Chapter 63: The Catheter

At that moment, refusing would only make it seem like he was trying to hide something, like he had a guilty conscience.

If it were anyone else, he might have joked, “I’m sick here—what if you get too turned on?” to cover it up. Unfortunately, Dai Linxuan couldn’t say such flippant words to his younger brother.

He stood still, his tone natural. “Did Liao De say something to you?”

“I don’t remember.” Lai Li’s gaze darkened—he had taken the bait. “I want to hear it from you.”

Dai Linxuan spoke slowly. “Back when Dad had his accident, Second Uncle wanted to seize control of the Dai Corporation, but Mom didn’t let him. If I joined the board of directors, he really wouldn’t have any chance left.”

Lai Li rarely saw Dai Second Uncle; they only crossed paths at Dai Family banquets. His impression was of a smiling tiger, far more scheming than Third Uncle, but he knew little else.

A thick killing intent welled up in his heart. “So he wanted you dead?”

Dai Linxuan said, “Maybe.”

Lai Li closed his eyes briefly and forcibly summoned a thread of rational thinking, asking a question that caught his brother off guard. “Do you have evidence?”

“The police are still investigating.” Dai Linxuan glanced back slightly. “—Does it matter if there’s evidence?”

These weren’t words Dai Linxuan would normally say. Lai Li knew it was because of him—if Dai Linxuan himself had been the one critically injured, his brother might not have been this furious.

Lai Li licked his lips. “But that old man beat you for it.”

Dai Linxuan sighed. “I never taught you to respect your elders.”

“Why should I respect him?” Lai Li said indifferently. “What the hell does he have to do with me?”

Lai Li despised everyone in the Dai Family except Dai Linxuan. It had nothing to do with their character—it was purely because, legally speaking, they were closer to Dai Linxuan than he was.

Lai Li even hated every person in the world with the surname Dai.

But Dai Linxuan valued family ties greatly, especially revering and loving the grandfather who had raised him. So in the past, no matter how much Lai Li disliked the old man, he never spoke ill of him.

Things were different now.

Lai Li could clearly sense that since Dai Linxuan returned to the country, his feelings toward Dai Songxue had undergone a subtle but distinct change. Others might not notice, but Lai Li knew Dai Linxuan better than anyone.

Or perhaps this subtle shift had started two years ago, and it was only after his return that Lai Li had the chance to detect it. Either way, he no longer needed to fake that disgusting respect.

“It was just a few strikes from the staff—not a big deal.” Dai Linxuan pulled off his outer pants, exposing his long, powerful legs to the air. “Second Uncle is currently under investigation for embezzling public funds and bribery. He’s just suspended and under residential surveillance—not exactly unjust.”

He bent down and neatly folded his pants. “Grandpa was angry partly because he wanted to keep Second Uncle around to check Mom, and partly because this happened too close to the car accident. Outsiders basically assume I’m retaliating against Second Uncle for trying to murder his own nephew. It’s bad for the family reputation… and maybe a bit of paternal affection too.”

“And you—you almost—!” Lai Li bit the tip of his tongue to stop himself. Even voicing the hypothesis was unbearable.

Dai Linxuan paused, then turned, bent over, and braced himself on the bed. “The one who almost didn’t wake up was you.”

Lai Li wasn’t having it. “It was supposed to be you!”

Dai Linxuan exhaled softly. “Wrong. It was supposed to be all of us—you, me, Uncle Zeng, and the others. No one would have escaped.”

The police had reconstructed the truck’s trajectory and speed. If Lai Li hadn’t turned the wheel in advance, the truck would have smashed the business van Dai Linxuan was in straight into oncoming traffic. Total destruction and death would have been the lightest outcome.

The intersection had been large—pedestrians, waiting cars, a turning truck…

The mastermind behind it had fabricated an “accident” without caring how many innocents would die.

“You didn’t just save me—you saved a lot of people.”

Dai Linxuan touched Lai Li’s face. “Alright, don’t be angry. It’s not necessarily Second Uncle. I was pretty sure at first, but bribing a nurse to silence someone is too obvious—not his style…”

Lai Li caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and yanked his wrist. “What’s this about!?”

Dai Linxuan’s arm was beautiful. Though he’d lost a lot of weight over the past two years, it still had attractive lean muscle—full, smooth lines. His skin was so fair that the veins and arteries pulsed clearly.

But now, the crook of his elbow had an incongruous patch of bruising, including several unhealed red spots that looked like needle marks… inevitably evoking dark associations.

Dai Linxuan said, “I donated some blood for you.”

“…” Lai Li’s mind went blank. It was an answer he hadn’t even considered. The blood boiling with anger plunged into a basin of lukewarm water, a refreshing sensation that made every pore relax.

He confirmed calmly, “My surgery used your blood?”

Dai Linxuan hummed in affirmation. “400 milliliters. Last time was 400 milliliters too.”

“What last time…” Lai Li realized. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What’s there to tell?” Dai Linxuan raised an eyebrow. “I thought it was common knowledge that family members ‘repay’ blood used in surgery.”

Blood banks were short on supply these days, so doctors usually informed families in advance to donate an equivalent amount.

But that was the norm. Even in a society that preached “equality for all,” the wealthy and powerful always got a little preferential treatment.

Besides, family donations weren’t directly transfused to the patient—it was just “blood for blood.” Naturally, Lai Li hadn’t imagined Dai Linxuan would give blood directly to him.

By the time he snapped back, Dai Linxuan had already entered the bathroom. He didn’t close the door fully, just left it ajar in case Lai Li needed him right away.

Warm water cascaded over his head, and Dai Linxuan’s body swayed. He braced himself against the wall to steady.

Perhaps from too little sleep and extreme exhaustion, or maybe because even after preparing for the worst, he’d clung to a sliver of hope—and now that hope had come true, his taut nerves snapped like a cut string, leaving him adrift.

He forced himself to finish washing, put on pajamas, lifted the corner of the blanket, and lay down. “I’m not squeezing in too close to you…”

Before he finished speaking, a hand wrapped around his waist, and a body pressed over.

Dai Linxuan’s expression changed. “You just woke up and already think you’re Superman? Lie back down!”

Lai Li looked down at him and took a deep breath. “Bro, you’d better not be making up pretty lies like this to cover for something else.”

Dai Linxuan supported his waist but didn’t dare move much, afraid of hurting him. His head began to throb. “What pretty lies did I make up?”

Lai Li gripped his wrist, expressionless. “Does donating blood require six punctures?”

“Lai Li, you can’t expect me to stay calm when you’re on the brink of death.” Dai Linxuan mentally apologized to the nurse, his tone calm. “—My hands were shaking badly then, and the nurse wasn’t experienced enough. The first few tries missed.”

“…” Lai Li stared at him hesitantly.

Dai Linxuan said good-naturedly, “Want me to get the hospital surveillance footage for you?”

Lai Li still harbored some doubt, but looking into his brother’s clear, beautiful eyes, a thought suddenly surfaced: Pushing further would hurt his feelings.

With anyone else, Lai Li couldn’t empathize, but with Dai Linxuan, he always overperformed.

He had already hurt Dai Linxuan’s heart once and even forgotten that memory, nearly causing irreparable damage—no way could there be a second time.

Dai Linxuan sat up and gently pressed his waist, making him lie back down. “So what did you think these needle marks were?”

“…” Lai Li turned his face away.

Dai Linxuan wasn’t angry. After all, he’d created the marks himself—Lai Li’s suspicion based on evidence was reasonable.

He didn’t press further, just lightly brushed his lips against Lai Li’s forehead. “Sleep. Good night.”

Lai Li couldn’t sleep, staring at the ceiling.

After a while, he reached toward Dai Linxuan and grabbed his brother’s hand.

Dai Linxuan chuckled with his eyes closed. “Are you going to let me sleep or not?”

Lai Li finally couldn’t hold back. “Bro, swear it.”

Dai Linxuan opened his eyes. “Swear what?”

Lai Li closed his eyes briefly. “Swear you didn’t self-harm.”

“…” Dai Linxuan froze, falling into a long silence.

Lai Li’s heart clenched painfully, making it hard to breathe. His grip on Dai Linxuan’s hand tightened, nearly crushing bone.

Dai Linxuan snapped back and patted his hand. “Relax, don’t pop your stitches.”

Lai Li gritted his teeth. “I can’t relax.”

Dai Linxuan sat up, looking down at him with amusement and helplessness. “Why do you think I’d self-harm?”

Lai Li’s mind flashed to the depression symptoms he’d researched. “Sick people can’t control themselves…”

Dai Linxuan asked, “What sickness do I have? Depression?”

Dai Linxuan had everything most people could dream of—surpassing 99.9% of the world. Prestigious family, personal excellence, enviable career and reputation. He lacked neither wealth nor power. Even Lai Li, once unattainable, was now “his”…

There was hardly a reason for depression.

“I don’t know.” Lai Li grew agitated. “Bro, you can’t hurt yourself.”

Lai Li always expressed “concern” in a commanding tone—it had been that way since childhood. Dai Linxuan had grown used to it, never thinking it abnormal, a symptom. If only he’d taken the kid to a psychologist right after bringing him home…

Dai Linxuan sighed inwardly, scraped Lai Li’s palm, pulled his hand free, and went along. “I swear—no self-harm.”

Lai Li’s parched throat moved, somewhat appeased.

Dai Linxuan pinched his pinky and ventured, “Your Majesty, can I sleep now?”

“…Sleep.”

Dai Linxuan thought he wouldn’t sleep, or it’d take forever. At first, he pretended with eyes closed, but soon consciousness sank, and he slept a full ten hours without sleeping pills.

His dreams were chaotic and illogical, but it was sleep.

The next day, he jolted awake from the weightless sensation of a misstep. Opening his eyes, he met Lai Li’s gaze inches away.

“…Do you even remember you’re a patient?” Dai Linxuan said, then noticed how hoarse his voice was.

“You’re feverish.” Lai Li said displeased. “Liao De came by. Said it’s exhaustion—needs more rest.”

Dai Linxuan was actually quite healthy and rarely got sick. Surprised, he lifted his arm to his forehead—indeed hot.

He brushed it off. “Then I’ll rest. I’ll stay with you these next few days.”

Lai Li’s expression softened slightly. He looked at Dai Linxuan for a moment, then leaned down to press his forehead against his brother’s, murmuring, “Bro, you’re burning up.”

“Who doesn’t burn up with a fever?” Dai Linxuan couldn’t bear it and teased, “When you were little, small fever every three days, big one every five—no need for heating in winter; hugging you was enough. Now lie still.”

“No, I want to hold you.” Lai Li nuzzled for a bit, then abruptly asked, “Why did you lock me in here?”

Dai Linxuan said, “…What do you mean ‘lock’?”

Lai Li stared at him, then asked, “Where’s my phone?”

Dai Linxuan was about to reply when a knock sounded outside.

Lai Li jerked back and lay down. If not for his condition, he’d have leaped off the bed to hide.

Dai Linxuan threw off the blanket, slipped into slippers, and kept distance from Lai Li in front of others, as per his wish. He threw on a robe, looking like he’d just gotten out of bed and stopped by his brother’s room.

“Come in.”

The doctor entered for checks, first removing the nasal tube, then saying something.

Lai Li’s English was decent—he heard clearly: “The patient can have the urinary catheter removed.”

Dai Linxuan didn’t mind. “Good, thank you.”

But as he moved aside, he heard Lai Li say with clear reluctance, “I don’t want it.”

Dai Linxuan couldn’t help a mischievous chuckle. “Don’t want it? Planning to keep it in forever?”

Lai Li’s face tightened. “You remove it for me.”

Dai Linxuan: “…”

The doctor, not understanding, looked back and forth between them in confusion.