Don't Give Your Heart to Your Nemesis - Chapter 17

At 4 minutes and 56 seconds, Wen Xiaomian’s car stopped in front of him.

Yan Ruixing got in and frowned. “Did you smoke?”

“No,” Wen Xiaomian lied as easily as drinking water.

Yan Ruixing pulled him by the collar, sniffed near his jaw, and held out his hand. “Hand it over.”

Wen Xiaomian did not struggle or make excuses; he proactively surrendered his “private stash.” It was not his usual brand, and the lighter was a cheap one bought from a supermarket.

It looked like a momentary impulse.

Yan Ruixing checked the remaining cigarettes in the box; only one was missing. “You were doing so well with quitting. Why did you suddenly smoke again?”

“No reason.” Wen Xiaomian popped a piece of gum, opened the window, and started the car.

Yan Ruixing: “…”

Who annoyed him this time?

Halfway through the drive, Wen Xiaomian stopped to take a call. From the tone, it was work-related.

Yan Ruixing did not mean to eavesdrop, but in such a small space, it was hard not to pick up some information. “Do you have a business social?”

“Yes. I will drop you off first.”

Yan Ruixing asked, “What time will you be back?”

“Depends.”

“You still need to take your medicine.”

Wen Xiaomian reached out for it. “I will take it when I eat.”

Yan Ruixing pulled out the pillbox but did not hand it over. “You cannot drink while taking this medication.”

Wen Xiaomian gave an extremely perfunctory “Mhm” and tried to snatch the box from Yan Ruixing’s hand.

Yan Ruixing grabbed it back. “I am going with you.”

“I am working. Why are you joining the fun?”

“I will not disturb your work,” Yan Ruixing said in a tone that was not a joke. “When there is a need to drink, I will drink for you.”

Unable to win against the persistent man, Wen Xiaomian actually brought him to the dinner as his assistant.

Throughout the night, Yan Ruixing did not participate in any topics, yet he managed to block every drink meant for Wen Xiaomian without his expression changing once.

When the dinner ended, the business partners left first.

It was late March, and the night wind carried a bit of a chill. Yan Ruixing was only wearing a thin trench coat. After drinking, his face was deathly pale, but the wind made the tip of his nose turn red.

Wen Xiaomian took off his suit jacket. Between offering it to him and forcibly draping it over him, he chose the latter.

Yan Ruixing did not refuse but added, “It smells like a dog.”

“Then give it back.” Wen Xiaomian reached out.

Yan Ruixing turned his back, leisurely put on the jacket, and did not miss a single button.

Wen Xiaomian: “…”

He really does not let himself suffer one bit.

“I will go get the car.” Wen Xiaomian looked at the man whose back was turned to him. “Are you coming with me, or waiting here?”

“Come here,” Yan Ruixing said while leaning against a wall.

Wen Xiaomian stayed put. “What are you doing now?”

“Hurry up,” Yan Ruixing commanded from where he stood.

Wen Xiaomian walked over while grumbling. “Can you have some awareness of your status? I am not your assistant.”

Yan Ruixing grabbed Wen Xiaomian’s tie and fell into his arms along with the breath that rushed over.

It was a breath tinged with alcohol, yet it was as clean as the air after rain, cautiously brushing against the side of Wen Xiaomian’s neck.

Yan Ruixing’s forehead found a support on his shoulder. His breath was hot against his skin, and his body was as soft as cotton. Wen Xiaomian instinctively grabbed his waist to ensure he did not collapse.

After drinking, Yan Ruixing’s body temperature was higher than usual, and his heart rate shot up. This caused Wen Xiaomian’s own heartbeat and breathing to lose balance, as if he were the one who had been drinking.

Not knowing if it counted as taking advantage of someone, Wen Xiaomian held him a bit tighter. “How are you feeling?”

“Carry me on your back.” Yan Ruixing continued to blow hot air onto him, his voice sounding as if it were soaked in wine.

“What?” Wen Xiaomian suspected he was having a medical episode, an auditory hallucination before going deaf.

“Hurry up.” With a drunken tone, the intoxicated Yan Ruixing was even more impatient. “Carry me.”

This time, Wen Xiaomian heard him clearly.

Yan Ruixing clung to Wen Xiaomian’s back like a limp rag. He was not heavy, feeling as thin as soft cardboard.

Wen Xiaomian had been tricked; this man could not drink at all.

Why was he pretending to be so tough?

Wen Xiaomian secured him on his back and headed toward the parking lot, scolding him as they walked. “If you cannot drink, do not show off. I thought you were actually capable.”

“Shut up.”

“You are just a pile of mush right now, and you still want to tell me to shut up? If I dumped you on the side of the road, the only things that could save you would be the 5 AM broom and the garbage truck.”

“Are you annoying or what!”

“You think I am annoying? Open those fox eyes and look. Who is the one having a sudden change of heart and carrying you back?”

His mouth was blocked by a lollipop-like sensation. Wen Xiaomian almost cracked a tooth. “What on earth is this?”

“A smoking cessation candy. I made it myself.”

Wen Xiaomian held back the urge to spit it out. “Keep making things up.”

“I was afraid you would not eat it, so I never dared to give it to you.”

Wen Xiaomian was half-skeptical. He tasted it carefully. The flavor was extremely faint. If this were actually a commercial product, the factory would go bankrupt with such a terrible taste. He savored the texture; it was strawberry-flavored. “Making candy for me and you chose your favorite flavor?”

“The shape is what you like.”

After drinking, Yan Ruixing’s mouth had not softened much, but there was a faint hint of acting spoiled in his tone.

Wen Xiaomian felt the outline of the lollipop with his tongue.

A dog bone.

“Yan Ruixing, you should just sleep.”

“Oh.”

The atmosphere stayed quiet for a while. Wen Xiaomian turned his head, his cheek brushing against Yan Ruixing’s ear. The warm touch was like a piece of wet, soft gauze. “Are you really asleep?”

“No.”

“Are you drunk?”

Yan Ruixing shifted his chin, rubbing back against him. “No, I am not.”

Instinctively tightening his arms, Wen Xiaomian said, “Since we are both idle, why do you not speak some truths after your drinks?”

“Why do you not speak first?”

“I did not drink.”

“Then I am not drunk either.”

“I will go first, alright?”

Yan Ruixing hung his head, his chin nodding against his shoulder.

Wen Xiaomian turned his head to look at the line of his eyelashes and spoke slowly. “When you fainted during the sports meet, I was the one who carried you to the infirmary.”

“I know.”

“Which idiot told you?”

Back then, after carrying him there, Wen Xiaomian treated the whole school to Häagen-Dazs just to shut them up.

At that time, Yan Ruixing was unconscious for two hours. When he woke up, he acted as if he had amnesia, looking at him as if a century-old grudge could be settled.

“I felt embarrassed, so I intentionally faked being unconscious.”

“What do you mean by embarrassed?”

Yan Ruixing said very quietly, “It was embarrassing to force myself to run three thousand meters. It was embarrassing to lose to others. Fainting from low blood sugar was embarrassing. And being carried to the infirmary by the person I hate most was even more embarrassing.”

“Was that not your own fault?”

The fifteen or sixteen-year-old Yan Ruixing had the pride of a teenager. All of those things combined were things he could not accept.

“Yan Ruixing, is your life not exhausting? Just enjoy yourself while you can. Why care about so much?”

“If I enjoy myself, who will perform your surgery?”

“OK, I will shut up, alright?” Wen Xiaomian did not argue with him. “It is your turn for the truth.”

“I told you, I am not drunk.”

“Can you at least leave me some last words?”

After saying it, Wen Xiaomian realized he got the subject and predicate wrong. He was the one who was dying; he should be the one leaving last words.

Just as he was about to correct himself, Yan Ruixing spoke. “I want to save you before I die.”

“Do you want to make up something else instead?”

“What do you want to hear?”

“The mouth is yours. It depends on what you want to say,” Wen Xiaomian said while remembering the previous topic. “Of course, if you are going to talk more nonsense, then you should just not…”

“You smell good.”

Yan Ruixing cut him off. His drunken voice made Wen Xiaomian’s ear feel numb from the tip to the lobe.

Wen Xiaomian stood by the car, reacting for a long time. Feeling Yan Ruixing’s breath as he continued to sniff him, he finally realized what this “smell good” meant.

Wen Xiaomian cursed in his heart and turned away from the parking lot. “I thought you said I smelled like a dog.”

“You do smell like a dog.” Yan Ruixing sniffed again. “But it is a good dog smell.”

“Really?”

“Fake.”

Wen Xiaomian asked again, “Anything else?”

Yan Ruixing turned his head to look at the surroundings. “Why are we not there yet?”

“The car is broken. I can only carry you back.”

“How much longer?” Yan Ruixing tightened his arms around his neck. “I am sleepy.”

“It is still early.”

In reality, they were not far from Yan Ruixing’s home, which was about a ten-minute walk.

Wen Xiaomian slowed his pace. “Anything else?”

“You did not seem like yourself at the dinner table today.”

“How so?”

“Steady, mature, and wise.” Yan Ruixing rubbed against him, his tone very light. “So handsome.”

“Are you saying I was not handsome before?” Wen Xiaomian felt his heart fluttering like a peacock spreading its feathers. “The people chasing me could form a line from here to Paris.”

“Oh.”

It was a very perfunctory “oh,” but if one thought about it carefully, a sense of acting spoiled could be felt. Wen Xiaomian intended to snap back, but he suddenly could not bear to.

Wen Xiaomian’s steps became even slower as he whispered his name. “Yan Ruixing.”

“Mhm?” Another soft response.

“Are you planning to start dating?”

“No,” Yan Ruixing replied.

“Then do you like old and poor men?”

“You are the one who likes them.”

“True.” Wen Xiaomian held his legs and gave him a slight upward toss. “You would not have such poor taste.”

“Why are you asking this?” Yan Ruixing’s hot breath slipped into the hollow of his neck. “Are you dating?”

“How am I qualified to date right now?”

“Are you not quite popular?” Yan Ruixing buried his face hard into his neck. “The people chasing you can form a line from here to Paris.”

“I am in this state. Who could I date?” Wen Xiaomian mocked himself. “Who would like a person who is about to die?”

“I will work hard to save you.”

The wristband gave a needle-prick sensation, representing worry and unease. It was the feedback Wen Xiaomian hated most.

“It is fine. I have lived these twenty-plus years quite well. It does not matter if I live afterward. You do not need to… fuck!” Wen Xiaomian’s neck was suddenly squeezed tight. “Yan Ruixing, let go!”

“I will save you! I will save you! I will save you!”

“Fine, fine, fine! You will, you will, you will.” Wen Xiaomian patted his hand. “Let go! You are about to strangle me!”

“Repeat what I said.”

“Alright, alright! My ancestor, I was wrong!”

Yan Ruixing did not let go. “Say it three times! Louder!”

“You will save me! You will save me! Doctor Yan has superb skills, is a modern-day Hua Tuo, and will definitely save me!”

Yan Ruixing was satisfied. He released the grip on his neck and fell comfortably asleep on the dog’s back.

Wen Xiaomian carried the man, circling the neighborhood for the eighth time. He rubbed his chin against his soft, smooth forehead and said in a voice only he could hear.

“Doctor Yan.”

“I am taking you seriously.”

“You will save me.”