Chapter 68: Crisis (Little Brother) Part 2

He looked up at the sound of footsteps.

Tao Zhi had just washed his face; the hair on his forehead was slightly damp, and his fair cheeks glowed with a soft light under the overhead lamp.

He walked toward Fu Si Heng and called out, “Brother Fu,” with a pleasant peach scent on his breath.

Peach-flavored toothpaste.

Fu Si Heng’s throat bobbed slightly as he restrained the urge to kiss him. He stood, raised his hand, and wiped the water droplets from Tao Zhi’s forehead. “Mm.”

“Why didn’t you let me tell Fu Zheng the money’s already paid off?” Now he finally had time to ask.

Tao Zhi didn’t know what Fu Si Heng was planning, but he trusted Fu Si Heng’s morals—he wouldn’t deliberately screw over Fu Zheng.

Before speaking, Tao Zhi glanced at the bedroom door and lowered his voice.

“Use this chance to train him a bit.” Fu Si Heng pulled out the excuse he’d prepared.

Right, it was an excuse.

Before, he’d genuinely forgotten, and telling Tao Zhi everything Fu Zheng had done without reservation was because Fu Si Heng hadn’t seen him as competition.

But now, Tao Zhi had softened. That changed things.

No schemes before was before. Now was different. He wouldn’t let any possibility slip.

Tao Zhi could only be his.

“You know Fu Zheng—spends money like water, no concept of it.”

Fu Si Heng said, “I want to use this to teach him the hardship of earning money. You’ll help me, right?”

Ah…

So that was the reason.

Just like Tao Zhi had guessed at first.

He thought for a moment.

“Will it work? I’m worried he’ll do something dangerous to earn money fast.” Tao Zhi said.

Fu Si Heng: “I’ll make it clear to him. It won’t happen again.”

He’d also have him watched more closely.

Add two more bodyguards, watching day and night.

“Okay.” With Fu Si Heng’s guarantee, Tao Zhi felt much more relieved.

He smiled at Fu Si Heng.

Tonight, Tao Zhi had smiled at Fu Zheng and now at Fu Si Heng.

No favoritism—even Fu Si Heng felt Tao Zhi’s smile at him was cuter, longer.

His mood improved a bit.

“Go to sleep.” He ruffled Tao Zhi’s soft hair. “No need to close the door.”

He’d hear any noises from inside and could minimize how often Tao Zhi had to get up at night.

“Okay.” Tao Zhi agreed obediently.

“Good night, Brother Fu.”

–

The next day.

Fu Si Heng had said the nurse would come at eight, but he arrived before seven.

Tao Zhi had just finished brushing his teeth when he heard a stranger’s voice in the room. After wiping up, he went out to see—it was the new caregiver.

A man around thirty, looking honest and burly.

“Hello.” Seeing him, the man greeted him and introduced himself. “I’m Mr. Fu’s caregiver. Surname Chen.”

“Hello, Mr. Chen.” Tao Zhi replied quickly.

The man nodded politely, then went in to find Fu Zheng. Tao Zhi quietly went to Fu Si Heng’s side. “Wasn’t it eight? So early.”

“Had him come early.” Fu Si Heng said. “Let’s go. I’ll drop you at school.”

He also had to go to the company.

His purpose wasn’t too obvious.

“…”

“Okay.” Tao Zhi agreed obediently.

Back at the dorm, Tao Zhi took a nap before class.

He had class in the afternoon, so he didn’t go to Fu Zheng’s place at noon to make soup.

Tao Zhi could only push it back.

But the next day and the day after, he still didn’t manage it.

Besides Fu Si Heng deliberately blocking him, their schedules just didn’t align.

Tao Zhi had a lot of classes this semester, mostly in the mornings.

Noon was too rushed.

Afternoons had Fu Si Heng’s interference.

With no chances, he waited for the weekend.

Saturday afternoon at two o’clock.

Fu Si Heng wasn’t at the hospital. Tao Zhi was.

He arrived carrying a thermos.

“Corn, carrot, and pork rib soup.” Tao Zhi announced the good news to Fu Zheng as soon as he entered.

“Really?” Fu Zheng immediately sat up.

“Slow down.” Tao Zhi went to support him.

Once Fu Zheng sat up, Tao Zhi unscrewed the thermos lid, ladling out the soup and ribs while chatting. “It simmered for hours—smells great.”

“I can smell it.” Fu Zheng had wanted to play it cool, but this had become his obsession.

All this time fighting wits with Fu Si Heng had been so stressful.

And now he had succeeded anyway?

Fu Zheng was in a great mood, watching Tao Zhi’s fair, slender fingers scoop the soup.

When the bowl of soup was handed to him, a bad idea popped into his head. “Can you… feed me?”

“Huh?” Tao Zhi froze.

He subconsciously looked at Fu Zheng’s arm.

The abrasions weren’t fully healed, but they should be almost there. Yesterday, Tao Zhi had seen him gaming with his right hand, and he’d be discharged the day after tomorrow.

Did he really need feeding in this state?

Tao Zhi hesitated.

His hand hovered in the air.

“I’ll do it.” The usually taciturn caregiver suddenly spoke up.

In that moment of hesitation, he stood and approached—

Fu Zheng looked at him expressionlessly.

The caregiver: “…”

“Is your hand not better yet?” Tao Zhi neither agreed nor refused.

Fu Zheng: “Not better. It started hurting again just now.”

Tao Zhi: “…”

Really?

This trick Fu Zheng pulled a lot lately.

At first, Tao Zhi fully believed it, but now he was starting to doubt.

He thought…

Fine.

Still in the hospital—indulge him once.

True or not, just this once.

Fu Zheng would discharge soon anyway. If fake, consider it consolation.

Tao Zhi sat by the bed, scooped a spoonful, and nearly fed it to Fu Zheng’s mouth—

“Tao Zhi.”

Fu Si Heng appeared out of nowhere, calling him from the hospital room door.

Tao Zhi turned. “Brother Fu, done with your call?”

Fu Zheng: “?”

Fu Zheng gritted his teeth.

So he was just outside on the phone—not absent.

That bastard Fu Si Heng, haunting like a ghost.

Fu Zheng switched from innocent college boy to vicious husky in an instant, itching to stab Fu Si Heng.

Couldn’t he leave him alone for one day?

“Yeah, come out.” Fu Si Heng saw the scene in the room; his eyes darkened, a urge to stab Fu Zheng stirring.

Couldn’t Fu Zheng stop scheming for one day?

“Got something to tell you.” On the surface, he was still calm and even-toned.

“Okay.” Hearing that, Tao Zhi immediately handed the soup bowl to the caregiver. “Brother Chen, you feed him. Sorry for the trouble.”

The caregiver: “No problem.”

Fu Zheng: “?”

What the—

What was this?

He had been this close to drinking it.

If he weren’t limited by his injury, he’d chase after him.

“Tao Zhi!” Fu Zheng tried calling him back.

“What?” Tao Zhi did turn back.

“Fu Zheng, wait a bit. Your brother needs me—I’ll be right back. Brother Chen will feed you.”

Fu Zheng: “?”

What could Fu Si Heng possibly need? His situation was obviously more important.

Fu Zheng was furious.

Amid the anger, a sense of crisis rose within him.

Damn.

Wasn’t Tao Zhi too obedient to Fu Si Heng? He left at a call, and they always showed up together.

Fu Zheng finally realized this.

Something wasn’t right.