Chapter 31

I woke up in the hospital.

Tang Zefei slowly opened his eyes and smelled the distinctive disinfectant odor of a hospital. He tried to curl his fingers and slowly moved his gaze upwards, looking at the empty ceiling.

The tightness in his chest eased considerably, and Tang Zefei took a few deep breaths, his consciousness gradually returning. His dizziness lessened after waking, and he felt an inexplicable sense of ease throughout his body, unsure how long he had slept. His mind was unusually clear; his last memory, as he closed his eyes, was of the blood-soaked street in front of Xin Xianlin, and the last glimpse he saw before his vision went black—someone quickly rushed up beside him and caught his falling body. Who was that swift-witted figure? Was it Yu Congyi? It was him, it must be him, he really hoped it was him.

Tang Zefei habitually tugged at his arm, a sharp pain shooting through the middle. A needle was stuck in his elbow, a rubber tube connected to a blood transfusion vessel; he always needed a long transfusion after each attack. Already used to this, he quietly turned his head to look at the scene to his side—but that one look made him immediately want to sit up.

Next to his bed was another bed, separated by a small table with a glass bottle on it. A rubber tube in his arm was connected to this sealed glass bottle, which contained a glass tube pumping plasma. The bottle's sealed cap was connected to another transfusion tube. The donor lying on the other bed had his sleeve rolled up to his upper arm, and a thick lancet was inserted into his elbow, connecting to the other end of the transfusion tube.

This is a direct on-site blood transfusion method, which is more timely than blood bank transfusions, has almost no storage loss, and in short, is safer. Therefore, it is extremely rare, requiring a high degree of blood type compatibility between the donor and the patient, making it almost impossible to find. Tang Zefei has almost never encountered this type of on-site blood transfusion since her illness began.

The blood donor had his eyes closed and must have been fast asleep. This person had sharp features and even in his sleep, he looked as cold as snow and as frosty as ice. Who else could it be but Yu Congyi?

Tang Zefei's movement alerted the doctor and Lu Jin outside the cubicle. The doctor came in and glanced at him, and Lu Jin rushed in as well, "Young Master, you're finally awake?"

"How could it be him?" Tang Zefei asked the doctor, looking at the pipes connecting the two of them.

"That gentleman had his blood type tested when he came in, and it's the same as yours, young master..." As the doctor spoke, Yu Congyi opened his eyes, having been woken up. However, after glancing around, he immediately regained his senses, adjusted his posture, and sat up against the edge of the bed.

Tang Zefei stared at him, his face expressionless. The doctor finished speaking, "Dr. Xu came by earlier. She said, 'Young Master, that gentleman's blood type is the closest to yours and the most suitable for a transfusion that she has seen so far. Therefore, after obtaining his consent, we chose to perform a transfusion on-site.'"

"Most suitable for...?" Tang Zefei murmured, suddenly realizing that he felt an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort throughout his body, as if there was a reason for it. Was this the reason? Suddenly, his eyes fell on the glass bottle beside the bed. The several hundred milliliters of blood in the bottle seemed particularly glaring at this moment. He swallowed, but didn't say a word.

"You all go out first, Mr. Yu and I both want to have some peace and quiet," Tang Zefei said. After the doctor and Lu Jin left, he turned over and almost got off the bed. He wanted to talk to Yu Congyi, but suddenly he was speechless and felt a mix of emotions.

"What illness do you have?" Yu Congyi asked, then smiled. "What a coincidence, our blood types are the most compatible."

“Immune anemia, hemolytic anemia, I can’t really say for sure. The doctors can’t find the specifics. They just show symptoms when it’s onset, and then we get blood transfusions to treat it. That’s how it is.” Tang Zefei summarized it in a few words, but Yu Congyi frowned involuntarily as he listened.

"How long have you been like this?" He recalled all the strange things the other person had done before, and he was afraid it was all because of this.

"Let's start from when I was ten years old," Tang Zefei said, her voice calm and devoid of emotion, yet she continued to look at the other person.

Yu Congyi glanced at him but didn't say anything. He thought that the illness might be very serious, and that it could be particularly severe when it flared up, otherwise it wouldn't cause someone to fall into a coma.

"Thank you," Tang Zefei said. "I never imagined that our blood types would be..."

“I gave you the blood transfusion voluntarily this time,” Yu Congyi said calmly, turning his face away. “I… won’t save you if you’re not going to die.”

"Shall we turn the page?" Tang Zefei suddenly started talking in her sleep out of the blue.

"Huh?" Yu Congyi didn't react for a moment and looked at him strangely.

Tang Zefei threw off the covers and almost stepped off the floor to stand beside him. Yu Congyi said coldly, "If you keep going like this, your blood will flow backward."

"It's finished." Tang Zefei pulled out the tubing himself, walked to Yu Congyi's side, grasped his arm, and carefully peeled off the bandage from his elbow, his movements gentle and slow. He then removed the needle and tossed it aside. He tightened his grip, almost kneeling at Yu Congyi's feet. Even this movement didn't make him dizzy. The success of this transfusion was probably a miracle in his transfusion history. "Blood type compatible," he thought, his mind blurring. Just how compatible were they?

“Yesterday I couldn’t stand Zhan Yuewei’s behavior, so I killed him and caused a huge disaster,” Tang Zefei said. “For this reason, don’t you like me even a little bit?”

The conversation suddenly shifted in this direction, and Yu Congyi was stunned. He looked at Tang Zefei speechlessly, feeling that his face, combined with this excerpt, had an inexplicable mocking and frivolous quality. "You mean you killed him for my sake? So, how do you want me to thank you?" Yu Congyi used a little force to pull his wrist away from Tang Zefei's hand and turned his face to the side. "I don't like men."

“Anyone would be unable to tolerate that, I truly am.” Tang Zefei squeezed his hand again, paused, “I want to say, could you… try for me?” He knelt on one knee, leaning closer, his nose almost touching Yu Congyi’s chin. Yu Congyi looked down and saw that his eyes were too deep and too dark in the dim light, like an unfathomable swamp.

Continuing down this path will surely lead to utter ruin.

"Then I might end up wanting to kill you while I'm in love with you," he joked, pulling his hand away from Tang Zefei's grasp again, gently brushing his long hair aside, and then shaking his head.

“If you fall in love with me, you won’t be able to bear killing me.” Tang Zefei smiled as well.

Yu Congyi stopped what he was doing, threw back the covers, and prepared to get out of bed. Tang Zefei blocked his way, and he ordered her to move aside. After putting on his shoes and standing up, Yu Congyi, who had just received a large blood transfusion, did not feel any discomfort. He walked to the foot of the bed and put on his coat as well.

As Tang Zefei was buttoning his shirt, he realized Yu Congyi was about to leave. He took a few steps to catch up and grabbed Yu Congyi's arm again. Yu Congyi lowered his head and stumbled as he was pulled.

Now, his feelings for Tang Zefei were complex and somewhat confused, especially after the latter suddenly killed Zhan Yuewei tonight. He had seen many dead people, but tonight, seeing Zhan Yuewei lying in a pool of blood, he shuddered inexplicably. All these events had taken root in his heart, creating a tangled mess that made him realize he wasn't actually averse to Tang Zefei. However, this didn't mean he could accept him, accept this man. Yu Congyi was a man himself, and he weighed various factors in his mind. Tang Zefei's physical appearance was too outstanding; he was a quintessential Western handsome man, even the most outstanding and unique among all the foreigners he had seen in Tianjin and elsewhere. His handsomeness, whether striking or not, carried a strong sense of aggression. Judging from Tang Zefei's intentions, Yu Congyi could sense that he was sincere towards him, even showing some protectiveness in certain aspects. These "good" qualities, though few, were nonetheless significant and left a lasting impression on Yu Congyi. But what did it matter, Yu Congyi thought. This didn't mean he could suddenly change his mind and submit to the other party. He had only ever loved one person for many years, and that was Jiang Jiejie. This kind of romantic relationship seemed to be what he pursued and could accept, even though he didn't dislike Tang Zefei. Tang Zefei was his best friend from his youth, and he hadn't forgotten her identity or what she wanted. From now on, their paths would be completely different. Moreover, she was one of the suspected murderers of Jiang Jiejie, his enemy. After thinking about all this in a jumbled mess, Yu Congyi suddenly felt utterly exhausted. Standing in front of Tang Zefei, he raised his head, his gaze becoming weary and cold. "Then give me a reason why I won't kill you."

He suddenly felt a strong urge to end it all.

At this moment, Tang Zefei lowered her head, cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him again. "Look, our blood types are so compatible. God told us that we are a match made in heaven. I can't live without you." Yu Congyi didn't dodge the kiss, but pushed her away forcefully when it ended. Without saying a word, he hurriedly put on his clothes and wanted to leave, his heart filled with a thousand conflicting emotions.

"Don't go. You just donated blood, you should rest." Tang Zefei grabbed him, still trying to persuade him. "Listen to me, really." "No." Yu Congyi shook his head, then thought for a moment, "I'll just rest next door." He glanced listlessly at Tang Zefei, then lowered his eyes and resolutely pushed her away again. That glance held a complex mix of emotions, and Tang Zefei felt a sudden pang of heartache for some reason. Letting go of Yu Congyi's hand, he went back to sit on the bed, thinking things over, and suddenly felt lost. Yu Congyi's gaze was the most difficult and distressing thing he had ever pondered. He didn't want to give up, but he didn't know what to do now. Sitting there thinking, reflecting on the past, he not only felt confused about Yu Congyi's attitude, but also suddenly realized that his impulsive killing of Zhan Yuewei might have unknowingly caused him a lot of trouble.

He simply couldn't bear to see Yu Congyi being treated so badly by others.

Before this, he had never thought of killing Zhan Yuewei, even though she had developed feelings for him. However, out of consideration for their past friendship, he had always turned a blind eye. This time, however, he was truly overcome by love and lust, and his impulses made him forget himself.

We'll just have to take it one step at a time from now on...

Tang Zefei grew weary as she pondered these matters, and dozed off, clutching the disinfectant-smelling blanket. Upon waking, she called for Lu Jin, who told her that Yu Congyi had already left. Once again, he left without a word.

Yu Congyi walked down the street, feeling utterly exhausted. It would be a lie to say he felt completely fine; after calculating the time, he realized he had spent a full half-day at the hospital. Now, just as dawn was breaking, he trudged home through the thin frost covering the ground.

Feeling dizzy and unsteady, Yu Congyi entered the courtyard. Standing at the gate, he recalled the fruitless argument he'd had with Jiang Fengming before leaving the day before, and a wave of helplessness washed over him. It was this argument that had triggered all the subsequent trouble. He didn't want to think about anything else for the moment, but standing there at the gate, he felt a pang of fear, for he hadn't yet figured out how to face Jiang Fengming. Fortunately, he could still escape, and besides, he desperately wanted to rest and catch up on some sleep in his bedroom. Being unable to go home and wandering outside was making him restless and uneasy.

Yu Congyi pushed open the door, and as usual, he took off his overcoat and put it on the sofa as he walked through the living room. He then went upstairs quietly.

Of course, he hadn't showered last night. Although Yu Congyi preferred to sleep clean, he was now extremely tired and had no desire to clean himself properly. He didn't care how soaked he'd been in the rain, or how his clothes had been sticky and wet all night. He took off his clothes and stood in the bathroom, haphazardly pouring a few ladles of hot water over himself. He intended to just splash some water and leave, but his drying movements became increasingly slow. His skin, soaked in blood and rainwater for half the night, felt damp and sticky. Realizing he couldn't possibly go to bed looking so disheveled, a burning resentment simmered within him.

After much fuss and exhaustion, despite wanting to collapse into bed, he stubbornly followed his heart and reluctantly sat down in the bathtub. The tub was filled with hot water, and Yu Congyi rested his arms on the rim, half-lying in the bath without even using a towel to dry himself. The steaming heat made him so comfortable he was almost asleep.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he heard the sound of slippers shuffling outside the bathroom door. The doorknob clicked, and Jiang Fengming pushed the bathroom door open a crack and peered inside.

A cloud of steam hit Jiang Fengming's face. He could see the bathroom filled with steam, and vaguely make out someone taking a bath in the inner room. Jiang Fengming knew it was his older brother, but given their recent big argument, even though he wanted to make peace, he felt somewhat hesitant and timid.

Jiang Fengming wanted to reconcile with his elder brother, not because he had come to a change of heart, but quite the opposite—he hadn't. However, after Yu Congyi stormed out last night, his anger gradually subsided and soon died down. He paced back and forth in his room for half the night, thinking that from childhood to adulthood, his elder brother had never mistreated him, rarely even scolded him, let alone betrayed him. This time and the future would likely be no exception. He had a childlike temper; his anger flared up quickly and subsided just as fast. He was quick to anger and quick to forgive. Sitting on the bed, he counted on his fingers all the things his elder brother had done for him since taking over the family business—protection, support, and even many life-or-death situations. If his brother wanted to betray him, he would have done it long ago; why wait until today? He felt that he absolutely could not leave his older brother. He needed his older brother, and he thought that his older brother could not live without him either. Their father had passed away early, and the two of them had depended on each other until now. His father had entrusted him to his older brother, and of course his older brother would not abandon him. He had also said that his older brother was his family for life, so how could he let go first?

Hesitantly standing at the door for a while, just as Jiang Fengming was pondering how to speak, he heard a barely audible voice from inside the room, "Come in."

"Oh, okay." Jiang Fengming quickly opened the door and crawled in. Instantly, the steamy atmosphere of the bathroom enveloped him. Jiang Fengming hesitated before entering the inner room and saw his older brother sitting in the bathtub, wiping his back with a towel.

"Brother, let me scrub you." Jiang Fengming walked over eagerly, half-squatting by the bathtub. He took the towel from Yu Congyi and began to scrub, half-heartedly and half-tentatively. He gripped the wide towel and scrubbed his brother's shoulders and back vigorously, then his chest. He would occasionally brush against his brother's body, then slip away, his eyes fixed intently on the towel in his hand. He was hesitantly exerting force, wanting to say something but not quite.

A short while later, Yu Congyi waved his hand, climbed over the edge of the vat, and faced him.

"Is Fengming still angry with me?" Yu Congyi stood up from the water, supporting himself on the edge of the tub, and looked up at the other man, his voice slightly earnest. Jiang Fengming quickly turned around, grabbed a bathrobe, and handed it to him. Hearing this, he was momentarily stunned, unsure where to look. It wasn't that his older brother hadn't bathed him when he was a child; now, past twenty, he sometimes even insisted on sleeping with his brother. This was the first time he had clearly seen his brother's body. This body was almost identical to what he had imagined: well-proportioned, slender, with a tightly sculpted waist and abdomen. He could estimate how much force it would take to fully embrace him, probably because he had hugged and held him so many times. His older brother was only his older brother. Besides Yu Congyi, who else could he rely on wholeheartedly? Besides him, who else could Yu Congyi trust? Stop thinking about it, stop worrying.

"I, of course not," Jiang Fengming stammered, a rare occurrence. Only when Yu Congyi was dressed and standing in front of him did he regain his composure. He threw himself into the other's arms, rubbing his head against the other's neck, and admitted his mistake. "Big brother, I'm sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn't have said that to you."

Yu Congyi was used to seeing him like this, so he stopped being stubborn and hugged him gently. He smiled slightly and said, "Don't be angry, your older brother isn't angry with you either."

"I knew my brother wouldn't really be angry with me." Jiang Fengming pouted, still looking like a child. He didn't dare ask where Yu Congyi had gone last night, where he had spent the night, or even where the bloodstains on his clothes came from, or whether he had eaten dinner.

Filled with both trepidation and a sense of relief, he followed Yu Congyi to the bedroom. Yu Congyi walked to the window and drew all the curtains shut. A glimpse of dawn broke through the curtains. Sitting on the bed, wrapped in his bathrobe, he yawned, slowly unbuttoned his robe, then pulled back the covers and slipped inside. Lying on his side, he said wearily to Jiang Fengming, "I'm so tired, I need to sleep. I didn't sleep well last night."

"Oh." Upon hearing this, Jiang Fengming quickly climbed onto the bed and tiptoed to Yu Congyi's side. Lifting a corner of the blanket, he looked at Yu Congyi's profile and said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Big brother, I haven't had enough sleep either, I want to sleep with you a little longer!"

His way of acting cute was unusually natural, even genuinely adorable. Previously, Yu Congyi had always indulged his antics, tolerating him without question. But now, Yu Congyi had his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to his voice, and simply slept. Jiang Fengming didn't care, muttering repeatedly, "I haven't slept with you in so long," and snuggled into the covers as well.