Chapter 23 Part 2

He liked Jiang Mian. As for what kind of feelings Jiang Mian had for him, it didn’t matter.

As long as Jiang Mian’s gaze fell on him, and always remained on him—whether sympathy or pity or anything else—it was all fine.

He didn’t care.

Jiang Mian actually still wasn’t sure of the exact characters, but when he typed in the pinyin, the input method auto-suggested it. Only then did Jiang Mian know what it actually was.

Just looking at the name, his brows furrowed again.

The name was simple and crude, sufficient to make one understand what kind of condition this was.

Not to mention clicking into the article—the descriptions used such blunt vocabulary that it might even lead people with impure thoughts astray.

But Jiang Mian’s thoughts were very pure.

After finishing reading, he fell into a new round of silence.

Because it stated that the only treatment was physical contact with other people.

And this thing actually had addictive properties…

Jiang Mian had never heard that physical contact with people could be addictive.

He felt his worldview had been impacted, and then looked at Chen Gu holding his hand.

Jiang Mian went silent.

Chen Gu carefully observed the subtle changes in Jiang Mian’s expression.

Actually, Jiang Mian wasn’t someone very good at hiding his emotions.

Admittedly, he was often somewhat silent, like a transparent person, hiding when there were many people around, not used to confiding in others. His facial expressions also didn’t fluctuate much. But upon careful observation, you’d find Jiang Mian’s micro-expressions were very easy to read.

At least, that’s what Chen Gu thought.

Whether he was happy or unhappy, you could tell at a glance.

Like right now, Jiang Mian was actually very hesitant.

Though Chen Gu didn’t know exactly what Jiang Mian was hesitating about, he didn’t plan on applying more pressure to force him.

Some things, if pushed too far, would backfire. You had to retreat appropriately and give space.

Anyway, later, he could lay more traps on Jiang Mian’s path forward, spread more nets. He would always step into one eventually.

So Chen Gu leisurely opened his mouth. Unexpectedly, it coincided exactly with Jiang Mian speaking.

“Jiang Mian.”

“Chen Gu.”

Both paused, then simultaneously said, “You go first.”

Jiang Mian: “.”

Chen Gu chuckled softly, unable to resist squeezing Jiang Mian’s wrist again. “You go first.”

Jiang Mian noticed Chen Gu’s little movements. He wasn’t quite used to it but still suppressed the strange feeling and slowly spoke. “I was going to say, if you need help, you can find me… if I’m not busy, I can come and help you.”

This time, Chen Gu was a bit surprised.

He raised an eyebrow, not speaking for a moment.

He heard Jiang Mian add, “But only like this.”

He gestured at Chen Gu’s hand, indicating Chen Gu could only hold his wrist like this. “Nothing else is okay.”

Chen Gu paused.

He looked at Jiang Mian’s utterly serious, as if discussing some academic topic, solemn expression. Ultimately, he couldn’t contain the innate wickedness in his bones and, holding back laughter, teased him. “Why is that?”

“Because I like you?”

Jiang Mian, just about to answer ‘because it crosses the line of friendship,’ choked.

His pupils constricted slightly, staring blankly at the innocent-looking Chen Gu. His brain sank into a new blankness.

And Chen Gu had to use that innocent, naive, as-if-he-knew-nothing tone to ask him, “Jiang Mian, why are your ears red?”

Jiang Mian: “…”

His fingers unconsciously curled together into a fist. He didn’t know what emotion was clogging his chest, unable to vent even a little, nearly suffocating him.

Jiang Mian pursed his lips. Chen Gu smiled again. “Are you not used to people saying ‘like’ to you?”

He gave Jiang Mian absolutely no chance to speak. “How about we help each other? I’ll say it to you a few more times, help you desensitize, get used to it?”

Jiang Mian: “?”

“You…”

Jiang Mian had truly never met someone like Chen Gu. For a moment, he couldn’t even string together a complete sentence. Fortunately, Chen Gu didn’t continue bombarding his psyche but quieted down, chuckling softly as he waited for Jiang Mian to organize his words.

Jiang Mian took a deep breath, his emotions outward for the first time. “Let go!”

Hearing those two words, Chen Gu not only didn’t loosen his grip but tightened it, even using that pitiful, practically humble tone to say to Jiang Mian, “I’ll be uncomfortable, Jiang Mian.”

To Jiang Mian, Chen Gu completely looked like an especially skilled big dog pretending to be pitiful and innocent—the kind that, after doing something naughty, runs up to you, wagging its tail, carefully rubbing against you, acting cute to make your heart soften and forgive it.

It was just that—

Even clearly knowing Chen Gu was pretending, doing it deliberately, he would still soften.

Jiang Mian didn’t speak. Chen Gu pretended to slowly release his grip reluctantly. “Alright.”

He had only just lifted one finger when Jiang Mian was defeated by his utterly despondent look. “Chen Gu.”

Chen Gu stopped his movement, looking up at him, his eyes full of hope, showing not a trace of acting.

Jiang Mian inwardly thought, he really was even more like that kind of dog. “Hold on then.”

His entire being radiated defeat. “But don’t deliberately say…”

Jiang Mian truly didn’t know how adorable he looked in Chen Gu’s eyes. It stimulated the most malicious feelings in his bones, always wanting to tease Jiang Mian, to see him widen his eyes in shock, to see him bewildered and flustered, to see him blush to his ears, his eyes full of panic.

Such a Jiang Mian was too cute.

Like a little cat whose limbs were pinned down, forced to expose its belly for people to sniff… but Jiang Mian wasn’t that easy to handle. Perhaps he was more like a little black panther not yet grown.

So Chen Gu still wanted to tease him a bit more, deliberately poking at Jiang Mian’s weak spots.

But before he could speak, Jiang Mian shot him a sharp glare.

His eyes held a warning, yet another new expression, making Chen Gu obediently and contentedly shut his mouth.

Jiang Mian, only in front of him was he like this.

In front of others, he was always warmly cold, as if hard to approach, with none of these many emotions spilling out.

It wasn’t that Jiang Mian didn’t like to talk, but at those times, he often gave off a silent, aloof, and somewhat distant feeling, completely different from now.

This version of Jiang Mian now, only he could see.

However, Chen Gu still clarified, lest Jiang Mian misunderstood. “I wasn’t doing it on purpose. I was serious.”

Jiang Mian paused, pursing his lips. “I…”

“But you don’t need to give me a response.” Chen Gu gestured for him to stop. “Because I was simply stating a fact to you, not posing a choice or a question.”

Jiang Mian: “…”

You know, logically, what Chen Gu said made sense.

So Jiang Mian could only remain silent.

But the quiet atmosphere didn’t linger long. Jiang Mian’s phone rang again. This time, it was the delivery. “Hello? Yeah, what’s the passcode for your building unit?”

Jiang Mian turned to ask Chen Gu, putting it on speakerphone in passing.

Chen Gu took out his phone to check. “For this time slot, it’s 743159.”

This was a high-end residential compound. The unit building passcodes were periodically updated and sent to the owners’ phones.

But it wasn’t for the owners’ use—they used access cards. The code was for owners to give to visitors.

Jiang Mian got up to wait for the delivery at the door. These couriers required the purchaser to sign and pay upon delivery. But after standing, he didn’t move.

Because Chen Gu was still holding his wrist.

Jiang Mian looked down at Chen Gu, who looked up at him. “Let go for a moment, is that not okay?”

Chen Gu’s tone was fully like “I know you don’t love me anymore, it’s fine, I’ll be strong.” He sighed softly. “OK, I’ll do some mental preparation. Don’t worry, it’ll be quick. Won’t delay things too long.”

Jiang Mian was speechless for a moment.

Forget it. A little longer wouldn’t matter.

“Let’s wait for the courier at the door together.” Jiang Mian said slowly. “Alright?”

Chen Gu “whooshed” to his feet, instantly putting on a ‘gloomy to sunny’ performance for Jiang Mian.

He curved his eyes, nodding with a beaming smile. “Alright. Our Sir Jiang is the best.”

Jiang Mian: “…”

He seriously… didn’t want to talk anymore.

But for some reason, after being dramatically performed at by Chen Gu, he didn’t feel unhappy. Instead, within the exasperation, a faint sliver of amusement emerged. Even his downturned lips wanted to curl up a little.

Was it because no one had ever treated him with such “intimacy” before?

Or because Chen Gu gave him a tremendous sense of being needed?

Jiang Mian didn’t know either.

He was always clear-headed yet muddled.

When the delivery driver rang the doorbell, Jiang Mian opened the door.

The entrance wasn’t large. Mainly, a door was only so big, so Chen Gu stood behind him.

Honestly, although Chen Gu had puppy-dog eyes, his face wasn’t exactly the “pretty boy” type. Unsmiling, he had a certain sharpness, and his overall aura was somewhat inscrutable. Toward Jiang Mian and toward others, it was two completely different looks.

He stood lazily behind Jiang Mian, appearing without much formality, yet inexplicably exuding danger.

Like a dozing predator lurking in Jiang Mian’s shadow, ready to strike violently if anyone crossed the safety line.

Jiang Mian lowered his head to sign the delivery slip and took out his phone to scan and pay.

The courier looked at him, then at Chen Gu.

Mostly, the wounds on Chen Gu’s neck and arms were too striking, making the courier’s gaze somewhat strange.

Jiang Mian hadn’t set password-free payment and needed to input digits. But his other hand was in Chen Gu’s, making the task a bit difficult.

He could only be thankful for good family genes, his hands were long enough; otherwise, it would have been awkward.

After Jiang Mian paid, Chen Gu reached out from behind him and hooked the somewhat heavy little medicine kit from the delivery driver’s hands.

Jiang Mian, who hadn’t paid attention to the courier the whole time, didn’t know what kind of image he now held in the other’s mind.

The door closed. It was just Jiang Mian and Chen Gu again.

Since Chen Gu was only holding his wrist, not insisting on holding hands, and no third pair of eyes was watching, Jiang Mian opened the bag, opened the kit, and found the rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, and the extra anti-inflammatory ointment and a tube of scar removal cream he thought highly of.

“You can do it yourself?”

“Can, but I’m not very good at it.”

Jiang Mian wasn’t surprised at all he’d say that.

Not wanting to argue, he poured the rubbing alcohol into the cap, picked up a cotton ball with tweezers, soaked it, and said, “Then bear with it, it’ll sting a little.”

Chen Gu agreed, watching as Jiang Mian slightly lifted his eyes and, wielding the tweezers, touched the unhealed wound on his neck.

A spot like the neck was really… anyone touched there would have all sorts of reactions. Chen Gu was no exception.

He hissed very softly, making Jiang Mian stop his movement. “That painful?”

The veins on Chen Gu’s neck were standing out.

“No.”

Chen Gu’s voice was a bit halting. Maybe it was Jiang Mian’s imagination, but it seemed tinged with a trace of helpless amusement. “Jiang Mian, use a bit more force. I’m not afraid of pain.”

But don’t treat him like porcelain, so gentle and careful, it makes him itch.

Jiang Mian didn’t catch what strange request that was for a moment.

But he honestly followed instructions, pressing slightly harder.

Chen Gu’s body remained taut, but he didn’t hiss again.

He looked down at Jiang Mian, earnestly treating his wounds, and thought he really was sick.

His heart itched even more.

And it was the kind of itch that made him want to rip open his own chest just to scratch his heart.