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Chapter 93: The Cannon Fodder in a Dogblood Novel (93)
He looked at Zhou Geng, his voice having a bit more strength than before, enunciating word by word.
“Call him.”
Him. Zhou Geng naturally knew who he referred to.
He took out his phone with trembling hands and dialed Shen Tangqing’s number shakily.
At this time in Wuxian, it was already evening. Shen Tangqing picked up the moment the phone rang.
“Hello…”
Zhou Geng held the phone and put it on speaker.
Zhou Shuli’s Adam’s apple rolled, suppressing the suffocating feeling in his chest, and called out softly, “Tangtang…”
“Brother Zhou, I heard you are sick. Is your body feeling any better?”
Zhou Shuli’s expression was very calm, but his eyes overflowed with tenderness. “Much better. Thank you for your concern.”
He didn’t ask why Shen Tangqing suddenly “came alive” again. To him, those things were no longer important. Being able to say a few words to Shen Tangqing before dying… he was already—very satisfied.
Shen Tangqing wasn’t good at comforting people. After a few seconds of silence, he dryly spat out a pale sentence.
“Brother Zhou will definitely get better…”
“Mn, I will get better. Don’t worry.”
After Zhou Shuli finished speaking, he felt a tickle in his throat again. He forcibly suppressed it, then asked Shen Tangqing with a slightly hoarse voice, “Is Tangtang doing well now?”
“Pretty good.”
“That’s good…”
“Brother Zhou, when you recover and return to Beijing, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
Zhou Shuli smiled. The smile spread across his pale, gaunt face, actually adding a touch of morbid gentleness. Although his skeletal appearance now really couldn’t be called good-looking.
“Okay. Thank you, Tangtang.”
Both ends of the line fell into a brief silence.
A few seconds later, Zhou Shuli spoke first. “Tangtang, can we add WeChat and start a video call so I can see you?”
After speaking, he laughed very lightly. “Haven’t seen you for a long time.”
The strong desire at the bottom of his heart began to clamor. He wanted to see Shen Tangqing again too much, even if it was across a cold screen.
Of course, he knew his ghostly appearance now would scare Shen Tangqing. He didn’t plan to let Shen Tangqing see him.
…
“Sure, Brother Zhou. I’ll add Brother Geng’s WeChat…” Shen Tangqing agreed readily.
After hanging up, Zhou Geng quickly added Shen Tangqing as a WeChat friend. The next second, Shen Tangqing’s video call came through.
“Xiao Geng, just let me see him. Don’t turn on the camera.”
Zhou Geng’s hands shook. Suppressing the sourness in his throat, he nodded.
The video connected. Shen Tangqing was sitting on the sofa, looking a bit puzzled at the other end of the video. “Brother Zhou, why isn’t the camera on?”
Zhou Shuli coughed lightly, the corner of his lips curving into an extremely shallow arc. His gaze fell greedily on Shen Tangqing.
He was even more beautiful than in his memories. He hadn’t lost weight, so he shouldn’t have suffered grievances. Being able to see Shen Tangqing one more time before death, Zhou Shuli was satisfied.
The only regret was that he had never confessed his feelings to Shen Tangqing. But fortunately, he hadn’t confessed. He couldn’t accompany him for a lifetime; confessing would only add to the other’s troubles.
“Tangtang, sorry. It’s not very convenient for me to turn on the video right now.”
Zhou Shuli explained softly, only his breath was a little weaker than before.
Shen Tangqing lowered his eyes. The unease in his heart magnified again, but he didn’t force Zhou Shuli.
He pulled a very shallow smile. “Then when it’s convenient for Brother Zhou, I’ll video call you again.”
“Okay,” Zhou Shuli agreed with a smile, but the light in his eyes dimmed a few degrees.
He knew he might not… have a “convenient” time anymore.
“When can Brother Zhou return to the country? We can go to Hexia Banquet to eat again. I still remember their Squirrel Mandarin Fish…”
Shen Tangqing in the video spoke, pretending to be relaxed.
Zhou Shuli looked at him obsessively. “Next spring.”
“Okay, then let’s meet next spring.”
Zhou Shuli gave a soft “Mn.” Bitterness rose in his throat. He knew he lied to Shen Tangqing. He already… didn’t have a next spring. Couldn’t wait until… next spring.
The tickle in his throat grew heavier. Zhou Shuli gritted his teeth hard, but simply couldn’t stop the surging urge to cough.
He clutched the bedsheet and spoke with a suppressed voice. “Tangtang, I’m a bit tired and want to rest. Let’s talk another day…”
“Okay, Brother Zhou. Rest well and recover soon.”
Zhou Shuli looked at Shen Tangqing, his eyes full of reluctance and attachment, seemingly wanting to carve him into his mind.
As soon as the video hung up, Zhou Shuli couldn’t hold back anymore and bent over, coughing.
Zhou Geng couldn’t even hold the phone steadily; it fell to the ground with a smack. He panicked and prepared to call the doctor, but was stopped by Zhou Shuli’s weak voice.
“Xiao Geng…”
Zhou Geng froze in place and looked back.
This time, Zhou Shuli didn’t cough blood. After coughing a few times, he stopped, gasping for breath. An unnatural flush appeared on his pale face.
“Xiao Geng, Tangtang didn’t die… I’m very happy…” His gaze fell on Zhou Geng, holding apology and also melancholy.
“You know I like him… right?”
Zhou Geng’s Adam’s apple rolled. After two seconds, he gave a hum. Although Zhou Shuli hadn’t told him personally, he knew after swallowing pills to commit suicide. In his study, there were many photos of Shen Tangqing…
Zhou Shuli suddenly smiled. That smile was very shallow. He wasn’t actually a person who loved to smile.
“Originally wanted to abduct him home to be your sister-in-law,” he said, then couldn’t help coughing a few more times, his breath becoming increasingly unstable.
“I know… you also like him… but Big Brother still wants to ask you, in the future, help me take care of him more.”
“I hope he has a hundred years without worry, peace, and joy…”
Zhou Geng’s tears fell instantly. He wiped his face haphazardly, his voice choking.
“I know, I will…” Zhou Geng paused, enunciating word by word, “I will take good care of… Sister-in-law.”
It seemed Zhou Geng’s form of address pleased Zhou Shuli. The smile on his face deepened.
“There is a small box in my safe. When I die, bury it with me…”
In that box were a pair of cuff links Shen Tangqing gave him, though he couldn’t bear to wear them. Although he knew it was a return gift, he was still very happy and kept them carefully in the safe.
“You won’t die,” Zhou Geng said hurriedly, his voice carrying a sobbing tone. “Brother, you will get better.”
Zhou Shuli shook his head gently.
“Can’t get better… Can’t get better…”
“The company will be handed over to you. Mom and Dad are getting old, spend more time with them when you have time…”
Finally, he suddenly reached out and held Zhou Geng’s hand.
“Xiao Geng, thank you for your hard work.”
Zhou Geng froze in place. In his memory, this was the first time his brother had physical contact with him without wearing gloves.
It turned out… Brother’s hand was warm.
…
The touch lasted only a moment. Zhou Shuli withdrew his hand, his whole body trembling slightly.
If he had known earlier that Shen Tangqing didn’t die, he wouldn’t have taken so many sleeping pills, wouldn’t have ruined his body so much, wouldn’t have gotten acute heart failure and PTSD… perhaps it wouldn’t have triggered this strange illness.
He actually wasn’t afraid of death, but he wanted to accompany Shen Tangqing, wanted to be with Shen Tangqing…
But unfortunately, life doesn’t have so many “what ifs,” nor so many “if I had knowns.” Perhaps regret is just the norm.
Zhou Shuli’s gaze drifted out the window. The sunlight was just right, spilling onto the floor through the glass window, warm and fuzzy.
Sadly, he would never see such good weather again.
After a long time, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhou Geng.
“I want to sleep for a while.”
Zhou Geng’s nose soured. He suppressed the tears in his eyes, trying hard to make his tone sound relaxed.
“Sleep, Brother. You’ll be fine after a sleep.”
He watched Zhou Shuli slowly close his eyes. Long eyelashes cast shallow shadows under his eyes; his expression was very peaceful.
Only, he didn’t expect that with this sleep, Zhou Shuli would never wake up again.
Author’s Note: Zhou Shuli is a character I really like; the ending will have him come back to life. Because a good friend’s book got locked, I learned that physical contact between more than two people is considered (involving/harem). I decided to write this quick transmigration as a unit drama. Follow my Weibo to see the censored content in the sweet extras of Zhou Shuli and Tangtang. Trust me, with system novels, I can really bring characters back to life.
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