Huo Junnian’s eyes were tightly shut as cold sweat poured down his face. A sharp, twisting pain in his abdomen left him almost too weak to speak, even as he heard Jiang Ling’s frantic calls. Jiang Ling wiped the cold sweat from the man’s forehead. Seeing Huo Junnian curled up in pain, he did everything in his power to keep his head.
“Calm down. Calm down.”
Jiang Ling pinched his own thigh hard. The sharp sting forced him into a state of focus. He immediately threw back the quilt, leaned down, and picked up the man, who was doubled over in pain, carrying him hurriedly downstairs.
“Aunt Zhang!” Jiang Ling shouted.
Aunt Zhang, who was busy in the kitchen, rushed out upon hearing the noise. When she saw Huo Junnian’s deathly pale lips, she gasped in horror. “Sir! What happened?”
Jiang Ling gave orders rapidly, “Tell the driver to get the car ready for the hospital immediately.”
Aunt Zhang snapped to attention and said, “Right, I am going now!”
Although Huo Junnian’s eyes were closed, he was conscious and aware of everything happening around him. Held in Jiang Ling’s arms, his head pressed against the youth’s firm chest, he could hear a heartbeat racing like a war drum. In that moment, it felt as if his own heart rate accelerated in response. He could feel the youth’s palpable tension and concern, followed by a toothless threat whispered near his ear. “Huo Junnian, you better be okay, or I swear I will never forgive you!”
However, the youth’s tough front did not last three seconds. A voice tinged with a sob followed, “I am begging you.”
Huo Junnian felt a sudden urge to smile, but the pain made it impossible. A sensation he had never felt before welled up in his chest. His heart felt heavy and aching. His dear Ah Ling had never been this heartbroken, even when he had been wronged. Huo Junnian wanted to reach up and hug him, but he only had enough strength to move his fingertips, reaching out to gently pinch the tip of the youth’s ear.
When Jiang Ling felt that touch on his ear, he nearly broke into tears. He knew Huo Junnian was trying to comfort him. “Huo Junnian, hang in there. I am taking you to the hospital right now. Everything will be fine once we get to the hospital.”
The driver arrived quickly, and Jiang Ling carried him into the car, holding him tightly in his arms the entire way. His heart did not stop racing for a single second. During the drive, Jiang Ling had Huo Junnian rest his head on his lap for comfort. He gripped the man’s hand tightly, pressing it to his lips, while using his fingers to softly wipe the cold sweat from the man’s brow.
“Just a little longer, we are almost at the hospital,” he murmured soothingly. Jiang Ling had never felt such agonizing anxiety. The ten-minute drive to the hospital felt like the longest journey of his life. “Faster, faster, even faster!”
At the Hospital
Thanks to a prior phone call, medical staff were waiting for them the moment they stepped out of the car. As Jiang Ling watched Huo Junnian being wheeled into the emergency room, his mind went blank for a split second.
“Are you the patient’s family?”
Jiang Ling snapped back to reality and said, “I am!”
The nurse said, “Follow me. You need to fill out the patient’s information here.”
Jiang Ling’s mind was not on the paperwork. After hurriedly finishing the forms, he stared at the emergency room doors. He grabbed a nurse’s arm, asking urgently, “What happened to him? Is it serious?”
The emergency room nurse was busy, but seeing the frantic youth who looked barely like an adult, she offered some comfort. “Little brother, do not worry yet. Wait here patiently. Is the person inside your brother?”
“My uncle.”
“We will know once the doctor finishes the examination. Do not worry; he will be fine.”
Jiang Ling sat in the waiting hall. Not long after, Huo Junnian was wheeled out. He was on an IV drip, and his complexion had improved slightly, no longer as pale as before.
“Ah Ling, I am fine.”
Hearing Huo Junnian’s voice, Jiang Ling’s eyes instantly turned red. He rushed to the bedside and grabbed the hand that was not connected to the IV. “You are in this state, how can you say you are fine?”
After helping the staff move Huo Junnian to a regular ward, the doctor prepared to leave. Jiang Ling chased after him and asked, “Doctor, what exactly happened? Are there things he needs to watch out for?”
“He should be fine now,” the doctor explained. “It appears to be acute gastroenteritis caused by contaminated food. Since the patient already has a weak stomach, he needs to be very careful with food hygiene moving forward.”
Jiang Ling froze, immediately realizing the cause.
“Keep his diet light for now, and avoid spicy foods.”
Jiang Ling nodded and said, “Understood, Doctor. Thank you.”
Guilt and Care
Jiang Ling returned to the ward. Seeing Huo Junnian lying weak on the hospital bed filled him with intense self-reproach. He approached the bed and, overcome with guilt, leaned down and hugged the man. Burying his head against Huo Junnian, he muffled his voice, “It is all my fault. If I had not insisted on feeding you that barbecue last night.”
Huo Junnian looked down at the black head of hair buried against him. He reached out with his free hand and gently stroked it. “Your uncle does not blame you.”
“But I blame myself,” Jiang Ling said dejectedly. He felt he had failed to look after the man.
Huo Junnian frowned slightly. As his fingers brushed past the youth’s eyes, he felt moisture. His fingertips paused. His heart felt an inexplicable ache. He wanted to lift the youth’s face, but Jiang Ling pressed his hand down firmly. Jiang Ling refused to look up; he did not want the man to see him like this.
“Ah Ling, let go,” Huo Junnian commanded softly. He could not bear to see Jiang Ling in such a state of self-blame.
Jiang Ling’s body stiffened at the command, and he slowly loosened his grip. Huo Junnian moved the youth’s wrists away and gently lifted that tear-stained face. In an instant, the youth’s red, moist eyes and flushed nose were exposed. Huo Junnian studied him intently. As the youth looked up at him, those red eyes were filled entirely with his reflection. He looked both pitiful and adorable.
Huo Junnian wiped the moisture from the corners of the youth’s eyes with his thumb and chuckled. “Why are you crying? I am not dead.”
Predictably, the youth shot him a fierce glare. Jiang Ling immediately reached out to cover Huo Junnian’s mouth, frowning. “Do not say such things. It is bad luck. Spit it out, quickly!”
“Spit it out!” Jiang Ling urged.
“Where did you learn such old superstitions?” Huo Junnian was forced into a corner. Unable to win against Jiang Ling’s persistence, he said, “What I said was just a joke. It does not count.”
Only then did Jiang Ling’s expression soften. However, he hated it when Huo Junnian said unlucky things to scare him. He grabbed the man’s hand and placed it over his own heart. Huo Junnian froze. He wanted to withdraw his hand, but the youth held it tight.
“Look at me!”
Huo Junnian met Jiang Ling’s gaze and felt a jolt of surprise. A flame flickered in those dark eyes, as if the youth were suppressing something wild. “The weight you carry in this heart of mine is heavier than you can imagine. So please, never say things like that again.”
Never scare me like that.
In that heartbeat, Huo Junnian’s heart skipped a beat. His mind involuntarily flashed back to the words Jiang Ling had said the previous night.
“I might like men, but that does not mean I like every man.” “Uncle, you are overthinking things.”
Huo Junnian’s brows knit together. Perhaps because he had not rested well or because his body was weak, even a little bit of thinking caused his head to ache. He offered a faint smile, rubbed the youth’s head, and said warmly, “Alright, Ah Ling. Your uncle understands. I will not say things like that again.”
Huo Junnian sighed softly and said soothingly, “Do not be sad, Ah Ling. We will go home in a bit.”
The New Routine
Because of the illness, Huo Junnian had to take a few days off work to recuperate at home. Jiang Ling, driven by guilt, wanted to take a leave of absence from school to care for him, but Huo Junnian vetoed it immediately.
“No. I am not bedridden. It is just a minor ailment; I will be fine after some medicine and rest.”
Jiang Ling frowned and said, “Then how about I come over after school?”
“That is fine, but you must explain it clearly to your Grandpa.”
Jiang Ling immediately called his grandfather and explained the situation, that Huo Junnian was sick because of him. “Grandpa, I want to go to Uncle’s place after school for a few days. I am worried.”
Old Man Bai agreed and even praised Jiang Ling for being responsible. “That is fine. I trust you at Xiao Huo’s place. But be careful next time; do not be so reckless.”
“I know, Grandpa.”
With his grandfather’s permission, Jiang Ling’s pace after school quickened significantly every day. As soon as he returned, he headed straight for the study. Like a little teacher, he checked every medicine Huo Junnian was supposed to take that day. Then he would question Aunt Zhang about what the man had eaten for breakfast and lunch. Only after hearing the full report would he take his schoolbag to the side and quietly do his homework.
Huo Junnian let Jiang Ling fuss over him. Truthfully, Jiang Ling had been exceptionally well-behaved during these few days. He did his homework without being asked, and his grades even improved. He even took the initiative to ask Huo Junnian for help with problems he did not understand. Once the questions were answered, he would leave immediately to avoid disturbing the man’s rest.
Every time Huo Junnian finished his medicine, Jiang Ling would personally bring over various sweet candies to take away the bitter taste. Even when Huo Junnian was working, Jiang Ling did not disturb him, choosing instead to read quietly nearby. Sometimes, with just a glance, the youth knew exactly what the man needed. He was both obedient and attentive. This Jiang Ling was like a completely different person from the youth who could not sit still for a minute.
This continued for a full week. Huo Junnian went from being unaccustomed to the attention to actually enjoying it. By the time his body was fully recovered, it was time for Jiang Ling to return to the Bai household. Working in his study and seeing the empty chair beside him, Huo Junnian found himself feeling out of sorts. He stared at the chair for a few seconds. No rush. It is only two days until Friday. We will see each other again then.
Trouble at the Gate
Jiang Ling was also feeling out of sorts. After school, he nearly cycled in the wrong direction until Bai Zhao called out to him.
“Hey! Where are you going? Big brother, home is this way!”
Jiang Ling paused, then silently turned his bike around to follow Bai Zhao. It is fine. Only two days until Friday. We will meet then. At the thought, he pedaled with more energy, quickly overtaking Bai Zhao.
Bai Zhao felt a gust of wind as Jiang Ling zoomed past. “Hey! Wait for me!”
Back at the Bai residence, Jiang Ling put away his bike and went to find his grandfather. Before entering the room, he heard a fit of coughing. The sound was like a broken bellow. Jiang Ling slowed his steps and pushed the door open gently. “Grandpa.”
“Ah Ling is back? Come in, let me see you.”
Entering the room, Jiang Ling saw Old Man Bai lying in bed, and his heart sank. “Grandpa, what is wrong?”
Old Man Bai beckoned him over. Jiang Ling immediately knelt by the bed. Old Man Bai stroked his head. “It is nothing. When you get old, these old ailments flare up. A few days of rest and I will be fine. Tell me, did anything interesting happen at school?”
Jiang Ling noticed that his grandfather looked even older than a few days ago. Indeed, as people age, sickness and death become inevitable. Jiang Ling understood this, but he could not stop the fear and worry.
“Of course,” Jiang Ling said with a smile. He began to recount several small, amusing incidents in a cheerful tone. School life was mostly repetitive and boring, but he tried his best to make it sound entertaining, quickly making the old man laugh.
When Bai Zhao arrived and heard the laughter, he asked curiously, “Grandpa, what are you two talking about? You look so happy.”
“Ah Ling was telling me about school.”
Bai Zhao was puzzled. These past few days had been nothing but test papers after test papers; where were these interesting stories coming from? He opened his mouth to speak but caught Jiang Ling’s gaze and understood everything instantly. Old Man Bai held his two grandsons’ hands and smiled. “I just want you two brothers to get along well and help each other. Do not argue, and do not fight.”
Jiang Ling glanced at Bai Zhao and, right in front of the old man, draped an arm around Bai Zhao’s shoulder like they were best friends. “Do not worry, Grandpa. Our relationship is excellent. Right, Bai Zhao?”
Bai Zhao reacted immediately, hugging Jiang Ling back. “Right, right! We are very close.”
Seeing them like this, Old Man Bai smiled happily. “As long as you two are good.” Then he remembered something. “By the way, Ah Ling, has your father contacted you lately?”
Jiang Ling had not expected his grandfather to ask about his father. “We have not talked in a while. He gave me a secondary card last time.” Jiang Ling had not used the card; he still had his wages from his part-time job and preferred not to use his father’s money. “He has always been like this. I am used to it.”
Old Man Bai understood. He held Jiang Ling’s hand and said patiently, “He is still your father. If he does not contact you, you can take the initiative to contact him.”
Jiang Ling frowned, clearly unwilling. “There is no feud between father and son that lasts forever.”
Seeing Jiang Ling’s reluctance, the old man did not push. He looked tired. “Go do your homework now. Do not stay here with me; I need to rest.”
The Fight
After Jiang Ling and Bai Zhao left the room, they immediately let go of each other, both looking disgusted.
Huo Junnian wanted to call Jiang Ling, but as he tapped on the youth’s avatar, his hand paused. He did not want to disturb the boy’s rest. He scrolled through their chat history instead; the most recent message was from a week ago. As he was exiting the page, he accidentally clicked into the Moments feed. His hand stopped on a post from the night they went out for barbecue. It featured a few blurry photos.
“Someone treated me to barbecue. The taste was actually quite good!”
Huo Junnian’s gaze lingered on the last photo and he froze. Under a small, dimly lit table, a man’s black leather shoes and a youth’s white sneakers appeared in the same frame. He stared at that photo for a long time before looking out at the moon through the window.
Time passed quickly, and Friday arrived. Jiang Ling walked out of the school gates and checked the time. Huo Junnian would not be there for another ten minutes. Not wanting to just wait around, he decided to go to the corner store for a bottle of water. As he walked out with his water, he saw a group of people run past. It looked like a group chasing a single person. The person being chased looked strangely familiar.
Wait, that looks like Bai Zhao!
Jiang Ling frowned. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Bai Zhao had just said he was going home early. Why would he be here? Despite his doubts, he followed. He tracked them to a dark, narrow alleyway. The alley was filled with junk and piles of trash, and the smell was foul. Hearing a commotion deeper in, he entered.
He spotted a wooden stick among the debris and picked it up just in case. As he got closer, he heard not only the sounds of fighting but also a girl’s screams and crying.
“Please stop hitting him.”
Jiang Ling gripped the stick tighter. Rounding the corner, he saw the scene. The person surrounded by thugs was indeed Bai Zhao. Behind Bai Zhao, he was protecting a frantic-looking girl.
“Bai Zhao!”
Dodging a blow, Bai Zhao heard the familiar voice. He looked at Jiang Ling with surprise. “Jiang Ling? Why are you here? Get out of here! Call the police!”
The leader of the thugs looked at Jiang Ling and said darkly, “I thought he was alone. How did he find a helper? You think you are leaving? Not that easy.”
Jiang Ling’s face turned cold. He looked at the thugs and let out a mocking laugh. He tucked one hand into his pocket and tilted his head, exuding a wild arrogance. “If you have the guts, come and try.”
Jiang Ling’s arrogance enraged them. Two of them exchanged looks and rushed him. Jiang Ling’s grip on the stick tightened. The moment they reached him, he struck, hitting one in the knee followed by a side kick. The man was sent sprawling. Jiang Ling had extensive real-world fighting experience; these thugs with their amateur moves stood little chance. Seeing Jiang Ling take down two people in a row, Bai Zhao was stunned. He had almost forgotten, his cousin was a hidden expert.
Bai Zhao shoved past one of the thugs surrounding him and told his girlfriend to run, “Go, quickly!”
The girl was unwilling to leave. “I will not go! I want to stay with you!”
“If you stay here, I will be distracted!” Bai Zhao shouted urgently.
Hearing this, the girl held back her tears and ran out. One of the thugs saw her fleeing and started to give chase. Bai Zhao looked worried, but he was pinned down by the others. Jiang Ling immediately gave chase, swinging the stick and knocking the pursuing thug to the ground.
Silence fell instantly. The thugs had not expected Jiang Ling to be this formidable. Out of the six of them, three were already on the ground. They began to feel the urge to retreat. Jiang Ling turned to the remaining stunned thugs and said coldly, “Want to try again?”
The leader’s face was grim. He looked at Jiang Ling, then at his three fallen companions. He gritted his teeth. “We will let you off this time. Let us go!”
The Consequence
After the group left, Jiang Ling went over to help Bai Zhao, who was leaning against the wall panting. “How did you provoke those people?”
Before Bai Zhao could speak, the girl ran back to his side. “It was me they were after. Bai Zhao was protecting me.”
Bai Zhao was bruised and battered. Hearing her words, he said frantically, “It has nothing to do with you. They were the ones looking for trouble.”
Seeing Bai Zhao like this, Jiang Ling knew their relationship was not ordinary. “Your girlfriend?”
Bai Zhao’s face turned red, which, combined with the bruises, made his face look multicolored. He nodded shyly. “Yeah.”
The girl’s face also turned red at Jiang Ling’s bluntness. “Who is he?”
“He is my cousin,” Bai Zhao explained quickly.
Jiang Ling did not want to watch a lovey-dovey scene. He turned and walked out of the alley. “Stop being mushy. Get out of here.”
Outside, seeing Bai Zhao’s injuries, Jiang Ling took them to a nearby pharmacy. After the pharmacist finished treating Bai Zhao’s face, he looked at Jiang Ling. “Young man, do you want me to disinfect that cut on your face too?”
Jiang Ling frowned. “I have a cut on my face?”
“See for yourself.”
Jiang Ling looked in the mirror and his heart sank. At some point, a scratch had appeared near the corner of his eye. The cut was quite long. He had inherited his mother’s thin skin, just like Bai Zhao, and even though he had not taken many hits, the mark was very obvious.
“Will I be disfigured?” Jiang Ling asked worriedly.
Then, he suddenly remembered something. He pulled out his phone and saw over a dozen missed calls. He was dead meat!
“Can you just give me a band-aid, please?” he asked frantically.
Jiang Ling grabbed two band-aids and clumsily tried to cover the wound before rushing outside.