With a sobbing tone in his voice, Xu Chuang immediately squatted back down by the bedside, cupping Jiu’er’s face and asking, “What’s wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable?”
Ji Yuchen let out a soft, uncomfortable hum, his eyes red as if he had been crying. He pulled Xu Chuang’s hand downwards, sliding it over his flat abdomen until it reached the raised hill.
There was a curve there, accompanied by a rush of blood that could be felt as the most primal call of humanity.
Xu Chuang’s movements froze for a moment, not reacting immediately. Jiu’er had already let go of his hand, curling up in embarrassment and turning away, then covering his head with the blanket.
He felt utterly embarrassed, with the last bit of consciousness still holding onto a sense of shame. Even though he knew he had been drugged, this wasn’t what he wanted to happen with Xu Chuang.
In the quiet air, there was a faint sound of friction. As his body grew hotter and itchier, Ji Yuchen began to rub against the blanket.
Unable to resist, he was pulled into an embrace from behind. Xu Chuang’s hand wrapped around his waist, covering his front, his voice low and sharp, “Don’t turn around…”
These three words were like a command, scaring Ji Yuchen into not daring to move, even feeling a bit deflated at the moment. He hunched his back, burying his head low, feeling Xu Chuang’s breath surrounding his ear, clearly hearing the sound of breathing, rising and falling with the movement.
His palms, calloused from years of farming and physical labor, brought an unprecedented stimulation through contact and friction. Ji Yuchen didn’t know if it was because he had never tried it before or for some other reason, but Xu Chuang’s help was far more pleasurable than doing it himself. At the peak moment, his mind went blank, and all he could see were fireworks bursting in a dazzling display, shattering his rational consciousness.
The feeling was too wonderful, too exhilarating, making him momentarily lose himself, unable to extricate from the illusion that could shatter at any moment.
Ji Yuchen felt something touching him, and in the next second, he bent down and burrowed into the blanket, catching the person behind him off guard…
Xu Chuang only said not to turn around, but he didn’t say not to burrow into the blanket.
Ji Yuchen moved his body under the blanket, and after a rustling sound, the man shivered and pulled him out of the blanket.
His tone was both terrified and helpless, holding Ji Yuchen like a child, questioning him, “What are you doing…”
The little fox looked a bit dejected, his face sullen, with slightly raised eyes like a red ink mark, looking pitiful.
“Don’t you want to…”
His voice was light, his palm resting on Xu Chuang’s shoulder as he leaned in for a kiss.
The man remained unmoved, so Ji Yuchen pulled his hand to his back, coaxing, “Help me out…”
He no longer cared about mutual consent or emotional connection. The little bit of shame he had earlier had long turned into a bubble. With the drug’s effect, he only thought about burning everything down, getting through this moment first.
Xu Chuang didn’t know what he was thinking, his body burning hot, yet he was stingy with even a decent comfort. Ji Yuchen, in a panic, tried to probe, and when the other kept dodging, he cried out in frustration, letting go of Xu Chuang’s hand to do it himself, his head resting on the man’s shoulder, breathing heavily…
He was placed back on the bed, sweat and tears soaking the pillowcase.
Xu Chuang, afraid he would regret it, could only keep controlling him, not allowing him to turn around, as if this way he could deceive himself. When Jiu’er woke up and cursed him, he could still pretend it wasn’t him…
Very despicable, Xu Chuang knew.
By the time they finished, it was already evening. Ji Yuchen’s drug effect had mostly worn off, and he was exhausted, passing out with no response when called.
Xu Chuang got up to take a shower, then used a hot towel to clean him up, changed the sheets, and wrapped him in a blanket, holding him in his arms.
He realized that the small motel he had found temporarily was small and old, not very clean, and unworthy of Jiu’er. He had done such things to Jiu’er here, not knowing if the little guy would still recognize him as his brother when he woke up, or if he would be willing to go home with him.
Xu Chuang thought a lot, considering what to do if he refused to go with him.
Jiu’er had no memory, couldn’t find his family, and was so simple and easily deceived. If he really ignored him and ran out to be abducted, Xu Chuang didn’t dare to think…
He was on edge all night, unable to sleep soundly, thinking about all sorts of possibilities. In the middle of the night, the person in his arms moved, as if waking up. Xu Chuang got up to turn on the light, seeing the person’s face flushed, mouth open, breathing heavily, looking very uncomfortable.
Ji Yuchen’s body was hot, and the breath he exhaled was also hot. Xu Chuang patted the little guy’s face, trying to wake him up. Jiu’er opened and closed his mouth, his throat too hoarse to make a sound, turning over to burrow into his arms.
Xu Chuang couldn’t describe his feelings, worried that Jiu’er was sick but relieved that he was still willing to acknowledge him.
He got up, holding the person in his arms, to pour water, then sat by the bed, holding him, feeding him water sip by sip. After drinking, Ji Yuchen’s voice recovered a bit, mumbling “cold,” then “pain.”
Xu Chuang took a while to understand that Jiu’er was cold because he had a fever, with a temperature of at least thirty-eight degrees or more, and the pain was from behind. Xu Chuang had no choice but to wrap him tightly in the blanket, hoping it would act as a buffer and possibly alleviate the pain.
He planned to take Jiu’er to the hospital at dawn, regardless of face. Yesterday’s abnormal behavior was definitely due to being drugged, and he didn’t know if it had been completely cleared. If any residue remained, it would be hard to treat later. Moreover, he had been tormented like this, and Xu Chuang worried that Jiu’er’s small body couldn’t handle it, wanting to ask a doctor for peace of mind.
He leaned against the bedhead, holding the person, sleeping for half the night. Ji Yuchen lay down and fussed, saying he couldn’t breathe, insisting on sitting on Xu Chuang’s lap, leaning on his shoulder to fall asleep.
When the sky outside was slightly bright, Ji Yuchen also woke up, half-opening his eyes to look at Xu Chuang. When the person looked back, he seemed to remember yesterday’s actions, his face turning red, hurriedly lowering his head.
Xu Chuang asked if he was thirsty, if he wanted to eat something, and if he wanted to go to the hospital later. Ji Yuchen shook his head like a rattle, insisting on going home.
They took a rare choice of a taxi at the motel entrance, something Xu Chuang had never done himself. But he couldn’t bear to let him take the bus, preferring to spend money to make him comfortable, as Jiu’er was like this now, partly due to his own fault.
The mountain road took about an hour to drive, and Ji Yuchen couldn’t sit still, swaying left and right. Finally, when they got off, he felt like his butt had split into eight pieces.
His fever hadn’t subsided, his whole body feeling groggy, carried home by Xu Chuang and placed on the kang.
The house had been empty for two days and was already cold. Xu Chuang first laid a thick mattress for warmth, then hurriedly lit the fire, gradually warming the room.
He boiled water and brought it into the room. Ji Yuchen drank a couple of sips before shrinking back into the blanket, blinking as if to sleep again.
Xu Chuang had no choice, gently patting him to sleep, and soon heard the sound of even breathing, slightly relieved.
The day passed quickly for Ji Yuchen. He slept on and off all day, waking up without eating a bite. Xu Chuang fed him some traditional Chinese medicine to reduce the fever, but it had no effect, and by evening, the fever started again.
Xu Chuang was anxious, worried it wasn’t just a regular fever, fearing there might be something he didn’t know delaying treatment, so he invited Wang Zhi over to take a look.
Wang Zhi lived a distance away, and it was cold at night, so he was reluctant to go out. When he arrived, he first scolded Xu Chuang for always causing trouble.
Xu Chuang quickly invited him in, asking him to check on Jiu’er, whose fever wasn’t subsiding despite taking medicine.
Wang Zhi lifted the curtain and went in, visibly stunned by the person lying on the kang.
Jiu’er’s face was flushed, breathing heavily under the blanket. His body was tightly wrapped, with a section of skin exposed at the neck, marked with dark red traces, sparking imagination.
He reached out to test Jiu’er’s forehead temperature, then pulled his arm out from under the blanket to check for sweat.
Jiu’er turned, exposing one shoulder, the collar of his pajamas askew, his tender skin covered in mottled marks, like he’d been gnawed by a dog…
Wang Zhi’s first thought was this, even the wild dogs in the village weren’t this crazy.
He turned to Xu Chuang, asking with some agitation, “Did you do this?”
The other was clearly embarrassed, opening his mouth but saying nothing, his expression seeming to admit it.
Wang Zhi pulled him out of the blanket, straightening his collar, checking for any areas needing disinfection. Xu Chuang quietly said, “I cleaned him up, there shouldn’t be any open wounds…”
Wang Zhi glared at him, his tone exasperated, asking, “Did you go inside?”
Xu Chuang didn’t understand at first, taking it literally, yes, he went inside…
Wang Zhi asked again, “Did you take it out?”
Now Xu Chuang was even more confused, realizing this going in and out wasn’t what he thought.
He looked bewildered, seeing Wang Zhi’s anger, who pulled a condom from his wallet and tossed it over, “Remember to wear it next time!”
The small item landed in his palm, light enough to only feel the serrated edge. Xu Chuang’s face turned beet red, feeling he’d never been this embarrassed in his life.
He stammered a response, asking Wang Zhi, “So it’s because of that?”
Wang Zhi rolled his eyes, “What else? Or is it because you’re too rough?”
The air was filled with an indescribable awkwardness. Wang Zhi opened his medical kit, looking for something, while Xu Chuang lowered his head in slight shame, thinking it might really be due to that, as he hadn’t held back and even made him cry…
Wang Zhi found an ointment and tossed it over, telling him to apply it to Jiu’er’s back if it was swollen.
Xu Chuang’s face turned red, saying nothing as he stuffed the ointment into his pocket, Wang Zhi could imagine the situation.
He told Xu Chuang to find a way to clean him up, to search online for methods, as he wouldn’t teach this. Xu Chuang saw him to the door, suddenly remembering something and asking, “Why do you have that in your wallet?”
Wang Zhi glanced at him, “Mind your own business! You’re really nosy!”
Another cold wind blew outside, Wang Zhi waved goodbye without looking back, and Xu Chuang quickly returned inside.
He stood at the door for a moment, shaking off the cold before entering. The little guy was curled up in the blanket, his nose rubbing against the pillow, slightly twitching.
[Author’s Note]
Deleted a lot…