Chapter 77 Just Be Safe

### Chapter 77: You're Safe, That's All That Matters

Shen Shiyan showed up at the same time as the fire department.

The Shen house was dead quiet until the firefighters entered, and only then did Shen Siyu and Shen Rong stroll over, faking concern but really just there for the show.

With the right tools, they quickly busted through the doors and windows.

Thick, billowing smoke poured out of the small house, and Shen Shiyan, his eyes bloodshot, broke free from two firefighters holding him back with crazy strength, stumbling into the blazing fire.

"Shen Ci!"

The once cozy home was now totally wrecked. Without any gear, Shen Shiyan started coughing right away from the smoke. Visibility in the living room was low; he scanned the room, then bolted for the bedroom, tripping over something and almost face-planting into the flames.

"Shen Ci!"

He'd been yelling Shen Ci's name all night.

The fire was bad, but it hadn't spread from the side yard. With the high-pressure water blasting it, the fire was quickly put under control.

"Flames are almost out! Switch to water mist to cool it down!"

"Second team, go left! It's flaring up again!"

The firefighters' shouts got lost in the smoke. Shen Shiyan spotted Shen Ci passed out and curled up in a corner of the bedroom balcony before the rescue team did.

A white stream of water quickly shifted over. The two beds were just charred black frames now, with small flames still flickering around them. Shen Shiyan rushed over and scooped Shen Ci up.

"Shen Ci..." He held him steady, his voice hoarse as he called his name, but got no response. Shen Shiyan glanced down for barely a second before looking away, a tear slipped from the corner of his eye onto Shen Ci's red hand.

The person in his arms felt so light. Shen Shiyan didn't dare look again.

"Over here! Get him to the ambulance!"

Shen Shiyan jogged, careful not to squeeze too tight and hurt his shoulders and arms, but not too loose either so he wouldn't drop him.

Luckily, they were close enough. As soon as Shen Ci was on the stretcher, a nurse quickly put an oxygen mask on him.

Shen Shiyan sat across from him, hands trembling a little as he pressed them to his mouth, watching scissors cut away Shen Ci's clothes, showing red skin with a few blisters.

"How are you related to the patient?" the medical staff asked after finishing the exam and cleaning Shen Ci's wounds.

"..."

The nurse raised her voice and asked a second time: "How are you related to the patient?"

"Foster..." Shen Shiyan finally snapped back to reality, pausing hoarsely, "brother."

"Alright." The nurse packed her tools into the medical kit. "Looks like he passed out from lack of oxygen and mild carbon monoxide poisoning. The burns are mostly second-degree, not too deep, and nothing else major."

"But he's gripping something so tight, the skin might be stuck to it. We'll need to treat that at the hospital."

Shen Shiyan's eyes landed on Shen Ci's red hand. He bit his cheek and nodded slightly. "Thank you."

Shen Ci's hair, which he'd grown almost to his waist over years, used to be black, shiny, and smooth. Now it was singed, curly, and yellow, with broken strands stuck to his neck. When the doctor touched it, the brittle ends just crumbled off.

Shen Shiyan closed his eyes, feeling like his heart had been through the fire, scorched and aching until it went numb.

Why couldn't it have been me?

Shen Shiyan wished he was the one passed out and burned, willing to take all the pain for Shen Ci.

His heart ached with sadness and a hint of helplessness.

"Your loved ones are your weak spot."

The words of the Taoist in yellow robes when he set up the Guanyin statue now echoed in Shen Shiyan's mind.

Anyone could tell the fire was probably meant for Shen Shiyan. Shen Ci, who'd never been part of the Shen family's fights, was just collateral damage.

Five years ago, when Shen Shiyan was kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment, he decided to make his place in the Shen family. Now, that same decision had put him in a tough spot.

If he kept fighting, Shen Ci, his weak spot, would always face unknown risks. But if he backed out, not to mention whether Shen Wenzhou would agree, without his current job as President of Chonghe, Shen Shiyan couldn't protect him.

Power, status, money.

Or the sycophantic "President Shen" from those disgusting, opportunistic faces.

Compared to Shen Ci's safety and happiness, all of it was worthless.

"D-dad..." The voice under the mask was weak, hoarse and slurred as he called out to Shen Shiyan, "It hurts so much..."

Hearing Shen Ci's voice, Shen Shiyan temporarily set aside his chaotic thoughts. The words "it hurts" tightened his heart again, making it ache so much he could barely breathe.

"It's my fault." Shen Shiyan's eyes were still red, with faint tear streaks.

Fine water vapor clung to the green oxygen mask.

Shen Ci had no strength left, and a piercing pain radiated from everywhere, yet a bright smile lit up his pale eyes. It seemed he could only see Shen Shiyan. He shook his head gently, parted his hands, and slowly moved his left hand toward Shen Shiyan. The object in his palm was already deformed.

"Don't frown." Shen Ci's voice was still very soft. "I protected what matters most to you very well."

It was the ugly peace charm representing his mother.

It took a moment for Shen Shiyan to take it.

The already clumsy stitches now curled on the crumpled fabric, carrying Shen Ci's warmth.

The peace charm was placed on Shen Shiyan's lap. He reached out with one hand to gently hold Shen Ci's hand in his, while the other hand covered his own eyes horizontally. A surge of bitterness rose in his chest, and his palm was wet with tears.

You are what matters most to me.

The words were right on the tip of his tongue, but he could only say them over and over in his heart, unable to make a sound.

Shen Shiyan's heart was entirely with Shen Ci. From the moment he answered the phone, he hadn't once thought of the peace charm he treasured, until it appeared in Shen Ci's hand.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Shiyan wiped away the bitter tears with his palm. As he opened his eyes, the lingering tears blurred his vision.

"As long as you're safe, nothing else matters." He tightened his grip on Shen Ci's hand slightly. "Nothing else is important."

The twelve hours after a burn are the hardest to endure. After a second disinfection at the hospital, Shen Ci was placed in a private room. The blistered areas throbbed with excruciating pain, and he couldn't help but move restlessly, only to be gently restrained by Shen Shiyan beside him.

"Don't move." Shen Shiyan's eyes were downcast.

"It hurts..." Shen Ci couldn't describe the agony; only that one word filled his mind.

He had already taken painkillers, but they weren't very effective.

Shen Shiyan felt worse than Shen Ci. After giving a few instructions, he left the room.

When he came back, Shen Shiyan had an extra bag in his hand, containing five or six small fans. He circled the hospital bed, placed them near Shen Ci’s wounds, and set them to the lowest speed.

“You can’t put ice on a burn; this’ll make it feel a little better.” The small fans whirred loudly, buzzing all around Shen Ci.

The cool breeze on his wounds did bring some relief.

Shen Ci quieted down, his eyes fixed on Shen Shiyan, who was by the bed.

Soon, he started blinking a lot.

The fan by his shoulder was blowing on his face, and after a while, his eyes got dry and irritated.

“D-ddy...” Shen Ci’s voice sounded pitiful as he said, “...”

Before he could finish, Shen Shiyan had already turned off that fan.

“Mm.” He responded softly, lowering his head, and a gentle, cool breath brushed against Shen Ci’s shoulder.

“Don’t talk anymore.” Shen Shiyan cut Shen Ci off before he could speak. “Sleep, and the pain will fade. I’ll stay with you.”

With that, he gently covered Shen Ci’s eyes with his hand.

Most of the pain in Shen Ci’s body faded away. In the gentle darkness, a faint coolness came from his shoulder.