Meng Yu blocked his path and then, as if by magic, produced a White Rabbit milk candy. He placed the candy in Lu Shian’s hand and flicked the cigarette he had just confiscated with his fingertips. “A trade with President Lu.”
Lu Shian’s lips moved to speak, but Meng Yu cut him off. “I know your cigarette is worth much more than this candy.”
Lu Shian’s mouth twitched, and his face instantly darkened. He felt as though he was being completely manipulated by Meng Yu; the man was like a parasite in his mind, knowing his every thought.
Determined to remain stubborn, he said, “I was not going to say that. I was going to say, do not try to fool me with things used to coax children.”
As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Meng Yu’s hands. Meng Yu’s fingers were slender and white, and his nails were trimmed clean. The way he held the cigarette was inexplicably alluring. Lu Shian’s nicotine craving had not yet subsided, and looking at those hands made his heart throb.
For a moment, he could not tell if he was longing for the cigarette in Meng Yu’s hand or for the man himself. He felt a surge of restlessness, and his mind even began to conjure an image of what Meng Yu would look like while smoking.
He would surely look stoic and captivating.
Meng Yu noticed his scrutiny and smiled imperceptibly. He walked alongside Lu Shian and returned to the previous topic. “But you used to love these the most.”
“People change. Stop bringing up the past.” Lu Shian put his mask back on and quickened his pace while clutching the candy.
He was no longer the young lad who could be made happy with a single piece of milk candy.
By the time the two returned to the ward, it was past 9:00 PM.
Seeing Lu Shian return safely and seemingly in a better mood, Qi Lei immediately thanked Meng Yu. “Doctor Meng, thank you. It is about time for President Lu to rest. If there is nothing else, please feel free to head out.”
“There is something. Your President asked me to give him a bath.” Meng Yu replied quickly, with no intention of leaving.
Qi Lei’s expression changed instantly. He turned to Lu Shian for confirmation.
Lu Shian was also caught off guard by Meng Yu’s bluntness. Under Qi Lei’s gaze, he had no choice but to brace himself and let out a hum of agreement.
Having received a positive answer from his boss, Qi Lei naturally knew better than to stay.
“President Lu, I will step out then. Call me if you need anything.” He then turned to Meng Yu. “I will leave him in your hands, Doctor Meng.”
He quickly exited and closed the door. The second before the door shut, he looked at the two men inside and suddenly understood that his boss had sent Doctor Song back just to let Doctor Meng come over and bathe him.
With Qi Lei gone, only the two of them remained in the ward, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
In Lu Shian’s condition, he really should not be bathing. However, he was obsessed with cleanliness, and sleeping in this heat covered in sweat was unbearable. He had sent Song Yunchuan back because what Meng Yu had said the night before had subconsciously influenced him.
His heart was a mess of contradictions. On one hand, he was annoyed by Meng Yu and constantly wanted to snap at him; on the other hand, he craved his proximity. Compared to having someone else help him wash, it seemed that having Meng Yu do it did not trigger as much of a revulsion in him.
His current state was extremely conflicted.
“I will go get the water ready.” Meng Yu, however, showed no discomfort. He went into the bathroom to pre-heat the water before saying to Lu Shian, who was sitting stiffly on the sofa, “It is ready.”
Lu Shian snapped back to his senses, but his body felt as though it were weighed down by a thousand tons, making it hard to stand.
Meng Yu walked over and pulled him up. He carefully unfastened the sling from his left shoulder and led him into the bathroom.
He turned on the heat lamps and deliberately left the door open. Even if the wound did not touch water, a large amount of condensed steam could still affect Lu Shian’s injury. With the door open, most of the steam could dissipate.
The bathroom was not small, but with two grown men squeezed inside, Lu Shian suddenly felt the space was insufficient. He could not tell if it was because Meng Yu was standing too close, but he felt as though he were having trouble breathing.
“Relax, do not be nervous.” Meng Yu’s voice was steady and comforting. He did not look down, keeping his gaze only on Lu Shian’s upper body. He turned on the water, checked the temperature of the showerhead, and began to bathe Lu Shian.