Don't Give Your Heart to Your Nemesis - Chapter 6

Wen Xiaomian sat with his chin propped in his hand, waiting for ten minutes, but his phone remained silent.

“Still brewing a way to scold me? Taking this long—he must be typing an 800-word essay,” he thought.

Unable to wait any longer to be berated, Wen Xiaomian took the initiative to compose a message. He was accustomed to using the nine-key layout and typed with lightning speed. Looking back at his track record, he had never lost a text battle with Yan Ruixing.

“Can’t take a photo? Let’s get things straight: I am a proper, decent virgin. I have no interest in your messy stuff. Of course, if you insist on showing me, I will reluctantly take a look. But you have to keep it wholesome. We live in a society ruled by law; distributing pornography is a no-go.”

After finishing the draft, Wen Xiaomian hit send, feeling smug.

A system notification popped up: [Message sent, but rejected by the recipient.]

Wen Xiaomian: ” ”

“YAN! RUI! XING!!!”

Yan Ruixing had a full day of clinic on Friday. After finishing the morning appointments, he met Sang Han in the cafeteria.

Sang Han bit into a chicken leg and looked up to wave at someone behind Yan Ruixing. “Director Chen, there is a seat here!”

A man wearing glasses, holding a meal box, glanced at the back of the person sitting across from Sang Han. “No thanks, I will eat back in the lounge.”

The man Sang Han called Director Chen was Chen Wen, a Deputy Chief Physician of Neurosurgery. He was thirty-seven and still single—an absolute young talent in the medical circle and an ideal partner for the single women in the hospital.

Sang Han turned back to observe Yan Ruixing’s reaction, suppressing her urge to buy half a watermelon to enjoy the show. “As expected, rumors never come from nowhere.”

Yan Ruixing did not look up. Scrolling through literature on his phone, he casually replied, “What?”

“Director Chen is pursuing you, but you rejected him.”

Yan Ruixing looked up. “You actually believe the interns’ gossip?”

Sang Han had not believed it initially, but after seeing it for herself, she was now a firm believer.

During his doctoral studies, Yan Ruixing had gone to Berlin as an exchange student. Chen Wen, who had immigrated with his parents as a child and worked at the local medical school, had been Yan Ruixing’s senior and landlord.

A year later, Yan Ruixing graduated and returned to join the provincial hospital. Within three months, Chen Wen had also returned to the country. One was in Otoneurological Skull Base Surgery and the other in Neurosurgery; the closely related departments increased their interactions, and the two were dubbed the “Divine Duo.”

However, in the last half month, the two like-minded people had suddenly “cooled off.”

Sang Han lowered her voice. “Did you reject him because of your illness?”

Yan Ruixing remained expressionless. “No.”

“It cannot be that you are not gay, can it?”

Yan Ruixing raised an eye. “Are you even speaking a human language right now?”

Sang Han argued logically. “If you were even a tiny bit straight, you would not be this old and still unable to find a single woman you like.”

Back in university, many people pursued Yan Ruixing. Because his personality was so cold, the school even formed a “Capture Beauty Yan” group. Everyone exhausted their skills, as if grinding levels in a game, just to win him over.

But through eight years of undergraduate and doctoral studies, the entire group failed.

“But I haven’t seen you moved by men chasing you either.” Sang Han sucked in a breath of cold air. “Do not tell me you are really not interested in the human species?”

“Yeah, you satisfied now?”

Sang Han propped her chin. “So, do you like the gluttonous koi in the pond, or the grasshoppers jumping around in the small garden?”

Yan Ruixing: ” ”

“Wait, I remember now!” Sang Han slapped her thigh. “You like that dog behind the medical university that exposes its belly to sunbathe!”

Sang Han often felt Yan Ruixing was a walking contradiction. He clearly had severe mysophobia, yet he was obsessed with feeding that stray dog. In university, he went to accompany it three times a day. That face, cold as frost, was only willing to smile for a dog.

The question was, does a dog even have the ability to appreciate a handsome guy?

Sang Han let out a few goose-like laughs and continued her interview. “Seriously though, from childhood until now, have you ever liked a girl?”

Yan Ruixing replied without hesitation, “No.”

“Then try Director Chen.” Sang Han chuckled again. “Even if you like dogs, you cannot live your life with one.”

Yan Ruixing did not appreciate the advice. “No interest, no mind for it, no time.”

“Director Chen is a great person—gentlemanly, gentle, and capable. I think you two are a good match.”

“You are not afraid your mother would object, are you?” Sang Han muttered to herself. Auntie has already settled in the United Kingdom—a place where everyone is practically a “bro”; she should be quite accepting.

Yan Ruixing’s tone was as bland as a glass of plain water. “It has nothing to do with my mother. I just do not like him.”

Sang Han became even more curious. “Then what kind do you like?”

“Never thought about it.” Yan Ruixing lowered his head to drink his soup. “I do not know.”

“I think you are suited to marry your work, raise a dog, and grow old together.”

Yan Ruixing no longer responded and continued drinking his soup.

“Right, I heard you found someone for the Retropharyngeal Reverse Ablation surgery?”

“Mm.” Yan Ruixing looked up. The television in the cafeteria was playing a highlight reel of last year’s Formula 1 Championship.

“Where did this wealthy patron come from? To be both rich and sick at the same time?” Hearing the sound, Sang Han turned to watch the F1 race, stars in her eyes. “Kian Wen is so handsome!”

Sang Han was not a true F1 fan; she was simply a “face-con.” Domestic and foreign idol groups, athletes, stars, internet celebrities—as long as they were handsome, she liked them.

Kian Wen was one of the handsome men she liked.

“High school classmate,” Yan Ruixing said casually, watching the Kian Wen on television.

“You have a classmate that rich?”

“The one who called me in the middle of the night while drunk.”

Sang Han bit her chicken leg, her eyes still on Kian Wen’s video. “Which one called you at…”

Sang Han turned her head back, suddenly remembering. “That brain-dead, despicable, neurotic, bored, attention-seeking, universe-level super idiot who harassed you with a drunken frenzy?”

Yan Ruixing looked up at the F1 video, pursed his lips, and nodded.

Sang Han: ” Ha.”

During their junior year, the group worked day and night for the clinical skills competition. During that time, there was always a number frequently harassing Yan Ruixing. Even if the number was blacklisted, he would change to a new number and call again.

After three consecutive days of harassment, Sang Han lost her patience, snatched Yan Ruixing’s phone, and traded insults with the person for half an hour.

Sang Han was curious. “Is his family rich? Or can he make money himself?”

Yan Ruixing drank his soup quietly. “His family is rich, and he can make money himself.”

Sang Han understood even less. “How big was the grudge between you two back then for a rich young master to persistently torment you for so many years?”

“He is the one who is sick.” Yan Ruixing lowered his eyes, his voice icy. “It has nothing to do with me.”

“Then is his condition serious?”

Yan Ruixing spoke truthfully. “Very serious.”

Sang Han did not ask further. Even if there was a deep grudge, as classmates, it was not worth putting a scalpel into his head.

After a polite “good luck with the surgery,” Sang Han went back to watching Kian Wen’s race video. “The F1 Grand Prix is coming up; Kian Wen is going to dominate again this year.”

Yan Ruixing remarked offhandedly, “Doubtful.”

“Why?”

“Nothing.” Yan Ruixing pulled his gaze back and cleared his tray. “Eat up. I have clinic in the afternoon.”

There were exams at the medical university this week, so the interns had returned to school en masse. Without Hu Xiaona around, Yan Ruixing’s ears were finally at peace.

Yan Ruixing began seeing patients at 2:00 PM. By 1:55 PM, Wen Xiaomian’s name was still not in the registration system. He swiped his phone to observe the status feedback from the wristband.

Wen Xiaomian had been continuously excited last night and did not sleep until 3:00 AM. Currently, the screen showed he was still in a sleep state. The schedule arranged in the contract had been completely ignored.

Yan Ruixing dialed the number. It rang several times before being answered. An impatient tone—clearly not yet fully awake—came through: “Speak.”

“Come over and register.”

“Did you not blacklist me? Let us keep up that ‘never seeing each other again until we are dead’ energy.”

“I must see you before I finish work.”

“Come to my house yourself after you finish work.”

“I am not your private doctor.”

“Then send your resume to my house.”

“Wen Xiaomian!” Yan Ruixing gave his final ultimatum. “Before 6:00 PM, I must see you in person!”

Beep, beep, beep

Wen Xiaomian looked at the disconnected call. “Ghostly temper. Who else could put up with you besides me?”

He let out a yawn. A sensation came from the inner side of the wristband. Recalling the settings from last night, he realized: was he angry?

The wristbands developed by the company had so many functions they were almost bizarre. For once, Wen Xiaomian was gratified that the money was well spent.

The wristband could set different tactile feedbacks based on the other person’s mood and could be adjusted according to preference.

According to Wen Xiaomian’s settings, when Yan Ruixing was angry, there would be the sensation of a massage mallet. The frequency of the tapping would change based on the level of anger.

Half an hour passed, and there was still a medium-frequency tapping on his wrist, like a massage.

Wen Xiaomian curled his lips. “Quite a temper, huh.”

“If you do not see me soon, you will be having insomnia tonight.”

Near the end of the shift, Yan Ruixing finally saw Wen Xiaomian’s name in the registration system—the very last slot.

When it was his turn, Wen Xiaomian walked in with his hands in his pockets, pushing open the consultation room door. “In the time I spent waiting for you, I could have signed three contracts.”

Yan Ruixing did not deign to respond, walking toward the curtained area. “Come here.”

“Bringing me inside the moment we meet—is Dr. Yan that anxious?” Wen Xiaomian felt the massage-like tapping on the inside of his right wrist and happily followed him in.

Yan Ruixing pulled the curtain shut and pointed to the bed covered with a blue dust-proof mat. “Lie down.”

Wen Xiaomian feigned a look outside. “Is the door double-locked? I am not ready yet.”

Yan Ruixing’s gaze looked as if he were holding a whip. “Are you quite finished?”

The tapping frequency on the wrist had already reached highway speeds. Seeing the situation, Wen Xiaomian quit while he was ahead and lay down contentedly.

This was the first formal examination.

Yan Ruixing was focused and serious, and Wen Xiaomian was relatively cooperative.

As the exam continued, Wen Xiaomian’s wristband changed from a massage mallet to a needle-pricking sensation.

Earlier was anger; now was worry. One prick after another—the higher the level of worry, the more severe the stinging sensation.

Annoyed by the pricking, Wen Xiaomian rotated his wrist and opened his eyes. “That is enough. Has the tumor spread through my whole body? Or am I going to die in the next second?”

The stinging on Wen Xiaomian’s wrist eased slightly, then quickly intensified again. “Are you afraid you will not get a chance to operate on me, or are you actually worried about me?”

“I am afraid if it spreads through your whole body, I will not be able to finish the surgery in a day.”

“It is fine, just make sure the lower part is taken care of.” Wen Xiaomian spoke as if he did not care, propping the back of his head with his hands. “I have to keep some male functions before I die, at least.”

“I do not know about keeping functions.” Yan Ruixing pulled out rubber gloves. “But I do know how to castrate. Do you need that done?”

“Sure.” Wen Xiaomian looked up and leaned into his ear. “But I am shy. Do not get a female nurse to shave the hair.”

Yan Ruixing took a half step back, not letting the warm breath hit his ear. “That is called skin preparation.”

“Oh, so will Dr. Yan do the skin prep for me?”

“Shut up.” Yan Ruixing pulled him back, put on the rubber gloves, and said, “Close your eyes.”

“Wait.” Wen Xiaomian grabbed his wrist. “Why are you wearing these?”

“I need to do a palpation.”

“I am allergic to rubber.”

Yan Ruixing: ” ”

His look was like he was watching a stupid dog whose brain had been hollowed out, leaving only the instinct to sunbathe its belly.

“Fine, then touch me directly. Anyway, if I break out in a rash, I will just have to find you to treat it.” Wen Xiaomian lied through his teeth. “Remember not to prescribe oral meds; I am too lazy to take them.”

” ”

Lazy to continue the negotiation, Yan Ruixing took off the rubber gloves and re-washed his hands three times before returning for the palpation.

The strong scent of soap wafted over. Wen Xiaomian blocked his wrist. “Go put on some hand cream before touching me.”

“Wen Xiaomian, are you finished?” Yan Ruixing reached his limit, grabbing the other’s collar and lifting him up.

Wen Xiaomian lowered his gaze, looked at the collar being held, then lay back down and said no more.

“Can’t take a joke, so he takes his anger out on others.”

Wen Xiaomian was asked to close his eyes. Cold fingertips touched his bilateral mastoid bone and the soft tissue behind his ears. Afterward, Yan Ruixing signaled him to sit up and gesture for him to shrug and turn his neck.

The collar shifted during the movement, revealing the skin of his collarbone.

Yan Ruixing poked it. “Why is this scar still here?”

Wen Xiaomian looked down at the ring of bite marks on his left collarbone. “Who told you to have such a strong sense of possessiveness? You just had to leave some property rights on me.”

An unbearable memory—this was the most ridiculous thing Yan Ruixing had ever done in his life. Even he could not explain how it happened.

On the third day after Wen Xiaomian transferred, Yan Ruixing had an argument with him at the school’s back gate. That was the first time Yan Ruixing had ever fought someone. Because of the disparity in strength and Yan Ruixing’s refusal to admit defeat, after feigning a truce, he cheated with a sneak attack and bit Wen Xiaomian.

From childhood until now, Yan Ruixing had never hated a person so much. There were countless times he wanted to kill him, even at the cost of going down together.

But in the matter of biting, Yan Ruixing did not get the upper hand. He bit Wen Xiaomian’s right collarbone, while Wen Xiaomian…

Wen Xiaomian leaned in and tugged at his collar. Yan Ruixing’s clothes were buttoned up neatly; he had to pull off a button before he could see the side of the neck.

“Holy crap, where is the scar on your neck?”

The skin on Yan Ruixing’s neck was clean and new, without a single trace of a blemish.

“Can you stop acting crazy!” Yan Ruixing pushed him away, covering his collar while looking down for the button.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Wen Xiaomian stuffed the button into his pocket and hypocritically helped him look, complaining as he searched, “Why is it that you can buy a house on me, but I cannot break ground on you?”

Yan Ruixing treated his words as air, trying hard to hold his collar shut, becoming more anxious as he searched.

Wen Xiaomian’s words did not stop: “You did not leave a scar, but I did. That only proves I showed you mercy, but you really had the heart to kill me.”

Seeing Yan Ruixing’s burning anxiety, Wen Xiaomian smugly pressed the button in his pocket. “Alright, stop looking. I will just buy you a new one.”

Sweat beaded on Yan Ruixing’s forehead from the stress. He was extremely uncomfortable with the open collar; even holding it with his hand felt unnatural.

“Is it really that serious? It is just a missing button, not like we are in a feudal society.” Wen Xiaomian’s gaze slid to the front of Yan Ruixing’s neck. He took the opportunity to brush away his hand and blew a breath into the collar. “This looks pretty good.”

The pale front of the neck instantly changed color. Immediately following was an electric-shock-like sensation hitting Wen Xiaomian’s wrist, the feedback coming from Yan Ruixing.

Strong, crazy, and swift.

Yan Ruixing’s face looked normal, but his neck was like the flesh of a ripe watermelon, the color of summer—and there was a rounded, trembling, sliding Adam’s apple at his throat.

The unexpected scenery tempted him to push further.

Wen Xiaomian pulled his hand away again and blew another breath into the collar. “Dr. Yan, why are you so nervous?”