Chapter 34 Reassurance

Chapter 34 Reassurance

After he finished washing the clothes, Qin Zhan remembered to send over the resume.

When he turned around, he saw Zhou Liao standing behind him, watching him, still holding a sweet potato.

"Aren't you eating?" Qin Zhan sat down in front of the computer. "If not, I'll throw it away."

"I am eating."

Zhou Liao immediately took a bite of the still warm sweet potato. He used to never eat such cheap street food, but now, with the warmth and sweetness lingering on his tongue, he felt his heart inexplicably speeding up again.

Wearing glasses, Qin Zhan was facing the computer, seemingly editing something. The screen's light cast a cold and eerie glow on his face, yet even so, it couldn't hide his exhaustion. Zhou Liao didn't want to stand behind him and stare, so after finishing his meal, he supported himself with his cane and went to the bathroom to wash up.

After sending the resume, Qin Zhan heard that Zhou Liao was still in the bathroom. He turned his head and pulled out Chen Xian's ID number, typing it into the webpage in front of him. After a while, the other person's flight information popped up.

Qin Zhan glanced at the calendar; it was a weekend.

When he heard the bathroom door open, he closed the webpage.

"Qin Zhan... do you have any thicker clothes?"

Hearing Zhou Liao call him, Qin Zhan turned his head and saw Zhou Liao standing at the door.

He was bare-chested, with some water droplets still on his skin. Although Zhou Liao hadn't exercised much recently, due to his past long-term fitness routine, his physique remained impressive. His broad back and tight muscle lines were perfectly outlined by the light and shadow, creating a visually striking effect of testosterone.

But in Qin Zhan's eyes, it made no difference whether he looked or not; his eyes remained calm.

"Clothes?"

"... It's a bit cold during the day, and at night when sleeping too."

Qin Zhan pinched his temples, then stood up and walked to the closet. He had very few clothes, buying only what was necessary, mostly black or gray. Any slightly branded items were gifts from Du Li under various pretenses.

Qin Zhan found a thick high-neck undershirt and handed it to him. Before Zhou Liao could take it, he threw a shirt he had just taken off onto Zhou Liao's head.

"Do you want to catch a cold?"

"No..." Zhou Liao quickly dried his body and put on Qin Zhan's clothes.

Their body types were similar; he was just a bit more muscular than Qin Zhan, who was slightly taller, making him look more imposing. Thus, wearing Qin Zhan's clothes fit him well. The only awkward part for Zhou Liao was that after changing his underwear, he had to wear Qin Zhan's, which, although he didn't want to admit it, were indeed larger in that area.

Moreover, Qin Zhan's underwear was all conservative boxers, quite different from the briefs he usually wore.

"Put the dirty ones there; I'll wash them later."

"I can wash them."

Qin Zhan stared at him expressionlessly: "Do nothing; that's the best help."

The sound of the light switch echoed, leaving only a small bedside lamp lit. Zhou Liao closed his eyes, listening as usual to the sound of Qin Zhan getting into bed. After a while, a thick coat with a manly scent was draped over his quilt.

Zhou Liao opened his eyes; Qin Zhan was taking off his glasses and placing them on the bedside table.

"Weren't you saying it was cold?"

"Yes..."

Zhou Liao had received many favors before, but most came with ulterior motives. Now, Qin Zhan's kindness left him confused, unsure of the purpose behind his actions. He gripped the black undershirt tightly under the quilt, his heart racing uncontrollably.

"There aren't any extra blankets, so make do."

"It's fine... it's already very warm." Zhou Liao had never felt so content.

Qin Zhan didn't respond to this, only pulling the covers over himself and lying down. After a while, he coldly said:

"Starting tomorrow, no more electric heaters; we can't afford the electricity bill."

This sleep made Zhou Liao reluctant to leave the warm bed. When he woke up, there was another coat of Qin Zhan's draped over his feet.

But Qin Zhan was nowhere to be seen, leaving only a pot of prepared food on the kitchen counter.

The hospital corridors were bustling with people around the clock. Qin Zhan arrived early in the morning because the hospital called to say his grandmother had woken up around five or six.

But by the time he arrived, she had fallen asleep again.

"Old age and illness make one sleep a lot," sighed the person in the neighboring bed.

Qin Zhan didn't speak; he just sat in the small chair beside the bed, watching her.

The hospital implied that her condition was dire and suggested not continuing treatment given his financial situation. They recommended either focusing on his own life or transferring her to a nursing home, as the hospital lacked staff to handle her needs if she woke up again.

A nursing home would cost even more than the hospital, which he couldn't afford.

After a while, his phone vibrated, reminding him of an interview in fifteen minutes. Since it was an internal referral, the process moved quickly. Qin Zhan placed a glass of warm water on the bedside table and then went downstairs to a quiet corner for the interview.

The process wasn't difficult. Technical positions didn't require much interpersonal communication, so adequate communication skills sufficed. Qin Zhan had solid foundational knowledge, impressive projects, and his typically reserved demeanor came across as composed on camera. Almost immediately after the interview, he received a verbal offer.

The HR representative set a start date, possibly aware of his family situation, and didn't insist on daily attendance during the holidays, suggesting three to four days a week, giving him time to earn money on the side.

After finishing the call, he returned to the ward. Throughout the day, the patient showed no signs of waking up. Qin Zhan silently sat by the bedside, coding in the dimly lit room. The continuous strain of recent days had exhausted him, with all responsibilities weighing heavily on his shoulders.

That evening, he spent his last few dollars on a baked pancake outside the hospital for his meal before heading home.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw a nurse changing the IV drip, and it seemed the elderly woman had woken up, her eyes struggling to open.

"Just in time, your grandmother has woken up," the nurse said with a smile, turning to the elderly woman. "Your grandson is here to see you."

At first, the person showed no reaction upon hearing it, as if it took a long time for them to suddenly realize what was happening. She clutched her head, ignoring the pain from the needle embedded in her hand being pulled, and kept muttering hysterically, "Let me die, let me die."

The nurse was stunned by her sudden behavior.

Qin Zhan came over and held her arm, trying to stop her from moving, but when she saw him, her pupils trembled even more violently.

"Let me die! Let me die with your father!"

The old woman screamed frantically, her hoarse, aged voice like a pen scratching on sandpaper: "Why did you save me? Why didn't you let me die?"

Qin Zhan slightly narrowed his eyes. The nurse beside him was already quite embarrassed; she was about to speak words of comfort when the old woman suddenly slapped Qin Zhan's hand.

"I know, you just want to punish me... It was me who ruined your life, and you want to see me suffer this way... You want to watch me live in agony..."

The old woman seemed to be hanging on by a thread, resentful that her attempt at death had failed: "Your father was insane, and so are you. Your father tormented me for the first half of my life, and now you want to torment me for the second half... If I die, will you dismember me like you used to do to those animals to relieve your violent urges, just like he did?"

"Shut up."

The nurse froze beside Qin Zhan, swallowing hard, not daring to look at him again.

"Grandma, please calm down. I'll go get you some hot water."

Without another word, she ran out, leaving only the two of them in the room. The patient in the next bed had gone out for a walk, so the room was empty.

"You're right... Why did you save me... Why? Do you know how much pain I'm in... Do you know how much it hurts... I'm a burden, Qin Zhan... Sob... Sob..."

Qin Zhan, with dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, felt his nerves weakening from her constant crying and shouting.

"You're in pain?" Qin Zhan spoke without emotion. "That's good. I was in even more pain back then."

After saying this, he placed the peeled fruit aside and left the ward without looking back, leaving the old woman behind to scream in anguish until her voice became hoarse.

Qin Zhan had never been this obsessive before. He didn't know when it started, but once he decided something, he would do anything to achieve it.

Whether it was pain or happiness, nothing could leave his side without his permission.

After leaving the hospital, he went to Bai Ling's house. Due to the approaching end-of-term exams, Du Li had requested more tutoring sessions. By the time he returned, it was already as late as the previous night.

At eleven o'clock, Qin Zhan pushed open the door to the warehouse, which was pitch black. He instinctively frowned, but before any panic could rise, he heard faint sobbing.

He pressed the light switch, but there was no response—it must have been a power outage. During the day, he had been running an electric heater for Zhou Liao, and at night, a lamp was also on, so the power outage was expected.

He turned on the flashlight on his phone and finally found Zhou Liao curled up in a small corner. Despite his tall stature, he was trembling all over.

Qin Zhan squatted down and touched Zhou Liao's flushed cheek with the back of his hand.

"I'm back."

When Zhou Liao looked at him, his eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been crying.

Before Qin Zhan could move, Zhou Liao suddenly grabbed his arm, burying himself in his chest, his body convulsing uncontrollably.

Qin Zhan expressionlessly patted his back until his trembling subsided after a few minutes. Then, he stopped and covered him with a blanket.

"Aren't you cold?"

"...The lights suddenly went out... I thought..."

Zhou Liao was on high alert, and whenever Qin Zhan disappeared or the surroundings turned dark, he could easily break down, with childhood memories flashing through his mind.

"It's a power outage," Qin Zhan said, letting him stay curled up in his arms. "We couldn't afford the electricity bill."

"...Did this happen often before?"

"No." Qin Zhan glanced at Zhou Liao's red eyes. "Not before you."

Zhou Liao remained silent, feeling guilty seeing Qin Zhan's tired expression. He apologized instinctively: "I'm sorry... If you don't have money, you can come to my place. My house is in Jinyang District, and there's a card in my bag... I can give you the password."

But Qin Zhan merely looked at him, his eyes devoid of emotion: "No need."

Zhou Liao didn't understand why Qin Zhan was doing this. Although he had kidnapped him, he neither wanted his money nor mistreated him.

In every kiss, Zhou Liao felt a sense of being needed that he had never experienced before. Unlike others, Qin Zhan's intentions felt pure.

He knew he needed Qin Zhan now... He didn't want to leave, didn't want to face his so-called parents, the women eyeing his wallet, or the sycophantic "friends."

If possible, he wanted to stay with Qin Zhan forever, a thought that startled him.

He didn't dare say it, unsure where these feelings came from or what they meant, and didn't dare hope for more.

"But... Without paying the electricity bill, it will always be dark."

"Are you scared?"

Zhou Liao lowered his head, speaking softly: "...It's okay as long as you're here."

Just as Qin Zhan was about to stand up indifferently, Zhou Liao grabbed his arm: "If I can't feel you..."

Zhou Liao paused, struggling to finish his sentence: "...It's painful too."

"Understood."

Qin Zhan placed his phone on the table, leaning against the lamp, the flashlight pointing towards the bathroom. After helping Zhou Liao wash up, he retrieved a silver handcuff from the drawer. The chain wasn't like the ones used in investigations but more like a prop, adjustable according to need.

Qin Zhan had bought this handcuff along with the chain long ago, thinking he wouldn't need it.

"Leaving the phone on all night drains the battery, and there's no power to charge it now."

Zhou Liao watched as Qin Zhan spoke, attaching one end of the silver cuff to his wrist and the other to his own. When the lock clicked shut, it made a crisp sound, sending a jolt through Zhou Liao's heart.

Qin Zhan lay down and turned off the flashlight on his phone. Zhou Liao was lying in a small nest on the ground beside him, their left and right hands tightly connected by this silver shackle, which seemed to still gleam in the dark.

"It's not like you're afraid of not sensing it anymore. Go to sleep now."

Zhou Liao turned on his side, his heart almost pounding out of his chest. He looked at Qin Zhan's closed eyes and the handcuffs connecting them.

In this sickening restraint, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief and an alternative kind of pleasure.