After The Beautiful Drama Queen’s Marriage To The Wealthy Tycoon - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Hubby Hold Me

The moment they got home, Jiang He seemed to unlock a “berserker” personality, fussing and causing a scene without pause.

He couldn’t even sit upright. He slumped onto the sofa and mumbled, “I’m going to find my best friend.”

Qi Hanchuan stood nearby, watching Jiang He unbuckle the sofa cushions, pull out the inner stuffing, and attempt to tear at the fibers inside. He reached out to rescue the cushion, his tone resigned: “Your best friend is already asleep. You should be sleeping too.”

“I don’t believe you! You definitely threw him outside!” With his “toy” snatched away, Jiang He’s fussing intensified. He even started crying as he spoke. “He doesn’t have a mother, and his father and brother are mean to him. You aren’t allowed to bully him! I’m going to find Fang Zhiyi, I have to protect him!”

The Fang family was prominent in Sea City. Although their past scandals had been suppressed, almost everyone in high society knew about the sudden appearance of a private son. They also knew that once he was taken back, he wasn’t valued and was essentially left to fend for himself.

The Qi family and Fang family didn’t have much business overlap, and the relationship between the older generations was lukewarm. Qi Hanchuan hadn’t known Fang Zhiyi before this, nor did he know he was Jiang He’s best friend. If it weren’t for his friendship with Jiang He, Fang Zhiyi would likely have been kicked out of the Fang family long ago.

Jiang He sobbed on the sofa, his tears drenching a small patch of the dark fabric. “Waaaah… you all bully him, you’re all bastards.”

Qi Hanchuan set the cushion down. Worried that Jiang He would lack oxygen from crying face-down for too long, he reached out to help him sit up properly. “No one is bullying him. He’s already asleep. You can see him tomorrow morning.”

The young master pouted, large teardrops pouring out like a broken string of pearls, his pupils clearly unfocused. “I don’t believe you. I can only believe it if you take me to see him.”

Qi Hanchuan took a deep breath, grabbed a tissue, and helped wipe Jiang He’s tears. “I’ll take you. Stop crying right now.”

Jiang He immediately silenced his sobs, stifling his tears with little gasps, his eyelashes damp. Knowing the alcohol had hit him so hard he couldn’t walk, Qi Hanchuan simply scooped him up by his waist and carried him toward the guest room.

He’s too thin. He weighs almost nothing. I’ll have to fix his picky eating habits later.

Jiang He’s emotions hadn’t fully settled yet; he was currently buried in Qi Hanchuan’s shoulder, using the man’s high-end custom shirt to wipe his eyes.

Qi Hanchuan pushed open the guest room door to let him look. Seeing his best friend sleeping peacefully on the large bed, Jiang He finally felt at ease.

As the door closed, he buried his face in the crook of Qi Hanchuan’s neck. “Did anyone give him a bath? He won’t be comfortable if he doesn’t bathe.”

Qi Hanchuan nudged him gently to keep him leaning on his shoulder, his voice flat: “He’s been washed.”

The next second, Jiang He buried his face back in, hugging Qi Hanchuan’s neck and refusing to let go. “Don’t push me. You’re always mistreating me.”

Qi Hanchuan had no idea how the boy reached that conclusion, but fearing he would trigger another crying fit, he let him stay buried there.

Back in the master bedroom, Qi Hanchuan placed the drunken Jiang He on the sofa, propping him up with a pillow, then went to the bathroom to start the bathwater.

Jiang He had caused such a ruckus for so long that the servants had already retired for the night. Qi Hanchuan had to attend to the drunkard himself.

Originally, he intended to just lead Jiang He to the bathroom and let him wash himself, but he had underestimated Jiang He’s low tolerance. The boy was so drunk he couldn’t even sit straight, let alone bathe himself.

Qi Hanchuan rolled up his sleeves, revealing his sturdy forearms with veins tracing under his tan skin. He quickly undressed the boy and, looking straight ahead with professional detachment, placed him into the bathtub. He grabbed the shampoo and knelt by the tub to wash Jiang He’s hair.

Jiang He kept talking throughout  mostly nonsense, ranging from accusations of Qi Hanchuan’s coldness to stories about the male models at the club, and occasionally about his friendship with Fang Zhiyi.

Qi Hanchuan remained silent, wiping away the foam that got on Jiang He’s forehead and looking at his beautiful features and those dazed, large eyes.

“Close your eyes,” he ordered softly.

Jiang He frowned slightly but obediently closed them, being uncharacteristically compliant.

After rinsing the shampoo, Qi Hanchuan dried his hair with a towel before starting to wash his body. Jiang He had fair, delicate skin—Qi Hanchuan had always known that—but he hadn’t realized an adult man’s skin could be this tender. It felt like a peeled egg to the touch. No wonder he turned red the other day from just a light pat.

Qi Hanchuan momentarily lost focus and forgot to control his strength. The young master immediately cried out, “You’re pinching me!”

Qi Hanchuan muttered an “I’m sorry,” quickly finished rinsing him off, and wrapped him in a bath towel to carry him out.

During the bath, Jiang He hadn’t been well-behaved, purposefully splashing water on Qi Hanchuan. By now, Qi Hanchuan was soaked through. After settling Jiang He on the sofa, he went to take a quick shower himself, emerging in a bathrobe that was a few sizes too small.

After blow-drying Jiang He’s hair, Qi Hanchuan tucked him into bed. Only after the boy was covered did Qi Hanchuan go to his own room to change into proper pajamas and return. He had intended to leave once Jiang He fell asleep, but the drunk boy insisted they sleep together.

Seeing Jiang He’s unreasonable state, Qi Hanchuan realized a standoff was useless. He lifted the covers and lay down beside him, his voice commanding: “Go to sleep.”

His tone was a bit stern. Jiang He sniffled and looked up at him. “So mean.”

Exhausted by the night’s antics, Qi Hanchuan’s patience was frayed. “You aren’t allowed to drink in the future.”

Jiang He looked even more aggrieved. “You’re snapping at me…”

The air was filled with that sweet scent unique to Jiang He. Qi Hanchuan took a deep breath and looked down at him, offering a rare explanation: “I’m not snapping. I’m speaking in a normal voice. You’re just too fragile.”

Jiang He sniffled and moved closer to Qi Hanchuan. “Well, I am fragile. It’s fine if you’re mean to others, but you have to be gentle with me.”

When no answer came, Jiang He got angry again. He unceremoniously grabbed Qi Hanchuan’s collar. “I’m your wife. I’m not ‘others.’ You aren’t allowed to be mean to me.”

Qi Hanchuan removed his hand and moved over a bit, truly not wanting to argue with a drunk. “Understood. Close your eyes and sleep.”

Jiang He was quiet for a moment, then reached out to grab the corner of Qi Hanchuan’s pajamas. “Can you not stay so far away? I’m scared.”

Qi Hanchuan glanced at the cat nightlight. “You’re still scared with the light on?”

Jiang He nodded. “Yes.”

If he were sober, he would never admit it; he was too proud. But in his current state, his inner fears were magnified, and Qi Hanchuan was the only person he could lean on. It was strange—usually, someone this drunk wouldn’t recognize anyone, but Jiang He still knew exactly who Qi Hanchuan was.

Seeing his terrified eyes and remembering what Fang Zhiyi had said, Qi Hanchuan felt an uncharacteristic pang of sympathy. “Don’t be afraid. There’s nothing there.”

Jiang He looked around and huddled under the quilt, grabbing Qi Hanchuan’s arm while trembling. “There is. There’s a scary monster that’s going to jump out and scare me. It’ll eat me. I’m scared.”

Qi Hanchuan didn’t know the origin of this trauma, but he could piece it together from Fang Zhiyi’s words. He knew about the kidnapping years ago; the Jiangs had asked the Qis for help. He knew the victims were Fang Zhiyi and Jiang He. It was because of that incident that Fang Zhiyi was revealed as a private son.

At the time, Jiang He was missing for too short a time for the police to file a case, so the families found them within 24 hours. He didn’t know what happened during those hours to leave such a deep psychological shadow.

Jiang He sobbed quietly, his body shaking harder. “I’m scared.”

Qi Hanchuan sighed, lifted the covers to see Jiang He’s pale face, and pulled him into his arms to comfort him. “There are no monsters. It’s just the two of us here.”

Before they registered their marriage, Jiang Xu had met Qi Hanchuan but hadn’t explicitly mentioned a “psychological shadow,” only that he should take care of him. Qi Hanchuan had assumed Jiang He was just spoiled. But now, seeing the small figure trembling beside him, his usually smiling face filled with terror, Qi Hanchuan felt a trace of heartache.

Just as he was feeling guilty for his previous prejudice, he felt a stray hand on his abdomen. Jiang He felt around and giggled sillily: “The male models’ abs aren’t as nice to touch as yours.”

Tears were still on his face, and the paleness of his lips hadn’t fully faded.

Drunkard.

Qi Hanchuan held Jiang He’s soft hand to keep it from wandering. “Are you going to look for male models again?”

Jiang He shook his head, rubbing his tears all over Qi Hanchuan’s pajamas. “If you let me feel them a few more times, I won’t.”

Qi Hanchuan looked down. “Not scared anymore?”

Jiang He didn’t even remember what just happened. He blinked at Qi Hanchuan. “If I touch them, I won’t be scared.”

Qi Hanchuan just wanted him to sleep, so he allowed a few more touches. When Jiang He tried to get under his clothes, Qi Hanchuan decisively pushed him away. “Sleep properly.”

“No! I want Hubby to hold me while I sleep!” Jiang He was relentless. He flipped over to straddle Qi Hanchuan’s waist, clinging to his neck like an octopus.

Qi Hanchuan was startled and pushed him off, pinning Jiang He’s shoulders to keep him still. His expression was stern: “Don’t mess around.”

Jiang He put on his pitiful face again. “I don’t want to sleep alone. I’m scared.”

Qi Hanchuan compromised: “I’ll hold you if you stay still. Otherwise, sleep by yourself.”

It was too late, way past his bedtime. If it got Jiang He to sleep, holding him was no big deal.

This time, Jiang He behaved. He nestled in Qi Hanchuan’s arms with his eyes closed. His cheeks were still flushed from the alcohol, and his lips regained their color. He fell asleep quickly, his breathing becoming rhythmic. He had simply run out of energy.

This was the most peaceful night of sleep Jiang He had had in years—no nightmares, straight until dawn.

The next morning, however, he woke up with a splitting headache from the hangover. He stayed paralyzed on the bed, remembering absolutely nothing of the previous night—including the fact that he had shared a bed with Qi Hanchuan. His memory ended at Qi Hanchuan picking him up.

He wondered if Qi Hanchuan had hit him while he was drunk; why did his body hurt so much?

Jiang He rolled over, intending to ask Qi Hanchuan later, but accidentally fell back asleep. He was jolted awake by a nightmare, drenched in sweat.

Qi Hanchuan pushed the door open: “Get up.”

Jiang He didn’t answer. He shrank into the covers with a dazed expression. Realizing something was wrong, Qi Hanchuan stepped forward and felt his forehead. No fever. Why so much sweat?

His tone softened with a hint of concern: “What’s wrong?”

Jiang He snapped out of it, his pupils finally focusing on Qi Hanchuan. “Just a nightmare.”

Qi Hanchuan stood by the bed, unsure how to dispel the fear. Jiang He was sober now; he couldn’t just hold him.

Jiang He didn’t notice the expression. He took a deep breath to settle his emotions, threw back the covers, and got out of bed. With his back to Qi Hanchuan, he said: “It’s nothing. I’m going to wash up.”

Qi Hanchuan had expected him to cry; after all, in his impression, this boy loved to cry. Perhaps this pampered young master was mentally stronger than he looked.

Still worried, Qi Hanchuan watched him from the bathroom door for a moment. Once he saw Jiang He was going to shower, he turned to leave, already planning to talk to the Jiang family about finding Jiang He a therapist.