After Failing to Reverse the Plot, I Made My Escape - Chapter 37

The slight swell of his lower abdomen pressed against Chang Tingzhi’s stomach. Though it was a testament to the frenzy of the previous night, at this moment, it served as the gentlest anchor.

Yu Fuqiu instinctively burrowed deeper into Chang Tingzhi’s embrace, wanting to find a comfortable position to fall back asleep, when the blurred memories of last night gradually began to surface.

His eyelashes fluttered as he jolted awake, his body freezing in place, not daring to move an inch.

“This actually was not a dream?”

His breath hitched as he lifted his head with extreme caution.

How many days had it been since he had last had a good night’s sleep? All those nightmares that had haunted him night after night had been driven away, held at bay outside the borders of this embrace.

Warm breath brushed against his forehead. That familiar face was presented before his eyes so unexpectedly. He stared at Chang Tingzhi’s features with a gaze that was almost greedy.

This was the “child” he had raised with his own hands, his lover of five years, and… the person who had caused his current state.

Was he not supposed to be with Ke Qi’an? Why was he here?

Could it be?

The fingertips he used to trace Chang Tingzhi’s brow twitched. Last night, they.

He swallowed hard. Time passed, though he did not know how much. His eyes grew sore, yet he was unwilling to blink. As the morning light grew a bit brighter, a phone rang at an inopportune moment.

Like a child startled from a beautiful dream, a flash of panic crossed Yu Fuqiu’s face, which was caught by Chang Tingzhi just as he opened his eyes.

From his perspective, Yu Fuqiu looked pale and terrified, his body trembling as if he wanted to flee the embrace.

Chang Tingzhi’s expression turned cold. He flipped over, pinning Yu Fuqiu firmly beneath him and pinning his hands behind his back. His sharp gaze locked onto Yu Fuqiu’s.

Yu Fuqiu’s fair shoulders and neck were covered in the purple marks he had left behind. There were even finger marks on his shoulders from when Yu Fuqiu had been unable to stop himself from pleading for mercy.

They had been so intimate last night, yet the moment he opened his eyes, he turned hostile?

He gripped Yu Fuqiu’s chin, forcing him to look up. “What is it? Are you disappointed to wake up and find out it is me instead of him?”

He let out a cold laugh. His knee pressed against the slight swell of the other man’s abdomen, where the sticky sounds of the night’s aftermath could still be clearly heard. He applied pressure, and warm fluid seeped out, staining the bedsheets.

“You still have my things inside you, yet you are looking for another man?”

He did not realize that beneath his harsh tone lay a flicker of panic.

“No, I will not allow it!”

As he spoke, Chang Tingzhi kissed Yu Fuqiu’s lips again with force. While the kisses from last night had been as gentle as water, this one was like a wild beast tearing at its prey. He did not let go until the taste of blood filled their mouths.

The Chang Tingzhi before him was like a wolf cub acting out of self-preservation. He expected Yu Fuqiu to act like everyone else—to push him away and call him a monster or a madman after experiencing this side of him.

But the expected slap never came.

Instead, he heard a very soft breath, followed by a warm sensation on his temple. He did not even need to look to know it was Yu Fuqiu’s fingertips. They were trembling slightly, yet they brushed over his brow with a touch that was almost tender.

Yu Fuqiu licked his bitten lip and gave a soft sigh, propping himself up slightly. His soft hair brushed against Chang Tingzhi’s jaw.

Chang Tingzhi found himself pulled into a warm, lingering embrace. The slight swell of Yu Fuqiu’s lower abdomen pressed against his own; though it was proof of last night’s madness, it had now become the most gentle anchor.

Yu Fuqiu’s hand slowly patted Chang Tingzhi’s back.

“I was just afraid the phone would wake you.” His voice was very soft. “I know the company is busy. You have worked very hard to maintain our home.”

Chang Tingzhi slowly raised his head, meeting Yu Fuqiu’s eyes at close range.

He was smiling.

Chang Tingzhi froze.

With a slight curve to his lips, Yu Fuqiu tucked a damp lock of hair behind his ear.

“You… you do not blame me?”

Chang Tingzhi brought the other man’s fingertips to his lips for a kiss while rubbing Yu Fuqiu’s abdomen.

“Did you not explain it to me on the phone?” Yu Fuqiu recalled that call. He had not expected Chang Tingzhi to rush over just because of it. “You are sick. I do not blame you.”

“Do you really…”

“Do you really have feelings for him?”

It was no longer a cold interrogation over a video call, but a face-to-face, intimate moment held in each other’s arms. At this moment, Chang Tingzhi could not even recall what that other person looked like; his eyes held only Yu Fuqiu.

He shook his head blankly. “I, I do not know.”

His head hurt. He knitted his brows. “I do not know, I do not know.”

What was wrong? Why was a strange voice constantly shouting about an error? It seemed like the voice from his dreams? Who was it? It was so annoying, that voice. It was disgusting.

Yu Fuqiu’s throat tightened. Seeing Chang Tingzhi in pain made his heart ache.

“Then, how about I teach you?”

If he could teach Chang Tingzhi about love, sadness, anger, and even hatred before Ke Qi’an did, then perhaps the plot setting where Chang Tingzhi could only feel emotions in front of Ke Qi’an could be broken? Then his Chang Tingzhi could come back.

Zuo Chenshuang had told him that intense emotional fluctuations could stimulate activity in certain areas of the brain. He had received calls from Chang Tingzhi whenever the man was in danger. Thus, if Chang Tingzhi learned the emotions of a normal person, it was possible he would return.

Yu Fuqiu suddenly felt a surge of hope. He massaged Chang Tingzhi’s temples. When Chang Tingzhi first started his business, his schedule was erratic, and his body was overloaded. Headaches were a common ailment. Yu Fuqiu had learned massage specifically for this. Back then, Chang Tingzhi would lie obediently on his lap, blinking as he watched Yu Fuqiu.

“You can only massage me like this from now on,” Chang Tingzhi said suddenly, looking at Yu Fuqiu who was holding him. “Only me.”

Yu Fuqiu paused, then realized he was being jealous. He found it amusing. “I learned it for you in the first place. Why are you jealous?”

“It is not that.” Chang Tingzhi’s pain had eased considerably. He burrowed back into Yu Fuqiu’s embrace. It was strange; he usually hated physical contact with people. Yet, in front of this person, he always instinctively wanted to be close, to act spoiled, and to occupy his entire field of vision.

“Yesterday, you called me Little Tree,” he said deeply. “Was it really me you were looking at last night?”

Yu Fuqiu’s fingertips paused. His silence provided the answer.

“You said you would teach me. The first step is to forget him.” Chang Tingzhi’s voice was cold. “The man who is your husband now is me.”

“Okay,” Yu Fuqiu agreed.

“That… child. I saw him.” Chang Tingzhi’s voice was muffled. “It is incredible. I actually have a child of my own.”

“He is so small, really so small, lying on the bed all alone.”

“Mhm. Chun Chun came to S-City to find me. He said… he missed Mommy and Daddy.” Thinking of that scene, Yu Fuqiu’s body still trembled. It was as if his palms were still covered in blood.

Chang Tingzhi’s breath hitched. At that time, he had been at a hotel with that person. But he truly remembered nothing. Where did those missing memories go?

“Things have stabilized a bit over the last few days,” Yu Fuqiu said, tugging gently on Chang Tingzhi’s ear. “The doctor said the accident was quite serious, and fractures were inevitable. Fortunately, Chun Chun is young and recovers quickly. I was wondering if you could spend more time with him?”

“I have some… work matters to handle,” Yu Fuqiu said bitterly. Outside, rumors were entangling him like vines.

“I am sorry.” Chang Tingzhi was silent for a moment before finally whispering an apology. He had protected Yu Fuqiu at the Starry Night Banquet, yet so much had happened since then.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Hurried footsteps drew their attention.

“Fuqiu! Chun Chun, he—”

Zuo Chenshuang froze at the sight of the bed. The sheets were a mess, and Chang Tingzhi was pinning Yu Fuqiu down with his head buried in the other man’s chest. Yu Fuqiu’s exposed skin was covered in hickeys and pinch marks. The lingering scent and the ambiguous atmosphere made it perfectly clear what had happened last night.

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Chang Tingzhi moved. He tensed up instantly, like a predator whose territory had been invaded. He did not even fully lift his head; he simply turned his face, his gaze shooting through his messy hair. It was a cold, dark look, filled with undisguised hostility and the violence of someone who had been disturbed.

He quickly grabbed the fallen quilt, pulling it up to wrap Yu Fuqiu tightly, hiding the scandalous marks. Only a few damp strands of black hair remained visible near Yu Fuqiu’s flushed eyes.

“Who told you that you could come in?”

Chang Tingzhi’s voice was very low and incredibly raspy, yet every word was laced with ice. He propped up his upper body, his muscular arm forming a barrier in front of Yu Fuqiu. His bare torso also bore scratch marks. He glared at the intruder, looking as if he might pounce and tear the man apart at any moment.

“Chang Tingzhi?! Why are you here?”

“I am visiting my wife. Is there a problem with that?”

“As for you, why are you calling him so intimately? Do you not have a wife of your own? Why do you keep coming here? Is a doctor’s job really this relaxing?”

Before Chang Tingzhi could finish, Yu Fuqiu poked his head out from the restraint, his eyes bright. “Chenshuang!”

“What happened to Chun Chun!”

Chang Tingzhi was speechless.

Zuo Chenshuang pointedly ignored the marks on Yu Fuqiu. Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, he cleared his throat. “Chun Chun is awake! He has been moved to a general ward. Do you want to go see him?”

“Yes!”

“But let me change my clothes first.” He wanted to look energetic when he saw Chun Chun.

Yu Fuqiu’s voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable. He instinctively tried to prop himself up, but his weak waist and the hidden pains throughout his body betrayed him. With a single movement, he let out a muffled groan and fell back, exhausted. As he tried to support himself again with his weak arms, Chang Tingzhi moved.

“Look at you, still pushing yourself.”

With a cold face, Chang Tingzhi slid his arms under Yu Fuqiu’s knees and back, lifting him in a bridal carry with an irresistible force. The movement was not gentle—it even carried a hint of vent-like roughness—but his hold was exceptionally stable, keeping Yu Fuqiu entirely within his aura and control.

Hearing Chang Tingzhi’s icy words, Yu Fuqiu closed his eyes and let out a faint, nearly inaudible hum. “I wonder who made me like this.”

There was not much resentment in his tone; instead, it held a sense of resigned, weak flirtatiousness, like a cat extending its claws but only showing the soft pads.

Chang Tingzhi’s footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second. Then he let out a cold huff, though he tightened his grip, pressing their bodies together so closely that not even a breath of air could pass between them, as if he wanted to meld Yu Fuqiu into his own bones.

“I also wonder who was wrapping their arms around my waist yesterday, crying and begging me not to leave.”

“Troublesome.”

As he spoke, the corners of Chang Tingzhi’s mouth lifted slightly. At the same time, he carefully adjusted Yu Fuqiu’s position to make him more comfortable and held him more securely, even instinctively turning his body to block any cold draft that might come from the hallway windows.