Tang Jing, sweating and feeling anxious, paced back and forth in the hospital room, slapping his thigh forcefully to calm himself down.
“Like this…” He glanced at Cheng Yue, who was sitting by the bed, eating buns with his head down. After wiping the sweat off his forehead and clearing his throat, he said, “Cheng Yue, go with your uncle to find a doctor and get checked out.”
Cheng Yue looked at him, then at the still-unconscious Ji Xu. He shook his head, finished the last bite of the bun, and gently buried his face in Ji Xu’s palm that was resting outside the blanket.
“Hey…” Tang Jing broke into a sweat again, feeling even more anxious.
The current state of Cheng Yue was definitely not right. Ji Xu would tear him apart when he woke up if he found out.
He was about to say something when his phone rang.
Cheng Yue lifted his head, frowning and staring at him.
Tang Jing quickly took out his ringing phone and answered it, “Hello, is it done? Okay, okay, come to the hospital. I’m here…”
After ending the call quietly, Tang Jing wiped his hair, sighed deeply, and sat down.
The room fell silent again.
Cheng Yue rubbed his face against Ji Xu’s palm, breathing slowly to relax his entire body.
When the hospital room door was pushed open, Cheng Yue was almost falling asleep with his eyes nearly closed.
“Changsheng.” Tang Jin stood up from his seat and waved to the person entering the room.
Cheng Yue, hearing the noise, turned his head and saw it was Duan Changsheng. He immediately turned his head back.
“You arrived quite quickly. Here’s the thing: I need to take Cheng Yue for an examination, so you stay here and keep an eye on Ji Xu,” Tang Jing said.
“What happened to Cheng Yue?” Duan Changsheng asked, slightly breathless.
“He suddenly can’t speak,” Tang Jing said, frowning.
Cheng Yue looked at Duan Changsheng, then at Ji Xu lying on the bed, and shook his head rapidly, indicating his disagreement.
“You…” Tang Jing was about to say something but was interrupted by Duan Changsheng.
“I’ll take you for the check-up. Tang Jing will stay here with your uncle,” Duan Changsheng said, seeing through Cheng Yue’s reluctance.
Cheng Yue looked at Ji Xu, hesitated for a moment, then stood up and followed Duan Changsheng.
“How did you suddenly lose your voice?” Duan Changsheng asked while walking, glancing at Cheng Yue. “Does your throat hurt?”
Cheng Yue shook his head.
“You haven’t been sleeping well these past couple of days, right?” Duan Changsheng observed his pale face and smiled. “You look worse than me, an old guy.”
Cheng Yue glared at him, feeling frustrated by his inability to speak.
Duan Changsheng didn’t mind. After taking Cheng Yue downstairs, he quickly arranged for an appointment with a specialist and brought him in for an examination.
After the doctor finished examining Cheng Yue, Duan Changsheng looked even more nervous than Cheng Yue.
“This condition is caused by excessive stimulation and fright, with psychological factors being the main cause. In essence…”
After the doctor gave a detailed explanation, he smiled, “There’s actually nothing serious. It’s just from being scared, but how long it takes to recover depends on the patient’s own psychological state.”
After leaving the doctor’s office, Duan Changsheng suppressed his worry and forced a smile, gently pinching Cheng Yue’s cheek. “Why are you so timid?”
Cheng Yue glared at him and turned his face away.
“Hey, little mute…” Duan Changsheng leaned in closer. “Ji Xu is really okay. He’s been healthy since he was young. I’ve known him for a long time and know his health well.”
Cheng Yue suddenly turned to look at him.
What does it mean that he knows Ji Xu’s health?
“Are you feeling like cursing me right now?” Duan Changsheng looked at him and sighed. “You poor thing.”
Cheng Yue opened his mouth but no sound came out. Frustrated, he rolled his eyes.
Then Cheng Yue pouted and his eyes became red.
“Hey!” Duan Changsheng was startled and immediately patted Cheng Yue’s head. “I’m sorry, don’t cry!”
Cheng Yue looked at him with red eyes.
Duan Changsheng met his gaze, then slapped his thigh and said, “I don’t actually know anything about Ji Xu’s health. I made it all up.”
Cheng Yue was finally satisfied and moved forward.
“By the way, your classmate came to the company looking for you,” Duan Changsheng said with a sigh. “Quite fierce, named Bai Zhen, almost twisted my arm.”
Cheng Yue’s rapidly beating heart made it hard for him to hear what Duan Changsheng said.
He quickened his pace, pushed open the hospital room door, and after grasping Ji Xu’s cool hand, he finally felt a sense of relief as his heartbeat gradually normalized.
Seeing Cheng Yue return, Tang Jing quickly came out and pulled Duan Changsheng, who had just entered, to the room outside to ask about Cheng Yue’s condition.
After Tang Jing and Duan Changsheng left, Cheng Yue slowly sat by Ji Xu’s bed, holding his hand, and opened his mouth to call Ji Xu’s name, but no sound came out.
Sighing, Cheng Yue buried his face in Ji Xu’s palm.
Ji Xu only woke up around six or seven in the afternoon. As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard the alarm clock and felt a slight numbness in his left arm.
Turning his head slightly, he saw Cheng Yue asleep with his face pressed against Ji Xu’s palm.
Ji Xu smiled and gently tapped Cheng Yue’s face with his fingertips.
When Tang Jing returned from the restroom and saw Ji Xu awake and in good spirits, his face immediately lit up with a smile. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Xu stopped him.
Ji Xu carefully pulled his hand from Cheng Yue’s face and slowly propped himself up.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yue, who had been sleeping by the bedside, suddenly opened his eyes and stood up abruptly.
“Hey!” Tang Jing was startled by Cheng Yue’s sudden movement.
Ji Xu was also momentarily stunned but quickly smiled and reached out to take Cheng Yue’s hand. “Want to sleep a bit more?”
Cheng Yue, still a bit dazed, quickly rushed over and hugged Ji Xu tightly.
Ji Xu immediately held him with one arm and patted his head, smiling, “I told you I’m fine.”
Cheng Yue slowly let go after holding on for a while.
“Why aren’t you speaking?” Ji Xu asked with a smile, gently squeezing his hand.
Cheng Yue stiffened at his words, his face turning somewhat unnatural.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Xu began to sense that something was wrong and turned to look at Tang Jing, who was standing aside with a troubled expression. “What happened?”
Tang Jing opened his mouth, hesitated, and struggled to explain. Finally, he slapped his thigh and weakly said, “Sorry…”
“Sorry for what?” Ji Xu was confused and turned to look at the silent Cheng Yue. Gently cupping his face with both hands, he asked in a cautious and soft voice, “What’s wrong? Can you tell me?”
Cheng Yue, forcing a smile despite his anxiety, took Ji Xu’s hand and slowly placed it on his own neck.
Ji Xu’s expression gradually stiffened, and he dared not apply even a little more force on Cheng Yue’s soft neck.
Cheng Yue touched his face, opened his mouth, and tried to say something.
Ji Xu guessed that Cheng Yue was trying to say “Don’t worry,” but that simple reassurance almost broke his heart.
“Have you had an examination?” Ji Xu’s face had turned very serious by now.
“The doctor said it’s a temporary loss of voice due to excessive shock,” Tang Jing said, looking down and unable to meet his eyes.
Seeing Ji Xu’s bad condition, Cheng Yue anxiously hugged him and patted his back.
Ji Xu held him with one arm, lowering his head and silently lost in thought.
Tang Jing watched the two of them and felt a bit of nausea while eating the dinner he had just bought. In all his years, he had never been so unable to eat.
As he took a sip of soup, Ji Xu shifted slightly.
“Let’s go home.” Ji Xu patted Cheng Yue on the back of his head.
Cheng Yue frowned and pointed at the needle in Ji Xu’s hand.
“I’m fine now. This is just glucose,” Ji Xu said with a smile, removing the needle himself.
Cheng Yue saw the blood oozing from Ji Xu’s hand and quickly ran out to find a nurse.
Ji Xu sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration as he couldn’t stop Cheng Yue.
“I’ll give you a day off. Report back to the office the day after tomorrow,” Tang Jing said, relieved to see Ji Xu’s condition improving. He then added a piece of good news, “We’ve officially sued Liang Siwei. We’re just waiting for you.”
“Alright.” Ji Xu nodded, still looking unwell.
“It’s okay. The doctor said it’s temporary,” Tang Jing reassured him again, adding with a lingering sense of dread, “But it really scared me. I’ll need to weigh myself when I get back; I’m probably a hundred pounds lighter.”
Just as Tang Jing finished speaking, Cheng Yue burst in with a nurse in a hurry.
Ji Xu half-hugged him and gave him a disapproving look, then wiped the sweat off his nose. “Don’t run so fast next time. It’s hot out.”
Cheng Yue nodded, smiling as he touched Ji Xu’s palm with his nose.
After finishing the hospital procedures and taking a taxi home, Cheng Yue was immediately ordered by Ji Xu to take a shower.
While Cheng Yue was showering, Ji Xu made a call to Song Yi to check on things and scheduled a time to meet before hanging up.
When Cheng Yue quickly finished his shower and came out, he immediately sat next to Ji Xu, drying his hair and occasionally glancing at Ji Xu.
Ji Xu, feeling a bit emotional from Cheng Yue’s little actions, took his towel and gently rubbed Cheng Yue’s head.
Without speaking, Cheng Yue quietly held onto the hem of Ji Xu’s shirt, smiling contentedly.
Seeing this, Ji Xu also smiled, rubbing Cheng Yue’s hair until it was dry.
After Ji Xu finished drying Cheng Yue’s hair, Cheng Yue pointed to the bedroom.
“Do you want to sleep?” Ji Xu asked.
Cheng Yue pointed at him, indicating that he should rest.
“I’m not tired.” Ji Xu touched his chin, “I’ve got a bit of stubble.”
Cheng Yue glanced at the bathroom, wondering if he should help Ji Xu brush his teeth, wash his face, or shave.
While he was contemplating, Ji Xu spoke up.
“Do you want to help me bathe?” Ji Xu asked with a smile, waving his hand that was wrapped up like a dumpling.
Author’s Note:
Cheng Yue: I can’t be more troublesome, really…
