Chapter Thirty-Eight: Longing to Be with Him

Page (1/3)

Yu Dong sat at the table, gazing at the man before him. The man’s demeanor was cautious, yet tinged with panic, the anxiety lurking beneath a facade of ease. He believed his unease was well-hidden, but the slight tremor in his legs and his restless hands betrayed the turmoil inside. Yu Dong watched him in silence, finding it hard to reconcile this nervous figure with the image of a shrewd, agile kidnapper. The man grew increasingly uncomfortable under Yu Dong’s scrutiny, finally unable to hold back any longer; he spoke, forgetting the advice he had been given.

“What do you want from me, anyway?” In this silent contest of wills, whoever spoke first would lose the advantage.

“You tell me. Are you really unaware of the things you've done, Liu Quan?” Yu Dong slammed the stack of documents onto the table and leaned back in his chair.

Liu Quan stiffened his neck, adopting the streetwise defiance he’d learned over the years. “Officers, you’re the ones who arrested me. How would I know? I’m a model citizen, living a decent life at home, obeying the law, eating, drinking, and enjoying myself, and then you drag me here for no reason, like a chick by the scruff—if anything, I’m the aggrieved party!”

The young officer taking notes nearby shook his head, a contemptuous smile on his lips; they’d seen this act too many times before.

Yu Dong smiled. “Let’s put aside your current charges of trafficking and being at large. Where were you on Thursday? Or perhaps, where were you hiding?”

Gu Yan was woken early by a nurse, who needed to change his dressing. He hadn’t slept well the previous night—perhaps because the bed was unfamiliar.

The nurse spoke softly, asking him to lift his shirt. Gu Yan rubbed his eyes and complied, unbuttoning his shirt. His chest was swathed in bandages, revealing little. But as soon as the nurse began to unwind the bandages, Yu Sheng walked in.

From Yu Sheng’s perspective, Gu Yan’s pale shoulder blades and alluring collarbones were exposed blatantly, right before her eyes. Gu Yan was about to turn and see who had entered, but Yu Sheng quickly slammed the door and left.

How could she witness such a scene, so early in the morning! Yu Sheng pressed her wildly beating heart, bewildered.

The nurse, surprised to see Yu Sheng flee in a hurry, questioned Gu Yan, “Is that your girlfriend? Why did she leave?”

Gu Yan recalled the flash of a hurried ponytail he’d glimpsed and smiled, “Yes.”

After changing the bandage, the nurse stepped outside and found Yu Sheng standing stiffly against the wall, as if being punished. Her behavior struck the nurse as adorable. “Your boyfriend’s finished with his dressing. You can go in now.”

Yu Sheng was still caught up in the moment she had just witnessed. Though it wasn’t her first time seeing him like that, each time, her secret, lascivious heart was shaken anew.

How could anyone have such beautiful collarbones? The lines of bone were smooth and elegant, the curves and hollows perfectly balanced, making them irresistibly attractive.

Ah, stop it, Yu Sheng! What are you thinking? Attractive? Nonsense!

“Miss?” The nurse called to her again, seeing Yu Sheng hadn’t responded.

“Huh?” Yu Sheng looked up, baffled, only realizing then that the dressing was done.

The nurse smiled. “Your boyfriend’s finished. You can go in.”

Yu Sheng was startled by the nurse’s words and hurriedly waved her hands to deny it. “No, we’re just classmates.”

The nurse didn’t pursue the topic, simply smiled knowingly and walked away.

“We really aren’t like that,” Yu Sheng muttered, weakly protesting.

Has he been spreading rumors again? Yu Sheng glanced toward the hospital room.

When she entered, Gu Yan had already dressed and was leaning against the bed, reading.

Page (2/3)

Yu Sheng felt an inexplicable pang of regret.

Wait, what are you regretting, exactly? Dispel those thoughts, dispel those thoughts—important things must be said three times!

“Are you hungry?” She asked, but still poured out some porridge from the thermos.

Gu Yan stole a glance at Yu Sheng, set his book aside, and took the porridge, sipping contentedly.

“Did you say something to the nurse just now?” Yu Sheng suddenly asked.

Gu Yan choked, coughing, “Cough, cough!”

Yu Sheng handed him a tissue. “Eat slower, no one’s rushing you.”

Gu Yan took the tissue and wiped his mouth. “No, I didn’t say anything while she was changing the bandage,” he replied nervously, watching Yu Sheng.

But Yu Sheng paid him no mind, twisting the thermos shut. “Is that so?”

“Yes!” Gu Yan lowered his head and took another sip. The rising sun streamed through the window, casting a semicircular shadow beneath his eyelashes. His slender, fair hand held the spoon, making even the spoon seem exquisite.

Yu Sheng was captivated by the scene, her gaze lingering unconsciously.

She realized, perhaps for the first time, that she truly had feelings for him.

Gu Yan, oblivious to Yu Sheng’s thoughts, assumed she was about to reprimand him, and even his hand holding the spoon tightened nervously.

“Yu Sheng, why did you hang up on me yesterday?” Gu Yan couldn’t help but ask.

“Yesterday—I accidentally hit the hang-up button. Sorry about that,” Yu Sheng apologized, smiling.

Gu Yan had worried she was angry at him for some reason.

“That’s good. I thought you were upset by what I said. Don’t take it to heart—I promise I won’t be so tactless,” Gu Yan said, resuming his meal.

Yu Sheng had almost forgotten yesterday’s incident, but Gu Yan’s mention brought it back: what was that about cornering her against the wall after discharge? Where had he learned that—ridiculous!

As for where Gu Yan had picked up such phrases, of course it was from the CEO romance novels he’d read before. Oh, and there was the leg-block move, but Gu Yan couldn’t raise his leg, and Yu Sheng would hardly treat him that way.

Yu Sheng ignored him. “When will you be discharged? Exams are coming up in a few weeks—can you participate?”

“Of course! How could I miss it? If I’m absent, those who score lower than me might lose all motivation to take the test!” Gu Yan joked.

Yu Sheng didn’t take it as a joke. Ever since Gu Yan came first in the class, many students quietly made him their benchmark, even Chen Ke’an had become more diligent, hoping to reclaim his title.

“Did the doctor say when you’ll be discharged?”

Gu Yan finished the last of the porridge. “Not yet, but I don’t think it’ll be long. I feel fine—just a few superficial wounds, once they heal it’ll be okay.”

Looking at his wan, fragile appearance, Yu Sheng doubted he’d be leaving anytime soon.

Gu Yan thought himself in good shape, but in reality, he was like a weak lamb, ready to be led to the slaughter—eyes bright, skin pale, wounds that seemed liable to bleed at the lightest touch.

Page (3/3)

Yu Sheng rolled her eyes. “Are you really unaware of how you look right now? Even I could push you over with ease.”

She meant to point out his weakness, but her words had unintended consequences.

Gu Yan raised his eyebrows, leaning forward. “I don’t believe you. Try it.”

His sudden closeness brought the scent of shampoo and antiseptic to Yu Sheng’s nose, making her heart skip a beat.

“It was just a figure of speech!” Yu Sheng shoved him away, cheeks flushed.

“That’s hardly a metaphor. Seems your language skills need work—when I’m discharged, I’ll tutor you properly,” Gu Yan teased.

Yu Sheng ignored him, tidying up his empty bowl and preparing to leave.

“I’ll head back now, I’ll bring you lunch at noon,” she said, turning away.

“Hey, stay and talk with me!” Gu Yan pleaded, grabbing her sleeve, “I’m so lonely, all by myself.”

“I’ll be back at noon. I have homework to do, unlike you, free from assignments lately.” Speaking of homework, Yu Sheng wondered how Gu Yan would keep up with the new lessons—he hadn’t attended classes and wouldn’t know how to do the assignments.

“By the way, do you need to do your homework? The new material will be on the exam. Do you want me to teach you?”

Gu Yan actually knew all the material, so even without attending, he could recall it from his studies. But since Yu Sheng offered, how could he refuse?

Should he decline, friends? Of course not.

“Sure, I can study today. Why don’t you bring the homework at noon, and teach me here? It’s quiet and there’s no one else around.”

Yu Sheng considered it, unaware of Gu Yan’s ulterior motive.

“All right, I’ll come at noon. Bye!” She waved to Gu Yan, who grinned foolishly behind her, and left the ward.

Yu Sheng couldn’t help but feel Gu Yan had become a bit silly since his return—always smiling at her, behaving childishly. Had he hit his head? Should she remind him to have it checked?

Gu Yan felt that Yu Sheng had been treating him better since the kidnapping. She no longer resisted him—she fed him, tutored him—ah, how wonderful it felt to be cherished!

He burrowed under the covers, grinning like a child with candy. Realizing his own infatuated smile, Gu Yan slapped himself, wondering why he had become so soft lately.

Yu Sheng, ever since Gu Yan confessed to her, had felt pressured. She was passive by nature, liking those who liked her. Sensing Gu Yan’s affection, she began to reciprocate, though their differences initially made her wary and she had rejected him.

Her ideal romance was one of equality, free from gossip. So after Gu Yan confessed, she worked hard to improve herself, hoping to catch up—to stand with him among the top twenty at each awards ceremony, appearing together in the same photograph.

Gu Yan’s kidnapping was the first time Yu Sheng realized the depth of her feelings for him. It was more than a simple crush—it was love, the kind that wanted to be with him. She wanted not just to share a photo, but to stand by his side, to hand him water at the next basketball game, to ask him questions during study sessions without hesitation, to play volleyball together, to openly hold his hand—to be together.