After I Married the Comatose CEO - Chapter 24

Xie Qiu felt a rush of heat in his ears. His pale cheeks turned bright red instantly. He was so embarrassed he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. “You… you… how can you eavesdrop on me!”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” He Siyan’s voice also carried a hint of a smile as he asked back, “Weren’t you calling me?”

In just two days, the man’s speech had improved incredibly fast. Except for speaking slowly and having occasional pauses, he was almost like a normal person.

Xie Qiu had a feeling he couldn’t win an argument against him, so he stopped making excuses. He only wanted to pull his hand away.

But He Siyan did not let go. Instead, he pulled Xie Qiu’s hand toward him.

Xie Qiu wasn’t prepared and almost fell against the side of the bed.

He decided to stay in that embarrassing position, burying his face in the blanket to play dead.

He hid his red face, but he couldn’t hide his ears, which were as red as beautiful jade.

He Siyan stared at his earlobe for several seconds before asking, “Asleep?”

Xie Qiu didn’t say a word. He tried once more to quietly pull his hand back and run away.

The moment his fingers moved, they were pinned down again.

Xie Qiu: “…”

Is this man really a patient who just woke up from a coma? Why is he not only stronger than me but also faster at reacting?

Xie Qiu had to lift his face and honestly admit his mistake. “I’m sorry, Mr. He. I didn’t mean to call you that.”

He Siyan looked at him. “Call me what?”

“Just…” Xie Qiu turned his face away, his voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz. “Calling you hubby…”

Before the man could speak, he explained further, “I just got used to calling you that before. I haven’t changed the habit yet.”

He Siyan gave a deep reply, “Mm.”

“As for why I got used to it, it’s a long story.” Xie Qiu’s gaze moved to their joined hands. “How about you let go of my hand first, Mr. He, and I’ll go pour a glass of water?”

He Siyan finally showed mercy and let go. “Help me up.”

Xie Qiu did as he was told and helped him sit up against the headboard. Then he turned to pour a glass of water.

He Siyan’s eyes followed him as he moved, but he didn’t rush him.

Xie Qiu took a sip of water to clear his throat and began his statement: “Mr. He, you remember we have an engagement, right?”

“I remember,” He Siyan replied calmly. “No amnesia.”

Xie Qiu gave a forced laugh. “Okay.”

He didn’t expect He Siyan to have a sense of humor, even if it was a bit dry.

“Then I’ll make it short,” Xie Qiu summarized briefly. “Because you didn’t wake up for a long time, the Old Master and Mrs. He hoped I could fulfill the marriage to bring some good luck.”

He Siyan didn’t speak; he waited for him to continue.

“Since my foster parents also desperately wanted me to marry into the He family, I didn’t really have a choice.” Xie Qiu chose his words carefully. “Of course, you didn’t have a choice either, Mr. He.”

He Siyan frowned slightly. “The Xie family?”

“Yes, they were facing some difficulties back then.” Xie Qiu didn’t put it too harshly. “But since you are awake now, my one-sided act of getting married definitely doesn’t count.”

He Siyan looked at him steadily. His face showed no expression, making it hard to tell what he was feeling.

Xie Qiu bit his lip and continued, “Don’t worry, Mr. He. We never officially registered the marriage, and very few people know about it. So as long as—”

“I want… to sleep.” He Siyan suddenly spoke, cutting him off.

Xie Qiu: “Huh?”

He Siyan put his hands on the sheets and slowly moved his body down.

Xie Qiu quickly stood up and helped him lie down properly.

As soon as He Siyan lay down, he closed his eyes as if he were completely exhausted.

Xie Qiu gently tucked him in and stood up straight.

He shouldn’t have come here to disturb him tonight. The physical therapy during the day was hard enough, and now he had been woken up just to listen to Xie Qiu ramble on.

No matter how this matter was settled in the end, it would have to wait until He Siyan’s body was fully recovered.

Xie Qiu turned to walk away, but a deep, raspy voice came from behind him: “Where are you going?”

He turned back and saw the man asking with his eyes closed. Xie Qiu couldn’t help but smile. “Mr. He, can I stay over tonight?”

Even if Mr. He didn’t want others to see him when he wasn’t at his strongest, it must still be lonely to stay in a hospital room alone during such a difficult time.

He Siyan didn’t open his eyes, but he gave a sound of agreement. “Mm.”

“Thank you.” Xie Qiu paused. “But I need to go eat something first. I’m a little hungry.”

“Go,” He Siyan said just one word, appearing as if he had no strength left.

Xie Qiu left the sickroom, gently closing the door behind him.

Inside the room, He Siyan opened both eyes. His gaze was deep and unreadable.

After a moment, he closed his eyelids again.

From that day on, a sort of silent agreement formed between them. Xie Qiu would only go to the hospital after his classes were finished for the day.

He could not see the process of He Siyan’s physical therapy, but it was visible to the naked eye that Mr. He’s physical condition was improving day by day.

By the time final exam week approached, He Siyan was already able to get out of bed and walk with the help of a crutch.

Even though he could only manage it for a short while, it was a massive step forward for someone recovering from a vegetative state.

“To be honest, I have never seen a patient who was in a coma for over half a year stand up so quickly after waking,” the doctor in the white coat said, pushing up his glasses with a sigh of admiration. “President He’s willpower is truly very firm.”

Su Wanrong was both happy and a bit worried. “Doctor, will such a fast recovery pace put too much burden on Siyan’s body?”

“Please rest assured, Mrs. He. Our hospital has a very professional medical team to protect Mr. He’s health from every angle,” the doctor explained. “Furthermore, President He has a very strong natural constitution, and he was cared for very well during his time in a coma.”

“That is good to hear.” Su Wanrong showed a smile. “Xiao Qiu, let’s head out first and let the doctor work.”

Xie Qiu helped her walk out. “Mom, from what the doctor said, Brother Siyan will recover very soon.”

“This is all thanks to you, Xiao Qiu.” Su Wanrong stopped walking, her voice full of emotion. “Whether it was Siyan waking up or this period of recovery, you are the one who has worked the hardest. I know this in my heart.”

Xie Qiu smiled. “I didn’t really do much. I only did what I felt was right.”

Su Wanrong patted his hand and said no more.

That night, Xie Qiu sat on the sofa in the living room reading a book.

The intensity of final exam week for a law major was extreme, with exams seven days in a row. Luckily, his memory was good, his study efficiency was high, and he usually studied hard, so he wasn’t too overwhelmed.

Even so, he studied late into the night because law professors never point out “key topics” for finals—if they highlight anything, they highlight the entire textbook.

Around eleven o’clock, the phone on the table vibrated.

Xie Qiu put down his book and checked his WeChat.

Mr. He: [Are you still studying?]

Since He Siyan regained the ability to type, the two of them had added each other on WeChat, but this was the first time the other man had sent him a message.

Xie Qiu: [Almost finished.]

Xie Qiu: [Is Mr. He not asleep yet?]

Mr. He: [Starting tomorrow, don’t come over.]

Xie Qiu stood up with his phone and pushed open the bedroom door. “Mr. He, did I disturb your rest?”

“No.” He Siyan sat at the head of the bed, his long fingers playing with a hand-grip strengthener. “It’s finals week. Traveling back and forth wastes your rest time.”

Xie Qiu felt relieved and said, “It’s fine. It’s not that far anyway.”

“You can’t rest well at the hospital.” He Siyan looked at him and repeated, “Go home.”

Xie Qiu thought about it and replied, “Okay, then I won’t come over tomorrow.”

It wasn’t that he felt he couldn’t rest well; it was just that he was reading so late that he was likely disturbing the other man.

Xie Qiu took a shower in the bathroom and returned to his bed.

He Siyan was already lying down. He could now sit up and lie down on his own without help from others.

Xie Qiu climbed into his bed, covered himself with a thin blanket, and said softly, “Goodnight, Mr. He.”

A few seconds later, a deep and magnetic voice sounded by his ear: “Goodnight.”

Xie Qiu’s ears felt a tingle, and he quietly pulled the blanket up higher.

It wasn’t until He Siyan’s vocal cords had fully recovered that he realized how pleasant the man’s voice actually was—deep, rich, and as elegant as a cello, yet with a hint of coldness.

Xie Qiu held onto the blanket and soon fell into a daze of sleep.

The man in the next bed, however, opened his eyes and slowly reached out a hand.

Although the two beds were side by side, there was still a distance between them. Even if he stretched his arm to the fullest, he could not touch that sleeping face.

He Siyan used his fingertips to trace the outline of Xie Qiu’s face through the air, his mind automatically recalling the warm and soft sensation of touching him.

After a long while, the man withdrew his hand.

For the next week, Xie Qiu devoted himself entirely to his final exams.

Su Wanrong had the kitchen make various delicious meals for him every day. At night, she would personally bring him a cup of hot milk—a level of treatment even He Jingchen didn’t get, which left Xie Qiu feeling a bit overwhelmed by the favor.

For a whole week, with one exam after another, there was absolutely no room to breathe. However, Xie Qiu still found time to check in on Mr. He’s recovery progress.

Finally, the last exam ended, announcing the official start of summer vacation.

“Ahhh, finally free!” Meng Ziye ran around a few times like a crazy person. “I, Meng Ziye, swear again: if I can be human in my next life, I will never, ever be a law student!”

Xie Qiu laughed. “You look exactly like Oreo right now.”

Meng Ziye finished his craze and returned to normal. “Xiao Qiu, what are your plans for summer break?”

“I’m not sure yet.” Xie Qiu walked forward with his backpack. “It depends on He Siyan’s recovery progress.”

“If you ask me, you should take advantage of the fact that your husband can move a little but can’t resist much yet, and just…” Meng Ziye made a gesture. “Do it to him!”

Xie Qiu: “…”

Meng Ziye winked. “Think about it!”

“Sorry, I still want to live a few more days.” Xie Qiu rejected him coldly. “I’m leaving. Let’s talk on WeChat.”

He got into the He family car and headed straight for the hospital.

When Xie Qiu arrived at the hospital entrance, he noticed something seemed wrong.

Many paparazzi were waiting at the hospital entrance, each holding long lenses and cameras. There were even people perched in the trees across from the hospital.

Xie Qiu frowned. Had some big movie star come to the hospital?

Wait, these people couldn’t be here for He Siyan, could they?

Xie Qiu got out of the car and walked quickly toward the hospital entrance with his head down.

Suddenly, a sharp-eyed paparazzi spotted him and shouted, “Xie Qiu! That’s Xie Qiu!”

Xie Qiu: “?”

Wait, since when did I become this famous?

He didn’t have time to run. Hearing the shout, the other paparazzi swarmed him like a hive of bees, pointing microphones and cameras at him.

“Are you here to see He Siyan? We heard he woke up from his vegetative state and is undergoing physical therapy. Is it true?”

“There have always been rumors that you have a marriage contract with President He, but he has been unwilling to marry you. In what capacity are you visiting him at the hospital now?”

…

Xie Qiu had never seen such a scene. The constant flashing of cameras made his eyes hurt. The paparazzi pushed and shoved, nearly sticking their microphones into his mouth.

Just as he was feeling helpless, two large men rushed into the crowd. They pushed aside the people surrounding him, forcibly cleared a path, and escorted him into the hospital.

The paparazzi were blocked outside the doors and could only stand there grumbling.

Even after entering the elevator, Xie Qiu still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

“Young Master Xie,” one of the bodyguards spoke up. “President He is waiting for you.”

Xie Qiu looked at him and realized it was the same bodyguard who had stood at the elevator before. He asked hesitantly, “Those paparazzi… are they all here for President He?”

“Yes,” the bodyguard replied. “They have been waiting at the hospital entrance for several days.”

Xie Qiu nodded and walked out of the elevator toward the familiar room.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw He Siyan sitting in a wheelchair. He was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, looking so handsome it gave Xie Qiu a mental boost.

“I’m sorry,” He Siyan said, apologizing immediately. “I didn’t know you would come to the hospital today, so I didn’t make arrangements in advance.”

Xie Qiu snapped out of it and shook his head. “It’s not your fault. I was careless myself.”

He hadn’t expected those nosy paparazzi to dig up the identity of a small character like him.

He Siyan gave him a deep look. “But you came at the right time. Let’s go home together.”

“Huh?” Xie Qiu was stunned. “Are you being discharged?”

He Siyan gave a small nod. “Yes.”

Assistant Fang, standing behind him, explained, “The doctors have evaluated him. President He’s recovery is going well, so he can continue his follow-up therapy at home.”

Xie Qiu replied, “Okay, I understand.”

After all, the hospital was a public place and there was no way to stop the paparazzi, but the He family mansion was like a fortress that outsiders couldn’t invade.

Soon, the group entered the elevator, and the floor numbers kept dropping.

“Mr. He,” Xie Qiu suddenly remembered something. “There are many paparazzi at the door. If you go out like this, will it…”

He Siyan gave him a reassuring look. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

With just that one look, Xie Qiu’s nervous heart somehow calmed down.

The elevator doors opened, and Assistant Fang pushed the wheelchair out.

“Xie Qiu,” He Siyan called out. “Could you please help me push the wheelchair?”

Xie Qiu paused. A few seconds later, he handed his backpack to the bodyguard next to him and moved behind the wheelchair.

He Siyan raised his large, well-defined hand and slowly patted the back of Xie Qiu’s hand.

Xie Qiu looked straight ahead and calmly pushed the man toward the hospital entrance.

The moment the hospital doors opened, all the paparazzi waiting outside went wild.

An exquisite and beautiful young man pushed the wheelchair out. The man in the wheelchair wore a custom suit and polished leather shoes.

The man’s face was pale but handsome, and his gaze was deep and cold. Even though he was sitting, he still gave off a powerful, commanding aura that made people afraid to look him in the eye.

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