Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Shen Yan sat up in bed. He hadn’t forgotten his planned trip, but why did it involve Hu Chengyu?

Just as he was puzzled, he received a message from Shen Lin: "Bro, I still can't let you go alone, so I found someone to accompany you."

Shen Yan: "So you sent Hu Chengyu to accompany me?"

This brother is hopeless.

The next second, Shen Lin called. "What are you saying, bro? I asked Lu Zhao to accompany you. When did I contact Hu Chengyu?"

Shen Yan frowned. Was there a misunderstanding?

Shen Yan asked again to confirm, "Are you sure the person you found isn't Hu Chengyu?"

Shen Lin felt wronged. "I didn’t lie! I twisted my ankle, not my brain."

He had called Lu Zhao to arrange it, so there were no chat records.

Shen Yan was skeptical but checked the time. He didn’t have the patience to argue with his clueless brother anymore.

*

After a quick wash-up, Shen Yan grabbed his small suitcase and headed out of the school. As he reached the main gate, he saw Hu Chengyu leaning against a Bentley, dressed in a light gray casual shirt, drawing a lot of attention.

Was it the person or the car that caught everyone's attention?

As Shen Yan approached, Hu Chengyu glanced at his watch. "Forty minutes, quick."

Just as he was about to open the car door, Shen Yan placed a hand on it.

Hu Chengyu raised an eyebrow, his expression unusually puzzled.

Shen Yan cleared his throat. "Uh, I think there might be some misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to—"

"What misunderstanding?" Hu Chengyu cut in. "Aren’t you heading to Cloud City today?"

Shen Yan hesitated. "Yes."

"Then there’s no misunderstanding." He reached for the door again. "Get in."

Shen Yan’s lips parted, but no words came out. "I..."

Hu Chengyu: "I don’t want to draw attention."

Shen Yan looked around and indeed, many people were looking at them. When he glanced over, they quickly looked away.

It wasn’t worth prolonging the standoff, so Shen Yan reluctantly got in the car.

Now, Shen Yan just wanted to know how Lu Zhao turned into Hu Chengyu.

Hu Chengyu: "To South Station."

Shen Yan’s eyes widened. "Wait, what about Lu Zhao?"

Hu Chengyu glanced at him. "Isn’t it enough that I’m here with you?"

"No, that’s not what I meant."

Hu Chengyu’s sharp profile and intense presence made him seem even more formidable than usual.

Shen Yan wondered if Hu Chengyu was angry.

He quickly explained the situation: "So, Xiaolin asked for Lu Zhao's help."

Hu Chengyu's mind wandered back to the previous night when Lu Zhao called him out of the blue: "Hey, bro, Yan Yan wants to go to Cloud City for the holidays."

"Uh-huh."

Lu Zhao was used to Hu Chengyu’s distant demeanor, but hearing his response was enough to know he was listening. He kept talking, "Hey, bro, you know how Yan Yan’s always getting sick. Xiaolin was supposed to go with her, but he twisted his ankle.

"With only Yan Yan going, Aunt Shu wouldn’t allow it. Xiaolin came to me and said Yan Yan has always envied him for being able to travel, given her health issues."

"When I remembered how Yan Yan used to look at me with those longing eyes as a kid, I couldn’t say no to Xiaolin."

"But, bro, you know my mom has to go back to visit the grandparents, and I can’t get away.

"So, bro, could you do me a favor this time? It would really help Yan Yan too.

"Hey, bro, do you remember how Yan Yan used to sneak off and cry by herself..."

As Lu Zhao rambled on, Hu Chengyu’s mind drifted back to Shen Yan’s childhood.

Shen Yan had indeed cried in secret as a child because she couldn’t go on trips.

And Hu Chengyu had caught her.

Back then, Shen Yan was tiny, fragile like a delicate porcelain doll, but her chubby cheeks were adorably soft.

Her big eyes, brimming with tears, fluttered as she blinked.

Hu Chengyu, who had originally planned to travel alone during the holidays, unexpectedly agreed to Lu Zhao’s request.

That’s how we ended up here.

Shen Yan raised his voice, confused, and called again, "Mr. Hu?"

Hu Chengyu snapped back to reality and looked at her, "Hmm?"

Shen Yan: "I, I can manage on my own."

Hu Chengyu turned to look out the window, not acknowledging her.

Shen Yan: ...

Is he just ignoring me?

Despite Shen Yan’s repeated assurances that it wasn’t necessary to trouble him, Hu Chengyu remained firm.

It wasn’t until they reached the station that Shen Yan finally gave up.

Because Hu Chengyu had booked his ticket last minute, his seat wasn’t in the same carriage as Shen Yan’s.

*

Luckily, the carriages were right next to each other.

Shen Yan wished she had booked a flight instead. If Hu Chengyu hadn’t been able to get a ticket, he probably wouldn’t have insisted on coming along.

After stowing Shen Yan’s small suitcase in the compartment, Hu Chengyu lingered for a moment.

Shen Yan wasn’t sure how to approach the situation, and just then, a young girl with headphones on approached, saying, “Excuse me, this is my seat. Could you please move?”

Hu Chengyu: “Hi, we’re friends. My seat is in the next car. Would you mind switching with me?”

The girl’s eyes lit up when she saw the tall, handsome Hu Chengyu.

While she found the handsome guy appealing, she thought it would be a hassle and was about to turn him down. But then she noticed him gently placing his hand on the shoulder of a strikingly handsome but aloof young man.

Hu Chengyu: “My friend is in a bit of a situation. If you don’t mind, I can offer you something in return.”

Just then, someone nearby was jostled by another passenger, causing their suitcase to almost hit Shen Yan. Hu Chengyu quickly stepped in, shielding Shen Yan and pushing the suitcase away with his arm.

The person quickly apologized. “Sorry!”

At that moment, Shen Yan caught a whiff of Hu Chengyu’s fresh, earthy scent, and through the thin fabric of his shirt, he could feel the warmth of Hu Chengyu’s body.

Hu Chengyu set the suitcase down in the aisle, then turned to Shen Yan and asked, “You okay?”

Shen Yan’s face felt warm, but he shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Hu Chengyu noticed his flushed face and frowned, wondering if the train car was too stuffy.

But the seating issue needed to be resolved. Before Hu Chengyu could say anything, the girl nodded eagerly. “Sure, I’ll switch.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement, almost glowing.

Hu Chengyu, still puzzled but not pressing further, told her where his seat was.

As she left, the girl said with a smile, “Wish you guys all the best.”

She left with a spring in her step, clearly happy.

Shen Yan and Hu Chengyu exchanged confused glances.

Shen Yan had opted for the high-speed train because he’d heard the scenery between Jing City and Cloud City was stunning, and he was eager to see it for himself.

But before they were even halfway there, Shen Yan started feeling dizzy, and his face grew pale.

*

Hu Chengyu, who had been engrossed in a book, noticed Shen Yan’s breathing getting heavier and realized something was off.

“Where’s your medicine?”

Shen Yan’s voice was barely above a whisper. “It’s in my crossbody bag.”

Hu Chengyu grabbed the crossbody bag from the other side, found several bottles of medicine, identified the right one after a moment, unscrewed the thermos cap, and helped Shen Yan take the medicine.

Within minutes, beads of sweat formed on Shen Yan’s forehead, trickling down his cheeks and finally dripping from his jaw.

A damp patch formed on his crisp white shirt.

Hu Chengyu gently dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief.

Shen Yan leaned back, his head tilting toward the window. A stray lock of hair swayed, occasionally brushing against the glass like a tiny brush.

Hu Chengyu placed a hand on Shen Yan’s face, feeling the heat. “Shen Yan, are you okay?”

Shen Yan felt a wave of nausea and didn’t want to talk, afraid that opening his mouth would make him vomit.

He gave a slight shake of his head, trying to keep it together.

In the next moment, he sensed Hu Chengyu standing up. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the tension and frustration radiating from him.

Beneath that, there was a subtle undercurrent of impatience.

Shen Yan forced his eyes open and asked softly, "What are you doing?"

Of course, Hu Chengyu wanted to take Shen Yan to the hospital, but he knew the train was still in motion.

Shen Yan propped himself up and clutched the edge of Hu Chengyu's shirt, trying to steady himself.

He had intended to grab Hu Chengyu's arm, but he lacked the strength.

"I'm fine, I'll be okay after a bit of rest," Shen Yan said, looking at him with a pleading expression. "Please, just listen to me, okay?"

Hu Chengyu had no choice but to sit back down, as Shen Yan was still clinging to his shirt.

After a few moments, Shen Yan's forehead stopped sweating, and his color returned, finally putting Hu Chengyu at ease.

Whenever he took his medication, Shen Yan would feel overwhelmingly drowsy.

As the discomfort eased, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

Drowsily, he felt someone gently brush his face, but he was too tired to open his eyes.

Hu Chengyu gently rested Shen Yan's head on his shoulder, listening to his steady breathing, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.