After the Straight Male Incubus Became a Heartthrob - Chapter 34

After returning to the villa, Ye Lin was preoccupied. He nearly fell while getting out of the car, but Liang Wenle caught him just in time.

“Why are you walking without looking where you are going?”

“Sorry, I was just spacing out.”

“Forget it. Hold onto me and do not wander off, lest you fall again.”

Liang Wenle supported him, carefully avoiding difficult terrain as they walked slowly into the villa.

Yuanyuan had not seen Ye Lin for several days. The dog ran up quickly, whining and rubbing against Ye Lin’s shins. Liang Wenle knelt to pat Yuanyuan’s head, telling him that Ye Lin was injured and needed peace for a few days. Yuanyuan was clever; he looked up at Ye Lin’s arm and let out a mournful whimper, appearing very anxious.

Ye Lin softly told the dog not to worry and fed him some snacks before heading toward the second floor. Due to his left hand being injured, he spent a long time in the washroom.

Liang Wenle lost his patience when Ye Lin did not come out and walked over to urge him, “You are so slow!”

Ye Lin turned around and explained helplessly, “Wenle, wait a moment. My arm makes things difficult.”

Liang Wenle noticed him trying to squeeze ointment with one hand. It suddenly occurred to him that Ye Lin had a dislocated arm and that pressuring a patient was uncalled for. He walked over and took the ointment and toothbrush. “Fine, I will help you brush your teeth.”

Ye Lin was flattered. He truly had not expected Liang Wenle to be so empathetic. “It is fine. I do not want to trouble you, Wenle.”

Liang Wenle, already half-crouched, put the toothbrush into Ye Lin’s mouth and pressed the switch. Even though it was an electric toothbrush, he felt it still needed manual guidance. The crouching posture was uncomfortable, but Liang Wenle persisted through the entire process, then used a soft towel to wash Ye Lin’s face, carefully wiping every spot. He even helped Ye Lin apply skin care products, meticulously tending to his skin.

After the routine, Ye Lin’s skin was supple and glowing, looking even better than usual. Liang Wenle leaned down to kiss him with satisfaction, pulling Ye Lin into his arms. He whispered, “Your hand is hurt. From now on, call me whenever you need to wash up.”

Ye Lin, rarely having the chance to boss him around, was naturally happy to comply. “Alright, then I will trouble you, Wenle.”

Liang Wenle thought for a moment. “Call me when you need to use the toilet too. I will help you.”

Ye Lin’s cheeks flushed crimson, and he began to stammer, “That, that is quite alright.”

Liang Wenle intentionally hugged him from behind to demonstrate. “I have to help. It is so inconvenient with one hand.”

Ye Lin struggled to get away but was easily restrained by Liang Wenle. He tried to persuade him, “Wen, Wenle, it is not necessary. I can do it myself.”

Liang Wenle had heard that intimate couples helped each other this way and wanted to try it. Since Ye Lin would not satisfy him, he resorted to threats. “You just do not like me anymore! You are willing to let me help with other things, but not this!”

Ye Lin smelled the scent of gunpowder, sensing that Liang Wenle was about to lose his temper. He quickly explained, “Wenle, listen to me. It is not hygienic. I should do it myself.”

Liang Wenle insisted on being unreasonable. “I hate you! If you do not let me help, I will punish you!”

Ye Lin, scolded into submission, habitually compromised. Thus, before bed, he was carried into the bathroom and helped by Liang Wenle while he covered his face. A single palm could not hide the scarlet flush on his face; even his ears were beet red and burning hot.

A shy Ye Lin was simply too adorable. Liang Wenle loved it. He leaned down to kiss an earlobe, teasing intentionally, “Oh, hurry up. We still need to sleep.”

Ye Lin did not even dare to look down. His voice was tiny with embarrassment. “I cannot feel anything with you here. Just go out; I can manage.”

Liang Wenle’s mischievous side was piqued by that voice. He intentionally raised his hand. “Then let me help you.”

“Don’t! Do not do that!”

“Wen, Wenle,”

Ye Lin was almost sagging in his arms, completely unable to stand steadily. He covered his face tightly with his trembling hands, not wanting anyone to see his facial expression. Liang Wenle pulled his hands away to see his face, kissed his cheek, and teased, “You are very healthy, hehe.”

Ye Lin was filled with shame and indignation. He wanted to scream that Liang Wenle was shameless, but he could only endure it. After cleaning up and applying his favorite fragrance, Liang Wenle finally carried him to the bedroom. Before sleeping, they remained glued together, kissing frantically. Ye Lin felt that Liang Wenle had developed skin hunger and could not bear to be away from him. It was truly speechless.

Fortunately, the fuss did not last long, and he was finally able to lie down and sleep. In his dream, he saw Gu Jiazhi in that same living room. Gu Jiazhi’s eyes were downcast, his spirit broken. His eyes were red as he questioned Ye Lin at the top of his lungs, “Why can you not tell the difference between me and Gu Zhe?”

Ye Lin explained nervously, making all sorts of excuses, but he saw no change in Gu Jiazhi’s expression. Gu Jiazhi’s face became increasingly grim as he repeated, “Others can recognize me. Why can you not?”

Ye Lin explained at first, but later grew too tired and simply gave up, even feeling irritable. Gu Jiazhi laughed for a moment, tears falling quickly, before looking at him with despair. “Ye Lin, I will make you regret this. I will make sure you never see me again!”

As soon as he spoke, Gu Jiazhi’s figure drifted away, vanishing into white mist.

When he woke up, Ye Lin was covered in a cold sweat. Terrified, he hurried out of bed, intending to go to the hospital to check on Gu Jiazhi. He was truly afraid that Gu Jiazhi would suddenly be gone.

Liang Wenle heard the commotion and squinted his eyes. He saw Ye Lin struggling to put on clothes. “Why are you up so early?”

Ye Lin had intended to go secretly, but since Liang Wenle was awake, he had to lie. “I cannot sleep. I want to go for a walk.”

Liang Wenle complained that he was acting abnormal but sat up anyway, moving in front of him to help him dress. “I told you, call me if something is inconvenient. How can you dress yourself with one hand?”

“I, I did not want to trouble you, Wenle.”

Ye Lin cooperated by moving his arms and legs, feeling as though he were in a dream. In the past, he would never have expected Liang Wenle to help him dress; it was already a win if Liang Wenle did not cause more trouble when he was sick. Besides, he had never served Liang Wenle while he dressed, so he had not thought of this dynamic.

“What trouble? Couples should take care of each other. When my face was hurt a while ago, did you not take care of me? Now it is my turn to take care of you.”

“Uh, thank you, Wenle.”

Ye Lin still could not believe it. Was this truly the young master Liang Wenle?

Come to think of it, Liang Wenle had undergone many changes compared to when they first met. The initial Liang Wenle would look down on him, insult him with all kinds of language, play malicious pranks, and ignore his feelings. But the current Liang Wenle rarely used verbal insults beyond a couple of snide remarks. Furthermore, he would give him money and occasionally consider his feelings.

Liang Wenle’s movements were careful. He straightened Ye Lin’s collar, adjusted his waistline, and added a few small accessories, acting as if he were dressing a precious doll. Once finished, Liang Wenle leaned in and pointed to his face. “Now kiss me as a thank you.”

Ye Lin habitually lowered his head and dropped a kiss on his lips. Immediately after, he was pulled into a hug, feeling as if he had fallen into water, unable to move or make a sound. When they parted, Ye Lin’s cheeks were flushed and his breathing was unsteady.

Still concerned about Gu Jiazhi’s safety, he suggested, “Wenle, let us go to the hospital to see Gu Jiazhi. After all, he is your friend and he has helped me.”

Liang Wenle was originally satisfied, but his face changed when he heard those words. He poked Ye Lin’s chest hard. “So you woke up early just to go to the hospital to see Gu Jiazhi. Get this straight: I am your boyfriend. Why are you worried about another man?”

Ye Lin had a headache. He racked his brains and managed to fabricate an excuse. “I, I just wanted to go for a walk. Since we will be out anyway, we might as well go see him. Wenle, Jiazhi is your best friend. That is why I am worried about him.”

Liang Wenle thought about how that unlucky guy Gu Jiazhi had no one to love him and was quite pitiful, so he got dressed and prepared to head out.

Outside, the day was overcast. The roses in the yard looked dull, and the wind blowing across the lawn looked like ripples during rain. After the car entered the city, the sky remained gloomy, but fortunately, it did not rain.

Upon arriving at the hospital, they saw Gu Jiazhi’s parents chatting with a doctor, seemingly about the brothers’ conditions. Liang Wenle was curious and leaned in to listen. It turned out that Gu Jiazhi and Gu Zhe would take at least a week to wake up. Neither was in life-threatening danger; they just needed to recover from their injuries. Such severe injuries required a long period of rest.

The equipment at this hospital was limited. Once the patients woke up, it was recommended to move them to a private hospital with better recovery conditions. Gu Jiazhi’s parents had already found a closed-off sanatorium thousands of miles away. It was filled with experts who would use the best resources to aid their recovery.

The doctor specifically mentioned Gu Jiazhi’s unique condition. “Before this patient was severely injured, he experienced massive emotional fluctuations which have affected his central nervous system. When he wakes up, his brain might trigger a defense mechanism, causing him to forget certain painful memories. Family members should take care not to trigger him.”

Gu Jiazhi’s parents looked at Ye Lin, finally believing that Gu Zhe’s mockery of Gu Jiazhi had led to the tragedy. They sighed, feeling they needed to properly educate their children.

Ye Lin, however, suddenly thought of Gu Jiazhi’s despairing expression in the living room that day. It probably was not just because of Gu Zhe, but because of him. Gu Jiazhi had complained about his older brother several times, yet Ye Lin still mistook them. Of course he would be angry. Being betrayed by a friend does not feel good.

Liang Wenle shook his head and sighed, “That kid Gu Jiazhi is truly miserable. I should avoid mentioning Gu Zhe in front of him from now on.”

Gu Jiazhi’s father asked, “Wenle, is the relationship between Xiao Zhe and Jiazhi that bad?”

Liang Wenle waved his hand and spoke plainly, “Their relationship was never good, Uncle. Not to be nosy, but I truly feel you two were too biased toward Gu Zhe. That is what caused Gu Jiazhi to become like this: not being a homebody and loathing his own brother.”

Ye Lin felt that Liang Wenle had finally done something decent and echoed him, “That is how it is.”

Liang Wenle had been pampered since childhood and did not need to mince words before Gu Jiazhi’s parents. He continued to list the various hardships Gu Jiazhi had suffered and Gu Zhe’s misdeeds. Gu Jiazhi’s parents were stunned. They could not believe this was the eldest son they valued so much, but they showed Liang Wenle enough respect and offered a few agreeing remarks. After hearing this, they decided they would visit Gu Jiazhi.

Ye Lin was finally at ease when he saw that the heart rate monitor in Gu Jiazhi’s room was normal. Fortunately, yesterday was just a nightmare; Gu Jiazhi was not going to die.

Over the next few days, Gu Jiazhi was moved to a high-end ward where visitors could see him. Shen Shao, habitually minding social niceties, chose a free day to visit the hospital after hearing about Gu Jiazhi’s illness. Consequently, he saw Ye Lin sitting by the hospital bed in the ward, holding Gu Jiazhi’s hand and muttering something. No one else was in the ward. They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers who refused to part even after experiencing a life-and-death ordeal.

Gu Jiazhi had nearly lost his life for Ye Lin, and Ye Lin was staying by his side, never leaving. Meanwhile, they faced obstruction from their parents and had to meet behind their friend Liang Wenle’s back to find a moment of warmth. It was truly moving; it could practically be adapted into a romance movie.

Shen Shao walked in and tutted twice. After putting down his gift, he spoke sarcastically, “Aren’t you afraid Liang Wenle will get suspicious, coming here by yourself?”

There was nothing to say to a person like him; responding only encouraged him. Ye Lin did not bother to pay him any attention, focusing instead on Gu Jiazhi in the hospital bed. Gu Jiazhi’s face was covered in bandages, leaving only his nose and eyes exposed, looking like a mummy. He had never been this fragile, like a sandcastle that could be blown away by the wind at any moment. He used to be high-spirited, daring to talk back and take risks, loyal and willing to sacrifice everything.

Ye Lin felt that the reason he had a good relationship with Gu Jiazhi was likely because Gu Jiazhi possessed qualities he admired. In this strange world, although he could reach the pinnacle of life with the help of the system, most of the people around him were just tools to be used. For instance, he used Shen Shao to manage Fanxing and used Liang Wenle to complete investments; he would use even more people in the future. Only Gu Jiazhi was different. His feelings for him were not purely about utility; they were mixed with other complex emotions.

However, the current Ye Lin could not fully comprehend these complex feelings. He only knew that he was more worried about Gu Jiazhi than anyone else and hoped he would get better soon.

Shen Shao walked up to Ye Lin and knelt to remind him, “Be careful. If Liang Wenle suddenly walks in, you will not be able to explain yourself.”

Ye Lin was afraid of disturbing Gu Jiazhi’s rest. He stood up, dragged Shen Shao to the window, and poked him hard in the chest as a warning. “Leave after you drop off the gift. Do not make a ruckus here.”

Shen Shao carefully avoided Ye Lin’s dislocated arm and restrained him, pulling him into an embrace. He lowered his head to sniff the fragrance of Ye Lin’s neck, his expression obsessed. “I am his best friend, of course I have to visit him. As for you, you are not his wife. What does it look like, staying by his bedside like this?”

Ye Lin tried to push him away, but with only one arm and the need to keep quiet, he could only struggle slightly. “Let, let go!”

Outside the glass were lush locust trees. One look made it seem as though green paint had been splashed everywhere, intense and deep. Shen Shao held Ye Lin by the window, his back to the expanse of green, facing the hospital bed. He lowered his head to sniff him, his hands and feet wandering. Occasionally, he would look at Gu Jiazhi, his eyes showing the immense satisfaction of doing something wrong.

A white ward, the foul smell of disinfectant, a solemn atmosphere, a best friend in a coma, and a heartbroken, devoted wife. The more the person in his arms struggled, the happier he became. He even added, “Jiazhi, do not worry. I will take good care of Ye Lin for you.”

In that moment, he became the kind of villain who had coveted his brother’s wife for a long time, hoping his brother would never wake up from his illness so he could steal a moment of intimacy. The anger in Ye Lin’s heart was like boiling water, overflowing and becoming unbearable. Taking advantage of Shen Shao’s distraction, he stomped on his foot and swung his elbow into him.

Shen Shao took the hit and sucked in a breath of cold air from the pain, but he suppressed his voice. That sentence just now was like a curse for Gu Jiazhi to die; it was utterly vicious. Ye Lin was still furious, so he slapped Shen Shao and grabbed his collar, pulling him close to warn him, “Shen Shao, you better behave yourself, or I truly will fire you. Who do you think Fanxing is relying on to survive right now?”

Half of Shen Shao’s face turned red. His forehead was pressed against Ye Lin’s, warm breath fanning over him, and he met a gaze as fierce as a cheetah’s. He had never seen this side of Ye Lin. It was very interesting and very novel.

“Fine, I will leave now. But I still have to remind you: Gu Jiazhi’s parents are homophobic. You better not make any intimate moves toward Gu Jiazhi. If they see it, they will be scared to death.”

“I, I would never make intimate moves toward Gu Jiazhi.”

“Oh? Does stroking the back of his hand and looking at him lovingly not count?”

“How, how does that count? That is just the normal reaction of being worried about a good friend.”

Ye Lin let go and turned to look at Gu Jiazhi, pensive. Shen Shao did not bother to enlighten him, simply making a request: “If you break up with Liang Wenle right now, date Gu Jiazhi, and then have an affair with me, I would be very happy.”

Ye Lin sometimes truly wanted to seal Shen Shao’s mouth with cement to stop him from saying such strange things. Shen Shao lowered his head to help him straighten his collar, his tone aggrieved. “I have to be the only favorite lover, do you understand? Also, after you date Gu Jiazhi, you cannot only like him. There has to be a place in your heart for me, even if it is just a little bit.”

He did not care who Ye Lin’s official boyfriend or husband was, but Ye Lin’s other man could only be him. Ye Lin could not go looking for a fourth or fifth lover behind his back; he had to choose from candidates selected by Shen Shao. The people he picked would be high quality, would not cause a scene, and certainly would not try to stand above him. In short, he had to be the highest-ranking third party; anything lower was unacceptable.

Ye Lin impatiently pushed him away, making a shooing gesture. “Go away, go away! You are so annoying!”

Shen Shao kissed his cheek again and looked back several times as he slowly left the ward, like a concubine who had finally been favored and was reluctant to leave.

In truth, compared to the immature and foolish Liang Wenle, he was more satisfied with Gu Jiazhi being Ye Lin’s boyfriend. But right now, Ye Lin liked Gu Jiazhi too much. Letting him be the boyfriend carried a high risk. If Ye Lin suddenly realized his feelings and only wanted to stay with Gu Jiazhi, where would that leave him? Thinking of this, Shen Shao stopped in front of Gu Zhe’s ward and looked inside. Gu Zhe was also covered in bandages, surrounded by gifts, with a tired-looking Mr. Gu keeping watch. Although Ye Lin said nothing, instinct told him that the fight between the twins definitely had something to do with Ye Lin. Shen Shao hesitated for a moment but still walked into Gu Zhe’s ward.

Five days later, both Gu Jiazhi and Gu Zhe woke up. It was a beautiful sunny day with clear skies. The sunlight was dazzling, making the trees by the road look oily and the windows of the skyscrapers glint blindingly.

When getting out of the car, Liang Wenle wore sunglasses and held a sunshade, gently embracing Ye Lin beside him while complaining about the scorching weather. Ye Lin’s mind was entirely on seeing Gu Jiazhi, so he offered only a couple of perfunctory remarks. After entering the hospital, Liang Wenle put away the umbrella and took off his sunglasses before heading toward the ward. Today he wore a pale yellow shirt with a green collar, featuring a cute cartoon pattern. It was a matching outfit with Ye Lin, specially customized from a big brand with embroidered logos. Because he was tall and had delicate, defined features, he could pull off the outfit like a runway model, attracting many gazes. Ye Lin beside him did not like being stared at this way, feeling as though he had become the fashionista he used to fear most. He quickly picked up his pace.

Both wards were crowded with people. Surprisingly, Gu Jiazhi’s ward had more people, even including his parents. Liang Wenle walked in and greeted Gu Jiazhi loudly, “Wow, you finally woke up!”

Gu Jiazhi could not sit up and could only reply while lying down, “If I did not wake up, you would have cursed me to death by now!”

Liang Wenle smiled and gestured to the people around them, sitting on a nearby stool and tutting helplessly, “Look at you, how miserable. If you are disfigured, I bet you will never find a girlfriend!”

Gu Jiazhi wanted to move his body to hit his bad friend, but he could only make sounds. “Tsk, stop cursing me!”

Gu Jiazhi’s parents sighed beside him and urged, “Jiazhi, do not fight with your brother anymore. Your mother and I have been very worried these past few days.”

Gu Jiazhi only spared them a glance and complained, “Why do you not go tell Gu Zhe to stop fighting me?”

Liang Wenle noticed his friend’s mood and spoke up to smooth things over. “Alright, Uncle and Auntie, go see Gu Zhe. Let Jiazhi chat with his friends.”

Gu Jiazhi’s parents, mindful of the sequelae the doctor mentioned, still told Liang Wenle to come find them next door if anything happened. Once they left, the ward was filled only with young people, and the atmosphere became lively.

Ye Lin felt relieved and walked to the bedside, sitting down to greet Gu Jiazhi. “Jiazhi, you finally woke up. Do you feel any better now?”

Gu Jiazhi remembered this person. Seeing him in matching clothes with Liang Wenle, he gave a polite smile. “It is you. You actually started dating Liang Wenle?”

Ye Lin’s heart sank upon hearing his words.

Liang Wenle felt something was wrong. He put an arm around Ye Lin’s shoulder, smiled, and asked, “Did you forget? Ye Lin has been dating me for a long time.”

Gu Jiazhi had long known Liang Wenle was gay and had been infatuated with Shen Shao for years, so he teased intentionally, “Did you not use to like Shen Shao? How did you finally see reason?”

Liang Wenle had long since let go of that first love. “Oh, don’t mention that. I now think Ye Lin is the best person in the world. I do not like Shen Shao anymore.”

Gu Jiazhi and the friends around him laughed, offering sincere praise, “It is good that you saw reason. Ye Lin is indeed good-looking, cute and sexy.”

Liang Wenle pulled Ye Lin into a protective embrace, pointing at Gu Jiazhi’s forehead as a warning. “Don’t you dare set your sights on Ye Lin. He is mine; I am not giving him to anyone.”

Someone teased, “Jiazhi, stop praising Ye Lin’s looks. Liang Wenle treats him like a treasure; he will not let anyone else even steal a glance.”

Gu Jiazhi looked at Ye Lin a few more times. He found the man had a youthful aura and clean looks, yet his eyes were exceptionally charming and moving. The more he looked, the more he liked him. “You forgot, I do not like men.”

Laughter erupted around them again as everyone giggled and huddled together. Ye Lin felt like an outsider, as if he had returned to the time he first met Gu Jiazhi at the bar, when a group of rich second-generation heirs treated him like entertainment.

He felt that something had changed. He could not help but ask Gu Jiazhi, “Do you still remember why you fought with Gu Zhe?”

Gu Jiazhi said casually, “He must have deserved it.” But when he tried to recall it carefully, he could not remember anything. His brain felt as though it were covered by a white cloth; he could see nothing and had a splitting headache.

“My, my head hurts so much!” Gu Jiazhi cried out with a frown.

“What is happening? Call a doctor, quick!” Liang Wenle shouted, and someone immediately ran out of the room.

Ye Lin had a thousand words he wanted to ask Gu Jiazhi: Do you remember helping me pay off my loans? Do you remember the apartment we lived in? Do you remember that you always had to hold me at night to fall asleep? Do you remember calling Liang Wenle a fool? Do you remember leaving the Gu family for Fanxing because of me?

But these things were memories that belonged only to him and Gu Jiazhi. They could not be made public and were forced to be buried deep in his heart. In this moment, though they were so close, they felt as if they were separated by ten thousand mountains.

When the doctor arrived and checked him with precision instruments, he reached a conclusion. Gu Jiazhi had lost a part of his memory. After an investigation, it was discovered that he had forgotten all his experiences since starting university. His memory stopped at the point where he had just started university and was about to go out and celebrate with his friends.

He remembered all the friends he had made during his youth. But to him, Ye Lin was just the illegitimate son of the Ye family and Liang Wenle’s boyfriend.

Beyond that, there was nothing more.