TLDMDTBS Chapter 74

Chapter 74 Extra 01

The first feeling Ji Ruan had upon waking up was happiness, because he heard Gu Xiuyi’s voice.

The second feeling was pain, as the wound truly hurt a lot.

The gentle kisses and whispers from his lover couldn’t keep him floating on cloud nine for long; the acute pain abruptly pulled him back to reality.

Gu Xiuyi only saw Ji Ruan furrow his brows, the clear smile in his eyes disappearing in an instant, replaced by a painful groan.

“Ji Ruan?!” Gu Xiuyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Li Sui’an hurried in right afterward to check Ji Ruan’s wound, and a crowd of medical staff surrounded the bed.

Gu Xiuyi was asked by the nurse to step aside, unable to say a word to Ji Ruan, only occasionally catching a glimpse of Ji Ruan’s pale lips tightly pressed together through the layers of white lab coats.

After more than ten minutes, the heart monitor was removed, and a large number of medical personnel dispersed. With his hands in the pockets of his lab coat, Li Sui’an nodded toward Gu Xiuyi, “Alright, you can go in now.”

Gu Xiuyi looked up.

Li Sui’an’s smiling eyes met with Gu Xiuyi’s tightly furrowed brows, and he couldn’t help but be startled. “What’s with that expression? The person just woke up, and you’re not happy?”

Gu Xiuyi sat on a bench in the corridor, his shoulders slightly hunched, gently rubbing his face with his hand: “Is he okay now?”

“Uh-huh,” Li Sui’an sat down beside him, crossing his legs, “Didn’t the monitor just get removed? You saw it yourself.”

Gu Xiuyi gave a barely perceptible nod, his voice heavy: “But he’s in so much pain…”

He found it difficult to describe this feeling. Actually, before Ji Ruan woke up, he had been able to control his emotions well, working a bit each day and talking to Ji Ruan, though he couldn’t get a response, but he still enjoyed it.

Everyone knew this surgery wasn’t too complicated and was quite successful; they were just waiting for Ji Ruan to wake up a few days earlier or later. But seeing Ji Ruan open his eyes, seeing him in unbearable pain, made him realize how deeply his emotions could fluctuate.

If he were also connected to the heart monitor at that moment, perhaps his heartbeat would be even more terrifying than Ji Ruan’s.

The cold incandescent lights in the corridor cast down, illuminating Gu Xiuyi’s face, making his expression seem indescribably lonely.

Li Sui’an said awkwardly, “This is normal. After all, they did make an incision; how could it not hurt…? I just gave him some pain relief, he should be feeling better now. Go check on him.”

He nodded toward the door, “That kid might not say it, but he’s been blinking his eyes looking for you.”

Gu Xiuyi’s brows twitched slightly; Li Sui’an’s words seemed to awaken him, and he gradually became more animated, not as dreary and restrained as before, as if he was no longer stuck in a bog.

Taking a deep breath, he stood up, turned back to look at Li Sui’an, “Thank you.”

Li Sui’an was unaccustomed to this serious interaction with Gu Xiuyi; he felt a bit uneasy, coughing lightly, “Just take note of it. Don’t forget to treat me to a meal after he’s discharged.”

Gu Xiuyi smiled as he held the doorknob, “Okay.”

“Alright, go in,” Li Sui’an waved his hand. “Oh, by the way, he can start eating now. Start with something easy to digest, monitor his gastrointestinal condition, and if everything’s fine, gradually add vegetables and meat.”

He thought for a moment and added, “And remember to exercise appropriately. When it cools down in the evening, he can take a stroll in the little garden for a couple of laps; don’t just lie there. If his spirits are up, his body will recover faster.”

Gu Xiuyi noted everything.

He turned and pushed the door open; the hospital room’s curtains were fully drawn back, perhaps in hopes that Ji Ruan could feel some natural sunlight.

On the windowsill, a bunch of yellow roses freshly delivered that morning stood in a glass vase, bathed in sunlight and looking radiant.

Compared to the roses, Ji Ruan’s complexion was much paler.

He was lying on the hospital bed on his side, his fingers loosely resting on the edge of the bed, the back of his hand where the IV was inserted a shade of blue and purple.

Gu Xiuyi approached a few steps closer, clearly seeing Ji Ruan’s lightly closed eyelids, long eyelashes resting upon his eyelids, creating a small shadow against his pallid skin.

He lifted his pant leg and sat on the chair at the bedside. Ji Ruan showed no reaction, probably unable to hear the sounds around him at all.

The consequence of having impaired hearing meant losing a significant part of his perception of the outside world. Even though Ji Ruan lay safely in bed, his brows were still faintly knitted together.

Gu Xiuyi instinctively reached out and touched Ji Ruan’s brow, then rubbed his cheek. Ji Ruan’s breathing hitched slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.

They were very close, and Gu Xiuyi clearly saw the exhaustion in Ji Ruan’s eyes gradually dissipate, replaced by warmth and a smile, like ice cream melting under the scorching sun, dribbling and glistening as it dropped into his hand, becoming even more translucent because of the warmth from his fingertips.

He supported the back of Ji Ruan’s neck to expose his left ear and leaned over the bed, resting his chin on Ji Ruan’s pillow.

The wound from Ji Ruan’s surgery was bandaged with dressings, and the originally fragrant pillow now bore the scent of medicine, but Gu Xiuyi found it reassuring.

He tapped Ji Ruan’s nose: “Does the wound still hurt?”

It had hurt a lot.

Ji Ruan’s body was significantly more sensitive than others. After waking, his body and brain hadn’t had time to react, and the pain surged up first, causing him to break out in a cold sweat in an instant. But at that moment, he was unable to move, forced to endure it.

It wasn’t until Li Sui’an gave him a painkiller that the agonizing pain—threatening to split his head in two—gradually subsided, eventually becoming numb and unrecognizable.

The skin behind his ear felt stiff and numb, a strange sensation that felt like a heavy board resting on him. He could sense the pain clamoring from within but had to suppress it, becoming a numb throb.

Ji Ruan sniffled and playfully rubbed against Gu Xiuyi’s hand: “It doesn’t hurt anymore, but it’s still uncomfortable. Aren’t you going to kiss me?”

Gu Xiuyi hadn’t felt Ji Ruan’s lively playfulness for several days, and for a moment, his heart raced uncontrollably. He supported Ji Ruan’s chin, leaned down, and cupped his pale lips, skillfully deepening the kiss.

But Ji Ruan had just woken from a coma. Concern and caution tightly restrained the bubbling feelings within. The moment he sensed Ji Ruan’s breathing becoming uneven, Gu Xiuyi immediately stopped.

“Is it hard to breathe?” He nervously scrutinized Ji Ruan’s face, and after a couple of seconds without a response, anxiety struck; he reached for the call button.

Ji Ruan slightly parted his lips, his eyelashes fluttering, struggling to catch his breath. What he saw upon opening his eyes was Gu Xiuyi’s startled expression.

His brows curved into a smile, softly chuckling.

Gu Xiuyi’s hand hovered over the button, and his heart dropped heavily, as if Ji Ruan’s smile had completely taken control of his emotions.

Ji Ruan had tied an invisible string to his heart; he was a puppet, every move, every thought tethered to Ji Ruan’s slightest gesture.

Gu Xiuyi felt utterly weak, thinking that this was pretty good.

Knowing that Aunt Zhao was coming over to bring food, Ji Ruan asked Gu Xiuyi to help him sit up for a while, wanting to tidy himself up and not wanting to show his frail state to the elderly lady.

Gu Xiuyi wrapped his arms around Ji Ruan’s shoulders, tightly holding his waist, slowly and carefully letting him sit up, leaning against him.

But even though Gu Xiuyi moved as slowly as he could, Ji Ruan still felt dizzy, the world spinning before his eyes, sometimes sparkling bright and sometimes darkening heavily.

After surgery, dizziness and nausea could occur; Ji Ruan was aware of this before entering the operating room, but he hadn’t expected it to be so uncomfortable.

It felt as though a stone was lodged in his chest, rising with the constant churn of nausea, blocking all five senses to the point where there were moments he felt he couldn’t catch his breath.

Gu Xiuyi seemed to have anticipated this, expertly supporting the back of Ji Ruan’s head slightly raised, helping him breathe, then giving him a couple sips of warm water, followed by gently massaging his acupoints. His series of movements flowed smoothly, far gentler and more considerate than even an experienced caregiver.

It wasn’t that Gu Xiuyi had a special talent for caring for patients; rather, during the days Ji Ruan was asleep, aside from handling a bit of work and chatting quietly to Ji Ruan, he had large stretches of time with not much to do.

To prevent himself from going mad in the oppressive emptiness, he had directed his control toward every medical staff that entered the room, seeking their advice on post-operative recovery.

Through repeating vast theoretical knowledge and relentless research, Gu Xiuyi had etched “how to carry out post-operative care gently” into his very being.

Confirming that Ji Ruan was feeling better, Gu Xiuyi washed Ji Ruan’s face with a hot towel.

The warm, soft towel covered his pale cheeks, gradually bringing a bit of color to Ji Ruan’s complexion, his eyelashes damp and his eyes glistening, his cheeks tinged with a faint pink, resembling a freshly washed peach.

Gu Xiuyi couldn’t help but peck at him twice.

Aunt Zhao arrived late, carrying a thermal container, and as soon as she stepped in, she took Ji Ruan’s hand and wiped her tears, repeatedly saying, “You’ve lost weight, you’ve lost weight.”

She noticed Ji Ruan’s blue and purple hands, and her heart ached even more. “What a lot he has suffered, our little Ruan…”

Gu Xiuyi gently supported her elbow, “You should sit for a bit, calm down, don’t rush.”

Only then did Aunt Zhao realize that crying was pointless; she wiped her face to suppress her tears and began to unpack the thermal container. “This first meal won’t be anything fancy; it can only be a bit of millet porridge. Ruan Ruan, bear with me for now. Wait a few days until the doctor gives the okay, and I’ll make you something delicious.”

She knew Ji Ruan’s hearing wasn’t too good right now, so she spoke very slowly, watching Ji Ruan’s expression to make sure he could hear her clearly.

Ji Ruan’s eyes seemed like little crescents full of joy: “Okay, but whatever Aunt Zhao makes, I’ll love to eat.”

Aunt Zhao became so happy talking to Ji Ruan that even though her tears hadn’t dried, her smile overflowed, and her face was a comical mix of laughter and crying.

She playfully glared at Ji Ruan, “You little brat, your mouth is sweet as honey.”

Ji Ruan leaned against Gu Xiuyi and laughed, receiving a pinch and a kiss from him.

Not wanting their little ancestor to go hungry, Aunt Zhao quickly poured out half a bowl of porridge, fragrant and glutinous, steaming in the porcelain bowl.

She scooped a little with a spoon and brought it up to Ji Ruan’s mouth, persuading him like a child: “Come on, ah—”

Gu Xiuyi covered his lips and coughed, glancing at the bowl of porridge and then at Aunt Zhao.

Aunt Zhao paused for half a second before realizing, feeling a bit embarrassed, and smiled sheepishly. “Oh dear, look at me. Little Gu, you feed him.”

Despite saying this, her action of handing over the bowl and spoon clearly showed reluctance.

Gu Xiuyi ignored her subtly complaining looks, as if blaming him for being too much of a wuss and not even letting her feed him, blowing on the spoon before offering it to Ji Ruan. “Come on, sweetheart, eat slowly.”

He had waited a long time for the opportunity to feed Ji Ruan, and even though Aunt Zhao was an elder, he wasn’t about to let it slip away.

Ji Ruan obediently opened his mouth to take a bite, carefully chewing a few times before swallowing.

Both Aunt Zhao and Gu Xiuyi anxiously watched him, knowing Ji Ruan’s digestive system was not great, and several rounds of illness and medication had worsened it. They were worried that his first meal post-surgery might make him uncomfortable.

But seeing Ji Ruan show no signs of discomfort after finishing a mouthful, even licking his lips for a second helping, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Aunt Zhao stepped back a few paces to sit by the bed, watching Gu Xiuyi feed Ji Ruan and wipe his mouth, feeling both amazed and happy.

Having someone like this around, who could influence one’s emotions at any time, might be a kind of bond. Sometimes it could be helpless, but that was life, wasn’t it?

It wasn’t just about being born to live; it was about being alive with hope, living passionately and wholeheartedly.

Aunt Zhao clapped her thighs, beginning to chitchat about recent events, such as Gu Changyun’s hastily concluded funeral, how her good friend Ah Fang’s diabetes had come under control, how Han Xiaolin had been pestering to visit Ji Ruan, and how a little nurse had been transferred due to letting a counterfeit product slip in, and so on.

By the time she finished, Ji Ruan had nearly emptied the half bowl of porridge. Aunt Zhao looked delighted, eagerly collecting the bowl and promising to make him fish and meat tomorrow.

Gu Xiuyi walked Aunt Zhao to the door, but when he returned, he found Ji Ruan bent over the edge of the bed, dry heaving into the trash can.

He had thrown up a small portion of the porridge he had eaten, and when he wiped his mouth with a napkin, his knuckles were pale.

Gu Xiuyi’s heart twisted, and suppressing his urge to feel pained, he stepped forward to pull him into his arms, helping him rinse his mouth with warm water.

He placed his palm gently on Ji Ruan’s stomach, rubbing softly: “Was it uncomfortable when eating? Why didn’t you say anything?”

In fact, vomiting had made him feel somewhat lighter, the large stone stuck in his chest had vanished.

Ji Ruan shook his head: “At that moment, it was fine. Maybe I was too happy and accidentally ate a bit too much…”

He smiled and suddenly looked at Gu Xiuyi: “Don’t tell Aunt Zhao.”

After all, that elderly lady didn’t have many hobbies; her greatest joy came from seeing Ji Ruan finish all the meals she made. If she found out Ji Ruan had vomited, she would definitely feel guilty and sad, and then, out of pity, endlessly experiment with new recipes for him.

Gu Xiuyi felt a pang in his heart: “I understand.”

He carefully held Ji Ruan’s stomach, wishing he could find a magic remedy to make Ji Ruan feel lively again, but he knew that gastrointestinal issues needed time to heal, and there was no other way but to nurture gently.

Ji Ruan could sense the dejected emotions surrounding him and tilted his head to meet Gu Xiuyi’s pained gaze.

“Gu Xiuyi.” He lightly tapped Gu Xiuyi’s tightly furrowed brows.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

A light smile flared in Ji Ruan’s eyes, floating feather-like into Gu Xiuyi’s heart:

“I want to eat cherries.”

The chaotic thoughts in Gu Xiuyi’s mind instantly vanished at this smile.

He grasped Ji Ruan’s wrist and kissed it: “Alright.”