Chapter 47: Sandwich

Chapter 47: Caught in the Middle

Lin Shenshi’s mind was a chaotic mess.

Just then, a nurse emerged, clipboard in hand, calling out, "Is the family here? Please settle the payment first."

The staff member quickly scurried over, took the form, and headed for the self-service payment machine. Lin Shenshi stopped the nurse.

"Excuse me, how is he doing?"

The nurse, rapidly scribbling something on her clipboard, replied, "The wound is deep; he’s currently being stitched up."

Lin Shenshi asked, "May I go in and see him?"

"You can," the nurse began, but before she could finish, Lin Shenshi had vanished. "…but it’s not advisable. Where did he go?"

Lin Shenshi hurried into the consultation room, where the pungent scent of blood immediately assailed him.

From behind the blue partition came the cold clinking of metal instruments, accompanied by a more delicate, rustling sound.

Lin Shenshi slowed his steps, approaching cautiously.

Lu Yuan sat with his back to him, his arm bared, the clothing around the wound already cut away. His muscles were powerful and well-defined, yet blood and sweat mingled, blurring the sight.

The medical needle, stained crimson, pierced through his skin. Each stitch made Lu Yuan clench his jaw, cold sweat beading on his brow.

Lin Shenshi quickly moved to his side. "Doctor, why wasn’t he given anesthesia?"

The doctor, engrossed in his stitching, replied without looking up, "The patient requested it himself."

Lin Shenshi looked at Lu Yuan in surprise, just as Lu Yuan turned to meet his gaze.

The strands of hair on Lu Yuan’s forehead were already damp with cold sweat, droplets clinging to them. Even so, the eyes behind his wire-rimmed glasses remained profoundly cold and detached, as if the needles and threads piercing through were not his own flesh and blood.

A sharp pang of pain pricked Lin Shenshi’s heart, mixed with bewilderment. "Why didn’t you take anesthesia?"

Lu Yuan averted his eyes. "This little pain is nothing."

"But there’s no need to suffer needlessly!" Lin Shenshi turned to the doctor. "Can you still administer anesthesia now?"

"Just two more stitches left. Even if we administer it now, it won’t take effect in time. Just bear with it a little longer."

The doctor worked swiftly, finishing the stitches in no time. After bandaging and securing the arm, he instructed them to keep it dry for the next few days and to return for a follow-up and medication in a week.

Lu Yuan stood up and walked out, Lin Shenshi hurrying after him.

The staff member who had gone to pay the fee hadn’t returned yet, so they sat on a bench in the hallway, waiting.

Lin Shenshi lowered his head, biting his lip, his eyes stinging slightly as he gazed at the bloodstains not fully cleaned from Lu Yuan’s arm.

A deep voice came from above him:

"Are you worried about me?"

Lin Shenshi said stiffly, "No, you brought this on yourself. Who gets stitches without anesthe—"

His words abruptly cut off as cool fingertips pressed against his chin, gently lifting his head.

Lin Shenshi, caught off guard, found himself staring into Lu Yuan’s profound eyes.

Those inky black pupils gazed down at him, dark and deep, like a cosmic black hole with a fatal pull, threatening to devour everything around it. Yet, an intense, undeniable emotion surged within them, making it impossible to look away.

Lin Shenshi’s breath hitched.

A rough thumb brushed across the corner of his eye, smearing the wet traces.

Lu Yuan stated simply:

"You’re crying for me."

Lin Shenshi’s eyelashes trembled, and more tears spilled from his eyes.

Huh?

Why was he crying?

Even if Lu Yuan got hurt saving him, there was no need to be so moved as to cry, right?

Yet, for some reason, the tears wouldn’t stop. An unfamiliar emotion swelled in his chest, as if some profound memory was frantically clamoring within him.

Even though it was blurry, even though he couldn’t pinpoint it, he was still affected, overwhelmed by sorrow.

Lin Shenshi looked utterly bewildered.

Like a lost child.

Lu Yuan sighed and pulled him into an embrace: "Xiao Shi, don’t cry."

The never-before-used nickname slipped from Lu Yuan’s lips, yet Lin Shenshi didn’t find it the least bit strange. The tears, barely controlled yet still flowing, seemed to cloud his judgment. He forgot the identity and past actions of the man before him, allowing himself to bury his face in Lu Yuan’s chest, tears flowing freely.

Lu Yuan gently patted his shoulder.

Deep regret surfaced in his profound eyes.

He shouldn’t have let Xiao Shi see that scene.

Over the years, every single moment of anguish had been a thousand, ten thousand times more painful than today’s injury. He had long grown accustomed to pain but had overlooked how Xiao Shi would feel in that moment.

Lu Yuan murmured reassuringly, "I’m not in pain, really."

Lin Shenshi sobbed, knowing it was a lie but not calling him out on it. His slender fingers clutched tightly at the fabric of Lu Yuan’s shirt, his messy head almost entirely buried in the man’s embrace. His usually clear voice was thick with tears: "...Thank you, and... I’m sorry."

*Thank you for risking your life to save me.*

*I’m sorry for misunderstanding you.*

Lu Yuan couldn’t help but tighten his embrace. Though he desperately wanted to press him closer, to embed him into his very bones, he restrained himself, only the prominent knuckles on his hands betraying his unbearable emotions.

He rested his chin lightly on top of Lin Shenshi’s head, gently rubbing:

"You’re welcome."

"...It’s okay."

People came and went in the hallway, but the two embracing each other didn’t notice a flash of fabric briefly appearing and disappearing around the corner.

*

After the payment was processed, the staff member met up with them, and the three went downstairs to leave the hospital.

At the hospital entrance, beside a stone pillar, stood a solitary young man. The lights cast his long, elongated shadow.

There weren't many pedestrians left at the hospital entrance at night, but the young man’s exceptionally handsome and radiant appearance still drew the attention of every passerby.

Some young girls approached to strike up a conversation, and the young man responded politely, though a subtle aloofness and an inexplicable melancholy always lingered in his eyes.

After a while, the girls took the hint and left.

"Ah Zhao!" Lin Shenshi waved to him.

Yu Lanzhao turned at the sound.

Instantly, a dazzling smile spread across his lips, like a frosty valley warmed by the winter sun, suddenly bursting with gorgeous blossoms, so beautiful it was almost unreal.

Lin Shenshi hurried over to him first: "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?"

"I just arrived, and you guys just happened to come out," Yu Lanzhao said, naturally taking his hand. "How did everything go? Is everything alright?"

Lin Shenshi nodded: "Yeah, Teacher Lu’s injury has been bandaged. It’s nothing serious, but he needs to rest for a while."

The winter night was bitterly cold, and Lin Shenshi didn’t know how long Yu Lanzhao had been waiting outside. His fingers were icy. Lin Shenshi cupped them between his hands, warming them as he asked, "What about you? The police... didn’t give you any trouble, did they?"

Yu Lanzhao didn’t answer directly but softly countered, "What do you think, Xiao Shi?"

Lin Shenshi felt somewhat sheepish for no reason.

Just moments ago, when Ah Zhao’s situation was still unclear, he had buried himself in Lu Yuan’s arms, crying his eyes out due to some inexplicable emotion.

Although Sheng Lin indeed wasn’t an assassin sent by Lu Yuan, it was still unknown whether Lu Yuan had colluded with the police to frame Yu Lanzhao.

Lu Yuan wasn’t entirely trustworthy.

Lin Shenshi licked his dry lower lip: "Since you were able to come so quickly, I guess... not?"

"......" After a brief pause, Yu Lanzhao said with a faint smile. "Xiao Shi is so clever. We answered their questions, and the police let us go."

"That’s good..." Lin Shenshi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, Lu Yuan and the staff member walked over. The man’s heavy gaze swept over them, and Lin Shenshi instinctively let go of Yu Lanzhao’s hand.

"Well, let’s grab a taxi back," Lin Shenshi said, though he didn’t know why he felt so guilty. He didn’t dare look at Yu Lanzhao or Lu Yuan, lowering his head to hail a taxi on his phone.

Taxis near the hospital were easy to hail, and one soon pulled up in front of them.

Lin Shenshi instinctively moved to take the front passenger seat but was beaten to it by the staff member.

The staff member stretched nonchalantly: "Ah, finally heading home after being busy all day."

Lin Shenshi: "...... Bro, this is a taxi I called to go to the school. Isn’t your home not on the way?"

The staff member: "Huh? Didn’t I tell you? I live in the neighborhood right across from your school."

Lin Shenshi was shocked: *What a coincidence?!*

"Don’t worry, I’ll split the fare with you."

Lin Shenshi: *Is that the issue?!*

Wait...

That’s not the issue, then what is?

He vaguely felt something was off but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Lin Shenshi scratched the back of his head, feeling confused as he climbed into the car.

Only after the door closed did he realize he was sitting between Yu Lanzhao and Lu Yuan.

"!!?"

Something really did feel wrong!

Lin Shenshi felt like he was on pins and needles. He was about to suggest changing seats when the driver stepped on the gas and started driving.

Since the other three didn’t seem to mind, asking the driver to stop and change seats now would seem like making a fuss.

Suppressing the uneasy feeling in his heart, Lin Shenshi quietly sat in the middle.

Secretly praying nothing would happen along the way.

Just as the taxi had been driving for a while and Lin Shenshi’s anxious heart had just begun to settle, his right hand, resting on the seat, was suddenly touched by something cool.

Lin Shenshi looked to his right in surprise.

Lu Yuan sat silently, his right hand bandaged and slung around his neck, while his left hand, hidden in the shadows, stealthily reached for Lin Shenshi’s fingers.

Without a word, he slipped between their fingers.

And then...

Their fingers interlaced, clasped tightly together.

*Wait? What are you doing? Addicted to holding hands?*

Lin Shenshi tried to pull away, but Lu Yuan’s grip was like an iron clamp. Not wanting to make too much of a scene and draw attention, he could only grit his teeth and endure it silently.

He consoled himself: *He risked his life to save you, so just let him hold your hand. At least he didn’t ask you to hold something else, right?*

Recalling the various explicit scenes from the original book, Lin Shenshi decided this was acceptable.

The taxi continued forward, taking a sharp turn. Thrown off balance by the inertia, Lin Shenshi felt a weight on his shoulder as the slender youth bumped into him.

"The car’s swaying a bit..." Yu Lanzhao smiled apologetically, his hand gripping Lin Shenshi’s tightly. "Xiao Shi, can you hold onto me?"

Lin Shenshi: "..."

The young man’s deer-like eyes looked at him pitifully, as if he were the only lifeline in a vast, desolate sea.

Lin Shenshi’s heart softened.

If he could tolerate Lu Yuan, what reason did he have to refuse this pitiful young man?

He nodded: "Okay."

The moment he agreed, a tingling sensation suddenly shot through his right palm, and Lin Shenshi jerked reflexively.

Yu Lanzhao asked with concern, "Xiao Shi, what’s wrong?"

"N-nothing," Lin Shenshi blinked. Though he didn’t know why, he felt he couldn’t tell the truth.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lu Yuan’s expression icy, his sharp gaze glancing sideways at him. His rough thumb brushed against their joined palms again, full of intense warning.

*Help!*

*What's going on here???*

Lin Shenshi quickly lowered his head, focusing inward, eyes downcast in meditation.

Yet he still couldn’t ignore the starkly contrasting sensations coming from both hands.

The dim lighting inside the car at night amplified the sensations on his skin. The boy’s fingers were delicate, carrying a warmth that had already returned, while Lu Yuan’s fingertips were rough, carrying a cold, almost reptilian chill.

One hot, one cold.

It tormented him like alternating between ice and fire.