Zuo Chi: “…”
Getting closer, he could see the cold sweat on Sheng Li’s forehead and the slight redness in his eyes.
“I’m fine,” he said.
Sheng Li didn’t feel that he was fine at all, and he couldn’t feel any embarrassment kneeling in front of the hospital bed. He saw the wound on Zuo Chi’s hand, feeling horrified, Zuo Chi’s hand was pale, contrasting with the horrifying wound.
Zuo Chi helplessly said, “Can you get up?”
Sheng Li stood up, walked around Zuo Chi’s hospital bed, he bent down to examine the wound carefully, feeling it was inappropriate, then straightened his back, his voice hoarse: “Besides your hand, are there any other injuries?”
Zuo Chi pursed his lips, “My leg twisted a bit, and there’s a ligament injury in my lower back, but nothing too serious.”
Sheng Li sniffed, “A ligament injury isn’t serious?”
Zuo Chi couldn’t stand Sheng Li’s pitiful and silly appearance, “Why would I lie to you? Just trying to scare you.”
“It’s not up to you; I’ll ask the doctor.” Sheng Li composed himself, “I need to arrange hospitalization procedures and switch to a VIP ward tomorrow. Is your ID with you?”
Zuo Chi nodded towards the coat on the bedside table, “It’s in my wallet.”
Sheng Li took the wallet, then asked, “Have you eaten anything yet? What do you want? Shall I go buy it for you?”
Not mentioning it was fine, but once it was brought up, Zuo Chi felt a bit hungry, “It’s almost noon, the only place open now would be a barbecue joint, right?”
“Barbecue won’t do. I’ll go ask the nurse what you can eat.” Sheng Li said as he walked to the door of the ward, then turned back hesitantly, “Ah Chi… do you need to inform your parents?”
Zuo Chi didn’t hesitate, “No need.”
Sheng Li didn’t persuade him, “Then… What about others?”
Zuo Chi shook his head, “Let’s talk about it tomorrow, I’ll explain the situation to the company.”
Sheng Li: “Rest well, don’t think about work for now.”
Sheng Li handled the admission procedures, then went to the 24-hour convenience store downstairs to buy beef porridge with scrambled eggs and clear soup oden. He also remembered to buy a portable air freshener and two sets of toiletries for himself. He lost his composure when he received the call and came out too hastily, forgetting everything.
After returning to the ward, he sat down on the chair next to the hospital bed, carefully opened the lid of the porridge, and handed it to Zuo Chi’s lips, “Shall I feed you?”
He knew Zuo Chi’s answer without asking, sure enough, Zuo Chi grabbed the spoon with his right hand, “I’ll do it myself.”
Sheng Li: “It might be a bit hot, be careful.”
It had been a while since he heard Sheng Li speak so kindly. Today Sheng Li suddenly said so many “human words” that he felt a bit awkward. Sheng Li wasn’t incapable of caring, but when he did care, he always used a tone of reproach as if saying “you’re an idiot”.
Maybe Sheng Li was really changing, but it had only been two months, it didn’t mean much. Easy to change for a moment, hard to change for a lifetime.
After eating a couple of mouthfuls under Sheng Li’s gaze, Zuo Chi felt uneasy, “Don’t look at me like that. You can go back to sleep, you still have to work tomorrow, right?”
“How could I leave when you’re like this,” Sheng Li said immediately, “Your left hand can’t move, everything is inconvenient, what if you need to go to the bathroom at night? You definitely need someone to stay here with you.”
He wouldn’t go back, after experiencing panic, he would only feel reassured and relieved by staying with Zuo Chi.
Zuo Chi just felt a bit awkward with their current relationship, but Sheng Li’s words made sense.
Zuo Chi: “You staying here would also affect your sleep.”
Sheng Li: “Asking me to go home, I’d sleep even worse.”
“…”, after half a minute of staring at each other, Zuo Chi compromised, “Then help me find a caregiver tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Looking at the clock, there was still a minute until midnight. Taking advantage of “today” not being over yet, Sheng Li said, “Happy birthday.”
This scene had nothing to do with happiness. Spending his birthday in such a dramatic manner, Zuo Chi’s heart was filled with mixed feelings. If that car hadn’t stopped at the last moment, whether he was alive or dead would be a question.
At the moment of the accident, he had imagined the worst outcome, feeling unwilling. His own career had just begun, his love life… he didn’t want to admit it, but at that moment, he thought of Sheng Li.
He was actually very scared and uneasy, with many fragments crashing around in his brain, giving him a headache, making it impossible for him to stay calm. But after he woke up, before a series of emotions had time to ferment, Sheng Li entered the ward.
Sheng Li’s expressions were written all over his face, panic, anxiety, worry…
Looking at him, Zuo Chi gradually calmed down without realizing it.
He whispered, “I thought you’d forgotten.”
“How could I forget?” They understood each other with just a glance, Sheng Li said, “I’m sorry, about last year…”
When the porridge was finished, Zuo Chi put the bowl aside, “It’s okay. Let’s not mention the past.”
Can’t get over it.
Sheng Li thought, at least he couldn’t get over it in his heart. But he obediently kept silent, tidied up the remnants on the bedside table, and changed the subject: “It’s not convenient to take a bath here. We’ll move to a VIP ward tomorrow, which has a separate bathroom.”
“Mm.”
Sheng Li went to the bathroom, soaked a washcloth in warm water, then returned to the bedside. He pinched the corner of the washcloth and gently wiped Zuo Chi’s cheek.
Through the cotton towel, he felt Zuo Chi’s face was so soft.
“…” Zuo Chi’s right hand held onto the washcloth, “Give it to me.”
“Okay.” Sheng Li felt a bit disappointed but withdrew his hand. He then went to the bathroom to fetch mouthwash and brought it to him.
Zuo Chi was momentarily lost in thought, wondering if his legs were also injured and unable to walk.
“You don’t have to take care of me like this,” he said.
Sheng Li replied, “You’re injured, can’t you stop being so stubborn?”
“You want to say I’m not like an Omega, right?” Zuo Chi retorted.
Both fell into silence. Zuo Chi regretted his words the moment they left his mouth, feeling like he was dredging up old issues needlessly.
Meanwhile, Sheng Li felt a lump in his throat, knowing that his past words had hurt Zuo Chi, causing him to bring it up repeatedly.
“I…”
“You…”
They spoke simultaneously.
Sheng Li explained, “I didn’t mean that. What I wanted to say is, whether you’re an Omega, Beta, or Alpha, you don’t have to exhaust yourself. Everyone has the right to show weakness at certain times.”
Sheng Li then asked, “What were you about to say?”
“Sheng Li,” Zuo Chi called his name, “I’m already with Qin Xu, so I should keep an appropriate distance from you.”
Sheng Li already knew, but hearing it from Zuo Chi again felt like a dagger to his heart. His eyes reddened instantly, his lips trembling slightly. He turned away, took a few deep breaths, then asked, “Do you like him?”
He felt like he was asking a pointless question. If Zuo Chi didn’t like Qin Xu, why would he be with him? But the answer was important to him; this question had been tormenting him for several nights.
Had Zuo Chi completely moved on? Did he leave him behind? Did he really not want him anymore?
Zuo Chi hesitated, wanting to say “yes” instinctively, but he couldn’t deceive Sheng Li, or himself. He couldn’t be sure of his feelings for Qin Xu. Initially, it was because of the engagement between the Zuo and Qin families that he couldn’t break away from the Zuo family, so he got involved with Qin Xu. Later, he genuinely felt that Qin Xu was a nice person… It wasn’t to get away from Sheng Li or to forget the pain he caused, but he felt that being with Qin Xu would be easier.
A good option was in front of him, and he felt he had no reason not to try. What if he could develop different feelings with Qin Xu?
So when the doctor asked if Qin Xu was his boyfriend, he gave an affirmative answer. He felt that if he didn’t respond, he would be stringing Qin Xu along, which would make him feel guilty.
But was this love?
“Do you like him?” Seeing Zuo Chi’s lack of response, Sheng Li asked again.
The words “I like him” were on Zuo Chi’s lips, but he couldn’t say them. “It’s none of your business,” he finally managed to utter.
Sheng Li’s eyes reflected heartbreak. He didn’t dare to look at Zuo Chi and suddenly stood up. “I need some fresh air.”
He briskly walked to the balcony on this floor, looking at the lights outside. He wanted a cigarette, then remembered he was in his pajamas. Besides, smoking would leave a smell, and he had to go back to the ward later.
Zuo Chi was someone else’s boyfriend.
This realization made him incredibly sad and frustrated. Qin Xu was Zuo Chi’s boyfriend, but what about him? He was just a former fiancé, not even an ex.
In a little while, Qin Xu would know what Zuo Chi liked and didn’t like, his daily habits, his past experiences, his little preferences and quirks… He would completely replace him and become the person closest to Zuo Chi.
Sheng Li found it hard to accept, but he knew many things wouldn’t revolve around his will.
He digested it alone for a long time. When he returned to the ward, the lights were off.
Sheng Li moved quietly, washed up in the bathroom, then sat on the chair, resting his head on the bed.
In the darkness, he traced Zuo Chi’s outline, unable to sleep. He wanted to look at Zuo Chi, to have a few more moments together, to make up for the absence of these two months.
At least at this moment, there was no Qin Xu, no one else, just him and Zuo Chi. He could smell the scent of blackcurrants, and Zuo Chi was so close to him.
Zuo Chi had trouble falling asleep at first, unsure of how to face Sheng Li appropriately. Sheng Li rushed over after he had an accident, now staying by his side, and he couldn’t bring himself to say the harsh words from before.
Perhaps he wasn’t reminding Sheng Li that he already had a boyfriend, but reminding himself.
1
Author’s note:
Can’t call it a melodramatic story without a bit of drama.
I totally didn’t expect everyone’s focus on the documents, I’m quite surprised as someone who carries an ID card even when walking the dog.
