go home

The bell signaling the end of lunch break was like a switch, flipping the brief moment of relaxation back to work. The crowd in the cafeteria quickly dispersed, each returning to their posts. Lu Panji flinched at the glare from the head nurse and scurried back to the dental department, ready to greet (or rather, pray for) the patients who might arrive that afternoon. He Yunling, meanwhile, had long since regained his composure. He adjusted his glasses and headed straight for the still-crowded orthopedics department.

Lin Xiyan returned to his overly quiet consulting room. The afternoon sun slanted in, casting warm patches of light on the beige carpet. Fine dust particles drifted in the air. He sat down on the sofa again, picked up the professional book he'd been reading all morning, barely turning a single page, and tried to focus on the complex theoretical models.

Time continued to pass slowly. Occasionally, footsteps passed by in the corridor outside, but none of them stopped at his door. The feeling of being ignored and empty began to creep in again, along with the dull words between the pages. He couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't done something right yesterday, giving that young woman a bad experience? Or was it that a novice consultant intern like him wasn't trusted to begin with?

All sorts of negative speculations bubbled up from the depths of his heart like tiny bubbles. He put down the book, sighed softly, walked to the window, and looked at the sparse figures in the hospital garden below.

Just then, there was a knock on the door behind me.

Very light, but very clear. Two times, with a hint of hesitation, but also as if certain that he was inside.

Lin Xiyan's spirits lifted, and he immediately suppressed all personal emotions on his face. He quickly returned to the sofa and sat down. He adjusted his breathing and spoke in a voice as professional and calm as possible: "Please come in."

The doorknob turned and the door was slowly pushed open.

The first thing that caught my eye wasn't the expected worried or anxious face, but a bouquet of white freesias in full bloom, casually wrapped in brown paper. The delicate fragrance instantly diluted the faint smell of disinfectant in the room.

Then, a figure appeared completely at the door.

Against the backlight, Lin Xiyan couldn't quite make out the man's face. He was tall, with an upright figure, dressed in a simple black shirt and trousers. His style was casual, yet he carried a certain aura that was hard to ignore. His shoulder-length black hair was casually tucked behind his ears, swaying slightly as he pushed the door open. Most strikingly, his earlobes were adorned with tiny silver earrings, gleaming in the sunlight. Three on the left, three on the right. A pair of narrow-rimmed metal glasses perched on his nose, and behind those lenses were those eyes...

Lin Xiyan's heart seemed to be suddenly gripped by something, and her breathing suddenly stopped.

Those eyes, a familiar, deep violet color, were now fixed firmly on him through the lenses, carrying a hint of travel-weary weariness and some deeper, burning emotion.

It’s Jiang Yibai.

Why is he here? Shouldn't he be in a studio in another city? And... his hair... his ears...

Lin Xiyan was completely stunned, his mind went blank, and he completely forgot how to react. He just stared blankly at the person who shouldn't be here, walking towards him step by step.

Jiang Yibai seemed quite pleased with his speechless shock. The corners of his mouth curved upwards imperceptibly, but quickly retreated. He walked over to the sofa and casually placed the bouquet of freesias on the coffee table beside him. Then, before Lin Xiyan could react, he suddenly leaned forward, opened his arms, and, as if all the bones had been pulled out of him, he threw himself firmly and heavily into Lin Xiyan's arms!

Lin Xiyan was knocked back by him, sinking into the soft backrest of the sofa. A familiar scent of sunlight and a hint of tobacco (perhaps from staying up late editing photos) instantly enveloped him tightly. His arms suddenly felt heavy. It was Jiang Yibai who had given his entire weight to him, his head buried deep in the crook of his neck, his soft, slightly cool hair brushing against his sensitive skin.

"Wife..." A muffled, nasal, and tired murmur came from the crook of his neck, and the hot air sprayed, stirring up a delicate shudder, "...I'm so tired."

Lin Xiyan: “!!!”

All the blood in his body seemed to rush to his head at that moment. His cheeks, ears, and neck were all red and burning with heat at a visible speed. He froze in place, not knowing where to put his hands and feet. His heart was beating wildly in his chest, so loud that he suspected the whole floor could hear it.

What…what is going on?! This is his workplace! His consulting room! A colleague or patient could come in at any moment!

"You...what are you doing..." His voice was trembling, with panic and helplessness, his hands suspended in the air, wanting to push him away, but also greedy for this sudden, tight and suffocating hug. In the end, he could only grab the fabric on the back of his shirt in vain, his fingertips trembling.

Jiang Yibai seemed completely oblivious to his panic, or perhaps simply unconcerned. He nuzzled into the crook of his neck, purring contentedly, almost sighing, like a large dog that had finally found its owner and desperately needed a boost of energy. He wrapped his arms around Lin Xiyan's waist, tightening them so tightly that it was almost choking him.

"The project... was finished ahead of schedule..." His voice was still muffled, hoarse and tired from just getting off the bus. "I took a few days off..."

He paused, raised his head, his chin still resting on Lin Xiyan's shoulder, his purple eyes looking at his red face and trembling eyelashes from a very close distance, and his tone was filled with a bit of grievance and accusation: "I missed you."

Those three words, like a spark-carrying arrow, accurately struck the softest spot in Lin Xiyan's heart. All her panic and rejection crumbled before this blunt, almost brutal, confession.

He looked at the face so close to him. Compared to his student days, the features seemed clearer and more robust. The long hair and earrings gave him a somewhat uninhibited artistic air. But the focus and dependence in those eyes were no different from the boy who ran on the basketball court or lay on his bed and acted like a spoiled child.

"You...you get up first..." Lin Xiyan's voice weakened, and she pleaded with embarrassment, "This...is a hospital..."

"No one." Jiang Yibai refuted it with confidence. Instead of getting up, he pushed himself further into his arms, found a more comfortable position, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Charge for a while... five minutes... otherwise I won't be able to walk..."

His breathing gradually became even and long, as if he had truly fallen asleep while holding her. The warmth of his body passed through the thin fabric of his shirt, and between their chests pressed tightly together, he could feel his steady heartbeat. The delicate fragrance of the freesia, mixed with Jiang Yibai's unique, soothing scent, lingered on his nose.

Lin Xiyan froze, not daring to move. The sun shone warmly on the two people embracing, and time seemed to have truly stood still. Outside the window was the bustling city, and inside was a quiet little world filled with the fragrance of flowers and body warmth.

He could sense Jiang Yibai's physical fatigue, the relaxation that came from letting go of all defenses after long, intense work. He also clearly felt the surging longing and joy in his heart, almost overflowing. This person was always like this, barging into his world without saying hello, filling all his gaps in the most direct way.

Finally, the hand that was suspended in mid-air slowly and carefully descended, resting very lightly on Jiang Yibai's back. Through the fabric of his shirt, she could feel the shape of his shoulder blades and the warmth of his body.

The movements were awkward, but it was a silent response and comfort.

The person in his arms seemed to sense this subtle response, and an extremely satisfied purring sound came from his throat, like a kitten being petted. He hugged him tighter, rubbing his head deeper into the crook of his neck.

Lin Xiyan let him hold her, feeling the weight of this lost intimacy. Her cheek rested against his cool hair, and her nose was filled with the familiar, reassuring scent. The small cloud of worry that had settled in her heart due to work setbacks was completely dispelled by this sudden, tight embrace.

It turns out... this is what it feels like to be needed, missed, or even... depended on by someone.

It seems... his existence is a kind of energy and comfort to another person.

This cognition, like a seed thrown into the lake of the heart, sinks silently to the bottom and begins to sprout slowly.

After a long time, so long that Lin Xiyan's legs were numb, Jiang Yibai finally seemed to have recharged his energy and slowly stood up, but his arm was still around Lin Xiyan's waist, not loosening. He looked down at Lin Xiyan, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. Although they were tired, they were full of smiles and satisfaction.

"Recharged!" he announced, his tone cheerful. "Full health!"

He naturally took Lin Xiyan's hand, interlocking their fingers, his palms warm and dry: "Let's go home!"

Lin Xiyan looked at him, then at the bunch of freesias forgotten on the coffee table, and then at their tightly clasped hands. The cold wasteland in her heart seemed to be injected with hot vitality by this sudden, tight hug and brilliant smile.

Those lingering negative emotions were dispelled without a trace by the real body temperature and heartbeat.

So... this is what it feels like to be needed, waited for, or even... depended on by someone.

It seems... his existence is a kind of energy and comfort to another person.

This cognition, like a seed thrown into the lake of the heart, sinks silently to the bottom and begins to sprout slowly.

He gently grasped the warm hand with his backhand.

The sun is shining outside the window.