Chapter 12: You’re Staying at My House
Ruan Zhimian forgot that Shi He couldn’t hear what he said.
So, he lowered his head, reached out to Shi He, and proactively grabbed Shi He’s wrist, shaking it gently. He was coaxing him carefully.
A faint scent of lily of the valley drifted in the air, lingering and ethereal.
As he got closer, it became clearer, yet when he tried to catch it, it quickly dissipated and vanished.
Shi He’s gaze landed on the snowy-white, soft fingers. Their owner was pointing at the terrace ahead.
He was likely saying, Let’s go inside, okay?
Shi He hated the rain most of the time, yet the rain at this moment isolated them from the rest of the world. He looked into those pure eyes, his canines breaking his tongue. He used the pain to suppress his malicious thoughts.
The Alpha shifted his steps, his deep shadow looming over Ruan Zhimian.
He answered, “Okay.”
When the butler arrived, he saw their young master leading the young master of the Shi family by the hand from the small yard back to the hall step by step.
The butler was surprised. “Young Master, what happened?”
Ruan Zhimian answered quickly, “He just got caught in the rain. First, go boil some ginger tea, then find a set of clean clothes and bring them over.”
The Alpha with cool and distant features was pressed into a chair. Water droplets dripped from his wet black hair. The gray suit on his body was also soaking wet and radiating a chill.
He didn’t speak, just sat there quietly.
With such an outstanding person, Ruan Zhimian felt a sense of fragility. He wiped the wet corners of his eyes with his finger, took the bath towel from the servant, and carefully draped it over Shi He’s shoulders, murmuring to himself, “Being in the rain… it’ll be cold.”
The little cat lowered its head and draped one over himself too. He told the servants to leave first, then slowly squatted in front of Shi He and lifted his beautiful small face. In his palm was Shi He’s hearing aid.
He didn’t know if Shi He had taken it off because he was too uncomfortable, and he was afraid that asking abruptly would make Shi He’s state even worse, so he just looked on longingly.
Shi He slowly leaned down, his long fingers sliding across Ruan Zhimian’s palm and pausing briefly. He quickly picked up the hearing aid and put it on skillfully.
When he spoke again, he was once more the heir to the Shi family from their first meeting—noble in expression and polite in attitude. “Sorry, I was in a poor state just now and gave you a fright.”
The fragility and daze from just now were merely the world’s illusion.
“Do you feel better now? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“It’s an old problem of mine. It flares up occasionally on rainy days. It’ll get better on its own.”
The little cat rubbed its ears and asked softly, “How long will it take?”
“About one night.”
That was too long. Ruan Zhimian looked at the rain outside and then checked the weather on his phone.
This rain was going to last until midnight.
He had lied to Shi He and already felt very guilty toward him.
At this moment, the cute cat’s eyelashes curled as he first held the ginger tea that had been served and placed it before Shi He. “Shi He, our house has many guest rooms. Would you like to stay for a night to rest?”
He even added, “Though we just met, don’t be formal with me.”
He didn’t need Shi He to mention it at all; he proactively stepped into the trap.
The scammer cat, who clearly had a fiancé yet still dated him online, was even easier to fool in reality.
The Alpha lowered his phoenix eyes and coughed weakly. His dark, gloomy eyes were reflected in the small white porcelain bowl. “Today is your birthday. Would it be too much of a bother if I stayed?”
Is this a polite refusal?
Ruan Zhimian took a small sip of his own ginger tea and tried to find the right words. “It’s going to rain for a long time today. Now that it’s dark, it’ll take a while to get back.”
“There aren’t many people living in my house. You’ll be staying next to me; it’s very quiet.”
Just then, a servant arrived with a change of clothes. Ruan Zhimian took the paper bag and watched Shi He finish the ginger tea before immediately pulling him upstairs.
“You go take a shower and change clothes first. If you need anything, just call; the butler will bring it over.”
The moment the door closed, the Alpha retracted his fragile expression.
He walked to the extending window sill and gazed faintly as the lights in the bedroom next door turned on. He took out his phone, entered the bathroom, and dialed the number of the online dating partner he hadn’t reached earlier.
See you tonight, baby.
…
Ruan Zhimian had just returned to his bedroom. He sat in a chair and talked to Qiuqiu. “Should I bring him something to eat? Did Shi He not eat anything?”
Qiuqiu wobbled; it didn’t know.
The phone rang. When Ruan Zhimian saw the caller ID, he almost dropped it on the floor. He had been so busy he forgot—he hadn’t really sent Shi He any messages today.
The scammer cat diligently clutched its phone, searching for the most soundproof corner.
He squatted down.
A minute later, the call connected. He took the initiative to strike first, using a soft, squeaky voice. “Gege, are you done with work? Have you eaten well?”
“I’m done, but I haven’t had time to eat yet.”
Shi He’s voice was raspy and a bit teasing. “I just got caught in the rain. I’ll call you after I shower. I have a lot to tell you today, baby. Wait for me a bit, okay?”
“Mhm. I’m going to coax Gege to sleep today.”
“Baby, see you in a bit.”
The call ended. Shi He unbuttoned his shirt, took off his clothes, and stepped under the shower head.
Ruan Zhimian let out a long sigh of relief and stood up from the gap between the corner of the bed and the wall. He rubbed his legs and went downstairs to find food for Shi He.
Just as he left the room, he ran into Ruan Xubai, who had come looking for him.
Ruan Xubai lived in the adjacent villa with his aunt Ruan Yechun but sometimes stayed over. “Mianmian, the Chinese medicine your mom had me bring for you is almost heated up. Drink a bag every day before bed; it’s good for your body.”
Chinese medicine—bitter.
Ruan Zhimian stood beside the chef, picked up the Chinese medicine radiating a heavy bitter scent, and subconsciously frowned. He lifted his small face. “Gege, I’ll drink it.”
Ruan Xubai watched Ruan Zhimian finish it and prepared to send him back to his room.
To his surprise, while chewing on the dried plum handed to him to get rid of the bitter taste, his brother said to the chef in a spoiled way, “Sister, could you make a bowl of light noodle soup?”
“I also want a fruit platter.”
“Mianmian, are you hungry?”
Ruan Zhimian sat down to wait, his big eyes blinking at Ruan Xubai. “I want to bring it to Shi He. He’s in poor health; I need to take care of him.”
“Since when is his health poor?”
Ruan Zhimian didn’t know Shi He, but Ruan Xubai did; they had crossed paths in business more than once.
The month before last, the Shi family had even taken a project that the two families were competing for.
Ruan Zhimian shook his head solemnly. “Brother, you don’t know. Shi He almost fainted just now; he was very uncomfortable. We are the hosts; we have to take good care of our guests.”
Ruan Xubai wanted to say something, but Ruan Zhimian pushed him away.
“Brother, you were too busy today. Go rest early.”
Ten minutes later, the little Young Master Ruan walked into the elevator, carefully carrying a wooden tray.
He knocked on the door and waited obediently.
He didn’t wait long. Shi He came to open the door wearing a bathrobe. The gray bathrobe was wrapped loosely around him, his black hair drooping obediently. The soft light from the hallway ceiling made him look even more gentle.
“For me?”
The little cat was almost mesmerized. He nodded his head. “Mhm!”
Shi He really is very, very good-looking! He even remembered to compare: How could Han He’an compare to Shi He? Why were they arranged as rivals?
Then he felt he was being too abrupt. “I went downstairs to drink Chinese medicine and brought a portion for you while I was at it. Don’t be formal.”
“What Chinese medicine?”
“For calming the nerves. I haven’t been resting well lately.”
The Alpha’s long, fair fingers reached out and took the tray.
“I’ll eat it well. Thank you, Young Master Ruan.”
Ruan Zhimian returned to his room “naturally,” took his pajamas to wash up, and snuggled comfortably into bed. However, his eyelids were fighting to stay open. When he received Shi He’s call, his head was already burrowing into the quilt.
The Chinese medicine his aunt had found someone to prescribe was really effective.
“Baby, are you asleep?”
“Gege, I feel… like I’m about to… fall asleep…”
The phone slid from the pillow. The little cat closed its eyes, its fair, tender cheek rubbing against the plush toy in its arms. He murmured, “Gege.”
…
Half an hour later, the bedroom door opened silently.
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