Chapter 15: Don’t use too much force, I’m afraid of pain

The hot water gradually filled the bathtub in the bathroom, creating a misty atmosphere.

Discarded clothes were casually thrown into the dirty laundry basket next to the bathtub. The laundry basket, placed by the shelf, unintentionally touched the pale roses in the vase on the shelf, causing the petals to sway, and water droplets slid from the flower’s stem.

The bathroom was brightly lit, casting light on Su Lixu soaking in the water. Ripples spread as the fair skin glistened in the water, and the bite mark on his chest was clearly visible.

With a splash, Su Lixu emerged from the water, hands on the tub edge, gasping. Water dripped from his fingertips, wet strands falling onto his clavicle and shoulders.

His gaze fixated on the pale roses in the nearby vase.

—Brother, I miss you so much. Why can’t you spend more time with me?

—Brother, let me go. I don’t want to be hospitalized; I’m really going crazy.

—Brother, I’m not sick. Why do I have to take medicine? As long as you’re with me, I don’t need to be hospitalized. Please don’t leave, okay?

The scent of 922 perfume triggered thoughts of his brother, Su Liyang, but without the usual sadness. His hand instinctively reached towards the tooth mark on his left chest, shuddering upon contact.

—Dr. Su, I keep thinking about biting you here. Am I a pervert?

—Dr. Su, I’m so scared. I can’t control myself. What should I do? But I don’t want to be hospitalized.

—Dr. Su, you must save me, okay?

In his mind, Fu Xingran’s face gradually overlapped with Su Liyang’s.

Is this a form of wishful thinking?

Not exactly, but dealing with Fu Xingran might alleviate his pain.

At least he found a way to relieve himself. Even if he didn’t know whether Fu Xingran approaching him had ulterior motives, it wasn’t a concern for him. On the contrary, it made him sigh with relief.

Having soaked in the bathtub for an unknown duration, feeling a bit dizzy, he finally stood up. However, as he stepped out of the tub, a moment of carelessness led to a slip, and he tumbled to the floor when his foot slid.

The impact on his buttocks, reaching his waist, instantly drained the color from his face.

“…”

After an unknown amount of time, he attempted to prop himself up with his hands but found his waist too sore to exert any force.

Knock, knock, knock—

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the bathroom door from outside, accompanied by Fu Xingran’s voice: “Brother, I heard a noise. Is everything okay?”

Su Lixu glanced at his awkward posture, realizing that if Fu Xingran came in, it would be quite revealing. However, if he didn’t call Fu Xingran, he figured he might be lying here unable to recover until tomorrow.

“Xingran, can you come in for a moment?”

Fu Xingran outside the door paused in his knocking, tightening his throat upon hearing Su Lixu’s request. He stared at the door, excitement evident in his eyes.

Such a fortunate turn of events?

He pushed open the bathroom door, freezing in place the moment he entered.

The bathroom was brightly lit, and the man sitting by the bathtub was not wearing much, wet hair clinging to him. The dazzlingly white skin seemed to match the bathtub behind him, radiating a cold light akin to porcelain.

His long, slightly bent legs were flawless, water droplets cascading down, making it seem like even the droplets were coveting those attractive legs.

Su Lixu met Fu Xingran’s stunned expression, perhaps due to the awkward posture, the scene felt a bit uncomfortable, more awkward than witnessing a social death. But there was no way around it; he had to involve Fu Xingran.

Fu Xingran’s gaze landed on Su Lixu’s reddened ears and slowly descended.

He noticed that this man was exceptionally fair, with a faint blush on his shoulders, arms, everywhere, much like the pale roses in the vase on the shelf by the bathtub. It was a delicate, beautiful shade of white.

“Why so careless?” Walking into the bathroom, he casually pulled a large bath towel from the nearby shelf, then walked over to Su Lixu, crouching down to drape it over him.

Inadvertently, he caught a glimpse of the bite mark on Su Lixu’s left chest. As if stimulated at an exciting point, the bite mark was still there—his mark, his trace. The corners of his lips slightly curved downward.

He then forced himself to avert his gaze, wrapping Su Lixu securely with the bath towel. His hands reached through the crook of Su Lixu’s knees, lifting him horizontally.

“You slipped without paying attention.” Su Lixu, seeing how effortlessly Fu Xingran lifted him, marveled at the guy’s strength. Indeed, youth made a difference.

“Did you twist your waist and ankles again?”

“A bit.” Su Lixu thought it best not to mention the awkward area of his buttocks. A little rest should suffice.

Carrying Su Lixu back to the bedroom, Fu Xingran gently laid him on the bed. He pulled the bedding from the side, covering Su Lixu’s bare body, leaving only the lower part of his legs exposed.Sitting on the edge of the bed, Fu Xingran carefully grasped Su Lixu’s ankle. Feeling the coolness of the foot and noticing the swelling more pronounced than when he saw it in the afternoon, his brows furrowed even tighter.

Su Lixu caught sight of Fu Xingran’s expression, with stray hair covering his brows. The stern countenance, the oppressive silence when not speaking, starkly contrasted the playful and clingy demeanor he knew. The features exuded an aura of sternness, giving off an intimidating vibe.

“Will it hurt like this?” Fu Xingran moved Su Lixu’s ankle, inquiring.

“A little.”

“Is it more painful than in the afternoon?”

“Yeah.”

“What about your waist?” Fu Xingran released the ankle, his hand reaching into the bedding, pressing against Su Lixu’s waist.

When Su Lixu’s lower back felt the touch, he instinctively shrunk, unable to hold back a laugh. In the next moment, he accidentally moved to the side where he had the sprained waist, letting out a painful cry but quickly biting his lip to endure it.

Fu Xingran observed all of Su Lixu’s expressions. His hand continued, kneading the uncomfortable side of Su Lixu’s waist, feeling the slender body:

“Did you sprain it on this side?”

So slim, too thin.

“Yeah, it’s this side.”

“So, after falling just now, you couldn’t stand up, right?”

Leaving Su Lixu alone wasn’t an option; it was too worrisome. He had to stay with him.

Yeah, another reason.

Su Lixu nodded, realizing it explained why Fu Xingran hadn’t even given him a towel, which would have been too awkward.

Fu Xingran remained indifferent in expression. His reluctantly departing hand left the waist, then he looked at Su Lixu seriously and said, “I’m worried about you, brother. Tonight, I’ll sleep with you. Let me blow-dry your hair first.”

Saying that, he stood up to fetch a towel and hairdryer, intending to help Su Lixu with his hair.

Quite familiar.

Su Lixu: “…” Is this so casual?

Due to the intense pain in his waist, he could only lie on the bed, letting Fu Xingran sit beside him and blow-dry his hair. Perhaps the comfort of the hairdryer induced a drowsy feeling, and he yawned while resting in the crook of Fu Xingran’s arm.

“Are you sleepy?”

Fu Xingran sat on the edge of the bed, holding a hairdryer and gently blowing Su Lixu’s hair. The soft strands slipped through his fingers as he watched Su Lixu slowly close his eyes, the exquisite profile softened unbelievably under the warm orange light.

“Mmm,” Su Lixu murmured with a hazy consciousness, “so comfortable.”

“I can make you even more comfortable.” Fu Xingran turned off the hairdryer, leaning forward and whispered near Su Lixu’s ear, “Brother, can I give you a massage?”

With closed eyes, Su Lixu laughed upon hearing Fu Xingran’s suggestion, “You can massage too? Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Want to give it a try?” Fu Xingran’s hand traced Su Lixu’s nape, feeling the delicate and firm skin beneath his palm. He gently pinched, “My massages are quite pleasant. I can help with your back, so you won’t need to go to the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to ask someone else for a massage.”

He couldn’t let someone else do it, or his “Doctor Su” would be completely exposed.

“Yes,” Su Lixu opened his eyes, his chin against his arm, slightly turning his head to look at Fu Xingran, “but don’t use too much force; I’m afraid it might hurt.

“Fu Xingran met Su Lixu’s drowsy eyes, and the beautiful amber-colored pupils created rippling reflections. His voice, soft and almost coquettish, sounded like a playful tease, disturbing Fu Xingran’s peace of mind and making his hand less steady.

He smiled down:

“Sure.”