The conversation between Nurse Zhang and the woman didn’t reach the ears of the two men. Even if it had, Bo Xinghang didn’t have the presence of mind to notice.
People passed by quickly, but Doctor Ji paid them no attention. Once they reached the office, he used his long legs to push the door closed. With a “thud,” he let go, pressing the boy against the wall.
No one touched the light switch, and the dim office filled with the increasing intensity of their heartbeats.
Bo Xinghang’s feet touched the familiar floor, his back against the wall, sending a chill through him. He looked up, staring at Doctor Ji, who was so close that his features blurred.
They were almost touching, their breaths mingling lazily. Bo Xinghang, who had just smoked, still carried the lingering scent of tobacco. Feeling awkward, he turned his head away.
“Doctor Ji…”
“Don’t move.”
Ji Wenzhen calmly observed Bo Xinghang’s movements, his body still. In the darkness, he raised his arm, searching for the boy’s hand, and without hesitation, grasped it.
“…”
Bo Xinghang turned his head back, this time keeping even his hands still.
They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds, neither speaking, as if in perfect understanding.
In truth, Bo Xinghang understood what Doctor Ji meant, whether it was the embrace and kiss at the stairwell or the quiet gaze they now shared. These were Doctor Ji’s ways of comforting and being there for him.
Bo Xinghang didn’t think of himself as overly sentimental or particularly fragile. Over the past few years, he had always carried everything on his own.
He didn’t need pity meant for someone who was pitiful, so Doctor Ji said nothing, simply holding him, kissing him, and telling him, “Ge’s here for you.”
At that moment, all his attempts to be strong seemed to crumble, the barriers he had built shattering to pieces.
His eyes reddened unconsciously, and breathing heavily, he stared at Doctor Ji, unable to resist leaning in for a kiss.
There was no longer any rational restraint, only a chaotic and unrestrained kiss.
He had so much he wanted to say to Doctor Ji. He wanted to ask about his grandmother’s surgery, express how hard the operation must have been, and thank Doctor Ji for his support. But as he thought it over, all those emotions condensed into a single kiss.
When the kiss ended, Doctor Ji turned on the light. Bo Xinghang’s body felt weak, his arms draped over Doctor Ji’s neck as he leaned against him, breathing heavily.
“Xiao Xing.” Doctor Ji patted his waist, his voice soft and hoarse. “It’s late. Let’s rest.”
Bo Xinghang had a lot to ask, but after everything that had happened, he was exhausted. He knew Doctor Ji must have been even more tired from the surgery, so he nodded obediently. “Okay.”
Though his grandmother’s surgery had just ended and Xiao Meng was there to take care of her, Bo Xinghang still couldn’t completely relax.
Neither of them planned to go home, but fortunately, Doctor Ji’s office was well-equipped with a small bed for the doctor to rest on.
The conditions were basic, but neither of them felt uncomfortable. After a quick wash, Doctor Ji took out the clothes he had specifically set aside in the rest area and patiently helped Bo Xinghang put them on.
Bo Xinghang obediently let him, though the tips of his ears, hidden beneath his tousled hair, quietly turned red. When he saw Doctor Ji pick up the pajama pants, he quickly said, “I’ll put on the pants myself!”
Ji Wenzhen’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment before it settled on the faint blush, but he didn’t say anything, just nodded with a smile. “Alright, I’ll go get some water.”
“…Mm.”
Hearing the sound of glass clinking outside, Bo Xinghang moved, rubbing his flushed face with an expressionless look as he hurriedly put on his pants, silently cursing himself.
Xiao Bo, you’re hopeless.
After getting dressed, he quickly lay down on the bed. It seemed Doctor Ji had timed it perfectly because as soon as the door opened, he saw the boy in bed quickly close his eyes, arms neatly by his sides, his breathing suddenly steady.
The sequence of actions was so smooth and decisive that Ji Wenzhen was momentarily taken aback before bursting into laughter.
His voice, naturally low, cold, and indifferent, became gentle when he laughed like soft snow falling. It made Bo Xinghang’s cheeks burn.
Bo Xinghang’s reaction had been almost instinctual, and by the time he realized what he’d done, it was too late. Hearing Doctor Ji laugh, he gave up and opened his eyes. “Done drinking your water?”
It was almost a pointless question.
Without a mirror in the room, Bo Xinghang wasn’t sure if his face was red, but after a moment of silence, he guessed it probably was.
The heat was hard to ignore, after all.
Ji Wenzhen could tell he was shy and didn’t tease him any further. He responded with a simple “Mm” and walked over to the bed. Bo Xinghang had already made space for him, lying at the very edge. Doctor Ji said nothing, only lying down and pulling him closer by the waist.
“Sleep.”
His tone was calm but firm, leaving no room for argument.
Bo Xinghang’s eyelashes fluttered as he grasped Doctor Ji’s hand under the quilt, intertwining their fingers, and nodded slightly. “Okay.”
In truth, although they had been together for some time, they hadn’t spent many nights sleeping in the same bed. Bo Xinghang had thought he would have trouble falling asleep, but with the familiar presence beside him, his tense body from the day relaxed completely.
He slept deeply, without a single dream.
Bo Xinghang couldn’t remember when he had drifted off, but when he woke up, it was already noon, and Doctor Ji had long since gone to work.
Staring at the screen showing 12:39, Bo Xinghang noticed a long list of missed calls, and his brow twitched, feeling a headache coming on.
Besides messages and calls from Xu Yi, there were two from his homeroom teacher.
After receiving his grades yesterday, the teacher had been pleased, thinking Bo Xinghang had finally turned over a new leaf and was taking his studies seriously. But then, the next day, he skipped class.
And not just a little—he was absent for most of the day!
In all his years as a homeroom teacher, he had never encountered a student so difficult to manage. Frustrated, he called Bo Xinghang twice from the office, only to find the calls couldn’t go through.
This only made the teacher angrier.
He decided to give him one last chance and call again in an hour. If Bo Xinghang still didn’t answer, he would dig out his student records and find him in person.
Just as he reached the classroom door, Bo Xinghang called.
“Teacher, I need to take two days off. My grandma is in the hospital.”
Yesterday had been sudden, but he spoke calmly.
The homeroom teacher paused for a few seconds, knowing about Bo Xinghang’s situation. He didn’t say much, only reminding him, “Alright, but you’re approaching the college entrance exams. Take care of your health.”
Bo Xinghang nodded in agreement, but when his homeroom teacher said something else, he didn’t catch it. His attention was elsewhere, and no matter how clearly the teacher spoke, he wasn’t paying attention.
After hanging up the phone, he looked down at the slightly loose white t-shirt he was wearing. It was one that Doctor Ji kept in the rest area specifically for emergencies. He didn’t wear it often, but because they had been so close last night, the shirt now faintly carried Doctor Ji’s scent.
Unlike other doctors who smelled of disinfectant, Doctor Ji had a habit of lightly spraying his clothes with subtle cologne. The scent was usually easy to overlook, but at that moment, its presence was strong. It wasn’t just on the clothes, pillow, and blanket—the entire room seemed filled with that familiar fragrance.
It was as if that gentle scent was soothing Bo Xinghang, and gradually, his mood began to calm.
He opened his messages and saw that the one pinned at the top was from Doctor Ji, sent just after eight in the morning. It informed him that his grandmother’s surgery had gone well, followed by the room number where she was recovering, suggesting he visit when he woke up.
Doctor Ji knew him well. He knew the first thing Bo Xinghang would think of upon waking was his grandmother. To prevent his Xiao Xing from worrying, Doctor Ji had sent the message early so it would be the first thing he saw.
Bo Xinghang stared at the screen, his heart melting.
The day before, he and Xiao Meng had gone to Nan Ming’s hospital room, but the nurse had turned them away, saying, “Nan Ming is not in good spirits and is resting.” Bo Xinghang was frustrated but had no way to vent. Through the glass, he could see the man lying in bed and the girl sleeping beside him.
He couldn’t make out the man’s face, so he shifted his gaze to the girl’s profile.
His memory was sharp, and the girl had left a deep impression on him. He recognized her the moment he looked at her. She was the same girl he had seen at the hospital the first time.
After staring for a few more seconds, Bo Xinghang couldn’t take it anymore.
His chest felt tight, and his heartbeat pounded heavily, making it hard to breathe. His thoughts were a tangled mess, and all he wanted at that moment was to see Doctor Ji.
Bo Xinghang had never felt such an urgent need before. Despite having faced many difficult situations in the past without flinching, now he couldn’t help it. His mind was nearly overwhelmed by a feverish longing.
He wanted to see Doctor Ji, to hold him, to kiss him…
Later, while squatting on the stairwell, Bo Xinghang wondered if he was becoming too delicate and dependent. The more he thought about it, the more confused and overwhelmed he became, his head throbbing. He finally lit a cigarette, hoping the nicotine would numb his mind.
But even then, he knew he was still a mess.
Then he heard footsteps and looked up to see the person he had been longing for.
That person walked over, hugged him, kissed him, and said, “Ge’s here for you.”
Suddenly, he didn’t feel like smoking anymore.
Because Doctor Ji was his cigarette—more addictive than any drug.
Author’s note:
The next chapter will wrap up Nan Ming’s storyline. It will be fast to make way for more sweetness ahead~
