After the Straight Male Incubus Became a Heartthrob - Chapter 35

The doctor used medication to finally alleviate Gu Jiazhi’s headache. He also advised family and relatives not to mention anything that occurred after university, suggesting they wait until he fully recovered to protect his brain.

Hearing these instructions, Ye Lin did not dare ask Gu Jiazhi about their shared past. He could only stay silently by Liang Wenle’s side, playing the part of the devoted boyfriend and showing his concern.

The friends’ conversations revolved almost entirely around Gu Jiazhi and Liang Wenle, with Liang Wenle remaining the center of attention.

Gu Jiazhi even teased Liang Wenle, “Now that you are in a relationship, are you not going to hang out with us anymore?”

Someone immediately chimed in, “Exactly! Jiazhi, you have no idea how hard Wenle is to invite out now. He spends all day revolving around Ye Lin.”

Another added, “That is right! Wenle is a real romantic. He only likes Ye Lin now. He has chosen love over friends and forgotten all about us!”

Liang Wenle enjoyed being flattered. He instinctively tightened his hold on Ye Lin’s waist and looked dismissively at the others. “I am a man with a partner now. I am not like you single dogs who are alone every night. That is so boring.”

Everyone laughed. In reality, they hung out with crowds every night and were never bored. But facing the pure Wenle, they had to play along.

Ye Lin felt uncomfortable being held so tightly. He pointedly turned his head away and whispered a reminder, “If Gu’s parents see this, they will faint from shock. Be careful with your actions.”

Liang Wenle leaned close to his cheek, huffed, and glanced at the door. “They are not here. Besides, what is wrong with letting me kiss you?”

Ye Lin sighed helplessly.

When Liang Wenle moved to kiss him, the people nearby began to cheer. Gu Jiazhi caught the disdain and discomfort in Ye Lin’s eyes. For some reason, he wanted to help him out, so he immediately spoke up to stop them. “Oh, Wenle, this is a hospital. You are being so mushy; are you trying to make us sick with envy?”

Liang Wenle looked up at his friends and laughed triumphantly. “Hmph, I want to make you envious!”

Ye Lin took the opportunity to grab his arm and leaned in, whispering, “Wenle, I am a bit sleepy. Let us go back.”

If they did not leave now, who knew what other strange things Liang Wenle would do. Now that Gu Jiazhi was awake, Ye Lin felt relieved. He would find a chance to visit secretly later.

Liang Wenle touched Ye Lin’s nose, his voice sweet enough to melt. “Sleepy? Then I will carry you back.”

Someone made a disgusted sound and teased him, “Wenle, you are so doting. I cannot take it!”

Gu Jiazhi also grumbled to chase them away. “Get out, get out. Stop being an eyesore. I cannot stand to see a couple being intimate!”

Liang Wenle simply picked Ye Lin up and walked out past the hospital beds amidst the cheers of his friends, looking as proud as a prince who had just married his beloved. Ye Lin could not stop him, so he just covered his face to hide his embarrassment.

He suddenly had a vision of himself back in junior high, eating late-night snacks with his friends. He remembered the bright colored lights and the barbecue stall made of simple plastic umbrellas and stools. The table was covered with skewers and beer; everyone was as thin as a bamboo pole with dyed hair. The Big Brother walked in holding a girl’s hand, announcing to everyone that she was the sister-in-law while everyone cheered and teased.

Damn! It turned out that girl covering her face back then was not shy; she was embarrassed! Ye Lin could finally empathize. He even felt that the Big Brother back then was a retard just like Liang Wenle. Fortunately, the girl broke up with the Big Brother later.

Once Ye Lin was done using Liang Wenle, he would break up too!

Having made up his mind, Ye Lin felt no internal turmoil. It was only when he entered the luxury car that he realized the idiotic ritual was over. He was in his twenties now and could not relate to his fifteen-year-old self. He really wanted to ask Liang Wenle if he was still a minor to be acting like a junior high student.

Once Liang Wenle sat in the driver’s seat, he leaned over to kiss him. “So, were you happy just now?”

Ye Lin nodded, his emotions flat. He did not even bother to act.

Liang Wenle reacted immediately, punching the soft seat cushion in frustration. “You are lying. You were clearly disgusted. Why? I think it is great to let everyone know you are the person I like!”

Ye Lin sighed. “Wenle, I am already your boyfriend. Everyone knows you like me. There is no need to use such a strange ritual to prove it.”

Liang Wenle was stunned. “Is it strange?”

Ye Lin waved his hand helplessly. “Forget it. As long as you are happy. Let us just go back.”

Liang Wenle felt like a deflated ball. He really wanted to be like Ye Lin, able to say sweet things and plan romantic dates at any time. The more he thought about it, the more dissatisfied he became. He had to find a way to prove himself!

Liang Wenle began formulating a plan in his mind and started the car toward the villa. To give Ye Lin a surprise, he did not return to the villa during this time. He often left early and returned late, even skipping classes.

Ye Lin was happy to have the freedom. He took the opportunity to visit Gu Jiazhi in the hospital more often and also found time to supervise Fanxing’s operations. Without Gu Jiazhi, Shen Shao had somehow found a top-tier expert who greatly improved the efficiency of the marketing department, bringing monthly revenue past a million. However, the cost of these experts was high, which was truly painful for the wallet.

Shen Shao often missed the cheap and useful college student, Gu Jiazhi. Whenever he saw Ye Lin, he would complain about the company’s tight budget and ask for more money. Ye Lin would usually bargain with him, eventually settling on a middle-ground figure that both parties could accept.

One day, after discussing the research and development budget, Ye Lin’s throat was dry. He sat on the sofa and drank the tea in Shen Shao’s office. It had a very light taste, almost like plain water, but it was tolerable. The sofa was backed against the window, and he could feel the intensity of the UV rays outside. He felt like he would turn black if he stood there for three hours.

Shen Shao used the remote to close the curtains. He sat down opposite the sofa and took a small sip of tea. The light in the office dimmed as the curtains filtered it, becoming soft. As it hit Shen Shao’s face, it looked as though he was covered by the thinnest veil.

Shen Shao’s features were balanced; his nose was straight, and his jawline was square. The lines were not excessively sharp or harsh but rather well-contained, showcasing an Oriental restraint that was very pleasant to look at. He happened to be wearing a charcoal grey custom suit. The fringe on his forehead was slightly curled and parted to both sides, revealing a full forehead. He also wore a pair of metal-framed glasses, which enhanced his refined aura. Just looking at this face, one would think he was a literature professor at some university. Who would imagine he was a refined scum with such peculiar tastes?

Ye Lin glanced casually at Shen Shao’s face, feeling that a woman of his mother’s generation would definitely like this look. Then he thought of Liang Wenle’s excessively flashy and beautiful face. In the past, he could complain about Liang Wenle to Gu Jiazhi, but since Gu Jiazhi had amnesia, he could not say much. Now, he could only complain to Shen Shao.

Ye Lin placed his teacup on the table. “Do you think a three-year age gap is a lot?”

Shen Shao saw his troubled expression and guessed he had suffered at Liang Wenle’s hands. He asked directly, “Tell me, what did Liang Wenle do this time?”

Ye Lin disgustedly recounted everything Liang Wenle had done, complaining angrily, “Tell me, how can fifteen and eighteen be the same? I cannot see any maturity in him at all. He feels like a middle school student. It is ridiculous!”

Shen Shao had expected this and laughed softly. “An eighteen-year-old man is naturally immature. Liang Wenle has been spoiled since he was a child. Everyone around him pampers him, and he has never suffered. Of course he is like a child who has not grown up. Believe it or not, he is like this at eighteen, and he will still be like this at twenty-eight. He is childish and stupid.”

Ye Lin nodded with a grimace. “I believe it. I believe it too much. He is truly a retard!”

Shen Shao took the opportunity to move beside him. He pulled out his phone, found a group photo, and handed it to Ye Lin. “Liang Wenle was born lucky. He is always the center of the crowd. He has to stand in the center even at other people’s birthdays. Look at the photo; only his eyes are clean. Everyone else around him has to cater to him, and their eyes look exhausted.”

Ye Lin leaned in to look. Sure enough, in the photo, Liang Wenle stood in the center holding a sparkler. His eyes were curved, clean, and clear, and his smile was radiant. Everyone else had fake smiles; their eyes were either gloomy, flattering, or world-weary. In short, none of them looked truly happy. In the photo, only Liang Wenle was a living person; everyone else was a machine revolving around him.

In Liang Wenle’s world, everything was simple and straightforward. His biggest worry was probably having to find two or three hours a week to attend school. Just as his name implied, ninety percent of his life was happy and carefree. No wonder he seemed stupid; someone was always there to support him and praise him no matter what he did. He did not need to be smart. Reading people’s faces and social etiquette would always be foreign to him. Just like that day in Gu Jiazhi’s hospital room; he just sat there doing nothing, yet every second he was receiving praise and flattery. Even the patient, Gu Jiazhi, gave him face and spoke according to his lead.

Ye Lin felt a sense of envy and remarked, “This kid is truly lucky.”

The corners of Shen Shao’s eyes turned up in a mischievous smile. “Not necessarily. One day, he will taste the pain of betrayal.”

Ye Lin pushed the phone away and waved his hand. “Stop showing him to me. It is annoying.”

Shen Shao put the phone down and unobtrusively put his arm around him, burying his head in the crook of Ye Lin’s neck. “Is your hand better?”

Ye Lin tried to lift his hand; there was no more pain. “It is almost fine, but I should pretend for a few more days so Liang Wenle does not mess around again.”

Shen Shao knelt down with satisfaction, looking up at him with a clever glint in his eyes. “If you want it, take off my glasses.”

Ye Lin had tasted that feeling. To be honest, it was indeed addictive, so he reached out and took off the glasses. But before he could put the glasses down, his arm trembled, and he could not hold them steadily. The glasses fell and hit the tiled floor with a crisp sound.

Ye Lin’s whole body relaxed. He was almost slumped, feeling like he had turned into melted white chocolate, flowing freely. Sometimes he would grab the sofa armrest tightly, and sometimes he would tilt his head back. His breathing was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, his lips slightly parted, exhaling hot air.

A knock came from the door. It was an employee wanting to submit a document. “Manager Shen, I have compiled the data from last quarter. I would like you to take a look.”

Shen Shao did not answer. He only looked up at Ye Lin with a meaningful gaze. Ye Lin hated him so much; he just had to get stuck at this moment.

“Manager Shen, may I come in?”

“No, no, no!”

“Manager Ye, you are here too?”

“I, I am with,” Ye Lin wanted to find an excuse, but he was forcibly stopped by Shen Shao. Angry, he gripped the sofa cushion and said through gritted teeth, “I have important business to discuss with Manager Shen. Come back later to deliver the document.”

“But I,” The employee did not understand, but he carried the materials back to his workstation. He always felt these two leaders were strange; whenever they talked in the office, it would last all afternoon. It seemed he had to submit it later.

Hearing the employee’s footsteps fade away, Ye Lin finally let out a sigh of relief. But in the next moment, a sudden attack made him almost lose control, so he had to cover his mouth.

Shen Shao’s charcoal grey suit was already dirty. If he were wearing a black suit today, the stains would only be more obvious. He liked Ye Lin very much and did not mind at all. Everything was worth savoring. He unbuttoned a button to catch his breath and leaned in for a kiss.

Ye Lin was like a small animal with nowhere to escape, twisting left and right, yet unable to leave the fierce predator’s hunting ground. He could only be firmly imprisoned; every breath he took was plundered. Oxygen was scarce, the temperature was high, and light could not penetrate. It was the extreme pressure of space. Shen Shao could always come up with new tricks, making it hard for anyone to restrain themselves.

Ye Lin was suddenly lifted into the air and moved toward the window. His pupils snapped wide as he gripped the suit sleeve tightly. “Shen Shao, you are crazy. Go back!”

“The view is good here. I want you to see.”

“You, you lunatic!”

Shen Shao leaned down to kiss him, like coaxing a crying, disobedient child, even putting on the appearance of a mature elder to remind him, “Shh, be quiet. There are people outside.”

Ye Lin gripped the back of his hand tightly, his fingers sinking deep enough to draw blood. “Stop, stop!”

Shen Shao seemed unable to perceive pain. He ignored the blood on the back of his hand and insisted on his idea. “Do not worry, there are curtains. You can look at the scenery outside through this gap. Many employees think the company’s location is great and the scenery is beautiful. It can relax the mind and body.”

The curtains were not dark, so light could still shine through. Behind them, it was not much different from leaning against the glass window; both were unbearable. If the outside was a hot June day, then the room had turned into the depths of January winter, with gloomy skies and whistling cold winds. This swift and heartless wind hit the body like a wooden plank; it was painful as well as cold.

Ye Lin’s face was pressed against the curtain. His whole body was trembling, and he was extremely cold. His gaze passed through the gap, seeing people coming and going on the street—strangers, men and women. He wondered if these people would look up while walking. Would they discover this scene?

The more he thought, the more afraid he became. Then, he instinctively used force.

“Tch!” Shen Shao’s scalp tingled. He leaned into Ye Lin’s ear and whispered in praise, “It seems you are very satisfied today. You really make me,”

“Go to hell!” Ye Lin finally could not hold it in. Tears fell, and he lost the strength to hold himself up.

He could not bully him too much; it would be a loss if he did not come next time. Shen Shao picked him up and moved him to the sofa, gently comforting him and even kissing away the tears.

As soon as Ye Lin snapped out of it, he kicked him, only to be messed with again. Although they went back and forth, Shen Shao intentionally went easy on him, avoiding Ye Lin’s arm so as not to injure him. After a big battle, Shen Shao’s arms, hands, back, neck, and cheeks had varying degrees of scratch marks. Ye Lin was unharmed. He even had a satisfied expression, like a kitten that had eaten its fill and was about to sunbathe.

He lay on the scratch marked sofa to rest, still cursing Shen Shao. Shen Shao used a wet wipe to clean up the mess, kissed his forehead, and asked softly, “Are you coming to my place for dinner this afternoon? I made the seafood porridge you like.”

To Ye Lin, porridge had always been bland and boring, even unpalatable. But Shen Shao could make porridge that was fresh, fragrant, and smooth, with infinite flavors far exceeding those of a professional chef. Just hearing the name, Ye Lin’s appetite was piqued. He patted Shen Shao’s face. “I will give you some face then.”

Having received permission, Shen Shao quickly packed up for the day and drove him back to the apartment. The seafood porridge had been made in advance that morning and was kept warm in the pot. With a few side dishes, it was a delicious and healthy dinner.

Ye Lin ate and drank his fill, then lay on the sofa playing on his phone. Before long, his stomach hurt, and he began to wail. Shen Shao quickly walked over, sat beside him, and reached out to help rub his abdomen. “I told you not to eat too much. You have indigestion.”

Ye Lin glared at him. “Please, if you had made less, how could I have eaten so much?”

“Fine, you are always right.”

“That is true. Next time if you make less, I will eat less. I am a person of high character. I hate wasting food, so I will eat it all.”

“Mm-hmm. If I make less, you complain there is not enough. If I make more, you say I am not being considerate. Either way, you are right and I am wrong.”

“You are so annoying!”

Ye Lin reached out to hit him, but he was given a digestive tablet instead, so he had to chew and eat it. This was a tablet Shen Shao had specifically found; it was sweet and sour with the fragrance of fruit, and it could be eaten as a snack. Shen Shao’s technique was skilled, and the pain in the abdomen was soon relieved. Ye Lin could focus on playing games again, not even noticing that someone was taking advantage of him.

“I feel like you have gained a bit of weight. There is more flesh on your stomach.”

“Ah, it tickles! Do not scratch!” Ye Lin hit Shen Shao’s hand with his phone, not letting him say more.

During Liang Wenle’s busy days, Ye Lin frequently visited Gu Jiazhi in the hospital. When he saw Shen Shao’s messages, he would stop by for a meal. Now that the food was good, he had naturally gained some weight, though it was not very obvious.

Gu Jiazhi still did not remember him, treating him only as Liang Wenle’s friend. He would even deliberately keep his distance, only occasionally speaking to him. Ye Lin did not dare directly mention the past, as it would stimulate Gu Jiazhi and worsen his condition. He could only wait until the bandages were removed and he was a bit better.

Shen Shao noticed the character in the game had died. He hugged Ye Lin and asked, “Why are you spacing out? What are you thinking?”

Ye Lin turned off his phone and sighed deeply. “Gu Jiazhi. Think about how convenient it was when he was at the company—three of us working together, and it saved money too. Now that he is gone, we have to spend a fortune to hire talent. It is so hard.”

“It really did save money. Has Gu Jiazhi still not remembered?”

“No, he has forgotten me. How could he remember Fanxing’s business?”

“That sentence sounds very sad. You like him, and you are disappointed that he forgot you?”

“I, I do not.” Ye Lin’s tone was unsteady. He had received over twenty years of heterosexual education, and subconsciously, he could not accept being gay. He instinctively argued, “I am straight. How could I like him?”

“I thought you kept calling yourself straight to trick Liang Wenle for his money, but your sexual orientation actually turned gay?” Shen Shao intentionally guided him to remain firm in his thoughts. “So you are still straight. I really could not tell.”

“How could you not tell? I, I have not confessed to Gu Jiazhi, and I do not feel I cannot live without him. Outsiders misunderstand that I like Liang Wenle, but they do not misunderstand that I like Gu Jiazhi, right?”

“That is true. It seems you do not like him. And he does not like you either; otherwise, he would have confessed and claimed you long ago.”

“But we are good friends. Better than anyone else.”

“Mm. There are good friends like the two of you—caring deeply about each other, worrying about each other’s safety, and occasionally helping each other out with certain needs.”

“I, I guess so.”

“Exactly. You are straight. You cannot possibly choose not to marry and have children for Gu Jiazhi’s sake, right?”

“Of course not. When I am successful in middle age, I will still start a family.”

“Then it is fine. Our Ye Lin will become the richest man and start a family.”

“But let us talk about that later. It feels like a long way off.” When Ye Lin first entered the book, he really wanted to find a beautiful woman to be his wife and have a bunch of children. But now he did not have that strong desire. He mostly hoped Gu Jiazhi would get better soon and that Fanxing would go public.

“Alright. I think Gu Jiazhi would also be willing to be good friends with you for a lifetime.”

During the time Gu Jiazhi was hospitalized, Ye Lin often came to vent and seek comfort from Shen Shao, making his otherwise plain and busy days feel warm and happy. If not for Gu Jiazhi, Ye Lin would think of Shen Shao no matter where he ran, thinking of their little home, what a beautiful life.

Shen Shao did not dare let Ye Lin see his own heart clearly right now. He had to persuade Ye Lin to remain straight to have a chance.

Ye Lin had recently grown fond of chatting with Shen Shao. He felt that when this bastard said nasty things, he was truly disgusting, but he could also say things that were comforting—like mocking Liang Wenle or understanding his feelings of missing Gu Jiazhi.

After evening, Shen Shao would proactively end their sofa intimacy time and enter the study to handle his backlog of work. Ye Lin would tactfully leave the apartment and walk toward the small villa. But thinking that Liang Wenle was not returning to the villa tonight, he still wanted to go to the hospital to see Gu Jiazhi.

As soon as the thought appeared, he reached the hospital within minutes. The hospital was quiet at night, filled with white lights and white walls. The hall without queues appeared exceptionally empty and silent. Entering the corridor of the ward, he could feel the whistling cold air.

Ye Lin touched his arm and walked toward the familiar ward. Fortunately, there was no one in the room; only Gu Jiazhi was sleeping. His breathing was very light, and the room was so quiet that only the beep of the machine could be heard. Ye Lin walked light-footedly to the bedside, sat down, and stared at Gu Jiazhi.

There was actually nothing much to see; his entire face was covered in bandages. But he just wanted to look. Perhaps he felt that by looking and hearing the machine nearby, he could feel that this person was alive.

“When will you be able to remember the things between us?” Ye Lin was afraid of disturbing him, his voice as quiet as a mosquito.

But Gu Jiazhi still heard it. His eyelids twitched slightly as he struggled for a moment. After a short while, he still opened them and looked at Ye Lin.

“I think you are a very strange person. Why do you always come to see me alone without bringing Liang Wenle?”

“You were not asleep?”

“I just fell asleep. You talked, so I was woken up. You had better explain clearly! Liang Wenle treasures you so much. I do not want to be misunderstood by him. He will surely go crazy and bite people like he is sick!”

“Wenle will not misunderstand. We are just good friends.”

“No, do you listen to yourself? Just good friends? Why do you come to see me secretly? Just good friends? Why do you look at me with that kind of gaze? You are really scaring me to death!”

“Ah?”