Chapter 60: I’d Like to Treat You to a Meal, Care to Join?

Chapter 60: I'd Like to Treat You to a Meal, Would You Do Me the Honor?

Ji Yucheng watched the car disappear from his sight, letting out a light laugh. "Don't you find this interesting?"

"Who?" The assistant was baffled. "That Qin Yan seems to have some hostility toward you, bro. He can't be up to any good—those rumors online weren't completely unfounded, right?"

"He wouldn't bother with something like that."

"What?"

"Haven't you noticed? Qin Yan treats Su Zhiyu differently. Remember that Cheng Xiang guy? He's already in jail."

The assistant shook his head. "Don't remember."

"..." Ji Yucheng rolled his eyes. "Fine, let's go."

"What's with the 'huh'?"

"He's with Su Zhiyu, and he's still wearing that ring even now—so Qin Yan wasn't lying. That ring really is his."

...

Back in the car.

Su Zhiyu stared at the ring on Qin Yan's hand, shocked, then touched his own hand—nothing there. He'd actually realized the ring was missing while filming but hadn't had time to search for it.

He never expected it to show up on Qin Yan's finger.

"Qin Yan..."

Su Zhiyu hesitated, then pointed at his hand. "This ring..."

Qin Yan snapped out of it, spun it around a couple of times, and smirked. "Oh, this? I picked it up. Forgot to mention it earlier."

What a coincidence.

Su Zhiyu reached out for it, but he pulled it back, his eyes full of amusement—with a hint of nervousness hidden underneath.

He said, "You can lose something like a ring. What if someone else picked it up?"

Especially that Ji Yucheng guy.

"I didn't even notice."

"Be more careful from now on. Don't lose it again. Here, give me your hand." Qin Yan extended his other hand, signaling Su Zhiyu to offer his.

Su Zhiyu was stunned for a second, but he obediently held out his hand.

Qin Yan's palm pressed against his, taking Su Zhiyu's hand with a casual yet deliberate air, then lowered his head, ready to slip the ring on for him.

Putting a ring on him.

How could he do something so intimate and ambiguous so casually? Su Zhiyu's heart suddenly raced. He clutched at his clothes and tried to pull his hand back, his hand trembling:

"I-I'll do it myself."

But Qin Yan held his hand tight, his tone firm: "Let me do it. I'll put it on snug so it won't fall off again."

Needs more fattening up—still too skinny. Even a ring this thin won't stay on.

Su Zhiyu's lips parted.

Qin Yan focused intently, aligning the plain silver ring with his ring finger, about to slide it on.

His ring finger...

Su Zhiyu's heart lurched, and he quickly reminded him: "Qin Yan, I wear it on my middle finger."

Qin Yan paused mid-motion, tilted his head with a smile, then looked up at Su Zhiyu, his eyes brimming with laughter: "Alright, then I'll put it on your middle finger for you."

The cold ring slid onto his slender finger, pushed in slowly until it reached the base.

"There."

Su Zhiyu tried to pull his hand away.

"Stay still." Qin Yan sat up straight, still holding his hand firmly. "Like this."

"..."

Su Zhiyu turned his head to glance at Qin Yan.

"Su Zhiyu." Qin Yan spoke again, the smile fading from his face. "You're still too thin. Health is the most important thing. Drink your medicine like a good boy—those are all prescribed by Dr. Li to regulate your body."

Su Zhiyu stayed quiet.

This was the first time Qin Yan had brought up those traditional Chinese medicines. Su Zhiyu didn't dare respond. In truth, when the medicine was first brought to him, he'd secretly dumped it out every time.

Maybe Qin Yan trusted him too much and never asked about it.

With Qin Yan's change in attitude, the household staff didn't dare give Su Zhiyu a hard time either. They'd set the medicine down and leave without watching him drink it.

It hadn't actually been long since he'd truly started believing the medicine was for his health, so he hadn't drunk it for nearly as long as Qin Yan had assumed.

"Have Dr. Li prescribe more for you later. Drink it properly—if it's bitter, eat some candy, but you can't skip it."

Qin Yan turned serious again.

Su Zhiyu nodded guiltily. "Okay."

Not long after they got home, Dr. Li arrived. Not only did he prescribe new medicine, but per Qin Yan's request, he examined every scar on Su Zhiyu's body from head to toe and prescribed several types of scar-removal ointments as well.

Another big bag.

"Qin Yan..."

Su Zhiyu looked at Qin Yan helplessly. All this medicine—was he a walking pharmacy? Wasn't this a bit excessive?

Qin Yan stood before him with a stern face. "Drink what needs drinking, apply what needs applying. You have to get healthy, and not a single scar is allowed to remain. I don't like it!"

"..."

"Did you hear me?"

Su Zhiyu nodded helplessly. "Mm, I heard."

It seemed Qin Yan knew about him secretly pouring out the medicine before—or maybe he had some other plan in mind?

Qin Yan watched Su Zhiyu finish an entire bowl of medicine with his own eyes. Just as he was about to leave, Su Zhiyu called out to him.

"Qin Yan."

Qin Yan turned back: "What's wrong?"

Su Zhiyu sat by the bed looking at him, opening his mouth several times before finally asking: "You... do you know Ji Yucheng?"

Qin Yan faltered, not expecting Su Zhiyu to proactively ask about Ji Yucheng. Could it be that they'd already talked? Or was Su Zhiyu worried that his own presence would disturb Ji Yucheng?

"I don't know him."

Qin Yan's tone was strangely curt.

After saying that, he added: "As of today, I guess we've met. He's not a good person. Stay away from him, and don't talk to him much."

So what if he was the original story's Alpha male lead? Su Zhiyu was right here beside him now—he didn't need anyone else to protect him or keep him company.

Hearing the disdain dripping from Qin Yan's tone, Su Zhiyu's wavering, uncertain heart suddenly steadied, and the hand clenched at his side slowly unclenched: "Alright, good night."

Hmm?

Su Zhiyu was voluntarily saying good night to him?

The corner of Qin Yan's mouth lifted, and his eyes crinkled in a smile: "Sleep early." "Good night."

Ding-dong.

His phone vibrated. Su Zhiyu opened WeChat and saw a new friend request, with a selfie as the profile picture.

"Ji Yucheng?"

Just as Su Zhiyu was wondering why he would add him, another friend request popped up with a message attached: "Mr. Qin, I'd like to treat you to a meal. Would you be up for it?"

Seeing that message, Su Zhiyu's expression instantly froze.