After I Married the Comatose CEO - Chapter 23

Xie Qiu stood rooted to the spot, trying to put up a fight. “Mr. He, the caregiver has more experience. It’s better to let him do it, right?”

He Siyan didn’t say a word; he just stared at him with those deep, dark eyes.

A moment later, Xie Qiu gave up. “…Fine.”

Darn it!

It was just wiping down a body. He had done it so many times before. He just had to pretend He Siyan was still that immobile vegetative husband, and it would be fine.

While Xie Qiu prepared the hot water and towels in the bathroom, he silently gave himself a mental pep talk.

When he returned to the bedside, He Siyan signaled for him to raise the head of the bed.

Xie Qiu set down the basin and did as he was told, raising the bed and supporting the man’s upper body to help him into a half-lying, half-leaning position.

He Siyan gave a slight nod, indicating they could begin.

Xie Qiu knelt on one knee at the edge of the bed. He forced himself to reach out and help the man unbutton his hospital pajamas.

Even though the movements should have been familiar, his nimble fingers shook uncontrollably because that deep, heavy gaze felt like a physical weight on his face.

Fortunately, He Siyan didn’t rush him. He let him fumble for a long while before all the buttons on the top were finally undone.

Xie Qiu took a quiet breath, wrung the towel until it was half-dry, and turned back.

Due to the sitting position, the outlines of the man’s chest and abdominal muscles were slightly more visible.

Xie Qiu only wanted to finish as quickly as possible. He tried his best to stay focused, wiping with the towel from top to bottom. However, as he reached the lower abdomen, he felt the muscle there become tense.

But he didn’t think much of it and continued to wipe gently and carefully.

His fingers had just been soaking in hot water; his fingertips were soft and warm. His reddened fingertips accidentally brushed against the skin near the V-line, causing a lethal wave of tingling itchiness.

In the next instant, his slender wrist was grabbed.

Xie Qiu, who had been busy, looked up. “What is it, Mr. He?”

“That’s enough.” He Siyan’s thin lips moved. Xie Qiu wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but his voice sounded even raspier than before.

“No,” Xie Qiu replied seriously. “I haven’t finished yet. One must finish what one starts.”

He Siyan looked at him. His eyes were very dark, and there was a surge of emotion deep within them that Xie Qiu couldn’t quite read.

Xie Qiu’s ears began to burn from the staring, and he was the first to look away. “Then… then let’s just stop here for now.”

Only then did He Siyan release his hand and close his eyes.

Xie Qiu looked back. “Mr. He, let me help you button up your clothes.”

He Siyan lifted his eyelids to glance at him, then closed them again.

Xie Qiu worked fast, buttoning the pajamas back up. He got up and carried the basin to the bathroom.

He poured out the water and looked up, seeing that his ears in the mirror were indeed red.

It was all Mr. He’s fault for having eyes that—as the saying goes—could look at a dog with deep affection, and for keeping that intense gaze fixed on him.

Xie Qiu complained to himself internally, turned on the tap to wash his face with cold water, and finally left the bathroom.

He walked to the bedside, lowered the head of the bed, tucked the man in, and said goodnight softly. “Goodnight, Mr. He.”

He Siyan didn’t respond; he seemed to have already fallen into a deep sleep.

Xie Qiu walked to his own bed, took off his shoes, and climbed in.

He thought he might have trouble sleeping in a new place, but whether it was because he was too tired or the bed was too comfortable, he felt a wave of heavy sleepiness hit him shortly after lying down.

The night was still, and the room was silent.

After some time, He Siyan, lying on the hospital bed, opened his eyes.

He slowly turned his head and looked at the person on the extra bed.

Xie Qiu was hugging the blanket, sleeping soundly, with his face turned toward him.

His slightly curly bangs rested on his smooth forehead, his long eyelashes were lowered peacefully, his nose was straight and delicate, and a small philtrum accented his pale red lips. He looked like a sleeping doll—his sleeping face was both well-behaved and beautiful.

He Siyan gazed at him in silence for a long time, until his eyelids began to twitch from fatigue and his eyes felt too dry to stay open. Only then did he pull back his gaze and close his eyes.

Early the next morning, Xie Qiu woke up in a daze and found another person in the room.

He rubbed his eyes; it turned out the caregiver had come in at some point.

Xie Qiu got out of bed, his voice carrying a bit of morning laziness: “Good morning, Mr. He.”

He Siyan replied, “Good morning.”

“Wow!” Xie Qiu let out a sound of surprise. “Mr. He, your speech is much more fluent today!”

“Exactly, exactly!” The caregiver beside them joined in the praise. “President He’s language function is indeed recovering very well!”

He Siyan’s expression remained calm, though the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Xie Qiu asked with concern, “Is Mr. He starting his physical therapy today?”

“Yes, the doctor has made a detailed plan for him,” the caregiver replied. “Starting today, President He will follow the schedule to practice recovering his different body functions.”

While they were talking, the door behind them opened. Su Wanrong walked in quickly. “Siyan, how do you feel today?”

He Siyan looked at her and nodded to show he was fine.

Su Wanrong walked to the bedside in her high heels. She finally noticed Xie Qiu and said quickly, “Xiao Qiu, thank you for working hard to take care of Siyan last night.”

“It wasn’t hard at all,” Xie Qiu said with a small smile. “I slept very well last night.”

“That’s good.” Su Wanrong smiled back, then turned and asked, “Siyan, is it okay if Xiao Qiu and I stay to help you with your therapy?”

He Siyan’s voice was raspy. “No need.”

“Why?” Su Wanrong felt a bit anxious. “Siyan, don’t you want your mother to stay with you?”

He Siyan stopped talking, making his attitude very clear.

Su Wanrong had to step back. “Then let Xiao Qiu stay at the hospital to be with you, okay?”

Xie Qiu added, “I can stay. It’s the weekend, and I don’t have anything else to do.”

He Siyan looked at him and coldly sent him away, too. “You, leave as well.”

Xie Qiu: “…”

Everything was fine before we went to sleep last night. Why is he being so cold again after waking up?

“Alright, alright…” Seeing this, Su Wanrong comforted him gently, “Siyan, then do your therapy well on your own. We are leaving now.”

After saying that, she gave Xie Qiu a look.

The two walked out of the room one after the other. Su Wanrong whispered, “Siyan has always been a man of his word, but why doesn’t he want us to stay with him?”

Xie Qiu comforted her, “Since Brother Siyan doesn’t want us here, he must have his reasons.”

“Sigh…” Su Wanrong let out a sigh. “Xiao Qiu, go home and rest first. You’ve been exhausted these past few days.”

“I’m not tired.” Xie Qiu paused. “Are you coming back with me?”

“I’m still worried about Siyan being alone,” Su Wanrong replied quietly. “I’ll hide outside secretly so he won’t see me.”

Xie Qiu: “Okay, then please be careful…”

Xie Qiu took the family car back to the old mansion.

Halfway there, he ran into He Jingchen walking from the other direction. He stopped to say hello.

He Jingchen asked, “Why are you back?”

Xie Qiu joked, “Your brother thought I was annoying and didn’t want to see me, so he kicked me out.”

He Jingchen looked at him for a few seconds before changing the subject. “I just came back from Grandpa’s place.”

Xie Qiu asked, “Does the old man know your brother is awake now?”

“He knows.” He Jingchen took two steps toward him. “Grandpa is very excited. He wants to go to the hospital to see him.”

“That might not be a good idea,” Xie Qiu said hesitantly. “If the old man goes, everyone will find out.”

He Jingchen let out a cold laugh. “Even if Grandpa doesn’t go, the news of my brother waking up won’t stay a secret for more than a few days.”

Xie Qiu thought about it. “That’s true.”

Even though the hospital belonged to the He family, there were many people there, and news would spread quickly.

“But it doesn’t matter,” He Jingchen added. “My brother is already awake. Who would dare to try anything now? Who even could?”

Xie Qiu nodded. “I understand.”

He Jingchen turned around. “Go rest first. I need to go out for a bit.”

“Okay, go ahead with your work,” Xie Qiu replied and continued walking inside.

As for what the second young master was going to do, it wasn’t his business to ask.

Xie Qiu entered the house. He didn’t go straight to his room but went to the small garden. He raised his voice and called out, “Oreo?”

Soon, a small dog wiggled its tail and crawled out from the flowers, holding a small blossom in its mouth.

Xie Qiu leaned down and picked up the puppy, laughing. “Oreo, why do you like destroying flowers so much?”

Oreo barked twice and dropped the flower into his hand like a prize.

Xie Qiu couldn’t help but think of the time he put a poppy flower behind his unconscious husband’s ear, and he let out a giggle.

He sat on the swing with Oreo and took out his phone. He went into his photo album and found the picture he had taken of He Siyan.

“Oreo, look.” Xie Qiu took the puppy’s paw and tapped the screen. “Doesn’t your dad look a bit less serious with a flower?”

Oreo got excited and started scratching at the flower in the photo with its little paw.

“Oh, don’t delete your dad’s photo,” Xie Qiu joked. “I have to keep this. It might be very useful one day.”

Oreo seemed to understand and obediently pulled back its paw.

“Good boy.” Xie Qiu put the phone back in his pocket and held the dog up in front of him. “Oreo, if one day Daddy is kicked out, would you want to go with me or stay here with the He family?”

Oreo barked twice as if answering him.

“Good dog.” Xie Qiu hugged the puppy again and said softly, “If there is one thing in the He family I want to take with me most, it’s definitely you.”

Feeling his emotions, Oreo rolled over in his arms and showed its soft belly.

Xie Qiu petted the dog for a while, then let it go. “Go play, Oreo.”

He stood up and left the garden to head inside.

Xie Qiu stayed in his room all afternoon. When he saw it was getting dark outside, he remembered to call Su Wanrong.

She picked up quickly, and her gentle voice came through. “Hello, Xiao Qiu.”

Xie Qiu stood by the window. “Mom, are you still at the hospital?”

“I’m on my way home.” Su Wanrong sounded helpless. “Siyan caught me peeking at him, and then he sent me away.”

Xie Qiu: “I truly feel for you…”

“But don’t worry too much, Xiao Qiu. I have added more security to the room,” Su Wanrong comforted him in return. “Just get some good rest at home tonight. We can talk more tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Xie Qiu replied. “Please be careful on the road.”

The next day was Monday, and Xie Qiu went back to school early for classes.

Just as he reached the teaching building, Meng Ziye suddenly appeared and pulled him aside. He could not hide his excitement. “Xiao Qiu, I heard something! Tell me quickly, is it true?”

Xie Qiu smiled. “Tell me what you heard first.”

“I heard He Siyan woke up!” Meng Ziye lowered his voice. “They say he is staying at his family’s hospital right now. Is it true?”

Xie Qiu: “…”

He Jingchen was right; the news leaked very fast.

Meng Ziye shook his shoulders hard. “Xiao Qiu, tell me quickly! Is it true?!”

Xie Qiu replied, “It’s true.”

Meng Ziye slapped his leg. “Holy crap! He actually woke up!”

Xie Qiu asked him, “But where did you get this news?”

“I saw it online, of course!” Meng Ziye pulled out his phone. “Someone took photos of Mrs. He going in and out of the hospital a lot these past few days. Everyone online is guessing if there’s a change in He Siyan’s condition!”

Xie Qiu frowned slightly. “It’s been over half a year. Is people’s interest still that high?”

“Of course! That’s He Siyan!” After saying that, Meng Ziye glanced around sneakily. “But since the reporters haven’t found proof yet, should we keep it a secret for now?”

Xie Qiu patted his shoulder. “Very good, Student Meng. You have learned well.”

Meng Ziye looked proud, but then he started to worry again. “By the way, Xiao Qiu, after your husband woke up, did he try to kick you out or anything?”

“Not yet.” Xie Qiu shook his head. “He is busy with physical therapy right now. He doesn’t have the energy to settle scores with me.”

“That’s good, that’s good…” Meng Ziye felt relieved. Then he had an idea. “Then you must use this time to show off your charm and try to win him over as soon as pos—”

Xie Qiu predicted what he was going to say and covered his mouth with his hand. “That’s enough, Student Meng.”

Meng Ziye: “Mmm! Mmm-mmm!”

After finishing a full day of classes, Xie Qiu packed his bag and got into the car sent to pick him up.

As the car drove down the street, Xie Qiu suddenly spoke up. “Uncle Zhang, do you know the way to the He family’s hospital?”

“I do, Eldest Young Madam,” the driver replied respectfully. “Are you going to see the Eldest Young Master?”

Xie Qiu replied, “Yes. Please change the route to the hospital.”

The summer days were long, so it wasn’t completely dark yet when they reached the hospital.

Xie Qiu walked into the hospital with his backpack. Following his memory, he entered the elevator and pressed the floor number.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Everyone else inside the elevator stared at him at once.

Xie Qiu felt a bit confused. The moment he stepped out, he realized why everyone was looking at him.

Two scary-looking, large men were standing at the elevator entrance. They looked like members of the underworld from a TV show.

Xie Qiu: “…”

Is it too late to step back into the elevator?

“Who are you?” the bodyguard on the left asked fiercely. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” Xie Qiu thought fast and pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call Mrs. He and let her talk to you.”

However, Su Wanrong was probably busy and did not answer his call.

While the phone was ringing, Xie Qiu quietly took a step back.

This was bad. He felt like these two big guys were about to throw him off the building.

Just as he was about to run, a caregiver walking by in the hallway greeted him. “Young Master Xie, you’re here.”

Xie Qiu let out a sigh of relief. “See? The caregiver knows me.”

One of the bodyguards asked the caregiver, “Who is he to President He?”

The caregiver hesitated. “He is…”

“Family,” Xie Qiu answered quickly. “I am President He’s family.”

The caregiver agreed immediately. “Yes, yes! He is family!”

The two bodyguards looked at each other and let him pass. “Go in.”

“Thank you,” Xie Qiu said politely. He walked toward the room with the caregiver.

“Young Master, please don’t mind them. It’s their job,” the caregiver explained in a low voice. “Mrs. He is worried about President He’s safety, so she added more security. Anyone coming up has to be checked.”

Xie Qiu smiled. “I know. It’s all for Mr. He’s safety.”

When they reached the door of the room, they met two more bodyguards standing like statues on both sides of the door.

“This is Young Master Xie Qiu,” the caregiver introduced. “He is President He’s family.”

The bodyguards looked closely at Xie Qiu’s face and opened the door. “Please enter.”

Xie Qiu stepped inside and went to the bedroom door.

Through the small window in the door, he saw He Siyan lying quietly on the bed.

“President He is asleep,” the caregiver whispered. “The doctor only planned one hour of physical therapy, but President He forced himself to do two hours today. In the end, he was so soaked with sweat it looked like he was pulled out of water, but he didn’t make a single sound.”

Xie Qiu imagined that scene and suddenly realized why the man had sent them all away.

A proud man like He Siyan was used to being in control of everything. He surely couldn’t stand the people close to him seeing him looking exhausted and messy during his recovery.

Xie Qiu lowered his eyelashes. “Can I go in and see him?”

“Of course,” the caregiver replied readily. “I’ll step out now. If you need anything, just press the bell.”

Xie Qiu pushed the door open gently and approached the bed silently.

He sat on the chair by the bed and looked at the sleeping man’s face.

He Siyan had deep eye sockets. When his eyes were open, his gaze was hard to read, but with his eyes closed like this, the sharpness and aggression were gone. This was the face Xie Qiu knew very well.

Xie Qiu couldn’t help but reach out a hand, tentatively touching the man’s large hand resting by his side.

He Siyan had no reaction at all. He was probably truly exhausted; his breathing was steady, and he was sleeping deeply.

Xie Qiu grew bolder. He held the man’s hand and said to himself, “Hubby, I know you’re in a hurry, but you can’t rush this kind of thing.”

It was a miracle for someone in a vegetative state to wake up. He didn’t know how much willpower it took to open one’s eyes from such a hopeless darkness.

“Hubby, you are already doing great,” Xie Qiu praised in a very soft voice. “So let’s take it slow, okay?”

Just as he finished speaking, he noticed the fingers he was holding move.

Xie Qiu didn’t have time to react. He could only watch as the man opened his eyes.

Their eyes met, and the air in the sickroom seemed to freeze.

Xie Qiu snapped back to his senses and apologized with a slight stutter, “I—I’m sorry, Mr. He. I woke you up…”

Feeling guilty, he tried to secretly pull his hand back, but his hand was caught and held by that large hand instead.

It was as if a drop of rain had fallen into a deep, quiet pool. In He Siyan’s dark eyes, which were usually calm and showing no emotion, a faint smile appeared.

Xie Qiu froze, his expression a bit blank. “Mr. He, what are you laughing at?”

He Siyan tightened his fingers. He spoke slowly but clearly: “Why stopped calling me hubby?”

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