My Best Friend's Crush Is A Spoiled, Dramatic Girl [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 11

Ji Tan naturally continued, “So, when will we meet your parents?”

Zhou She caught the hands that Ji Tan was using to cause mischief, his grip tightening involuntarily. He thought distractedly that if Zhou Wenbai were here, he would surely know how to answer Ji Tan’s question.

“Are you not going to talk again?” Ji Tan asked unhappily, scratching Zhou She’s palm in a small, coquettish gesture. The soft, itchy sensation extended through skin and flesh to the depths of his marrow, leaving him with nowhere to land.

Zhou She slowed his pace. “Not every marriage needs parental approval.”

Zhou She’s words were reasonable, but they did not apply to Ji Tan.

“That will not work,” Ji Tan said firmly. “Mom told me to marry someone who would be accepted by their family.”

However, Zhong Peiyi would never accept Ji Tan marrying Zhou Wenbai. Zhou She tightened his arm instinctively, giving Ji Tan a firm hug. Ji Tan struggled uncomfortably, asking strangely, “What is wrong?”

In Ji Yuan’s grand plan, Ji Tan was supposed to live his life by the book. He was never to be unconventional, never to stand out, and never to step a single inch outside the box she had drawn for him. He was to attend classes without skipping, find a good person for romance, and ensure his marriage was accepted by the other family. Her ideology was rigid and conservative, leaving no room for unexpected surprises. Ji Tan had always followed these rules obediently.

“It is nothing.” Zhou She finally stopped, set Ji Tan down, and asked in a soft voice, “What kind of person did Ji Yuan want you to be?”

What had Ji Yuan wanted a child with emotional apathy to become? Ji Tan thought for a long time without finding an answer, sniffing lightly. His body had not fully recovered yet.

Thinking of this, Zhou She pulled a fragrant, soft tissue from a packet and pressed it to Ji Tan’s nose. “Wipe it.”

Ji Tan took the tissue, rubbed his itchy nose, and suddenly hugged Zhou She’s arm. He rested his slender, white chin on Zhou She’s chest, tilting his bright little face up to look at him sweetly.

“Well?” Zhou She did not touch him, but he did not push him away either.

“You are like a tissue,” Ji Tan said, his eyes bright like sugar syrup. “Square, neat, and clean.”

This was clearly something Ji Tan had just made up. Zhou She’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he made a nearly imperceptible hum, sounding almost like a laugh. Perceiving that the man opposite him had softened, Ji Tan instinctively clung even tighter.

This time, however, Zhou She took Ji Tan’s soft arms from his own and pulled them away. The embrace suddenly vanished. Ji Tan’s footsteps stumbled, and the oppressive darkness caused his heart to race. Blinking his confused lashes, he asked tentatively, “Dr. Zhou?”

In the next second, he was pulled into a warm, reliable embrace.

“Dr. Zhou is here,” a rich, mellow voice whispered in his ear. Ji Tan’s heart finally settled.

Zhou Wenbai lowered his head to sniff the soft nape of Ji Tan’s neck, his high-bridged nose rubbing against the tender skin as he smiled. “Yes, Tuan Tuan-brand little tissue. You smell so good.”

Ji Tan wanted to laugh and dodged backward. “Dr. Zhou smells good, too.” He sniffed a lock of hair that had brushed past his nose. “Does it smell even better than before?”

Zhou Wenbai lifted his head and ruffled Ji Tan’s soft curls. “What scent did it have before, and what scent does it have now?”

Ji Tan bent his eyes, laughing. “Before it was Amitabha, and now it is Hallelujah.”

Zhou She had come from the Zhou family, bringing with him the scent of incense offered to the gods by Zhong Peiyi. Zhou Wenbai smelled of a mixture of faint antiseptic and woody perfume, which truly did carry a sense of Western, ethereal holiness. Zhou Wenbai was amused by Ji Tan’s fantastical descriptions.

“It seems our Tuan Tuan dabbles in both,” Zhou Wenbai said, kissing Ji Tan’s soft cheek. “You know so much.”

Ji Tan was just babbling nonsense. Feeling the warmth on his cheeks, he instinctively leaned in to find Zhou Wenbai’s lips. Zhou Wenbai supported Ji Tan’s supple waist, making it easier for him. Ji Tan nudged Zhou Wenbai’s lips, parted his mouth to hold them for a moment, then let go. “Dr. Zhou has not answered me yet: when can we meet the parents?”

Zhou Wenbai chased after Ji Tan’s sweet lips, kissing him over and over.

“You want to marry me that much, Tuan Tuan?” Zhou Wenbai held Ji Tan’s soft, warm body; as they pressed together through their clothes, Zhou Wenbai felt as if his heart were being filled.

“Whatever Tuan Tuan wants, he shall have.” Zhou Wenbai kissed Ji Tan’s forehead in promise. “Dr. Zhou’s family will love Tuan Tuan, too.”

“My marriage with Tuan Tuan will be blessed by both families.” Zhou Wenbai assured him.

It all seemed too easy. Ji Tan’s long, curled lashes fluttered; he kissed the corner of Zhou Wenbai’s mouth and nestled into his embrace, remaining still.

“Missioner, you have solved the Zhou family issue. Are you not satisfied?”

Ji Tan was not dissatisfied. “It is not solved yet.”

“Missioner, do not overthink. The main lead’s rejection of the main lead’s confession was enough to cause you a three-day high fever. If you do not adjust your mentality, the following missions will be very difficult to complete.”

“I know.”

When Zhou Wenbai took Ji Tan out of the haunted house, they were informed that Ji Enyi’s heart condition had flared up and he had been rushed to the emergency room.

“Shall I take you to see him?” Zhou Wenbai draped his arm around Ji Tan’s shoulder and scanned the area, not seeing Ji Yunxin or Zhou She. They must have already gone to the hospital.

Ji Tan did not really want to go. Zhou Wenbai touched Ji Tan’s slightly damp, cool forehead. “Tuan Tuan, come to the hospital with me to take your temperature. I am worried you might have a secondary fever. While we are there, we can check on Ji Enyi, alright?”

Ji Tan nodded. The hospital was close, and by the time Zhou Wenbai finished Ji Tan’s check-up, it was quite late.

Ji Enyi’s ward was in total chaos. Vases, pillows, and unknown liquids were scattered across the floor, and there were even a few drops of bright red blood. A nurse was currently replacing the IV for Ji Enyi, who had pulled out his needle. Ji Enyi’s face was paler than the hospital pillows, devoid of any color, like a lifeless puppet.

“Ji Tan, the ward is a bit messy. You should stay out to avoid getting hurt,” Ji Yunxin told Ji Tan, who was standing at the door, hesitating.

Ji Tan frowned and took a step back. When he looked up, he saw Ji Enyi staring at him with jet-black, unblinking eyes.

“Come in,” Ji Enyi said, his voice raspy as if sandpaper had rubbed against it.

Ji Tan avoided the obstacles on the floor, but as soon as he reached the bedside, Ji Enyi grabbed his wrist tightly. Ji Tan felt the grip was too tight and painful, so he struggled uncomfortably. The hand Ji Enyi used to grab Ji Tan was the one from which he had pulled the needle; as Ji Tan moved slightly, a patch of blood blossomed on the back of Ji Enyi’s hand. Even so, Ji Enyi did not loosen his grip for a moment.

“Everyone out,” Ji Enyi said to the three others in the room.

Seeing Ji Tan go quiet the moment he saw the blood on Ji Enyi’s hand, Zhou Wenbai left the room as instructed. Zhou She followed. Ji Yunxin hesitated, but Ji Enyi immediately threw the cup beside him. “Get out!”

The glass shattered at Ji Yunxin’s feet, with fragments splashing onto his trousers. Ji Yunxin left as well. Before he completely walked away, he heard Ji Enyi growl obsessively at Ji Tan, “I am your own younger brother; you must listen to me.”

Ji Yunxin’s fingers trembled nervously. The ward door closed.

“I have things to do at school. We will meet again when we have time.” Ji Yunxin glanced at Zhou She, nodded slightly to Zhou Wenbai, and left the hospital.

Zhou Wenbai asked, “Did Cheng Jiayan come by earlier?”

Zhou She replied, “Hmm. One piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which one do you want to hear?”

“The good news is that Ji Yunxin agreed to cooperate, and the bad news is that Ji Enyi heard?” Zhou Wenbai pressed his neck.

“Yes,” Zhou She paused. “Ji Enyi also heard us discussing what happened when we were eight years old.”

Zhou Wenbai’s fingers froze. “How did Ji Yunxin know?”

Zhou She lowered his eyes. “There are no walls without ears in this world.”

“It does not sound like bad news for me, either,” Zhou Wenbai said, though his expression was not as relaxed as his voice.

Zhou She looked up. “If that is what you think.”

The curve of Zhou Wenbai’s lips vanished. “I am going to the Zhou family home. Help me look after Tuan Tuan for two days.”

“I…” Zhou She showed rare hesitation.

Zhou Wenbai’s expression went completely flat. “Zhou She, you know that Tuan Tuan is all I have. I cannot be without him.”

Zhou She’s thin lips moved, but in the end, he did not refuse again. He looked away. “Come back as soon as you can. He is extremely difficult to take care of.”

Zhou Wenbai suddenly laughed. Zhou She frowned, unable to tell if it was mockery or something else.

“He is still young, after all.” Zhou Wenbai cleared his throat, suppressing his amusement, and decided not to provoke his younger brother any further. “You gave him a nickname too, so let us call it even.”

Zhou She’s brow furrowed even deeper. “I did not.”

Could Ji Tan’s temper, his moods, and the countless times he mistook him for someone else be called even by a single nickname he had given him? Clearly, Zhou Wenbai was biased toward Ji Tan without limits. Zhou Wenbai did not think Ji Tan’s nuisance personality caused Zhou She any distress; in his heart, he felt Ji Tan was sweet and lovable, and that the trouble was just a sweet annoyance.

“Right, you did not.” Zhou Wenbai raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Tuan Tuan gave you one. You can give him one as revenge.”

Zhou She’s expression was as if he had swallowed a fly, yet he could not bring himself to speak. Combined with his naturally cold, stern face, he looked somewhat ridiculous. Zhou Wenbai, however, said no more.

Zhou She could not resist asking, “What nickname did he give me?”

“Sorry.” Zhou Wenbai gave an appropriately apologetic look, choosing his little lover over his own brother. “Tuan Tuan will not let me tell you. He said it is a secret between him and me.”

Zhou She’s complexion turned even worse. Zhou Wenbai patted Zhou She’s shoulder with a look of there is nothing I can do about Ji Tan. “You know how it is—children always have many little secrets.”

Zhou She brushed Zhou Wenbai’s hand away and snorted coldly. “Little secrets? It is just your little romantic game.”

Dragging an innocent third party into the mix, Zhou Wenbai smiled without saying a word.

Zhou She prepared to leave. The ward door gave a slight click, and Ji Tan, who had spent about ten minutes in Ji Enyi’s room, walked out. Zhou She was facing the door, so he was the first person Ji Tan saw.

Ji Tan’s clear, light-colored eyes looked at Zhou She, his gaze pure. There were no other complex emotions, perhaps only curiosity, or perhaps he was trying to distinguish whether he was Zhou Wenbai or Zhou She.

This time, however, Zhou She hurried to look away. “The law firm called me. I am leaving.”

“Stop looking.” Zhou Wenbai stepped forward to stroke Ji Tan’s face. “Shall we discuss something, Tuan Tuan?”

Ji Tan turned his gaze back to Zhou Wenbai’s face. “What is it?”

“I have to go on a business trip for a few days. Let Zhou She look after you, alright?” Zhou Wenbai asked for his opinion.

As usual, Ji Tan agreed obediently. “Okay.”

Zhou Wenbai was not entirely satisfied and pinched Ji Tan’s soft cheek. “Agreeing so quickly? Are you not afraid I will be jealous?”

Ji Tan tilted his white little face to kiss Zhou Wenbai’s chin. “Is Dr. Zhou jealous?”

Zhou Wenbai felt the soft, light kiss on his jaw, narrowed his eyes like a fox, and said deliberately, “A little.”

Ji Tan kissed the corner of Zhou Wenbai’s mouth. “How about now?”

Zhou Wenbai held Ji Tan’s slender shoulders, his lips curling up. “It seems I am still a little bit jealous.”

Ji Tan kissed Zhou Wenbai’s lips several times, and finally gave a little bite, his eyes curving. “And now?”

Zhou Wenbai picked up Ji Tan and, sporting the tooth mark Ji Tan had left, kissed his smiling eyes. His resolve crumbled. “Tuan Tuan is so well-behaved that it is impossible to be jealous.”

“Why would you be jealous?” Ji Tan did not understand. “Zhou She and Dr. Zhou look exactly the same.” Ji Tan hesitated for a moment. “It is just that your names are different.”

Zhou Wenbai asked Ji Tan with amusement, “Does that mean we twins must have the same name?”

Ji Tan laughed. “No, it is just that other twins have very similar names. Zhou She should not be called Zhou She; he should be called something similar to Dr. Zhou. He should be called…”

Zhou Wenbai covered Ji Tan’s mouth to prevent the three words from slipping out, scaring him. “You are not allowed to give Zhou She nicknames. Be careful he does not hear you.”

Ji Tan looked at Zhou Wenbai with a twinkle in his eye and fell silent. Zhou Wenbai lowered his hand.

Ji Tan whispered, “It is not really a nickname. I just feel his name should match Dr. Zhou’s.”

“So you gave Zhou She the name Zhou Wusong?” Zhou Wenbai raised an eyebrow, poking fun at the wicked idea turning in Ji Tan’s little head.

Ji Tan giggled again. Zhou Wenbai looked at him with a straight face, though his eyes remained gentle. Ji Tan could not help but laugh, leaning in to kiss Zhou Wenbai’s face ingratiatingly. “Dr. Zhou, keep it a secret for me, please do not tell him.”

Zhou Wenbai’s eyes filled with a smile. “If Tuan Tuan gives me a hush-money fee, I will keep it a secret for you.”

Ji Tan planted a kiss on Zhou Wenbai’s lips. “Dr. Zhou and I are on the same side, right?”

What else could Zhou Wenbai do? He could only betray Zhou She and raise the banner named Tuan Tuan.

“Hmm, I am on the same side as Tuan Tuan,” Zhou Wenbai echoed, agreeing with him.