Chapter 68: Crisis (Little Brother) Part 1

“Why does your whole body hurt?” Hearing Fu Zheng’s words, Tao Zhi thought it was very strange.

Hadn’t they already bandaged everything up?

Unable to figure it out, he simply pressed the nurse call button at the bedside. “I’ll have the doctor come take a look at you.”

“?”

“No need!” Fu Zheng snapped back to attention, temporarily breaking off his unfriendly staring contest with Fu Si Heng to stop Tao Zhi. “No need to call the doctor. I’m not hurting anymore.”

“Uh, really?” That made it even stranger.

It sounded exactly like a lie, but Fu Zheng wasn’t the type to tell that kind of lie.

Baffled, Tao Zhi could only confirm with him again. “You’re really not in pain? Don’t hold back.”

“The doctor said he’s on duty tonight. If there’s any problem, we can call him anytime. He’s always around—don’t worry about troubling others. Your health is the most important thing.”

Fu Zheng: “.”

Fu Zheng wasn’t the type to worry about troubling others.

“No trouble. Fractures are like this—aches come and go. You staying is fine.” Fu Zheng said shamelessly.

Huh?

…Did fractures really ache like that?

Tao Zhi had never broken a bone, so he truly didn’t know about such things. He was completely thrown off by Fu Zheng and subconsciously glanced at his casted leg. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Fu Si Heng standing at the door.

The nurse had already left after delivering the bedding.

Tao Zhi stared at him for a few seconds. “Brother Fu, how about I sleep on the sofa instead? You take the attendant bed.”

“If you’re sleeping on the sofa, you might as well go to the next room. I’ll take the attendant bed and look after him.” Fu Si Heng walked in and casually closed the hospital room door.

Fu Zheng was in a VIP room—one living area, one bedroom, plus a private bathroom.

With Tao Zhi sleeping outside and the door closed, he still wouldn’t hear anything inside. It would be more comfortable in the next room.

But Tao Zhi didn’t think that way.

He felt that if he slept on the sofa, Fu Zheng definitely wouldn’t close the room door, and he’d still be able to notice any noises inside.

“Never mind, never mind. No night nurse tonight—I’ll sleep on the attendant bed.” Tao Zhi said to Fu Si Heng. “We’ll figure it out later.”

Fu Si Heng: “Oh.”

We’ll figure it out later meant Tao Zhi would come back.

He would keep attending to him.

Tch.

Not pleased at all.

Fu Zheng had actually grown a brain and knew how to play weak.

And he kept growing brains that night.

“Later?” Fu Zheng caught on too. “You’ll come back?”

“Of course.” Tao Zhi said, “You got injured because of me. Of course I’ll keep taking care of you until you’re discharged… ah.”

At that point, Tao Zhi remembered something very important.

“Fu Zheng, thank you.” He hadn’t properly thanked Fu Zheng yet. Tao Zhi said it sincerely. “Thank you for what you did for me.”

“W-what’s there to thank…” Hearing Tao Zhi’s serious and solemn tone, Fu Zheng was first stunned, then his expression turned awkward.

Why so formal…

“I didn’t even accomplish anything.” Fu Zheng said. “Nothing changed.”

He’d even ended up in the hospital.

“It’s already great.”

As a friend, what Fu Zheng had done for him was already great.

Tao Zhi smiled at him.

His pretty eyes curved into crescents, his smile beautiful and cute.

Fu Zheng’s face suddenly flushed, and his heart started pounding.

He felt that even if he had failed, it wasn’t a big deal. He didn’t have to force himself—he could just go with the flow.

Just like the doctor had reminded him.

“Until my leg heals, can I see you every day?” Fu Zheng asked.

“Sure.” Tao Zhi agreed readily. “I’ll come see you every day until you’re discharged!”

“And me.” Fu Si Heng crossed his arms, leaning against the door, coolly reminding Fu Zheng.

“…”

Fu Zheng pretended not to hear, no reaction at all.

“Then tomorrow, can I eat food you make?” Fu Zheng continued with his second request. “I don’t like the hospital food—it’s awful. Make me some?”

“Ah… you want to eat my cooking?” It was such an unexpected request that Tao Zhi’s mouth fell open, his expression a bit troubled.

He did know how to cook, but: “I don’t have a place to cook. The dorm doesn’t allow high-wattage appliances.”

“I have a house off-campus.” Fu Zheng had thought of this already—this little thing wouldn’t stump him. “I’ll WeChat you the password and address. Let’s add each other on WeChat again.”

That bastard Fu Si Heng had snatched his phone last time and deleted all the photos of Tao Zhi from the album, along with their WeChat.

Tao Zhi: “…”

Tao Zhi: “Okay.”

Right, he’d forgotten about that. Fu Zheng definitely had a place off-campus. Otherwise, where had he been staying instead of the dorms all this time? He couldn’t have been homeless.

Tao Zhi nodded. “Then how about pork rib soup for you?”

Good for what ails you.

Drink more, heal faster.

Fu Zheng: “Great—”

Before he could finish.

Fu Si Heng’s calm voice rang out. “Two choices for you: 1. Hospital food. 2. Food made by Wang Ma. I’ll have it sent over.”

“If you dare let Tao Zhi cook you soup, I’ll dare pour it on your head.”

“Try it if you don’t believe me.”

Fu Zheng: “?”

Tao Zhi: “…”

N-no way!

Tao Zhi was stunned by Fu Si Heng’s words and quickly said, “Brother Fu, it’s just making a meal.”

Fu Si Heng: “You’re spoiling him.”

“None of your business.” Fu Zheng was very displeased. “I’m talking to Tao Zhi. What does it have to do with you? When Tao Zhi and I got to know each other, who knows where you were.”

“Tao Zhi, go wash up.” Fu Si Heng ignored Fu Zheng.

Tao Zhi: “…”

It started again.

Tao Zhi glanced at Fu Si Heng, then turned to look at Fu Zheng.

He was thinking.

“It’s late. You have class tomorrow.” Fu Si Heng said again.

“Oh.”

One sentence, simple persuasion.

Tao Zhi stood up and walked toward Fu Si Heng.

Fu Zheng: “…”

He wanted to stop him but didn’t know what to say.

Washing up and sleeping was perfectly reasonable.

Fu Zheng’s brows furrowed deeply.

Tao Zhi reached Fu Si Heng’s side and was still talking about it. “Brother Fu, making a meal isn’t a big deal.”

Fu Si Heng: “No need.”

“Don’t be so harsh.” Tao Zhi said gently. “Fu Zheng’s injured—he’s pitiful. He’s your little brother. Be nicer to him. Auntie said that last time too.”

“I don’t want a little brother like this at all.”

A little brother coveting his significant other—one glance was too much.

Fu Si Heng completely forgot that his partner had been personally delivered by his little brother.

“In fact, I’ve always hoped Fu Zheng was switched at birth.”

The two turned and continued talking. “That way, I could kick him out of the house with a clear conscience.”

Tao Zhi: “…”

Fu Zheng: .

Fu Si Heng casually closed the door.

Their voices were cut off, as was Fu Zheng’s furious cursing.

No one heard.

–

After Tao Zhi finished washing up and came out, Fu Si Heng was sitting on the sofa, looking down at his phone.