Chapter 97: YanYan, I won’t let anything happen to you
Because they had contacted the hospital in advance, when they arrived, Lin Qingyan was taken by Gu Fei for various physical examinations. He cooperated throughout, and it wasn’t until late at night that they finished.
“Based on the current examination results, the patient’s body is very healthy, and all indicators are normal. Mr. Gu, you don’t need to worry too much.”
After hearing the doctor’s words, Gu Fei’s hanging heart slightly relaxed. He was worried that Lin Qingyan had suffered some injury or illness before, unable to detect it because of his lack of pain sensation.
However, his biggest concern was Lin Qingyan’s lack of pain sensation. What did it mean? Even small illnesses, if undetectable and untreated in time, could endanger his life.
The hospital’s experts were also curious and surprised by this symptom, as this disease was very rare, with only dozens of cases worldwide, and only a few cases in the country.
“Congenital analgesia is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genetic disease. Its clinical characteristics are that the patient, from birth, cannot feel pain anywhere on their body, under any circumstances.”
The doctor shook his head helplessly, saying to the handsome man with a serious expression, “I’m sorry, Mr. Gu, there is currently no cure for this condition.”
Gu Fei’s heart tightened. The hand resting on his thigh unconsciously clenched into a fist, the veins on his hand slightly bulging, his lips pressed tightly together.
After a moment of silence, the man’s thin lips moved, his voice low and hoarse as he asked, “Is there really no way?”
“Sorry, there is currently no treatment,” the doctor said. “We can only take protective measures, avoid injuries as much as possible, and have regular check-ups.”
Compared to Gu Fei’s heavy mood, Lin Qingyan had already accepted the fact. He knew this disease was incurable.
“Fei-ge, it’s okay.” He quietly held the man’s hand, trying to comfort him with a light tone, “Look, I’m lively and well, aren’t I? Don’t worry.”
It was he who was ill, yet he was comforting others.
When they left the hospital, it was already late at night. The sky was gloomy, the road quiet, few vehicles passing by, the neon lights along the street still brilliant and bustling.
On the way back, Gu Fei remained silent, but he never let go of Lin Qingyan’s hand. An unusually heavy atmosphere filled the car, making it hard to breathe.
Butler Shen, who was driving in the front, also felt something was wrong. He had been with the Gu family for so long, and except for the death of Gu Fei’s father years ago, he had never seen Gu Ye in this state.
Pessimism, fear, disappointment… it was like a bottomless black hole dragging Gu Fei in. This sudden event had dealt a great blow to him.
Just thinking about whether Lin Qingyan might suddenly have an accident one day, without warning, made Gu Fei’s heart panic, like a drowning man.
Lin Qingyan occasionally looked at the man’s expression with his peripheral vision, his eyes filled with worry.
Compared to his own condition, Lin Qingyan was more worried about Gu Fei. He pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Fei, who had been silent for a long time, spoke:
“YanYan, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Mm, I know.” Lin Qingyan smiled at him, his eyes curving slightly.
After that, Gu Fei’s mood gradually returned to normal. He was still trying to control himself, burying everything in his heart. He didn’t want Lin Qingyan to worry about him.
When they returned to the villa, it was very late. Only a soft, orange-yellow bedside lamp was on in the bedroom. Lin Qingyan was lying in bed asleep. He opened his eyes and quietly listened to the sound of water from the bathroom.
Gu Fei showered quickly. Ten minutes later, he came out of the bathroom, wearing a black bathrobe, and drying his wet short hair with a towel. The dim light prevented Lin Qingyan from seeing his expression clearly.
There was a movement on the bed. Gu Fei looked over and saw that the young man who had been lying down had sat up. He walked to the bedside and asked softly, “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
“I want to dry your hair.” The young man’s face held a smile. After getting out of bed, he found a hair dryer and said to the man with a very obedient expression, “Fei-ge, sit on the bed.”
“Okay.” Gu Fei didn’t refuse and sat directly on the bed.
Lin Qingyan could only use his left hand, but it was enough. The man’s hair was short, and it only took two minutes to dry it. He smiled contentedly, “Okay, go to sleep.”
But Gu Fei suddenly grasped his wrist, “I forgot something. Fei-ge hasn’t checked the place where YanYan fell.”
“…” Lin Qingyan: “I’ve already checked, it’s fine.”
Gu Fei chuckled softly and didn’t press him further.
They lay down on the bed together. Gu Fei wanted to hold the young man in his arms, but because of his injury, he refrained, only leaning over to kiss him on the forehead, “Goodnight.”
Lin Qingyan: “Goodnight.”
The night was quiet, the bedroom quiet enough to hear each other’s breathing. Gu Fei lay on his side, watching the person sleeping beside him in the dim light, his gaze gentle and focused.
Time passed second by second. Lin Qingyan had fallen asleep, but Gu Fei got out of bed. His movements were careful, not waking the sleeping person.
This prime residential area was always quiet. At night, you could hear the chirping of unknown insects.
Gu Fei stood on the balcony, the chirping of insects in his ears. He looked up at the deep night sky; his slightly narrowed eyes were even deeper than the night, silently bringing the cigarette held between two fingers to his lips, inhaling and exhaling.
Only a spark of fire lit the balcony. The man silently smoked, one cigarette burning out before another was lit.
Gu Fei could hardly imagine how Lin Qingyan had spent these years. He thought that fate had already been unfair to him, a case of mistaken identity causing him to suffer for nineteen years.
It turned out to be even more unfair.
Born without the sense of pain…
The man curled his lips, a shadow of weariness covering his tired brow. He was enveloped in the dim light, looking particularly dejected.
For the first time, Gu Fei felt lost and helpless.
After staying outside for almost an hour, letting the smell of smoke dissipate, Gu Fei turned and returned to the room. When he lay back down on the bed, the person beside him woke up.
Lin Qingyan opened his eyes drowsily, his voice hoarse, softly calling out “Fei-ge.”
Gu Fei’s heart instantly softened. He lay down beside the young man, casually stroking his cheek, softly saying, “Sorry, I woke you up. Go back to sleep.”
“Why haven’t you slept yet…”
Saying this, Lin Qingyan reached out, placing his palm on the man’s hand, and gently rubbing his cheek against his palm, as if silently comforting him with his actions.
In the darkness, the warmth of the palm silently transmitted to his body, spreading to his limbs. Gu Fei suddenly said, “YanYan, I need you to promise me a few things.”
“Mm… say it.” Though sleepy, the drowsy Lin Qingyan still cooperated.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Fei picked up his phone from the bedside table. The light from the screen illuminated his serious expression. He turned on the recording function.
Gu Fei: “Promise me you will never leave me in your life.”
Lin Qingyan: “I will never leave Gu Fei in my life.”
Gu Fei: “You must take good care of yourself. Tell me if you feel even slightly uncomfortable.”
Lin Qingyan: “I will take good care of myself. I will tell Gu Fei if I feel even slightly uncomfortable.”
Gu Fei: “No matter what happens in the future, you can’t hide it from me.”
Lin Qingyan: “No matter what happens in the future, I won’t hide anything from Gu Fei.”
After finishing the recording, Gu Fei put the phone to his ear, repeatedly listening to the conversation, until his heart gradually calmed down. In the darkness, he stared intently at the person before him, curling his lips into a smile, tenderness melting into his eyes.
“YanYan… you must keep your promises.”
The man murmured softly.
—
The next morning, as soon as Lin Qingyan woke up, he remembered what had happened in the middle of the night. He even suspected he had been dreaming, but he remembered every word Gu Fei had said clearly.
The space beside him was empty. He looked at the time; it was almost nine o’clock in the morning. Gu Fei must have gone to work.
Lin Qingyan got up to wash and, with some difficulty, changed his clothes before going downstairs, only to find Gu Fei still at home. The man was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, his back to him, on the phone.
Perhaps too focused, Gu Fei didn’t notice someone approaching from behind. Lin Qingyan vaguely heard the words “pain,” and “contact experts.”
Lin Qingyan stopped. His mood instantly became somewhat complicated. Last night, the doctor had clearly stated that there was no cure for congenital analgesia; he had already given up.
But Gu Fei didn’t accept the facts and was still insisting.
He wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard anything. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Fei had hung up, turning to walk towards him, his expression as calm and gentle as ever.
“Awake? I had the kitchen make your favorite breakfast. Eat first.”
“Mm.” When Gu Fei approached, Lin Qingyan took his hand. He rarely took the initiative, his face still a little unnatural. “Fei-ge, why haven’t you gone to the company yet? You’ve already delayed a lot of work taking care of me.”
Lin Qingyan knew Gu Fei was usually very busy. As the CEO of such a large corporation, he must have many things to handle. He didn’t want Gu Fei to delay his work because of him.
But Gu Fei said, “No rush. You’re coming with me today.”
Hearing this, Lin Qingyan froze.
Gu Fei: “YanYan doesn’t have anything to do at home, does he?”
Lin Qingyan seemed to understand. Gu Fei wasn’t reassured and wanted him by his side.
Looking at the man’s usual calm expression, Lin Qingyan felt a pang in his heart.