Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 63
byChapter 63 Applying Medicine for Senior Brother
It wasn’t until the evening of the next day that He Chen returned to Hanxiao Star.
He didn’t return too late. Leyan was still awake, staying in the same room as the discharged Moyan. The two brothers had already changed into their pajamas and were preparing for bed.
“Papa is back!” He Leyan ran toward He Chen, intending to jump onto him, but He Chen stopped him—it was raining outside, and He Chen was slightly wet.
“You’re sleeping with your brother?” He Chen was a little surprised. “Not with your Dad?”
“Dad is treating patients, he has a headache, he’s meditating,” He Leyan answered, wrinkling his little brow.
He Chen frowned in almost the exact same way: “Headache?”
“How is he now?” He Chen asked. After asking, seeing Leyan’s confused look, he added, “Never mind, I’ll go see for myself.”
He Chen went straight upstairs and ran into Wen Yi halfway.
Wen Yi was holding a stack of neatly folded clothes and was about to knock on Lu Changqing’s door. Hearing He Chen’s footsteps, he turned to look at him: “Commander He, you’re back?”
He Chen nodded, looking at the clothes in his hand: “What is this?”
“The Dean’s clothes. They were just washed. I’m bringing them to him.”
He Chen tapped his fingers, saying seriously, “Give them to me.”
“Yes, thank you for the trouble.” Without a word, Wen Yi handed the clothes to him, quickly retreating with a hint of a knowing smile in his eyes.
He Chen knew he was getting the wrong idea, but he didn’t bother correcting him.
—No one in the entire sanatorium didn’t get the wrong idea; He Chen couldn’t possibly correct everyone.
Ignoring Wen Yi, He Chen gently knocked on the door. Hearing Lu Changqing call “Come in” from inside, he pushed the door open and entered.
The room was dim. Lu Changqing seemed to be preparing for bed; the main light wasn’t on, only a strip light and the desk lamp were still lit.
Lu Changqing was standing at the desk. When He Chen entered, he was wearing pajamas and looking down, flipping through something.
“You’re here? Help me apply some medicine—” Lu Changqing said, turning his head. Seeing it was He Chen, he paused, and a warmth entered his calm eyes:
“When did you get back? Where is Wen Yi?”
“I ran into him at the door. He was going to bring you clothes. Since I was coming in, I brought them instead,” He Chen said, raising the clothes in his hand.
Lu Changqing walked toward him and took the clothes: “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What medicine? Are your old injuries still not healed?” He Chen asked, looking at him.
“No, a patient lost control today, and his psychic entity scratched me,” Lu Changqing explained.
He Chen frowned: “Leyan said you had a headache. Was that also because of the treatment?”
“I didn’t have a headache, just a significant psychic drain, so I needed to meditate. I only had a headache once, and Leyan saw it. Since then, whenever Leyan sees me meditating, he assumes I have a headache.”
“…He is a bit prone to anxiety.”
“Perhaps he inherited it from you,” Lu Changqing glanced at him.
“I didn’t give birth to him…” He Chen muttered softly.
Lu Changqing smiled, put the clothes away, turned, and went into the bathroom, coming out with a clean towel: “Take off your jacket and dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold if you stay wet.”
“I won’t.” He Chen took the towel and hastily rubbed his head, but he didn’t plan to take off his jacket—it wasn’t cold, so there was no need.
“Can we be more candid between friends? It’s just taking off a jacket; I won’t do anything to you,” Lu Changqing leaned against the wall, watching his wet hair and eyes from a short distance.
Who wasn’t being candid? He Chen couldn’t stand being provoked. He looked directly at Lu Changqing and took off his jacket, leaving only his shirt. Then, whether from the cold or from being watched by Lu Changqing, he involuntarily shivered.
Lu Changqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He averted his gaze, turned around, grabbed a blanket, and draped it over He Chen: “Sit down first.”
As he spoke, he turned to pour He Chen some hot water.
“Where were you scratched? I’ll help you apply the medicine,” He Chen asked.
“Never mind,” Lu Changqing paused in his steps, his back to him. “I’m afraid it might be inconvenient for you.”
“Can we be more candid between friends?” He Chen finally found a chance to throw the words back at him. “It’s just applying medicine. What’s inconvenient for me?”
“Then thank you, Junior Brother,” Lu Changqing curved his lips, walked back to the sofa, handed the hot water to He Chen first, then bent down to pull the medicine box from the coffee table, taking out the ointment and cotton swabs.
Then he calmly unbuttoned his collar: “It’s on the side of my neck, toward the back.”
“Okay.” He Chen calmly put down the water cup, stood up, holding the cotton swabs and ointment.
“That deep? What kind of psychic entity?” Pulling open Lu Changqing’s collar and seeing the three distinct red and swollen scratches, He Chen frowned.
“Feline. It’s nothing serious.”
“Senior Brother, are you too tired lately? How did you let it scratch you?” He Chen asked again.
“A moment of carelessness.” Everyone has moments of failure, and Lu Changqing was no exception.
“It might sting a little,” He Chen said, not hesitating. Holding three cotton swabs in one hand, he applied the medicine to all three wounds simultaneously in one movement, extremely efficiently.
“This is my exclusive method for applying medicine. Isn’t it impressive?” Noticing Lu Changqing turn his head to look at him, He Chen asked proudly.
Lu Changqing’s feelings were complicated, and he couldn’t answer.
“Don’t move around. I still need to cover the edges,” He Chen gently turned Lu Changqing’s head back. It was then that he suddenly, belatedly, felt a slight strangeness.
He was so close to Senior Brother. Did he just touch Senior Brother’s face?
“Did things go smoothly today?” Just then, Lu Changqing spoke, timely rescuing the suddenly stiff and unnaturally breathing He Chen.
“Smoothly. Xiaoyun Star can be taken over quickly. Barring any accidents, the handover ceremony can be held next week.”
He Chen spoke with a steady tone. As he spoke, he changed to a new cotton swab and took the opportunity to step back, keeping a distance, preparing to apply the medicine to the edges that hadn’t been covered yet.
“Standing that far away, are you sure you won’t smear it crookedly?” Lu Changqing asked.
“My eyesight is good…” He Chen said.
But it was awkward after all. He returned to his original spot, focusing on the wound, and applied the ointment to the missing areas.
“You can make a sound if it hurts,” He Chen whispered, seeing Lu Changqing was unusually quiet, as if he had stopped breathing.
“It doesn’t hurt. You’re very professional,” Lu Changqing replied, his voice slightly low and husky.
“You’re also very professional. I mean, at giving compliments,” He Chen said.
Lu Changqing curved his lips, his eyelids lowered, half-shading his deep eyes. He was as gentle as a jade bamboo.
He Chen suddenly turned away, picked up a suitable-sized dressing from the medicine box, and, with a red face, stuck it on Lu Changqing’s wound, making conversation: “Actually, I don’t really want Leyan to become the second you.”
“Why?”
“It’s too exhausting,” He Chen said. “So much pressure is on you alone, and no one can share it, because some people only you can treat.”
“Are you worried about me?” Lu Changqing couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m stating a fact.” He Chen deliberately avoided his eyes. “I just feel that a therapist has to deal with so many negative emotions and constantly interact with people who are having an outburst, putting themselves in danger.”
“It’s like a lifeguard repeatedly entering deep water to save a drowning person. Will there be a time when he can’t make it out—”
Stopping there, He Chen felt it was ominous and paused: “I’m just giving an extreme example.”
“I know,” Lu Changqing pulled up his collar and buttoned his shirt.
“But being a therapist isn’t as scary as you think. As long as he has his own psychic anchor, he won’t easily get lost.”
“A psychic anchor?”
“You can understand it as a ‘mental anchor’ or a lighthouse in the psychic world,” Lu Changqing explained.
“Many things can become this anchor: the instinct for survival, a tenacious will, things one wanted to do but couldn’t, people one cares about, or love, self-love.”
“For example, Leyan grew up in the love you gave him. He doesn’t need any external objects; he is his own anchor. He knows life is precious, and he is precious, so he won’t easily give up on himself.”
“Grew up in the love I gave him?” He Chen pondered.
Lu Changqing looked at him: “Haven’t you noticed Leyan getting happier day by day?”
“Hmm.” He Chen tapped his fingers. “So, my role is very important?”
“You are certainly very important,” Lu Changqing said, looking into He Chen’s eyes. “Besides self-love, if there are people in this world who care about him, and he cares about them, no matter what he encounters, he will struggle and sink a hundred times, but he will still return.”
“Then I need to let Leyan know that I can’t live without him?” He Chen “realized.”
“…That is completely unnecessary,” Lu Changqing truly felt a headache now. “How is that different from emotionally blackmailing him?”
…That’s true. He Chen humbly sought advice: “So what should I do?”
“You don’t need to overthink it. You’ve been doing very well normally. Do what you did before, and continue to do so,” Lu Changqing said. “Like tending to flowers and plants, naturally watering them. You don’t need excessive protection or excessive attention. Don’t disturb the inherent vitality he possesses.”
“So—” He Chen looked at Lu Changqing with a complicated expression. “You’ve always treated Leyan like a potted plant?”
Lu Changqing was momentarily unable to distinguish if he was joking or serious, feeling a flashback to tutoring days: after talking until his mouth was dry, He Chen would come to a completely different conclusion.
He Chen was actually joking. He was only weak in certain subjects; his mind wasn’t dull, and he learned things quickly. He had already understood and absorbed what Lu Changqing said.
There was just one thing he was subtly concerned about: “What about those who didn’t grow up in love? What is Senior Brother’s psychic anchor?”
“Whether one grew up in love or not, one can still have the capacity to love,” Lu Changqing thought for a moment and replied.
“Love is not only granted by environment; love is a choice. Even if one grew up wandering, one can choose self-love and loving others. Those who can make that choice are strong in spirit.”
Hmm. That was a bit convoluted. He Chen only understood the surface level and was thinking when he met Lu Changqing’s gaze. A sudden realization struck him: Was this… about him?
“You are the one who showed me this choice,” Lu Changqing’s calm voice confirmed in the next sentence. “You have an energy about you, like the sun, attracting the darkness in me. You are the person I couldn’t become, but want to be.”
Therefore, he quietly observed him, wanting him to be himself, wishing all his desires would come true, and couldn’t help but want to protect him.
Of course, he also wanted to possess him, like reclaiming his missing half.
“I’m not the sun…” He Chen was awkwardly embarrassed. Was Senior Brother perhaps a genius at compliments?
“I was just using a metaphor,” Lu Changqing smiled. “You are indeed not the sun. You are a small oil lamp with leaks everywhere.”
It needs patching up to be good.
“…The previous metaphor was better.” He complimented him too soon…
“Senior Brother still hasn’t said what his psychic anchor is,” He Chen asked again.
“Why, are you worried I’ll fall into the sea and can’t swim back?” Lu Changqing asked.
“I am worried,” He Chen admitted, but added, “As a friend.”
“Thank you,” Lu Changqing smiled good-naturedly. “Don’t worry. If I didn’t have an anchor point, I wouldn’t have lived well until now. I not only have one, but many: instinct, purpose, people I care about, for example—”
Lu Changqing paused, looking at He Chen.
He Chen remained composed, forcing himself to meet his gaze, but his heart was beating faster and faster.
“For example, Leyan,” Lu Changqing slowly finished his sentence.
…He Chen’s heart eased, but his face flushed. He guessed Lu Changqing was doing it on purpose, but he refused to show weakness, saying calmly, “I guessed as much. Thank you, Senior Brother, for valuing Leyan so much.”
“My valuing him is my business. You and Leyan don’t need to feel any burden because of it,” Lu Changqing suppressed the smile in his eyes, his expression becoming serious. “The matter of Pingshan Base is the same. You don’t need to feel any moral obligation just because we are friends.”
“I help you take revenge on the He family, and you cover for me to take the mineral vein. Our agreement was originally limited to this. You have no obligation to help me with anything else.”
“I know,” He Chen could tell that Lu Changqing was trying to relieve the pressure on his mind.
In the past, whenever he helped, he would always find various suitable reasons, framing the help as “cooperation” or “for mutual benefit.”
In fact, Lu Changqing was more like the sun, and he, with his guard fully up, was like a dark corner that couldn’t be illuminated.
“I truly have no obligation, and I’ve always tried to avoid this matter,” He Chen organized his thoughts for a moment and spoke. “But I’ve figured out one thing: Hanhe and I are caught in this situation. We can’t avoid participating in conflicts just by avoiding them. If I don’t look for trouble, trouble will come looking for me.”
“Pingshan and Hanhe are neighbors, and their interests are closely linked. Rather than having an unknown person take control of Pingshan, it’s simpler for me to do it myself.”
“After all, how can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one’s bed,” He Chen said sharply.
Lu Changqing involuntarily watched his sharp, exposed demeanor for a moment and asked, “Is this your true thought?”
“Yes. No one forced me, and no one shoved it into my head,” He Chen answered affirmatively.
“I’m not sure what the future holds. Maybe I’ll still retire quickly, but for every day I’m in office, I should make the choice that is most beneficial to Hanhe.”
Hearing this, Lu Changqing’s eyes cleared: “I guarantee you won’t regret your choice, and you can withdraw at any time.”
“My choice should be guaranteed by me,” He Chen looked at him, pausing. “Or, together.”
Lu Changqing curved the corner of his lips.
“However, I’m only talking about the Pingshan matter,” He Chen added.
“I have to be responsible for all the soldiers at the base. You help me defeat the He family, but I may not be able to help you fight the Lu family. I can only promise that if your actions are righteous and beneficial to everyone from a global perspective, Hanhe and Pingshan will be your backing.”
“Although you, well, may not need it.” He Chen, who was spirited a second ago, inexplicably lowered his head the next.
“Of course I need it,” Lu Changqing couldn’t help but say, and involuntarily reached out to touch He Chen’s lowered face. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing,” He Chen avoided his hand.
Lu Changqing withdrew his hand: “Sorry, there was something there.”
His voice was low and gentle, making He Chen’s heart flutter. Although he knew Lu Changqing was just making an excuse, he didn’t expose him.
“Well, you should rest. I’m leaving now. Leyan is still waiting for me downstairs.” He turned to leave, his face red.
“Thank you, Junior Brother,” Lu Changqing said behind him.
“You’re welcome,” He Chen said. “It’s just an empty promise. He Hongsheng isn’t dead yet. If we don’t win this battle, everything I just said is empty talk.”
“We will definitely win,” Lu Changqing said. “Don’t overthink it. Go to bed early.”
“Mhm, I know,” He Chen replied.
Lu Changqing walked with him to the door. Before opening it for him, he suddenly spoke: “If you retire, and my matter isn’t finished yet, can you wait for me?”
“Wait for what?” He Chen looked up and asked.
“To become ‘sworn brothers’ with you.”
“…”
“If you like swearing, then swear!” He Chen pulled open the door, escaping in a hurry.
Lu Changqing closed the door. On his face, which was usually calm and composed, rarely showing emotion even when alone, there was a light but genuine smile…