when Lu Yan turned away to snatch the omelet from his bowl. He then proceeded to messily poke at the contents of his own bowl.

Lu Yan's phone lay silently on the table until it suddenly vibrated with a buzz. Yu Zechuan glanced at it instinctively, but before he could identify the caller, a hand shot out in a flash and slapped the device down with a thunderous thud.

"Bang!!"

The intense impact almost shattered the coffee table. Yu Zechuan lifted his gaze reflexively and found Lu Yan, who had returned unexpectedly. He frowned, "What are you doing?"

Lu Yan: "…"

Damn, that was close. That particular ringtone belonged exclusively to Jiang Boyun. If Yu Zechuan had noticed, he would be in deep trouble.

Shaking his head, Lu Yan quickly retrieved his phone and hung up without another word. Unbeknownst to him, this unusual behavior piqued Yu Zechuan's interest. Squinting sharply, Yu Zechuan rose from the sofa and slowly approached Lu Yan, asking with an unreadable tone,

"Who was it?"

Lu Yan felt his heart skip a beat.

Yu Zechuan raised an eyebrow nonchalantly, his tone tinged with curiosity. "If you were in such a hurry to answer, why did you hang up?"

Lu Yan simply responded with an "oh," slipping his phone into his pocket without any change in expression. "That was my uncle from the countryside."

"He got hit by a tricycle last month and needed a bunch of money for medical treatment. He hasn't paid me back yet, so I was afraid he'd call to borrow more."

Yu Zechuan seemed unconvinced. "Is that so?"

Lu Yan countered, "Why would I lie to you?"

Seemingly intrigued, Yu Zechuan suddenly reached out to Lu Yan, his voice tugging at one's nerves. "Then let me see your contact's nickname."

Lu Yan: "..."