Chapter 57 Part 2

“I know.” Rain dripping from his hair trailed down Gu Yuan’s sharp jawline. His fingers inched up to the midpoint of the handle, covering Zhou Chiyu’s hand. “I did it on purpose.”

“Hm?” Zhou Chiyu didn’t understand and pushed harder on the umbrella to shield Gu Yuan from the rain. In the process, half his own body got instantly wet. “Why would you deliberately let yourself get rained on?”

The rain grew heavier, pattering loudly on the umbrella. Gu Yuan’s breathing lightened. Gazing at Zhou Chiyu’s concerned expression, his hand suddenly paused on the handle. The next second, he yanked the other’s arm and pulled him into an embrace.

“Don’t get rained on. You’ll catch a cold.”

Gu Yuan’s voice was a bit hoarse. “I like it when you wipe the rain off for me. Your movements are so gentle, and your eyes are only on me. That’s the scene I’ve always longed for, and I never thought it would come true.”

These words nearly suffocated Zhou Chiyu.

Pressed tightly against Gu Yuan’s chest, the damp fabric pricked painfully everywhere.

“Bro.”

Dark water stains spread across Zhou Chiyu’s clothes from the rain. His expression grew complicated. “Don’t do this. It makes me feel awful.”

“Don’t be sad.” Gu Yuan’s thumb gently brushed below his brow bone. His fingertip followed the water trail slowly, laced with heartache and a careful restraint. “I just hope you can come to like me.”

Zhou Chiyu’s lashes trembled. The turmoil in his heart swayed like the storm around them.

“Even if you don’t like me, it’s okay.” Gu Yuan gave a bitter smile as a raindrop rolled from his brow. “As long as you’re willing, I can stay by your side forever.”

The chill froze Zhou Chiyu’s nose tip red. His breath swept through the damp air, the sourness in his throat thickening. Only now did he realize how much pain Gu Yuan had hidden in his feelings for him.

He had seen so many kids confess to their crushes, tossing out “I like you” so easily.

But Gu Yuan’s “like” was different—intense enough that he didn’t dare reject it lightly, nor accept Gu Yuan’s kindness with a clear conscience.

He really wasn’t mature enough. He had thought they could live together as brothers for a long, long time.

But he had completely overlooked Gu Yuan’s suffering.

The umbrella ribs creaked in the wind. Trembling, he wrapped his arms around Gu Yuan in return. “Bro, have I always made you sad?”

“No.” Gu Yuan’s nose rubbed against Zhou Chiyu’s hair. “After meeting you, my life changed completely. You showed me what happiness is.”

“All my memories are filled with wonderful things.”

“Without those happy memories, I might not have endured the painful treatments one after another.”

“Bro.” Zhou Chiyu’s voice choked. “Give me a little more time.”

“Little Fish, no time limit.” Gu Yuan’s fingers trembled slightly as he gently stroked Zhou Chiyu’s back. “I can wait as long as it takes.”

…

The two returned home drenched like drowned rats, already past midnight.

When Bai Wenran learned they had both gotten soaked, she quickly instructed the helper to make them some hot soup to ward off the chill.

Zhou Chiyu had always been a glutton for this. The hot soup contained dried boletus with a fresh, unique beefy flavor that he loved.

Gu Yuan only drank half a bowl. He draped himself in a warm blanket and kept having Auntie refill his bowl, one after another.

“Drink less, or you’ll be up all night going to the bathroom.”

“Got it.” Zhou Chiyu held his soup bowl and grinned, raising a brow. “I know my limits.”

Gu Yuan’s words proved prophetic. Zhou Chiyu made several bathroom trips in the middle of the night and barely slept.

The next day, Gu Yuan had to go to the Laboratory for a physical exam. Seeing Zhou Chiyu sleeping soundly, he didn’t wake him to come along. By the time Zhou Chiyu woke, the sun was high in the sky.

When Zhou Chiyu rushed to the Laboratory, it was already noon.

The doctor told him that Gu Yuan was undergoing an important checkup that would take about an hour to finish.

Zhou Chiyu hastily scarfed down two bites of bread and hurried to wait outside the exam room. He felt so guilty. He had promised to accompany Gu Yuan, but overslept instead. What an unreliable friend.

“Little Fish, are you waiting for your brother?”

Gu Yuan’s attending physician held a stack of medical records. “Come inside and sit. He’ll be a while longer.”

Zhou Chiyu, with bread still in his mouth, followed the man slowly. “Uncle, what’s that you’re holding?”

“This?” The doctor smiled. “Gu Yuan’s medical records.”

“I read a medical record yesterday. It was from when my brother first came here.” Zhou Chiyu felt a twinge of guilt. “It said his condition worsened because of that drowning incident.”

“Yes.” The doctor didn’t hide it. “That drowning advanced the timeline for Little Yuan’s treatment here by a year.”

“It’s all because of me.” Zhou Chiyu frowned dejectedly. “I dragged my brother down. Without me, the bad guys wouldn’t have thrown him in too. In a way, I’m like a jinx.”

“Hm?” The doctor smiled puzzledly. “From what I know, Little Yuan jumped in to save you himself.”

Zhou Chiyu jerked his head up. “You said… what?”