PGV Chapter 7

Yan Qing rushed to the hospital, finding Ding Qi sitting outside the emergency room, his wound freshly stitched and bandaged.

Seeing the bloodstains on Ding Qi’s clothes made Yan Qing’s face turn pale. But then it hit him—if Ding Qi was able to sit there now, it meant his life wasn’t in danger.

The colleague who had answered Yan Qing’s call stood by Ding Qi, awkwardly explaining how they had mistaken the call for a critical family emergency and answered it on his behalf.

Ding Qi scolded them fiercely. “It was just a near miss! How could you relay it like that? Do you know how badly you scared him? Can you afford to pay for that?”

The colleague defended themselves innocently. “I saw so much blood; I thought you were about to heroically sacrifice yourself!”

Yan Qing, standing nearby, heard every word. Ding Qi was genuinely angry now. “Stop saying such unlucky things!”

The colleague glanced at Yan Qing. “So, you must be Dr. Yan? A friend of Ding Qi? Perfect timing. You stay here with him—I’m heading out.”

Yan Qing smiled politely and nodded. “Alright, leave him to me. Thank you for your help.”

The colleague waved goodbye and left the hospital.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home,” Yan Qing said.

Ding Qi trailed behind him, feeling inexplicably nervous despite not having done anything wrong.

Back at home, Ding Qi sat on the couch while Yan Qing poured them each a glass of water. Then Yan Qing sat quietly beside him.

“Ding Qi…”

Before Yan Qing could finish, Ding Qi grabbed his hand tightly, his eyes filled with unprecedented tension. “I really like you. You know that, right?”

Yan Qing nodded. “I know. So, let me talk.”

Ding Qi slowly released his grip.

“Not everyone would do what you did—taking a stray cat to the hospital when they’re not even an animal lover. I’ve always thought you’re amazing. Really amazing.” Yan Qing’s tone softened. “Ding Qi, I really like you too.”

After a long pause, Ding Qi blinked. “No ‘but’?”

Yan Qing chuckled. “No ‘but.’ I just realized I never actually told you I like you.”

Ding Qi let out a deep breath, his tense muscles finally relaxing, though they were now sore. “I thought you were about to break up with me…”

Yan Qing replied flatly, “You’re the one injured here. Why would I break up with you? Would you agree to it anyway?”

Ding Qi nodded in agreement. “That’s true.”

After a moment of silence, Yan Qing asked, “Do you really think I want to break up with you?”

Ding Qi hesitated, shaking his head before nodding faintly.

“I don’t have much experience in relationships. I don’t know what I should or shouldn’t do. Sometimes I disappear for four or five days without contact because of work. If you did want to break up, I guess I’d understand.”

“No, you don’t understand,” Yan Qing said firmly, lowering his gaze. “I wouldn’t go out to eat with someone I don’t like. And I wouldn’t casually break up with someone I do.”

Those simple words carried more weight than any sweet talk. Ding Qi’s heart raced as he leaned in for a kiss.

But Yan Qing raised a hand to block him and stood up. “You should rest at home tonight. I’m leaving now and will check on you tomorrow.”

Ding Qi looked puzzled and got up to follow him. “Where are you going?”

“Fuqi is still at the pet hospital. If I don’t bring him home or at least let him know, he’ll feel scared.”

Yan Qing was insistent on leaving, and Ding Qi couldn’t stop him—not even to walk him to the gate of their community.

Under the dim streetlights, Yan Qing’s slender figure grew more distant. Ding Qi sighed, thinking to himself, Loving dogs this much is a bit much.

The next day, Yan Qing brought Fuqi home and took a few days off to stay with Ding Qi.

Since Ding Qi needed to recover, Yan Qing avoided takeout and instead prepared meals with ingredients that boosted blood and energy. He even made medicinal dishes to help Ding Qi heal.

As Ding Qi ate the food Yan Qing had cooked himself, he praised, “This is so good. Next time, I’ll cook something for you.”

Yan Qing propped his chin on his hand, smiling faintly. “Alright.”

Ding Qi didn’t tell his family about the incident, but secrets like this can’t stay hidden forever.

One day, Yan Qing overheard Ding Qi’s mother yelling at him over the phone. She repeatedly called him “Little Coffin,” and it took a moment for Yan Qing to realize that was Ding Qi’s nickname—not an insult.

Suppressing laughter, Yan Qing watched Ding Qi gesture helplessly at him, as if to say he hadn’t chosen that nickname willingly.

After going home to reassure his family that he was fine, the matter was settled.

Yan Qing noticed that after a few days with him, Fuqi had changed.

The dog was obviously intelligent, but now it seemed to pay special attention to Yan Qing’s mood. Compared to Ding Qi, Fuqi responded more promptly to Yan Qing’s commands.

Curious, Ding Qi asked what Yan Qing had done to the dog, but Yan Qing just shook his head. He hadn’t done anything.

Maybe Fuqi had figured out Yan Qing was a vet at the pet hospital and was a little afraid of him.

Squatting on the carpet, Ding Qi patted Fuqi’s head and teased, “What a coward! You’re supposed to be a police dog, intimidating criminals. And yet, you’re scared of him?”

Sitting on the sofa, Yan Qing replied seriously, “So what if he’s scared of me? I do have some authority in this area.”

Ding Qi played along. “Oh? And what kind of reputation does Dr. Yan have in the underworld?”

Yan Qing clasped his hands in a mock martial arts salute. “In this region, I’ve vaccinated about sixty percent of the dogs. People call me the ‘Cold Needle King,’ the ‘Invincible Syringe,’ the ‘Rabies Tamer,’ and ‘Dogs’ Dread.’”

“…Pfft! Hahaha!”

Ding Qi laughed so hard he doubled over, his hands supporting him on the floor. “Dr. Yan, sometimes you’re just too cute!”

Yan Qing’s lips curled into a subtle smile. “Am I?”

Ding Qi’s gaze turned serious. The laughter faded, replaced by a deep intensity in his eyes, a desire so thick it was almost tangible.

In that moment, he shifted closer to Yan Qing, placing his palm on Yan Qing’s leg. The warmth of his touch seemed to travel upward, the distance between them growing smaller.

“Woof!”

A bark cut through the tension, shattering the mood. They turned to see Fuqi tilting his head curiously, watching them like an inquisitive child.

Furious, Ding Qi muttered, “I’m sending this dog to my uncle’s place.”

Yan Qing asked skeptically, “Your uncle? Can he even take care of it?”

Ding Qi stammered, “Uh, I was just joking.”

Yan Qing raised an eyebrow. “So when you said you hadn’t thought about how to deal with Fuqi… were you trying to trap me?”

“Ahem, that’s not how I’d put it.” Ding Qi kissed the back of Yan Qing’s hand ingratiatingly. “When giving a gift, it’s insincere to plan a backup, don’t you think?”

Yan Qing almost roared in frustration. And forcing a gift on someone is somehow sincere?!

Because Ding Qi had stopped a major incident, he avoided punishment and was granted a few days of medical leave. Once his leave was up, he had to return to work immediately.

Yan Qing, too, had patients to attend to. After two days together, he went back to the hospital. On one of his mornings off, Ding Qi gave Yan Qing a ride to the pet hospital on his motorcycle.

Fuqi was sandwiched between them, his tongue flapping wildly in the wind.

When they arrived, the clinic wasn’t open yet. Ding Qi’s reluctance to leave was written all over his face, so Yan Qing didn’t head inside right away. Instead, he stood outside with Fuqi for a little longer.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be back in the prison.”

“Okay.”

“When I get out, I’ll come find you.”

Yan Qing smiled and nodded. “Alright.”

Ding Qi’s gaze shifted, and Yan Qing followed it to see Xiao Gao standing at the entrance, frozen in place.

This wasn’t the first time she’d stumbled upon such a scene.

“…Morning,” Yan Qing greeted.

“Morning…” Xiao Gao replied, still dazed.

“I’ll head out now,” Ding Qi said, pulling up his long legs and speeding off on his motorcycle.

Yan Qing unlocked the clinic door, doing his best to ignore Xiao Gao’s worried expression.

“Dr. Yan,” Xiao Gao said tearfully, “are you involved with someone dangerous?”

Yan Qing sighed. “Don’t overthink it. There’s nothing like that.”

But Xiao Gao’s frightened look persisted as she suddenly remembered where she’d seen that black helmet before.

The last time that man had been here, even Tao Zi’s most adorable antics hadn’t moved him—she’d never seen anyone so stone-hearted!

“Didn’t he just say he was going back inside? And that when he gets out, he’ll come find you? Dr. Yan, this is serious! Shouldn’t we call the police?”

Yan Qing corrected her calmly. “He’s just an idiot.”