Chapter 9:

There were still six minutes left…

Liang Zhixia felt his head spinning even worse, his breaths coming out hot and ragged. His body felt light-headed, and his slender fingers gripped the edge of the chair tightly. His eyelids were so heavy that he could barely keep his eyes open.

Suddenly, he thought he heard Xu Cheng’s voice.

It was muffled in his ears, as if covered by a layer of film—fuzzy and indistinct.

Until someone touched him.

“Young man, isn’t that person calling for you?”

He lifted his flushed, fever-reddened face. His light tea-colored eyes were watery as he looked toward the other side in confusion.

He tilted his head and murmured softly, “Senior?”

Xu Cheng swore under his breath. “Has he burned his brains out or what?”

He hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt, but Lu Quan frowned. “I’ll go.”

There were many puddles near the bus stop. Lu Quan walked over to Liang Zhixia with a furrowed brow. Before he could say a word, the other young man’s head lolled onto his body.

Lu Quan extended a finger and pushed the other’s head away.

“Liang Zhixia, get in the car.”

The guy, who was usually a bit afraid of him, opened his big, watery eyes and glared at him with grievance. “I’m sick, and you’re still yelling at me!”

Lu Quan: “I’m not yelling at you.”

Liang Zhixia: “You furrowed your brow!”

Lu Quan: “…”

His explanation fell on deaf ears. Lu Quan simply grabbed the other by the collar, strode to the car, opened the back door, and tossed him in.

During the process, he took a few punches and kicks from the other. Lu Quan looked down at the unsightly stains on his clothes, and a vein throbbed at his temple. The temperature inside the car dropped a few degrees.

Xu Cheng didn’t dare turn around to look at the young master’s expression. He had no idea why the young master insisted on picking up the underclassman himself.

He cleared his throat twice and put on an official tone. “Please fasten your seatbelts, passengers in the back. We’re about to depart.”

Though Liang Zhixia’s head was still fuzzy, he obediently buckled his seatbelt.

With his body secured crookedly against the seat, he looked toward the front. His nose was red, and his voice was hoarse.

“Thanks, Senior.”

Lu Quan knew the thanks weren’t for him—because when addressing him, the other always added the surname.

But after waiting a long time, there was no “Thanks, Senior Lu.”

Suddenly, Lu Quan found the car stuffy. He tilted his head back slightly, pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth. A flicker of displeasure passed through his eyes.

Preferential treatment?

There weren’t many cars on the rainy road. Xu Cheng kept the speed down but reached the hospital as quickly as possible.

Liang Zhixia’s mind had cleared a bit. He shrank into the corner and unbuckled his seatbelt, head lowered.

Xu Cheng got out before the young master could speak, opened the back door, and helped the young man out of the car.

“Can you manage on your own?”

Earlier in the car, Liang Zhixia had overheard them talking—they had other things to do.

He forced a smile. “Yeah, I can even walk in a straight line now.”

Oblivious and straightforward, Xu Cheng checked the time and grinned. “Alright, we’ll head out then. You can take a cab back—buses are too crowded.”

He pressed his lips together tightly and lowered his gaze, hiding the disappointment in his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was still a little hoarse.

“Thanks, Senior, and Senior Lu. Bye.”

Lu Quan looked at him. “Your band-aid.”

Liang Zhixia stood at the hospital entrance, holding the cute-patterned band-aid in his hand. He held an umbrella as he watched the car drive away.

The hospital smelled strongly of disinfectant. He smoothly registered, got asked questions by the doctor, and had his temperature taken—it was almost 39 degrees.

“Your fever’s too high; you need an IV drip. And that wound on your arm is a bit inflamed. I’ll prescribe some medicine.”

On his way to the infusion room, the nurse saw he was alone and asked, “No one’s with you?”

The light in Liang Zhixia’s eyes dimmed slightly, but he curved the corners of his mouth. “I’m an adult now. I can handle it alone.”

The nurse hooked up the IV bag, adjusted the drip rate, and smiled. “When this bag finishes, call me, and I’ll change it to a new one.”

He nodded obediently. “Okay.”

As the nurse left, she glanced back. The young man was curled up in the chair, his frame slight. His eyes were downcast, and there was no trace of the smile from moments before.

She sighed and fetched a hot water bottle from the nurses’ station, filled it with hot water, and brought it over.

Liang Zhixia accepted it awkwardly, his eyes reddening at the corners. He said softly, “Thank you, sister.”

Coming to the hospital alone on a rainy day for an IV didn’t seem so bad after all.

The hand with the IV needle gradually warmed up. He snapped a photo and posted it to his alt account’s Moments.

【lzx: Happy^-^】

Xu Cheng, who had just arrived at the airport, raised an eyebrow. He showed his phone to Lu Quan. “Looks like the underclassman has someone with him.”

Lu Quan glanced at it and immediately looked away, uninterested. Whether the other had company or not was none of his business.

Xu Cheng pocketed his phone and then spotted his good bro waving excitedly. “Qu Yizhou! Over here!”

Lu Quan subtly put some distance between them.

The man emerging from the airport had a lean build. He was pushing a black suitcase, a clear and gentle smile on his face.

“Long time no see.”

Xu Cheng lunged forward and threw an arm around his shoulders. “It’s only been half a year—why so distant with your bro?”

“Don’t lean on me; you’re too heavy.” Qu Yizhou was helpless. He turned to Lu Quan and smiled. “Brother Lu.”

Lu Quan nodded at him. The three got into the car. Lu Quan frowned and sat on the side of the back seat without water stains.

Xu Cheng whispered to Qu Yizhou, “He’s been acting crazy lately.”

Qu Yizhou got it and quietly shut his mouth, staying silent the whole ride.

Meanwhile, Liang Zhixia had just switched to his second IV bag. His temperature had dropped a little, and his head wasn’t as dizzy. He logged onto Weibo, browsed around, and replied to a few commission DMs.

Alone and bored, he tapped his fingers and switched to WeChat.

On his alt account, two of his three friends were asking about his condition.

He replied to each: “I’m fine. Fever’s going down.”

Then he switched to his main account and saw that L had sent him several messages.

They were all from that morning, when he’d been delirious and out of it, with no energy to respond.

His pale fingertips scrolled through the screen, one message after another coming into view.

【L】: What are you up to? I’m handling business at the company right now. Heading to the airport later to pick up a friend.

【L】: Tonight, I’m going to a welcome banquet for a friend. Not many people—just familiar faces. I’ll introduce you sometime.

【L】: Reply to me when you see this.

He pursed his lips, wondering if this “friend” was on the level.

After all, L’s business included offline stuff.

He typed lazily.

【Zhizhi】: Read.

The next second, a reply came.

【L】: Just woke up?

Liang Zhixia didn’t want L to know he was alone at the hospital getting an IV.

【Zhizhi】: Nope! Out having fun!

【L】: By yourself?

Lies had to be covered with more lies. He touched the hot water bottle, which wasn’t as warm anymore, and typed with his fingertips.

【Zhizhi】: With friends.

【L】: Guys?

[Zhizhi]: Yeah, we went to the amusement park together. Ate fried chicken and ice cream, bought a bunch of merch plushies.

The amusement park was packed. We got balloons, rode the roller coaster and drop tower—had a blast…

He stared down at his phone, paused, and deleted the long string of text he’d just typed.

No one had gone to the amusement park with him.

He’d never even been to one.

He just remembered that day when Mom and Dad said they’d take him on the weekend. But the next day, they asked if he wanted to go with Dad or Mom.

In the end, he went with neither, running off to live with Grandpa and Grandma in the countryside.

All these years, his parents never even thought of him, let alone took him to an amusement park.

He tried to unsend the message, but it was too late.

The words in the chat stung his eyes. Panicking, he shut off his phone. His long lashes trembled until he felt a sting on the back of his hand—the blood had backflowed.

He leaned against the hard chair, listening to the rain pattering on the window… and the mother next to him soothing her feverish child.

“Baby, be good. Mommy’s here.”

No one soothed him.

It was fine. He could soothe himself.

Traffic was bad on the rainy roads. By the time Qu Yizhou and the other two arrived, they were late.

He tossed the keys to the waiter at the door and slung an arm around Qu Yizhou’s shoulders. “They’ve all been missing you.”

At the private room door, Lu Quan said flatly, “You two go ahead. I need the restroom.”

As soon as they entered, their friends—who’d been waiting a while—cheerfully made them down three cups as penalty.

Qu Yizhou didn’t drink much. Xu Cheng downed six.

Suddenly, the raucous noise in the room paused, like someone hit stop. Everyone sat up straight and proper, with only the multicolored lights spinning silently.

Lu Quan glanced at them, his voice casual. “Why’d you stop?”

Yellow Hair, face flushed, said, “Brother Lu, we were just messing around. We’ll be totally quiet, promise.”

Under everyone’s tense gazes, he walked to the table. His jade-like, slender fingers picked up a glass of liquor.

The ice-cold, burning liquor slid down his throat. He tilted his head back, his sexy Adam’s apple rolling heavily under the hazy lights.

Three empty glasses lined up on the table. He looked up. “Self-penalty, three cups.”

The room grew even quieter. They held their breaths, not even daring to look up.

Xu Cheng winked at Qu Yizhou. Standing at a safe distance beside Lu Quan, Qu Yizhou said worriedly, “Brother Lu, the doctor said you can’t drink alcohol.”

Lu Quan lifted his head, his gaze deep and inscrutable as he sat alone in the corner of the private room.

Xu Cheng rallied the others to keep the games going. With Lu Quan staying silent, the atmosphere in the room soon heated up again.

A cup of warm water appeared before him. Lu Quan’s voice came out slightly hoarse. “A little alcohol won’t hurt. You all go have fun.”

Xu Cheng and Qu Yizhou knew he preferred solitude and quiet, so they left him alone.

Qu Yizhou murmured, “Did Brother Lu really get into an online romance?”

Xu Cheng replied mysteriously, “Most likely. And he probably just got dumped.”

A burning sensation churned in his stomach. Lu Quan’s expression remained impassive as he swept his gaze across the private room, his long, knuckled fingers idly toying with his phone.

The alcohol seeped into his brain, and the message he’d received that afternoon kept replaying in his mind.

What was Zhizhi doing right now?

Was he still out on a date with that person?

Holding hands? Embracing? Kissing?

The thought filled him with jealousy.

Suddenly, in the dim lighting, his phone screen lit up.

【Zhizhi】: Is Baby hanging out with friends right now? Has anyone tried to hit on you?

His eyes darkened. His slender fingers pressed down on the voice recording button.

His voice, steeped in liquor, carried a hint of hoarseness and a deep, resonant timbre.

It was ambiguous. Alluring.

“Call me Hubby.”