Chapter 5 Did I Hurt You

Chapter 5: Did I Hurt You?

"...It really is right to properly thank Representative Jiang," Zhu Shinian said softly after a few seconds of hesitation. "Why don't you and the Major General both stay for a meal? I don't have much to offer, but do you eat steak? I'll go and..."

"If you fry steak, that cow would have died in vain," Gu Zhen interrupted unceremoniously with a sarcastic remark. He quickly stood up and turned to Jiang Huaiyan, speaking politely, "Representative Jiang, please wait a moment. I'll just whip up a couple of simple dishes. It won't be anything fancy, but don't mind it."

Zhu Shinian's gaze dimmed instantly. Then, remembering Gu Zhen's earlier comment about his poor steak-cooking skills, he somewhat over-explained to Jiang Huaiyan: "I... back in military academy, the Major General was my senior. I tried frying steak once before, and it didn't turn out well. I should be able to now..."

Jiang Huaiyan found his defensive explanation slightly amusing. He stared at Zhu Shinian's slightly reddened ear tips and gave a noncommittal smile.

Half an hour later, Gu Zhen finished cooking quickly. He pushed open the kitchen door and called Zhu Shinian and Jiang Huaiyan over to eat.

He had prepared four dishes and one soup. The taro pork rib soup was served in three small bowls, freshly ladled and steaming, with the savory aroma of pork ribs. The taro was cooked until soft and nearly melting in the mouth.

Zhu Shinian's favorite was exactly this kind of taro pork rib soup with thoroughly cooked taro. Because Zhu Shinian liked it, Gu Zhen had stocked his fridge with plenty of pork ribs and taro, making it convenient to prepare whenever he came.

Jiang Huaiyan offered some compliments, and Gu Zhen smiled faintly, saying he was glad Representative Jiang liked it.

The orange-yellow light of the lamp illuminated the table laden with steaming dishes. Both Gu Zhen and Jiang Huaiyan were exceptionally handsome; when they smiled, it seemed to brighten the entire room.

This should have been a very harmonious scene—if not for Zhu Shinian's presence.

The wound on his shoulder began to ache again. Zhu Shinian ate mechanically, barely tasting the food. Gu Zhen glanced at him but said nothing.

It was Jiang Huaiyan who asked if the dishes Gu Zhen had cooked didn't suit his taste, since he was eating so little.

"No, no," Zhu Shinian fumbled in response to Jiang Huaiyan's concern. "Major General Gu is an excellent cook. I just don't have much appetite right now. I'll make myself some noodles later when I feel better."

"Is the wound hurting? Then take some painkillers and go sleep it off."

Zhu Shinian shook his head, about to say it was fine and that he shouldn't take painkillers too often, when he heard Gu Zhen speak with a sharp tone from the side: "Are Jiang's painkillers not selling well, or is Young Master Jiang's medical license bought? Is it appropriate to casually prescribe painkillers to the wounded?"

Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyan was naturally displeased. He furrowed his brow slightly but didn't immediately retort.

"It's because of people like you pushing painkillers all the time that the military is now suffering from drug abuse," Gu Zhen continued, not letting up despite Jiang Huaiyan's temporary restraint, but instead growing more aggressive.

"Major General Gu certainly has a sharp tongue. Does the Jiang family have so much power that they can control the military?" Jiang Huaiyan was no pushover either and couldn't tolerate such accusations, immediately striking back. "Did I hold a gun to the Commander-in-Chief's head and force him to set the medication standards and procurement lists?"

Once these topics were brought up, both Gu Zhen and Jiang Huaiyan's expressions darkened. They argued fiercely, and Zhu Shinian wanted to say something but could never find an opening to interject.

Both Gu Zhen and Jiang Huaiyan were outstanding individuals, and outstanding people often have more personality than the average. When two strong personalities clash, they probably need time to adjust to each other. Moreover, Zhu Shinian had no standing to mediate—it was like Zhang Changzong trying to step in between Li Zhi and Wu Zetian's quarrel.

A perfectly good meal ended with both men, except for Zhu Shinian, wearing grim faces. Jiang Huaiyan managed a faint, forced smile at Zhu Shinian as he left.

"No need to see me off. You're injured, get some rest. Next time, I'll host and invite Colonel Zhu to my place for a meal."

As for Gu Zhen, he remained seated in his spot, stewing in his anger until the door clicked shut behind Jiang Huaiyan.

Only when Zhu Shinian had seen Jiang Huaiyan to the door and returned to push open the kitchen door to wash the dishes did Gu Zhen reluctantly stand up. He snapped at Zhu Shinian, irritated, asking why he was washing dishes when he was injured.

"Usually, when you cook, I do the dishes... The injury isn't that bad; it doesn't affect me..." Zhu Shinian cautiously glanced at Gu Zhen's expression and quickly changed his tune. "It hurts a bit. Could you help me change the bandage later?"

"How many times have we gone on missions together without you getting hurt? You go out with him once and come back like this. Sometimes I don't know how you manage to get on my nerves so much."

"How many times have I told you to move to a different place? This apartment can't even fit a dishwasher."

Zhu Shinian wanted to explain that the earthquake was a natural disaster beyond anyone's control, something neither he nor Jiang Huaiyan could have prevented. But sensing that Gu Zhen was venting his bad mood by nitpicking, he said nothing and just stood there woodenly.

This apartment... was a commendation from the military when Zhu Shinian was promoted from Captain to Lieutenant Colonel after meritorious service. When his grandmother was still healthy, he had brought her to stay here, and she had liked it very much. Though it was a bit small, it was enough for Zhu Shinian living alone, and he didn't want to move.

Usually, when Gu Zhen got angry like this for no reason, Zhu Shinian would hug him from behind, kiss him, and soften him up. Gu Zhen yielded to tenderness, not force, and would quickly calm down.

But now... Gu Zhen was angry because of his quarrel with Jiang Huaiyan.

Gu Zhen was angry at Jiang Huaiyan. So what use was it for Zhu Shinian to do anything now to appease him?

Gu Zhen was still the same person who could be coaxed by a soft word or a kiss, but Zhu Shinian was no longer the one whose words or kisses Gu Zhen wanted to hear.

He was about to marry someone else...

"Come here. Let's go to the living room. I'll change your bandage." Gu Zhen finished washing the dishes, placed the last bowl in the sink, and glanced back at Zhu Shinian.

Zhu Shinian was not wearing the military uniform he had on when he went out. When he unbuttoned his outer clothes, a trace of blood had already seeped through the edges of the bandage.

Gu Zhen pulled the household medical kit out from under the sofa and unwrapped the bandage that was partly soaked in blood. The vicious wound stood out starkly against his pale skin. Even though Gu Zhen was careful while unwrapping it, Zhu Shinian still flinched from the pain.

Gu Zhen patted his back reassuringly. "Don't be afraid. I know it hurts. It'll be done soon. Talk to me if it hurts."

Zhu Shinian, as if reminded of something, his eyelashes quivered slightly, but he didn't speak immediately.

"Why did you... have to argue with Representative Jiang just now?" Zhu Shinian thought for a moment before asking. "I don't think you should have argued with him. Representative Jiang is..."

Gu Zhen, who had just told him to talk, fell silent again. He continued changing the bandage without a word. Zhu Shinian sensed that Gu Zhen didn't like him bringing up Jiang Huaiyan, so he stopped asking.

After all... that was the Major General's fiancé. How things were between them was none of Zhu Shinian's business.

Gu Zhen finished dressing the wound, crouched down to put the bandages and medication back into the medical kit in their original order, and pushed it back under the sofa.

He looked up at Zhu Shinian sitting on the sofa, reached out, and brushed the back of his fingers against Zhu Shinian's slightly moist eye corners.

"Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?" Gu Zhen didn't answer his earlier question but asked him instead.

Zhu Shinian shook his head, saying he was just sleepy.

Gu Zhen looked at him. Zhu Shinian had been by his side since he was sixteen. Gu Zhen could tell at a glance whether he was lying.

"You didn't eat enough, did you? Hungry?" Gu Zhen didn't immediately call him out. "I'll go fry you some tuna."

Only then did Zhu Shinian remember the tuna. He usually had a great appetite for Gu Zhen's pan-fried tuna, but today he was dazed, as if he had completely forgotten about it.

He followed Gu Zhen into the kitchen in a daze, not asking why Gu Zhen hadn't made the tuna while Representative Jiang was there.

It must have just slipped his mind, Zhu Shinian thought, unwilling to humiliate himself by interpreting it as anything else.

The tuna in the pan was fried until golden brown, giving off a distinctive savory aroma. Gu Zhen cut a small piece of butter and added it to the pan, then squeezed in some lemon juice.

Bluefin tuna was naturally tender and delicious, and Gu Zhen had perfectly mastered the heat—crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside. Gu Zhen glanced casually at Zhu Shinian. Though Zhu Shinian seemed preoccupied today, he ate his favorite food quickly, finishing his portion in no time.

Sometimes Gu Zhen suspected Zhu Shinian was some kind of water bird or cat reincarnated. Otherwise, why would he care so little about everything else but be so obsessed with fish?

"Did Jiang Huaiyan say something to you?"

Zhu Shinian froze, instinctively looking away. He quickly realized this reaction had all but confirmed what Gu Zhen said was true.

"Sometimes I can't figure out what you're thinking," Gu Zhen said, looking at him. "When you have a problem or feel wronged, instead of coming to me, you believe whatever an outsider says."

Author's note: