Volume 2 - CH 19

In which Qin Zhiyuan almost receives some cacti as a gift. (•̪ o •̪) I’m jealous! Cacti are great!

There’s some sex in this.

Volume 2, Chapter 19

This was a pair of elegant and fair hands.

Each finger was distinct and as clear as jade. Even if the right palm contained a nasty scar, it didn’t affect the hand’s beauty. At this moment in time, this pair of hands was gently stroking some beautiful and alluring rose petals, making the red appear more red and the white appear more white, really capable of moving people’s hearts to the extreme.

Qin Zhiyuan, however, had no mind to appreciate this kind of beauty and simply said, with a bitter laugh, “Why do you insist on gifting me roses?”

With utmost care, Gu Yan trimmed the red roses in the hospital room’s flower vase and said, “What? You don’t like it? Then tomorrow I’ll change to tulips.”

“You gifted those yesterday.”

“Lilies?”

“That was the day before.”

“Cacti?”

“…”

Upon seeing that Qin Zhiyuan didn’t have any objections, Gu Yan then got up to wash some apples. On the way back, he grabbed the fruit knife on the table and peeled the apples while making some idle conversation.

On that day when the two of them were brought to the hospital by the ambulance, after the examination, Gu Yan’s injuries were found to be light ones, and Qin Zhiyuan’s were also not very serious. It was only that his right leg’s bone had slightly cracked, most likely from falling down the stairs, and it’d take about one or two months to get better, so he had to remain in the hospital for the time being.

Fortunately, Lin Jiarui had given the cast and crew a week of vacation in order to handle some personal matters, so Gu Yan had grabbed the opportunity to stay at the hospital to take care of him.

With how long Gu Yan had known Qin Zhiyuan, Gu Yan had long already figured out everything the other liked. No matter if it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or the books and magazine he brought to relieve boredom, all of it were perfectly in line with Qin Zhiyuan’s tastes.

The only issue was most likely Gu Yan’s method of so-called “pursuing”.

Qin Zhiyuan had never been pursued by someone like this before, and it really was a bit hard to take.

While he thought about this, Gu Yan had coincidentally finished peeling the apples and had handed them over after cutting them into pieces. The apples were crisp and sweet, very delicious once eaten. Of course, if Gu Yan’s way of peeling hadn’t been so skillful that, when he peeled off all the skin, he then made that skin into a flower as a gift… then it would have been even better.

Qin Zhiyuan really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he couldn’t bear to disappoint Gu Yan and so the only thing he could do was obediently accept it.

It couldn’t be helped, who allowed his Gu Yan to always be the number one male lead?

For the sake of not worrying his family, Qin Zhiyuan didn’t spread the news about his injury, but those who should know still learned about this matter, and not long later, Qin Jing and Qin Feng both came to visit him, one after the other.

This time, Gu Yan behaved courteously and appropriately, doing his best not to let his gaze wander, and didn’t express any interest in anyone other than Qin Zhiyuan.

Qin Jing didn’t stay for long. He simply sat there for a short while, saying ‘get better soon’ and other similar kinds of courteous small talk before then taking his leave. Qin Feng, however, stayed to talk with his brother for a long time, but all of his words were mostly about how much his father had been pampering him recently, implying that Qin Jing had already lost faith in Qin Zhiyuan and that he was about to be promoted to successor.

Qin Zhiyuan laughed after he heard this, not believing a word.

Gu Yan conversely went to wash another apple, but this time he didn’t peel the skin, simply directly turning it into little rabbits. With a few slashes of the knife, he cut the apple into rabbit shapes and placed it on the plate.

Qin Zhiyuan remembered the nickname he had given Qin Feng and couldn’t help but give a knowing smile, eating the apple extremely happily.

Qin Feng not only failed in his goal of showing off but also was almost blinded by their sweet behavior. In the end, he left in a fuming huff and didn’t forget to slam the door purposefully loud on his way out.

The moment the door closed, Gu Yan laughed until he fell onto the bed, saying, “Your family’s little white rabbit is still as cute as ever.”

Qin Zhiyuan immediately reminded him, “No matter how cute he is, you can only admire from afar.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Gu Yan was still collapsed on the bed, not getting up, as he looked at Qin Zhiyuan and said, “But since you’ve taken sick leave and can’t go to work for so many weeks, there might actually be a big impact.”

“If my dad really has his heart set on Qin Feng, then it doesn’t matter if I go to work or not.”

“What if…”

“Anyway, it’s just losing a job.” Since Qin Zhiyuan had dared to go against Qin Jing, he had naturally already made his preparations. “Actually, it wouldn’t be too bad if I started my own business; it’ll just be a bit harder at the beginning.”

This was easy to say, but it might not actually be easy to do.

Qin Zhiyuan had been born into riches and had never had to worry about food or shelter. Now, there was no need to say for whom he was willing to go through this kind of suffering.

Gu Yan’s eyes softened in an instant, and he slowly sat up, moving over to kiss the other on the lips. “It’s fine. Anyway, I make enough to support you.”

At those words, Qin Zhiyuan laughed.

After he finished laughing, he grabbed Gu Yan by the waist and couldn’t help but nip at his lips before then continuously deepening the kiss.

Although the two of them had confessed their mutual feelings, because Qin Zhiyuan was injured and hospitalized, they practically hadn’t had any time to be intimate. And now that they were kissing, it was hard to avoid sparks flying, the longer they went on, the more loath they were to part.

Gu Yan felt his throat dry, and both of his hands started being mischievous, gently sliding their way down Qin Zhiyuan’s back, as if trying to entice him.

Qin Zhiyuan felt a bit out of control and said, with gasping breaths, “Gu Yan, this is a hospital.”

“Since it’s a private room, the soundproofing should be pretty good, right?”

“I’m still a patient.”

“It’s only your leg that’s injured. It’s not like you’ve been injured there.” After a pause, he purposely put on a surprised expression and said in amazement, “It couldn’t be that you’ve really injured yourself there? That’s not good, I need to examine it immediately.”

As he spoke, his right hand reached down there.

With one look, Qin Zhiyuan could tell he was acting — the ‘examination’ was obviously fake, what he clearly wanted to do was to take advantage. Therefore, he grabbed Gu Yan’s wrist with a hand and said, with a helpless sigh, “Indecent.”

Gu Yan laughed upon hearing that. “If I wasn’t indecent, how could I make you happy?”

Qin Zhiyuan really didn’t know how to respond.

Gu Yan had always had this problem. In the past, when their relationship was just transactional, he had been even more energetic in bed than his financial backer. Previously, Qin Zhiyuan had found it refreshing, but now that he thought back, he realized that a certain person had probably premediated the whole thing.

But there was a positive. In the future, if they ever ended up fighting, he might be able to say something like, “Don’t even think of getting in bed with me in the future,” and jab right at Gu Yan’s weak point.

No matter how Qin Zhiyuan thought, he found it funny, and he reached out a hand to unbutton Gu Yan’s shirt as he said, “This place is still a hospital, so even if the soundproofing is good, you should still keep it down.”

This was tacitly condoning his hoodlum behavior.

After Gu Yan heard, he showed his resolution and immediately blocked Qin Zhiyuan’s lips with his own.

The weather had originally already turned warm, and with the two of them tangled together kissing like this, they both very quickly heated up. When their clothes had been mostly removed, Gu Yan then pulled up the blankets and burrowed himself into it.

Qin Zhiyuan gasped and watched as the blankets slowly squirmed, his eyes soon becoming dyed with lust. Not long afterwards, his voice turned hoarse, and he became unable to stop from shouting, “Gu Yan!”

Only then did Gu Yan stick his head out from the blankets, licking his lips and blinking at Qin Zhiyuan. “I’ve examined it, and it’s very vigorous and lively, not injured at all.”

Qin Zhiyuan had already been stirred up by him, and he pulled the person into an embrace, saying, “Then why don’t you quickly continue?”

But Gu Yan contrarily slowed down his movements.

He slowly licked his fingers, he slowly slicked up his body, he slowly… he was so slow that Qin Zhiyuan almost wanted to just press him down directly. Finally, he opened both his legs and took the initiative to sit on Qin Zhiyuan’s body, letting that stiff member which had already been suitably examined enter his body little by little.

Although he had lubricated, since it had been a long time since anything had entered, that place had constricted and tightened. For a moment, Gu Yan was unable to take the stimulation and couldn’t help but call out, “Ah…”

He shouted only once before he immediately used his hands to cover his mouth, twisting his waist with difficulty, letting Qin Zhiyuan even deeper into his body.

The pain and pleasure unceasingly mixed together.

Gu Yan vigorously moved his waist, both his eyes half-lidded, sweat very quickly seeping out from his forehead.

Qin Zhiyuan moved forward and kissed him on his perspiring temples, on one side, moving rhythmically against his burning insides, while on the other, pulling aside Gu Yan’s hands in order to stroke the scar on his palm.

At this time, Gu Yan was particularly sensitive, and his body couldn’t help but tremble as he said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t…”

But Qin Zhiyuan wasn’t willing to let him go, and he not only didn’t loosen his hold on the other’s hand but also actually leaned down to lick that place.

Gu Yan finally couldn’t take it anymore, and his dazed eyes widened, his back suddenly spasming, before he softened and collapsed in Qin Zhiyuan’s arms.

The place where the two of them were connected still remained burning hot.

Qin Zhiyuan similarly felt himself throb, and he kissed Gu Yan’s right hand. Holding the other by the waist, after a few more thrusts, he also very quickly reached his climax in the other’s body.

Gu Yan was soft for a long time before he regained his senses, crawling upright while rubbing his waist and saying, “I’ll clean up the bed a bit.”

But Qin Zhiyuan didn’t let him go. “Sleep with me for a while first.”

Gu Yan then once again laid down, biting Qin Zhiyuan’s shoulders while half-asleep and asking, “Let’s do it again once we wake up?”

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t reply.

Instead, Gu Yan’s head received a light knock, and he first cried out before muttering, “If you can’t get it up, just say so. Why do you have to get angry?”

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t know whether to get angry or laugh out loud, as he pulled the blanket to cover their sweaty bodies, saying, “Sleep!”

Only then did Gu Yan obediently go to sleep for the afternoon.

The next day, after he had helped Qin Zhiyuan clean up, Lin Jiarui appeared as if nothing had happened.

Young Master Lin had brought a fruit basket on his visit and then told Gu Yan in passing that work was resuming. Just looking at his indifferent expression, one really couldn’t guess at all what had happened, whether he had taken care of his uncle or his uncle had taken care of him.

Although Gu Yan’s relationship with Lin Jiarui was fairly good, it still wasn’t easy for him to ask after the other’s private affairs, so he simply asked after the person’s health instead.

Lin Jiarui turned to look out the window and said with a cold smile, “I would’ve rather received a beating.”

And then he didn’t say much else, simply inquired about the state of Qin Zhiyuan’s injuries and discussed some work matters with Gu Yan.

From then on, Gu Yan had to return to filming.

Fortunately, Lin Jiarui knew he had a patient to take care of and so specially slowed the progress of filming, giving him a lot of free time, allowing him to visit both the set and the hospital. Qin Zhiyuan’s body also recovered quickly, and he was discharged after two more weeks.

On the day of his discharge, Gu Yan specifically took time off to pick him up, and it was still early in the day even after all the discharge procedures were finished. Qin Zhiyuan then urged him to get a check-up for his right hand.

Previously, Gu Yan had been receiving continuous treatment, but because of Qin Zhiyuan’s hospitalization, he really had neglected this aspect recently. Qin Zhiyuan had always paid special attention to his right hand, and Gu Yan wasn’t able to slack off even if he wanted to, so the only thing he could do was leave the other in the waiting room while he himself went to get an examination.

His primary physician was still that amiable middle-aged man, and after the examination, as he filled out the medical record, he said to Gu Yan, “The situation with your right hand is looking quite good now, and there’s already no major issues with it anymore, just attend the follow-up appointments as scheduled. Of course, it won’t heal completely, but most of the basic capabilities have already recovered, so it shouldn’t affect your daily life.”

The doctor paused for a moment and asked, upon seeing the records in the case history, “Originally, you started out very cooperative with the treatments, but then later you had a period of time when you didn’t come to the hospital? Every time you scheduled an appointment, you’d miss it, and then you even changed your cellphone number…”

Gu Yan’s face didn’t change at all, and he didn’t even blink as he calmly answered, “I was too busy with work, so I couldn’t find the time.”

The doctor looked at him through thick lenses and said, “It’s good for young people to work hard, but you should still pay attention to your health. Remember to set the date for your following check-ups.”

Gu Yan made a sound in agreement, maintaining his smile from beginning to end.

Love was the same as business. If you wanted returns, you had to be willing to pay the price.

After all, he couldn’t possibly have made no effort and simply waited for the other person to gift his heart on a platter, right?

But this kind of effort also had to be the correct method. Whether it was time to strike out in relentless pursuit or whether it was time to feign retreat in order to advance, all of it had to be considered carefully. Even if he had a good card in his hand, he still needed to find the most appropriate time to reveal it.

Gu Yan rubbed his right hand. The moment he walked out of the treatment room, he saw Qin Zhiyuan sitting there with his head down, currently sending out emails on his laptop. He thus walked over and gave it a few looks, saying with a smile, “You’ve just recovered, and you’re already busy with work?”

“I rested for too long, so I can’t delay any further.” Although Qin Zhiyuan said all that, the moment he saw Gu Yan, he still closed his laptop and asked, “How’s your hand?”

“It’s recovered very well, and there’s already no big issues with it.”

Gu Yan picked out the most important details from the doctor’s words to tell him, talking as they left the hospital. He then started his car and prepared to send the other home.

Qin Zhiyuan still remembered the missed dinner from last time and insisted on Gu Yan going to his house to eat. Gu Yan could only agree but, in consideration of Qin Zhiyuan’s health, allowed him to make only the most simplest of foods, like some kind of scrambled eggs.

Because of this, Qin Zhiyuan spent a long while agonizing over whether scrambled eggs with tomatoes were good or scrambled eggs with chives were better. In the end, he decided to use the chives for the scrambled eggs and the tomatoes for soup, finally settling on a menu for dinner.

Gu Yan smiled without a word and stopped on the way to buy the groceries. This time, all was peaceful and calm, and they smoothly arrived at Qin Zhiyuan’s apartment.

The moment the door opened, Gu Yan saw the newly remodeled kitchen in Qin Zhiyuan’s house.

It was very different from the European-style kitchen before it. This time, it was remodeled to look very plain and simple. Although it wasn’t particularly extravagant, it looked far more practical, and far more like a home.

Gu Yan still remembered how he had left this place at the time.

He remembered turning back for a last look. He remembered those stairs he took one step at a time… But he should feign ignorance when it was time to feign ignorance, and he should forget the things that should be forgotten, so he didn’t say a word about what had happened in the past, merely walking over to touch the completely unrecognizable kitchen appliances, asking, “Do you usually cook here?”

“What? Does it not suit me?”

“Uh… it’s a bit hard to imagine.”

“Then I’ll let you witness it firsthand today.”

Because Qin Zhiyuan had been lying in a hospital bed for a long time, he was feeling eager to move his body. When he saw that the time was still early, he then rolled up his shirt sleeves and took out the ingredients that they had bought one by one, carefully laying them out neatly on the table. He then washed his hands, found a towel, and wiped the kitchen knife. Each and every part of this process had been done meticulously, just as earnestly as he usually looked while working.

And even for simple dishes such as scrambled eggs with chives and tomato egg soup, he still had to pull out the recipe and closely examine it.

Gu Yan held his arm and watched from the doorway. The more he watched, the more interesting he found it, and he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Qin Zhiyuan had originally been nervous, but upon hearing the other laugh, he thereupon became even more flustered, not knowing whether he should first chop the vegetables or crack the egg. After thinking for a moment, he decided that he might as well walk over and push Gu Yan out the door, saying, “You should go sit in the living room and watch some TV instead.”

“Hm? Didn’t you want me to give pointers?”

“If I need you, I’ll call you.”

Qin Zhiyuan even closed the kitchen door just in case.

Gu Yan leaned against the glass door and laughed. Only after he finished laughing did he go to the living room to sit, pouring himself a glass of water in the meantime. He estimated that Qin Zhiyuan might need more than half an hour to even fry some eggs, so he leisurely grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, all the while sizing up the house’s interior decorating.

Other than the remodeled kitchen, practically nothing else had been changed. It was only that the living room had a new DVD player, and on it was an envelope.

Gu Yan picked it up and found a DVD inside the envelope. After placing it in the player, he then reached out a hand and pressed play.

From the TV, the sound of rustling came first, and then the appearance of some beautiful bamboo grove scenery, before finally Gu Yan’s figure appeared, running forward while dressed in a historical robe — this was the historical drama that he had gone to A City in order to shoot. The DVD contained only a small part of the drama; while his arms were holding the gentle and graceful female lead, he was actually looking passionately at the camera when he said ‘I love you’.

Gu Yan’s right hand unconsciously throbbed.

Seeing this scene in Qin Zhiyuan’s house, he wasn’t the least bit surprised. He simply closed his eyes and then lowered his head to look at the envelope that had contained the DVD.

Only the recipient’s name and address was written on the envelope; it didn’t say the sender, and the words were written extremely clumsily and carelessly, as if someone had used their left hand to write it.

Gu Yan stared at it for a long while before the corners of his lips lifted upwards and he softly began humming a song. He placed his foot on his knee and sat back against the sofa, watching his face on the big screen in appreciation, all the while indifferently ripping that envelope to shreds before carelessly throwing the pieces away in the trash can.

The Qin Zhiyuan in the kitchen shouted, “Hotshot celebrity, hurry and come help me taste test.”

As if nothing had happened, Gu Yan brushed off his hands and stood up, turning off the TV and walking with large strides to the kitchen.

The thick smell of chives had already wafted over.

Qin Zhiyuan was currently using the spatula, his face looking singularly grave, just as if he was looking over documents in the office; he really did appear extremely solemn about the proceedings.

Gu Yan’s heart thumped, and he hugged the other from behind, slowly sticking his face forward.

Qin Zhiyuan was caught off guard, and the hand used to hold the seasonings trembled, dumping an entire spoonful of salt into the pan.

“Oh no, I put in too much salt!”

“It’s fine. As long as it’s food you made, I’ll enjoy eating it.”

Although what he said was sincere, Qin Zhiyuan still felt rather regretful, saying in complaint, “And you say you’re a chef, but why did you cause trouble for me?”

Gu Yan smiled and didn’t refute.

He placed his chin on Qin Zhiyuan’s shoulder and, with half-narrowed eyes, looked at the pan of stir-fried food.

The sun outside the window was disappearing little by little, and splashes of light from the setting sun drifted in. The eggs in the pan were slightly burnt, but the scent that assailed the nose still smelled quite good.

This kind of worldly happiness was actually the most difficult to achieve.

Gu Yan restrained his rapidly beating heart, and the hands around Qin Zhiyuan’s waist tightened just the slightest bit.

His goal was clear, and his determination steady.

He was cautious to the extreme, patient beyond compare.

He wasn’t afraid of failing however many times, and he also wasn’t afraid of suffering however many falls, but at the very end, he would definitely hold this person’s heart in his hands.

I think Gu Yan just used spit as lube? [/thinking emoji] Which is not good practice, from what I hear, since spit dries too fast, so it doesn’t work very well. Remember, folks, to always spring for the good lube! It helps!