Chapter 38: Next Time You Need My Help, I’m Always at Your Service

Chapter 38: If You Need My Help Again, I'm Always Here

Su Zhiyu sat on the bed, leaning against the wall, staring at the door without moving.

Crap.

He had been in such a hurry earlier that he forgot to lock the door.

Qin Yan outside knocked a few times, then just tried the handle—and it actually opened.

"?"

"?"

They caught each other off guard, and Su Zhiyu instinctively pressed himself back against the wall, his eyes wary and cold. But he was already against the wall, with nowhere to go.

Qin Yan noticed, hesitated, then closed the door.

"You heard all that just now, didn't you?"

At that, Su Zhiyu's expression flickered, and he said in a detached tone: "I don't know what you're talking about. Last night... we're square now. Let me go."

He didn't want to be Qin Yan's toy anymore.

Qin Yan let out a helpless sigh and climbed onto the bed like he'd done it a hundred times: "Su Zhiyu, look at me."

Su Zhiyu lowered his head, refusing to look at him.

"Su Zhiyu." Qin Yan leaned in with a mix of amusement and exasperation, almost lying flat on the bed. If the mountain won't come to me, fine, I'll come to you!

He stuck his head forward, flashing a cocky, carefree grin: "Su Zhiyu, have you noticed you've gotten braver? You dare throw a tantrum at me now, huh? Refuse to look at me, and even lock me out?"

With nowhere to dodge the face that close to his, Su Zhiyu turned his head away, flustered and annoyed: "Then let me go. I'm not some doll with no thoughts or feelings."

"Is that so?" Qin Yan curled his lips. "Funny. I happen to like Omegas with a bit of fire. You're exactly my type, so don't even think about me letting you go."

"? You..."

"Turn around."

Qin Yan sat up straight, grabbed Su Zhiyu by the shoulders, and turned him to face him. Slowly, the lazy, teasing grin faded from his face, and he said seriously: "Just pretend you didn't hear any of that. I was talking out of my ass."

Su Zhiyu gave Qin Yan a complicated look, his lips parting, but in the end, he didn't know what to say.

So those words really were his true feelings, huh? He just wanted to sweep it under the rug.

"It's not true."

Qin Yan's firm words cut through Su Zhiyu's spiraling thoughts. His clean, clear eyes shone like stars: "Su Zhiyu, I was just messing with my brother. He was talking out of his ass too."

"..."

"We did everything last night. You're not gonna just pull up your pants and pretend it didn't happen, are you? Last night, you were the one who asked me to help you—"

"Qin Yan!"

Su Zhiyu quickly reached out and covered Qin Yan's mouth, his pale ears turning red.

He'd woken up when Qin Yan got out of bed, but he couldn't face what happened last night, so he'd stayed quiet. By now, he'd long since remembered everything from last night, including how he'd been the one to ask Qin Yan for help, and...

"Remembering now?"

"You... just shut up."

"Fine, fine, I'll drop it." Qin Yan released his shoulders and smiled. "But don't worry, this young master has turned over a new leaf. I won't mark you. If you ever need my help again, I'm always here."

"You... get out of here."

"This is my house. Why would I leave?"

Qin Yan took being shameless to a whole new level. He realized he sometimes forgot to keep up his act, but Su Zhiyu didn't seem to suspect anything.

Maybe he was overthinking things.

People change, and he'd changed drastically overnight too. So maybe Su Zhiyu could accept him slowly becoming a better person.

"Su Zhiyu, didn't you want to go see your mom? How about tomorrow? I'll take you."

Su Zhiyu looked stunned. He'd never told anyone—how did Qin Yan know?

Qin Yan spread his hands: "Your mother is lying in the hospital. Of course you'd want to go see her. It's only natural. I'm not made of stone."

"..."

But you used to be exactly that—a stone.

Qin Yan: "So, are you going or not? Let's just decide it's settled. I've got nothing to do tomorrow anyway, and I'm bored. I want to get out for a bit."

Su Zhiyu had always gone alone, sneaking off when Qin Yan wasn't around. He'd never imagined Qin Yan would one day offer to take him to see his mom.

"Okay."

Maybe Qin Yan really had changed.

...

Early the next morning.

After breakfast, Qin Yan and Su Zhiyu left together. The butler noticed the shift in the air between them and clicked his tongue in silent amazement.

He knew it. With Mr. Su being such a fine Omega, how could the young master resist? Even if he held out for a moment, a lifetime was long—sooner or later, he'd give in.

See? He finally bit.

Qin Yan and Su Zhiyu sat in the back seat. He glanced at the back of the driver's head and frowned: "Put up the divider."

Driver: ? Alright, fine. So now we're avoiding me, huh?

Fine.

The divider between the front and back seats went up completely, and Su Zhiyu finally relaxed a little.

The butler's stare earlier had been way too obvious.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Qin Yan leaned back, arms crossed, tilting his head to look at Su Zhiyu. "I'll wake you when we arrive."

Su Zhiyu gave a small hum: "Thanks."

Qin Yan flashed a grin: "Anytime."

Su Zhiyu turned the other way, closed his eyes, and faced away from Qin Yan. Qin Yan didn't mind at all, watching the back of his head with clear amusement.

Su Zhiyu was wearing a black overcoat today, along with a simple thin scarf that completely hid the back of his neck.

Qin Yan pursed his lips. Hadn't the marks already faded? Why was he still being so cautious?

His hand moved on its own, reaching out, but he was afraid of scaring him, so he didn't dare touch—just gave the coat a few rubs.

The coat was pilling.

The quality wasn't all that great.

Cheap crap.

Qin Yan frowned, racking his brain, but he had absolutely no memory of such small details.

But given the original owner's habits and how frugal Su Zhiyu was, his money probably all went to his mom, right? It had been so long, and he always seemed to rotate the same two or three outfits.

The nicest thing he owned was probably his pajamas.

He hadn't seen this coat before, though. Was it because it got colder again? Or because he was going to see his mom?

Qin Yan pulled his hand back, looking at the fragile young man beside him, feeling a pang of sympathy.

They were the same age, but living completely different lives. What one was born with was never just a difference in food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—it was a whole life of gloom and dampness.

It's fine.

He would hold up a sun in Su Zhiyu's world and light it up inch by inch.

Su Zhiyu hadn't actually fallen asleep at all. The gaze beside him was too intense, staring straight at him, making it even harder to drift off. He was practically on pins and needles, but he stubbornly kept his eyes closed.

Until the car pulled into the hospital parking lot.

"We're here."

Su Zhiyu's stiff neck was finally freed. If he'd known, he wouldn't have closed his eyes at all.

The two put on their hats and masks, and Su Zhiyu also put on a pair of sunglasses. He was still a fairly well-known celebrity, so it was better to keep a low profile in public places.

Su Zhiyu was very familiar with the place, easily getting in touch with a nurse. The nurse knew all about Su Zhiyu's situation, and it was also the first time she'd seen him bring anyone with him.

She glanced curiously at Qin Yan, who was standing off to the side with his head lowered, and asked with interest, "Is this guy here with you to visit your mom?"