Chapter 5 You Annoy Me

Chapter 5: You Annoy Me

Chu Yan’s bare shoulders trembled. “Taking... a shower!”

Chi Suiyong pressed a hand to his forehead, half shielding his eyes, half soothing his throbbing temples.

Through the gap between his fingers, he caught sight of Chu Yan’s expression. His own tone had likely been too harsh—the other’s dazed, empty eyes now held a trace of fear.

Chi Suiyong softened his voice. “The floor’s slippery. Stay right there. Let me run the water until it’s hot.”

But Chu Yan was too big. Even as Chi Suiyong deliberately turned his back to him, he couldn’t avoid the sight of him. So he simply pulled over a bath stool, guided him to sit, and covered what needed to be covered. That helped a little.

Since the injury was to his head, he couldn’t wash his hair or take a full bath in the coming days—just a quick rinse.

“Here, lift that hand with the IV needle higher.” Chi Suiyong squeezed some body wash into his other hand. “Rub it all over.”

Chu Yan complied, covering every reachable spot. “I can’t reach my back, Yong Yong. Help me.”

The shower was filled with hot steam, the overhead light casting a glow onto Chu Yan’s back. As he washed, the muscles under his skin rippled.

The damp, stifling air became a breeding ground for something deep in his heart. Chi Suiyong stared blankly at that back for a long moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing silently.

The insanely handsome man in his hospital gown had looked lean and tall, with straight, broad shoulders—but he hadn’t expected such a firm back. The flowing, beautiful curves seemed to hold a vague, oppressive force, reminding him of scenes from certain videos he’d seen.

Chi Suiyong took several deep breaths, repeatedly telling himself that this was just a patient who needs care.

To avoid direct contact, he had to use a bath glove to scrub his back.

Chi Suiyong regretted it.

He regretted being soft-hearted enough to take on this task that constantly pushed his mental limits.

If not for knowing that the other couldn’t see clearly, he wouldn’t have known where to look.

Even after a thirty-six-hour shift, Chi Suiyong had never felt this exhausted.

The only reason Chu Yan could pick him out from the crowd of medical staff came down to his scent. If he could pass this hot potato off to someone else, he’d gladly sacrifice the half-bottle of perfume he had left, just to end this torment.

So, after getting Chu Yan cleaned up and settled, he called someone to bring the perfume from his dorm.

After his bath and clean clothes, Chu Yan seemed in a good mood. “Yong Yong, I’m hungry.”

Chi Suiyong glanced at his watch. It was dinnertime.

“Okay, I’ll have someone bring the food up.”

Along with the dinner and the perfume, Brother Chen also came up.

When Brother Chen saw Chu Yan, the middle-aged man still bore the shadow of his earlier rejection. Especially after Chi Suiyong explained why he’d asked him up, he immediately turned to leave.

Chi Suiyong grabbed his arm, his eyes pleading. “Brother Chen, don’t worry. I tested it. It won’t be like last time.”

“What test?”

Chi Suiyong shared his theory with Brother Chen in a whisper, but Brother Chen just shook his head. “He’s a person, not a dog. There’s no way he tells people apart by smell alone. That’s baseless.”

“Just try it once. Just once. If it doesn’t work, you can leave.” With that, Chi Suiyong sprayed some perfume onto Brother Chen.

Brother Chen was already running around like a headless chicken and didn’t want to waste time here. “Fine, I’ll try once. If it doesn’t work, don’t come find me again.”

“If it doesn’t work this time, I won’t bother you again.” Chi Suiyong handed the chopsticks and spoon to Brother Chen. “Go in now and feed him or something. Don’t say anything at first. See what happens.”

Brother Chen sighed, still skeptical. “It won’t work.”

To motivate him, Chi Suiyong added, “That’s the young master. If it works, it’s a great achievement.”

Brother Chen, worn down by his persistence, steeled himself and entered.

Cautiously entering the ward, before he could get too close, the young master, who had previously seemed aloof and unreachable, actually smiled. “Yong Yong, I’m hungry.”

Following “doctor’s orders,” Brother Chen stayed quiet as he approached, sat down gently, and opened the meal box.

Then the young master spoke again. “What dish is it?”

Brother Chen still didn’t answer.

“Yong Yong, why aren’t you talking?”

Yong Yong wasn’t talking because he was currently peeking through the crack in the door, hoping to pass this hot potato to someone else.

Having received no response, Chu Yan grew suspicious. He leaned forward, sniffed the air, and caught a scent similar to Chi Suiyong’s but with different layers. Instantly, his face twisted with rage.

“You’re not Yong Yong...”

He used both hands to overturn the table in front of him. “Where is Yong Yong?”

Brother Chen dodged quickly and darted out in a few steps. “I told you it wouldn’t work, Dr. Chi. Stop giving me a hard time.”

With that, he fled as if his life were at stake.

The mess left behind taught Chi Suiyong the meaning of reaping what he sowed.

“You lied to me. You brought someone to pretend to be you. You’re annoyed with me and want to keep your distance. You don’t want to see me at all.”

The awakened Pandora’s box was much harder to handle than the first encounter. Chi Suiyong exhausted every trick to soothe him, making promises and appeasing him with the desperation of a scumbag who'd just come back from the dead.

“No, I was just busy earlier, so I asked someone to feed you.”

“Liar. He has the same scent as you. You did it on purpose.”

Chi Suiyong couldn’t understand how Chu Yan had seen through his little trick before Brother Chen even spoke, nor why such a minor test had provoked such fury. Faced with this extreme, stubborn accusation, another wave of self-blame churned inside Chi Suiyong.

“I won’t argue that. But I promise you, this will never happen again.”

Chu Yan was breathing heavily, his body tense as if any movement would break something. “Last time, you lied to me too.”

Chi Suiyong stepped closer, gently squeezing his hand again to calm him. “Three times is enough. I promise you, no next time.”

After repeating the assurance a dozen times, Chu Yan’s tight emotions finally eased. Chi Suiyong saw that it was almost enough, so he had another meal sent up.

To quickly soothe the other’s agitation, Chi Suiyong kept talking or making noise nonstop. But the frightened little animal couldn’t let its guard down so soon, even before sleep.

“You’re rushing me to sleep so soon? Are you leaving again?”

Chi Suiyong felt a bit wronged. He was eager to put him to sleep because he was tired himself.

As if to prove his resolve, Chi Suiyong climbed from the cot beside him onto the large two-meter bed where Chu Yan lay, then put a piece of his own clothing into the other’s hand. “I’m not running. I’ll sleep with you.”

Sleepy, Chi Suiyong’s voice was softer than before, as if muffled by moisture.

Chu Yan's ears itched at the sound. He clenched his fingers, pinching the corner of the fabric tightly. "Then I want you by my side when I wake up."

"Alright, alright. If you're still not reassured, I'll tie myself up with a rope."

"That won't be necessary."

Chu Yan secretly delighted and moved closer, until he could hear Yong Yong's breathing. Another expectation quietly grew in his heart.

So, Yong Yong would still pat his back to put him to sleep, just like last time, wouldn't he?

Chu Yan adjusted his posture, waiting.

But after waiting for a long time, the breathing remained steady and consistent.

Having developed a bedtime habit after just one occasion, Chu Yan couldn't think too deeply about it. He simply felt it was an inevitable pre-sleep ritual. Why wasn't Chi Suiyong patting his back yet? This question occupied his entire mind. After racking his brain without finding an answer, he could only toss and turn restlessly in bed.

He wanted to make some noise to draw the other's attention.

Finally, after turning over thirty times, Yong Yong spoke. "What's wrong? Can't sleep?"

Chu Yan, having gotten his way, felt no pleasure, only felt wronged.

He found it hard to openly express what he needed to the other. He bit his lower lip, suppressing his emotions without a sound, until he tasted a metallic, coppery flavor on his tongue.

Then, a worried voice came from above him. "Don't bite. Unclench your teeth."

"Is something wrong?"

Chu Yan covered his eyes, holding back the tears that threatened to spill onto his palms. He forced himself to unclench his jaw, but the constricting feeling in his chest made him gasp for breath.

He clutched his chest. "It's very uncomfortable here."

"How is it uncomfortable? Does it hurt?"

Chu Yan felt his shirt being undone, and the other's hand landed on his constricted chest, but a barrier prevented it from reaching the root of the problem.

"It doesn't hurt. It's empty."

"Empty?"

"Yeah, like something has been dug out."

"..."

Chu Yan arched his body, as if trying to squeeze the emptiness out of his chest. But before he could carry it out, the comfort he had been restlessly craving came gently resting on his back.

With the same force, each pat vibrating through him, settling the chaos in his chest piece by piece back into place.

"How about now?"

Chu Yan let out a soft whimper of relief. "Mm, it's better now."

A helpless, low laugh sounded by his ear. "Then go to sleep."

Chu Yan knew his little trick had been seen through. Though a bit embarrassed, he wasn't going to let that awkwardness drag on.

He burrowed his head into the other's arms. After a day of wear, the perfume's base note had become a soft, steady cedarwood. "Aren't you going to sing for me?"

"What song do you want to hear?"

Chu Yan thought for a moment. "Anything. The one from last time was fine."

"Alright, I'll sing it for you now."