Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"The people at home have been staying put recently, not going out much. The gardener went home to visit relatives and took a month off. And... Yan Zhuo has been puttering around in that flower bed all day long. The flowers have bloomed really nicely. If you have time, you could go check it out."

"..."

Ruan Yunchu had no mind for this. "He hasn't left the house recently?"

"Right, based on what I've seen of his comings and goings, that's how it is. Every time I pass by the flower bed, I can see him sitting there."

"What about at night?"

Chen Quan hesitated. "At night, he shouldn't go out, right? The access control hasn't logged anything either."

"Do you think he would use the main entrance?"

"..."

Ruan Yunchu rubbed his brow, pondered for a long time, then spoke, "Can we put something on him?"

"You mean... a listening device or a tracker?"

"Install both." Ruan Yunchu let out a deep sigh, finally making the decision. "Yan Zhuo's background is unknown. From now on, don't tell him about household affairs or top-secret matters."

Even though Chen Quan didn't like Yan Zhuo, he couldn't help but be taken aback at this order.

Someone who once handled everything in the household had now become the person they needed to watch most. It was hard for anyone to accept, but Chen Quan was experienced and naturally nodded in agreement. He couldn't help but wonder what news had made the young master so wary.

"..."

After that, Ruan Yunchu's life was simple and packed. Without Yan Zhuo's pestering, he spent his days either taking classes or doing rehab, and set aside two hours each day to handle official matters. There was nothing else.

Two weeks later, Ming Ya was invited to the Ruan home and brought Ming Yuan along.

Chen Quan was delighted to see the young master's friends visiting the house. He received them warmly, and when he found out they'd be staying the night, he couldn't help but feel pleased.

This was Ming Ya's first time at the Ruan residence. Everything inside felt new. As Ruan Yunchu gave him a tour, he immediately spotted the flower bed in the back and fell in love with it.

"Yunchu, your house is really beautiful, like a scenic spot."

Ruan Yunchu just smiled faintly. "It's just the staff taking good care of it."

"Many of those flowers in the backyard, I've never even seen them before. So beautiful." Ming Ya was especially fascinated by everything ornamental. Even after returning to the courtyard, he couldn't stop talking about them.

Seeing this, Ming Yuan gave a soft cough to remind him, "It's nice, but it's someone else's. If you like it so much, you can fix up your own garden back home."

Ming Ya pouted aggrievedly at this. "I want to, but I've had them tidy and rearrange things for so long with no results. I've sunk no small amount of money into the garden, you know? Every time you go somewhere and I ask you to bring me back seeds, you're so reluctant, and then you say this to me."

Since they were guests, Ming Yuan didn't want to argue with him. He just sighed.

But this time, before Ming Yuan could speak, Ruan Yunchu generously said, "If there's something you like, feel free to go to the back and take some."

"Really?" Ming Ya was pleasantly surprised, but then his earlier eagerness turned into an odd shyness. "Better not, they're your things and you've taken care of them for a long time."

"It's fine. Everyone appreciates beauty. Besides, they're just flower seeds."

Ming Ya's eyes lit up. Sure that Ruan Yunchu wasn't just being polite, he turned eagerly to look at his brother.

Since Ruan Yunchu had already agreed, Ming Yuan naturally didn't want to disappoint him. He gave a resigned sigh and nodded.

"Go ahead, but don't take too many."

"Thank you, Yunchu!"

Ming Ya cheered and ran off to the backyard without a backward glance.

After watching the young man run off, Ming Yuan gave Ruan Yunchu an apologetic smile. "Sorry, he's always been so high-spirited. Those flower seeds..."

"No need to talk about money. They're just little things."

Now that they were alone, Ruan Yunchu dropped the act and the polite smile he had put on in front of Ming Ya.

"Follow me."

Ming Yuan was taken aback for a moment but still followed behind him.

The two walked one after the other toward the backyard. Ruan Yunchu sat in his wheelchair; turning slightly, he could see the man behind him walking with a cane at a slow pace, but without any obvious limp.

After following him upstairs and seeing the white hospital room, Ming Yuan finally realized something, his gaze falling on Ruan Yunchu's legs.

His heart inexplicably started racing. After a few seconds of trance, he snapped out of it and realized that the young man was looking up at him with indifference.

"Sorry."

Realizing his stare was rude, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

But Ruan Yunchu didn't seem to mind. He said coldly, "Go in. Have them do a quick checkup."

Knowing that he was keeping his earlier promise, Ming Yuan didn't think twice and entered the examination room without a second thought.

While Ming Yuan was undergoing various tests, Ruan Yunchu didn't leave. He found a seat in the waiting area, sat down, and opened his terminal to finish up the day's assignments.

Before the incident at the Ruan house, he had been confined to the house for a year. But now, continuing his studies wasn't difficult; he could even pick a major he actually liked.

After finishing his work with complete focus, he closed the terminal and rubbed his sore temples, realizing that an hour had passed.

Just then, the examination room door opened and Ming Yuan emerged, leaning on his cane.

He had changed clothes, apparently having been inside the healing pod for examination. He looked a bit pale, but managed a smile when he saw Ruan Yunchu.

Seeing his expression, Ruan Yunchu knew that the examination had yielded results. He didn't ask much, just maneuvered his wheelchair slowly toward the elevator.

Ming Yuan followed him quietly, and only when the elevator reached the first floor did he seem to snap back from the test results.

"Truly thank you, Yunchu. Your medical team is indeed very capable."

Since he had taken the initiative to speak, Ruan Yunchu finally asked, "How is it?"

Ming Yuan's mouth curled up involuntarily. Though his face showed clear fatigue, his eyes revealed strong hope.

"They found issues that I had never discovered before. You know? I just underwent ten minutes of simple treatment, and my left leg already has a very noticeable sensation."

He paused there, as if feeling that wasn't detailed enough, so he added more about his condition.

"My left leg was injured. I can only do simple lifts and movements. When it's strained for a while, it goes numb, and sometimes I can't put any strength into it at all." As he spoke, he gave a somewhat embarrassed smile. "Most of the time I only dare go out when I'm in good condition, like now. Otherwise, I really don't know if a single cane can fully support my body."

After hearing this, Ruan Yunchu just nodded lightly, without giving much commentary or even comfort.

"Did they schedule the next treatment time with you?"

"The doctor told me to come back in two days."

"Then just listen to him." Ruan Yunchu's expression was indifferent. "When you leave later, add Uncle Chen as a contact. Let him know before you come each time, and he'll pick you up."

After he said this, the person behind him fell silent for a long moment.

Then, Ming Yuan spoke in a low voice, "Yunchu, let's be straight with each other. Neither of us is the overly warm-hearted type. You've done so much, and I feel a bit embarrassed about it. If there's anything you want, just tell me directly."

Ruan Yunchu chuckled lightly. "Then I won't beat around the bush either."

"As long as it's within my power, I'll give it my all." Ming Yuan's tone was sincere.

"..."

When Ming Ya returned to the front hall from the garden, his mood wasn't as bright as when he'd left. Seeing Ruan Yunchu and Ming Yuan sitting by the tea table sipping tea, he walked over and greeted them.

"I'm back."

Catching sight of the bulging bag in his hand, Ruan Yunchu asked, "Did you get everything?"

At this, Ming Ya's face showed a hint of displeasure, but he still nodded. "Yes, I got it all."

"Then why do you look unhappy?" Ming Yuan asked curiously.

Ming Ya pursed his lips and hesitated before replying, "That gardener in the back yard was really grumpy. He didn't want to give them to me at first, and he got angry. I was too scared to ask again, but then he gave them to me anyway."

"How strange." Ming Yuan smiled helplessly and ruffled his hair.

A faint trace of a smile played at the corners of Ruan Yunchu's lips. "I'll talk to him about it later."

"No need, no need." Ming Ya was a bit embarrassed, since they were at someone else's home—how could he badmouth him? "He probably just really loves the flowers and doesn't want anyone to take the flower seeds he put so much effort into finding."

"Probably."

The brothers had accomplished what they came for, so they didn't linger long at the Ruan residence. After agreeing on the time for their next meeting, Ruan Yunchu saw them to the door.

On his way back to the rear courtyard, he spotted a dark figure moving among the flowers. But whenever he looked in that direction, the figure vanished.

Ruan Yunchu: "..."

He simply ignored it and went back to his room to rest.

Later that night, as he was leaning back in a lounge chair on the balcony reading, he suddenly heard rustling sounds outside.

Sensing something, he sat up slightly and peered through the gap beneath the railing. A dark figure was clinging to the second-story window ledge, skillfully gripping the window sill. With a powerful, agile movement, the figure vaulted onto the balcony.

Locking eyes with Ruan Yunchu, Yan Zhuo's eyes flickered with a moment of surprise and guilt, but it quickly gave way to sheer audacity.

"Still awake at this hour."

"If I'd slept earlier, how else would I catch a thief?" Ruan Yunchu said indifferently.

Yan Zhuo had been awkwardly walking toward him, but at these words, his face twisted into an angry scowl, showing his true colors.

"A thief? I'm your man!"

Book in hand, Ruan Yunchu let out a scornful chuckle. "We haven't spoken a single word in half a month. We've been in a cold war for over three days, so I've assumed we're broken up. We don't have a relationship anymore."

"What you say doesn't count." Yan Zhuo immediately grew anxious, bending down as if to scoop up the person in the wheelchair.

They hadn't touched in so long. As his palm, through the thin, soft pajamas, grasped Ruan Yunchu's slender shoulder, a dizzying numbness spread through his mind. Especially when he caught a whiff of the young man's faint fragrance, a fire burned inside him.

Damn, counting the time, it really had been half a month since he'd even seen him properly. He was dying of pent-up frustration.

He intended to carry him inside to teach him a lesson, but the moment Ruan Yunchu was in his arms, he struggled slightly and took a small, sharp breath.

"It hurts."

Reason told him that Ruan Yunchu had been perfectly fine just moments ago—there was no way he'd be uncomfortable just from being picked up. Yet he still instinctively loosened his grip, turned his rough carry into a gentle embrace, cradling him properly, and looked down with concern.

"Where does it hurt? Your stomach?"

Ruan Yunchu had been frowning with his head lowered, but the moment Yan Zhuo bent down and relaxed his guard, he suddenly tightened his arms around Yan Zhuo's neck, then lifted his head and bit down hard on the side of his neck.

That move was too fierce. Caught completely off guard, Yan Zhuo couldn't help but inhale sharply, his whole body tensing.

Damn! How could he have forgotten this guy's true nature!