Chapter 33 Comforting to Sleep

Chapter 33: Comfort and Bedtime

At the hospital.

Lin Yunshu emerged from the consultation room, buttoning his shirt. His face was still a little flushed, but much better than before.

Seeing him, Guo Shengyao quickly rose and stepped forward. "Master!"

"Did you wait long?" Lin Yunshu smiled gently, taking his coat from her and draping it over his arm. "Let's go, back to the company."

"Well, Master..." Guo Shengyao tugged at his sleeve. "Could we wait a little longer?"

"What's wrong? Haven't you called for a ride yet?"

Guo Shengyao hesitated. "No need for a ride..."

Lin Yunshu's brow furrowed slightly, then, as if realizing something, he said with a sigh, "Shengyao."

"Master, I'm sorry," Guo Shengyao lowered her head.

"It's not really a mistake," Lin Yunshu said softly. "But this isn't a big deal. There's no need to specially call a driver, is there?"

"Huh?" Guo Shengyao suddenly looked up.

They exchanged glances for a few seconds, and she, uncharacteristically, sensed a hint of innocence from her master.

"No, Master, I... you..."

"You mean you'd rather call a driver than think of me?" A familiar voice came from behind.

Lin Yunshu was startled and quickly turned around. Zhou Yu approached him, his face grim, not stopping until he stood directly in front of him.

Lin Yunshu instinctively took half a step back, only to be steadied by Guo Shengyao.

"Master, don't retreat," she whispered. "It's better to face it directly."

Lin Yunshu: "?"

What did she mean? As if he were trying to avoid something.

He was merely trying to maintain a reasonable distance because Zhou Yu had suddenly gotten too close.

Otherwise, they'd both end up cross-eyed.

Zhou Yu adjusted his collar and indeed saw a patch of red spots that hadn't yet faded.

So, the red marks he thought he'd caused on Lin Yunshu in the hallway this morning were actually an allergic reaction?

Zhou Yu suddenly felt a pang of regret, chiding himself for not being more attentive and noticing sooner.

He said nothing, just watched him silently.

Lin Yunshu: "..."

He straightened his collar again and forced a smile at Zhou Yu. "What brings you here?"

Zhou Yu returned the same smile. "To be your driver."

Lin Yunshu: "............"

Zhou Yu said no more, snatched the coat from Lin Yunshu's hands, and shook it out. "Put your coat on."

The hospital was bustling, and Lin Yunshu felt embarrassed. "I can do it myself."

"Arms up," Zhou Yu commanded, leaving no room for argument.

Lin Yunshu: "."

He meekly raised his hands.

Only then did Zhou Yu look satisfied. He helped him into his coat and led him into the elevator.

"Master," Guo Shengyao squeezed in behind Lin Yunshu, hastily pledging her loyalty. "I swear, he came on his own! I didn't call him!"

Lin Yunshu had no chance to respond, as Zhou Yu, with an arm around his shoulder, half-embraced, half-guided him into the elevator.

Outside the outpatient building, the sky was overcast.

Earlier that morning, some sunlight had still peeked through the clouds, but now it was dark and gloomy. At two or three in the afternoon, it looked as if night was falling.

"The temperature's dropping these days," Zhou Yu said. "You're dressed too lightly."

Lin Yunshu sniffed. "I'm either at the company or at home, so I didn't really notice."

"By the time you notice, you'd probably be in the hospital on an IV drip," Zhou Yu chuckled softly. "Not much difference from now."

Lin Yunshu: "..."

The wind was sharp and cold, seeping under his collar and giving Lin Yunshu goosebumps.

The allergic rash on his skin, stimulated by the cold wind, became both painful and itchy, and even his throat began to tickle.

Lin Yunshu turned his head and coughed, scratching his neck, only for his wrist to be caught the next second.

"Stop scratching," Zhou Yu said in a flat tone. "If you scratch it raw, people might think I did it. Should I be happy to take the blame, or should I be happy to take the blame?"

Lin Yunshu: "?"

How did this person manage to say such things with a straight face every time?

He disliked the cold air, so he raised a hand to cover his nose and mouth, muttering, "As if you've never done it before."

As if you're so innocent!

Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow and tightened his collar for him.

"How rare," he said with a laugh. "You're finally learning to act spoiled."

Lin Yunshu: "???"

"I—"

A raindrop landed on the tip of his nose, and he suddenly fell silent, looking up at the sky, which was covered in dark clouds.

"It's raining," he murmured.

Zhou Yu reached out to brush the raindrop from Lin Yunshu's nose. His thumb gently grazed it, making Lin Yunshu's nose flush red.

Zhou Yu was suddenly reminded that Lin Yunshu's skin was indeed very sensitive.

In the past, when he was sick with a runny nose, even the softest tissue would quickly redden his nose, and his eyes would be watery and particularly adorable.

While his sensitive constitution was endearing, it also made him prone to allergies. And allergies were truly uncomfortable.

"Mm," Zhou Yu said, "There's a heavy rain coming."

Raindrops fell one by one, not densely, but each one was large, hitting the skin heavily and shattering into tiny splashes.

Zhou Yu pulled Lin Yunshu into the curve of his arm, shielding him from the wind, and quickened their pace out of the hospital. He ushered him into the passenger seat and shut the door with a solid thud.

"And you," he turned to Guo Shengyao, who was following behind, "Wait under the awning for a bit. I'll call a car to take you back."

"No need, no need," Guo Shengyao waved her hands hurriedly. "I can just ride a shared bike."

She pointed to the long row of shared bicycles parked by the roadside. "It's really close to my rented apartment, just a ten-minute ride."

"No," Lin Yunshu leaned out from the car window. "It's about to rain. It's not safe for you, a girl, to ride alone. Listen, wait for a car to pick you up."

Zhou Yu pushed him back inside.

Guo Shengyao was flattered. "Really, it's fine..."

Zhou Yu frowned. "That's enough. You're part of my secretary team. Do you really think I'd let you bike back on your own? Do I look like a boss who mistreats his subordinates?"

"Of course not."

Guo Shengyao immediately denied it, as one should never speak ill of the boss to his face.

"Then it's settled," Zhou Yu walked around to the driver's side and opened the car door. "Wait here. The car will be here in two minutes."

Guo Shengyao had no choice but to compromise. "Alright, thank you, Boss."

Lin Yunshu leaned out again. "Call me when you get home."

The next second, he was pulled back inside.

Guo Shengyao: "..."

She could only smile at the gleaming rear of the car. "Okay, thank you, Master."

A hand forming an "okay" sign emerged from the driver's side, followed by the window closing. The engine roared, and the car sped off in a flash.

.

Inside the car, Lin Yunshu withdrew his gaze.

His phone screen lit up; Driver Zhang had sent a message confirming he had picked up Guo Shengyao. Only then did Lin Yunshu relax, replying:

[Thanks. It's raining, drive safely.]

Zhou Yu gripped the steering wheel, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. "That apprentice of yours, truly a product of your teaching."

"What about her?" Lin Yunshu countered. "Shengyao is quite good."

Smart, quick-witted, polite, and never one to trouble others.

"Is 'not troubling others' a trait inherent in your genes?" Zhou Yu joked.

Lin Yunshu paused, then explained, "Sorry, I was in a bit of a hurry coming to the hospital and didn't have time to tell you. I was planning to tell you when we got back."

Zhou Yu laughed. "Is apologizing also genetic?"

Lin Yunshu was stumped. After a moment, he lowered his head and chuckled softly.

"It's not your fault," Zhou Yu said more seriously. "Why would I blame you for being sick?"

He sighed. "I'm the one who failed. I clearly saw the red patch on your neck this morning but didn't take it seriously."

"It's not your fault either," Lin Yunshu said. "I didn't take it seriously myself."

Zhou Yu sighed again, clicking his tongue in frustration. "Alright, let's both stop talking like this. We sound less like a couple."

Lin Yunshu pressed his lips together, turned his head, and fell silent.

Outside, the streetscape blurred past as the rain began to fall in earnest. He glanced at a road sign and suddenly realized something was amiss.

"This is the way to my place, isn't it?" he asked. "Aren't we going back to the company?"

Zhou Yu turned the steering wheel, entering the next intersection, which took them even farther from the company.

"Back to what company?" he said without batting an eye. "I'm taking you home to sleep."

Lin Yunshu grew serious. "Don't mess around. We have a meeting this afternoon."

"Is your current state suitable for a meeting?" Zhou Yu shot him a look. "Starting to feel drowsy, aren't you? Nauseous too?"

Lin Yunshu's brow twitched.

It was true—after an allergy shot, drowsiness was common. The chest tightness hadn't fully subsided, and whether it was due to the weather or not, his stomach was also feeling uneasy.

None of it was severe, but combined, it was wearing. Still, Lin Yunshu believed it was all within bearable limits and that he hadn't shown any signs of discomfort.

"Do you need to show it?" Zhou Yu seemed to read his mind. "Look how pale you are. Do healthy people usually look like that?"

"..."

Lin Yunshu instinctively touched his face.

"Besides," Zhou Yu added, "I already sent Guo Shengyao home separately with the driver. If we were going back to the company, wouldn't we have taken her with us?"

"I thought you were sending her home while we returned to the company," Lin Yunshu said. "After all, she isn't needed for the afternoon meeting."

"Sweetheart, do you hear yourself?" Zhou Yu looked at him incredulously. "I'm the boss. She's the employee. Since when does the employee go home while the boss works? I pay her to do her job, don't I?"

He added, "Today, I gave her half a day off as a reward for accompanying you to the hospital. Otherwise, she'd be back at the office working overtime."

Lin Yunshu: "O.O"

"Eyes wide open now?" Zhou Yu laughed.

Lin Yunshu quickly closed them again. "You're the boss. Whatever you say goes."

He gently pressed a hand against his chest and abdomen, taking a soft breath.

The longer he sat in the car, the worse his stomach felt—what started as slight acid reflux was now edging toward nausea.

"It's not that I'm telling you not to work," Zhou Yu glanced at the rearview mirror. "The meeting this afternoon was postponed at Tan Cong's request."

Lin Yunshu looked up. "How come?"

Tan Cong had just returned to the country to inherit the family business and was allotted an entertainment company by his siblings. He had always been interested in this field and had become even more enthusiastic lately. The meeting this afternoon was meant to secure investment for his first premier S+ drama after taking office. Logically, he wouldn’t have requested a postponement.

"Who knows? He said he found a suitable amateur actor and is trying to convince them to sign a contract," Zhou Yu said nonchalantly, turning to look at Lin Yunshu. "Is your stomach hurting?"

Lin Yunshu was pressing his stomach, unaware that his wrist was pressing deeply into his abdomen.

"...It's fine," he said, trying to sound casual. "Just a little pain."

Zhou Yu frowned but didn’t try to argue with him. Getting someone accustomed to toughing it out to soften up and show vulnerability was an incredibly difficult task. For Lin Yunshu, it was nearly impossible.

"Just hang in there a little longer," Zhou Yu said. "We’re almost there. I can’t massage it for you while I’m driving."

He pressed the accelerator harder, muttering under his breath about the "awful weather."

"Really, it’s fine," Lin Yunshu said softly. "Drive slower, be careful. It’s raining."

Zhou Yu grumbled, "It’s this damn rain’s fault."

That made Lin Yunshu laugh. But laughing tugged at his stomach, and the pain returned with a sharp twinge.

He sighed softly, biting his lip as he leaned his head against the seat.

The car drove through the pouring rain into the underground garage. As soon as Zhou Yu parked, he checked on Lin Yunshu.

"Are you okay?"

He unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and hurried around to open the passenger door. Bending down, he touched Lin Yunshu’s face.

Lin Yunshu slowly opened his eyes, his eyelashes slightly damp, as if coated with a layer of frost.

Zhou Yu wrapped an arm around his shoulders and helped him out.

"Here, hold my hand," he said softly. "Let’s go home."

Lin Yunshu leaned on his arm, struggling to stand upright. After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Yun Shu?" Zhou Yu asked nervously.

But the next moment, he was pushed away.

Lin Yunshu’s expression changed, and he staggered toward a corner, throwing up by a trash can.

"Yun Shu!"

Zhou Yu quickly followed, bending down to hold Lin Yunshu’s shoulders and pat his back gently.

Lin Yunshu clutched his fingers haphazardly, looking insecure.

"Take it slow," Zhou Yu said, supporting him firmly. "It’s okay, take your time. I’ve got you. Don’t worry, you won’t fall."

Lin Yunshu didn’t vomit much. After rinsing his mouth and washing his face with bottled water, he accidentally choked and coughed and wheezed for a while until he had no strength left.

He closed his eyes, dizzy, and leaned his head on Zhou Yu’s shoulder.

Zhou Yu scooped him up into his arms and carried him straight upstairs to their home.

Yu Shu, who had been home alone all day, came running over happily at the sound of the door opening.

Zhou Yu gently laid Lin Yunshu on the bed, bent down to pat the cat’s head, and put a finger to his lips. "Your mom isn’t feeling well. Don’t disturb him."

Lin Yunshu: "?"

He struggled to prop himself up.

Zhou Yu quickly corrected himself, "Dad isn’t feeling well. Be good, I’ll play with you later."

Only then did Lin Yunshu lie back down.

Zhou Yu picked up the cat and carried her out of the bedroom, opening a can of food for her. While she happily ate, he quickly washed his hands and returned to the bedroom.

Click!

He locked the door.

"Why are you locking the door?" Lin Yunshu asked weakly. "Yu Shu is still small. She can’t even reach the doorknob. Could she really open the door?"

Zhou Yu hurried over. "Kittens these days are clever. Better to lock it tight so she doesn’t come in and bother you."

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together to warm them, slipped them under the blanket, and pressed them against Lin Yunshu’s upper abdomen, holding them there for a while before gently massaging the area.

"Does that feel better?" he asked softly.

Lin Yunshu nodded. "Much better."

His eyes were closed, his temples slightly damp with cold sweat. His profile was pale, but his lips were dry and red from labored breathing.

Zhou Yu fed him some water, then held him in his arms, pressing his chest against Lin Yunshu’s thin back, gently rubbing his chest and abdomen in a soothing motion.

The rash on his chest had improved significantly, leaving faint red marks. Zhou Yu’s fingertips lightly brushed over the area, feeling the skin still slightly warm.

"Does it still itch?" he asked. "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn’t hurt." Lin Yunshu still hadn’t opened his eyes, but a faint smile touched his lips. "I’ll be fine after some sleep."

His voice grew weaker. "I’m a little sleepy..."

"Okay," Zhou Yu kissed the corner of his eye. "Sleep. I’ll stay until you fall asleep."