Chapter 38 A Dog Is Just a Dog

Chapter 38 A Dog Is Just a Dog

His fingers, clutching the phone, stiffened for a few seconds.

It was only then that Lin Yunshu remembered: more than a month had passed since his last check-up, and he absolutely needed to go back to the hospital.

He lowered his head, rubbed his face, and buried it in his palms, taking a deep, shaky breath.

Barely managing to steady his emotions, Lin Yunshu threw back the covers and got out of bed.

He first cleaned Yu Shu’s paws, then gently placed the kitten in her own little bed and closed the door. Next, he stripped the blood-stained sheets and duvet cover for washing, before finally heading into the bathroom to clean himself.

There was so much blood on his face. Having slept on his side, bloodstains had spread across half his face, behind his ears, down his neck, and even under his eyes.

Lin Yunshu wet a tissue to wipe it away. As the dried blood smeared, streaks of varying intensity slid down his cheeks, creating a scene straight out of a horror movie.

The blood wasn’t fully cleaned, and Lin Yunshu scared himself half to death.

He put down the tissue and pressed a hand to his chest.

Though he always projected an image of independence and self-reliance, he wasn't particularly brave. In all the years he’d lived independently since leaving his aunt’s home, he’d never watched a horror movie alone. Even the few he’d seen with roommates in college still haunted him.

He didn’t dare look in the mirror anymore, opting instead to just take a shower.

Hot water poured over him from head to toe, mixing with the blood as it slid down and splattered onto the floor. For the first few seconds, Lin Yunshu didn’t dare open his eyes, scrubbing his face vigorously until the bloodstains were gone. Only then did he nervously begin washing his hair.

Every now and then, he’d imagine a handprint suddenly appearing on the frosted glass door, scaring himself half to death all over again.

After showering, he tremblingly got dressed and dried his hair, then tremblingly refilled Yu Shu’s water and food bowls and scooped her litter. Finally, he grabbed his bag and headed to the hospital.

The hospital was packed.

Sitting on a stainless steel chair, waiting for his number to be called, surrounded by a constant flow of people, Lin Yunshu finally emerged from his fear.

His medical records were in his bag. Lin Yunshu sat alone, his brow still furrowed.

As fear receded, other worries surfaced, one after another.

He couldn’t understand why he had suddenly started having nosebleeds again.

A month had passed peacefully, and this sudden episode caught him completely off guard.

He thought he was getting better… wasn’t he?

Last time, the doctor had said that without high-matching pheromone intervention, he wouldn't live past three months.

He had clearly found it, so why was this still happening?

More than a month had already passed. If the three-month curse couldn’t be broken, did that mean he had less than two months left to live?

Then he still wouldn’t get this year’s year-end bonus!

Lin Yunshu was almost at his wit's end, clutching the examination form tightly.

To say he wasn’t scared would be a lie.

Each examination required eight vials of blood. Lin Yunshu’s arm was swollen from the blood draw. Having skipped breakfast, he sat in the chair, feeling lightheaded.

As if in a trance, he took out his phone and opened Zhou Yu’s chat window. The last message was the video call that had ended last night.

Three minutes and fifty-two seconds.

His eyes suddenly reddened, and his fingers stiffly typed two words:

[Zhou Yu]

His thoughts were jumbled. If he truly had limited time left, what would happen to Zhou Yu? What about Yu Shu?

The agreement was for two years. If he died within those two years, would that count as a breach of contract?

She’s just a little kitten!

“Number 26, Lin Yunshu, please proceed to examination room 3. Number 26…”

The electronic female voice jolted Lin Yunshu from his increasingly dark thoughts.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever came next, and walked into the doctor’s office.

“You’re here, have a seat.”

The doctor gestured to the chair opposite while taking the forms Lin Yunshu handed over. Flipping through them, he asked, “How have you been lately? Do you feel any better?”

“Actually, I did feel better,” Lin Yunshu said.

The doctor nodded but noticed the patient didn’t look right.

He was clearly nervous, his face pale, trying to sit up straight but still appearing fragile.

This patient was undoubtedly strikingly beautiful. Even though his figure and cheeks were somewhat unhealthily thin, the elegance in his downcast eyes and movements remained.

“What’s wrong?” The doctor felt a wave of sympathy, pouring him a paper cup of warm water. “Take your time and tell me what’s going on.”

Lin Yunshu held the paper cup, his pale fingers interlaced lightly, but didn’t take a sip.

“It’s just… I started having nosebleeds again,” he said. “A lot. I don’t understand why…”

The doctor frowned and went back to reviewing his examination reports again.

For his rare genetic disorder, bleeding and fainting were crucial clinical manifestations.

This patient’s last visit was due to frequent fainting episodes accompanied by heavy nosebleeds.

“What else?” The doctor’s tone grew serious. “Have you fainted again recently? Severe dizziness counts too.”

“No fainting,” Lin Yunshu said. “But I often feel dizzy… though I had some allergies a while ago and caught a cold. I’m not sure if it’s because of that.”

The doctor’s frown deepened as he kept flipping through the reports.

The rustling paper echoed, each sound striking Lin Yunshu’s heart.

His heart raced painfully, throbbing in his chest, and his fingers had gone somewhat numb.

Finally, the doctor spoke: "The test results are... all clear."

"..."

The bad news never came.

Lin Yunshu’s mind went blank for a moment, and he didn't know how to react.

"W-what?"

The doctor put down the report and adjusted his glasses. "Based on the results, there’s no sign of the condition worsening. Several indicators are actually improving. It’s well-controlled."

Lin Yunshu was stunned. "You mean... I’m okay?"

He asked cautiously, as if unable to believe he'd gotten lucky.

Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, the doctor felt a twinge of pity.

"It really is well-controlled," he said, choosing his words carefully. "But you should know that inherited genetic conditions can’t be completely cured with current medical technology."

Lin Yunshu stood frozen for a few seconds, then slowly relaxed his shoulders and managed a weak smile. "I know."

The light in his eyes dimmed slightly, but it seemed less like disappointment and more like a coming back to earth.

"But this is a good sign," the doctor quickly added. "At the very least, you don’t have to worry about missing out on this year’s year-end bonus."

He was clearly trying to lighten the mood, and Lin Yunshu felt grateful. "Thank you."

"Where’s your alpha partner?" the doctor asked.

Lin Yunshu: "He’s on a business trip."

"Is his work really busy?" the doctor asked with concern. "Your alpha's support is important for follow-up treatment."

"We live and work together," Lin Yunshu said. "This time apart is unusual."

The doctor raised an eyebrow, reassured. "That’s good. For now, we’ll continue with pheromone intervention, supplemented by medication. If the results are positive, we can consider surgery next year."

"Surgery?"

The doctor nodded. "Genetic defects can’t be completely cured, so for younger patients like you, our focus is on improving your quality of life in the long term."

Lin Yunshu listened attentively.

"If the gland surgery goes well, it could make the rest of your life more comfortable," the doctor continued. "But it’s not an option right now—you don’t meet the criteria yet. Focus on recovering your health first, and we’ll reevaluate next year."

"Okay."

Lin Yunshu’s eyes turned slightly red.

The word "next year," as simple as it sounded, gave him immense hope.

"Everything else is fine," the doctor said. "It’s getting colder, so make sure to stay warm. Your immune system is weak, so try to avoid getting sick. Don’t stress too much, keep an eye on your mood swings, and above all, don’t overexert yourself. Understand?"

"Okay, I understand," Lin Yunshu nodded repeatedly, rubbing his tender nose. "Then I..."

He hesitated.

The doctor urged, "Just say it."

Lin Yunshu smiled. "I still want to ask—if my condition hasn’t worsened, why did I suddenly get a nosebleed?"

"Your blood clotting function is average, so bleeding can be harder to stop," the doctor explained.

Lin Yunshu looked serious. "Right."

The doctor glanced at him, his gaze falling on the untouched paper cup in Lin Yunshu’s hand.

"You don’t usually drink much water, do you?"

Lin Yunshu froze, awkwardly withdrawing his hand. "I tend to forget when I’m not thirsty."

"You even forget to drink water," the doctor shook his head. "The weather is dry. Get a few humidifiers at home, drink more water, and if you really forget, set reminders."

He handed the report back to Lin Yunshu. "It’s nothing serious—just some internal heat."

Lin Yunshu: "...QoQ?"

·

Bright red with embarrassment, Lin Yunshu left the doctor’s office.

He had never imagined that the nosebleed that had scared him all morning was simply due to dry weather and internal heat.

He felt a bit embarrassed, but deep down, he was genuinely happy.

If he was lucky, he could live a little longer. Compared to such good news, even the most embarrassing moments seemed insignificant.

He took out his phone to call for a ride, only to see a flood of messages and missed calls.

Before entering the clinic, thinking his condition was serious, he had enabled Do Not Disturb. Only now did he realize Zhou Yu had been blowing up his phone.

He turned off Do Not Disturb and was about to call back when his phone vibrated again—Zhou Yu’s name blinking frantically on the screen.

He answered the call, but before he could speak, Zhou Yu burst out: "Lin Yunshu—!"

Lin Yunshu: "..."

"What are you doing?" Zhou Yu sounded panicked. "Why aren’t you answering my calls? Why are you ignoring my messages? You sent me a message with just my name and then disappeared—I thought something happened to you!"

"I’m fine, calm down," Lin Yunshu quickly reassured him.

"How can I not worry?" Zhou Yu’s voice was strained. "I almost booked a flight back! You sent a message with just my name and then went silent. Do you know how scary that is? Even a verification code would’ve been better!"

How did verification codes even come into this?

Lin Yunshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling sheepish. "Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to my phone. You didn’t book a flight, did you?"

"If you hadn’t answered this call, I would’ve," Zhou Yu grumbled.

"Good thing you didn’t, good thing you didn’t," Lin Yunshu sighed in relief.

"What’s going on?" Zhou Yu asked.

"Nothing," Lin Yunshu said.

Earlier, he had thought something serious was happening, that he was really going to die. In his confused state, he had reached out to Zhou Yu without thinking.

But now that everything was fine, he didn’t want to worry Zhou Yu.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to visit the set this afternoon," Lin Yunshu said.

After a few seconds of silence, the other on the other end replied with skepticism, "Are you... checking in with me?"

Lin Yunshu's cheeks blushed, and he rubbed his nose. "Think whatever you want."

The drama's male and female leads were both A-list stars, and even the supporting roles were filled with good-looking actors. Visiting the set would inevitably involve some interactions, so Lin Yunshu had originally planned to give Zhou Yu a heads-up.

"Baby, you..." Zhou Yu was over the moon, feeling pleasantly surprised. "You're so adorable!"

Lin Yunshu: "?"

"I—I never thought you'd check in with me!" Zhou Yu sounded as if he were already spinning with excitement. "You're really... never mind, go ahead, babe. I won't get jealous!"

Lin Yunshu: "..."

Is it really that big of a deal just to check in?

Zhou Yu's excitement practically radiated through the screen, making Lin Yunshu's ears burn. He could almost picture Zhou Yu's invisible tail wagging excitedly.

Lin Yunshu felt his heart soften, wondering if he had been too distant with Zhou Yu, to the point where even a little attention made him as happy as a puppy.

"I..."

"I really fucking want to wreck you," Zhou Yu said in a low, heavy voice.

Lin Yunshu: "?"

Even from across the globe, the hungry desire in Zhou Yu's voice instantly sent Lin Yunshu's heart racing.

It felt as if his throat were being gripped, his skin tingling with the heat of the other's touch.

"Baby, what do you think would happen if I bought a ticket right now?"

Zhou Yu asked, though it didn’t sound like he was seeking permission.

"I could fly back, we could have a quickie, and then I’d fly right back?"

Lin Yunshu: "???"

The tenderness he’d felt moments earlier just vanished without a trace. Lin Yunshu’s chest heaved sharply, and he almost couldn't catch his breath.

He was convinced Zhou Yu had lost his mind.

Bastards will be bastards—no matter how pitiful they act, they can’t hide their true asshole nature!

"You’re insane!"

He slammed his finger down, abruptly ending the call.

-----------------------

Author's note: Received so many compliments yesterday! So happy [throws flowers][throws flowers][throws flowers][throws flowers]

Omg hehehehe, so happy I'm spinning [lol][pat, pat]