Chapter 9: The Ninth Dimension 2/2

As soon as he said it, Song Fuzhi regretted it. This sentence seemed to imply a plea for Shi Zhang to help him buy some.

Quickly, he added, “But the ice pack is enough; it’s not too painful.”

Seemingly not hearing the last sentence, Shi Zhang asked, “Shall I buy a box for you?”

As soon as Song Fuzhi heard the words “come over,” the muscles in his shoulders tightened. At this point, he looked terrible and couldn’t face anyone.

“Thank you, Professor Shi, but it’s not necessary. I appreciate it.”

Then he added, “Don’t come over.”

Shi Zhang paused for a few seconds and promised, “Okay, I won’t come.”

Then, in a gentler tone, Shi Zhang sought his opinion: “Shall I order the medicine online and have it delivered by express courier? Is that okay?”

The tense muscles relaxed a bit. Song Fuzhi changed his posture while holding the ice pack, and with his eyelashes covering his lowered eyes, he thought silently.

“Okay,” Song Fuzhi heard himself say.

“It’s really troubling you.”

“Not at all.”

Shi Zhang said, “Mr. Song, could you please tell me your address?”

Song Fuzhi mentioned the name of his residential area and added, “Just have the courier leave it at the entrance. The security guard knows me and will bring it up.”

“Alright, I’ve placed the order. It’ll be there in about half an hour.”

This man was undoubtedly an action-oriented person.

Song Fuzhi, with his eyes closed, smiled lightly and sincerely said, “Thank you, Professor Shi. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”

“Don’t think about treating me; rest well,” Shi Zhang said.

With just a few simple sentences, Shi Zhang’s image in Song Fuzhi’s mind became a bit more complete.

Shi Zhang was undoubtedly considerate, and more importantly, his consideration was just right.

If Song Fuzhi asked him not to come, he wouldn’t. Professor Shi understood boundaries and knew how to leave people their personal space.

Song Fuzhi’s head still hurt, but his mood improved a lot.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.

The express delivery was quite fast.

Song Fuzhi, who was in pain, struggled to get up from the bed. He casually ran his fingers through his hair, picked up a coat, and headed outside with unsteady steps.

He responded with a “coming” and opened the door. Suddenly, he froze, furrowed his brows, and sternly asked, “How did you get in?”

Standing outside the door was, unexpectedly, Qiao Xuyang.

Qiao Xuyang was also startled, stammering, “I learned to bake cakes and originally wanted to give them to you at your school. However, you weren’t there, and the other teachers said you left early because of a headache.”

Going to the school, delivering a cake, and quietly arriving at the doorstep—every step hit Song Fuzhi’s nerve points.

Suppressing his anger, Song Fuzhi asked, “How did you know my home address?”

“My bad, my bad,” Qiao Xuyang apologized with a smile, revealing two small dimples on his cheeks. “Our dads used to be colleagues, right? I asked my dad about your address before, thinking that maybe I could give you a surprise or a blessing in the future. And now, it came in handy.”

“I didn’t expect you to be sick.”

The smile faded from Qiao Xuyang’s face, and he raised the bag in his hand. “I bought some headache medicine on the way and a cake I made myself. Take them both.”

“Thanks, but it’s not necessary.”

Song Fuzhi turned to close the door and go back inside.

“Brother.” Qiao Xuyang suddenly took a step forward. His handsome eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his face showed genuine concern and urgency.

“Let me take care of you. I’ll leave once your headache gets better.”

With one hand still holding the door, he seemed to be about to come in.

The lights were off in the room, and only the outline of the living room could be seen. However, if Qiao Xuyang entered, within five steps, he would see shelves full of figurines and Gundam models. On the coffee table, there were open manga books.

These were trivial matters, but even if the house was spotless, Song Fuzhi detested others stepping into his personal space.

With lips turning pale from pain, Song Fuzhi, who was on the verge of collapsing, had to reason with a young troublemaker, “Leave now.”

Qiao Xuyang wrinkled his brow and seemed to want to say something more. Suddenly, a security guard in a work uniform came out of the elevator. Seeing Song Fuzhi, he waved and walked over with a bag of things.

“Teacher Song, the medicine you ordered.”

Qiao Xuyang stepped back two paces, watching as Song Fuzhi took the bag from the security guard.

“You’re sick, Teacher Song?” The security guard advised him with concern, “Don’t labor for those kids too much. Your health is the most important, right?”

Song Fuzhi smiled and said, “Thank you; I’ll be careful.”

The security guard patted Qiao Xuyang’s arm before leaving, saying, “Friend of Teacher Song, right? Take care of him.”

Qiao Xuyang sweetly replied, “Sure!”

“Brother, you bought the medicine yourself.”

After the security guard left, Qiao Xuyang’s face lit up with a clear smile. “The security uncle said to take care of you. How about taking the medicine and resting? I’ll make dinner for you.”

Song Fuzhi, leaning against the door frame, said casually, “I didn’t buy it myself.”

“Huh?”

Song Fuzhi sounded tired. “The medicine was bought for me by someone else.”

The implication in her words was clear enough—someone else cares for me; I accept their help, not yours.

Qiao Xuyang’s expression gradually became restrained. His thoughts shifted, and he smiled again. “What about that person? Knowing you’re unwell, they send medicine but don’t come in person.”

The implication was also clear; the authenticity of this person was questionable. Even if he existed, he didn’t care for you like I do because I’m here to take care of you, and he isn’t.

Song Fuzhi was not interested in playing this complicated game with Qiao Xuyang. She wearily closed her eyes and turned to close the door.

“Don’t stay in front of my door; I didn’t invite you.”

The door slammed shut in front of him.

Song Fuzhi lay on the bed, holding the medicine given by Shi Zhang. He sighed faintly.

The difference between the two in this matter was too obvious.

Shi Zhang knew boundaries and understood distance, while Qiao Xuyang thought he was being kind but was impulsive and insisted on offering care.

For Song Fuzhi, the balance was undoubtedly tilted in favor of one person.

Some people are more suitable.

Outside the door, Qiao Xuyang stood silently for a long time. He bent down to place a cake at Song Fuzhi’s door before leaving with the bag of medicine.

This person’s heart seemed to be made of stone, incapable of being warmed.

Qiao Xuyang knew in his heart that when his elder brother, Fuzhi, mentioned having someone around, it was just an excuse to reject him, and there was no such person.

Being rejected repeatedly wasn’t a good feeling, but the challenge of Song Fuzhi’s rejection only fueled Qiao Xuyang’s interest. He really wanted to conquer this restrained, mature man.

Qiao Xuyang went downstairs, casually helping an unknown old lady dispose of her trash before strolling out.

In the warm afternoon sunlight, amidst the hustle and bustle of the street, Qiao Xuyang suddenly stopped and slowed his pace.

Across the street from the community, a dark gray Volvo was parked. The window was partially lowered, revealing the upper half of a man’s face inside.

With clean and simple brows and eyes and a soft curve at the end of his eyes, he is a man with a charming temperament, clearly of the most charming age.

He was gazing at the entrance of the community, his gaze deep, revealing no emotion.

Qiao Xuyang felt the man looked familiar but couldn’t remember where he had seen him.

Perhaps it was male intuition; the man suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Qiao Xuyang, who had just walked out of the community.

At that moment of eye contact, Qiao Xuyang’s heart tightened, and his limbs felt a bit cold.

He remembered; this man sat across from Song Fuzhi in that café where he gave roses to Song Fuzhi.