Chapter 50 Part 2

Across from them, Gu Yuan suddenly braked hard. The silver metal wheels screeched against the ground in a piercing friction sound.

With his back to them, turmoil and jealousy churned in Gu Yuan’s eyes.

He forced his breathing to steady, his knuckles gripping the protective gear with creaking sounds.

He didn’t know why his jealousy was so intense.

He desperately wanted to escape this place; he felt suffocated. Staring fixedly at the distant obstacles, he threw his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbing twice, and charged toward them in a fit of pique. His roller skates left chaotic marks on the ground.

“Impressive!”

Zhou Chiyu clapped, then tackled the same obstacle Gu Yuan had just passed. He planned to show off a cool move for them.

Gu Yuan glanced lightly at Zhou Chiyu before deliberately avoiding him, leaning against the railing and staring straight ahead in silence.

The roller skates ground against the rough surface as Zhou Chiyu skated backward, crouching slightly to approach the balance pole five meters away, building momentum for a jump.

“Whoa! Go, Little Fish!”

He Zhao cheered him on, lips curving as he watched the silver arc trace through the air.

“So cool.”

Crack. Zhou Chiyu misjudged, and his skate caught on the iron balance pole, disrupting his jump rhythm.

He Zhao panicked. “Watch out—”

Off-balance, Zhou Chiyu flew backward like a kite with its string cut, stumbling and crashing heavily to the ground.

Thud. A pair of arms yanked him, but the impact was too strong, and he still hit the ground hard.

“Brother.”

Zhou Chiyu was dazed from the fall, his insides aching.

He realized Gu Yuan had tried to catch him, but they’d both gone down together.

“It hurts so much.”

Gu Yuan and He Zhao rushed over. Zhou Chiyu leaned against Gu Yuan’s chest, feeling like his leg was shattered.

“I’m never roller skating again.” He clung to Gu Yuan’s arm, whining. “Brother, I think I have a concussion.”

“Don’t panic… don’t panic…” Gu Yuan had watched Zhou Chiyu fall, his heart twisting in pain. “He Zhao, is there a doctor here?”

“Yes, yes.” He Zhao fumbled for his phone to call the club manager and accidentally glimpsed Gu Yuan’s bloodied arm. “Gu Yuan, you’re hurt…”

In his haste to catch Zhou Chiyu, Gu Yuan had panicked and forgotten he was on skates too, causing him to fall and get cut by a sharp traffic cone.

He Zhao stared at the blood on the cone and urged the doctors to hurry over.

“Brother…”

Zhou Chiyu’s face scrunched up, his lips paling.

His head throbbed terribly, and he felt like vomiting.

“My bones hurt so much…”

Zhou Chiyu, who had rarely suffered as a child, grew more aggrieved seeing Gu Yuan’s heartbroken expression. Pain welled up, wetting his eyes.

“I’m here.”

Gu Yuan didn’t dare lift Zhou Chiyu rashly and waited for the medical team. He checked the wounds and found some abrasions very deep, with dirt trapped in the bruised soft tissue and blood oozing steadily.

“Don’t be scared. The doctors are coming.”

Gu Yuan’s voice choked unwittingly. He reached to wipe Zhou Chiyu’s eye corner, but the “sorry” never made it out.

Soon, the doctors carried Zhou Chiyu to the operating room on a stretcher. Gu Yuan staggered after them, the scrapes hidden under his pant leg throbbing faintly. He Zhao eyed the ground-worn pants and reminded him warmly, “Get the doctors to check you too later. Disinfect it.”

“Mm.” Dark red blood seeped from the edge of his knee pads, but Gu Yuan seemed oblivious, hurrying after the medical staff lest Zhou Chiyu not see him and feel anxious or scared.

He Zhao sighed and quickened his pace.

…

An hour later, the medical staff finished examining Zhou Chiyu, who had fallen asleep.

Janitors cleaned up the mess he’d vomited. While the doctor bandaged his wounds, Gu Yuan eyed the figure on the sickbed.

“You’re all set, Young Master Gu.”

“Thanks.”

Gu Yuan’s right leg and left elbow were the worst injured, but fortunately nothing was broken. A few days of rest would heal them.

His shirt collar hung askew, his hair tips dusted with dirt. He limped noticeably on his right leg as he slowly sat by the bed.

He Zhao had gone to arrange dinner. Gu Yuan leaned gently against the bed’s edge, pausing before taking Zhou Chiyu’s hand.

He should have reminded Zhou Chiyu to be careful.

It had been his negligence.

He shouldn’t have sulked with Zhou Chiyu.

His trembling fingertips patted Zhou Chiyu’s hand soothingly. His thumb brushed the bloodstain at the bandage’s edge, and he bowed his head slightly.

Zhou Chiyu’s hands always felt warm to the touch, like a little stove when he was small—hugging him was so comforting.

But now, Gu Yuan felt only chill.

He loathed his earlier jealousy and hated himself for failing to catch Zhou Chiyu.

Zhou Chiyu hated pain so much, yet he’d been hurt this badly.

His throat tightened dryly. He rested his forehead gently against Zhou Chiyu’s slender arm and kissed his fingers.

Zhou Chiyu, who had just woken, suddenly widened his eyes.