I’m Face-Blind, But I Devoted Myself To Three Guys - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: “He is my brother.”

“Xiao Xu, why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?” Despite it being the dead of winter, Xu Changshu had a forehead full of sweat. He exchanged pleasantries with Qi Xu while stealing glances at the man standing not far away. “Or did you come to accompany family?”

Following his gaze, Qi Xu used his peripheral vision to glance at Jiang Ying-shen behind him. His mind raced; he felt it was best not to reveal his own illness.

He pursed his lips and chose the latter option: “Accompanying family.”

I’m relying on ‘licking’ Jiang Ying-shen to exchange for life points; he’s practically my second parent, so why wouldn’t he count as family?

The phone in Xu Changshu’s pocket vibrated incessantly. He wiped the sweat from his brow and helplessly pulled it out. As Qi Xu watched him turn aside to answer the call, his gaze naturally fell on the other man standing nearby, who was looking down at his phone.

The man had been standing next to Xu Changshu from the start, silent as a tree. He wore a black baseball cap pulled low and a mask on his face; the only visible feature, his eyes, were hidden in the shadows, making it hard to see him clearly.

Qi Xu looked at the hand swiping the phone, then glanced at the other arm hanging at his side, and blinked. He looked at the man, then at Xu Changshu, who had walked a few steps away to talk. Suddenly, he wasn’t sure.

So, Qi Xu leaned in, moving closer to the man’s face, trying to get a clearer look.

The man, however, seemed completely indifferent to the person appearing in front of him, continuing to fiddle with his phone. Qi Xu’s initial stealthy observation gradually turned into a blatant stare under the man’s disregard. His inquisitive gaze swept up and down the man’s face several times.

“Tsk,” the man, whose face was nearly being stared through, finally couldn’t help but look up. “What exactly are you looking at?”

The moment he spoke, Qi Xu’s eyes widened and sparkled with light.

—It was Chi Hui.

“?” Chi Hui frowned, staring back at him. What’s with that look of sudden realization?

After confirming the man’s identity, Qi Xu couldn’t help but look at the arm by his side again. Why is it hanging down?

Before he could ask out of curiosity, Xu Changshu returned from his call. He looked at Qi Xu apologetically, hesitating before speaking: “Um, Xiao Xu, do you have some time right now?”

Xu Changshu knew Chi Hui had specifically given Qi Xu the day off, and since Qi Xu was accompanying family at the hospital, he shouldn’t be bothering him. But he was truly at his wit’s end.

Qi Xu turned his head to look at Jiang Ying-shen, who was still waiting for him. He pursed his lips and didn’t answer immediately.

Chi Hui followed his gaze and looked at the man standing a short distance away. At that moment, the other man happened to look over as well, and the two shared a brief, sharp glance.

Chi Hui frowned and looked away, interrupting Xu Changshu’s plan: “I can handle it myself.”

Xu Changshu looked at his artist, his heart full of worry. “It’s inconvenient for you alone. You can’t drive, and you can’t just take a taxi back.”

Qi Xu, listening from the side, picked up on the problem. He scratched his cheek. “What’s wrong?”

Xu Changshu supported Chi Hui’s arm and looked at Qi Xu with an apologetic expression. “It’s like this: Chi Hui came today to have his cast removed, but I have an urgent matter at the company to handle right now. I can’t stay with him. So, if you have time, could you help look after him?”

Following his words, Qi Xu’s gaze fell back onto Chi Hui’s right arm, curious. Removing it so soon?

“Of course, today will be counted as overtime with double pay. But if you really can’t make the time, don’t force it; I’ll call the company to arrange someone else.”

Qi Xu bit the soft flesh of his lip and blinked. He had the time, but…

He looked at Jiang Ying-shen, who was still waiting for him. The man was still holding his little cat mousse, showing no signs of impatience despite the wait.

Both were “second parents.” This felt like the classic dilemma: “If Mom and Dad get divorced, who do you go with?”

Qi Xu’s head began to throb.

Chi Hui partially lowered his eyes, quietly observing Qi Xu’s expression. Sensing the conflict in his eyes, he subconsciously glanced at Jiang Ying-shen again. He recognized this man; he was the one Qi Xu had insisted on going back for in the alleyway that night. Even then, he could tell Qi Xu cared deeply for him.

Chi Hui withdrew his gaze, his eyes sweeping lightly over Qi Xu’s tightly pursed lips. He let out a soft “Tsk” and turned to leave.

Seeing the movement out of the corner of his eye, Qi Xu’s body reacted faster than his brain. He reached out and grabbed Chi Hui’s wrist. In that split second, he even consciously avoided Chi Hui’s injured right hand.

Qi Xu couldn’t worry about Jiang Ying-shen on the other side. “…I’ll stay with you.”

After all, Jiang Ying-shen didn’t need him right now, whereas Chi Hui was relatively “pitiful,” being temporarily “maimed.”

Chi Hui stared into Qi Xu’s bright eyes, then glanced at Jiang Ying-shen. “Weren’t you here accompanying someone else?”

Qi Xu licked the corner of his lip. “That’s already finished.”

Chi Hui pursed his lips and didn’t speak further, but Qi Xu felt the cold aura around him soften considerably.

Xu Changshu’s relief was even more obvious; his face split into a wide grin. “Great! I’ll leave him to you then, Xiao Xu. Here are the car keys. I remember you can drive, right? Just drive home directly when you’re done.”

Xu Changshu was indeed very busy. No sooner had Qi Xu taken the keys than the manager hurried away.

Qi Xu looked back at Jiang Ying-shen, feeling a bit regretful. If the system hadn’t forbidden the protagonists from having contact, Qi Xu might have greedily brought them both along.

“Wait for me a moment, I’ll go tell… my family.” Qi Xu let go of Chi Hui’s hand.

Jiang Ying-shen watched as the boy walked toward him.

“Senior, I might not be able to stay with you,” Qi Xu said with a hint of regret as he stopped in front of him.

Jiang Ying-shen paused, glancing perceptively at the man across the way. He nodded. “Mm.”

After a few seconds of silence, he couldn’t help but ask: “Who is that?”

“Um… he’s a friend,” Qi Xu answered.

“A friend?” Friends don’t usually hold hands like that.

Qi Xu blinked, his gaze drifting to the side. “You could say he’s my brother.”

Fans calling their idols “brother” is perfectly fine.

Jiang Ying-shen subconsciously glanced up again, meeting Chi Hui’s gaze from a distance. After a moment, he coolly withdrew his gaze and handed the dessert to Qi Xu. “Okay. Be careful on the way home.”

The outpatient and inpatient departments were in opposite directions, so the two parted ways there. Qi Xu returned with the small dessert in hand.

Chi Hui was still staring at Jiang Ying-shen’s retreating back, frowning. “Who was that?”

Qi Xu had said it was family, but looking at the man’s age, he clearly wasn’t an elder.

“…” Qi Xu’s hand faltered as he guided Chi Hui. He wondered if Chi Hui had overheard his conversation with Jiang Ying-shen. Why is everyone so curious about this?

“He’s my brother.” Having gone through it once already, Qi Xu didn’t hesitate this time. He was even quite confident.

Senior is a ‘school brother,’ a school brother is a brother, and a brother is a ‘gege.’ Perfectly logical. Not a lie.

Chi Hui remembered Qi Xu saying he had an older brother and sister at home. His brow gradually smoothed over, though a moment later he muttered: “Doesn’t look like it.”

“Huh?” Qi Xu didn’t catch it.

Chi Hui let out a soft snort. “He looks smarter than you.”

Qi Xu: “…” Why the insults?

…

Xu Changshu had booked the appointment early, so there was almost no wait. When Chi Hui entered the examination room, Qi Xu followed him.

The doctor looked at the X-rays for a few moments, then performed a mobility check on Chi Hui. His expression was serious. “Your wrist hasn’t recovered properly yet. It’s not time to remove the cast.”

Standing to the side, Qi Xu’s lips began to purse. He had wondered why the cast was coming off so soon—it had only been half a month—and it turned out it wasn’t healed at all. Why remove it early?

But Chi Hui insisted: “Just take it off.”

The doctor knew Chi Hui and could guess the reason. He didn’t say more and turned to grab the cutting tools. Qi Xu blinked, still not fully understanding, until he saw the buzzing electric saw aimed at the cast.

“!” Qi Xu quickly reached out his hand, blocking Chi Hui.

The doctor was startled by the sudden hand and immediately stopped the machine. Both Chi Hui and the doctor looked up, eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

Qi Xu stared back, more confused than they were. “Why remove it?” He glanced at the X-ray on the table. “Didn’t you say it hasn’t healed well?”

The doctor didn’t speak and looked silently at Chi Hui. This time, Chi Hui rarely didn’t frown at Qi Xu’s interference.

“I have a shoot tomorrow. It has to come off early.”

Qi Xu’s frown deepened; he couldn’t understand it. “Your injury isn’t healed. Why must you work? What if it gets worse?”

“I’ll be careful.” Chi Hui didn’t expect to be the one comforting someone else.

But this flimsy assurance didn’t comfort Qi Xu. His outstretched arm didn’t move. Qi Xu was being uncharacteristically stubborn, making Chi Hui feel both amused and exasperated. “If I don’t work, there’s no money to pay your salary. Aren’t you afraid?”

Qi Xu bit his lip hard. “I’m not afraid.” He wasn’t here for the money anyway.

Chi Hui stared into Qi Xu’s earnest eyes and then looked away. “I am. So go outside and wait obediently.” As he spoke, he gently pulled Qi Xu’s arm away.

Seeing he couldn’t stop it, Qi Xu went outside and called Xu Changshu. The manager seemed busy; it took a second call before he answered. Qi Xu told him the truth about Chi Hui’s wrist injury.

There was a long silence on the other end. Xu Changshu walked to a secluded spot and sighed deeply. “If he’s willing, let him remove it.”

Qi Xu gritted his teeth, suddenly realizing that Xu Changshu was essentially a businessman using his artists to generate profit.

“He’s not willing,” Qi Xu countered calmly.

“Huh?” Xu Changshu didn’t hear him clearly.

“You’re the ones forcing him to agree.” Qi Xu’s older sister owned an entertainment company, so he knew how these things worked. Having spent half a month with Chi Hui, he knew from his daily caution that he really wanted his injury to heal—especially his wrist.

Hearing the resentment in Qi Xu’s tone, Xu Changshu sighed again. “Some things are beyond our control. Chi Hui knows this well. Don’t be sad. Take good care of him; I’ll work hard to fight for his rights.”

By the time the call ended, the cast was already off. Chi Hui adjusted his sleeve and walked out slowly. As soon as he exited, he saw someone leaning against the wall with their head down.

“Chi Hui,” Qi Xu said, his eyes downcast. It was the first time he had called Chi Hui by his name.

Chi Hui raised an eyebrow, about to joke about his “lack of respect,” when he heard Qi Xu ask in a hurt voice: “Are you being bullied?”

That must be why he’s being forced to work while injured.

Chi Hui’s expression froze. It took a long time before he lowered his gaze and let out a light laugh. “You’re not the one being bullied. Why do you look more upset than I do?”

Qi Xu looked up at him and gave a low, soft “Mm.”

He really was upset. He didn’t know why, but seeing Chi Hui compromise like this made him feel uncomfortable. Chi Hui shouldn’t be like this, he thought.