Chapter 26 Proof

Chapter 26 Proof

The night ended with the sound of Qin Zhan's fingers tapping on his keyboard.

Now, Qin Zhan would leave a small light on for him when he slept. Lying on the floor, Zhou Liao looked up at the dark ceiling and suddenly felt an unprecedented calmness. He didn't know where this peace came from; perhaps it was because the hope he had once yearned for had finally come true, and he had overestimated his past self's importance.

Or maybe it was because his mind seemed to be getting duller, no longer wanting to think about anything extra. He felt like he was hanging on a tightrope, only longing for something to cling to.

After a while, there was a rustling sound beside him. Zhou Liao turned to look; it was Qin Zhan turning over. The other man was facing away from him, and soon even breathing could be heard.

Just as in every previous night, Zhou Liao woke up from a nightmare, but now it was much better. As long as he saw Qin Zhan, he could find some relief. It seemed that just knowing someone was nearby helped him sleep.

The next day, Qin Zhan barely left. When Zhou Liao woke up again, he found Qin Zhan working on his computer.

Perhaps hearing his heavy, frightened breathing, Qin Zhan quickly turned around. "Awake?"

Zhou Liao swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath.

"Yeah..."

Qin Zhan glanced at the rice cooker. "Eat your meal and take a shower."

Zhou Liao paused. He hadn't bathed in a long time. He knew Qin Zhan had wiped his body while he was unconscious, keeping him somewhat clean. But in this tiny bathroom, he wasn't sure how he would manage with his injured leg.

"I'll help you."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Liao's body stiffened. He did rely on Qin Zhan, but sexual orientation was a fundamental genetic sequence. Hearing this made him shiver, though he dared not react strongly.

"Ah..."

Clearly, Qin Zhan's mind was not filled with such thoughts. To him, it was like washing a pet. Seeing Zhou Liao's reaction, he turned back with his usual expressionless face.

"We'll talk later."

After eating, Zhou Liao, leaning on his crutches, struggled toward the bathroom. Qin Zhan covered the toilet seat and had Zhou Liao sit down. Before Zhou Liao could ask what was happening, a warm washcloth was placed on his face.

"That... my hands are fine."

Zhou Liao wanted to wash himself, but Qin Zhan quickly wiped his face and applied a cool substance to his chin and lips. Then, the cold razor began to scrape along the cream.

"You can't see the mirror." Afterward, Qin Zhan replaced the cloth, no longer worried about Zhou Liao's escape.

This was the first time Zhou Liao had been shaved by another man. Qin Zhan's movements were not gentle, especially since he was not experienced in shaving others.

In this cramped bathroom, two tall men squeezed together felt strange. Zhou Liao was uncomfortable being so close to another man, and the act of shaving felt too intimate. His body remained rigid, and he instinctively turned his head when Qin Zhan got closer.

This slight turn caused the dull blade to cut his face, making Qin Zhan frown disapprovingly.

"Sorry." Zhou Liao's eyes widened in fear, afraid of upsetting the other man.

He was the one who got cut, yet he was also the one apologizing out of fear.

Qin Zhan wiped the blood from the cut with his thumb, then narrowed his eyes. In Zhou Liao's terrified gaze, he naturally licked the blood off his finger.

"Don't move."

Zhou Liao's pupils trembled, but he didn't dare move. He straightened his spine, almost crushing the toilet seat with his grip.

Only after Qin Zhan finished shaving him did Zhou Liao feel a sense of relief. Qin Zhan tossed the razor aside and carefully examined his face. Zhou Liao waited, his body still tense.

"Shower. I'll help you?"

"...I can do it myself."

"Really?"

Zhou Liao nodded vigorously. Seeing this, Qin Zhan said nothing more and walked out, tossing his clothes to Zhou Liao.

"Knock if you need help."

After refusing Qin Zhan's offer, Zhou Liao took the most challenging shower of his life. Because he couldn't use his foot or get it wet, he mostly sat on the toilet to wash himself. The cheap shower gel was slippery, and he nearly fell off the toilet lid while washing his back.

But the real struggle came after he finished. He had to dress himself, and because the bathroom floor was slippery, he lost balance while putting on his pants. His leg instinctively tried to support him, causing him to fall painfully onto the tiles.

The bathroom was so small that he lay on the ground, unable to stretch out, looking both pitiful and comical, with half his pant leg still unbuttoned.

Qin Zhan was coding when he heard a noise from the bathroom. He quickly stood up and walked over. Pushing open the door, he saw Zhou Liao lying on the floor, wearing his clothes, his face twisted in pain, trying desperately to stand up.

"Didn't I tell you to knock if you needed help?"

"It was an accident." Seeing Qin Zhan's impatient look, Zhou Liao instinctively apologized, "I'm sorry..."

Before he could finish, Qin Zhan squatted down, slipped his hands under Zhou Liao's armpits, and lifted him up. Zhou Liao's uninjured foot hadn't steadied when Qin Zhan pulled him into his arms. Feeling the warmth of Qin Zhan's chest against his back, his body stiffened again, feeling uncomfortable.

Qin Zhan seemed oblivious to any romantic or sexual implications. He half-carried Zhou Liao and helped him pull up the remaining part of his pants.

When Qin Zhan's fingertips brushed against his thigh, Zhou Liao tensed so much he almost fell again. Thankfully, Qin Zhan's other hand held him tightly, preventing him from falling. Zhou Liao didn't dare look at their reflection in the mirror, fearing it would trigger him further.

"Done." Qin Zhan spoke emotionlessly, as if completing a task.

"Thank you."

He hurriedly took the crutch from Qin Zhan and limped back to his makeshift bed.

Qin Zhan followed behind him. His clothes were damp from lifting Zhou Liao. As Zhou Liao sat down, wincing in pain, he saw Qin Zhan walk to the closet and remove his shirt.

It was the first time Zhou Liao had seen Qin Zhan undress in front of him. He hadn't expected him to have muscles, given that Qin Zhan usually sat in front of his computer. But considering Qin Zhan's superhuman strength and similar height, it wasn't entirely surprising.

What shocked him, however, were the terrifying scars on Qin Zhan's waist and abdomen—grotesque and far worse than his own. They crisscrossed like dead flesh on pale skin, making Zhou Liao catch his breath, unable to look away.

He wanted to ask Qin Zhan how these scars were left, but he didn't dare to speak up because it was clearly a sign of human cruelty. In the past, the other party must have suffered even more inhumane abuse, scars that could not heal.

Qin Zhan changed into a gray single-layer shirt. When he turned his head, Zhou Liao immediately looked away.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Zhou Liao feared lying would get him beaten, so after saying nothing, he quickly added, "I just..."

"Just what?"

"I just saw it by accident."

Qin Zhan seemed indifferent to whether Zhou Liao had seen it or not. Seeing no anger or particular reaction from the other party, Zhou Liao gathered his courage after a while.

"Does it hurt?"

"You mean this?" Qin Zhan pressed the spot through his clothes. "Forgot about it."

"Was it... someone else who hit you?"

As soon as Zhou Liao finished speaking, Qin Zhan suddenly looked at him, eyes slightly narrowed, with an indiscernible gaze swirling with dark currents.

"It has nothing to do with you."

"Sorry..." Zhou Liao knew he had overstepped, "I just..."

"Don't pretend to care. What's the difference between you and them?"

Qin Zhan interrupted his explanation, and Zhou Liao's breath caught. He clenched his fists and lowered his head, not daring to look at the other person.

He dared not speak again, and Qin Zhan did not want to continue the conversation either. After changing clothes, he went to do his own things. Zhou Liao, as usual, curled up in the corner watching his back, not knowing how long it had been when Qin Zhan suddenly stood up from his computer and walked out the door.

Seeing him leave, Zhou Liao tensed up and leaned forward. "Are you going to class?"

Qin Zhan only glanced at him without responding, his expression not looking good. Zhou Liao thought his words earlier had made Qin Zhan punish him again, and his heart felt like it was being suddenly squeezed.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I won't ask again."

The other person ignored him and simply closed the door. Zhou Liao stared at the tightly shut door, and a long-forgotten fear began to take hold. Wearing Qin Zhan's clothes, even though the unique, fresh, and cold scent enveloped him, it did not soothe his fear.

He clutched his hair tightly, his vision dark, his body trembling uncontrollably.

A few minutes later, the door opened, but Zhou Liao felt those few minutes were like hours.

"Are you cold?"

Zhou Liao's hands were covered in self-inflicted bruises. Hearing the question, he lifted his head, revealing a forced, ingratiating smile.

"You're back."

Seeing his appearance, Qin Zhan understood. His face remained expressionless, but inside, he was very satisfied. Earlier, he had been annoyed by a sudden video call from a woman on Zhou Liao's phone, but now it seemed to be smoothed over.

The other person couldn't go anywhere; now he belonged only to him.

"Afraid I'd leave?" Qin Zhan gently held Zhou Liao's hand.

At this moment, the relief of regaining Qin Zhan overshadowed the strangeness of being held by a man. As long as Qin Zhan didn't leave silently, leaving him alone, anything was fine.

"Mm."

"Do you need me badly?"

"Mm."

"Really? Tell me how much you need me?"

Qin Zhan seemed to be gradually letting go of his hand, and Zhou Liao, tense, grabbed it back, holding on so tightly he feared the other person would slip away like sand.

Seeing the panicked fear on the other person's face, Qin Zhan felt his heart strangely tremble. A twisted possessiveness surged within him, the first time he experienced such a feeling in his twenty years—turning a once proud and spoiled superior into someone who couldn't survive without him.

"Do you know, someone called you on video earlier," Qin Zhan suppressed the surge of satisfaction and spoke coldly. "Her name is Xiao Li, tagged under 'bar.' She said she misses you, especially your kisses, which are hot and itchy."

Zhou Liao paused.

"What should we do? I don't like having many people around the one I keep." Qin Zhan felt Zhou Liao's tightening grip. "If they're dirty, they're just trash to be thrown away."

"I don't know her, I forgot, I really don't remember." Zhou Liao frantically shook his head, trying to explain to Qin Zhan, fearing he would be discarded. "Delete her, she's just after money. I don't have many people, I don't know her."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"But if she misses your lips, and you don't know her?"

Zhou Liao raised his head, looking at Qin Zhan's somewhat cold lips, swallowing nervously, his whole body trembling.

Physiologically repelled by kissing men, he didn't know how else to prove to Qin Zhan that he was clean, not trash to be discarded. Emotions and instincts battled fiercely within him, almost crushing him into a pile of mud.

Seeing him not respond, Qin Zhan pretended to turn away coldly, but was suddenly held by a pair of trembling hands.