Chapter 126: A Speedy Recovery
“So it would be easier to move around with a light, right?” Cheng Ge thought a candle would be similar to a handheld lantern.
“Do you want me to make a torch for you tomorrow?”
“I do.”
“I’ll make it for you tomorrow. We’re tired now; letās rest first.”
“…Mn.”
Sensing that Wen Lingās mood had improved, Cheng Ge told him to lie down and sleep.
“Rest your head on this leg. It doesn’t hurt here.”
Wen Ling sat there, his forehead resting against Cheng Geās shoulder, refusing.
“Iāll feel more at ease if you lie on my leg. Just like beforeāif you stay away from me, my heart will feel like itās floating.”
Only after Cheng Ge said this did Wen Ling agree to lie down. He rested lightly on Cheng Geās leg, occasionally burying his face in the side of Cheng Geās waist.
They had two typical sleeping positions on the sofa: when it was the single sofa, Wen Ling would curl into Cheng Geās arms; on the long sofa, Wen Ling would rest his head on Cheng Geās lap.
Cheng Ge massaged Wen Lingās ears, smoothed his hair, and rubbed his tense temples.
Even though Wen Ling hadn’t originally planned to sleep, he was soon coaxed into a comfortable slumber by Cheng Ge.
By now, Cheng Geās fever had broken, but the pain had surged back with a vengeance. It was so intense he could barely control his expression.
Cheng Ge held Wen Lingās hand, his back and head leaning against the wall. He closed his eyes and tried his best to focus all his senses on Wen Ling.
That way, the pain felt a bit more distant, allowing him to drift off for short intervals.
Cheng Ge had assumed that after their talk last night and a good night’s sleep, the tension in Wen Ling would relax a bit.
To his surprise, Wen Ling seemed even more wound up. No matter how much Cheng Ge teased him, he wouldn’t smile. He looked as if he were carrying a thousand-pound burden.
But if Cheng Ge had known that Wen Ling had seen his face twisted in pain in the middle of the nightāthat Cheng Ge had cried out in his sleep and that his body was as rigid as a stoneāCheng Ge wouldn’t have been able to smile either.
Cheng Ge poured the leftover water into the pot to boil. He scooped some out to rinse his mouth, then waited for the rest to cool before drinking.
Breakfast consisted of two chocolates and some chicken feet. Wen Ling found the chicken feet too spicy; after a few bites, he tossed them to Cheng Ge and left with the pot, saying he was going to find more food. No matter how Cheng Ge called after him, he didn’t listen.
When Wen Ling became stubborn, Cheng Ge was powerless to stop him.
Cheng Ge looked at the nearly full bag of chicken feet, then watched Wen Lingās retreating back. His heart ached for him, yet he didn’t know what to do.
When Wen Ling returned, he was carrying a pot of water and a few pieces of fruitāthey were lumpy, bruised, and scarred.
Wen Ling had already washed them. He placed them in Cheng Geās hand. “I don’t know if these are edible.”
Cheng Ge: [001! 001!]
001: [All-natural, no additives. Non-toxic and harmless.]
“They’re edible,” Cheng Ge said. He took a bite first to test the flavor. It was sweet. “Try some. Youāll like it; itās very sweet.”
The tension in Wen Ling finally seemed to ease slightly. He sat beside Cheng Ge and began to munch on a piece of fruit.
Cheng Ge reminded him, “Watch out for bugs. Since itās wild fruit, there might be quite a few.”
“Okay.”
Wen Ling sat with Cheng Ge. He warmed his hands over the fire for a moment, then pressed them against Cheng Geās icy face to warm him up.
Cheng Ge didn’t pull away. He just smiled and asked why Wen Lingās hands were so warm.
“The fire warmed them. The fire is quite hot,” Wen Ling answered seriously.
Cheng Ge chuckled. “I know. I was just complimenting you.”
Wen Ling stared at Cheng Geās face. Hearing this, his eyelashes fluttered downward. After a moment, he looked up again, his voice muffled: “Cheng Geās face is just too cold.”
Cheng Ge bit his lip and said, “Itās cold weather, can’t be helped.” When he felt guilty, Cheng Ge habitually wanted to poke Wen Lingās cheek, but Wen Ling dodged.
“Your hands are a bit cold too,” Wen Ling said, looking down.
Cheng Ge rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. “I forgot for a second.”
Once Wen Ling had warmed Cheng Geās face, he prepared to head out again.
Cheng Ge caught Wen Lingās hand and began to act shamelessly. “Stay with me. Xiao Wen, stay with me for a bit.”
“I’ll only be gone for a moment.” Wen Ling cupped Cheng Geās face and pressed several kisses onto his skin.
Because Cheng Geās face was so cold, Wen Lingās normally cool lips felt warm in comparison.
Cheng Ge was helpless; he could only squeeze Wen Lingās hand. “Then Iāll wait for you. Come back quickly.”
“Mn.”
Normally, Cheng Ge wasn’t afraid of Wen Ling going out, but Wen Lingās state today was just too off. He was so stubborn he seemed lost in his own world, and it was making Cheng Ge both anxious and miserable.
Combined with the fact that Wen Ling had gotten lost yesterday, Cheng Ge didn’t want him to wander far at all, terrified that something might happen to him.
But Cheng Ge couldn’t do anything right now. After asking 001 about Wen Lingās safety status, all he could do was bicker with the system.
He even tried to buy painkillers at a “brotherly price” on credit, but 001 refused.
[Worthless system! Stinking system! Our bond is severed! We are finished!]
Cheng Ge was gritting his teeth in pain. He knew the system had ironclad principles; he was just looking for someone to curse at to distract himself.
While he was in the middle of his tirade, he suddenly heard someone call out, “Xiao Cheng?” The voice sounded aged and carried a hint of confusion.
Cheng Ge thought the pain was making him hallucinate, but then he heard it twice more.
“Xiao Cheng?”
“Xiao Cheng!”
Cheng Ge heard hurried footsteps. He looked toward the entrance and saw an old man staring at him with a face full of worry.
First, Cheng Ge was confusedāwho was this old man, and why was he calling him “Xiao Cheng”?
Then, he was overjoyed that heād actually encountered someone while in the cave.
Finally, a flash of realization hit him. He stared at the person standing before him, his mouth agape in shock. He whispered, “Grandpa?”
“Oh my goodness!” The old man immediately covered his aging eyes and paced in place for two steps. He looked back at Cheng Ge and grabbed his shoulders, his face a mix of joy and deep heartache. “It really is our Xiao Cheng. Oh, heavens…”
“What happened to my grandson… what a tragedy…”
Grandpa rambled on while holding Cheng Geās shoulders, worrying about his health, asking why he was so thin and pale, and demanding to know what had happened.
Cheng Ge gave him a brief summary, saying he had gone hiking with a friend and accidentally rolled down a slope. Grandpaās brow furrowed in pain, and his eyes grew misty.
Grandpa looked at his broken leg and pulled out an old-style mobile phone. “Grandpa will call A-Sheng to bring the car up. Weāll get you down from here in a bit.”
Cheng Ge nodded, still in a daze. He was currently caught in a swirl of surprise and confusion.
“Thereās an orthopedic doctor in our town whoās very skilled. He learned from his father since he was a boy. A young fellowāheāll definitely be able to fix our Xiao Cheng up.”
“Grandpa will make chicken soup for you every day to help you recover. Don’t you worry, youāll have a speedy recovery. Don’t be afraid.”
For the past few days, Cheng Ge had been telling Wen Ling “itās fine” and “don’t be afraid,” but in truth, he had no idea what the future held. Now that someone was holding his hand and comforting him like this, he couldn’t help but be moved.
Grandpa was still rambling when he suddenly cried out, “Oh!” He patted his backside and looked toward the mouth of the cave.
At the same moment, a horribly mangled piece of fruit landed right at Cheng Geās feet.
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