Shen Yuming calmly removed the brace from his hand and adjusted the air conditioning to a warmer temperature.

“Put on your clothes and take your medicine,” he instructed.

He seamlessly washed the cup, filled it with water, and prepared the medicine, all in one smooth motion. His demeanor was natural, and his expression remained composed. For a moment, Yu Yan wondered if his memory had somehow failed him.

“Aren’t you supposed to explain the situation about your hand injury to me right now?” Yu Yan asked, perplexed.

Shen Yuming merely let out a faint “Mm” and handed him the cup.

Yu Yan instinctively opened his mouth and quickly gulped down the cold medicine.

“You lied to me?”

“I’m sorry…” Shen Yuming lowered his gaze, his expression heavy with guilt.

Yu Yan’s face was tight, and he didn’t respond. He wanted to see how Shen Yuming would explain himself. If it weren’t for his near fall today, he would never have discovered the truth.

Shen Yuming’s arm showed no obvious wounds, only faint marks left by wearing the brace.

Watching Yu Yan carefully lift his hand to inspect it, Shen Yuming realized his gamble had paid off. “It was a bone fissure.”

The difference between a bone fissure and a fracture is only one word, but a fissure heals much faster.

No wonder Shen Yuming’s life hadn’t seemed affected in the slightest during these past days—not even a single complaint of pain.

Yu Yan laughed in disbelief. “Why would you do that?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been sick. I wanted to rest for a while.” Shen Yuming’s voice was low and steady, with a hint of unspeakable melancholy.

Shen Yuming was the actual controller of Minghua, a man who ruled it with absolute authority. If he wanted to rest, would he really need to feign illness?

That excuse didn’t pass Yu Yan’s scrutiny—there had to be another reason.

Yu Yan thought back to the events of the past few days. Apart from him accompanying Shen Yuming every day, there were Jiang Mo and Zhang Shujun taking turns delivering meals.

Perhaps Shen Yuming wanted to stay in the hospital longer because, in the past, no one had cared for him when he was sick?

After all, he was someone who feared loneliness. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to live alone in a small apartment.

Recalling how Jiang Mo and Yu Lin had stayed by his bedside last time he took medicine, and how Yu Chen was also standing at the door, Yu Yan couldn’t help but feel pity for Shen Yuming. For someone so proud and solitary, he had to pretend to be sick to gain others’ care and attention.

With that thought, the resentment in Yu Yan’s heart subsided significantly.

Clearing his throat, he pretended to be magnanimous. “Fine, I forgive you. After all, I did give you a ‘get-out-of-jail-free card.’”

The so-called “get-out-of-jail-free card” was nothing more than a promise Yu Yan had made to Shen Yuming earlier—that no matter what Shen Yuming did in the future, he would unconditionally forgive him once.

Yu Yan had thought it was a casual, throwaway comment, never expecting it to be put to use so soon.

“I don’t need the get-out-of-jail-free card,” Shen Yuming replied.

“What did you say?” Yu Yan asked, surprised.

“I don’t want to use that chance,” Shen Yuming repeated.

After a moment of thought, Yu Yan blurted out, “So what you’re saying is, you’ll hide something worse from me in the future?”

In Yu Yan’s eyes, Shen Yuming was an outstanding, nearly perfect individual. Whether as a boss or a friend, he was more than qualified. Because of this, Yu Yan had a certain filter when viewing him, knowing full well that Shen Yuming often compromised or adjusted himself to accommodate him.

If not for Shen Yuming, Yu Yan might already be bedridden and incapacitated by now.

The so-called “get-out-of-jail-free card” was merely an excuse. Yu Yan assumed Shen Yuming didn’t take it seriously, given that with Shen Yuming’s capabilities, he could resolve most issues effortlessly.

Yet, for someone so seemingly flawless, to care about a simple “get-out-of-jail-free card” showed that Shen Yuming expected to do something in the future that might upset Yu Yan—something he wasn’t confident he could smooth over.

Shen Yuming lowered his eyes, saying nothing more.

“You… you’re too much!” Yu Yan snapped, pushing him aside and returning to the bed, wrapping himself tightly in the covers.

Shen Yuming sighed softly. “Yan Yan—”

Yu Yan suddenly threw off the blanket and glared, “First, tell me what else you’re hiding from me!”

Shen Yuming pursed his lips, unusually hesitant. It wasn’t clear whether he didn’t plan to explain or just hadn’t thought of what to say. Seeing his reaction, Yu Yan immediately understood. He yanked the blanket back over himself with a dramatic “whoosh” and even pressed his body against the edge of the blanket, completely shutting off any attempt at communication.

Shen Yuming tugged at the blanket, but Yu Yan held on tightly, rolling over with it until he ended up in the corner of the room.

Shen Yuming knew full well that the so-called “immunity token” Yu Yan had given him was merely a verbal promise. Once the truth came out, it wouldn’t necessarily hold any weight, and how things would unfold depended entirely on Yu Yan’s attitude. For that reason, Shen Yuming wasn’t about to bring up the issue without absolute certainty.

But now, aside from that secret, Yu Yan absolutely refused to talk to him.

Yu Yan’s temper wasn’t particularly strong, but he was still upset. Since it was getting late, Shen Yuming turned off the lights and decided to wait until morning to coax him properly.

What Shen Yuming didn’t expect was that when he got up the next morning, Yu Yan was gone!

Someone who usually loved to sleep in and refused to wake before 10:30 in the morning had actually left before 7 o’clock!

The hospital room door opened, and Shen Yuming instinctively looked over. It was Zhang Shujun and her daughter, Zhang Cancan.

“Why are you packing up? Are you being discharged?” Zhang Shujun asked, puzzled.

Shen Yuming nodded. “I’m mostly recovered.”

“And where’s Xiao Yan?” Zhang Shujun asked, scanning the room in confusion.

Shen Yuming paused briefly in his actions. “He had something to do and left early.”

Zhang Cancan’s eyes lit up in sudden understanding. “You two had a fight!”

Shen Yuming: “…”

“What happened to make you fight all of a sudden?” Zhang Shujun frowned.

“It’s nothing,” Shen Yuming replied curtly, unwilling to elaborate.

Zhang Cancan burst into laughter. “Mom, don’t meddle. Maybe it’s just how couples keep things interesting. What’s that saying again? Oh, right! ‘A fight by the bed is resolved at the foot of it!’”

Shen Yuming: “…”

“When are you being discharged?” Zhang Shujun asked, puzzled.

Shen Yuming glanced at his phone, noticing that his messages had gone unanswered. “Six o’clock tonight.”

Zhang Cancan caught on immediately. A discharge time as specific as that was clearly meant to wait for someone. She smirked. “Brother, you’re feeling helpless and unsure, aren’t you?”

Shen Yuming gave her a sidelong glance. “Do you need something?”

“I can help you!” Zhang Cancan said excitedly. “Have you ever been in a relationship? No, right? Do you know how to soothe someone? No, right? But I do! Tell me what happened, and I’ll analyze it for you.”

Shen Yuming’s expression darkened. “You started dating early.”

“I… No, I didn’t!” Zhang Cancan denied immediately.

Zhang Shujun’s attention was instantly drawn. “Cancan!”

“Mom, I didn’t! Don’t listen to my brother’s nonsense! I was just trying to help, and he stabbed me in the back. That’s so unfair!” Zhang Cancan protested.

Zhang Cancan liked spending time with Shen Yuming and, after returning to the country, had become even more comfortable around him. Being younger, she often spoke without much filter.

“Have you been dating secretly?” Zhang Shujun asked, worried.

“No! Absolutely not! He’s just getting back at me for calling him out about arguing with my brother-in-law!” Zhang Cancan explained, frustrated.

Zhang Shujun remained skeptical. After all, Zhang Cancan spent her days glued to her phone, laughing way too often. “From now on, you’ll hand me your phone before bed.”

“I…” Zhang Cancan was so furious she couldn’t form words. “I should’ve minded my own business!”

…

Yu Yan stayed on set the whole day, his phone buzzing with messages non-stop. It wasn’t until Song Yunjing finished filming and started removing her makeup that he lazily pulled out his phone.

[Shen Yuming: Where did you go?]
[Shen Yuming: Have you eaten?]

These two messages had been sent around 7 a.m. when Shen Yuming had just woken up, likely guessing that Yu Yan had already run off.

Half an hour later, Shen Yuming sent a picture of a meat floss bun and a box of milk—his breakfast.

By around 11:30 a.m., he sent a voice message, briefly summarizing the work he’d handled that morning, followed by a note about chatting with Zhang Shujun and her daughter. He mentioned that the lunch Zhang Shujun had brought to the hospital was his meal for the day.

The last message came about half an hour ago, informing Yu Yan that Shen Yuming was getting ready to be discharged. He also mentioned that he had packed up Yu Yan’s belongings left in the hospital room and taken them to his house.

It was just a few clothes and some unfinished snacks, nothing much.

[Yu Yan: Did the doctor say you could be discharged?]

[Shen Yuming: (Photo)(Photo)(Photo)]

The three photos were of a check-up report, a discharge certificate, and a message from the doctor, all confirming that Shen Yuming had fully recovered.

Seeing that Shen Yuming was fine, Yu Yan didn’t reply anymore.

But Shen Yuming, acting as if nothing had happened, continued to send updates without missing a beat. He sent messages when he got into the car, when he got out of the car, when he arrived home, and even shared what he was having for dinner.

Just as Yu Yan was about to put his phone away, he received a message from Yu Chen.

[Yu Chen: Where are you?]
[Yu Yan: Bro, are you off work?]
[Yu Chen: Do you still remember where your home is?]
[Yu Yan: Don’t worry, bro, I’ve got it all under control.]
[Yu Chen: When are you coming back?]
[Yu Yan: Tomorrow. I’m on set right now. They’re shooting a night scene today, and I’m discussing something with the director. I’ll head home tomorrow.]
[Yu Chen: We’ll talk when you get home.]

Those four words made Yu Yan’s body tense up!

He could only hope that Zhao Xing would stay busy during this time; otherwise, he was worried he wouldn’t be able to keep everything under wraps.

“Brother Yan, the director just said they’ve booked you a room at the crew’s hotel,” Song Yunjing said, taking a room card from her assistant and handing it to him.

Yu Yan casually stuffed it into his pocket. “Thanks.”

Song Yunjing saw through him instantly. “So, who are you hiding from this time?”

Although Yu Yan often visited the set in the past, he usually left as soon as filming wrapped up. He had never stayed overnight before.

Yu Yan clicked his tongue. “Knew I couldn’t hide it from you.”

“You didn’t just come here to get relationship advice from me, did you?” Song Yunjing couldn’t help but laugh.