Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Yi Ye was stunned, never expecting to hear these words from Bush Meihua.

After speaking with Judge Ai Linya, he still couldn't fully grasp the reality of it.

No sense of security? Bush Meihua? Really? It was an idea that didn't seem to fit him at all. But now, with those dim eyes locked on him and his voice choked, Yi Ye suddenly couldn't argue back.

He was genuinely afraid of dying.

Realizing this, Yi Ye didn't resist, letting Bush Meihua cling to him as they quietly gazed at each other.

The room was comfortably warm, the smooth, cool bedding piled like clouds beside them.

Their bodies were pressed close together.

Bush Meihua was a size larger than Yi Ye, and when he wrapped around him, he blocked out all the light.

He covered Yi Ye's mouth, murmuring over and over, "Don't die." Even after pulling his hand away, his muscles stayed tense, the veins on the back of his hand standing out, each one betraying his deep fear.

Until Yi Ye took his hand and laid it on his chest.

His hand shook violently, his pupils widening as he pressed gently against the youth's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"Can you feel it?" The youth's eyes, dark as a starless night, locked onto his. "My heartbeat's still strong—I'm young, after all."

Bush Meihua squeezed his hand, nodding slowly after a moment.

"I won't die. I survived an explosion—what else could take me down?"

Bush Meihua opened his mouth to argue, but Yi Ye pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't jinx it with 'what if there's a next time.' I'm starting to like you a little—don't ruin it."

He clamped his mouth shut.

"Honestly, I didn't think my disappearance those five years would hit you so hard." Yi Ye thought only Bai Chuan and Kaiser would be upset. "Didn't you see me as some kind of... what's the word... a 'plaything' for a spoiled rich kid? I thought that's all I was to you."

Bush Meihua couldn't deny it: "At first, yeah, but not anymore."

"Ha, figured as much."

"So what was it later?" Yi Ye pressed. "You didn't actually think of me as a friend, did you?"

"...Are those the only two options in your head—toy or friend?"

"Not really." He shoved Bush Meihua's shoulder. "Get off me, you're crushing me."

But Bush Meihua didn't budge, his arms still wrapped around Yi Ye's waist, sprawled on him like a human blanket. Tickled, Yi Ye burst out laughing, clapping a hand over his mouth. "Get off me!"

In an instant, Bush Meihua was back to his usual grin. "You said I see you as a friend. Since we're alone, shouldn't we get closer? Good. Friend."

"........"

I can't believe I fell for your dad's crap!

He vigorously pushed Bush Meihua's head, messing up his smooth hair, then pulled at his arms. Grabbing his wrist, he twisted the skin hard.

Bush Meihua immediately hissed in pain.

The commotion of the two wrestling on the bed was too loud, making the bed creak and groan. Suggestive noises seeped through the door crack, and soon there was a knock on the door, followed by the butler's cough from outside.

Yi Ye and Bush Meihua both stopped and looked towards the door.

"Young master, the master instructed me to inform you that Yi Ye's leg hasn't fully recovered yet, and it's not advisable to engage in strenuous activities... If you must proceed, please be cautious."

"???"

Yi Ye roared, "What on earth are you doing!"

The butler exclaimed in surprise, "Young master Yi Ye, you still have the energy to speak?"

"Old man, don't think I haven't noticed your displeasure with me these past few days. Get in here now!" He turned and crawled towards the edge of the bed, his face clearly challenging, "Come in and fight me to the death!" But the next second, he was dragged back by Bush Meihua, who held his waist.

A ticklish sensation overwhelmed him, and an intense itch seemed to burst from his scalp.

He burst out laughing, clutching his stomach, his red eyes glaring furiously at Bush Meihua.

"Don't you dare touch me again, or else!"

Bush Meihua smiled, his eyes narrowing, completely devoid of the earlier cautious demeanor, looking utterly punchable: "What can you do to me? Slap me? Punch me?"

He offered his face, "No matter how hard, I'll enjoy it, or maybe both?"

"..."

If only his legs could move, he'd definitely kick that hateful face!

At this moment, the butler spoke again from outside, "The first aid kit has been placed at the door, young master, don't forget to apply the medicine."

Footsteps gradually faded away.

Yi Ye, clutching his stomach, eyed Bush Meihua suspiciously, "What medicine? Am I hurt? Or are you hurt?"

Bush Meihua murmured indistinctly, got up from the bed, opened the door to bring in the first aid kit, and sat back on the bed. Yi Ye leaned over and saw him roll up his sleeve, revealing wrist marks as if from a tight belt, the skin rubbed raw, with faint beads of blood seeping out.

He took out a cotton swab, cleaned the blood, and applied alcohol, his movements so practiced they seemed second nature.

Yi Ye sat up, recalling Judge Ai Linya mentioning he always had to see a doctor. Could these be from psychological therapy?

But perhaps because it was difficult to manage with one hand, he failed several times to bandage properly, the gauze roll tumbling down his knee, spreading out on the floor. He quickly went to pick it up, his gaze inadvertently meeting Yi Ye's, then lightly turned away.

Yi Ye: "........"

Dude, can you act any more obvious?

When Bush Meihua "accidentally" let the gauze roll to the ground again, Yi Ye was both amused and exasperated, helplessly reaching out.

"Are you going to bandage me?" He looked genuinely surprised.

"Stop pretending!"

He snatched the gauze, gritting his teeth, "Get over here!"

Bush Meihua obediently sat in front of him, like a prisoner ready to confess, extending both wrists. Yi Ye muttered complaints as he bandaged him, deliberately applying extra force, but Bush Meihua kept a seal-like smile throughout, not even a whimper of pain.

Yi Ye truly understood what "you can't hit a smiling face" meant, and unconsciously reduced his force, complaining while gently tying the knot.

But Bush Meihua kept staring at him intently, as if a strange flower had bloomed on his face.

He grew impatient under the stare and looked up to glare back, but Bush Meihua just smiled at him, as if he wished he could slap him twice.

Yi Ye: ...Damn. Mystery solved, this guy's not a sadist—he's a masochist!

Totally got duped by that damn judge Alynya... This guy doesn’t seem like he needs my comfort at all! His self-healing skills are on point, aren’t they?

The bandaging finally wrapped up amidst all the cursing.

Bush Meihua raised both hands in admiration, unable to hide his smile.

"It's the first time someone has bandaged me so well." He fiddled with the bow on it, unsure whether it was genuine praise or just sarcasm.

To Yi Ye, it definitely sounded like sarcasm.

"The butler's gone, the bandaging's done, let's continue what we were doing earlier. Can I hold you a bit longer, Yi Ye?"

He suddenly leaned over, and Yi Ye immediately raised his hand to block his face, expressionless: "Continue what? Your butler is old, are you so old your brain's shriveled up?"

"Of course not, but speaking of which."

He opened the third layer of the medical box, rubbed his chin, and took out two unmentionable ■■ items. "Didn’t expect the old butler to go through the trouble of sending these. It'd be a shame not to use them."

"What the hell, are you crazy! Why are you taking out such things!"

Yi Ye covered his eyes, fearing he'd get styes, goosebumps creeping up his neck. What the hell? Who just casually hides stuff like that in a medical box? And plays with them in their hands? Is the whole Meihua family just a bunch of perverts?

Bush Meihua watched Yi Ye with interest, not understanding why in such a sexually open interstellar society, he still acts like a prudish old man, getting shy at the sight of anything related to sex.

He playfully shoved the items into Yi Ye's hands, only to have them thrown out the next second, hitting the wall with a loud clatter.

Yi Ye showed a look of disgust, wiping his hands off on Bush Meihua's clothes without a second thought.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Who knows if you've used those!"

"..." He covered his mouth and whispered, "The ones I've used are stashed in the corners of this room—want to go find them?"

As soon as he finished speaking, two sharp, loud slaps rang out.

Bush Meihua shook his two hands, clearly showing red handprints...

Yi Ye, seething with righteous anger, flipped him the bird: "If I had a knife, I'd totally stab you."

"Pfft." Bush Meihua couldn't help but laugh.

But he never actually planned to use those things with Yi Ye, even though he had imprisoned him here and had such thoughts. He understood Yi Ye's personality; if he forced it, the only result would be a lifelong estrangement.

"Alright, just joking."

He picked up the items, put them back in the medical box, closed it, and set it aside, then pulled down Yi Ye's hand.

"Put away, won't use them now."

Yi Ye: "...I beg you, don't make it sound like I'll have anything to do with you in the future."

"Who knows what the future holds?"

"..."

Ugh, so annoying. Just when I thought this guy was getting better, now he's even more irritating.

I better not talk to this guy anymore; he might just work himself up to death.

Yi Ye yanked the blanket over himself, covering his head entirely, his back practically screaming "Don't bother me."

"I'm tired, going to sleep. Get out."

"You haven't had dinner yet."

"I'm too pissed off to eat, thanks to you."

Bush Meihua responded with a short laugh.

But instead of hearing someone get up, Yi Ye felt the other end of the bedding lift, and the side next to him sank down. He turned his head immediately to see Bush Meihua, who had taken off his suit jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a well-defined chest like an exhibitionist, confidently crawling in.

Yi Ye yanked out the pillow he was about to lean on, incredulous: "What the hell are you doing, man?"

"Sleeping. Obviously."

"...Here? Seriously?"

He propped his head on his hand, looking at Yi Ye. "You know this was originally my room, right? You've been sleeping here, forcing me into the study."

"Right, he had totally forgotten about that."

Yi Ye started crawling toward the edge of the bed. "Fine, I'll sleep in the study. Hand me the wheelchair—"

Before he could finish, Bush Meihua wrapped him up completely in the quilt cover, leaving him unable to move, twisting like a caterpillar.

"Hey!! What the—"

Bush Meihua chuckled softly, got up to grab a new blanket from the wardrobe, lay down beside him, and closed his eyes. "Relax, I won't touch you. Let's just sleep like this."