On How To Defeat Dr. Qing Leng Chapter 50
byChapter 50 Chapter 50 Cold, homesickness
“Um…” Wen Yelan spoke first and broke the silence, “You have heavy dark circles under your eyes and you haven’t rested, okay?”
Pei Yan rubbed his face and twitched the corners of his mouth: “Well, I can’t sleep.”
“…Smoking less.” Wen Yelan said.
Pei Yan was stunned for a moment, then a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes: “How do you know…”
“You guessed it.” Wen Yelan interrupted him, his tone calm, “You used to lash out fiercely when you were under great pressure.”
The excitement that had just risen in Pei Yan’s heart quickly subsided again.Before… yes, it was before.
“I will pay attention.” Pei Yan promised.
There was another moment of silence.
“It’s getting late,” Wen Yelan glanced at the time, “You have to go to work tomorrow, so go to bed early.”
“…Okay.” Pei Yan knew it was time to end, but he couldn’t bear to hang up, “You should go to bed early.”
“Yeah.”
“Wen Yelan.” Before hanging up, Pei Yan called his name again.
“Huh?”
“…It’s nothing.” Pei Yan finally swallowed back the words that came to his mouth, “Good night.”
“Good night.”
The screen went black.
Pei Yan maintained the posture of holding the mobile phone and sat on the chair for a long time.Wen Yelan’s last calm “good night” and his soft face with drops of water appeared alternately in his mind.
In the yurt, Wen Yelan put down his mobile phone and sat on the edge of the bed without moving for a long time.
In the video, Pei Yan looked haggard and tired but still looked at him intently, and the words “I can’t get used to it” were like pebbles thrown into the lake of his heart, creating ripples that could not be calmed down.
He thought what he needed was absolute silence and distance, but when Pei Yan really appeared on the screen, looked at him with that look, and said those straightforward words, he realized that he couldn’t get used to it either.
He raised his hand and touched his still wet cheek.I was so hasty just now that I forgot to dry it off.
The days that followed were no different from the past, but something seemed different.
Pei Yan no longer sends frequent messages every day, but every one or two days, he will always find a reason to send a message, ask about the weather, or share some insignificant daily information.
[I passed by that dessert shop today and they had a new chestnut cake. You might like it]
Wen Yelan’s replies were still concise, but occasionally he would ask: “Is the chestnut cake sweet?”】
There was no further video call, but Pei Yan would ask him on WeChat “Is it convenient?” and after receiving a positive reply, he would make a call.It didn’t take long, about ten or twenty minutes, and we talked about trivial matters.
Sometimes Wen Yelan was sorting out the sample data collected during the day, and Pei Yan would listen quietly without speaking. It wasn’t until Wen Yelan said “Hey” a few times in confusion that he said, “You’re busy with your business, I just want to hear it.”
Wen Yelan gradually got used to it.I’m used to receiving voice invitations from distant cities at night on the grassland. I’m used to Pei Yan’s voice on the other end of the screen that is sometimes tired and sometimes pretending to be relaxed. I’m used to his seemingly casual but actually careful exploration and care.
The working life on the grassland is regular and fulfilling.As expected, Senior Brother Zhou didn’t arrange many core tasks for him. He spent most of his time studying and assisting.
He followed the team members to learn to identify different forage species, observe the characteristics of soil profiles, and record meteorological data.In his free time, he would go far alone, sit on the grass slope, watch the clouds roll in and relax, watch the sunset dye the grassland into golden red, and watch the herdsmen driving their sheep home slowly.
He took many photos of the sky, meadows, wild flowers, lonely trees, herds of cattle and sheep.He still rarely sends messages to Pei Yan alone, but he sends them to Moments more frequently.Pei Yan is always the first person to like and comment. The comments initially changed from “pay attention to sun protection” and “drink more water” to “this cloud has an interesting shape” and “this tree looks quite stubborn and looks like you. I want to see you.”
Wen Yelan usually didn’t reply to comments, but Pei Yan knew he saw it.
Two weeks later, Wen Yelan followed the team to a distant sample site and encountered a sudden heavy rain on the way.There was no shelter on the grassland, and everyone was soaked instantly.Although they were wearing rain gear, the wind and rain were so strong that when they returned to the station, they were all in a state of embarrassment.Wen Yelan’s constitution was not strong to begin with, so he had a stuffy nose and a bit of dizziness that night.
He didn’t tell anyone, he took some cold medicine he brought with him and went to bed early.In the middle of the night, I felt chills all over my body and my throat was dry and sore.
In a daze, he heard what seemed to be the sound of cars and people outside the yurt, but the patter of rain made it hard to hear clearly.He thought it was because other team members were returning late and didn’t pay much attention.
When it was daybreak, the rain stopped.Wen Yelan was completely woken up by the dry pain in his throat and struggled to get up to get some water.Just as he sat up, the curtain of the yurt was gently opened, and Senior Brother Zhou poked his head in, holding a thermos pot and a medical kit in his hands.
“Ye Lan? Are you awake? How do you feel?” Senior Brother Zhou walked in and put down his things.
“Senior brother?” Wen Yelan’s voice was hoarse, “I’m fine… I just have a cold.”
“Still trying to be brave.” Senior Brother Zhou poured a cup of hot water and handed it to him, “Did you have a fever last night? Fortunately…” He paused, “Fortunately, the station always has medicines on hand. These are antipyretics and anti-inflammatory medicines. You take them first. There is ginger soup in the thermos, drink some while it’s hot.”
Wen Yelan took the water cup and medicine and was a little confused: “The station…does this always exist?” This is a scientific research station, not a medical station. They usually only prepare the most basic band-aids, iodophors and the like.
“Ah, yes.” Senior Brother Zhou’s eyes wandered, “The weather here changes a lot and it’s easy to catch a cold, so I’m more prepared. Take your medicine quickly. You have a rest today and don’t go out.”
Wen Yelan took medicine and drank ginger soup. Her body felt warmer and her drowsiness was relieved.He lay back on the bed and looked at Senior Brother Zhou’s leaving figure, suddenly feeling homesick.
He picked up his phone and clicked on Pei Yan’s dialog box.The last message was sent by Pei Yan before going out yesterday morning: [The weather forecast said there will be heavy rain in your place, remember to bring an umbrella.】
He moved his fingers, wanting to say that he had a cold, but he felt it was a bit pretentious, and it seemed to be of no use. He could only let Pei Yan worry.
Forget it.Wen Yelan buttoned up the phone.
For the next two days, Wen Yelan stayed at the station to rest.A cold comes and goes quickly. With medicine and adequate rest, it will be almost gone in no time.During this period, Pei Yan made another video call.
“Why didn’t you go out today?” Pei Yan could tell at a glance that he was staying in the yurt.
“I’m a little tired. Let’s take a day off.” Wen Yelan moved the phone aside.
Pei Yan stared at his face for a few seconds: “Your face is a bit pale. Are you feeling uncomfortable?”
“…No.” Wen Yelan denied subconsciously.
“Wen Yelan,” Pei Yan’s voice became deeper, “don’t lie to me.”
Wen Yelan was silent for a moment and then said, “I got caught in the rain a few days ago and had a slight cold. It’s gone now.”
On the other side of the screen, Pei Yan’s brows immediately tightened: “Caught in the rain? Why didn’t you bring an umbrella? Have you taken your medicine? Are you still feeling uncomfortable now?”
A series of questions came at me, with undisguised anxiety.
“I took the medicine and I’m fine.” Wen Yelan looked at the face on the screen that suddenly came closer and smiled softly.
“Really?” Pei Yan asked worriedly.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t run outside when it rains in the future, or bring rain gear. Your stomach is not good and your resistance is weak. Pay more attention to yourself.” Pei Yan ordered, his tone was nagging without even noticing it.
“I know.” Wen Yelan responded, and the warm and sour feeling in his heart surged up again.He suddenly asked: “Is everything going well for you… lately?”
Pei Yan didn’t seem to expect that he would take the initiative to care. He was stunned for a moment and raised the corners of his mouth: “It’s okay. I just miss you a little.”
Straightforward and unabashed.
Wen Yelan’s heart skipped a beat, he lowered his eyes and did not answer.
Pei Yan didn’t force him and turned to talk about other things: “By the way, my parents asked about you a few days ago.”
Wen Yelan raised his head: “Mr. Pei and Mrs. Pei? What…are they asking?”
“I just want to ask you whether you are comfortable in the grassland and whether the work is hard.” Pei Yan looked at him and said, “My mother also said that when you come back, she will let you eat at home. She has learned a few new dishes.”
“They…” Wen Yelan’s throat tightened, “Don’t you think I’m… troublesome?” After all, because of him, Pei Yan came out as gay in public, and the Pei family was pushed to the center of public opinion. Who knows how much the stock has fallen.
“What’s the trouble?” Pei Yan raised his eyebrows, “My mother taught me, ‘Xiaolan is a child who attracts people’s attention at first sight, and you are targeting her, and you can’t run away. It’s so pitiful. You should treat others well, and don’t always act like a fool.'”
Wen Yelan: “…” A mother still understands her children.
“So,” Pei Yan’s voice was very soft and came through the screen with a cautious expectation, “You see, you are not the only one in that relationship. My parents… they also regard you as one of their own. You are a part of this family. You have never been alone, Wen Yelan.”
Wen Yelan’s nose suddenly sore.He blinked hard to push back the wetness.
“…Yeah.” He responded very softly, his voice choked with sobs.
Pei Yan heard the slight choking, and his heart felt sore and soft as if it had been rubbed hard.He wanted to go across the screen and hug him immediately, but he could only restrain himself and soften his voice: “It’s almost a month. There are still two months.”
Wen Yelan understood what he was talking about.Three months period.
“Yeah.” He responded again.
“I’ll wait for you.” Pei Yan said, every word clear and solemn. “No matter what your final decision is, I respect it. But Wen Yelan, I’ll wait for you.”
Long after the call ended, Wen Yelan still maintained his original posture, tears sliding down his cheeks.
Outside the yurt, the grassland wind blew gently, bringing the fragrance of distant green grass.The moonlight is like water, falling quietly.
A warmth flowed from the bottom of my heart to my limbs, and my whole body felt like I was soaking in a hot spring.
It turns out that being waited for and remembered by someone so firmly, even if we are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, even if both of us have made mistakes, will give rise to infinite courage.
He picked up his phone, flipped through the photo album, and found a photo of a grassland under the sunset that he had taken a few days ago.Golden light enveloped the earth, warm and peaceful.
He clicked on Pei Yan’s dialog box, hesitated for a few seconds, and then pressed the send button.
There is no caption, just a photo.
Almost as soon as the transmission was successful, “The other party is typing…” was displayed at the top of the dialog box.
A few seconds later, Pei Yan’s message came back.
Pei Yan: [Very nice.People who take photos are better looking.】
Wen Yelan’s cheeks felt slightly hot as he read the news.He didn’t reply, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly involuntarily.
———————–
The author has something to say: When can the young lovers meet in person?[Star Eyes][Lop-eared Rabbit Head]