TLDMDTBS Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Gu Xiuyi had not held Ji Ruan to sleep for four days.

He began to deeply realize the seriousness of the situation.

“So what exactly did you do to him?”

In the spacious lounge, the late spring sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a tranquil and warm atmosphere, with the scent of sunlight lingering in the air.

The man sitting on the light blue fabric sofa had his back to the window, surrounded by a halo of light, yet there was a shadow cast across his brow, looking troubled.

Li Sui’an set down two cups of coffee on the round table, then lazily sat down opposite Gu Xiuyi, drinking from his cup while assessing Gu Xiuyi’s expression—clearly troubled by matters of love.

He leaned his elbow on the table, half-smiling, “Hmm? What’s going on? Share it and I’ll help you analyze it.”

Gu Xiuyi glanced at him, slowly picked up the coffee, took a sip, and frowned, “Why is it instant?”

“What else could it be?” Li Sui’an replied. “This is a hospital, our department is very busy, who has the time to grind coffee, don’t be so picky.”

Gu Xiuyi returned a cold stare.

Li Sui’an didn’t care, chuckling, “Who are you trying to scare? You’re so finicky but still come to me for advice?”

As the friend with the most stable romantic relationships, Li Sui’an had been in a steady relationship with his girlfriend for three years, often taking on the role of a strategist, providing guidance on his friends’ love lives.

Even Song Ling, who had never dated, often came to seek advice and took meticulous notes, just in case he fell for someone in the future and didn’t know what to do.

But the once aloof Gu Xiuyi had, in the past, looked down upon such romantic seminars, skipping out every time Song Ling attended, citing work as an excuse.

Now Gu Xiuyi was in his current predicament, and Li Sui’an was quite satisfied with the scene before him.

He rapped the table, “Come on, spill it. I can only analyze if I understand what happened.”

Gu Xiuyi raised his eyelids to scrutinize Li Sui’an, seemingly pondering whether this man, who wore an expression of amusement, was trustworthy.

But upon reconsideration, apart from Li Sui’an, it seemed there was no one else around him who was seriously involved in a romantic relationship.

“I…” After a moment of deliberation, Gu Xiuyi finally spoke, “I made him cry.”

Li Sui’an raised an eyebrow, “Oh, so you’re quite impressive.”

After receiving a deathly glare from across the table, he cleared his throat, “Okay, okay, seriousness now. How did he cry? I remember Ji Ruan isn’t the type who cries easily, right?”

He is actually quite the crybaby, Gu Xiuyi thought.

When he was asleep and unable to wake, just reading a menu could make him cry, always catching people off guard.

But of course, he couldn’t let Li Sui’an know this.

“Uh-huh,” Gu Xiuyi replied.

“Oh…” Li Sui’an stroked his chin in thought, “Then it must be your fault.”

“…”

“What did you do or say before he cried? Just give me one sentence,” Li Sui’an asked.

Gu Xiuyi recalled, looking somewhat uneasy: “I,” he cleared his throat, “cough, I told him he’s the most important to me.”

“Oh ho, not bad, old Gu!” Li Sui’an’s eyes lit up as if he had struck gold.

“Was that the wrong thing to say?”

“Of course not, that’s practically a confession!”

“Then why did he cry?”

“He must have been moved,” Li Sui’an said decisively.

Gu Xiuyi’s gaze was filled with skepticism, as he contemplated, “But… he’s been avoiding me lately, often steering clear.”

“That’s normal,” Li Sui’an struck a wise pose, “He’s just shy. When I confessed to my Yuanyuan a few days back, she was shy too, always avoiding me, turning red at the slightest joke—so cute.”

“That’s different,” Gu Xiuyi shook his head.

“It’s not shyness, it’s anger. You know that feeling, where the cheeks puff up?” He pointed to his own cheeks as a demonstration. “Here, puffed up, looks especially cute from the side, and when you poke it, it sinks in. Oh, you definitely wouldn’t know; you’ve never seen it. Actually, it looks cute from the front too, but the side—”

“I know, of course, how could I not know? It’s not like I have a wife or something!” Li Sui’an immediately got defensive. “My Yuanyuan is also cute when she’s angry. You don’t get it.”

“…”

“…”

The two men stared at each other, each irritated by the other’s bragging about their wives, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

In the end, it was Li Sui’an who yielded first.

After all, the aura of an invader like Gu Xiuyi, who had spent years navigating the tumultuous business world, would be too much for their gentle, compassionate white-coated figure.

“Alright, alright,” Li Sui’an threw up his hands, “This situation doesn’t make sense. He’s avoided you after your confession. Either he doesn’t like you, or—”

Gu Xiuyi sat up straight, remaining silent.

“Or you’ve done something wrong without realizing it, thinking you’re doing great.”

Gu Xiuyi: “…”

Why does it feel like that might actually be the case…

“Okay, recount everything that happened from start to finish, spare no detail,” Li Sui’an said.

Gu Xiuyi was sipping the badly made instant coffee, and upon hearing this, frowned and set it down, stroking his wedding ring as he carefully considered:

“First, he said he had a nightmare…”

The sun in late spring was hot and bright, spilling warmly throughout the entire lounge, with the dappled leaves swaying gently in the breeze as Gu Xiuyi spoke steadily.

At first, Li Sui’an’s expression was one of understanding and empathy, but as the events unfolded, his facial expression shifted from confusion to shock, then disbelief, eventually settling into a profound silence.

“Dreams are fake; I could have just given him a perfunctory hug and soothed him with sweet talk, but I didn’t,” Gu Xiuyi explained.

“Because his fear was real, I thought I had to take this issue seriously. I can’t break the law or watch someone harm him through illegal means. I won’t allow that, even legally.”

“Even if it’s something ethereal, I have to give him the most real and reliable assurance, letting him know he can get double protection from legal channels and from me—he doesn’t have to be afraid.”

“Aren’t laws the most steadfast and unshakeable safeguard in our country?”

Gu Xiuyi provided a resolute summary to his argument.

Li Sui’an: “……………”

Li Sui’an lifted his hand, applauding slowly: “Well said, very well said.”

But his expression bore no signs of genuine praise: “Just one question.”

Gu Xiuyi leaned back slightly against the chair: “Go ahead.”

“Are you talking about a relationship… or giving a speech?”

“…?”

“You! … Me!” Li Sui’an slammed down the instant coffee, exclaiming, “Look, Old Gu, did doing business make your brain fuzzy over the years, or have you always been this way?”

“Yes, you’re right that the law protects us, but you’re not a lawyer, and Ji Ruan didn’t ask you to discuss legal matters. Why get so deep into this?”

“That was a golden opportunity to comfort him after a nightmare!” Li Sui’an lamented, “At a time like this, you should have hugged him and said, ‘Baby, don’t be afraid. I love you, dreams are fake, I’m the real deal!’ Then find a chance to kiss him—next step into the bedding, right?”

“—Of course, since Ji Ruan isn’t well, we can set that step aside for now.”

“But what’s the fuss about? You know it’s a dream, but he doesn’t! Isn’t that part of the couple’s charm? Who wants to hear legal talk at a time like this? You might as well join a legal advice show!”

He seemed utterly unable to comprehend, banging the table loudly: “Do you realize how much you’ve missed, Gu Xiuyi?!”

“…”

Gu Xiuyi remained seated like a statue, his expression unchanged, lips pressed into a straight line, yet his eyes were filled with uncontainable shock and sudden realization.

This afternoon was destined to become one of the most important moments of Gu Xiuyi’s life.

His long-blocked heart felt like a comet crashing into Earth, bursting open several exquisite doors, with the vibrant springlight flooding in.

•

After lunch, Ji Ruan lay half-reclined on the bed reading textbooks. Their major required an overwhelming amount of memorization, and he had already fallen behind in classes for over half a month; if he didn’t catch up, he’d be in hot water.

But he felt strangely groggy, likely due to having eaten. After a while, he began to feel sleepy—something he wasn’t used to.

Yesterday, he had his stitches removed, and today was his discharge day. Gu Xiuyi would be here to pick him up soon; sleeping now felt like a waste of time.

Ji Ruan felt inexplicably irritated, tossing the book aside, gently pressing his wrist, a thick textbook had made his hand stiff.

These past few days, he still occasionally had nightmares, but the images were always blurred, and upon waking, he couldn’t recall any details, just the cold sweat that highlighted the intensity of his fear.

Ji Ruan couldn’t articulate why, but subconsciously he linked these nightmares with the upcoming plot, even contemplating whether moving out from Gu Xiuyi’s side for a while might improve his sleep quality.

The door to the ward opened, and Gu Xiuyi walked in as gently as ever, sitting by the bed.

His expression showed no abnormality, but Ji Ruan keenly sensed a hint of discomfort.

The suitcase had been packed away by Aunt Zhao earlier, and sensing this subtle change, Ji Ruan didn’t ask Gu Xiuyi, bracing himself up on the bed, “Are we leaving?”

“Yeah,” Gu Xiuyi nodded but showed no intention of moving, instead, he took Ji Ruan’s wrist and gently massaged it.

The tingling sensation mixed with warmth spread across his skin, causing a shiver in Ji Ruan, but the ache in his wrist indeed alleviated considerably.

He pressed his lips together, reluctant to pull away.

“Is something wrong with you?” Ji Ruan asked cautiously.

“Nothing,” Gu Xiuyi replied lightly, pausing before meeting Ji Ruan’s gaze. “Sorry, my words the other day weren’t pleasant and upset you.”

Ji Ruan immediately understood what he meant and felt embarrassed recalling his sobbing fit.

“I’m… not blaming you,” he mumbled, lowering his head. “And I wasn’t angry.”

In fact, at that moment, Ji Ruan was more upset with himself for having expected Gu Xiuyi to confess.

And Gu Xiuyi’s reply was so unexpected that it threw Ji Ruan’s emotions into turmoil.

Looking back, he should be grateful Gu Xiuyi hadn’t confessed; otherwise, at that moment, Ji Ruan didn’t know how he would respond. If he rashly agreed, it would mean jumping straight into the storyline.

It was terrifying.

“I should have just hugged you then,” Gu Xiuyi said.

“…No need.”

“Are you still afraid?”

Recently, Ji Ruan had been having nightmares every night. Although he wasn’t exactly scared, he definitely didn’t feel well. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words.

“Then can I hug you?”

“…?”

Ji Ruan’s mind buzzed again; he couldn’t understand how Gu Xiuyi could say such gentle and affectionate words with such earnestness.

In the next moment, Gu Xiuyi tightened his grip around Ji Ruan’s wrist and gently pulled him into his embrace.

At that instant, the familiar scent invaded Ji Ruan’s nostrils irresistibly, enveloping him thoroughly.

Thud!

Ji Ruan’s heart raced violently, crashing against his chest, sending vibrations through his eardrums, as blood surged towards his brain.

He was utterly speechless.

His blood felt as though it had been heated by Gu Xiuyi’s body temperature, with his skin turning hot from his wrist up to his neck and ears, every tremor of his bones clear beneath the soft pink skin.

Finally, it was his cheeks, pressed against Gu Xiuyi’s shoulder, flushed bright like cherries.

Gurgle gurgle—like boiling water, steam seemed to rise from above him.

•

With gains must come losses.

Taking advantage of Ji Ruan’s flustered state, Gu Xiuyi trapped him in the ward and held him tightly for several minutes, seemingly trying to make up for the missed embraces over the past four days.

The consequence was that once Ji Ruan awoke, he resolutely rejected any further physical contact, his face red as he insistently maintained a distance of over half a meter.

He wouldn’t even let Gu Xiuyi help him as he insisted on walking out by himself.

But having just had his stitches removed, the doctor advised him not to put too much weight on his injured leg. He walked slowly, wobbling as if he were quite pitiful and helpless.

Having stayed in the hospital for days without seeing the sun, he felt like a frail seedling, lacking energy.

So, Gu Xiuyi made sure not to let the driver take the car into the underground parking but rather waited at the hospital’s main entrance.

If he carried Ji Ruan out, he would conveniently help him catch some sunshine without any effort.

Although Ji Ruan wasn’t truly a frail seedling, Gu Xiuyi thought that perhaps with a little sunlight, he could grow a bit stronger.

The hospital building wasn’t far from the main entrance, and at Gu Xiuyi’s pace, it only took about three to five minutes.

But that short distance seemed more challenging than a pilgrimage to the West for Ji Ruan.

He naturally walked slower than most, and with one leg limp, even the snail by the flowerbed could win in a race against him.

Gu Xiuyi observed as that very snail passed by Ji Ruan, managed to worm its way into a patch of verdant leaves.

Ji Ruan clearly noticed too, abruptly stopping and clutching his thigh in disbelief.

Though perhaps that snail happened to emerge from the flowerbed and coincidentally passed him, it meant no rivalry; Ji Ruan hadn’t truly lost.

Yet, Ji Ruan was still shocked, with a mixture of sadness that plucked at his heartstrings.

He looked quite pitiful, and Gu Xiuyi couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to rub Ji Ruan’s face: “Don’t be discouraged, little one. It has short legs while you have long ones. You can easily outpace it with just one step.”

Upon hearing his words, Ji Ruan became incensed, feeling that Gu Xiuyi was mocking him because he couldn’t hold him.

Ji Ruan harshly brushed Gu Xiuyi’s hand away, “What do you mean outpace? I was already faster than it!”

His cheeks puffed up again, making him all the more adorable from Gu Xiuyi’s perspective.

Gu Xiuyi felt a moment of fluttering in his heart, trying hard to suppress the smile creeping up his lips, reaching again to pinch Ji Ruan’s cheeks, “Then how about this: I’ll carry you, and I guarantee you’ll outpace all the snails in the flowerbed.”

Unsurprisingly, he received another death stare from the little one.

That short three to five-minute walk had taken Ji Ruan a full eight minutes, and they hadn’t even reached halfway. Gu Xiuyi indulged Ji Ruan’s antics for a while but wouldn’t permit him to dictate everything.

The late spring afternoon sunlight was gentle for Gu Xiuyi, but for Ji Ruan, who had just recovered from illness and wasn’t used to the sun, it felt a bit too harsh.

Ji Ruan was sweating at his temples and looked pale, breath coming out shaky and labored.

“Alright, no more fussing.”

Gu Xiuyi wiped the sweat from Ji Ruan’s forehead, gently pulling him closer, asking in a tone that left no room for refusal:

“Can I carry you back?”

“No.”

Don’t joke, he had just made up his mind to reduce physical contact with Gu Xiuyi—how long had it been?

If he gave in now, what would his pride be worth?

No way, it was absolutely impossible for Gu Xiuyi to get his way.

With the last shred of determination, Ji Ruan limped forward; he really wanted to march vigorously, wishing he could sprint like a hundred-meter dash.

But his concern about reopening his wound forced him to tone his pace down, creating an awkward posture where his body rushed ahead while his feet lagged behind.

Before he could summon his firm resolve to push forward half a meter, Ji Ruan suddenly saw a blur as Gu Xiuyi lifted him up effortlessly and strode confidently toward the exit.

The speed was several times faster than he would have walked himself, moving so quickly that a gentle breeze was created, and the flowerbed’s snail shrank quickly in the distance, leaving Ji Ruan far behind.

He had to admit that deep down, he still wanted to enjoy it.

Though he had just proclaimed he wouldn’t let Gu Xiuyi carry him anymore, being lifted felt so comforting, he didn’t want to move.

He really was feeling dizzy from the sun; after a fierce internal struggle, he quickly made a decision but still had to maintain his attitude.

Gu Xiuyi could feel Ji Ruan feigning resistance for less than a second before relaxing against him, his brow furrowed in dissatisfaction at the sudden princess carry, yet his demeanor gave him away.

They hadn’t walked two steps before Ji Ruan’s eyes fluttered shut, lips slightly pressed together, basking comfortably in the spring breeze, the little dimples on his cheeks appearing intermittently.

Gu Xiuyi was stirred by this, adjusting Ji Ruan’s position on his arm, letting Ji Ruan’s head rest on his shoulder, so he could lean down and brush against Ji Ruan’s face.

Spring’s allure entranced Gu Xiuyi, prompting him to act on that thought.

And then he received a warning glare, getting a yellow card from the little one.

•

After half a month, returning home, the vast villa was as grand as always.

But the interior seemed to have some subtle changes, such as more carpets and fewer sharp corners on the furniture.

Ji Ruan sat on the sofa, feeling dozy, not really able to muster the energy to observe much else.

He was used to napping and had only interrupted once today, so he was struggling to stay awake, unable to concentrate and almost reaching the brink of exhaustion.

Gu Xiuyi brought a small blanket and covered him, then fed him some salty sugar water.

When Ji Ruan was sleepy, he was the easiest to fool. Gu Xiuyi gently pulled him into his embrace, and he didn’t even notice, instead moving to find a more comfortable position.

“Ji Ruan, are you asleep?” Gu Xiuyi whispered beside his ear.

Ji Ruan still retained some awareness; Gu Xiuyi’s body warmth was very comforting, and he willingly responded, “Not yet, why?”

“I thought it over, you should still take another week off. You won’t be able to handle going back to classes now.”

Ji Ruan had already considered this; the doctor advised him not to move around too much, and their teaching building didn’t have an elevator. Going up and down the stairs would definitely be too much for his leg.

It was best if he could recover a bit more quickly after his stitches came out, so Ji Ruan didn’t rush about the next week, nodding, “You decide.”

After nearly a year of experiencing the taste of being in charge, Gu Xiuyi felt immensely refreshed as he gently rubbed Ji Ruan’s earlobe:

“Such a good boy.”

Ji Ruan squeaked contentedly.

“And also, the doctor said you need to supplement your nutrition, how about we have Aunt Zhao cook tasty meals for you every day?”

Ji Ruan thought this was a splendid idea, wondering how come Gu Xiuyi was saying all the things he wanted to hear today.

“Sure, how about sweet and sour ribs for dinner?”

“Of course,” Gu Xiuyi said gently. “Our baby wants to eat delicious food every day, right?”

Ji Ruan smiled, revealing his little dimples: “Mm-hmm~”

“Then how about you stop living on campus?”

Gu Xiuyi lured him softly, “From now on, I’ll come to pick you up after school, and we’ll go home for dinner together.”

“Okay… eh? Wait a minute…” Ji Ruan was tricked into agreeing without realizing it, subconsciously pulling his thoughts back to reality.

Wait a minute, wasn’t he planning to move out from Gu Xiuyi’s side for a while?

He mustn’t agree; he absolutely mustn’t say yes.

In the end, Ji Ruan couldn’t provide a clear response. His sleepiness engulfed him, pulling him deep into a dreamscape.

It was the same dream again.

Dark, gloomy, suffocating, and drenched in cold sweat.

This time Ji Ruan saw a glimpse.

He seemed to be bound by something, unable to move, his mouth open but soundless, his ears deafeningly quiet.

Before him stood several figures, with one closest to him. He couldn’t see their face; only a glimpse of their Adam’s apple beneath a neat collar and a tie.

But Ji Ruan recognized it; it was Gu Xiuyi.

He began to scream, desperately calling out for Gu Xiuyi to help him.

In a despairing twist, it was as if the figures before him were oblivious, remaining completely still in place, indifferent as if they were not real people.

Suddenly, the world plunged into darkness.

Ji Ruan gasped, jolting awake from the nightmare, and in an instant, the world felt chaotic and void, his heart ached violently.

He struggled to sit up but found he lacked the strength, and was immediately enveloped in a pair of arms hugging his waist.

“Ji Ruan?”

Gu Xiuyi’s voice rang out.

It was like the first ray of light breaking through thick clouds, pulling him back to reality as Ji Ruan’s vision gradually regained clarity.

“Did you have another nightmare?” Gu Xiuyi’s hand gently traced along the back of Ji Ruan’s neck, offering comfort. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here; it’s alright.”

Ji Ruan’s breath was still rapid and uneven, but the frantic beat of his heart gradually calmed under Gu Xiuyi’s soothing touch.

As his mind wrestled with confusion, he wondered why Gu Xiuyi wasn’t talking about legal matters today, while simultaneously, his thoughts felt crisp and clear, resolving to take action.

He needed to move out.

The Gu Xiuyi he had seen in this nightmare only reinforced the connection he felt to whatever might happen next.

So even if it meant living on campus, he couldn’t just remain here.

If he could only manage to distance himself a little—perhaps it would save him from waking up in terror from nightmares night after night.