Chapter 25
Shang Mu held Zhou Wangchuan's hand, and the two of them sat and lay down, looking at each other silently.
He was all too adept at exploiting someone's love to achieve his own ends. In the past, he wasn't sure Zhou Wangchuan loved him. His heart was like driftwood, floating on the water, without support or attachment. So, he resorted to repeated suspicion and testing to prove his own importance. He was panicked, angry, and sharp-tongued.
But now, knowing he was being carefully held in someone's palm, he folded his wings and hid his thorns. His heart was no longer wandering, but was planted on solid ground.
He was no longer panicked or anxious.
As they looked at each other, they both understood each other's emotions.
Zhou Wangchuan's hand was held, lightly pressing against Shang Mu's stomach. The pressure wasn't strong enough, so he didn't pull it back. He knew how fragile this organ was. In the six years they'd known each other and loved each other, it had rebelled countless times, causing Shang Mu pain.
But……
Sooner or later they will face this problem.
"Brother Zhou." Shang Mu called softly, his voice like the moonlight outside the window, silvery and gentle.
Zhou Wangchuan's heart was filled with alarm, and he stared at him calmly.
Shang Mu placed his palm on Zhou Wangchuan's fist, pressing down on his stomach intermittently, but he was talking about something completely unrelated: "I bought cuttlefish bones that afternoon and went home early from get off work to feed Little Blue and Little Green, who were about to give birth. In the end, you forgot to close the screen window, and my Little Blue and Little Green flew away." He spoke with resentment.
Zhou Wangchuan: “…”
He held his forehead and sighed: "Baby, I said we won't talk about this matter anymore."
The two of them had previously raised a pair of parrots, one blue and the other green, with clear and bright feathers. When they rested on the branches, they looked like two flawless gems, extremely beautiful.
When Shang Mu was drawing designs in his study, a pair of little birds loved to nestle on the table, sleeping side by side and watching him work.
Neither of them liked caged birds, so they often kept the screens drawn on the balcony, allowing the birds to roam freely throughout the house. That day, Zhou Wangchuan was in a hurry to get to work and forgot to close the screens. The clever bird pushed open the half-open cage door and fluttered away. When he returned from work, all that remained on the balcony was the half-open birdcage and his sternly-looking lover.
Shang Mu said: "I don't blame you, I just think of Little Blue and Little Green from time to time. They sleep on my shoulders and are so well-behaved." His tone was gentle and indescribably considerate, which made people feel guilty unconsciously.
"..." Zhou Wangchuan said, "Let's go to the flower and bird market tomorrow. I'll buy you a more beautiful pair."
Shang Mu said: "But they are not my little blue and little green."
Zhou Wangchuan sighed silently and said, "What do you want?"
He knew what Shang Mu was thinking. He knew Shang Mu was about to make his request—that he become the abuser. He wouldn't compromise easily on this matter, but he wanted to hear his thoughts first.
Shang Mu looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed, revealing his round little fangs.
"What are you thinking about, Senior?" He blinked mischievously. "My stomach is still uncomfortable. I just want you to rub it for me."
Zhou Wangchuan wasn't one to be fooled so easily. He asked calmly, "Is that all?"
Shang Mu dragged out his voice: "Of course... It hurts quite a bit, I need to use more strength to help me press it."
In just a few minutes, he had made up his mind—they had plenty of time, they could take it slow. It didn't matter if Zhou Wangchuan couldn't accept it all at once. He could guide her slowly, gradually increasing the dosage. He had to be patient with his lover.
They loved each other, and they had plenty of time. He was no longer as anxious and extreme as before, and he could plan before taking action, like a calm and wise hunter.
Under the frosty moonlight, the two men's eyes met, testing each other and confronting each other.
Zhou Wangchuan understood. He saw Shang Mu's concession, so he didn't reject him immediately as he usually did.
This matter will be resolved sooner or later.
Shang Mu had a deep psychological shadow hidden from him, which led to his hobby. He couldn't ask Shang Mu to reveal everything to him all at once; he had to approach him like a patient hunter, slowly letting Shang Mu down his guard and getting to the core secret.
He can control the strength and rhythm.
Hunting.
Shang Mu shook his calves that were hanging below the armrest and said coquettishly, "Brother, my stomach hurts, rub it."
After making up his mind, Zhou Wangchuan smiled gently: "Okay."
He reached under Shang Mu's pajamas, placed his palm directly on his slightly cool stomach, and gently massaged it. Shang Mu first held his wrist loosely, then pressed down on the back of his hand with a little force.
"Brother, use some strength."
The force on the back of the hand was not strong, so Zhou Wangchuan did not stop it.
Shang Mu closed his eyes and bit his slightly pale lips.
After a while, Shang Mu suddenly exerted force on his hand and pressed Zhou Wangchuan's hand hard towards his stomach.
Zhou Wangchuan had been prepared for this move and lifted his wrist to offset the force. He smiled calmly, "Baby, you're too strong."
Shang Mu opened his eyes and said innocently, "Just now I suddenly felt a sharp pain and couldn't help it."
"Really? Why didn't I feel it?"
The two men spoke softly, but their hands were secretly competing for strength. Shang Mu pressed down, and Zhou Wangchuan lifted up, maintaining a dynamic balance of strength, neither giving in.
But all the words were gentle.
After trying a few more times, Zhou Wangchuan was able to withstand his sudden force every time. Shang Mu curled his lips, put his arm on his forehead, sulked inwardly, and stopped talking.
Zhou Wangchuan sensed his depression, touched his hair with his other hand, and felt the temperature of his forehead: "You still have a low fever. Get some more sleep, and you'll be fine when you wake up tomorrow morning."
Shang Mu let out a muffled "oh".
His eyelids drooped, and he looked completely dejected, as if he had given up.
Zhou Wangchuan couldn't bear it and was about to speak when he felt a strong pressure on the back of his hand. His palm sank deeply into Shang Mu's soft abdomen. The force was so great that he even touched the other's back.
Shang Mu's face paled instantly, a look of pleasure and elation washed over him, leaving him momentarily blank. The fusion of pain and pleasure resonated with childhood memories, transporting him back to the dark, shady little room he'd been in when he was seven.
Zhou Wangchuan had been carefully observing his expression and withdrew his hand at the right moment: "Alright."
He asked again: "What did you think of? Was it something from your childhood?"
Shang Mu came back to his senses and did not fall into his trap. He just said lazily: "Nothing."
Zhou Wangchuan caught the fleeting moment of astonishment. He smiled and smoothed the hair of the person in his arms. He thought to himself, "Little fox."
The two returned to the bedroom.
Shang Mu was very satisfied. In his opinion, today was the first step. He believed that there would be greater progress in the future.
Zhou Wangchuan was also very satisfied. He moved a little closer to the core secret. However, he needed to be more patient.
Both of them thought they were skilled hunters and both felt they had defeated the other.
When they were sleeping in each other's arms, Shang Mu habitually held Zhou Wangchuan's hand to warm his stomach. This time he didn't try to be cunning. Feeling the warmth in the other's palm, he quickly fell asleep.
The next day was Saturday, and Shang Mu didn't have to go to work, but Zhou Wangchuan had to go to the hospital for work. Shang Mu was like a car on automatic cruise control. Although he was still half asleep, he still threw himself into the passenger seat in a daze.
The hospital was overcrowded. Before the number was called, the clinic was already packed with patients and the aisles were blocked.
Zhou Wangchuan placed Shang Mu in front of a small table in the corner of the clinic, wrapped his neck and chin tightly with a scarf, poured him some hot water, and told him, "Call me if you need anything."
Shang Mu's fever had subsided, but his voice was still nasal and muffled: "Hurry up and get busy."
Zhou Wangchuan began calling patients. Shang Mu took out his laptop to edit a design, often hearing idle chatter coming from the front while he pondered.
"Hey, uncle, this is a bit serious... If you don't take good care of your health, you might not even be able to eat hot pot in five years!"
"Auntie, I think the situation is quite serious." Someone said seriously, "If you want to be able to still dance square dance in ten years, you must take medicine properly and have follow-up checkups."
"Young man, oh, I'm afraid your condition is a bit serious..."
Shang Mu: “…”
This is a scene where an unscrupulous doctor kidnaps and deceives innocent patients.
This was how he had tricked his classmates back in the school hospital. But now, with his new identity and the badge of a deputy chief physician pinned to his chest, his deception was even more effective.
Shang Mu watched helplessly as the elderly man and woman, frightened into sitting upright, utterly terrified, promised to quit smoking and drinking and take two walks around the neighborhood every day. Even the unconventional young man with green hair was frightened and swore on the spot that he would never stay up all night, smoke, or eat meat again.
Zhou Wangchuan wrote the prescription and said earnestly, "That's not necessary. You still need to eat meat."
An elderly man waiting in line was so amused by what he saw that he said, "Oh, Dr. Zhou was lying to you! He was just trying to scare you into developing healthy habits. If one day Dr. Zhou says you're doing well and tells you to relax and get treatment, that means you won't live long."
Shang Mu: “…”
This person might have been tricked into giving him some experience.
Zhou Wangchuan remained calm: "Boss Li, you are quite humorous."
"Of course not. I'm a regular."
A burst of good-natured laughter came from outside the clinic.
Zhou Wangchuan seemed to sense something and turned around, meeting Shang Mu's gaze. Shang Mu coughed lightly and lowered his head as if nothing had happened.
After writing the prescription, Zhou Wangchuan stopped calling out numbers, walked to the corner, and checked Shang Mu's forehead temperature: "The fever is gone. Does your stomach still hurt?"
Shang Mu held the back of his hand, blinked, and asked suggestively, "Doctor, do you want to see me in pain?"
Zhou Wangchuan: “…”
He poured out the cold water in the cup, added hot water, and changed the subject: "Think about what you want to eat for lunch, and I'll take you there after get off work."
Shang Mu held the hot cup of water and asked, "Can I eat anything?"
"It needs to be reviewed by a doctor first," Zhou Wangchuan said seriously. "The patient's stomach problem hasn't healed yet, so all three meals a day need to be monitored by the attending physician."
He smiled and joked in a soft voice.
Shang Mu was in a trance for a moment, as if he had returned to college, where Zhou Wangchuan was the talkative and lively senior.
"Okay." He took a sip of the scalding water. "Then go back to work while the patient thinks it over."
Zhou Wangchuan pinched the soft flesh on his cheek impulsively and returned to his work under his glare.
Shang Mu discovered that Zhou Wangchuan was really in a good mood, and also really...talkative.
Every time a patient comes, Zhou Wangchuan can chat with them.
"Oh, grandma, the pattern on your dress is very nice. I wore this pattern when I was dancing in the square downstairs yesterday. It really made me look energetic."
"Sir, your pipe is outdated. Cigars are the new thing now. What are cigars? They're not good anyway, so it's best not to smoke them. At worst, a lollipop will do."
"The celery looks quite fresh. Did you buy it from the market at the west end?"
…
…
Shang Mu preferred quiet when working, unable to concentrate on the slightest movement. But strangely, today, amidst the chatter of the elderly and Zhou Wangchuan, he had revised his design and finalized the selection of items for the next issue of the magazine.
He also ordered several pots of green plants from a flower shop in the same city, and placed them scattered on the table and low table, bringing life to the thin and boring space.
At twelve o'clock, Zhou Wangchuan sent away the last patient of the morning, tidied up the table briefly, and asked, "Baby, have you decided what to eat?"
He turned around and saw several extra pots of green plants. He said in surprise, "Wow."
Shang Mu lazily leaned on the sofa and yawned due to lack of sleep: "Doctor, please order the meal. I'll be obedient."
Zhou Wangchuan walked over to him and sat down, touching the side of his face: "I'll take you home to rest after dinner. Don't come with me this afternoon."
Shang Mu was about to speak when Zhou Wangchuan's phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up, said a few words, and then hung up, saying only, "There's a meeting at the hospital. It'll be quick, ten minutes."
"What's the matter?" Shang Mu asked.
"We have a new chief physician in our department, and we're having a simple welcome party."
Shang Mu frowned: "Aren't you the chief physician?"
Zhou Wangchuan stood up and pointed to the word "vice" on his name tag: "Baby, your boyfriend hasn't made her your principal wife yet."
"Oh." Shang Mu said, "Then if he comes now, isn't he taking your place?"
Zhou Wangchuan smiled and said, "This is an old doctor, highly respected. I still have a lot to learn from him. Baby, wait here. I'll be back soon and take you to dinner."
Shang Mu curled his lips in boredom and reached out to take his phone: "Let me play with your phone."
Zhou Wangchuan rubbed his hair and went to the meeting room.
The new chief physician was Xu Yong, 55 years old. The dean introduced him and announced that he would start next week. Key members of the various departments welcomed him. Zhou Wangchuan went to shake his hand and introduce the department, but Xu Yong's attitude was indifferent.
After the meeting, I returned to the clinic on the third floor. Shang Mu was sitting at the table, looking down at the screen of his mobile phone, making it difficult to see his expression.
"Are you hungry? Let's go and have dinner." Zhou Wangchuan took off his white coat and put it on the back of the chair.
Shang Mu raised his head and looked at him steadily without saying a word.
Zhou Wangchuan felt an inexplicable chill in his heart. He remembered the day when Xiaolan and Xiaolu flew away. That day, he also returned home excitedly and saw Shang Mu's changed shoes at the door. He called out several times but no one answered. He went to the balcony and saw only a half-open birdcage and his lover with an expressionless face and a fierce look in his eyes.
So similar.
He began to reflect on what he had done wrong recently.
Shang Mu's face was cold. He turned the phone around and pushed it in front of him. He opened his thin lips and said in a cold voice: "Explain it."
Zhou Wangchuan took a look and saw that the desktop was exactly the Martian language conversion APP.
he:"……"
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