A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 85

The night was thick and heavy.

Lu Xiao held the steering wheel with one hand, while his other hand continued to absentmindedly stroke Shen Zhao’s fingers. His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, looking as though he had much to say but couldn’t find the words.

The car eventually came to a slow crawl and stopped beneath Shen Zhao’s apartment building.

“We’re here,” Shen Zhao said, unbuckling his seatbelt and pulling his hand away from Lu Xiao’s grip, his fingers feeling warm from the friction.

As Shen Zhao reached for the door handle, Lu Xiao called out to him.

“Shen Zhao…”

His voice was low and hoarse, his gaze deepening in the shadows of the night. Shen Zhao turned to look at him, pursing his lips—still slightly flushed from where Lu Xiao had bitten them earlier. His tone carried a hint of impatience. “What is it now? More instructions?”

Lu Xiao didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he frowned slightly and reached out again, catching Shen Zhao by the sleeve. The dim interior light was blocked by the shadow of his brow, making his expression hard to read.

He seemed to be weighing his words carefully, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Tonight… just be careful.”

Shen Zhao let out a soft laugh. “I’m just going to take a look. Besides, no matter what happens, he’s still my friend. You’re making it sound like I’m heading onto a battlefield.”

Lu Xiao leaned back against his seat and muttered, “I know. I just can’t help but worry.” He tilted his head, his handsome features etched with a complex blend of concern and intensity under the faint glow of the streetlights. “Seriously, stay alert. If anything goes wrong, message me immediately.”

Silence fell over the car, leaving only the sound of their shallow breathing, which felt exceptionally clear in the quiet cabin.

After a few seconds, Shen Zhao gently patted the hand clutching his sleeve. “Don’t worry.” His gaze was tender yet firm.

Lu Xiao nodded and turned away, his jawline tightening. He watched Shen Zhao open the door, step out, and walk around the front of the car toward the building entrance. Suddenly, he bolted upright and leaped out of the car.

“Shen Zhao!”

His tone was more urgent than before. Shen Zhao found his behavior almost comical. “Now what?”

“How about I stay with you tonight…”

Shen Zhao chuckled. “It’s really not that serious.”

The next moment, Lu Xiao pulled him into a tight, lingering embrace. Simultaneously, behind the curtains of Shen Zhao’s living room window, a silhouette shifted slightly.

With a faint smile playing on his lips, Lu Xiao watched Shen Zhao’s shadow lengthen and disappear into the night before finally driving away.

With a soft click, the door opened.

Shen Zhao stepped inside and saw Nine leaning against the sofa. Nine’s eyes were downcast, and he only slowly turned his head when he heard the door. He offered an inscrutable smile. “You’re back.”

“Yeah. Have you eaten?” Shen Zhao asked softly, his voice carrying genuine concern.

“Not yet. I was waiting for you.”

As he spoke, Shen Zhao walked toward the fridge to grab a bottle of soda, only to find it packed with various fresh ingredients. He paused, startled. “What’s all this?”

“You didn’t have much at home, so I stocked up for you,” Nine replied casually. He was lounging on the sofa wearing a thin, translucent house robe. It had no buttons, held together only by a loose belt cinched at the waist, leaving his chest partially exposed. He tilted his head, his gaze unshielded and fixed directly on Shen Zhao.

Avoiding Nine’s burning stare, Shen Zhao headed for the kitchen. “Eat some fruit first. I’ll whip up a couple of dishes.”

“Alright.”

Nine stood up and followed him to the kitchen. His gaze was lingering and affectionate as he struck up a conversation. “It’s good to be alive. I never thought I’d get to eat your cooking again.” He leaned against the counter, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the surface as he watched Shen Zhao’s back.

Shen Zhao dried his hands, turned around with a warm smile, and ruffled Nine’s curly brown hair. “There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Just tell me when you want to eat. I’m just worried a big star like you will be too busy to visit.”

With that, he gently nudged Nine back toward the sofa.

Shen Zhao quickly sautéed some greens and steamed a sea bass. The meal was ready in no time. Nine dug in immediately, praising Shen Zhao’s skills, his long, curled lashes fluttering as his eyes widened in delight.

“Your cooking makes me never want to move out.”

The two laughed, but Shen Zhao felt a wave of emotion. The fact that Nine was still alive was the best news he had received in years.

Nine glanced up at him, a playful smile on his lips. “Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Zhao looked down. “I ate a lot this afternoon. I’m not hungry.”

Nine paused for a moment, then smiled. He gripped his chopsticks slightly tighter before setting them down. “Did you eat with that policeman?”

Shen Zhao didn’t miss a beat, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.”

“You two seem close.” Nine’s tone was hard to read, but it struck Shen Zhao as slightly off. For a split second, Shen Zhao’s gaze sharpened.

Nine seemed to catch the expression. His smile deepened as he poured himself a glass of wine. “Sometimes, I really envy him.”

Shen Zhao frowned. “What do you have to be envious of?”

“He has your company.” Nine swirled his glass, the red wine creating ripples against the crystal.

“You didn’t come looking for me for all these years, and now you’re saying things like this!” Shen Zhao’s brows knitted in a mix of mock-anger and genuine hurt.

The man across from him looked up, leaned back into his chair, and traced the rim of his glass with a fingertip. “It’s true. When I was little, I loved clinging to you.” His eyes held an unreadable depth. “Back then, you spoiled me the most.”

Shen Zhao’s fingers tightened slightly. He took a sip of water, maintaining his protective tone. “Just eat your dinner.”

He glanced at Nine’s open collar and then looked away, his voice hesitating. “By the way, you just had laser repair on your arm. You can’t get it wet for a while. Be careful when you shower. If you can’t manage it, you can call me.”

Nine froze for a beat. Then, the corners of his mouth curled up into a meaningful smirk. “Call you? To help me bathe?”

Shen Zhao remained unfazed, his voice as calm as ever. “Sure. Didn’t I used to scrub your back when we were kids?”

Nine stared at him for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. “I see. I’ll have a few more bites then.”

Shen Zhao didn’t know when he fell asleep. He only remembered sitting by the table for a short while before an overwhelming exhaustion washed over him.

Nine hadn’t finished eating yet, so Shen Zhao thought he’d just lean back on the sofa for a bit and check on Nine once he went to the bathroom. However, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier until he slipped into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Lu Xiao sat on his bed, fidgeting with his phone. The screen lit up and dimmed, over and over again.

What is Shen Zhao doing?

Lu Xiao stared at the messages he had sent; there was still no reply. He rubbed his forehead in frustration, a sense of unease gnawing at him. He lost his patience and tried calling.

Still nothing—like a stone dropped into the ocean.

He wanted nothing more than to rush over to Shen Zhao’s place and see for himself… but showing up now would be too strange.

But damn it, I can’t stop my mind from overthinking!

Lu Xiao paced around his room, cursing that “demon” in Shen Zhao’s house a thousand times in his head.