CWITAR Chapter 20

 

“Little one, who are you?”

 

Perhaps due to having a fever for too long, Qi Juan’s cheeks and the corners of his eyes were tinged with a faint redness. His usually sparkling eyes now appeared tired, half-closed and drowsy, as if he hadn’t fully awakened.

 

Feeling dizzy and with his stomach intermittently aching, he curled up under the covers.

 

Yu Yue Sheng asked the nurse for some diluted alcohol and gently patted the person who had fallen asleep again, “I need to clean it with alcohol.”

 

Qi Juan moved slightly under the covers, slowly opening his misty eyes, and looked at him for a while before weakly uttering, “It hurts.”

 

His restless hand reached for the needle, seemingly trying to remove the intravenous tube.

 

“It’s almost done.” Yu Yue Sheng gently held Qi Juan’s hand and dipped the towel in icy-cold alcohol, spreading it on his palm little by little, “You’ll feel better after the intravenous drip is finished. Oh, it looks like your neck needs to be cleaned too.”

 

“Cough, cough…” Qi Juan shrank away, trying to avoid it, “Laoshi, you have classes in the afternoon, so you should go back to school early. I don’t need you to take care of me.” After a moment’s thought, he added, “Chi Yin will come later.”

 

“He won’t come today.” Yu Yue Sheng wiped his arm with alcohol, placed the towel back in the basin, and wrung it out again, saying.

 

“What do you mean?” Qi Juan looked at him.

 

“I informed his class teacher, so I think they are having a discussion.”

 

“With Doraemon?”

 

“What?” Yu Yue Sheng raised an eyebrow at him.

 

Speaking of it, that teacher is short and sturdy, and he likes to wear blue short-sleeved T-shirts. “Doraemon” is the nickname that their classmates gave to Qin Zhengwen before. 

 

Qi Juan was initially unwilling to call him that, but later, everyone started using it, and it became ingrained, slipping out of his mouth subconsciously.

 

He always felt that when he said “Doraemon” just now, Yu Yue Sheng smiled slightly, almost imperceptibly. 

 

When Yu Yue Sheng smiles, he only lifts the corners of his mouth slightly. During those moments, Qi Juan often felt that his aloofness was just a facade to conceal his vulnerability.

 

However, in the next instance of Yu Yue Sheng’s cold avoidance, Qi Juan would begin to doubt his previous perception, thinking that maybe Yu Yue Sheng was just shy, and that his previous interpretation was just a misconception.

 

“It’s nothing,” Qi Juan explained, “Actually, it’s not a big deal. I was in Qin Laoshi‘s class before, but in the second year, we were divided into different streams, and I ended up in Class 9. Qin Laoshi can talk a lot; he can probably keep Chi Yin engaged in a conversation for a long time. Chi Yin must be in a tough spot right now.”

 

Qi Juan continued, “Laoshi, what did you say to Qin Laoshi?”

 

“I said everything,” Yu Yuesheng replied.

 

“Fuck.”

 

“Don’t use bad language,” Yu Yuesheng said without changing his expression, then quickly flicked Qi Juan’s head.

 

“Ah? Help! I don’t want to lose face,” Qi Juan rubbed his forehead.

 

“I don’t know what will happen now. But since I know about it, as your homeroom teacher, I can’t just ignore it,” Yu Yuesheng wrung the towel and asked, “Are you still feeling uncomfortable?”

 

“Dizzy and my stomach hurts.” Qi Juan pulled Yu Yue sheng’s hand and placed it on his stomach, separated by a thin layer of blanket, it felt soft to the touch.

 

The sunlight fell gently there, and their fingers lightly interlocked. Even just touching the distinct bones was filled with the cautious tremor of their youth, hidden in the depths of their hearts.

 

Qi Juan slowly moved Yu Yue sheng’s hand in circles on the outside, leaning towards him.

 

Amidst the chilling winter, if a small flame was willing to burn, he really wanted to brush away the accumulated snow on him, getting closer to the warmth of the fire for a bit of comfort.

 

“It’s been less than two days since the stitches.” Yu Yue sheng said.

 

“Yeah, I know I can’t rub it. Teacher, just comfort me a bit.”

 

“I can’t do it.”

 

“Listening to stories is also okay, it might make you feel a bit better. It hurts a lot,” Qi Juan pressed his hand against his stomach, pouting and looking at him with a seemingly pitiful and cunning look, his eyes shining brightly with a mischievous meaning.

 

“I can’t do it either.” His hand tightly pressed against the blanket, Yu Yue Sheng frowned.

 

Qi Juan raised his eyes and looked at him seriously. “Then, how does Laoshi see me?” He paused for a moment and continued, “…Do you think I’m especially troublesome when I’m sick?”

 

 During this time, the young man’s jawline became more pronounced, and his eyes seemed to have grown darker, as if a rich deep tide was about to flow out.

 

Under the noon breeze, the mottled sunlight and tree shadows danced together. The thin gauze curtains fluttered gently, but there was silence between the two for quite some time.

 

Yu Yue Sheng tucked Qi Juan’s hand back under the blanket and covered him up before speaking, “It’s your own fault since you don’t take care of yourself properly.”

 

“Is that so,” Qi Juan replied.

 

As they watched the liquid in the IV drip dwindling down with bubbling sounds, Yu Yue Sheng interrupted, tilted his body, and pressed the call button.

 

The young nurse came quite quickly, efficiently replacing the empty bottle with a new one for Qi Juan and taking out an infrared thermometer from her pocket to check his body temperature.

 

Her slightly plump figure stood between the two, blocking the words Qi Juan was about to say from coming out.

 

“How is it?” Yu Yue Sheng asked.

 

“38 degrees, still running a slight fever,” the young nurse checked the basin placed on the stool by the bed, “Has it been disinfected with alcohol?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“Please disinfect it. He can’t take any medication right now,” the nurse said as she tidied up the empty medicine bottle and carried it on a tray as she left.

 

“You can do it yourself?” Yu Yue Sheng pointed to Qi Juan’s collar.

 

When Qi Juan shook his head, Yu Yue Sheng had already slightly bent down.

 

However, before he could handle it himself, Qi Juan quickly held his delicate wrist, causing the IV drip to jingle, and the needle in Qi Juan’s hand also returned some blood.

 

Looking at Yu Yue Sheng, Qi Juan’s eyes were reddish with some bloodshot veins as he hoarsely said, “You really don’t need to do this, I feel quite embarrassed. Maybe you don’t think it’s a big deal, but I tend to overthink things. It’s getting late now, you should go and have lunch first.”

 

Qi Juan’s palm was unusually warm, like a small stove.

 

As he spoke, he buried his body under the covers, hugging his upper abdomen with his arms, curling up into a ball. With the new bottle of medicine, he didn’t know what ingredients were in it, but his stomach pain was getting worse, leaving him only able to breathe heavily.

 

Well, it seemed he was feeling uncomfortable and still wanted to chase the person away.

 

Yu Yue Sheng typed on his phone and replied, “I’ll order takeout for you at school in the afternoon.” He looked at the webpage with various remedies for stomach pain and felt a bit awkward, “Just stick one hand out.”

 

“What are you doing?” Qi Juan obediently exposed one arm, making a sound of protest, “Ah.”

 

When he realized what was happening, Yu Yue Sheng was already pinching and massaging his wrist. Qi Juan complained, “Laoshi, be gentle, my hand is hurting now.”

 

Yu Yue Sheng pressed on the acupoint, even able to feel the young man’s slightly accelerated heartbeat, beating clearly and vividly, despite his calm appearance.

 

Yu Yue Sheng said, “They say this is the Neiguan acupoint, it can treat stomach pain.”

 

Qi Juan slumped on the bed and grumbled, “Why are you like Zuo Ziming? Every time he sees these remedies, he forwards them to me, like squatting down and hugging yourself, or drinking a cup of milk… Ah… Everyone is different; these things don’t work for me. If I drink milk, I might end up blowing bubbles.”

 

Strangely, even though this person doesn’t appear serious now, Yu Yue Sheng always thinks of the boy in the video, the one with his head down, the image of his slender and trembling figure, and the fluttering jet-black hair that seems to carry countless sorrows.

 

Yu Yue Sheng changed the subject, saying, “In a couple of days, we’ll be having monthly exams and such, so I might not have time to come over. If Chi Yin still bothers you, you can come and stay at my place for a while.”

 

“Cough… laoshi, did you forget what I told you today?” Qi Juan lazily leaned against the head of the bed, reminding him.

 

“I don’t like the same sex, and I’m not interested in kids like you. Don’t bother me and just tear down my house.”

 

“Hahaha, I’m not a mischievous dog; even if you ask me to tear it down, I wouldn’t dare,” Qi Juan laughed and said.

 

He couldn’t help but reminisce about the time in his previous life when Yu Yue Sheng had also brought him home to live for a period. At that time, Yu Yue Sheng had said similar things, gentle yet cruelly distancing himself from any expression of love.

 

Originally, he had thought that if things didn’t work out, he could take advantage of the opportunity to live together and get close to Yu Yue Sheng, to nurture their feelings. 

 

However, during that period, he didn’t know what happened; it was always damp, cold, and rainy. He suffered from severe stomach pain every day, even vomiting until midnight, and had to rush to the hospital for emergency treatment, which in turn exhausted Yu Yue Sheng and caused him to develop a high fever.

 

In the end, Qi Juan even ended up being strictly supervised during meals, unable to go to internet cafes, drink alcohol, or smoke. He had fallen into a state where he had nothing to do. He even began to suspect if he had inadvertently acquired a family.

 

Thinking of this, Qi Juan shook his head repeatedly and refused, “I won’t go. I stay up late at night, and it will disturb your sleep.”

 

“I sleep late too.”

 

“I have a spare bed.”

 

“A spare bed?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So, are you coming?”

 

“Sure.” He subconsciously replied with this sentence, and Qi Juan hurriedly added, “No, wait, you asked too quickly. I’m not coming.”

 

“Just stay for a couple of days in the spare bed. I’ll call your aunt later and let her know,” Yu Yue Sheng said. “You should apply the alcohol first.”

 

“Alright, I’ll apply it.” Qi Juan was thinking about how to refuse while absentmindedly unbuttoning his shirt.

 

The lines on the young man’s neck were neat and clean, and his clavicle was clearly defined. As the damp towel glided across his skin, it felt cool and ticklish.

 

He sneakily glanced at Yu Yue Sheng’s fingertips, which had turned slightly red after being soaked in cold water. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously. Qi Juan subconsciously averted his gaze, no longer looking, as if by doing so, Yu Yue Sheng wouldn’t be able to see him.

 

Come on, he’s just treating him like a sick student in need of care, right?

 

Qi Juan kept brainwashing himself with this thought.

 

“It’s done,” Yu Yue Sheng said, putting the towel back into the water.

 

The door creaked.

“Thump, thump, thump.”

 

Qi Juan lowered his head to find out and saw a child sneaking in from somewhere and running in.

 

That was a little boy, wearing small leather shoes, he ran to Qi Juan’s bedside with a thump, shaking Qi Juan’s hand that didn’t have an IV drip, blinking his big eyes, and calling out “GeGe” in a milky voice.

 

The boy’s hair was slightly curly, and his eyelashes were also curled up.

 

For a moment, Qi Juan felt like he resembled someone, but he quickly realized that his face blindness was too severe to even attempt to figure it out.

 

“Little guy, who are you?” Qi Juan buttoned up his shirt and patted the boy’s little head.

 

The child’s hair lay smoothly on his forehead, soft to touch, as if he was stroking the fine wool of a little lamb.

 

Qi Juan couldn’t resist pinching the child’s chubby cheeks.

 

The child pouted his mouth, and when he puffed up his cheeks, he looked like a little goldfish, childishly spitting out his words, “Hmph, I’m not going to tell you, Ge Ge.” After saying that, he turned his face away.

 

“Don’t be angry, okay? Gege will buy you candy to eat, how about that?” Qi Juan said.

 

When he let go of the child’s hand, the little one quickly rubbed his face, as if afraid that his face would be damaged.

 

“Don’t you recognize each other?” Yue Yu Sheng moved aside and said,

 

“I’ve never seen him before,” Qi Juan looked at the child, carefully observed him once again, and shook his head, “He probably got the wrong person.”

 

“He didn’t get it wrong.” A woman walked in from the doorway.

 

The woman’s long hair hung loosely over her shoulders, dyed with a subtle shade of brown. Her already delicate face was lightly made up, giving her a youthful and fashionable look. She also had a faint scent of perfume on her.

 

Even the most luxurious and expensive perfume couldn’t help but feel out of place amidst the overpowering smell of disinfectant in the hospital. Hearing Qi Juan coughing several times, Yu Yue Sheng frowned in displeasure.

 

“Mommy,” the little child ran over and hugged the woman’s leg, calling out to her while lightly rubbing against her dress.

 

After all, they had spent ten years together, how could Qi Juan not recognize the beautiful woman who just walked in as his birth mother.

 

However, with the combination of two lifetimes, it had indeed been a very long time since they last saw each other. The unfamiliarity between them made it difficult for Qi Juan to let his mother see his embarrassed appearance.

 

Qi Juan could only stiffly turn his head away, gripping Yu Yue Sheng’s hand tightly, pressing his lips tightly to restrain any hint of vulnerability from showing.

 

Yu Yue Sheng stood quietly by his side, feeling Qi Juan gripping his hand tightly, causing pain in his palm.

 

“An An, be good, don’t disturb your Gege,” the woman said, pulling the little boy to sit on the bedside. “I heard from your aunt that you were hospitalized, so I came to see you.”

 

The pain in his stomach, which had subsided for a while, gradually resurfaced. His fluctuating emotions seemed to turn into fragile bouncing marbles, fiercely colliding with the walls of his heart.

 

Qi Juan finally raised his head, his eyes also turning red. “You’re lying. Aunt won’t contact you.”

 

“It’s alright. Don’t get upset. Actually, I want to take you back home. You may not know, but I got married to your Uncle Chi,” the woman continued.

 

“…”

 

The young man looked at her with pain, remaining silent, his gaze tired and devoid of anger. His frail shoulders trembled, and some previously unclear things suddenly became clear.

 

He just felt cold everywhere, even the windows couldn’t shut out the wind from outside. The coldness seeped in along the flowing light, devouring his heart.

 

He shifted his gaze to Yu Yue Sheng, his eyes filled with a plea. It seemed there was no moment when he wished more for someone to take him away, to escape from it all.