Yu Yan’s gaze fell on the box of fruit as he explained, “This is his way of thanking me.”

Shen Yuming didn’t respond and turned his attention back to his work.

Although the addition of a new bed in the single-occupancy hospital room didn’t make the space feel cramped, Yu Yan still felt uncomfortable, as if the bed was somehow in the way.

He peeled two mandarins and cut up an apple, arranging them into a simple fruit platter.

“Want some fruit?”

Shen Yuming didn’t even look at him. “You eat it.”

“It’s pretty good,” Yu Yan muttered, puzzled. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Yuming’s reaction was a little odd.

As he leaned against the cabinet and finished the entire fruit platter, he suddenly remembered the time Shen Yuming complained that the mandarins Cao Yuanye had sent were too sour.

A strange thought began to form in his mind, and he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Returning naturally to his bed, Yu Yan skillfully opened the group chat “Spring Blooms at 14-15(6).”

[Yu Yan: SOS!!!]
[He Zhiyu: Press 1 for relationship issues, 2 for work issues.]
[Yu Yan: Connect me to a human.]
[He Zhiyu: There are 999+ customers ahead of you. Estimated wait time: 999+ hours. Please be patient.]
[Song Yunjing: 1.]
[Yu Yan: What do I do if I think my friend likes me?]
[Cao Yuanye: Isn’t it your friend’s friend who likes your friend?]
[He Zhiyu: Everyone, come look—an honest man.]
[Yu Yan: Don’t mind that. How do I confirm if he likes me?]
[Chen Qingyu (He’s sidekick version): Slap him and see if he slaps you back.]
[Yu Yan: ???]
[Song Yunjing: That’s easy. Just test it.]
[Yu Yan: Test how?]
[He Zhiyu: Kiss him and see if he slaps you.]

Yu Yan was already used to the unreliable responses of He Zhiyu and Chen Qingyu, so he automatically ignored their answers and turned to Song Yunjing and Jian Ran for advice.

[Song Yunjing: Try doing something more intimate with him on purpose or tease him verbally to see if he reacts.]
[Yu Yan: What kind of reaction?]
[Chen Qingyu (He’s sidekick version): … Is this really appropriate?]
[Song Yunjing: Use your brain! I mean, check if he resists!]

What counts as intimate? Does hugging count? Anything further would practically be harassment, wouldn’t it?

When they had shared a bed before, Shen Yuming didn’t seem to resist at all.

Yu Yan felt that Shen Yuming probably liked him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have said things like “wearing couple outfits” or “dying together” in jest. But a few days ago, Yu Chen had said Shen Yuming was about to start dating someone and told him not to disturb him.

Confused, Yu Yan decided to put theory into practice!

Just as he got up to head over, his phone buzzed with a series of messages.

In the end, he abruptly turned back and flopped onto the bed again.

Shen Yuming raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing. Just remembered something I forgot to take care of.”

[Jian Ran: If he really does like you, have you thought about what you’ll do?]
[Chen Qingyu (He’s sidekick version): What’s there to think about? Either date or cut ties.]

Yu Yan had never considered this before. What would he do if Shen Yuming really liked him?

He couldn’t bear to cut ties with Shen Yuming, nor had he ever thought about dating him. But more than anything, he didn’t want Shen Yuming to date anyone else.

[He Zhiyu: I have the perfect solution!]

[Yuyan: Tell me your idea?]

[He Zhiyu: Find someone to pretend to be your boyfriend. First, you can test his reaction, and second, you can gauge your position in his heart. Two birds with one stone! Brilliant! Only someone as clever as I, He Zhiyu, could come up with such a perfect idea!]

[Yuyan: …]

[He Zhiyu: I, He Zhiyu, as a professional actor and future movie emperor, am willing to sacrifice my precious rest time to lend you a hand.]

He’s more interested in watching the drama than actually helping, isn’t he?

Yuyan knew better than to expect any useful advice from He Zhiyu.

Now, what legitimate reason could he use to get closer to Shen Yuchen and carry out this plan?

After hesitating for a while, Yuyan decided to throw caution to the wind and simply sat on the bed opposite.

“What are you working on?”

Shen Yuchen turned his laptop screen to him. “This year’s project plan.”

The densely packed words made Yuyan’s head spin. His gaze shifted from Shen Yuchen’s brow to his eyes, nose, and finally lingered on his slightly thin lips.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Yuchen noticed something odd about his behavior and reached out to touch Yuyan’s forehead.

“I’m not running a fever,” Yuyan complained. “You…”

“What about me?”

Yuyan looked at him with a hint of grievance. “I heard you’re going on a blind date?”

Shen Yuchen shut his laptop and shifted inward slightly. “Who told you that?”

“My brother,” Yuyan replied, taking the opportunity to kick off his shoes and lie on the bed beside him.

“That’s not true. Don’t listen to his nonsense,” Shen Yuchen said without even needing to think.

“Oh,” Yuyan replied, dragging the word out. “So you’re still single and not interested in dating?”

The bed wasn’t very large, and their arms were touching. Yuyan’s mind was filled with Song Yunjing’s words about “intimate actions.”

He had rehearsed this scene in his mind a hundred times, but he couldn’t quite muster the courage to take that step.

“No,” Shen Yuchen said, offering no further explanation.

Yuyan pressed on immediately. “Why? Do you have someone you like? Are you planning to date?”

“I have no plans for now. Don’t worry,” Shen Yuchen said with a light laugh.

“Why would I be worried? I’m not worried at all,” Yuyan muttered under his breath.

“Tomorrow afternoon, I have something to do,” Shen Yuchen said, elbowing Yuyan lightly.

“What is it?”

The excuse Yuyan had prepared circled on the tip of his tongue before he swallowed it and grinned. “A blind date.”

Shen Yuchen’s expression didn’t change. “A blind date? With whom?”

“I don’t know. It’s someone my family set up,” Yuyan said casually, all the while watching Shen Yuchen’s face, hoping to discern any emotion. But he failed.

“Age, personality, job, family background—you know nothing about them?” Shen Yuchen raised his brow slightly.

Yuyan paused for a moment. “The age should be similar to mine. The personality should be good; otherwise, my family wouldn’t have set it up. The job is supposed to be decent, and the family background… probably on par with mine.”

Since the person didn’t exist, it was hard for Yuyan to come up with details.

Shen Yuchen dragged out an “Oh,” then asked, “One last question—what’s the gender of your blind date?”

Caught off guard, Yuyan bit his tongue.

Who was testing whom here?

“I don’t know!” Yuyan snapped, flustered. “And you’re not allowed to ask any more questions!”

Shen Yuchen chuckled softly. “Alright, I won’t ask. Do you have anything to ask me?”

“No.” Yuyan’s tone was firm.

A knock on the door interrupted them, and Yuyan immediately got off the bed to open it. Outside stood Jiang Mo and a worker in uniform.

“Mom, what brings you here?” Yuyan asked curiously.

Jiang Mo held up a lunchbox. “I came to bring you two lunch.”

Yuyan glanced at the worker. “What’s he here to fix?”

“This? Your brother thought you two might get bored staying in the hospital, so he arranged for someone to install a projector so you can watch movies or play games. All the equipment is brand new,” Jiang Mo explained.

Yuyan was stunned. “He really… went to great lengths.”

“Your brother picked out all the equipment himself,” Jiang Mo said as she set down the lunchboxes. “Yuchen, set aside your work for now and eat lunch first.”

“Thank you, Auntie.” Shen Yuming put down his phone.

Today’s meal was prepared by the family chef, with both spicy and mild dishes to suit their tastes. The thing that delighted Yu Yan the most was that the shrimp had already been peeled.

“I made corn and rib soup today; make sure you have two bowls,” Jiang Mo said as she placed two bowls of soup in front of them.

Yu Yan nodded. “Good for the bones. What about my brother?”

“With only a few months left until the wedding, he’s been really busy. They’re planning to go on a honeymoon before the wedding,” Jiang Mo explained.

“Doesn’t that leave all the company matters to you and Dad?”

“Your dad is busy too. Just last night, the two of them were discussing getting you to come back to the company to help.”

Yu Yan shook his head vigorously. “No way.”

“This child. You’re not even willing to help out at your own family’s company? Riding to work with your dad every day sounds a lot better than taking taxis, doesn’t it?” Jiang Mo couldn’t understand why Yu Yan preferred taxis over having a driver.

Yu Yan still refused. “Who says I always take taxis? Brother Chen gives me rides too. Right, Chen-ge?”

Shen Yuming nodded. “Hmm.”

“Don’t keep troubling him,” Jiang Mo said with a chuckle.

“Chen-ge doesn’t find it troublesome, right?”

Shen Yuming nodded again. “Right.”

Jiang Mo gave them a teasing scolding but didn’t press further. “I won’t come by tonight.”

“No problem, we’ll order takeout,” Yu Yan replied casually.

“Not quite. Shu Jun said she’ll bring you dinner tonight. You’re in for a treat; her Cantonese dishes are excellent,” Jiang Mo said as she gathered up the lunchboxes.

“Really?” Yu Yan looked at Shen Yuming in confusion, only to find that the latter was just as surprised as he was.

With work waiting at the office, Jiang Mo left after delivering the meal.

The so-called “intimacy test plan” never got off the ground because Yu Yan couldn’t bring himself to act on it.

Even though they were already sharing the same bed, doing anything more would make him feel like a total creep!

That evening, Zhang Shujun and Zhang Cancan came together to deliver the meal. Thankfully, the dishes suited Shen Yuming’s taste this time—no celery in sight.

The extra bed that Yu Chen had sent over that day was finally put to use that night.

The next day, Yu Yan informed Shen Yuming that he was heading out.

Today, Xi Yuan’s studio was hosting an art exhibit, and of course, Yu Yan had to go show support.

Barely an hour after arriving at the studio, he received a call from Zhao Chi.

“Young Master, I don’t know if it’s convenient for you, but President Shen developed a fever after finishing his IV treatment.”

Yu Yan’s eyelid twitched. “Keep an eye on him. I’ll be right back.”

He hung up and strode quickly toward the exit.

“Xiao Yan, where are you going?” Jiang Mo called after him.

Yu Yan turned back to explain, “Mom, Chen-ge has a fever. I’m going back to check on him.”

“Take your time on the road,” Jiang Mo said.

She had thought about driving him herself, but considering it wasn’t appropriate to leave Xi Yuan’s exhibit just an hour after it started, she decided against it.