The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 12

“I’ll rub it for you now,” Gu Han said as he lay down, pulling Qi Ran into his arms. He placed his burning palm over Qi Ran’s upper abdomen, massaging it slowly and rhythmically. He asked softly, “Do you want some water? In an hour or two, you’ll have to fast completely, no food or water. After the gastroscopy tomorrow, we should be able to pack up and get you discharged.”

“Mm,” Qi Ran murmured, merging his hand with Gu Han’s palm and stroking it. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he looked at the older man. “Suddenly leaving President Gu… I’m quite reluctant. You are truly wonderful.”

Gu Han’s eyes widened instantly. “Little Qi Ran, do you really feel that way?”

“I do,” Qi Ran replied. “Why do you ask?”

“You could move into my house.”

Gu Han spoke with a touch of impatience. “You’ve just been discharged, your stomach is still bothering you, and you don’t know how to take care of yourself. I can continue looking after you until you’re feeling better.”

Gu Han didn’t want to play the ambiguity game anymore. He wanted to claim Qi Ran quickly. He was tired of trying to dissolve his affection into mundane daily conversations and letting the relationship progress at a snail’s pace, he simply wasn’t good at it.

Qi Ran smiled. “President Gu, would you like to try staying at my small villa instead? I know it certainly can’t compare to your home, but it’s quite cozy. It even has a small garden. During this season, my puppy often sleeps in its bed out there… Well, I’m a real estate agent, so I always manage to find great ‘hidden gem’ properties. Once I saved enough, I kept this one for myself. It has three floors, plenty of rooms, and a large green space. There’s a place to plant flowers and even a spot for vegetables. I think you might like that kind of atmosphere.”

“I’d love to,” Gu Han agreed hastily, overcome with joy at receiving Qi Ran’s invitation. It was the confirmation he needed that their relationship had truly advanced. “I… I really like the kind of environment you described. My family home used to be like that. But since Jianchen was established, I’ve grown distant from my family. I had the chance to experience it when things were good at home, but now I have nowhere like that to go. To be honest, I’m lonely most of the time. I’m glad I have you.”

Sometimes, Gu Han tended to exaggerate facts, a trait Qi Ran didn’t particularly care for. Refusing to let him off easy, Qi Ran intentionally teased him: “I think you seem like someone who enjoys loneliness, President Gu. With your status, any loneliness is definitely self-inflicted. If you didn’t love being alone, your doorstep would be worn down by visitors.”

With a smile on his lips, Gu Han raised his hand to cover Qi Ran’s eyes, joking softly, “Kid, your eyes are terrifyingly sharp. Just how many of my thoughts have you seen through?”

Though Gu Han was joking, he felt a slight chill in his heart. Qi Ran didn’t seem to fall for his usual “act.” Every time Gu Han tried his standard lines, Qi Ran wouldn’t give him any “face.” Gu Han realized that throughout their time together, Qi Ran seemed to prefer sincerity, genuine care and love. Qi Ran never pushed back against that.

So, Gu Han decided to curb a common habit of older, successful men: the tendency to show off.

Even though Gu Han only “showed off” a little bit, not enough to be considered greasy, the duty of a “loyal dog” is to satisfy his partner. A “good dog” trains himself, and Gu Han was determined to fix any flaws that made Qi Ran unhappy.

“President Gu, if you keep covering my eyes, I’m really going to fall asleep.”

Qi Ran felt around until he could grasp Gu Han’s well-defined fingers, pulling his hand away slightly. “Don’t you want to chat with me more?”

“I do,” Gu Han said, taking the opportunity to gently adjust the blanket around Qi Ran. His movements were light and careful, terrified of bumping the hand with the IV needle. He coaxed him softly, “But these days in the hospital, your stomach ailment has really put you through the wringer. You’ve been in such pain, unable to eat or sleep well. If you’re truly sleepy, I’d rather you sleep for a while to let your body recover.”

“I can’t sleep,” Qi Ran said piteously, looking incredibly vulnerable. “I’m so afraid of those hospital instruments. The gastroscopy is definitely going to hurt. President Gu, I’m scared.”

“I know the exams are uncomfortable, and my heart aches for you. I hate to see you suffer, but we need a detailed exam to treat you properly.”

Gu Han rubbed his hands together until they were warm and quickly slipped one under the covers. He pressed his palm against Qi Ran’s stomach, rubbing it while soothing him. “How about I stay with you the whole time? Just like today, I’ll carry you there, carry you back, and I won’t leave your side all day. How does that sound?”

Qi Ran knew the exam was inevitable; the hospital had already issued the orders. Even with Gu Han’s comforting, he remained gloomy.

“Little Qi Ran,” Gu Han gently pinched Qi Ran’s belly. “How can I coax you into being a little happier?”

Qi Ran shook his head. “You don’t have to. You’re already so good to me.”

“But I want you to be very happy,” Gu Han said. “Little Qi Ran, is there something you especially like? The kind of thing that makes you incredibly happy just by buying it?”

Qi Ran didn’t want to accept gifts from Gu Han so early; he didn’t want to owe him favors. He declined decisively. “Not really. My feelings for you come from our shared interests, not your money. I don’t want people thinking I’m a gold-digger. I became a top salesperson largely because of my reputation. I’m clean. I’ve never accepted gifts from any bosses.”

After being rejected twice, Gu Han began to mentally catalog the brands and value of the items Qi Ran wore, his shirts, trousers, watch, and the fountain pen he carried. When Qi Ran changed into his hospital gown, Gu Han had helped fold his clothes and caught a glimpse of the labels. They were all niche high-end lines, not famous, but with extremely high cost-performance ratios. The fabric of the clothes and the durability of the watch far exceeded mainstream brands at the same price point. This meant Qi Ran wasn’t someone who worshipped famous brands, as long as the quality was good and the item was beautiful, he was satisfied. He wasn’t materialistic, what truly moved him was Gu Han’s sincerity.

“I’m sorry, Little Qi Ran. I’ve made you feel uncomfortable,” Gu Han apologized sincerely, realizing his offense. “I didn’t mean it that way. I was just… just a bit anxious to cheer you up. Your health isn’t great, so please don’t be angry.”

“Don’t apologize, President Gu.”

Qi Ran hugged Gu Han’s arm and gave it a little shake. “I’m not blaming you.”

“With me taking care of you, don’t be afraid of the exam,” Gu Han said, stroking Qi Ran’s hair. “I’ve had a gastroscopy before. It’s uncomfortable at first, but you feel fine a day later. It’s not that scary.”

“What happened to you?” Qi Ran asked, touching Gu Han’s stomach with concern. “Do you have a bad stomach too?”

“No, it was just a company physical. Those without digestive issues get checked every three years, and those with issues get checked every year. I pay for it all. I take responsibility for every employee at Jianchen.”

Gu Han took the opportunity to pull Qi Ran into a tight embrace, holding his thin body close. He asked softly, “Little Qi Ran, why are you so kind? You’re this sick yourself, yet you’re still worrying about others, hm?”

“If I follow you in the future, will I have to get a gastroscopy every year too?”

Qi Ran began to struggle in Gu Han’s arms, throwing a small tantrum. “No! I won’t do it!”

“Alright, alright, we won’t do it every year. Good baby, stop fussing, you still have a needle in your hand,” Gu Han held him even tighter to restrain his struggling. He said quickly, “Little Qi Ran, in the future, if your stomach doesn’t hurt, we won’t go to the hospital. Is that okay?”

Qi Ran calmed down, resting his arms around Gu Han’s waist and nodding gently. “Mm.”

Gu Han was nearly dying of happiness. He had gathered the courage to call Qi Ran “baby,” and the boy hadn’t resisted. Another successful test, he was one step closer to marrying Qi Ran.

Just as Gu Han was thinking of something else to chat about, Qi Ran stretched slowly. After loosening up his body, he settled back into bed. He cupped Gu Han’s face with his palms and said, “President Gu, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I want to sleep. Don’t call the doctor, okay?”

Qi Ran was young and vibrant; every move he made was polite yet adorable. Gu Han loved having his face cupped, he loved being held, and he loved being needed. Every trait Qi Ran possessed hooked Gu Han completely.

“Okay, I’ll stay here and help Little Qi Ran fall asleep,” Gu Han said, stroking Qi Ran’s slightly cool, fair hand and tracing the delicate joints of his fingers. “Your hands are so beautiful. I always feel like they’re missing something.”

“I wear a watch, I just took it off when I changed clothes for the hospital.”

Qi Ran opened his puppy-like eyes wide. “Besides a watch, what else do you think is missing?”

“Jewelry,” Gu Han smirked. “Like a ring. Your hands are slender and pale, they would look best with a ring.”

“You’re right,” Qi Ran agreed with a nod. “Now that you mention it, I think a ring would look nice too. I’ll go buy one in a few days, hehe.”

“No rush. I know a brand that would definitely suit you.”

Gu Han pushed his luck, gently pinching Qi Ran’s soft, white cheek, his eyes hazy with affection. “When they have their new arrivals in stock, I’ll recommend them to you.”

What Gu Han meant was: once the “big promise” the brand was designing became a reality, he would order a pair, one for himself, one for Qi Ran. He was already planning a candlelight dinner where he would personally place the ring on Qi Ran’s finger and ask for his love.

How could he let his “wife” spend his own money while dating?

Qi Ran didn’t catch Gu Han’s hidden meaning. Gu Han had intentionally kept his intentions vague. Qi Ran simply thought it was a recommendation and agreed with a smile, “Okay! You have great taste and a high aesthetic sense, President Gu. I’m sure your recommendation will be great.”

As they talked, Qi Ran grew sleepier and could hardly keep his eyes open. Gu Han coaxed him to sleep once more. This time, Qi Ran lay directly on Gu Han’s arm, almost nestled in his embrace, though a small distance remained. Gu Han knew that if he tried to pull him closer on purpose, Qi Ran would surely wake up.

Gu Han figured this distance was intentional on Qi Ran’s part, and he felt he should respect it rather than secretly trying to hold him, which felt like taking advantage. Although his love was intense, Gu Han was a man of integrity. Since Qi Ran had clearly set a boundary, Gu Han was determined to respect it.

While Qi Ran slept, Gu Han found it difficult to rub his stomach in that position. He picked up his phone with one hand and messaged Yu Shen, detailing what had happened and his plan for the “explosively romantic” candlelight dinner to pursue Qi Ran.

Yu Shen replied instantly: [Gu Han, you’re planning to use a candlelight dinner to chase Qi Ran? And you said it’s Western food, does the menu include steak? With his stomach, are you going to make him eat medium-rare bloody meat or an overcooked piece of rebar? Sigh, put his health aside for a second, the problem is you. Gu Han, what is wrong with you? A candlelight dinner? What era is that from? Are you really this “uncool” at only thirty-five?]

Yu Shen was practically losing his mind.

Gu Han: [?]