NH chapter 025

Chapter 25: Accompaniment

“Where are you?” Shen Tingyu’s voice was tense, like a string ready to snap at any moment, impatience coming through the phone on the other end.

Huo Ye answered honestly, “At home.”

“Send me the address,” Shen Tingyu said, leaving no room for argument.

Perhaps the sound of running water was too loud, Huo Ye suddenly found it hard to hear, so he slowly turned off the faucet with one hand and leaned against the door frame as he walked out, saying, “No need, it’s nothing. Just a bit of a cold, I’ll take a taxi to the hospital later.”

Shen Tingyu was silent for more than ten seconds. Huo Ye almost thought the call had ended until his voice rang out again, calm and assertive.

“018, Building 2, 3rd Street, Bihu Village, right?”

Huo Ye was taken aback, “…”

“Downstairs in ten minutes,” Shen Tingyu said, “If I don’t see you in ten minutes, I’ll fire you. Do you believe that?”

Huo Ye: “…Don’t fire me.”

Immediately, the call was disconnected. This time it was really over.

Shen Tingyu took a taxi to the address, but the location in the urban village was notoriously inaccurate. After winding through several alleys and facing traffic jams, he had to get out of the car for the last stretch and look for the house number.

Before leaving, Huo Ye hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to change into a clean black t-shirt, figuring it would at least make him look presentable.

He was unaware that his movements had become slow; by the time he walked downstairs, ten minutes had already passed. His phone was dead, and he thought Shen Tingyu hadn’t arrived, which was why his phone hadn’t rung.

Outside the building entrance, someone was forcefully trying to unlock the door, sounding like they were about to grab a brick and smash it. Huo Ye turned pale, his waist thin and bent slightly, one hand pressed against his upper abdomen while the other fumbled to open the door.

“Don’t be so rough…”

Huo Ye worriedly said, “If you break it, I’ll have to pay.”

Shen Tingyu heard this and was infuriated. But when the door opened and he saw Huo Ye, all his anger dissipated.

Huo Ye looked terrible, gritting his teeth as he asked, “—This is what you call just a bit of a cold?”

Huo Ye’s confidence was lacking as he weakly smiled at him; his once vibrant brows and eyes were dimmed, but those crescent-shaped peach blossom eyes remained a stark black and white, sickly yet captivating.

He quietly negotiated with Shen Tingyu, “Young Master, I feel really uncomfortable; you mustn’t scold me.”

Shen Tingyu furrowed his brow, as if he wanted to say something more, but he saw Huo Ye suddenly lose strength and sway toward him.

“You…” Shen Tingyu hurriedly caught him by the waist, only then realizing the person in his arms was burning with an alarming heat, likely running a high fever.

Huo Ye’s forehead pressed against his collarbone, his sharp nose poking at Shen Tingyu’s chest, his face also burning hot. The places where Huo Ye’s cheek brushed against him felt feverish, as if his chest had been pierced by a gaping hole.

Shen Tingyu had never enjoyed too much physical contact with others, yet at this moment, he unconsciously tightened his embrace, because the person in his arms felt so fragile, so breakable, as if he would certainly perish if left to fend for himself.

Having lived nearly eighteen years, Shen Tingyu for the first time had such a strange thought, that he was so “needed.”

In the agonizing pain and high fever, Huo Ye felt as if he were floating, cradled like a princess in someone’s arms. As the last remnants of consciousness slipped away, he silently thought that this pampered young master could effortlessly lift him in a critical moment. Clearly, those large chicken legs in the cafeteria weren’t left uneaten.

At four in the morning, Huo Ye finally stirred awake.

In the darkness, it was still impossible to see a thing, making him momentarily wonder if he were still at home, not having stepped out the door at all, and that Shen Tingyu’s appearance was merely a dream he had.

After a moment of adjusting to the darkness, Huo Ye focused his gaze and noticed that the surrounding facilities were completely different. The main colors of the room were pure white, neat and spacious, with a distinct smell of disinfectant, familiar yet unpleasant.

This wasn’t at home; it was evidently a hospital room.

The pain had eased somewhat, feeling much more comfortable. Huo Ye instinctively wanted to stretch his arms and legs, but a cold, warning voice sounded in his ears, – “Don’t move.”

Huo Ye was startled and turned to look. There was Shen Tingyu, resting his head on his arm at the edge of the hospital bed. After spitting out those two words, he slowly raised his head, bloodshot eyes present.

It was likely that he hadn’t slept well. Shen Tingyu’s hair was unkempt, sticking up haphazardly, giving him a rugged yet cold appearance, with eyelids only half-open, and each eyelash was distinct. His expression was like that of a child caught in wrongdoing.

Huo Ye blinked softly, and after they exchanged glances for a while, he finally spoke, “Hello, I’d like a bit of water, is that okay?”

“…”

Shen Tingyu neither said yes nor no. He scratched his messy hair and resignedly got up to pour hot water.

Huo Ye added, “Young Master, do you know how to use the kettle? You must not burn yourself.”

Shen Tingyu didn’t even turn back, “Shut up.”

When the cup was handed over, Huo Ye had already sat up on the bed, raising it high on the side. Since he was a guy over 180 centimeters tall, he’d been in and out of hospitals often and could manage by himself unless seriously injured.

Shen Tingyu turned on the lamp at the head of the bed, with a soft yellow light that was neither too dim nor too harsh.

Huo Ye slowly drank from the cup, while Shen Tingyu sat in the bedside chair, asking, “Are you not going to explain?”

After drinking down to the bottom of the cup, his stomach felt much more settled. Huo Ye put the cup down and didn’t look at Shen Tingyu’s piercing gaze, replying blandly, “You paid for my medical fees, right? I’ll pay you back, thank you.”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Huo Ye recalled Gao Xiaoyuan from that day in the equipment room and suddenly understood why she would helplessly repeat it multiple times to others.

The scene before him merged with memories for a flash, the hospital room transforming into the equipment room at sunset. Huo Ye and Shen Tingyu swapped roles, with the one trying to escape turning back, but it wasn’t the panicked and weak Gao Xiaoyuan. Instead, it was his own face that looked strong.

It turned out he was another Gao Xiaoyuan.

“Huo Ye, do you think I lack this little bit of money from you?” Shen Tingyu, having held back his frustration for a long time, finally exploded when Huo Ye casually mentioned it.

Of course, he didn’t lack it. They were two people from different worlds. Even half of the watches in Shen Tingyu’s room would be enough to buy several of Huo Ye’s lives.

But once again, everyone has their own destiny; no one is obliged to selflessly devote themselves, nor is anyone supposed to comfortably accept gifts.

So Huo Ye smiled warmly and replied, “You don’t lack it, but I have to pay you back.”

Shen Tingyu’s expression soured, refusing to communicate further, lest he heard something he didn’t want to hear. He was really infuriated by this guy.

The atmosphere fell silent, only their breathing filling the air.

Shen Tingyu had never felt so drained. In the middle of the night, he carried someone to the hospital, ran errands to register, poured water, and sat outside the emergency room for several hours, his legs stiff and arms sore.

After all, Huo Ye was a guy over 180 centimeters tall. Without pushing himself, Shen Tingyu had no idea he could take care of someone so well.

However, he would never voice these somewhat undignified complaints. If Huo Ye asked, he would immediately do twenty push-ups to prove that carrying someone like a princess was a piece of cake for him, effortless, and running back and forth wouldn’t be a problem.

After that, Shen Tingyu leaned against the caregiver chair, quietly closing his eyes to sleep.

“…” Huo Ye tilted his head to look at him, only to see that Shen Tingyu’s hair at the front had grown quite a bit, the soft black strands draping over his forehead, making him appear unusually obedient, while the long lashes shaded his eyes, revealing faint shadows beneath.

After looking for a long while, Huo Ye turned his gaze away.

He noticed a vase not far in the hospital room and suddenly sensed that something was off. After observing for a few seconds, he realized this wasn’t the usual model of the hospital room they often stayed in. The current one was not only more luxurious but definitely not a regular ward. It possibly was a VIP room.

How expensive would a VIP room be? The daily cost would almost multiply. Upon thinking about this, Huo Ye immediately sat up in shock, grabbing Shen Tingyu’s wrist.

Shen Tingyu, who had a very regular daily routine, was already exhausted, his eyes dry and barely closed when Huo Ye’s grip almost startled him awake.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?” Shen Tingyu asked, glaring with red-rimmed eyes as he clasped Huo Ye’s hand.

Huo Ye hesitated and shook his head saying, “No.”

Shen Tingyu: “?”

“I wanted to ask, didn’t you say your mom only gives you a thousand yuan for living expenses each month since school started? Where did you get the money for my medical fees?” Huo Ye’s tone shifted to a matter-of-fact inquiry, much more serious than his gastric bleeding hospitalization.

Shen Tingyu: “…”

Huo Ye continued to question him, “Did you sell a watch?”

Shen Tingyu’s eyelids twitched.

“Those watches are all numbered. If your mom found out, she’d kill you.” Huo Ye frowned, disagreeing with him.

Shen Tingyu released his grip, “That’s my business, don’t worry about it.”

“And mine, why do you care?” Huo Ye followed his gaze, “Do I not count as important to you?”

The words he had spoken once were like arrows shot, unexpectedly striking back at his own heart today. Shen Tingyu found himself unable to refute Huo Ye.

This was indeed a tricky question.

Yes, why?

Why did Huo Ye’s meddling in Gao Xiaoyuan’s affairs provoke Liao Zheng to jeopardize his own future, while Shen Tingyu was willing to sell his beloved watches for Huo Ye, and it wasn’t meddling? Why was that the case?

Shen Tingyu fell into the strange loop he had created, staring blankly at Huo Ye’s hand that was receiving IV therapy, pale from illness.

“…Anyway, it’s fine for me to care about you. You don’t need to interfere in my matters.” Shen Tingyu finally managed to squeeze out.

Huo Ye’s chest trembled with suppressed laughter, “Why so domineering?”

Shen Tingyu, with a pale face, rubbed his burning earlobes, not understanding why his body was reacting this way and ignored him.

Huo Ye said, “Zhao Jiayan is a pretty good person, and he can eat as much as you can. If you feel lonely eating, you can invite him to the cafeteria; if he’s not there, you can find—”

“What do you mean by talking about arrangements for my funeral?” Shen Tingyu interrupted him, realizing something was off.

“No, I just meant,” Huo Ye said earnestly, “When I drop out, you’ll have no one to sit with; I’ll find you a replacement.”

Shen Tingyu: “?”

“Did I say you should drop out?”