As the doctor continued to list the symptoms, Si Xuanyang’s expression became more serious, eventually becoming grim.

Noticing something amiss, the doctor suddenly felt as though he saw a murderous intent in Si Xuanyang’s eyes. Forgetting that this was a law-abiding society, he shivered involuntarily, his voice trailing off, awkwardly laughing and saying, “These are just possible symptoms. Mr. Yu’s physical condition is good, and if he recovers quickly, he might just faint a couple of times and then recover, haha…”

Faint a couple of times and recover? Is that supposed to be comforting?

Si Xuanyang’s eye twitched slightly as he glared coldly at the doctor, while the head nurse sighed deeply, nodded lightly at Si Xuanyang, and quickly dragged the doctor out of the room.

Yu Sen, who had been sleeping for a long time and felt uncomfortable all over, now had a bit of strength. While Si Xuanyang and the doctor were talking, he started shifting around on the bed, but Si Xuanyang’s sharp gaze immediately pinned him down: “Are you a caterpillar?”

“…Weren’t you just calling me your Sleeping Beauty? Indeed, men’s hearts can’t stay steadfast for even ten minutes.”

Si Xuanyang sighed, walked over, adjusted the upper part of the bed, rearranged the pillow to make him more comfortable, and handed him a cup with a straw: “Drink slowly.”

Yu Sen took a sip from the cup with his help, suddenly remembering something. He touched his neck, which was smooth without any wounds, just a bit cold, probably due to blood loss. He then touched the corner of his mouth, feeling a slight pain and some swelling.

It seemed this clock world was quite intelligent. Some injuries that were difficult to explain in real life had been substituted with the worsening of his existing head injury, which not only avoided awkward explanations in the real world but also gave him a taste of suffering.

Si Xuanyang watched his fingers linger on his lips, where the lower part seemed slightly swollen and red, with traces of water from the drink, resembling jelly. His gaze darkened, and he asked softly, “What are you touching?”

“I’m touching the bite mark from Lance,” Yu Sen recalled. “Luckily, these injuries don’t come back with me; otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to explain turning out like that overnight. People might even think I am into BDSM…”

Si Xuanyang thought back to the moment he found Yu Sen on the fourth floor, soaked in blood, a sight that might haunt him for the rest of his life.

Seeing Si Xuanyang’s sudden change in expression, Yu Sen misunderstood and quickly retracted his hand from his lips, grinning as he leaned in: “What’s wrong, Yang Yang? Are you jealous because Lance bit me all over?”

Si Xuanyang froze slightly, then frowned and gently pushed him back, his movements slow but his tone sharp: “Lie down properly.”

After a long silence, Yu Sen looked at him in confusion and then heard Si Xuanyang softly say, “…I’m more upset that I arrived too late.”

Yu Sen was momentarily stunned. The word “more” implied that there was a “lesser” feeling of jealousy before, so he was jealous, right?

Yu Sen, who tended to take an inch when given a mile, decided to push his luck: “So, about that… thing I lied to you about before, can we just call it even?”

Si Xuanyang raised an eyebrow: “If you can fully recover within two weeks, then we’ll call it even.”

That’s just impossible! Yu Sen was annoyed; his current state was practically half-crippled, how could he possibly recover in two weeks?

Empty promises!

“What were you two just talking about?” Si Nan entered, carrying two thermos flasks, with Luo Yu following behind. “What do you mean by ‘even’? Yu Ge, what did you lie to Yang Yang about?”

Great, the other main character of the story has arrived, and Si Xuanyang’s expression became even colder.

Yu Sen looked at Si Nan in frustration and said, “What kind of nosy ears do you have? Shouldn’t you be expressing deep concern for me as soon as you come in? Why are you starting with gossip?”

“You, sir, are a long-lasting menace; I’m not worried at all!” Si Nan shook his head, his annoying expression making Yu Sen want to strangle him.

“You little brat…” Unable to watch anymore, Yu Sen closed his eyes and weakly waved him away as he burrowed into the blanket. “Just leave the food, and you can be dismissed.”

Si Nan noticed his fatigued expression and asked with concern, “Are you feeling really uncomfortable? Do you want me to stay and keep you company, just in case something happens…”

“I’ll stay,” Si Xuanyang interrupted him, “You can go back and rest for a couple of days, and… try not to come back too often.”

“…”

Si Nan’s mouth twitched as his mind suddenly recalled the sticky interactions between these two in the clock world, and his face turned pale: “Are you two seriously together?”

Now that topic really got Yu Sen’s attention! He perked up under the covers, listening intently without moving.

But instead of Si Xuanyang’s response, the blanket over Yu Sen’s head was yanked away.

“Don’t sleep with your head covered; it will make it hard to breathe.”

Yu Sen kept his eyes closed and said nothing, determined to continue pretending to be dead.

“Yang Yang!” Si Nan called out to him anxiously.

“Lower your voice,” Luo Yu whispered. “Yu Ge needs to rest.”

“……”

Si Xuanyang looked down at Yu Sen’s face. His bone structure was excellent, with clean lines and distinct features. Perhaps due to his prominent brow ridge, his eye sockets were a bit deeper than usual for an Asian. His long, thick eyelashes cast a shadow, giving him a melancholic yet affectionate look.

Although it didn’t quite match his personality, it was enough to confuse many people.

Si Xuanyang smiled slightly, his index finger brushing Yu Sen’s face. Turning his back to Si Nan, he whispered, “Of course, I’m serious about him. As for him… he wouldn’t dare not be serious. If he deceives me again, I will be even harsher than Lance.”

The deep, ominous tone made Yu Sen shiver involuntarily, and he belatedly realized that he seemed to have fallen into a very serious pit.

What does “be even harsher than Lance” mean? What kind of action?

Would he bite him to death?

Or was he misunderstanding the meaning?

He wouldn’t… make him his plaything, would he?

Yu Sen clenched his eyes shut, his heart pounding loudly, increasingly frustrated and aggrieved: I was wrong about you, Si Xuanyang!

He thought Si Xuanyang was a new-age good kid with a hot-temper but a kind and soft heart. How could he have such a gloomy, ruthless, and villainous mindset!?

And to think it was he who had used the identity of a “in-law” to fool this person around. How did he end up becoming the passive one!?

Why did being a top need such a difficult fate! Why doesn’t Si Nan have these problems!?

Yu Sen felt he had to take control. First of all, he couldn’t fall behind in this first step; falling behind once meant falling behind in everything!

He suddenly opened his eyes, grasped Si Xuanyang’s hand, and said in a deep voice, “Yang Yang, rest assured, I’m definitely serious about you. I’ve already said I would go to your house to propose, and I will definitely fulfill that promise as soon as possible! I will propose!”

The word “propose” was said with such emphasis, intonation, and gritted teeth!

Si Nan’s forehead was twitching with anger. Staying any longer might make him lose control and lead to some bloodshed. He snorted coldly, dragged Luo Yu, and left the ward.

Leaving the two inside, staring at each other.

Yu Sen smiled innocently. “Since the matter is settled, I’ll sleep now. You think about the key points in the words.”

Then he suddenly closed his eyes again, turned his back, and moved his IV hand towards Si Xuanyang, afraid he might figure out something wrong and immediately get up in outrage. He couldn’t defend himself at all.

“Playing dead” was always the best strategy.

Hopefully, Second Young Master Si would, out of consideration for him being a patient, reluctantly act like a decent person.

Si Xuanyang stared blankly for a while before he chuckled helplessly. He adjusted the drip bottle’s speed, brushed Yu Sen’s stray hair from his forehead, and sat on the bed’s edge, scrolling through his phone.

WeChat vibrated unexpectedly several times.

[Si Nan: Are you really going to date Yu Ge? Be together? Get married!?]

[Si Nan: You never showed any signs of this before! How did you end up liking men? Mom will kill me; and she’ll probably suspect Dad of having deceived her. She’ll think it’s hereditary!]

Si Xuanyang responded calmly: “Then you’re spared. The one who should worry is Dad.”

After a pause, he added: “When are you bringing Luo Yu back to meet Mom and Dad?”

Si Nan’s side showed typing, but no reply came for a long time before he finally sent: “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Si Xuanyang: Scumbag.

He looked at Yu Sen on the hospital bed. He had been pretending to sleep but had actually fallen into a real sleep due to weakness. His chin was covered by the blanket, revealing only half of his pale face. He was quiet as a porcelain doll, which made Si Xuanyang’s heart ache.

He tapped on his phone, thinking that before Yu Sen’s sudden proposal, someone should first test the waters.

Scrolling through the WeChat contacts, he selected his mother’s WeChat ID and typed slowly.

[Mom, Si Nan is dating. He said he would take that man abroad next week to get the certificate. Don’t tell him I reported it, okay?]

As soon as the message was sent, the phone rang insistently.

[Mum: Video call request]

Si Xuanyang quickly silenced the ringtone, comforted Yu Sen’s trembling hand, and typed with one hand: “I’m not available to talk right now.”

[Mum: Is your brother crazy!? He hasn’t even brought anyone home for us to meet, and now he’s getting a marriage certificate!?]

[Mum: Has he secretly arranged a wedding? Who did he invite? Why didn’t anyone tell me? This is outrageous!]

[Mum: He hasn’t even bought a new house, has he? Which district? Not abroad, right?]

[Mum: Is he insane!?]

…

Si Xuanyang looked at the bombardment of messages on his phone and reflected that it was inevitable he would believe Yu Sen was his in-law. Just like his mom, he could automatically fill in all the details from a single statement.

It’s like when someone says a brief introduction, they can fill in a whole novel’s plot, from meeting to having children, including where the kids go to school.

A remarkable talent, passed down through generations.

That’s called heredity!

^[1]Author’s Note:

Si Nan is also pitiful, always being a scapegoat. Sigh~ Perhaps he just looks like someone people want to bully.