Chapter 45

Chapter 45

What was this about being eternally indebted? Gu Jinglan couldn’t think of the right word.

"You must have time for at least one meal, right?"

Qi Yanyu shook his head. Gu Jinglan cleaned his feet, then moved to clean his calves below the kneecaps before turning to look at Qi Yanyu.

Seeing his refusal, Gu Jinglan remained unbothered. "Do you want to wash your hair?"

The back of his head was neatly trimmed, his hair coarse and short—very much a student’s cut. No wonder Lin Na had mistaken him for a freshman.

"No."

Once he was mostly pat-dried, Gu Jinglan helped Qi Yanyu into his shirt, while Qi Yanyu stood up to put on his underwear himself.

Yet, as Gu Jinglan’s gaze lingered on his legs, Qi Yanyu glanced back in surprise, noticing his fingertips lightly brushing over the deep bruises on Qi Yanyu’s thighs.

A spoiled rich kid like him had never suffered such hardships before—covered in dark bruises from head to toe.

Because of Gu Jinglan, not a single patch of his skin remained unmarked.

"How long will these take to heal?" The question was barely audible.

After dressing, Gu Jinglan helped him out and carried him outside. The other two were still not back in the dorm.

Qi Yanyu lay on the bed, watching as Gu Jinglan sat in the chair beside him, staring right back.

Meanwhile, Qi Yanyu’s mind buzzed like hornets escaping a cage:

"What are you doing sitting next to me?"

"To look at you for a while." Gu Jinglan was matter-of-fact.

"..." Something caught in his throat, lodged right beneath his Adam’s apple. "Why look at me?"

"I’m worried you might catch a cold from undressing earlier." People with heart conditions can’t afford to get fevers. Gu Jinglan’s eyes unwavering as he spoke.

It took Qi Yanyu a while to respond. "I can’t sleep like this."

"You’ll fall asleep if you sleep on your stomach." Gu Jinglan waited until Qi Yanyu had dozed off in that position before carefully turning him onto his back—better for breathing.

Seriously, where were Qi Yuanhan and the others tonight? Why weren’t they back yet?

He’d rather have Qi Yuanhan playing games, loud and rowdy. Lately, Qi Yuanhan and Huang Shaoze rarely gamed in the dorm, and even when they did, they fell silent the moment the lights went out, ensuring Qi Yanyu had a peaceful environment to sleep.

Under this watchful eye, Qi Yanyu somehow managed to drift off. He had no idea when Gu Jinglan left his bedside—he just hoped to God Qi Yuanhan and the others hadn’t seen.

The next morning, Qi Yanyu purposely arrived at the classroom at the last minute. Gu Jinglan had been sitting in the middle, but upon seeing him, he traded seats with someone nearby and casually settled in beside Qi Yanyu as if it were no big deal.

Qi Yanyu wrote off last night as Gu Jinglan being drunk.

But today? Why was he still like this?

For fuck’s sake, why did he have to sit next to him in class too?

The 8 a.m. lecture had Qi Yanyu exhausted. He dozed off briefly, only to sense Gu Jinglan’s gaze on him.

Seeing him still loosely gripping a pen through the bandages, is this guy really taking notes while barely awake?

Gu Jinglan gave a faint smile and took his textbook, taking notes while studying Qi Yanyu's earlier handwriting.

Qi Yanyu's books used to be pristine white, but by midterm review time they were almost entirely covered in scribbles and circles.

After all morning classes ended, students went to lunch.

"Come on, let's eat at the restaurant," Gu Jinglan asked him.

"The canteen."

"Let's go then, we'll eat at the restaurant."

They went to the school's proper restaurant rather than the cafeteria.

Qi Yanyu figured Gu Jinglan was still hung over from last night.

Perhaps Gu Jinglan really wasn't fully sober yet, just watching him, hardly eating anything himself.

He kept putting food on Qi Yanyu's plate.

Occasionally, his gaze would fall on Qi Yanyu's face.

"Don't you like the food?" he asked.

He remembered Qi Yanyu's usual picks at the canteen—sweetened tomato dishes, sweet and sour pork ribs.

Qi Yanyu just figured the guy had a terrible memory. Whatever he told him would be forgotten by the next day, or after a few days, Gu Jinglan would act like nothing happened and continue "taking care" of him.

"It's good," Qi Yanyu lowered his eyes and tried the salted egg yolk chicken wings he'd been wanting.

The restaurant was practically empty. Meant for hosting guests originally, the prices were higher, and the canteen already served similar dishes. Unless they had visiting family or friends, students rarely dined here.

The reason Qi Yanyu came was for the quiet and fewer people. They could even get a private booth, where Gu Jinglan could just watch him eat.

"Are you going to class in the afternoon or heading back to the dorm to rest?"

"You do you. Don't worry about me," Qi Yanyu said.

Yet after the meal, Gu Jinglan paid the bill and still walked with him. Qi Yanyu noticed that no matter which way he went, Gu Jinglan would say, "I'm going that way too." But Qi Yanyu had never even mentioned where he was headed.

Finally, in the afternoon, Gu Jinglan had a student council meeting to attend, and they parted ways temporarily.

Good thing too—Qi Yanyu's weak heart was nearly ready to cave.

He couldn't let all his efforts go to waste now.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, Lin Na gathered his classmates to help score tickets—and they actually managed to get two.

So at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Lin Na and Qi Yanyu went to see Jiang Tiyan's press tour.

Jiang Tiyan had starred in a medical thriller that intrigued Lin Na, and as part of the promotional tour down south, he came to their university for the promotional event.

Qi Yanyu watched his childhood friend from the audience, but soon grew bored and started watching the staff instead.

This celebrity film promotion was organized by the student council, though not by their academic department. It was a joint effort by the President's office, the PR department, and the external affairs department.

First, they screened the two-hour film, followed by a Q&A with the actor.

After watching the film, Qi Yanyu thought it was decent. The director was a renowned art-house director, and this was a movie with the trappings of a blockbuster but the soul of an art film.

Clearly, it was a critical darling and a commercial hit.

Jiang Tiyan had enjoyed excellent resources since his debut. It was just his family pulling strings.

During the fan interaction part, Lin Na was selected to join a game on stage. Jiang Tiyan noticed Qi Yanyu sitting next to Lin Na.

He wondered if he went to this med school. Jiang Tiyan had the staff invite Lin Na’s friend up on stage as well.

The interactive activity involved the celebrities doing makeup on random fans.

Instead of choosing a female audience member, Jiang Tiyan stood in front of Qi Yanyu.

Jiang Tiyan wasn’t sure how to begin.

Looking at Qi Yanyu’s blank, pale face, he held a foundation palette and asked, "Are you better now? Last time your brother took you home, did he put you in a cast again?"

Qi Yanyu heard Jiang Tiyan speaking without the microphone. He stayed stone-faced as he replied flatly, "Thanks for your concern," then fell silent.

He seemed like nothing more than a background character, while Lin Na, being styled by a female celebrity beside him, was thrilled like he’d hit the jackpot.

Jiang Tiyan knew his personality—just as standoffish as he was. But he noticed the bandages on Qi Yanyu’s hands. "Did your brother do this?"

Do what? Seeing the bandages on his own hands, Qi Yanyu hesitated but ultimately couldn’t care less to answer.

"That harsh? Are you sure you’re not adopted?"

Jiang Tiyan only knew he was born annoying but didn’t realize Qi Muyao was so brutal toward him.

Whenever someone asked if he was biologically related, Qi Yanyu would jokingly reply that he was a promo freebie—if he was in a good mood.

Now, he simply closed his eyes and let Jiang Tiyan dust his face with powder.

Jiang Tiyan thought his skin was already so pale that he didn’t even need foundation.

From the audience’s perspective, the celebrities kept some distance while applying makeup to the ordinary participants.

But Jiang Tiyan was all up in his space.

Sometimes, when the student refused to lift his head or was too slow, Jiang Tiyan would gently tilt his face up with his fingers.

To onlookers, Jiang Tiyan’s actions seemed way too handsy.

The usually cold and dazzling superstar was now leaning in, meticulously dabbing cream and powder on an ordinary person with almost reverent focus.

This set off nonstop screaming from Jiang Tiyan’s female fans in the audience.

"Speed it up," Qi Yanyu said, wanting to submit his computer lab assignment at the library afterward. "I still have homework to finish."

Jiang Tiyan scoffed. "With this many flaws on your face, you think it’ll be quick?" just to mess with him.

But Qi Yanyu was used to his crap by now. He simply assumed Jiang Tiyan was jealous and responded with a faint smile.

Qi Yanyu was delicate-featured and absurdly arrogant. There wasn’t a single flaw on his face that matched Jiang Tiyan’s description.

After finishing the makeup, Jiang Tiyan removed it for him. The other participants just washed their faces and left.

But with Qi Yanyu, Jiang Tiyan lingered, wiping his face and handing him cleansing wipes. After staring at him for a while, he concluded that his bare face was a million times hotter than with makeup.

"You should cut back on the makeup, Qi Yanyu."

Qi Yanyu scoffed, wiped his face dry with a towel, and then took the steps to exit the stage.

Since the side staircases were blocked off to keep students from rushing up, Lin Na had just jumped off the stage earlier.

Qi Yanyu copied him and jumped down too. Gu Jinglan, who had been watching him for a while, stepped forward and partly steadied, partly caught him as he landed.

Of course, Jiang Tiyan saw it.

Who the hell is he?

That was his first thought.

Afterward, Jiang Tiyan totally zoned out during the Q&A, regretting that he had let Qi Muyao take Qi Yanyu back last time.

Even a savage tiger spares its own cub—weren’t they brothers? How could he beat him so brutally?

Jiang Tiyan stepped offstage and instructed the staff to invite Lin Na and the others as lucky audience members, to take them backstage for autographs and pictures. He insisted the student beside Lin Na be brought back too.

When Lin Na heard he had been chosen as a lucky audience member again, he pulled Qi Yanyu along, pleading with him to stick around.

Qi Yanyu and Lin Na hung out in the backstage lounge, but Lin Na later went to another room to take photos with the director and actors.

Only Qi Yanyu remained in the VIP lounge. Gu Jinglan, after making sure the crowd cleared out, still made time to go back for Qi Yanyu.

Jiang Tiyan entered shortly after.

He looked at Qi Yanyu, whose face still held that same stubborn pride.

Walking over, Jiang Tiyan pushed up Qi Yanyu’s pant leg.

Still crouching, he asked, "Did your leg heal right after the break? Still limping?"

At that moment, Gu Jinglan knocked politely on the door. "Just here to clean up."

Jiang Tiyan ignored him, still crouched in front of Qi Yanyu, studying his knees.

Qi Yanyu shot Gu Jinglan a surprised look, who was watching him and Jiang Tiyan.

"Cat got your tongue? Or did your brother poison it?"

Last time during the livestream, fans had grabbed screenshots of Gu Jinglan holding Qi Yanyu.

Jiang Tiyan had even saved those screenshots on his phone and stared at them way too long.

He couldn’t figure out how Qi Yanyu had gotten so weak now.

"It’s fine." Noticing Gu Jinglan’s presence in the room, Qi Yanyu’s expression was less composed than before. "It’s been fine for ages."

Jiang Tiyan didn’t believe him, eyeing the bandages on his knees. "Then why’s it still bandaged? Did your brother beat you again?"

"No, I fell." Qi Yanyu glanced at Gu Jinglan once more.

Yeah, right.

Guilt surged in Jiang Tiyan’s heart, though his face gave nothing away.

Maybe cutting ties is for the best.

The biggest mistake was ever letting Qi Yanyu return with Qi Muyao.

"Was it your brother’s idea for you to go back to school?" After examining his knees, Jiang Tiyan’s eyes dropped to his hands, then he forced himself to glance away, finally settling back on Qi Yanyu's face.

"Don’t you have another city to hit for the roadshow? Go ahead."

Was Qi Yanyu trying to brush him off?

Now he wouldn’t even *bother* asking for help?

Jiang Tiyan only then realized Gu Jinglan had been watching him the whole time—the man was unfairly good-looking.

Was he listening to their conversation, or waiting for Qi Yanyu?

Jiang Tiyan, used to getting his way and never one to back down, ignored this third party and offhandedly told Qi Yanyu to get up and take a few steps.

Qi Yanyu almost snapped, *What am I, a dog?*

But before he could rise, Jiang Tiyan, still eyeing his legs, extended an invitation: "We’re headed to Guangyang next. You should tag along, Qi Yanyu."

Watching Qi Yanyu walk, he was favoring one leg, just slightly, though he pretended otherwise. Jiang Tiyan fought the impulse to scoop him up right there.

Gu Jinglan also noticed Qi Yanyu’s slight limp and stepped forward. "I’ve got him."

Jiang Tiyan studied him—sharp, model-tier looks. Was this Qi Yanyu’s new boyfriend? Didn’t add up. Qi Yanyu’s usual type was pretty boys like Zhou Yuan.

Gu Jinglan was about to carry Qi Yanyu right in front of Jiang Tiyan.

Qi Yanyu refused to be carried by either of them.

Jiang Tiyan wavered, but guilt won out. "I’ll finish the roadshow soon. You can call me." What he really wanted to say was: *If you want to run away, to leave home, I might be able to help you a little.*

Staff hustled him out before fans could mob him, so Jiang Tiyan spared Gu Jinglan a few more glances on his way out.

Gu Jinglan held his ground, meeting his gaze with a faint smile.

After Jiang Tiyan left, Gu Jinglan didn’t ask how Qi Yanyu knew a celebrity so well.

He helped Qi Yanyu onto the VIP sofa. "Take a seat. I’ve got a few things to finish up."

Qi Yanyu could’ve done without Gu Jinglan’s hovering. Lin Na texted him, saying he’d gotten autographs and photos with everyone, including his favorite, Jiang Tiyan.

Qi Yanyu replied, "That’s good."

Lin Na asked, "You bail already? I missed you."

Qi Yanyu said, "I already went back."

On the sofa, he wondered what Gu Jinglan had thought watching him and Jiang Tiyan earlier. Did he assume, like last time when he helped him out, that his personal life was messy?

It was too late to submit his assignment at the library’s computer lab. Connecting to the campus network, Qi Yanyu submitted it online, then thought—*What does this have to do with Gu Jinglan anyway?*

They might as well be strangers now.

He went to leave after submitting, but the janitor warned him to wait for the floor to dry.

Not one to make extra work for people, Qi Yanyu dropped back onto the couch.

Gu Jinglan returned after 20 minutes and saw the person curled up on the sofa, thinking he was having a medical episode.

He rushed over and flipped him onto his back, only to see him open his bleary eyes. Gu Jinglan then realized he had fallen asleep waiting for him for too long.

"It's empty—everyone else left."

He’d stayed behind on purpose to wrap things up because there were hardly any people around at this time.

Gu Jinglan picked him up, turned off the lights, and walked out of the library’s AV room.

Qi Yanyu was so exhausted that he was barely aware when Gu Jinglan picked him up.

Later, when he heard the PA announcement for the freshman night study session ending, he finally realized Gu Jinglan was carrying him.

Qi Yanyu scrambled to his feet and noticed multiple missed calls on his phone.

He glanced at them—they were from an unknown number. Just as Gu Jinglan set him down, he spotted Jiang Tiyan waiting for him under the streetlight.

Jiang Tiyan had changed into casual clothes, likely after stepping into the van to switch out of his movie promotional attire.

No mask, no hat, not even sunglasses—he stood outside the library's AV room, waiting for Qi Yanyu to come out.

Instead of seeing Qi Yanyu walk out on his own, he spotted from afar that Gu Jinglan was carrying him out.

Jiang Tiyan’s gaze turned icy. He didn’t care who Gu Jinglan was. He said:

"You mind if I steal him for a minute?" He was asking Gu Jinglan.

"Ask him," Gu Jinglan replied.

Qi Yanyu didn’t say no, so Jiang Tiyan led him to chat by the willow-shaded pond around the library.

The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow—the kind of spot where couples walk hand in hand.

Except Jiang Tiyan’s first words were: "You seeing another guy now?"

Qi Yanyu found it odd that his childhood friend had pulled him aside for this. "No..."

"Who is that guy?"

"Just a classmate."

Jiang Tiyan: "You’re not together?" He didn’t believe it.

Qi Yanyu didn’t know how to explain. "He’s straight—just helping ‘cause I’m hurt."

Oh. Jiang Tiyan studied him and finally got out what he’d left hanging earlier: "I have two more cities for the roadshow, then I’ll be back next week. If you have nowhere to go, crash at my place. Mom’s off traveling, Dad’s never around."

Qi Yanyu blinked.

Stay at *his* place? Why?

"Why would I stay at your place?"

Jiang Tiyan looked at him—his hands, his knees, all covered in injuries. Before he could stop himself, he stepped forward and lifted Qi Yanyu’s shirt, exposing marks around his waist, like he’d been tied up.

His face went grim. "Did Qi Muyao do this to you?"

"No." The sudden action startled Qi Yanyu, who took two steps back.

"You did this to yourself?"

Qi Yanyu didn’t even bother arguing.

If not Qi Muyao, then who? Jiang Tiyan was seething—a fire that scorched him and Qi Yanyu alike.

"Doesn’t anyone in your family help you?" Jiang Tiyan scoffed. "Or did you drive everyone off with your own crap?"

Qi Yanyu stayed unruffled. "Did the director yell at you? Or was it the fans?"

Jiang Tiyan laughed. "What good’s a boyfriend if he can’t even help you? Look at you—this is just sad. It’s the 21st century. I don’t know if Qi Muyao’s some tyrant or if you just screwed yourself over."

"..."

Qi Yanyu knew Jiang Tiyan thought his brother had beaten him senseless and was speaking up for him out of indignation.

Jiang Tiyan felt sorry for him… Everyone did… But he didn’t want their pity.

"I don’t have a boyfriend, and Qi Muyao didn’t do this. Like I said—I fell." Qi Yanyu wasn’t sure if the other would understand his explanation.

When they were kids, they used to play together. But as they got older, Jiang Tiyan, sharp as he was, thought Qi Yanyu was just some spoiled brat, so he stopped bothering with him.

After their teens, he’d heard plenty of jokes about Qi Yanyu. He wasn’t actively keeping tabs, but news about Qi Yanyu always seemed to find its way to him.

He’d always figured Qi Yanyu had it coming.

But seeing him like this made him think—there had to be more to it. Why would someone fall so far? Was living the high life not enough? Who wouldn’t want to live carefree as a privileged heir?

"Did Qi Muyao beat you stupid or what?"

Qi Yanyu: "...You’re right about everything. Now that you’ve had your little show, I’m going back to sleep." He glanced over—Gu Jinglan was watching them from a distance.

Curfew was almost here. If he didn’t return to the dorm on time, a notice would be sent to his brother’s phone.

"You could come with me for the roadshow if you want," Jiang Tiyan offered. He could deal with Qi Muyao’s crap. Worst case, he’d just say Qi Yanyu wasn’t there.

Qi Yanyu, still half-asleep from napping, didn’t quite grasp what Jiang Tiyan was saying. "Roadshow for what?"

Was school not enough for you? What else are you trying to pull?

"Or just stay at my place," Jiang Tiyan offered, already planning for him. "At least let those injuries heal first."

He remembered running into Qi Yanyu about half a year ago and handing him back to Qi Muyao.

Had he been getting beaten this whole time?

They’d been childhood friends, but they grew apart.

Jiang Tiyan couldn’t stand him—hated his whole act—and Qi Yanyu, in turn, ignored him even more.

"Didn’t even Qi Yunpu help you?"

Jiang Tiyan’s expression, under the willow shadows, was hard to read.

"..." Qi Yanyu stared at Jiang Tiyan like he was a damn clown.

Jiang Tiyan froze for a few seconds before snapping back to reality. He resumed his cold, mocking celebrity demeanor and frostily sneered, "Or what, do you have a tracker implanted in some organ or under your skin? Are you really that incapable of leaving Qi Muyao?"

Qi Yanyu leisurely nodded, "I'd literally die without Qi Muyao. Please, don’t let me die."

He was equal parts teasing and mocking Jiang Tiyan.

Qi Yanyu thought to himself—even his childhood friend, who despised him so much, would still be disgusted by Qi Muyao. It seemed his decision to run away from home was the right one.

"You’re really digging your own grave," Jiang Tiyan said, his expression reverting to the same old disdain. "Stockholm syndrome or what?"

Damn it. This guy dragged him aside just to bitch at him passive-aggressively, huh?

"Had enough of your celebrity act yet?" Qi Yanyu checked the time on his phone—nine minutes left before curfew. "You’ve got one more minute. Spit out whatever bullshit you've got left."

It was normal for his childhood friend to curse at him. In this novel, everyone hated him beyond measure.

"What the fuck are you even studying for? Your legs and arms get broken, and you still have no survival instinct? What the fuck are you even doing in school? Even a dog knows to avoid harm—it’ll steer clear after enough beatings. You're fucking dumber than a dog!"

The usually composed and aloof celebrity was now completely lost his shit, hurling obscenities at him.