How could a Puppy-like Boy Ever Have Any Bad Intentions? - Chapter 6

Su Lixu immediately turned the bathroom door handle. Inside, he found Fu Xingran sitting on the toilet without a stitch of clothing on, his face indeed looking quite unwell. He snatched a nearby bath towel and draped it over Fu Xingran’s head, hurriedly drying the water from his hair.

“Why did you suddenly throw up? Was it because you ate too much, or were you just frightened?”

“I was scared by the thunder,” Fu Xingran replied, keeping his head lowered obediently as Su Lixu dried his hair.

“Do you still feel sick now?” Once his hair was mostly dry, Su Lixu wrapped the towel around the boy’s shoulders to keep him from catching a chill.

“Yes,” Fu Xingran murmured, leaning his head against Su Lixu’s waist. His voice was muffled as he continued, “I feel terrible. My stomach hurts, my head hurts; everything hurts.”

Su Lixu looked down at the young man leaning against him. Although Fu Xingran had grown so tall and strong, his distress reminded Su Lixu of that frail boy from four years ago. It also brought back the memory of how he had just been trembling while holding him in the rain.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder does not simply vanish with age.

“Sleep for a while after we dry your hair.” Su Lixu picked up the clothes nearby to help him dress. In the process, his eyes inadvertently caught a glimpse of Fu Xingran’s chest, but before he could see clearly, Fu Xingran turned away.

Realizing Su Lixu was about to dress him, Fu Xingran suddenly remembered the tattoo on his chest. He snatched the clothes away and turned around nervously. “I can dress myself. Teacher Su, can you wait for me outside?”

Su Lixu felt certain of what he had seen: there were numerous scars of varying depths across Fu Xingran’s chest. His brow furrowed. This guy is doing it again…

Seeing Fu Xingran’s guarded expression, he said gently, “Then I’ll go prepare some cold medicine for you. Come out quickly.”

“Aren’t you going to shower, Teacher? You’re soaked too.” Fu Xingran didn’t know if his reaction had been too intense, so he tried to cover his unease with conversation while quickly pulling on his clothes.

Su Lixu smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve changed my clothes; I’ll shower in a bit.” With that, he stepped out of the bathroom.

With the towel still over his head, Fu Xingran stood frozen, staring at Su Lixu’s retreating back. As if struck by an unacceptable thought, he suddenly stood up and lunged toward Su Lixu.

Su Lixu had barely stepped out of the bathroom when a hot hand grabbed his arm, and he was pulled into a tight embrace from behind.

The woody scent of the body wash from the recent shower surrounded them. Warmed by the heat of the body behind him, the fragrance seemed to intensify, creating a dizzying, intoxicating effect.

“Why did you leave me? Was it because I scared you, so you didn’t want me anymore?”

Su Lixu felt the crushing force of the embrace. Hearing the accusatory tone in Fu Xingran’s voice, his brow tightened. Why would he say that?

Back then, hadn’t Fu Xingran’s father said he was taking him abroad for treatment, thus ending their sessions? After that, Su Lixu felt his own education was insufficient, which was why he chose to go abroad to pursue his doctorate.

“Xingran, did you go abroad?” he asked.

“No.” Fu Xingran held him even tighter, as if the man would vanish the moment he let go. “Didn’t you say ‘see you tomorrow’ that day? Are you angry because I bit you and it hurt? I’m sorry.”

The young man’s whispered plea in his ear was cautious, filled with hope, and even more so with fear.

Suddenly, Su Lixu seemed to understand.

The counseling and treatment he had provided years ago hadn’t been useless. In fact, perhaps because it was effective, Fu Xingran had become too dependent on him. The more dependent he became, the more uncontrollably he wanted to keep Su Lixu by his side.

Every time Su Lixu had tried to leave, Fu Xingran would cry, even though they were scheduled to see each other for morning rounds the very next day. Even after his discharge, Fu Xingran had reached out to him for help because of the thunder, eventually losing control and biting him.

After that, Mr. Fu had claimed he was taking his son abroad for treatment. Su Lixu had asked why he wanted to interrupt the treatment just as Fu Xingran’s condition was improving at a point where he no longer needed hospitalization and only required regular check-ups and medication. A sudden interruption could have a negative impact.

Mr. Fu, however, had claimed the treatment was ineffective.

What was the truth behind that? Was he worried about what I might do to Fu Xingran?

“Xingran,” he called out softly.

Fu Xingran clutched Su Lixu’s shoulders tightly, his eyes reddening severely. “Brother, I don’t want you to leave. Can you stay?”

That word “Brother” seemed to tug at Su Lixu’s nerves. A deep, lingering regret was awakened by that single cry.

“I didn’t leave.” Su Lixu turned around and looked up at Fu Xingran. “I’ve come back.”

They were no longer in a doctor-patient relationship, but in the end, he couldn’t find the heart to refuse this boy who reminded him so much of Su Liyang.

The words “I’ve come back” struck Fu Xingran’s heart with the force of an asteroid hitting the earth. He stared at Su Lixu blankly for a moment before his face broke into a wide smile.

“Really?” His voice rose with excitement. Even with tears still clinging to his lashes, his eyes were full of ecstasy.

“Really.”

“Then… can I keep calling you ‘Brother’ when no one else is around?”

Looking at him, Su Lixu felt his heart ache even more. He knew then that he might never be able to resist this boy who sounded so much like Su Liyang when he spoke.

“You can.”

If Su Liyang were still here, he would be the same age as Fu Xingran. He would call him “Brother” and act spoiled, too. But there were no “ifs.”

“Come out and take your medicine now, then get some sleep.”

“I want you to sleep with me, Brother.” Fu Xingran clung to Su Lixu’s shoulders, refusing to let go. He followed Su Lixu step for step like a shadow, stuck to his back.

Feeling the weight on his shoulders, Su Lixu found himself caught between laughter and tears. “You’re such a clingy thing.”

He prepared a sachet of cold medicine for Fu Xingran. Only after watching him finish it did he prepare to take his own shower.

“Are you sure you don’t have class this afternoon?” Su Lixu went to the walk-in closet to grab some loungewear.

Fu Xingran lay on the bed, curled on his side with the duvet clutched in his arms. He pressed his nose against it, taking a deep, satisfied breath. He watched as Su Lixu emerged from the closet. “No classes on Friday afternoons. Tomorrow is the weekend.”

It’s the weekend. Can I stay at Doctor Su’s house? He wanted that so badly.

“Then get some rest. I’m going to shower.” Su Lixu turned on the central air conditioning; having been caught in the rain earlier, he was afraid Fu Xingran would get sick.

“Okay, Brother.”

Inside the bedroom’s ensuite, the sound of the shower began to patter. The faint scent on the blankets enveloped Fu Xingran’s body, making him feel as if he were being held in Su Lixu’s arms.

“…Brother. Doctor Su.”

Buried in the duvet, his voice was low and hoarse. He only surfaced when he was nearly out of breath. He glanced toward the bathroom, his moist, reddened eyes fixed on the door. The sound of the water seemed to stimulate his very nerves, and the hidden love in his gaze grew more intense in the solitude.

His hand followed his heart’s desire, moving to the tattoo over his chest. His other hand was driven by pure instinct.

His gaze toward the bathroom door grew increasingly obsessed. Beneath the covers, his body was coated in a thin sheen of sweat. His physical response mirrored the emotions overflowing from his chest.

This time, no matter what, Su Lixu would not escape him. No one could stand in his way. If anyone tried, he would simply hide Su Lixu away.

Once hidden, Su Lixu would belong to him alone. No one could take him away.

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