Chapter 36 Dependence in Sickness
After returning from the cemetery, Huo Shen seemed to have exhausted the little energy he had just recovered from his illness. That night, he developed a high fever, even more severe than the previous one. The family doctor rushed over and diagnosed him with a relapse of the illness caused by overwork and emotional fluctuations, and he needed to rest.
Su Yan stood at the bedroom door, looking at the man lying on the bed with a furrowed brow and flushed face due to a high fever, feeling a mixture of emotions. During the day at the cemetery, Huo Shen was still the strong man who uncovered his scars and calmly controlled the situation, but now he was as fragile as a child.
After the doctor finished giving the instructions and left, Assistant Zhou also received orders from Huo Shen to temporarily handle non-urgent matters and not to disturb them. In the huge master bedroom, only Su Yan and the sleeping Huo Shen were left.
Su Yan should have felt relieved, at least temporarily free from the suffocating gaze. But as he watched Huo Shen toss and turn in discomfort, even unconsciously uttering suppressed moans, he found that he couldn't stay out of it.
He wrung out a cold towel and carefully placed it on Huo Shen's forehead. The cool touch made Huo Shen sigh in comfort, and his frown relaxed slightly. Su Yan sat by the bed, changing his towel every once in a while, his movements clumsy but serious.
It was late at night, and the only sounds were Huo Shen's heavy breathing and the occasional sound of wind outside the window. While changing the towel, Huo Shen's scalding hand suddenly and unconsciously grabbed his wrist with great force, with the stubbornness of a sick person.
"Don't go..." Huo Shen murmured in a daze, his voice hoarse and unclear, "A Xi... don't..."
Su Yan's body froze instantly. It was Ah Xi again.
He tried to pull his hand away, but the grip tightened. Huo Shen's fingertips were burning hot, ironing his skin with a strange touch. He looked at Huo Shen's profile, which was still handsome even in his illness, but full of pain. He remembered what he had said at the grave that day, "You and him are nothing alike." The humiliation he felt at being mistaken for someone else strangely faded a little, replaced by an indescribable bitterness.
He didn't struggle anymore and let Huo Shen hold him, while his other hand continued diligently changing the towel on his forehead.
Later that night, Huo Shen's fever finally began to subside, and his grip on Su Yan gradually loosened. Su Yan was exhausted and fell asleep on the edge of the bed.
He was awakened by a burning gaze.
When he opened his eyes, it was already dawn. Huo Shen had woken up at some point, his head tilted to the side, quietly watching him. His face was still pale, but his eyes had regained their clarity, though less sharp than usual, and more filled with indistinguishable emotions. His gaze fell on Su Yan's wrist, which had been slightly reddened from where he had held it all night, and his eyes darkened.
Su Yan hurriedly tried to pull his hand back and stand up, but Huo Shen stopped him with a look.
"Did I wake you up?" Huo Shen's voice was still hoarse, but his tone was calm.
Su Yan shook his head and lowered his head uncomfortably: "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah." Huo Shen responded, his eyes still lingering on his face, "You stayed up all night?"
"...Yeah." Su Yan answered softly, feeling a little uneasy, not knowing how Huo Shen would interpret this behavior.
Huo Shen was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Thank you."
These two words were spoken lightly, but they made Su Yan raise his head suddenly, his eyes filled with disbelief. Huo Shen...would say thank you?
Huo Shen seemed to be stunned by his own words, and then he looked away somewhat unnaturally, his tone returning to his usual calmness: "Go and rest, I don't need anyone here anymore."
Su Yan nodded blankly, stood up, stretched his numb limbs, and prepared to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Huo Shen's voice came from behind him again, with a hint of unquestionable: "From now on, you will sleep here."
Su Yan paused, his heart skipping a beat. This was no longer a negotiation, but an order. Was this a shift from "possession" to something more like "personal possession"?
He didn't turn around, but just replied softly, "Yes."
Walking out of the master bedroom and gently closing the door, Su Yan leaned against the wall in the corridor, unable to calm down for a long time. Huo Shen's dependence during his illness, that abrupt "thank you", and the final order...all pointed in one direction - Huo Shen was taking him into a more private, more inviolable area.
Is this a blessing or a curse?
Just as he was lost in thought, the old phone in his pocket vibrated again. His heart tightened, and he quickly hid in the guest restroom. The message was still from the unknown number, but the content made him feel like he was falling into an icy cave:
Zhou is checking internal communication records, including the temporary terminals in the administration department. You're being targeted.
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