Chapter 27: Stomach Ache
The address on Yu Deng’s preference form was the rental apartment; only after he was admitted would the notice be sent.
His days at home were quite cozy. Fruit, ice pops, snacks, the electric fan, and the TV—he was completely oblivious to the world outside.
When the shop lady went to the construction site to find Zhou Yuejun, Zhou Yuejun was still carrying bricks.
Yu Deng was sick. His stomach hurt. By the time he clutched his belly and made it downstairs, he almost hit his head on the ground.
Fortunately, the shop lady saw something was wrong and quickly sent him to the clinic before heading to the construction site to find Zhou Yuejun.
“Young man, hurry up! Your brother is sick!”
In an instant, in the thirty or forty-degree heat, Zhou Yuejun broke out in a cold sweat.
When he reached the clinic, Yu Deng was on an IV drip. However, he had fallen asleep. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his small face was wrinkled, looking a bit spasmed.
His right hand was being poked by the needle, and his left hand was clutching his stomach. His body was tilted precariously; if he swayed just a bit more, the needle would slice through his vein.
The doctor was treating another patient with heatstroke and naturally hadn’t been able to attend to Yu Deng.
Zhou Yuejun walked over and carefully straightened Yu Deng’s body, then rested Yu Deng’s head against his shoulder.
The face that was normally like carved powder and jade had lost its color. His lips were pale, and his dark brows were knitted. From his fluttering lips came a shallow, hard-to-bear moan—painful and fragile.
The doctor finished treating the other person before turning around to discuss Yu Deng’s situation.
“He ate too many raw and cold things. He’s got a stomach ache. His stomach is weak and can’t handle the strain.”
Just as he finished speaking, the “crow feathers” trembled and lifted, revealing a pair of unfocused eyes shrouded in a moist mist.
“Yuejun-ge~”
His voice was hoarse and hadn’t recovered. He looked at the man with a pleading, pitiable gaze. Any displeasure Zhou Yuejun might have felt vanished in an instant.
He even wondered if it was his own fault.
That he hadn’t cleaned Yu Deng properly, causing him to get sick.
“Is it very painful?”
Yu Deng nodded slightly and blinked. His entire eye sockets were soaked; it seemed that in the next second, tears would overflow.
Zhou Yuejun used his hand to help Yu Deng warm his stomach. It was flat; almost all the meat was gone.
No wonder he always said he couldn’t fit any more after eating just a little.
After two large bottles of medicine had been infused into his body, Yu Deng felt the urge to relieve himself. He lowered his head to steal a glance, then looked up at Zhou Yuejun.
He seemed to know he had done something wrong and looked timid, his soft white lips pressed tight, not daring to say much.
Even wanting to go to the bathroom required looking at the man’s expression.
Zhou Yuejun stood up and lifted the IV bottle from the stand. “Let’s go. Hold onto me.”
Yu Deng had no strength. He was scooped up by Zhou Yuejun. With his arms around Zhou Yuejun’s waist, he was slowly and steadily led to the bathroom.
At the end, his pants were even undone for him by Zhou Yuejun.
And he even needed to be supported.
The doctor prescribed some medicine and didn’t forget to remind them, “Come back tomorrow for another drip.”
Yu Deng pouted and nodded obediently, then peeked at Zhou Yuejun’s expression again.
On the way being carried home on Zhou Yuejun’s back, Yu Deng was a bit scared. It wasn’t until they were on the stairs that Yu Deng pressed his mouth against Zhou Yuejun’s earlobe and rubbed it gently.
“I’m sorry~”
“I ate too many ice pops.”
“But don’t scold me. It hurts~”
It really did hurt. His stomach was cramping. Even after the medicine and the IV, he didn’t feel much better.
He was at his most fragile. If Zhou Yuejun blamed him now, he really would cry.
Zhou Yuejun’s hands gripped Yu Deng’s legs, every step steady and powerful.
“I won’t scold you. Just get better soon.”
He had wanted to scold him, but if he used a heavy tone, Yu Deng would surely start dropping tears.
Besides, after this, Yu Deng would surely remember the lesson; scolding would be useless.
Because his stomach had caught a chill, Zhou Yuejun didn’t let Yu Deng use the electric fan and made him drink warm brown sugar water.
There were some groceries in the fridge. When he opened it, he found that where there had been seven ice pops when he left in the morning, only two remained.
Zhou Yuejun’s gaze narrowed. His already intimidating, cold face, devoid of expression, carried three parts ferocity.
Yu Deng, curled up on the sofa, immediately shrunk his neck, trembling. He quickly took another sip of the brown sugar water.
“We’re having porridge for lunch. I’ll stir-fry some cabbage for you.”
There was nothing for it. Forget KFC; Yu Deng couldn’t even think about anything greasy for the next couple of days.
Yu Deng was sick for two days. After he recovered on the third day, he didn’t think about going to KFC.
He waited another two days before mentioning to Zhou Yuejun whether they should go to the city center to play.
His dark, almond eyes were fixed straight on Zhou Yuejun, as if they could only hold him.
Zhou Yuejun sat on the sofa, legs spread, picking vegetables.
There was a purple bruise on his dark arm, and he smelled faintly of medicinal wine. He said he’d scraped it at the construction site, but Yu Deng suspected he’d been hit at the nightclub.
Yu Deng stood in front of the man. “I’ve finished my books. I want to buy a couple of new ones.”
Staying at home all day just watching TV and reading was boring; Yu Deng wanted to go for a walk.
Zhou Yuejun thought for a moment and then pulled out his wallet.
“Go yourself. Don’t get lost, don’t talk to strangers, and come back early.”
“Watch out for the heat. It’s best to leave at nine and come back after five.”
“Do you know how to take the bus?”
Seeing Zhou Yuejun give him fifty yuan, Yu Deng didn’t take it, only nodding. “I do. I have my own money. I won’t eat KFC.”
He knew he’d made a mistake a few days ago, and with Zhou Yuejun buying medicine and taking care of him, he was being very well-behaved right now.
Yu Deng’s short-sleeved shirt had a small pocket on the chest. Zhou Yuejun stuffed the money inside, a curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
“Eat whatever you want. But don’t keep pulling out your money outside; if you show your wealth, you’ll be targeted.”
Because Yu Deng was truly being good, Zhou Yuejun reached out an arm and pulled him into his embrace.
…
The scorching sun had been beating down for nearly a month, and a light, drizzling rain began to fall.
But the temperature didn’t drop because of it. Instead, the rain made people feel as though they were in a steamer—muggy and hot, making breathing a bit difficult.
After the rain, the scent of mud lingered in the air.
Yu Deng headed out with a bag. Inside were tissues, a list of phone numbers, and bus transfer information that Zhou Yuejun had stuffed in for him.
Yu Deng got on the bus and headed to the city center.
KFC’s fries and cola were good, but they were too expensive. Yu Deng couldn’t bear the cost, so he went to eat a bowl of iced milk curd.
“Put a little less ice~” If he ate too much ice, his stomach would be uncomfortable.
The owner saw that Yu Deng was adorable, with red lips and white teeth, and gave him an extra scoop of fruit.
Yu Deng went to the bookstore.
Reading here cost a fee, but it wasn’t expensive. He could finish more than half a book in a day, which was much cheaper than buying them.
Even counting the bus fare, it was cheaper than buying books, though if he added the cost of food, it wasn’t as much of a bargain.
If he only had a bowl of porridge for lunch, he’d still be ahead.
Yu Deng sat down cross-legged in a corner.
Because there was no electric fan or anyone to fan him, he could only use tissues to wipe his face and the water-soaked neck.
He was snowy-white and slender, but because he was tinged with a flush, he looked even more erotic.
When Qiao Fangyu saw Yu Deng, the boy’s small face was flushed from the heat.
He was pink and tender all over, like a peach. His clear, shimmering eyes were focused and intent, and his lips were naturally red without any help. His striking, youthful face made Qiao Fangyu unable to move.
Qiao Fangyu walked toward Yu Deng, carrying a book.
A shadow blocked Yu Deng’s view. Just as Yu Deng was about to look up, a voice sounded in his mind.
Translator’s Note:
Oh no! Poor baby Dengdeng and his ice pop addiction. But how sweet is Zhou Yuejun? Taking him to the bathroom and supporting him… that’s true love! Also, a new character has appeared! Let’s see who this “Rich Second-Generation” guy is.
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