Chapter 10 Crybaby

Chapter 10 Crybaby

"Look, Chu Yan's vision has recovered now, so he doesn't need me to watch over him 24/7. Starting tomorrow, I'd like to resume seeing patients."

"Xiao Chi, you started this, so see it through. Let's hold off on seeing patients for a while."

During the discussion with Director Xing, Chi Suiyong occasionally glanced at Chu Yan's expression. "Don't worry, I'll keep him by my side. Chu Yan is very obedient and can sit still—he won't run around."

Chu Yan hadn't yet sniffed out any danger in this conversation; his mind was preoccupied with something else.

"Yong Yong, I want to call my girlfriend. Can I borrow your phone?"

Upon hearing this, Director Xing's face showed the relief befitting an attending physician. "Oh, so you've even remembered your girlfriend."

Chi Suiyong was even more bewildered. "You want to find her?"

"Yeah, I need her to bring something over."

Chi Suiyong didn't press further. He unlocked the phone and pulled up the chat with Yunshang. "Want to video call? Call now?"

"Sure, now is fine."

Chu Yan looked at Chi Suiyong and, while waiting for the video to connect, said, "Yong Yong, I'll go to the room to talk."

"Go ahead!"

The other party answered quickly. When Chu Yan turned the camera to his own face, a startled voice came from the other end. "How can it be you?"

Chu Yan looked at the woman on the screen, whose face had gone pale, and announced flatly, "Yong Yong says you're my girlfriend."

She was silent for a moment, then her expression softened. "Oh, right. What do you want?"

"I need you to send some things over."

"What are you missing now?"

Earlier, Chu Yan had set aside the jars he thought suitable for Chi Suiyong. He held the phone as he walked into the bathroom. "These ones. Send new ones, not used."

The face on the other end leaned in closer, her eyelashes fluttering on the screen. "I say, Boss Chu, could you be less picky? I got all these from your place. No one else has used them, and they're fresh out of the box... Wait, you can see clearly now?"

Realizing this, Yunshang looked alarmed.

Chu Yan ignored her follow-up question. "Yong Yong doesn't like stuff other people have used."

"What? You're giving them away?"

"Yeah. These... suit him."

Yunshang pondered for a moment. "These are mild and non-irritating, for people who already have good skin. Which Yong Yong is this?"

Chu Yan found her questions too many and too wordy. "Yong Yong is a doctor."

"Huh? You mean Dr. Chi?"

Chu Yan shot her an impatient look. "When can you get it here?"

"About a week, I think."

"I need it today."

"These are custom-made, not mass-produced. There's no stock." Yunshang looked distressed and torn. It seemed Chu Yan still hadn't remembered anything, but his habit of bossing people around without caring about their inconvenience hadn't changed one bit.

Chu Yan clearly didn't accept the one-week timeframe. "I'll give you three days."

With that, he hung up.

When he came out, Chi Suiyong was still talking with Director Xing, who Chu Yan was meeting for the first time. Chu Yan listened for a while and figured out that Yong Yong had been made to give up his job to take care of him. There was reluctance on Yong Yong's face, and during their back-and-forth, a name kept coming up—Chu Chenzhi.

Yong Yong had told him that Chu Chenzhi was his older brother.

Since he was the older brother, did he have to meddle in everything about me? What about my own wishes?

Chu Yan was clear on his own rules: as long as Yong Yong didn't leave him, he could compromise on everything else.

He walked straight up to Director Xing, looming over him with an imposing air. "Go tell Chu Chenzhi that Yong Yong needs to work. Stop getting in his way."

Director Xing gave Chu Yan a sidelong glance, then said to Chi Suiyong, "Alright, Xiao Chi, I'll let President Chu know later. Arrange your own schedule, and don't overwork yourself."

Sure enough, Yong Yong smiled at that, as if a burden had been lifted. "Thank you, Director Xing."

Chu Yan kept staring at him, replaying that smile in his mind over and over. Through his newly regained "windows to the soul," he could see only Yong Yong, so focused that he didn't even notice the slight stiffness in the other's lips.

"Yong Yong, does working make you happy?"

The workload at He'an Hospital's pediatric department wasn't enough to let feelings of "emptiness" creep in. Chu Yan wasn't sure if Chi Suiyong wanted to move around in a larger space. His own view, trapped in the narrow ward, was truly disorienting.

Chi Suiyong looked up to meet his gaze, struggling to maintain his usual tone. "Working makes a person feel more fulfilled."

"Does being fulfilled make you happy?"

"Mm... most of the time, yes."

"You're starting work tomorrow, right?"

"You'll come with me then, okay?"

Chu Yan smiled and nodded. "Okay. Wherever Yong Yong is, there I'll be."

The next day, Chu Yan became an obvious shadow behind Chi Suiyong, his eyes glued to the back of Chi Suiyong's head as they kept a steady two-step distance.

Upon hearing that Chu Yan's vision had recovered, Chu Chenzhi made a special trip to the hospital, intercepting the two of them on the corridor just as they were about to head to the consultation room.

"Chu Yan..."

When he heard his name, Chu Yan barely glanced at him, like he was looking at a chair in the hall. But he tensed up, looking at Chi Suiyong with a questioning gaze.

Chi Suiyong tried to pull his hand back but couldn't. He turned to Chu Yan. "This is your older brother."

"Mm."

Chu Chenzhi's eyes fell on their intertwined hands and stayed there for a long time.

What he saw matched the rumors.

He was twelve years older than Chu Yan. As they say, the elder brother is like a father, and he had always cared for Chu Yan that way. This sense of responsibility and affection, rooted in his youth, had always driven him to consider Chu Yan's best interests.

Both now and in the future.

At first, it was an emergency, and he couldn't think too much. But now, seeing Chu Yan, whose vision had recovered, gaze at another person with that familiar look he had seen countless times, the worry came back.

After a moment, "Dr. Chi, can we talk alone for a bit?"

Chi Suiyong nodded, then pulled Chu Yan to sit on a chair by the corridor. "Wait here for a moment. I have a few words with your elder brother."

Chu Yan squeezed his hand, his expression conflicted. He tilted his head back, revealing his face, partially veiled by his long hair, with a hint of innocence. "Is it something I'm not allowed to hear?"

"No, your brother is concerned about your condition. I'll just talk to him about it."

Chu Yan was puzzled. He glanced at Chu Chenzhi, whose face was somewhat stiff and cold. He couldn't quite place the feeling, but he felt this man was intimidating and might bully Yong Yong.

At the same time, he sensed Chi Suiyong was being put on the spot, so he faced Chu Chenzhi head-on. "If it's not, then I want to hear it too."

Chu Chenzhi frowned.

Now there were only the three of them in the entire corridor. Chu Chenzhi could only speak as vaguely as possible. "Dr. Chi, has Yunshang come by recently?"

Chi Suiyong's hand was still tightly gripped by Chu Yan, so he could only stand still. "Yes, she dropped off some things a few days ago."

"She is Chu Yan's girlfriend. You know that, right!"

With just those two sentences, Chi Suiyong got it. "President Chu, I think I know what you're driving at."

"Glad you understand, Dr. Chi."

After being indirectly reminded, a wave of irritation swept over Chi Suiyong—like when his professional skills were being doubted. He was displeased, but not to the point of anger.

"But I don't understand, President Chu, where does your concern come from?"

Chi Suiyong was naturally steady, and after years at He'an Pediatrics, he rarely ever lost his cool.

He let out a light laugh, replied with just a look. "Director Xing told you about my personal situation from the start. You coming to me means you've already accepted those risks. If someone has said something to cause you misunderstanding, then you can just find someone else to replace me now and put your worries to rest."

Though his tone remained gentle, his stance was firm. "Besides, just because I'm single doesn't mean every guy around me is a potential option! What makes you think I'd have any improper intentions toward your younger brother?"

Chu Chenzhi could feel that Chi Suiyong's rebuttal was not out of guilt, but rather fighting back after being misjudged.

So Chu Chenzhi was the one in the wrong. "Dr. Chi, I think I need to explain first. I have no prejudice against you personally, and my concerns aren't about you, Dr. Chi. If my words made you uncomfortable, then I apologize."

Chi Suiyong resisted unequal pressure, but he didn't enjoy the feeling of someone in a higher position bowing to him. "If you want some reassurance, President Chu, I can give it to you right now."

"Chu Yan and I have always been just doctor and patient. Once he recovers, that relationship will naturally end. Beyond that, there is nothing else."

Chu Chenzhi didn't know how to explain his real concerns to Chi Suiyong. He paused, glancing at Chu Yan as if to say something but stopping.

The moment he turned his head, he was startled once again.

At that moment, Chu Yan was staring fixedly at Chi Suiyong. His eyes were filled with tears, already at the breaking point.

Sensing something wrong, Chi Suiyong also turned to look.

"Chu Yan..."

Before he could finish, the hand that had been held was released. The moisture and warmth on his skin were quickly taken away by the air, leaving a chill in its wake.

Chu Yan withdrew his hand and averted his gaze that had been fixed on the other. He dropped his head sharply, his smooth, thick hair hiding his embarrassed, flustered face.

He hadn't fully understood the conversation between the two, but he could read all the expressions on Yong Yong's face. The emotions those expressions carried were fierce, like something that had been churning in his own chest countless times, like a hair trigger ready to go off.

The setbacks he had experienced somewhere forged a heartache that would leave him powerless whenever he stood at the foot of that wall.

"What's wrong, Chu Yan?"

Yong Yong crouched down in front of him, his tone still so gentle, with the concern he wanted.

But after what had just happened, these things no longer seemed real.

Chu Yan didn't know what he was venting, or what he wanted to accuse Yong Yong of. Something was burning hot in his chest, but he couldn't find the right outlet.

He dodged the hand reaching out to him. "It's okay, Yong Yong."