Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"I don't like this."

Jiang Jining's hands resting on his lap dug into his palms, his head leaning against Fu Yuze's shoulder, lost in thought where Fu Yuze couldn't see. "These are all things for girls. You might as well learn from Aunt Tao and braid my hair."

Fu Yuze couldn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Jiang Jining now went out more and more freely, perhaps fearing the influence of the social environment and the stares of people on the street. He had always loved pretty trinkets the most before.

Fu Yuze still insisted, "I think you look good wearing it."

"...Still, no." Jiang Jining was being uncharacteristically stubborn. He pushed Fu Yuze away and said immediately, "I'm going to wash up. You can go—oh, I haven't even asked how you got in?"

Fu Yuze didn't hide anything. "I asked sister-in-law for your room password."

Jiang Jining shot him a light glare, which held no threat and only drew Fu Yuze closer. He backed away, then said, "Fu Yuze, don't just walk into my room without my permission from now on."

Fu Yuze nodded.

Jiang Jining looked up to emphasize, "I'm serious."

"Alright, I'll stay at a hotel tonight."

Fu Yuze drew him to the edge of the bed and helped him put on his slippers. "Want me to bring breakfast over when it's ready?"

"I'll come out to eat." Jiang Jining didn't want anyone to see him being so coddled, let alone have to explain his relationship with Fu Yuze.

That wouldn't be good.

If he denied it, Fu Yuze would get upset again about not having a proper status.

"I'll wait for you in the courtyard."

Fu Yuze cupped his face and kissed him, watching as Jiang Jining obediently but vigorously wiped his cheek, then frowned playfully as if to pounce on him.

Jiang Jining immediately laughed and covered his face, saying, "Don't—"

"Take your time."

Fu Yuze stopped teasing him.

Jiang Jining sat on the edge of the bed, watching him leave. The moment the door clicked shut, he looked down at the empty spot on his finger, then slowly lay sideways on the large bed. After a while, he dabbed the corner of his eye.

He admitted he was scared.

Fu Yuze had actually bought a ring.

No wonder... no wonder he took him to meet Fu Huaisheng and Ji Huan. Had he also told his parents about us?

Did he want to get married?

But isn't marriage between men not allowed here?

What should he do?

All of Jiang Jining's understanding was shattered. His mind was a tangled mess. He frantically searched the blankets for his watch, picked it up, and without a second thought, called Bian Han, crouching by the foot of the bed, waiting for his only savior.

Fortunately, Bian Han cared about him the most.

"Ning Zai... why are you calling me so early?"

Jiang Jining's courage to face Fu Yuze alone had completely drained away. After explaining in a few words, he waited for the verdict.

"What?"

"He gave you a ring—cough, cough..."

Bian Han erupted into another fit of earth-shattering coughs, not forgetting to reassure him, "Alright, alright, Ningning, don't be scared. Giving a ring doesn't necessarily mean a proposal."

Although Fu Yuze definitely had that intention.

But right now, even as a gift, it had triggered Jiang Jining.

"...A-Han."

Jiang Jining suddenly said to her, "I want to go home."

Bian Han paused for half a second, using the lightest tone to mask the heaviness. "Let me check... there's a flight in half an hour. I'll book a ticket now and come pick you up to go home, okay?"

Jiang Jining softly said okay.

"Send me the specific address." Bian Han promised him, "I'll come up with a good reason. We can discuss everything once we're back."

With a pillar of support,

Jiang Jining seemed much calmer.

After washing up and going to the dining room, the steaming hot fermented glutinous rice balls warmed his stomach. He kept his gaze lowered; otherwise, he would have unconsciously followed Fu Yuze behind the kitchen counter.

He no longer felt guilt-free.

"Eat a little more."

Fu Yuze finished tidying up and came over to sit down.

He helped cut Jiang Jining's open-faced thick scrambled egg and beef sandwich into small pieces and asked, "What did you eat the past few days?"

Jiang Jining listed them one by one.

Fu Yuze quickly noticed his poor appetite and lack of interest. Touching his cheek, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Jiang Jining instinctively avoided it.

Fu Yuze withdrew his hand, wiped it with a wet wipe, and then pinched his cheek again. "Is this okay now?"

In the end, Jiang Jining couldn't bear to be cold to Fu Yuze when they were alone. He lied, "I'm dizzy, don't really feel like eating... maybe I kicked off the covers last night and caught a chill."

"Then we won't go out today." Fu Yuze picked up his phone to handle the pre-arranged plans, rubbing Jiang Jining's palm to feel his temperature. "You're still sweating. Go back to the room and rest a bit more later."

Jiang Jining: "Mm."

"Your eyes are red too."

Fu Yuze picked up a tissue, folded it, and gently wiped Jiang Jining's eyes. "Does your throat feel uncomfortable?"

"I can't eat anymore."

Jiang Jining took the tissue from him.

He rubbed his eyes, wiping away their soreness, and said, "I'm not feeling well; I'm going back to my room."

"Take it easy." Fu Yuze picked up the chopsticks Jiang Jining had dropped, "Go to sleep first, I'll take your temperature later."

Jiang Jining hastily hummed in agreement.

He returned to his room absentmindedly, lay down under the covers, his thoughts in turmoil. As he tossed and turned, his head truly began to spin.

He drifted off to sleep unknowingly, still in a daze.

Illness strikes like a collapsing mountain.

Jiang Jining developed a fever about half an hour later.

When he finally came to for a moment, he slightly opened his eyes and found himself enveloped in a continuous warmth. Looking around, he realized he was nestled in Fu Yuze's arms.

"Does your head still hurt?"

Fu Yuze was just about to give him his medicine.

To Jiang Jining, what mattered more was that Fu Yuze was personally taking care of him but hadn't casually gotten into his bed. Instead, he smiled and said, "You're sick, so cut me some slack. I won't ask for permission before coming in next time."

Jiang Jining nodded slightly in response, obediently drank the medicine, and leaned against Fu Yuze's chest. As Fu Yuze gently patted his back, coaxing him to sleep, all his defenses crumbled. He nuzzled against the man's neck and fell asleep again.

For a moment...

He wished it could last forever.

*

"The elders also specifically returned to Jingzhou to visit Ningning."

"I can book the tickets for all of us."

"No need, the flight I took here earlier had very severe turbulence. Jingzhou has had a lot of thunderstorms recently, so for safety's sake, we'll switch to the high-speed rail."

"Ningning has a slight fever and is still sleeping."

"Alright, we'll leave when he feels a bit better. It's been a long time, Director Ji—cough—"

"Yes, the flu has been severe in Jingzhou recently."

"Are you in a hurry? I'll make some snow pear tea for you to drink on the way. Miss Bian, please sit down and rest."

Fu Yuze left briefly for a few minutes.

Without him, Jiang Jining didn't sleep soundly. The window was opened a small crack, and faint conversation drifted in through the gap.

Every voice was extremely familiar.

Then, a fragrance approached—

Jiang Jining felt his cheek being stroked by slightly cool fingers. Amidst the floral scent, there was a hint of incense, very much like his mother's.

Jiang Jining opened his eyes.

He heard a suppressed cough.

"Awake?" Bian Han's makeup was exquisite and bright, her moist red lips curving upward, always bringing news as he wished: "The tickets are already booked, but Fu Yuze will be traveling with us."

As soon as Jiang Jining spoke, his voice was a bit hoarse: "It hurts too much to see him."

He wanted too much.

Now he didn't know how to handle it.

Fu Yuze had been happy all day yesterday because of the fortune-telling. Today, he would have to tell him it was fake.

He was destined not to be a good match.

"I know." Bian Han rubbed his warm, damp hands, saying helplessly, "He came all this way for you. If you leave, do you think he'll just stick around? You can't be too domineering, little one. You really give me a hard time."

Jiang Jining forced a slight smile.

Bian Han reached out to wipe away the tears at the corner of his eye, "I just didn't expect it to be so soon. I knew you'd be reluctant, but falling ill from sadness all at once is something else. Go back and rest well, and I won't allow you to go to Fu Yuze's place anymore."

He wouldn't be able to go there in the future either.

Jiang Jining gently sniffled, "Mm."

His illness came without warning; it was hard to say Bian Han's words weren't reasonable. Perhaps this was what the doctor called his mother's lovesickness back when his father accompanied the emperor south.

The worry had already begun even before separation.

"Is your cold still not better?"

While Jiang Jining was secretly feeling sad, he saw Bian Han start coughing again and asked with concern, "Why is it still like this after two or three days?"

"The flu is super severe." She brushed it off in a few words.

Bian Han had top-notch storytelling skills.

The reason she gave for the return trip was very legitimate and urgent.

She said that Jiang Jining's granduncle's family had finished their business and had specially flown back from abroad, intending to discuss bringing Jiang Jining to live with them.

Fu Yuze agreed without much thought.

Coincidentally, most flights in Jingzhou were delayed today.

Bian Han had encountered severe turbulence on her way here.

She immediately changed her booking to a high-speed rail business class seat. After submitting the order, the business class seats sold out instantly. The return trip would take over four hours.

It was Fu Yuze's first time ever stepping into a high-speed rail first-class seat.

Not that it was a hardship.

If Jiang Jining could take the high-speed rail, he naturally could too.

But Fu Yuze couldn't bring himself to ask to switch seats with Bian Han, who was also sick, in order to take care of Jiang Jining. He could only occasionally send reminders via WeChat during the journey.

His attitude was very humble and polite.

After the first exchange, Bian Han proactively sent a photo every half hour.

The content roughly summarized as—

"Jiang Jining has covered himself with a blanket."

"The thermos with snow pear water is placed by his hand, and he's drinking it."

"Jiang Jining dozed off again."

"There was a photo of Jiang Jining's handsome profile, gazing out the window in a daze."

The updates were so thorough that Fu Yuze had no cause for concern. A series of photos followed, each met with his simple "Received."

When they arrived in Jingzhou,

the entire city was engulfed in a torrential downpour.

Fu Yuze had just draped a coat over Jiang Jining's shoulders when he was urgently called back home.

Bian Han took the car keys from the designated driver and said, "We'll head off first then. We still have to attend a dinner at the elders' place tonight."

Fu Yuze helped Jiang Jining into the car.

Standing by the window, he leaned in to stroke his hair. "I'll call you tonight to check if you've taken your medicine."

Silence spoke volumes.

Jiang Jining slowly placed his hand in Fu Yuze's palm, letting him give it a gentle squeeze. A faint smile touched his lips.

Bian Han started the car and drove off first. The vehicle that came to pick up Fu Yuze was originally going the same way, but after the first traffic light, their paths diverged completely, signaling the unavoidable conclusion.

Jiang Jining lowered his eyes.

A string of glistening tears slid from his long lashes, down to his chin, and splashed on the back of his hand like the rain against the window.

The tears were so light, yet why did they burn so much?