Chapter 16

“…But not overnight.” Jiang Yi was utterly helpless with him, “I’m leaving.”

Yang Yunran: “Aren’t you afraid Jimmy will come back?”

Jiang Yi immediately frowned, “Why did you let him come back?”

“No, no, just kidding with you, haha. How could I let him come back, he’s gone home.”

Yang Yunran stopped teasing him, opened the door for him, and, fearing to disturb the neighbors, whispered, “But I really don’t like Jimmy’s type. Do you have no confidence in yourself, Dr. Jiang?”

Jiang Yi found his words strange, “What do you mean by confidence?”

“In all aspects.” Yang Yunran said, “I like clean, tattoo-free guys who have good-looking faces and bodies, are smart, and can cook well.” He spoke with a smile in his eyes, almost mentioning Jiang Yi’s name directly, and added, “Obviously, Jimmy doesn’t meet my minimum standards.”

Jiang Yi’s expression almost couldn’t hold, he turned his head away without saying anything. With Yang Yunran’s almost confession-like words, his mind was in turmoil. He turned back and looked at him earnestly again.

Yang Yunran still gazed attentively at him.

Jiang Yi’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.

“…Get some rest early.” He left straight away.

Yang Yunran didn’t realize anything, “I’ll walk you out! Wait for me to put on some clothes.”

He put on his coat and rushed out, but Jiang Yi was already in the elevator.

Yang Yunran didn’t accompany him downstairs, complaining that he left too quickly. Was his place really that scary? Yang Yunran had to return to his room, walking to the terrace that faced the road. He watched Jiang Yi get into the car, leaning against the railing and waving vigorously at him, mouthing “Goodbye!”

Jiang Yi sat in the car, looking at the vibrant boy standing on the third floor through the car window. His heart was fluctuating, then he withdrew his gaze and drove away.

It only took ten minutes to drive back to the dormitory building. It took a minute and a half to walk from the parking lot to the building. These were the coldest two days in Boston’s entire winter, with temperatures dropping below zero.

Jiang Yi’s clothes were only half-dry, and the winter wind made him even colder.

Yang Yunran sent him a message, telling him to take a shower as soon as he got home.

Yang Yunran also said, “Take another cold medicine as a precaution. I’m going to bed, I have an early class tomorrow.”

Jiang Yi didn’t reply to him, he tossed his phone aside and went into the bathroom.

His bathroom was not half as big as Yang Yunran’s, with a narrow square shower enclosure just big enough to accommodate his body.

His body wash was discounted at the supermarket, with a fresh scent of ocean and mint, and the hot water was soothing, but it only made Jiang Yi feel restless.

Yang Yunran seemed to be confessing, yet he didn’t say it directly. If Jiang Yi exposed and rejected him, their relationship would have been shattered, and that was what troubled him.

When Jiang Yi was in college, he was still young, only fourteen or fifteen years old. Even if he was outstanding in appearance and talent, he was surrounded by older brothers and sisters, so there were no romantic encounters during those years.

Perhaps starting from the age of seventeen, there were more people trying to approach him and confess their feelings for him, with constant introductions to girls. However, Jiang Yi always maintained a state of indifference towards personal relationships.

His seniors at the research institute teased him, “Jiang Yi, are you planning to spend your life with the culture medium?”

When it came to dealing with unfamiliar relationships between men and women, Jiang Yi never hesitated, directly rejecting them.

If it was someone he knew, Jiang Yi’s approach would be more tactful. If someone confessed to liking him, he would simply apologize and say he had no plans to date. For those who showed interest in him without directly confessing, his usual method was to ignore them and not respond to messages unrelated to work. If asked, he would say he was busy.

Typically, it only took about seven days for these pursuers to give up on their own.

Jiang Yi’s interpersonal relationships were simple and clean, like an orderly A4 questionnaire. He didn’t like to complicate social interactions.

Jiang Yi spent about thirty minutes in the shower, lost in thought. At one in the morning, he emerged from the bathroom naked, the room was dark, and he didn’t check his phone, so he didn’t reply to any messages, including Yang Yunran’s.

The next morning, Yang Yunran found a spare phone, logged into WeChat, and sent him a message: “Good morning, have you taken your medicine? Are you feeling cold?”

Jiang Yi didn’t reply.

Yang Yunran found it strange.

Usually, Jiang Yi would be up by six in the morning.

But it was already eight!

Could it be he was jealous all night? Is he giving me the silent treatment?

Too petty! A guy who’s almost two meters tall acting so petty!

Haha, Yang Yunran wondered how long he would keep pretending.

Yang Yunran typed: “Are you up? Are you ignoring me, brother? I’m so sad! I’ll go to class by myself then.”

He sent a sad emoji and quickly picked up his backpack, heading downstairs to walk to school.

As the son of a wealthy family, Yang Yunran lived in a location ten minutes walk from the school.

This class was Digital Marketing, taught by another professor Yang Yunran hadn’t met before, named John.

The classroom was filled with half Indian students, some Chinese students, and a few local white students.

A few classmates came over to greet him, “Roy, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

At nine in the morning, Yang Yunran took out his laptop to listen to the lecture, take notes, record, and study.

At noon, Yang Yunran took out his phone and saw that Jiang Yi still wasn’t responding to him.

Even classmates with average relationships knew to say good morning, didn’t they?

Yang Yunran wondered, “Aren’t you coming to pick me up after class to have lunch at your place? I’m so hungry. Should I take a taxi to your place myself?”

This time Jiang Yi replied.

“Busy in the lab, have your meal yourself.”

Jiang Yi tried to make his tone as cold as possible in his text, then went to the kitchen to heat up the lunchbox he brought from the apartment.

His lab mate Ken came over and asked to swap with him using a slice of bread, “Evan, let me have a piece of the meat from your lunchbox.”

Jiang Yi opened the lunchbox and let him take it, then sat down to eat expressionlessly. He seemed unhappy. Ken said contentedly, “Evan, your Chinese cuisine has changed all my prejudices against Chinese food. It’s so delicious!”

Implying if he could have a bit more.

He stared at Jiang Yi’s lunchbox, drooling, “Let’s have a gathering at your place someday.”

“Another day.”

Ken stared at his face, “You look a bit pale, and your voice sounds hoarse. Are you sick?”

“No,” Jiang Yi denied, glancing at the bread in his hand, “Is this all you’re having for lunch?”

“Yeah,” Ken spread some sauce on the bread with a knife and put a cold sausage in the middle.

He was German, so it was normal for him to eat like this.

Jiang Yi thought of Yang Yunran. What was he eating?

He didn’t ask, but he couldn’t help but wonder. Yang Yunran was adept at using various apps; he shouldn’t have trouble finding something delicious to eat, and he probably wouldn’t go hungry.

Yang Yunran and Jimmy went to eat Vietnamese noodles near the school, then went to fix their phones together.

Yang Yunran, now a thrifty young man, decided to repair instead of buying new ones.

Jimmy took out five hundred dollars, “I got this from the guy who stole your phone yesterday. He sobered up and apologized. He said he got too drunk last night.”

Yang Yunran had already decided to cut ties with his bad friends, but Jimmy was still okay, not that bad.

When the two arrived at the repair shop, Jimmy was amazed at his current level of English, “How did you learn? Self-taught in a month?”

Yang Yunran: “Learning randomly, the premise is that you have to use it.”

Jimmy, using terrible English, asked him, “You look mentally bad, was the battle intense last night? Was he hard inside you?”

“No.”

Jimmy: “Didn’t do?”

Yang Yunran said somewhat embarrassedly, “No, you better speak Chinese.”

Jimmy looked puzzled, “Is your new boyfriend impotent?”

Yang Yunran: “Of course not!”

Jimmy: “Have you done it before?”

Yang Yunran hesitated, “Probably… probably not.” Judging by body language, he and Jiang Yi should still have a very pure relationship as boyfriends.

Jimmy insisted, “Then he’s limp. He came to your house but left before staying overnight. If it’s not erectile dysfunction, then what is it?”

Yang Yunran exclaimed, “Really… he’s pretty big.”

Jimmy: “Size doesn’t guarantee performance.”

The two of them chatted unabashedly in Chinese about NSFW topics in the phone repair shop as if no one was around.

Yang Yunran also began to doubt, “Really?”

Thinking about it, it seemed possible, especially considering Jiang Yi’s indifferent attitude towards sex. How could a 27-year-old man be so restrained in this aspect? Most likely, there was something wrong.

He sighed.

Jimmy urged, “Quickly try it out. If it doesn’t work, break up soon. I’ll introduce you to someone new, bro.”

Yang Yunran said, “I don’t want to break up. I just like Jiang Yi. Let’s wait and see.”

Jimmy said, “If he’s not working out, you can endure, but bros can’t. Let me find someone for you.” Jimmy hooked his shoulder and already had his phone open, searching for a potential match. “How about this one? Handsome? Do you like him?”

For Jimmy, finding a partner was as simple as eating and drinking; if he liked someone, he’d get into bed right away, and if he didn’t, he could break up in three days. He naturally assumed Yang Yunran was the same.

Yang Yunran ignored him, sitting in the café, working on his computer.

The manager of Wan Yan Entertainment, Zhou Kai, sent him the contract.

“Teacher, please take a look at the contract. If everything is fine, we’ll need your personal information. A copy of your ID, recipient’s account number, and bank name.”

Yang Yunran carefully read the contract, “Wait a moment.”

He hesitated.

Zhou Kai asked cautiously, “Teacher Ye, is there any problem with the contract?”

Yang Yunran said, “No, I just want to add a confidentiality agreement.”

Zhou Kai became alert.

Manager: “Which aspect are you referring to?”

Yang Yunran: “Due to personal reasons, I request strict confidentiality regarding my real-life identity and personal information. I will pursue legal action if there is any breach of this agreement.”

Manager Zhou Kai was very puzzled. Were internet singers nowadays so concerned about their real-life information? Or was it because Harry Ye was too ugly, or perhaps he had a criminal record? Was he afraid of being exposed because of a lot of scandals?

Yang Yunran: “If you agree, I will send over my identity information.”

Zhou Kai said, “Wait a moment,” and immediately went to knock on the boss’s office door with his phone, saying, “Boss Lin, Harry Ye seems a bit abnormal.”

Boss Lin glanced over and said, “Isn’t it just about keeping his information confidential? That’s to be expected. Let the legal department draft another confidentiality agreement and send it over.”

Zhou Kai firmly believed, “I don’t know how ugly he really is. Let me take a look at his ID.”

Boss Lin said, “I want to see it too.”

About half an hour later, Zhou Kai sent the confidentiality agreement, and Harry Ye sent back a scanned copy of his ID.

Zhou Kai looked at the name: “Yang… Yang Yunran…?” He hesitated for a moment, then remembered who Yang Yunran was, and his eyes nearly popped out!! He zoomed in on the photo — it was indeed him!

Boss Lin: “??? Which Yang Yunran?”

Boss Lin blurted out, “No way, I go to his livestream room to heal my soul every day, and you’re telling me he’s Yang Yunran??”

Both inside and outside the entertainment circle, Yang Yunran had a notorious reputation.

Mentioning Yang Yunran was synonymous with having bad character. Because he came from a wealthy family, his father was rich, and he was privately referred to as the “Prince”.

There was no shortage of dirt on the Prince, including fighting, drinking, smoking, homosexuality, speeding, gambling — he dabbled in everything to some extent.

Zhou Kai couldn’t calm his mood: “This really is Yang Yunran. Now confidentiality is an absolute must. But Boss Lin, what if he decides to reveal it himself later? Our movie soundtrack is sung by Yang Yunran. Wouldn’t that be a disaster? This contract has risks. Should we still sign with Harry Ye?”

Boss Lin thought for a moment: “I remember he’s been whitewashing recently?”

Zhou Kai: “Yes, he’s been whitewashing, though it’s still blurry. Considering his history of falsification, could it be that he didn’t write this song? Maybe he’s not even the one singing it, especially since he wears a mask. So this might just be a tactic by his team to revive his popularity?”

Boss Lin said, “That’s a pretty smart move.”

Reinventing himself under a new pseudonym, resurrecting his reputation as a low-profile internet singer, and washing away all negative impressions from the audience.

Meanwhile, Yang Yunran was still waiting for a reply.

The contract was dealt with.

But it took five days.

During these five days, Yang Yunran and Jiang Yi had very little contact.

On one hand, Yang Yunran was busy with early morning live streams, classes, and club activities. He also spent his free time studying the Jiangxi dialect, so he couldn’t find time.

Moreover, Jimmy constantly belittles Jiang Yi in front of him: “I don’t understand what this guy is pretending to be. I just went to your place to take a shower. Isn’t it exhausting to pretend for so many days?”

Yang Yunran squatted on the roadside, poking at his phone, looking frustrated. “It’s all your fault. He’s started ignoring my calls now.”

Jimmy said, “Love-addled brain.”

Yang Yunran looked up. “I’m not love-addled. Could you please take me to MIT? I want to go to his place. Is he trying to break up with me? This can’t be. If anyone’s breaking up, it should be me…”

As soon as Jimmy heard it was about breaking up, he immediately took out his car keys. “I support you!”

Ten minutes later, Yang Yunran arrived at the dormitory building where Jiang Yi lived. Because of strict management, he had to ask a classmate for help to get upstairs.

Jiang Yi’s roommate opened the door for him. Yang Yunran politely said, “I’m a friend of Evan’s. Is he at home?”

The roommate, a Saudi Arabian, looked Yang Yunran up and down, then nodded. “Evan’s in his room. He’s sick.”

“Huh?” Yang Yunran was surprised, quickly changed his shoes, entered the room, turned right to Jiang Yi’s bedroom door, knocked twice, then opened the door handle and walked in.

Jiang Yi was sleeping.

“Jiang Yi?” Yang Yunran walked to the bedside. Jiang Yi was sleeping in pajamas, his face very red. Yang Yunran reached out to touch Jiang Yi’s forehead and was suddenly scalded.

Worry filled Yang Yunran’s face. “Are you running a fever? Is it from getting wet on the way back from my place that day? Jiang Yi, have you taken your medicine?”

Jiang Yi showed some signs of response, his eyelashes trembling a few times, slowly opening his eyes. His jet-black pupils appeared even colder against his flushed skin, with a hint of confusion.

Yang Yunran touched his face. “Are you okay? I’ll take you to the hospital!”

Jiang Yi shook his head, his voice hoarse. “I took it. Fever’s going down.”

Yang Yunran’s fingers were icy cold, feeling very comfortable on Jiang Yi’s body.

“Did you take medicine?” Yang Yunran saw the Western medicine on his bedside and reached out to pick it up. “What medicine did you take?”

Jiang Yi coughed softly. “Fever reducer.”

“Let’s go to the hospital!” He reached out to support him.

Jiang Yi pushed his hand away. “No need.”

Going to the hospital would just result in getting some medication because it wasn’t a big issue.

Yang Yunran carefully examined the medicine he took. “Your medicine is expired. Who gave it to you?”

“Ken?” 

Jiang Yi’s eyes were half-closed, his head deeply nestled into the pillow. “Ken…”

“Who is Ken? Why did he harm you?”

Jiang Yi answered hoarsely, “He’s my teammate…”

That day, Ken noticed he wasn’t feeling well and gave him a box of medicine in the lab. Neither of them checked the expiration date. Two days ago, Jiang Yi felt uncomfortable, so he took the medicine, thinking it would help. Instead of getting better, his condition worsened.

Yang Yunran squatted by his bed, gazing at his face. “Why didn’t you call me when you got sick? Why did you ignore my calls?”

Jiang Yi murmured, “Tired…”

Yang Yunran sighed. “I thought you were angry and didn’t like me, so you wanted to break up.”

Jiang Yi was puzzled. “Why would… I break up with you? Yang Yunran, what are you talking about…” That word and him, Yang Yunran, seemed unrelated.

“As long as we’re not breaking up,” Yang Yunran ran his fingers through Jiang Yi’s hair, then got up. “I’ll go buy you some medicine.”

Jiang Yi opened his eyes slowly. “Are you leaving?”

Yang Yunran looked at him and said after a pause, “No, I’ll ask someone else to buy it.”

Yang Yunran texted Jimmy, asking for help to buy some fever and cold medicine.

Then he found a thermometer, asked Jiang Yi to open his mouth, and took his temperature.

“38.7 degrees,” Yang Yunran put the thermometer aside, soaked a towel in cool water, and placed it on Jiang Yi’s forehead. Though it wasn’t obvious, he was actually very good at taking care of people. Then Yang Yunran said, “I’ll go make you some ginger soup.”

Yang Yunran busied himself in the kitchen, helped Jiang Yi up, and fed him ginger soup with a spoon. Jiang Yi turned his head away. “I can do it myself.”

Jiang Yi wasn’t used to being taken care of, especially not by Yang Yunran, but Yang Yunran was firm. “Listen to me. You’re sick with a high fever. What if you accidentally spill the ginger soup I worked so hard to make?”

Yang Yunran was a kitchen disaster. Even simple things like ginger soup were nearly a disaster.

Yang Yunran made him compromise and asked, “Is it too hot?”

Jiang Yi shook his head, his voice nasal, his eyes hazy. “How did you come here?”

“If you ignored my calls, wouldn’t I come?” Yang Yunran continued to feed him, the spoon touching his lips. “Open your mouth.”

Jiang Yi glanced at him and slightly parted his lips.

Yang Yunran put too much ginger, making the soup very spicy, causing Jiang Yi’s eyes to blur.

Putting the bowl down, Yang Yunran answered Jimmy’s call.

“I’ve bought the medicine. I’m waiting downstairs in the apartment building. Is your boyfriend sick? Tsk, what a situation.”

“Fragile?”

“No, that day he came to my place wearing wet clothes and caught a cold. I’ll come down right away.” Yang Yunran put down the soup bowl and instructed Jiang Yi, “I’ll go get the medicine. I’ll be back up soon. I need your student card to go upstairs. Where is it?”

Jiang Yi replied, “In my clothes.”

Yang Yunran then reached into his duvet, starting to rummage through his sleepwear. “Which pocket?”

Yang Yunran messed up his clothes, his hand inadvertently touching Jiang Yi’s hot abdominal muscles. Jiang Yi, thinking it was intentional, hurriedly bent his legs, blushing and holding his hand, pulling it out. “What are you doing… It’s in the jacket, be polite.”

Jiang Yi’s eyes were fully open, staring at him intensely.

“I didn’t know. Why didn’t you explain clearly?” Yang Yunran innocently found his jacket. “Is it here? Hmm… Found it.”

Yang Yunran closed the door and ran into the elevator. It only took seven minutes to go up and down.

Jimmy bought a lot of medicine. Yang Yunran carefully read the instructions one by one, took out two boxes of suitable medicine, and broke off a piece to feed Jiang Yi. “Drink water and swallow the medicine.”

Jiang Yi turned his head. “Who bought them?”

“Jimmy did,” Yang Yunran said.

Jiang Yi closed his lips and turned his face uncomfortably. “I won’t take it.”

“…”

“He wouldn’t poison you! You’re being too dramatic. Hurry up and take it. Are you going to take it or not?” Yang Yunran pinched Jiang Yi’s chin, getting close to him. “Otherwise, I’ll feed you with my mouth.”

Jiang Yi widened his eyes, so Yang Yunran hurriedly shoved the pill into his mouth and touched his lips with the water cup. “Swallow it.”

Jiang Yi had no choice but to swallow the medicine. He quietly leaned against the head of the bed, gazing at his younger brother with a complex look for a while. He sounded a bit tired as he said, “Thank you, Yang Yunran. You can go back now.”

Although he said thank you, his attitude was quite cold and distant. Yang Yunran felt a bit hurt. He knelt by the bedside, shorter than Jiang Yi, and looked into his eyes, but Jiang Yi avoided his gaze.

Yang Yunran said, “Do you really not like me?”

Even when sick, couldn’t he reply to his messages, answer a call, and say, “I’m sick”? Was that so difficult?

And who calls their partner by their full name?

Jiang Yi’s eyelashes drooped slightly, his expression indifferent. He said, “Maybe the kind of liking you want is different.”

Yang Yunran’s lips twitched. “What kind of liking do I want? How would I not know?”

Jiang Yi remained silent for a while before saying, “I’m sorry.”

Yang Yunran couldn’t force a smile. “Are you confused about being sick?”

“Is it because I didn’t give you money to spend?”

Jiang Yi still said, “I’m sorry. I treated you like a little brother. Whether you have money or not has nothing to do with it.”

He refused very tactfully, thinking he had made it clear to Yang Yunran and that Yang Yunran understood. Because Yang Yunran’s next words were, “Oh, okay then. I won’t talk to you anymore. I’ll go find someone else to date.”

Yang Yunran defined it as a breakup.

But Jiang Yi’s response sounded harsh, “Who are you going to find?”

Yang Yunran pretended to be casual, but his nose was sour. He turned his head away and said, “It’s none of your business. Why do you care so much… Jimmy introduced me to a few handsome guys. I haven’t met them yet.”

Although Jiang Yi didn’t have the authority to interfere, he was still unhappy. He couldn’t understand why he felt this way. Unable to help himself, he advised him, “Don’t associate with shady characters.”

“What kind of people are considered shady?” Yang Yunran’s expression was stubborn, his eyes already red.

Jiang Yi noticed his current state and was momentarily stunned. He said, “Those who perform poorly in their studies…”

“Is performing poorly in studies equivalent to being shady? You’re too judgmental. How many good people have you condemned? Who else can be as academically excellent as you, the noble MIT Ph.D.?” Yang Yunran couldn’t help but be sarcastic and pout.

He turned around and grabbed two pieces of paper.

Jiang Yi noticed that he buried his head without speaking, and he was actually sobbing, completely at a loss. He frowned. Did he cry because he was upset that Jiang Yi didn’t want to date him?

“I’m sorry… Please don’t cry.” Jiang Yi wanted to comfort him but didn’t know how to proceed because he couldn’t date or even sleep with Yang Yunran. He didn’t like guys.

Then Yang Yunran goes on crazy dates, pretending to be a big shot.