After Falling for the Handsome CEO - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Not Feeling Well

Because of Yan Yu’s sudden movement to grab his phone, a few ill-timed sounds leaked into the receiver, stirring up a thousand ripples.

Xie Li’s expression froze instantly. His beautifully shaped almond eyes flickered with shock and unease. His hand tightened around the phone until his knuckles turned white.

It was no secret that Yan Yu preferred men; Xie Li understood that Yan Yu usually found attractive boys to satisfy his desires, but those were always one-night stands with no strings attached.

But today, Yan Yu had brought flowers to the hospital only to vanish halfway. And when the call finally went through, those sounds…

What he was doing was self-evident. The only question was: who was the other person?

Xie Li’s pale hand instinctively gripped the bedsheets. A spark of anger flared in his chest, burning with an uncomfortable heat, accompanied by a strange, inexplicable emotion.

Xie Li asked himself—he truly only viewed Yan Yu as a friend and didn’t love him, yet at this moment, he couldn’t explain the turmoil he felt.

“A-Yu…” he called out the name again, his voice rasping. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his voice sounding airy and exhausted. “Where are you?”

Yan Yu’s face stiffened. He clamped one hand over Shen Jin’s mouth, terrified that the boy might make another sound. Even though he had plenty of romantic flings and was known for playing the field, it was always just for fun; he was never serious.

After all, he was a man nearly thirty years old; he couldn’t possibly be a pure little virgin, and he naturally had desires.

But in front of the person he actually liked, he was unwilling to let these things be known.

“I…” Yan Yu’s throat bobbed. Feeling a bit parched, he did his best to keep his voice low so as not to reveal anything, yet he couldn’t help but soften his tone. “A-Li, is something wrong?”

Pressed against the table with his mouth covered, Shen Jin looked at him in distress. His eyes were rimmed with red as he tried to nudge the hand away, but the grip was too heavy and firm to break, causing him a bit of pain.

But the man behind him had ceased all further movement. He had no intention of letting go; he was simply focused on the phone, speaking with immense tenderness…

Hearing Yan Yu’s gentle, concerned tone, Xie Li felt much more at ease. His confidence returned; he felt that Yan Yu’s feelings for him were absolute and wouldn’t disappear so easily.

Xie Li sighed softly, speaking in a weak, airy voice. “I don’t know what’s wrong. Maybe I didn’t rest well, but I’ve had a headache all day…”

He knew Yan Yu would be worried.

Sure enough, Yan Yu’s expression changed instantly. He frowned and asked urgently, “You didn’t rest well? A headache? What happened?”

His tone was filled with concern and gravity. In an instant, he seemed to have forgotten the person right next to him.

Shen Jin was sensible. He didn’t struggle or make a sound; he simply lowered his eyes and stared at the table.

He knew exactly what his relationship with Yan Yu was. He wouldn’t dare indulge in idiotic daydreams…

Xie Li let out a soft, melodious laugh through the phone, a sound so crisp and pleasant it made Yan Yu’s heart feel numb. Then, his clean voice said with a hint of a smile, “The weather was so nice last night that I stood by the window to watch the stars for a bit. Before I knew it, it was quite late. When I woke up today, I just felt unwell all over…”

Yan Yu let out a helpless chuckle. His deep eyes held a tenderness that Shen Jin had never seen before, and his voice was full of doting affection. “You really… I don’t even know what to say to you. The nights are cold; you should have gone to bed earlier.”

“Haha, I couldn’t help it. The stars were too beautiful. What was I supposed to do?” Xie Li laughed brightly over the phone, possessing an indescribable, playful wilfulness that made Yan Yu’s heart itch and soften simultaneously.

Yan Yu smiled warmly. “Understood. I’m coming over to see you now. Wait for me.”

Xie Li laughed softly. “I’m bothering you again… You aren’t busy, are you? If you have something important, then you should—”

“It’s no trouble,” Yan Yu cut him off before he could finish. He looked down at the person pinned against the table and let out a small sigh. “Just a minor matter. I’ll be over right away.”

Only after hanging up did Yan Yu release his hand from Shen Jin’s mouth. Seeing the boy’s watery, reddened eyes, he asked, “Are you uncomfortable?”

“No…” Shen Jin shook his head. He knew his own thoughts weren’t important. He bit his lip and forced a smile. “Are you finished? Can you let me go now…?”

Based on Yan Yu’s expression and tone during the call, he could guess enough. A strange ache bloomed in his chest, and he no longer wanted any further entanglement.

Yan Yu was an expert at reading expressions. Looking at the boy’s face, he could tell Shen Jin was no longer willing. And Yan Yu was never the type to force an entanglement once the mood had died.

The encounter ended abruptly. He hurried out the door, leaving Shen Jin alone in the infirmary. The sound of footsteps outside grew more distant, and they sounded… impatient.

Shen Jin wondered why he was in such a hurry… Was it because he was desperate to see that person who was so important to him?

Now that Yan Yu was gone, Shen Jin didn’t need to endure anymore. He sucked in a few breaths of cold air and staggered slightly. He looked at his disheveled self and the empty room.

He inexplicably remembered that not long ago, Yan Yu had been right here, applying medicine for him.

In the blink of an eye, how did he disappear so completely…?