Love Notebook of a Reclusive Beautiful Boy - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Jiang Sheng was a bit surprised, “A-Yu?”

He was lying in the bathtub. The tub was filled with water, and the floating bubbles from the bath foam were sparse, just scattered here and there.

Jiang Sheng stood at the door. Being naturally tall, he caught a glimpse of the milky-white skin beneath the water at a single glance.

Du Yu’s reaction was minimal; his large eyes remained fixed on Jiang Sheng, not saying a word.

Jiang Sheng glanced around. The room wasn’t very large; it should be just a bathroom.

He guessed that Fushan must have brought Du Yu here to bathe, but now, why was he the only one there?

Jiang Sheng closed the door and walked inside. There was a cubicle to the left; he took a look at no one.

“Why are you alone?”

He walked to Du Yu’s side and asked softly.

Except for his head and the hand wrapped in gauze resting on the edge of the tub, Du Yu’s entire body was soaked in the bathtub.

He had just washed his hair; water was still dripping from it, soft and fluffy. Because it was still wet, it looked a bit long, clinging to his cheeks. His face appeared a bit flushed.

His beautiful eyes just looked at Jiang Sheng like that, not answering his question.

“Forget it.”

Jiang Sheng said helplessly. Why was he even asking him? He didn’t know anything.

Jiang Sheng glanced at his very white, very thin body. His slender arms looked smooth. Probably due to soaking in hot water for a long time, his body had turned slightly red.

Although he was innocent and youthful, that place was already the appearance of a grown man should have been sturdy and powerful.

Or rather, except for his eyes, his entire body already met the standards of a qualified adult man.

After a quick sweep of his eyes, Jiang Sheng squatted down. He was about to ask how long he had been soaking, but suddenly remembered that even if he asked, the boy certainly wouldn’t know.

But he couldn’t let him keep soaking in the water.

He asked softly, “Is A-Yu cold?”

Du Yu looked at him, blinked, and nodded.

Jiang Sheng looked around, took a folded long towel from the marble countertop, shook it out, and draped it over his arm. With his other hand, he pulled Du Yu’s arm. “Quick, get out.”

A-Yu was obedient, slowly standing up from the bathtub.

Dripping wet all over, his fair body was even clearer than it had been in the water. The water droplets on his chest and abdomen sparkled under the light.

Jiang Sheng originally thought that because he was so thin, the sensation of grabbing his arm would be soft and squishy, but he didn’t expect that while his arm was smooth, it was quite firm. He was a boy after all; no matter how thin, he had what he should have.

Jiang Sheng handed him the towel. “Can you wipe yourself?”

Du Yu didn’t take it; he looked at him and didn’t say a word.

After holding his hand out for a while, Jiang Sheng sighed and compromised, “Forget it.”

He was taller than Du Yu and didn’t need much effort. After shaking the towel a couple of times, he prepared to dry his hair while saying, “A-Yu, don’t move.”

His hair was very soft and felt very comfortable to the touch.

Du Yu stood obediently, just letting Jiang Sheng wipe him dry. He didn’t look at Jiang Sheng; his eyes were downcast, staring blankly at the floor.

Jiang Sheng caught a glimpse and shook his head, wanting to laugh. He really couldn’t understand what the boy was thinking all day and night.

Jiang Sheng wiped him quickly, mainly because he couldn’t let Du Yu stand naked for a long time. After drying his hair, he went to wipe his arms.

“A-Yu, lift your hand.”

Du Yu raised his hand in a daze. He probably didn’t even know what Jiang Sheng wanted to do; he just heard him call like that, so he lifted his hand.

His expression was full of ignorance and innocence.

Jiang Sheng didn’t know where he had touched, but Du Yu suddenly curled up his body and gave two giggling laughs.

His arm was slightly bent to block his armpit, his laughter was crisp, dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth, and his eyes narrowed into crescents. He looked both lively and adorable.

This was the first time Jiang Sheng had seen him laugh like this. It was his happiest laugh so far. Before, his smiles were always shallow, as if they never quite reached a certain point.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing him laugh so happily, Jiang Sheng couldn’t help but curl the corners of his own mouth.

Du Yu’s neck subconsciously tilted to the side, his voice still carrying a hint of laughter. When he spoke while laughing, it was a bit sweet: “It’s ticklish…”

Only then did Jiang Sheng look at the armpit he had just wiped and smiled. “Alright, I won’t wipe there then.”

Ticklish spots shouldn’t be touched lightly; they are very sensitive. Once touched, the rest of the body seems to catch the sensation and becomes sensitive too.

Du Yu’s body was still a bit tense. The smile on his lips had faded a lot, becoming faint. His eyes held laughter but also looked at Jiang Sheng with a bit of fear, for fear that he would reach out to tickle him.

Jiang Sheng wanted to laugh. He lowered his hand. “Alright, I…”

As he was speaking, the bathroom door opened.

Jiang Sheng turned his head and saw Fushan.

Fushan was also stunned to see Jiang Sheng there, holding a ceramic cup. “Why is Mr. Jiang here?”

Then he saw the naked Du Yu on the side. “Why have you gotten up?”

Seeing that Fushan had arrived, Jiang Sheng hung the towel on the rack. “Where did Master Fu go?”

Fushan came over with the cup. “A-Yu said he was thirsty, so I went to pour a cup of water.”

As he spoke, he blew on the rim of the cup and handed it to Du Yu. “Come, A-Yu, drink.”

After Du Yu took a few sips, Fushan placed the cup on the counter and asked Jiang Sheng, “Why has Mr. Jiang come here?”

“I have something to discuss with you.” Jiang Sheng glanced at Du Yu and handed the pajamas on the counter to Fushan. “Get him dressed first. I’ll wait outside.”

With that, he went out.

Fushan was also very fast. In a short while, he came out with Du Yu.

“What did Mr. Jiang want to see me about?”

Jiang Sheng replied, “I came to get A-Yu’s medicine.”

“It’s for that. Mr. Jiang, please wait for me for a moment.”

Fushan’s room was downstairs. After speaking, he went down.

Only Jiang Sheng and Du Yu were left standing at the door.

Jiang Sheng saw he was only wearing pajamas. Although the central air conditioning was on in the house, he still asked Du Yu, “Are you cold?”

Du Yu stood behind him, didn’t answer his question, and looked at him with innocent eyes. “Go back…”

Jiang Sheng looked at Fushan who had already come back up and soothed him softly, “Wait a moment, A-Yu. We’re going back right away.”

It could be seen that Fushan was in a bit of a hurry; he was still panting when he came over. He handed the medicine to Jiang Sheng, not much, three bottles.

Jiang Sheng took a look; they were all medications for treating autism.

Actually, if Jiang Sheng were to say it, autism is essentially a psychological illness, and the most important thing is psychological therapy. Du Yu didn’t have any severe reactive symptoms, so these medicines weren’t really necessary to take.

As the proverb says, all medicine is one-third poison; taking too much might actually be bad for the body.

But presumably, Du Yanyu was anxious in his heart and wanted to try everything.

It was understandable.

“The dosage and method are according to what’s written on them?” Jiang Sheng asked.

Fushan replied, “Yes, follow the prescription. They must be taken on time every day. Don’t forget, Mr. Jiang.”

“Don’t worry.”

He put the medicine into his pocket and glanced at Du Yu. “Let’s go, A-Yu. We’re going back.”

…

Back in that small attic, Du Yu relaxed a lot.

This small attic was like his secret base. Only here could a sense of endless security surround him.

On the table sat the photograph and the photo frame they had picked today. As soon as Du Yu sat on the bed, he couldn’t wait to start studying the frame.

Jiang Sheng closed the door and took off his jacket. Underneath, he wore a black sweater. The slim-fit sweater revealed his lean and tall build. This was a gift from Song Jiahao for his birthday during his second year in the police department.

He didn’t like celebrating birthdays and felt it was unnecessary, but the brothers in the police squad valued it highly and organized it for him every year.

Song Jiahao understood him. He wasn’t like Song, who liked those gaudy colors and styles.

Simple black was very good for Jiang Sheng.

Du Yu was fumbling with the photo frame by himself. He had never handled one like this. After messing with it for a long while, he still didn’t know how to open it and finally gave up.

He lifted his head to look at Jiang Sheng opposite him, not speaking.

His black eyes just stared at him like that, without blinking.

Jiang Sheng was sitting on the edge of the bed replying to Song Jiahao’s messages. This kid was always trying to find ways to get to know Du Yu, messaging to ask if he could come visit the Du house when he was free.

Jiang Sheng replied in a cold and blunt tone: “No.”

After replying, he scrolled through his message box again. There were only a few people who frequently messaged him. Finding no missed messages, Jiang Sheng turned off his phone.

Subconsciously, he went to look at Du Yu, only to find the boy was staring at him.

“What is it?” Jiang Sheng asked softly, lowering his head.

Du Yu pouted slightly and said in a soft, “glutinous” tone, “A-Yu… can’t…”

Jiang Sheng glanced at the frame in his hand and understood the meaning of his words.

He walked over in a few steps, sat beside him, and reached out. “Give it to me.”

Du Yu handed it over obediently.

Jiang Sheng studied it for a moment. It was indeed a new type of frame, different from any he had seen before.

He carefully opened it from the middle, and soon, the frame became two halves.

“Come, A-Yu, give me the photo.”

He reached out his hand as he spoke.

Du Yu suddenly stopped talking. His eyes, devoid of any ripples, just looked at him like that. He held the photo in his hand but didn’t give it to him as Jiang Sheng intended.

After a long while, Jiang Sheng roughly understood his meaning.

He didn’t want to give it to him.

Such an important thing, something a hundred times more important than Du Li’s glass frame, how could he easily give it to him?

He didn’t mind. He smiled and pointed to the recessed half of the frame, saying to Du Yu, “Then A-Yu do it yourself. Put the photo here, in this piece. See it?”

Du Yu took that half of the frame and cautiously placed the photo onto the spot Jiang Sheng had just pointed out.

He then gently smoothed out the four corners. Looking at the two youthful faces in the photo, the corners of his mouth curled slightly. He looked to be in a good mood as he lifted his eyes to look at Jiang Sheng.

There was a questioning look in his eyes, likely hoping Jiang Sheng would tell him what to do next.

Jiang Sheng handed him the remaining half, his tone gentle. “See this hole? A-Yu, press this on.”

Du Yu was quick to understand. Following his instructions, he soon joined the frame together.

Looking at it now, it was almost indistinguishable from the previous one.

“The same…”

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he looked up at Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng echoed him, “Yes, just like before.”

He glanced at his hand. “Does A-Yu’s hand still hurt?”

Du Yu held the frame with one hand and lifted his other, injured hand to look at it. “Doesn’t hurt…”

Jiang Sheng nodded. “It’s good that it doesn’t hurt.”

He glanced at the time and felt it was about time for Du Yu to sleep. “Alright, A-Yu, time to sleep.”

With the photo frame sorted, Du Yu had no other concerns. He lay down obediently.

Jiang Sheng tucked the quilt around him. Looking at those large eyes gazing at him, he said softly, “Close your eyes, A-Yu.”

Du Yu blinked twice and then closed his eyes.

After turning off the light, Jiang Sheng lay down on his bed.

Originally, there were many things to think about his mother’s affairs, police squad matters, the Du family’s affairs all mixed together. Somehow, he ended up falling asleep in a daze.

He was a light sleeper and rarely slept deeply. In the middle of the night, he heard a rustling sound from Du Yu’s bed. Not knowing what was going on, he opened his eyes, tilted his head, and called out in a low voice in the darkness, “A-Yu?”

No one answered him, only the continued rustling sound.

Jiang Sheng got up and turned on the light. He saw Du Yu hiding under the quilt, doing who-knows-what.

He went over and patted him gently through the quilt. “A-Yu, what’s wrong?”

“Itchy…”

He said from inside the quilt, his voice a bit muffled.

“What?”

Jiang Sheng didn’t hear clearly and slowly pulled back the quilt.

After pulling it back, Jiang Sheng froze. He saw that Du Yu’s face was covered in a mass of red spots.