Yu Wenzhe smiled. “I know, your text said, right? Someone’s sick. Here, a get-well fruit basket. Take good care of him.”
Han Fu: “Old Yu, you’re really too kind!”
“Not at all.”
He’d just taken the fruit basket and placed it on the table when the person on the bed behind him rolled over and woke up.
It seemed he had actually secretly woken up a few minutes ago.
“…This new friend you’ve made treats you pretty well.”
Han Fu: “Oh, yeah, Old Yu, he’s a pretty good guy.”
Pei Zhen was silent for a moment, then gave a low chuckle. “Yeah, there are still a lot of good people in this world.”
It sounded like a perfectly normal statement.
But because the tone was so abnormal, even a fool could tell something was off. “Zhenzhen, you couldn’t possibly be jealous…”
He didn’t dare finish the word “jealous.”
Pei Zhen: “…”
Who’s jealous! This sugar daddy relationship was clearly agreed on from the start—no interfering in personal lives outside of work hours! Why would I be jealous!
He’s just a tall, sunny, smiley, big bunny of a guy who’s especially attentive, helping you take notes… Helping your studies is a good thing! Why would I be jealous!
Even if I were angry, it’s only, only because you’re still on the clock!
During work hours, you are mine and mine alone!
Han Fu silently picked up a tangerine, sat down at Pei Zhen’s bedside, suppressing a tiny bit of smugness as he began peeling it. “Yu Wenzhe is just a newly made friend. Come to think of it, Zhenzhen probably has a lot of friends too, right?”
As he said this, he broke off a tangerine section and brought it to Pei Zhen’s mouth. “But, isn’t it strange? I haven’t met a single one yet.”
Pei Zhen: “…”
“I’m not happy. Zhenzhen, look, you’ve met my friends, but you never take me to meet yours. Am I really that embarrassing to take out?”
“Could it be because I don’t have a formal job right now? But didn’t you say I’m the industry’s star of tomorrow? Your future chief perfumer—you still have to keep me hidden and can’t introduce me to your friends?”
How did the tables suddenly turn!
This little wolfdog, where did he learn the skill of deflecting a thousand pounds with just a few clever words?
How did “No hosting cute boys during work hours” suddenly leap right to “No, no, I want to meet your friends”?
What was even scarier was, under his earnest, longing gaze, not answering actually made Pei Zhen feel a tiny, faint pang of guilt?
Maybe it really was the fake drug.
Pei Zhen’s head was currently full of bizarre thoughts—was his little wolfdog a naive, sweet fool, or was he actually white on the outside, black on the inside?
……
Pei Zhen really wasn’t someone with no friends.
Although his temper wasn’t always the best, he was generally quite mindful of reining it in around people who mattered to him.
The reason why, after being together with Han Fu for over a month, his life seemed devoid of any signs of “friends” was mainly… because he’d had a falling out with his best friend and they were currently in a cold war.
Both were people who took things way too seriously and were too earnest, making it hard to swallow their pride and be the first one to reach out and coax the other.
And the reason for the cold war, well… it was also pretty hard to talk about.
It couldn’t exactly be said to have… absolutely nothing to do with the little wolfdog.
[End-of-life care? Paying money for a boyfriend? All because of some crappy fortune-telling for fifty bucks, saying you won’t live past your thirty-sixth zodiac year?]
[Pei Zhen, we’ve known each other for so many years. How come I never knew you were so superstitious?]
Two months ago, at the tea house.
The two sat facing each other, the atmosphere stiff and uncomfortable.
The man across from him was named Mai Zixi. This tea house was his business.
Lean, pale, his looks weren’t anything special, but his features were clean and sharp. His most defining characteristic was his hair, dry and yellow like straw from being sickly and having poor absorption as a child. And perfectly enough, his surname happened to be “Mai” (wheat), so back in school, his nickname had been “Wheat” or “Scarecrow.”
[As your friend and classmate for many years, I’m putting my real name on this opposition to you degrading yourself to that level.]
Pei Zhen lowered his eyes, a bit helpless.
The man across from him was relentless, his pale knuckles rapping heavily against the table. [Don’t make excuses for your life. One failed relationship and you never dare try again? From what I know, you, Pei Zhen, aren’t that kind of coward. Your company could collapse and you could start over from scratch, but you can’t just find someone decent, have a proper relationship, and start anew? Spending money to keep a man, has your brain gone bad?]
Then came a long, endless stream of lecturing.
Something about a person he once knew who was deceived by a sweet-but-venomous little cutie pretending to be innocent, nearly left with nothing and almost jumped off a building, how male escorts are all professional con artists, and he didn’t want to see Pei Zhen make the same mistake all over again.
But what could he do? Pei Zhen was set on his own way and just wouldn’t listen.
[Fine. I’ve said all I can. Call me when you realize you were wrong.]
Mai Zixi got up and left.
For two months after that, the two had no contact.
Even now, thinking about that day’s lengthy tirade still gave Pei Zhen a headache.
Han Fu had said previously that his nagging reminded him a lot of his “idealized version of a father.” Pei Zhen had a feeling that if he met Mai Zixi, that would probably check off the “idealized version of a grandfather” box too.
The main problem now was… under these circumstances, how exactly was he supposed to call and break the ice?
What should he say? “Sorry, Mai-zi, I didn’t listen to you and ended up keeping a little wolfdog. Now the little wolfdog says he wants to meet my best friend, so could I trouble you to grace us with your presence for tea?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m totally unprincipled, chose lust over friendship, stubbornly didn’t contact you for two whole months, and now that I’m finally reaching out, it’s to fulfill my little ducky’s small wish.”
It was clearly not a love-triangle showdown, but the level of terror absolutely surpassed one, alright!
Stomachache. Terrifying.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Truly stuck. He could just stubbornly keep refusing to call Mai Zixi, but Han Fu could just as easily keep staying by his bedside in the hospital out of worry, refusing to leave and wasting precious time.
The recommendation qualification selection competition was only half a month away… Han Fu needed to hurry back to school and attend classes!
In the end, Pei Zhen decided to compromise.
“But, let’s be clear first? My friend comes to keep me company, and you immediately go obediently back to class!”
“Deal!”
Sighing, he reluctantly pulled up a number. “It’s me.”
A burst of “Ahhh” wailing came from the other end.
“You, help me tell Mai-zi this. I’m at the Central Hospital. I’m basically about to die. Tell him to come see me one last time.”
In the end, he was still a coward.
Not daring to call Mai Zixi directly, he found an intermediary.
Just as he put the phone down, the little wolfdog was immediately right in his face. “What nonsense were you just spouting?”
What did I sa— Mmph!
His shoulders were pressed, and his lips were bitten, neither too hard nor too softly.
“!!!” It was like he’d been electrocuted. Th-This… was he kissed?!
He was suddenly kissed, just like that?!
Before, it had always been only on the cheek, never… how could he suddenly just lean in like that?
But wait, di-did that even count as a kiss? Although it was lips touching lips, the feeling was more like he’d been bitten by the little wolfdog?
In his daze, the little wolfdog leaned in again, panting heavily. This time, he pinned Pei Zhen’s upper body right against the big pillow, kneading and biting his lips over and over and over again.
…He couldn’t breathe!
Still biting. Who kisses like that!
Stupid dog, dumb dog! Terrible technique! Deducting pay!
“You still dare to say that nonsense in the future? Who’s about to die?” Releasing him, Han Fu’s dark pupils held a hint of sternness.
Pei Zhen gasped for breath, surviving the ordeal, his face flushed crimson.
Well, well. He hadn’t gotten angry yet, but the little wolfdog actually dared to raise his voice at him first!
“Zhenzhen, some things are okay to joke about, but some things you can’t just say recklessly! Especially not bullshit like that in a place like a hospital. Don’t you know there are tons of gods, spirits, ghosts, and monsters here? Aren’t you afraid something that shouldn’t hear it will accidentally overhear? What would I do if something happened to you?!”
“…” Pei Zhen’s thought at that moment was—he had a feeling that even if they met, Mai Zixi probably wouldn’t be too fond of his little wolfdog either.
Because, you see, the thing Mai-zi hated most of all was exactly this feudal superstition crap.
……
……
An alert for a new text message came: the person was already downstairs at the hospital.
Pei Zhen: “They’re coming up. You should get ready to go to class now. If you leave now, you can still catch the last two periods.”
Han Fu’s responding “Mm” was very half-hearted. He swiftly straightened his tie, but he was especially serious about styling his hair in the hospital room’s broken mirror. “Zhenzhen, what does your friend like? Should I be more lively or more serious?”
If his memory served right, he should like the more serious type…
“Bang—” Before he could finish speaking, the hospital room door was pushed open.
A long-legged man in sunglasses, carrying a huge bouquet of flowers, made a dazzling entrance.
“President Pei~ Where’s the legendary new boyfriend? Ah, is this him?”
Han Fu was quite surprised.
The man before him looked very familiar. Seemed to be the lead actor from that melodramatic, dog-blood soap opera just now? The lead actor in person?!
He turned his head to look at Pei Zhen. Pei Zhen nodded: “It’s Ray.”
Lei Yao, a former bottom-of-the-barrel Z-lister who’d recently become explosively popular. Han Fu instantly felt worried. Zhenzhen also knew such a handsome big star? How come he’d never mentioned it?!
“Let me have a look~” Ray half-removed his sunglasses and circled Han Fu twice.
“Didn’t expect you’d be decent-looking, President Pei? You’ve got some skill, huh?”
As he spoke, he casually poked Han Fu.
“Say, you’re not a pyramid scheme salesman, are you? Or insurance, securities? Let me tell you, don’t think President Pei seems loaded. He’s actually a total miser, absolutely won’t buy your products! Wait, are you President Pei’s long-lost cousin?”
“…” Han Fu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It’s okay, it’s okay. Although handsome, his brain seems to have some issues. Not a threat.
On the hospital bed, Pei Zhen was also rubbing his temples.
Definitely didn’t want to admit that this guy was actually part of his social circle.
But what could he do? It was his own fault for being a coward and using this dude as the intermediary to contact Mai Zixi!
“Ray, he… modeled for Pei’s fragrances a few years ago.”
He spoke reluctantly, subtly explaining while distancing himself.
“Mmm hmm hmm! I still remember the ad slogan!” Ray nodded frantically, grabbing a medicine bottle from the table and pretending there was a camera in front of him. “Pei Miracle: Miracle of Love, a Fragrance Encounter journey on Prince Edward Island~ Taking you along.”
Han Fu: “…”
Pei Zhen: “Where’s Mai-zi? Didn’t you say he came with you?”
“Oh, he’s looking for parking. It’s all full around your hospital. He should be up soon.” Saying this, Ray smiled and put down the medicine bottle. “You two are really something. Not little girls anymore, and you have a fight and then a cold war for so long, neither one willing to talk to the other?”
Pei Zhen ignored with a black line on his face, only turning his head seriously to give Han Fu word-for-word instructions. “The person coming up is Mai Zixi. He used to be a painting teacher. You can call him Teacher Mai, or Brother Mai is fine. He’s a rather serious person. You need to smile at him a lot and cut down on the idle chit-chat!”
Han Fu: “Okay…”
Before his voice could fade, the door was pushed open gently.
A tall, thin man with naturally straw-colored hair, still wearing that cool, unruffled poker face, still preferring dark, somewhat artistically styled, hooded long shirts with low-key flair.
He hadn’t changed much from a few years ago.
Han Fu naturally knew this person was introverted and highly guarded by nature. So he decisively put on a 120% ultra-polite, perfectly well-behaved business smile.
……
Eyes met, and Mai Zixi gave a soft “Huh.”
Shock filled his gaze as he immediately turned his face to look at Pei Zhen on the hospital bed.
Han Fu, on the other hand, slowly, slowly stiffened.
……
When you… really like someone.
You tried so hard to make your existence known to him, to strike up conversations. And finally, on a day with pouring rain, you clung to his neck, crying and pestering him, asking over and over: I can protect you. Am I really not allowed?
Many years later, he had long since forgotten you.
No, it couldn’t be said he’d forgotten. It should be that from start to finish, he’d just never paid attention to you. It was as if you, as a person, had never once appeared in his life.
But his friend still remembered you.
Even with just a single glance, he recognized you.
