Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 57

Bracelet

The moment the cool ointment touched his skin, Jiang Zhou instinctively flinched, but Shen Zhiyu held his hand steady.

“Don’t move,” Shen Zhiyu said, lowering his head and gently spreading the ointment.

Jiang Zhou bit his lip, his eyelashes lowered.

Shen Zhiyu seemed to catch a glimpse of redness at the corner of his eye.

Was it that painful?

Looking down, the scalded fingertip was red and swollen, looking particularly alarming against his fair skin.

His movements became unconsciously lighter.

After treating the injury, Shen Zhiyu put away the medicine box and glanced at the stove.

The pot of hot oil was still sitting there, next to the sliced zucchini, washed and ready to be stir-fried.

Jiang Zhou got up and walked toward the kitchen, seemingly intending to continue the unfinished dish.

“Stop,” Shen Zhiyu pulled the wrist of his uninjured hand. “I’ll finish the rest.”

Jiang Zhou was momentarily stunned. “It’s fine, it’s just one more dish, stir-fried zucchini. It’ll be quick.”

“Go sit outside.” Shen Zhiyu pushed Jiang Zhou out without room for argument. “I’ll handle this.”

Jiang Zhou held his injured finger, looking hesitant.

Shen Zhiyu ignored him, turned the heat back on, heated the oil, and added the zucchini.

With a sizzling sound, the fresh aroma of the vegetables mixed with the heat of the oil rose up.

Jiang Zhou carried the other two dishes to the dining table, then returned to wash the bowls.

A plate of refreshing stir-fried zucchini came out of the wok, bright green and steaming hot.

Shen Zhiyu handed it to Jiang Zhou.

After Jiang Zhou took it, Shen Zhiyu washed two bowls clean.

Jiang Zhou caught sight of this and quickly said, “Shen-laoshi, you don’t have to. I’m not hungry.”

Shen Zhiyu still brought out two sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Jiang Zhou stood by the dining table and took the box out of his pocket. “Shen-laoshi, this is your bracelet.”

Shen Zhiyu didn’t even look at it, sitting down and gesturing to him. “Sit, try it.”

Jiang Zhou hesitated for a moment.

Shen Zhiyu raised his eyes and arched an eyebrow. “Do you dislike my cooking?”

Jiang Zhou immediately sat down.

The dining area in the RV was small. Both men were tall, and when they sat down, their knees were practically touching.

Shen Zhiyu’s gaze fell on his finger, which was coated in ointment.

“Can you eat by yourself?”

He seemed to be taking this burn too seriously.

Jiang Zhou nodded. “Yes, I can.”

Shen Zhiyu was the first to pick up his chopsticks. He tasted the shredded chicken. “Jiang Zong’s cooking is indeed as delicious as always.”

Jiang Zhou smiled shyly, then, in return, tasted the zucchini Shen Zhiyu had stir-fried and offered a compliment.

In the confined space, the warmth of the food diffused, and neither of them spoke again. A quiet yet comforting atmosphere enveloped them.

Watching the dishes gradually empty, Jiang Zhou felt a sense of relief.

When Shen Zhiyu put down his chopsticks, Jiang Zhou stood up, intending to clear the table, but Shen Zhiyu pressed his hand down.

“I’ll do it.” The tone was an undeniable command.

Jiang Zhou withdrew his hand. “Then I’ll trouble Shen-laoshi. I should get going if there’s nothing else.”

“Wait a moment.” Shen Zhiyu collected the bowls and chopsticks and took them to the kitchen to wash.

Jiang Zhou stood waiting for him to continue.

Shen Zhiyu didn’t say what he was waiting for; the sound of running water filled the air.

Jiang Zhou watched his back in the kitchen, vaguely recalling their time in Taoyuan, feeling both familiar and somewhat strange.

Jiang Zhou didn’t rush him, standing there until Shen Zhiyu finished tidying up.

Shen Zhiyu dried his hands and applied hand cream.

A faint scent of citrus mixed with milk spread through the air.

Shen Zhiyu picked up the box on the table and opened it. The bracelet sparkled with tiny starlight under the RV’s interior lights.

Shen Zhiyu said, “This bracelet is actually part of a pair. This is one of them.”

Jiang Zhou’s heart skipped a beat.

Shen Zhiyu continued, “I heard from Director Liu last time that the other one was bought by you.”

Jiang Zhou inhaled slightly, his fingertips pausing.

He slowly nodded.

“What a coincidence. Jiang Zong—”

“We truly have fate.”

Jiang Zhou’s throat felt slightly dry.

This was the only thing that could be considered a shared fate between the two of them since Shen Zhiyu returned to the country.

Of course, this bit of fate was something Jiang Zhou had fought for, rushing back to the venue at death-defying speed.

“By the way, Jiang Zong, do you still have your bracelet?”

Why was he asking this?

Jiang Zhou felt a vague sense of unease. “Yes, I do.”

“Jiang Zong, could you sell the bracelet back to me?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhou looked up at Shen Zhiyu.

Under the light of the RV, Shen Zhiyu’s profile was clear and striking, his eyes holding a faint smile.

The dryness in his throat gradually surged into his heart. Jiang Zhou’s voice was low and hoarse.

“Perhaps… I can’t.”

“Why?” Shen Zhiyu asked.

“That bracelet has been worn, it’s a bit old.”

It wasn’t actually old. Jiang Zhou had worn it frequently, almost every day for half a year. But he maintained it meticulously, cleaning it carefully every day and sending it for professional maintenance occasionally.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” Shen Zhiyu looked at him.

Jiang Zhou’s heart sank.

He had already stated his reasons; refusing again would only arouse suspicion.

This was the only item connecting the two of them.

Jiang Zhou was very reluctant, but he could only nod. “Alright. I’ll bring it to you next time.”

“Thank you, Jiang Zong,” Shen Zhiyu said, handing the gift box in his hand toward Jiang Zhou.

His gaze rested on Jiang Zhou’s face, carrying a shallow, inscrutable smile. “Jiang Zong, could you help me put it on?”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The light in the car fell into Shen Zhiyu’s smiling eyes, like scattered fragments of stars, flickering on and off.

Jiang Zhou’s gaze was fixed, slightly confused. “?”

Shen Zhiyu raised his hand. “I put on hand cream, my hands are slippery.”

So that was it.

Jiang Zhou looked down at Shen Zhiyu’s outstretched hand. The surface of the skin looked slightly moist, with the faint sheen and scent of hand cream.

Jiang Zhou took the bracelet out of the gift box.

Shen Zhiyu casually set the box aside and took another step closer to Jiang Zhou. The warm breath he exhaled brushed against Jiang Zhou’s ear, a dangerously close distance.

Jiang Zhou smelled the clear cedarwood base note on Shen Zhiyu, mixed with the slightly sticky milk and citrus scent of the hand cream, practically enveloping him.

His earlobes involuntarily began to turn red.

From Shen Zhiyu’s angle, he could clearly see a thin layer of red quickly spreading across Jiang Zhou’s earlobes.

Shen Zhiyu deliberately exhaled, urging him, “Jiang Zong?”

The rising redness deepened, taking on a richer hue, like a budding red rose.

Jiang Zhou took a deep breath and carefully looped the bracelet around the other man’s wrist.

Shen Zhiyu’s hand was very hot, making his fingertips tremble slightly. The clasp of the bracelet seemed to be deliberately working against him, slipping away from his fingers every time he was about to connect it.

Once, twice…

The more focused Jiang Zhou was, the more he felt Shen Zhiyu’s gaze from above.

This silent scrutiny was like an invisible net, slowly tightening, causing Jiang Zhou to involuntarily hold his breath, the trembling of his fingertips becoming more pronounced.

“It seems… it is a bit slippery,” Jiang Zhou mumbled an explanation, trying to conceal his panic.

Shen Zhiyu gave a low hum, his voice laced with amusement. “That’s why I need Jiang Zong’s help.”

His breath brushed past the top of Jiang Zhou’s head, causing a slight shiver.

Jiang Zhou pursed his lips, forcing himself to concentrate, his fingertips turning white from the effort.

Finally—

With a faint click, the clasp successfully locked into the slot.

Jiang Zhou let out a sigh of relief and immediately released his hand.

Just as he let go and retreated, Shen Zhiyu’s wrist flipped upward with an utterly natural movement.

The warm, sticky palm, coated in hand cream, brushed past Jiang Zhou’s fingertips, which hadn’t fully withdrawn, in a fleeting, almost imperceptible touch.

It was gone in an instant.

So fast it seemed like an accident.

It should be said that it was an accident.

Yet, Jiang Zhou felt as if a tiny electric current had unexpectedly shot through him. He stiffened abruptly, instinctively looking up at Shen Zhiyu.

Shen Zhiyu seemed completely unaware, focused on admiring the bracelet now properly fastened on his wrist.

He lightly fiddled with the star-shaped diamond pendant with his right index finger, adjusting its position, the smile on his lips deepening.

“Thank you, Jiang Zong.”

“You’re welcome.” Jiang Zhou’s hands tightened slightly, the phantom warm sensation on his fingertips lingering.

His phone rang.

Shen Zhiyu answered, opening a video call.

Jiang Zhou didn’t want to pry into his privacy and quietly said he was leaving first.

The person on the other end of the call stopped him. “A-Zhou.”

Jiang Zhou paused. Shen Zhiyu had raised his phone at some point, framing both of them in the screen.

Jiang Zhou politely greeted her. “Auntie.”

Xi Wanyu held the kitten, raising its paw and tapping it toward the screen. “Zhouzhou, look. Daddy and A-Zhou.”

The kitten cooperated with a few meows.

The kitten had disappeared after Jiang Zhou and Shen Zhiyu first got together.

Jiang Zhou had called out several times on the balcony when Shen Zhiyu wasn’t home, but never saw the cat.

Afterward, Jiang Zhou hadn’t proactively contacted Shen Zhiyu and didn’t know the kitten’s current situation.

It had been a while since he saw the kitten, and Jiang Zhou missed it a little. But with Shen Zhiyu beside him, Jiang Zhou was very restrained, calling out in a calm tone, “Zhouzhou—”

The kitten bared its mouth at him, clawing and scratching, seemingly quite displeased.

Xi Wanyu soothingly stroked the kitten’s head. “A-Zhou, do you have time recently? Zhouzhou misses you and wants to come visit you.”

Jiang Zhou glanced sideways at Shen Zhiyu.

Shen Zhiyu wore a look of ‘why are you looking at me,’ appearing puzzled.

Jiang Zhou: …

He was just wondering if he should seek the cat owner’s opinion.

“I have time.”

“Good, can I bring it over to you tomorrow?”

The kitten seemed to understand what they were saying, jumping out of Xi Wanyu’s arms and happily wagging its tail.

“Yes, that works,” Jiang Zhou agreed.

Only then did Xi Wanyu look at Shen Zhiyu, her tone less than friendly. “You, this child, how old are you and you still make people worry. Ye Mo called me again to complain that you aren’t going for your physical therapy.”

“I’m asking you, do you still want your back or not!”

Jiang Zhou’s ears were ringing, and his cheeks involuntarily flushed slightly.

Shen Zhiyu, however, looked unbothered, seemingly long accustomed to being nagged.

“I’ve been busy lately, no time.”

“What’s so busy about those few lousy shows you’re filming!”

“I’ve booked you a physical therapy appointment for next Tuesday. You finish filming this time and go obediently.”

“Did you hear me!”

“Got it,” Shen Zhiyu answered vaguely, though it was unclear if he had actually agreed.

Xi Wanyu suddenly thought of something. “A-Zhou, you live next door to him, help me keep an eye on him.”

Jiang Zhou: “Huh?”