The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 19

“Okay, Ranran, you can rub it however you like,” Gu Han said as he reached out to pull the hem of Qi Ran’s shirt out from his trousers. He slid his palm under the white fabric, resting it gently over Qi Ran’s stomach. “Ranran, do you really like my hands?”

Gu Han noticed that Qi Ran’s chest and abdomen always felt quite cold, so he thought he would warm him up a bit before starting the massage.

“I do,” Qi Ran replied, lying flat on the bed with his head resting on Gu Han’s arm. He looked up at him as he listened. “Why do you ask?”

“I’ll have to be even more diligent about taking care of my hands from now on,” Gu Han said, kissing Qi Ran’s cheek. “Your skin is so fair and delicate. If I don’t maintain them well and they get even slightly rough, it will make you uncomfortable.”

Qi Ran shook his head. “President Gu, there’s no need for all that trouble. I’m not that fragile.”

“You are fragile,” Gu Han whispered, pulling Qi Ran closer into a tight embrace. “My Ranran deserves to be cherished and pampered. With me around, you don’t have to do a single thing.”

Qi Ran glanced at him sideways. “So, if I go to work at Jianchen, I don’t have to do anything there either?”

At this point, the look in Qi Ran’s eyes had already shifted, but Gu Han hadn’t noticed. Still trying to please him like a wagging puppy, Gu Han nodded and said, “That’s right.”

“To get in through connections just to be a useless eater? Then I’m not going,” Qi Ran’s expression turned cold instantly. “I’ve seen plenty of the ‘dirty’ secretaries around Zhou Cheng. Since you’re looking for that kind of secretary too, President Gu, I’d better look for a better employer. I don’t want people spreading rumors that I’m your kept lover. If I were, I’d admit it, but I’m absolutely not that kind of person. I won’t allow anyone to insult me.”

“No, Ranran, it’s not like that,” Gu Han explained hurriedly. “The workload is just light during the initial transition period. Your stomach condition is so serious, how could I bear to throw you into high-intensity work? Ranran, once your health improves, you can slowly adapt to the daily duties of a secretary. It’s not exactly easy, but it’s much more relaxed than when you were in sales.”

Qi Ran believed Gu Han was simply making excuses. Angry, he stopped resting his head on Gu Han’s arm and turned over, lying with his back to him without saying a word.

Qi Ran felt a sense of irritation. Successful men always seemed to have a mouth full of lies. Gu Han’s reputation in the outside world was excellent, and he didn’t seem like a lecher, yet he had gone to such lengths to get close to him and then asked him to be his secretary. It was all moving too fast, as if the true intentions were finally being revealed, naturally turning Qi Ran from an elite top salesman into a beautiful, useless lover.

Gu Han’s words from the start had been ambiguous. Qi Ran had tried to test him with the subject of work, but Gu Han hadn’t changed his attitude, which infuriated him.

“Ranran, please don’t be angry. I didn’t explain myself clearly. I never intended to disrespect you; I’m not that kind of man,” Gu Han said, scrambling up and trying to pull Qi Ran into his arms. “I’m sorry. Next time I will definitely be more clear. Ranran, please forgive me, okay?”

Qi Ran ignored him. No matter how much Gu Han pleaded, Qi Ran didn’t respond.

Gu Han felt a deep wave of regret. He knew Qi Ran was sensitive and perceptive, yet he had been so careless, making his words sound so greasy and distasteful. Just as he was about to explain the situation properly, Qi Ran suddenly curled his body up. One hand pressed hard against his stomach while the other gripped the bedsheets beneath him so tightly that the delicate veins on the back of his hand bulged.

Qi Ran was panting heavily, looking like he was in immense pain.

“Ranran, what’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?”

Gu Han hurriedly moved Qi Ran’s hand away from his upper abdomen. “Ranran, be good. Don’t press on your stomach so hard. You just threw up yesterday. Be a good boy, let me rub it for you, alright?”

Qi Ran still ignored him, curling tighter and tighter, taking deep breaths every now and then to combat the piercing pain in his stomach.

Qi Ran felt as if his heart was cramping along with his abdominal cavity, he could hardly catch his breath.

He truly couldn’t afford to get angry. Once he did, the slight twitching of his stomach wall would escalate into a violent spasm. The pain caused a ringing in his ears, and he felt himself drifting toward unconsciousness.

Gu Han was terrified. His mind went blank, thinking only of calling for an ambulance. As he fumbled through his suit jacket for his phone, Qi Ran turned back, his cold fingers gripping Gu Han’s wrist. He whispered weakly, “No need for the hospital.”

“Ranran, how can I help you?” Gu Han asked, frantic and helpless. “How can I make it stop hurting so much?”

“It’s a stomach spasm,” Qi Ran said, enduring the agonizing pain and trying his best to speak clearly. “Your hands are warm, President Gu. Just… rub it for me.”

Qi Ran was in unbearable pain. In his most vulnerable moments, he still wanted to be with Gu Han. Seeking help from him was a subconscious impulse.

Gu Han leaned down to pull the shivering Qi Ran into his arms. He pushed aside the hem of Qi Ran’s shirt and slid his hand inside again. Cupping his fingers, he gently massaged the cold, hard, knotted stomach beneath the fair, smooth skin of Qi Ran’s abdomen. Gu Han comforted him as he rubbed: “Ranran baby, be good. Try to relax your body. It won’t hurt as much once you relax. We’ll rub it slowly. Be good, Ranran.”

Held in Gu Han’s arms, Qi Ran felt slightly better than when he was lying flat. He finally found the strength to speak, whispering, “It hurts. I can’t relax.”

“Okay, okay, it’s fine if you can’t relax. I’ll keep rubbing it for you. It’ll be better once the stomach softens up,” Gu Han said. Fearing Qi Ran would be cold, he held him tightly in the crook of his arm. He gradually increased the pressure of his fingertips, coaxing him, “Ranran, I’m going to use a little more force. It might hurt a bit. Tell me if it’s too much.”

Seeing the pale Qi Ran give a slight nod, Gu Han felt heartbroken. He felt terrible for him, but he had to steel his heart to rub out the spasms. After massaging firmly for a while, Gu Han feared Qi Ran’s body wouldn’t be able to handle the intense pain, like what happened at the hospital, so he would flatten his palm to warm the area for a bit. Between rubbing and warming, Gu Han cared for him meticulously for a long time before Qi Ran felt the pain subside significantly. He finally relaxed his body in Gu Han’s arms and let out a sigh of relief.

“Is it a bit better?”

Gu Han watched Qi Ran’s every reaction. Seeing his expression soften slightly, he asked urgently, “Ranran, how are you feeling?”

“It’s much better,” Qi Ran said, placing his hand over the back of Gu Han’s hand through the shirt. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry, Ranran. I made you so upset that you felt unwell.”

Gu Han’s eyes were full of guilt and regret as he apologized. “It’s all my fault. I knew you were sensitive, yet I still didn’t speak clearly. Looking back, I realize those words could be misinterpreted in many ways. I will definitely change. I’ll never make you angry again. It’s all on me. I never want you to be in that much pain again. I’m truly sorry.”

“President Gu, don’t be sad,” Qi Ran said. He couldn’t bear to see Gu Han being so submissive and realized that he had been too extreme and misunderstood him. Regretting his temper, he took Gu Han’s hand into his own and said softly, “I am also too young and impulsive. I didn’t even let you finish explaining. I need to reflect on myself as well. President Gu, between us, it shouldn’t just be you giving. I also can’t bear to see you always being sad because of me.”

“I don’t want Ranran to change his temper,” Gu Han said, hugging him tighter. “I just want you to not be angry. You have to take care of your body. You can treat me however you like. I’m willing to accept it all.”

By now, five hours had passed since Gu Han had driven Qi Ran home. It was nearing dusk. Qi Ran was exhausted from the stomach pain. Gu Han wanted to heat up some wontons or something for him to eat, but Qi Ran was simply too tired and wanted to sleep. He didn’t even want to change his clothes until he woke up. Gu Han tucked him in, kept his hand inside the blanket to warm Qi Ran’s stomach until he fell asleep, and then slowly and gently withdrew his hand.

Gu Han sat by the bed watching Qi Ran for a long time, unable to shake off his self-reproach. His heart ached too much. He wanted to go for a walk and get some fresh air, so he stood up, left the bedroom, and went down to the garden.

Qi Ran had mentioned that the big yellow dog’s kennel was in the garden during this season. So, when Gu Han entered the garden and saw the dog wagging its tail at him, he wasn’t surprised. He ignored it, not responding to the dog’s friendly greeting, and simply sat down on a step.

Gu Han felt so pathetic and miserable. He felt he had failed Qi Ran. He hugged his legs and buried his face in his knees, not wanting to talk or even message Yu Shen. He wanted to swallow his guilt and remorse alone and try to process those negative emotions.

His heart truly ached; a dull pain throbbed in his chest, making him want to cry. He couldn’t hold back the tears anymore, so he could only muffle his sobs.

Animals can sense human emotions. Consequently, Hanbao was very worried about Gu Han. He nudged Gu Han’s hand with his wet nose, his paws clicking rapidly on the ground as he paced anxiously. Gu Han didn’t realize the dog was trying to comfort him and didn’t respond, he just kept crying. Then, Hanbao suddenly dashed away, his footsteps hurried as he headed back into the villa. Gu Han didn’t have the energy to wonder where the dog was going, he was only worried about whether he could pull himself together while Qi Ran was sleeping. He didn’t want to bring any negative energy to Qi Ran.

Gu Han didn’t know how long he had been crying when someone suddenly sat down beside him. Startled, he looked up in a panic. His eyes met Qi Ran’s concerned gaze. Seeing Qi Ran’s expression turn from concern to shock, Gu Han hurriedly wiped his tears and lowered his head to hide his face. “Ranran, you’re awake? It seems you didn’t sleep for long. Are you still feeling unwell? Do you want something to eat? I’ll go heat up the wontons.”