Chapter 18: Doctor Bottom x Celebrity Top

Jing Chi adjusted his hat and mask, armoring himself thoroughly. After all, he was no longer the obscure nobody he’d once been.

On the way over, he’d nearly been recognized—luckily, he’d bolted fast enough.

Jing Chi made his way familiarly to Feng Qinghan’s office door.

Peering through the narrow window, he saw that Feng Qinghan wasn’t inside. Disappointment welled up, and he let out a soft sigh, resigning himself to wait right there in the hallway.

He tugged his hat lower over his eyes and sank into one of the nearby resting chairs, crossing his long legs. His fingers toyed idly with his phone, but his mind was miles away.

Just then, two nurses paused a short distance off, murmuring to each other.

“You think something’s going on at Dr. Feng’s place lately?”

The moment Jing Chi caught “Dr. Feng,” he buried himself deeper in his phone, but his ears strained to catch every word.

“No idea. He just seems so out of sorts these days—way more worn out than usual.”

“Is he stressing over that surgery the day after tomorrow?”

“What surgery could possibly stress out Dr. Feng? Come on.”

The other nurse pursed her lips. “It’s a malignant brain tumor, you know. High risk.”

“No chance. He’s handled tougher ones without breaking a sweat. This’ll be fine.”

“Didn’t you hear? He hasn’t led any major surgeries in a while. Makes you wonder if something’s up.”

“Eh, not our problem anyway…”

Their voices trailed off as they walked away. Jing Chi lowered his phone.

The nagging doubts in his heart finally clicked into place after eavesdropping on the nurses’ chatter.

Those nurses might not grasp what Feng Qinghan had been dealing with lately, but Jing Chi knew all too well.

This brain tumor surgery was another demon haunting Feng Qinghan’s mind.

Failure to conquer it would bring consequences the man simply couldn’t bear—not when he held his career so dear.

Jing Chi had waited about half an hour when the man finally appeared, clutching some papers and flipping through them as he walked, oblivious to the world around him. The distance between them shrank with every step.

He was just about to breeze past Jing Chi when some sixth sense made him glance up—and there stood the young man by the chairs.

Jing Chi was bundled up tight, but those slightly curved eyes gave him away in an instant to Feng Qinghan.

Surprise flickered in his gaze. “What are you doing here? Next time, just head inside and wait for me.”

Jing Chi took in the exhaustion etched deep into the man’s face, the dark circles stark against his pale skin. Yet his lips curved into a faint, effortful smile just for him.

Jing Chi’s brow furrowed. He grabbed Feng Qinghan’s arm and hauled him straight into the office, slamming the door behind them with a decisive click.

In one smooth motion, he pinned the man against the door, their bodies fully blocking the transparent glass panel.

“This is a hospital.”

The bold move in such a public spot startled Feng Qinghan. He frowned, hands coming up to push Jing Chi away.

Jing Chi shot him a fierce glare. “Don’t. Move.”

Feng Qinghan let out a helpless sigh, his eyes softening as they met the young man’s intense stare.

Yet deep down, he knew that the moment Jing Chi showed up at his side, the tight coil of tension in his mind had eased just a fraction.

Jing Chi’s fingertip brushed the man’s eyes, those long lashes fluttering softly against his skin, trembling beneath his touch.

Heart aching at the sight, he demanded, “Talk. What have you been up to these past few days to let yourself go like this? Spill, or we’re staying right here.”

Feng Qinghan gently took Jing Chi’s hand and clasped it in his own, slowly opening his eyes. The youth’s irritated expression warmed something inside him, but the thought of the surgery dimmed his gaze once more.

“Let me go first. Then I’ll explain.”

Jing Chi eyed Feng Qinghan’s stubborn set to his jaw and reluctantly released him, stepping back.

“Out with it.”

“It’s nothing much. Just prepping extra for a surgery the day after tomorrow.”

His tone was airy, his face calm as ever. Without the inside scoop, Jing Chi might’ve bought it hook, line, and sinker.

“That so?” Jing Chi feigned acceptance, then pressed on. “Tonight, come somewhere with me.”

Feng Qinghan opened his mouth to refuse, but Jing Chi silenced him with a fingertip to his lips, glaring with unmistakable command. “No refusals.”

In the end, Feng Qinghan had no choice but to agree.

The afternoon slipped by in a blur.

Night fell deep.

Jing Chi arrived at the hospital entrance right on time to pick him up.

As he watched the man’s elegant figure draw closer, he stepped forward, snatched Feng Qinghan’s car keys, and bundled him into the passenger seat. “I’ll drive today—you just rest, you big busybody.”

With that, Jing Chi slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and set off toward his planned destination.

The jostling of the car soon lulled Feng Qinghan into drowsiness, especially with Jing Chi’s familiar scent filling the space beside him.

When Jing Chi glanced over, he found the man had already closed his eyes, head lolled against the seat as he breathed shallowly.

Soft light played across the man’s cheek, his pale skin nearly translucent. Long lashes did little to hide the dark shadows beneath his eyes, lending him a fragile air—even his chin seemed sharper.

It was then that Jing Chi realized Feng Qinghan had gotten thinner.

He let out a helpless sigh and eased off the gas, slowing the car bit by bit.

A drive that should have taken half an hour stretched into more than one.

When they finally pulled over to the roadside, Feng Qinghan stirred awake. He rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse. “We there?”

Jing Chi nodded, watching him closely. “Need more rest?”

Feng Qinghan shook his head and scanned their surroundings. No sign of people—just some scruffy bushes.

“Where are we?” he asked, a touch of hesitation in his tone. He wondered if Jing Chi had taken a wrong turn.

Jing Chi draped an arm over the steering wheel, propping his head on his hand as he arched a brow at Feng Qinghan with a teasing grin. “The spot where I’m selling you off.”

Feng Qinghan shot him a deadpan look before pushing open the door and stepping out.

A cool breeze brushed against him, and he tugged his jacket tighter.

“Brother, you cold? Come here into my arms.”

Jing Chi spread his arms wide, beaming at Feng Qinghan.

The offer was rejected flat-out.

Jing Chi shrugged. “All right then. Follow me—I’m taking you somewhere good.”

Feng Qinghan couldn’t help a helpless quirk of his lips at Jing Chi’s secretive expression.

Jing Chi took Feng Qinghan’s hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world, leading him around the bushes and down a narrow path until they emerged into a vast open space.

“Brother, look over there.”

Jing Chi pointed with a smile.

Feng Qinghan lifted his gaze, and his pupils dilated slightly at the sight.

The lights of the entire city sprawled out beneath them, right at their feet.

“Brother, this is a spot I scouted out after a ton of effort—the perfect place to see all of Jiang City.”

In truth, the System had found it, but as far as Jing Chi was concerned, what the System discovered was as good as his own find.

“Pretty, right?”

Feng Qinghan gazed at the young man beaming at him, his eyes curved in delight. For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether the flecks of starlight in those eyes dazzled more, or the glittering cityscape behind him.

“Mm. Very pretty.” Feng Qinghan’s voice was soft, laced with boundless tenderness.

Jing Chi tugged him down to sit on the grass. He pointed at the distant city, holding up his hand to frame it. “See? From here, it looks so tiny.”

Feng Qinghan sat quietly beside him, listening.

“So, Brother… doesn’t that make us even tinier?”

Jing Chi looked up at him. After a pause, Feng Qinghan replied hesitantly, “Maybe.”

“If we’re that small, then aren’t all the things that happened before even smaller in the grand scheme of our lives? Shouldn’t we just let go of those old troubles, look forward and never back?”

Feng Qinghan fell silent at his words, his gaze shifting from the horizon to the young man’s profile. Softly, he asked, “You know?”

Jing Chi met his eyes steadily, speaking with firm conviction. “I don’t know the details. But I do know this: the Feng Qinghan I know has always been confident. He never hesitates like that, never dwells on the past. He’s strong. He’s resilient.”

Feng Qinghan stared at him, stunned, before a slow smile curved his lips—tinged with self-mockery. “Maybe… I’m not that person anymore.”

After all the trials he’d endured, reborn into this second life, how could he possibly return to being that spirited, twenty-eight-year-old version of himself?

Seeing the shadow in Feng Qinghan’s eyes, Jing Chi’s chest tightened uncomfortably.

The original novel was downright wicked, saddling a man who’d once been so proud with such a tragic fate.

“Tell you what, Brother—let’s make a bet. No stars in the sky right now. If I can light it up, promise me you’ll forget all the pain from before. Start fresh, okay?”

Feng Qinghan looked into the hopeful light in the young man’s eyes and slowly nodded.

“Then close your eyes first,” Jing Chi said softly.

Feng Qinghan shut his eyes. Moments later, a resounding boom echoed in his ears, followed by a rapid series of blasts.

He opened his eyes, and just as Jing Chi had promised, the entire sky lit up.

Fireworks blanketed the heavens above him, their shimmering sparks igniting the vast, ink-black night.

The multicolored bursts bloomed wildly—this dazzling display of starlight was Jing Chi’s gift to Feng Qinghan alone.

No words could capture the sheer awe of the scene.

It felt like a long-buried weight in his heart suddenly lifted, dissolving into the air alongside the fading fireworks.

Jing Chi flashed a sly grin at Feng Qinghan. “Brother, you did promise me…”

His words cut off as lips pressed against his own.

Feng Qinghan’s warm mouth covered Jing Chi’s. Jing Chi blinked in dazed surprise.

But he quickly turned the tables.

What started as a gentle touch soon wasn’t enough for him. The tip of his hot tongue teased open the man’s thin lips, plunging deeper to explore every inch.

Their heated breaths intertwined as Jing Chi greedily savored every trace of the man’s scent.

He wrapped his arms tightly around Feng Qinghan’s waist, holding him as if he wanted to fuse them together at the bone.

After all, this was the first time Feng Qinghan had kissed him first.

Beneath the moonlight, with the fireworks’ afterglow lingering, the two shared a quiet embrace, lost in their kiss.

After a while, Jing Chi buried his face in Feng Qinghan’s chest.

Thinking the young man was shy, Feng Qinghan rubbed his ear—only to hear Jing Chi mumble sheepishly:

“Brother, I borrowed the money for the fireworks. Can you cover it for me first?”

With that, Jing Chi peeked out from his embrace, gazing up at him with wide, pitiful eyes.

Just like that, the tender, intimate mood shattered.

Feng Qinghan paused, at a loss for words. In the end, he pushed Jing Chi away with a speechless huff. “It’s late. Let’s head home.”

He stood and started back the way they’d come, not sparing Jing Chi a glance.

Jing Chi scrambled after him. “Brother, come on, will you pay it back or not?”

“Depends on my mood,” the man replied coolly.

Their voices faded into the night, and the spot returned to its serene quiet, as if they’d never been there.

But Feng Qinghan knew he’d never forget the man who had gifted him that night’s brilliant starlight, right here.