The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 23.2

“What’s wrong, Gu Baby?” Qi Ran had his hands behind his back and walked with Gu Han to the table. He asked softly, “Do you not know how to cook?”

“Mm,” Gu Han admitted as he unpacked the boxes. “I was going to learn on the spot, but I was afraid it wouldn’t suit your taste. You’re already unwell and had acid reflux all night. If you woke up and didn’t have something delicious to eat, I would feel I’ve failed you.”

Qi Ran stood behind Gu Han and wrapped his arms around his waist. “You really love me.”

“Yes,” Gu Han touched Qi Ran’s hand. “I love Ranran baby most in this world.”

Gu Han unpacked a table full of dishes: fish maw and shark fin soup, chicken soup with a whole chicken, sweet and sour pork ribs, poached shrimp, salt-baked black tiger shrimp, stewed beans and potatoes with pork, and a whole stewed sea fish. Gu Han wasn’t even sure what kind of fish it was.

Finally, there were the noodles Qi Ran had been craving.

Qi Ran took a small bite and said, “This must be from Chendingji Seafood Restaurant. It tastes very similar to the takeout I’ve ordered from them.”

Gu Han checked the bag: “Yes, it’s Chendingji. I don’t remember the names. It’s my friend’s place. I always thought it was just a regular eatery.”

Hamburger smelled the food and came over for a snack. Qi Ran threw him a shrimp, and Gu Han shredded the chicken from the soup. Along with the shrimp, Hamburger got a large chicken wing and a piece of chicken breast, contentedly carrying his food back to his bowl.

Gu Han liked watching the dog eat and stared at it for a while, thinking it was truly cute.

“You’re just spoiling him,” Qi Ran smiled indulgently. “He’s already so fat and greedy, and you’re not controlling him. He’s becoming a little fat dog.”

“Aren’t you spoiling him too?” Gu Han cut the noodles into small pieces and fed Qi Ran with a spoon. “I’ve only been here one night. If it weren’t for you, would he be this fat?”

Qi Ran hummed but didn’t speak, obediently eating the noodles Gu Han fed him.

Qi Ran still had a low fever and didn’t have much energy to eat, so Gu Han held him in his arm, letting him lean against him to save strength.

“Ranran, you slept all night and the fever hasn’t gone down at all.” Gu Han touched his forehead to Qi Ran’s. “I say we go to the hospital right away. Your health is really poor, and I’m very worried.”

“Does everything require a hospital visit? It’s just a low fever, I don’t even need medicine,” Qi Ran muttered unhappily. “I’m fine, so I don’t want to go.”

“Ranran, why are you afraid of hospitals?” Gu Han grabbed Qi Ran’s wrist, his muscular arm pinning him in his embrace. “Tell me, did a doctor bully you? Tell the truth, if that happened, I’ll find them no matter where they are.”

“No,” Qi Ran wasn’t afraid of Gu Han. Despite being held somewhat roughly, he looked up at Gu Han. “I’m just afraid of needles. Seeing a needle stuck in me makes me nauseous and miserable, so I don’t want to go. Ever since that gastroscopy, I’ve been terrified of the endoscopy department. Just passing by it makes my legs weak. Gu Baby, you must have places you hate because they make you uncomfortable, right?”

When Qi Ran mentioned the gastroscopy, Gu Han was filled with guilt again. His grip loosened, and he apologized in a low voice: “I’m sorry. That time was my fault. I’ll reflect on it. From now on, I’ll always ask for your opinion before making a decision. Ranran, I’m so sorry for causing you so much harm.”

“I was just making a point, I didn’t say you were wrong,” Qi Ran rubbed Gu Han’s head. “I had never had a gastroscopy before, if I had known the outcome, I would have told you. So neither of us is wrong. Why do you always blame yourself?”

“You said you didn’t want the exam, but I forced you,” Gu Han lowered his head. “Of course, it’s on me.”

“You were just anxious because you love me. I know,” Qi Ran cupped Gu Han’s face. “Since it was out of love, it’s not your fault. Don’t be self-reproachful anymore.”

Despite Qi Ran’s comfort, Gu Han remained somber until after they finished eating.

“I think I overate,” Qi Ran saw Gu Han quickly put down his utensils to massage his stomach, so he peeled a salt-baked shrimp and fed it to him. “Why does food not taste good when you’re sick? It’s so annoying.”

“It’s okay, Ranran will get better soon,” Gu Han coaxed him. “We can order from this restaurant until you’re well and have your appetite back, okay?”

“Your friend’s place is usually high-end, the food is quite expensive,” Qi Ran leaned his head on Gu Han’s shoulder. “I usually cook for myself.”

“I’ll order it. Let me buy everything for you from now on. I love spending money on my Ranran. I want to raise you well.” Gu Han let Qi Ran sit on his lap. “Don’t refuse me. I’m not here to objectify you. I’m objectifying myself. I’m doing this voluntarily. Can’t you just spend my money with a clear conscience?”

Qi Ran: ?

Qi Ran looked at Gu Han for a while before saying, “Your request is very strange.”

“Everyone has their hobbies,” Gu Han laughed. “I just like spending money on my wi…. ah, my Ranran. That’s my hobby. What’s wrong with that?”

Gu Han thought to himself that he kept almost calling Qi Ran “wife,” so he might as well just change his way of addressing him soon.

“Baby, my stomach is so bloated,” Qi Ran’s pale hand covered his abdomen, and he almost slumped onto the table. “It suddenly feels very bad.”

“Ranran, don’t press on it. Let me hold you.” Gu Han picked up Qi Ran, moved his hand away, and gently massaged his stomach. “Let me feel it.”

Gu Han carefully felt Qi Ran’s upper abdomen. His stomach was indeed very bloated, making his belly round. After a while, Gu Han felt waves of spasms, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. He was worried. “Ranran, why are there spasms again? Did you eat too fast?”

“No, I ate very slowly.” Qi Ran was in extreme pain. The spasms in his stomach wall had turned into a twisting, wringing pain that made cold sweat break out on his forehead. He felt a surge of nausea. In just a few minutes, his healthy color vanished, replaced by a greyish pallor.

“I want to vomit,” Qi Ran was doubled over. The intense pain left him weak, and he could only lean into Gu Han. “Take me to the bathroom. My stomach hurts too much. I have no strength.”

Gu Han carried Qi Ran to the bathroom. At the door, Qi Ran struggled out of his arms and knelt on the floor to vomit. He was in agony as his stomach contracted violently from the spasms. He painfully threw up the food mixed with acid, his throat feeling as if it were being cut by blades. Vomiting up the food didn’t ease the contractions. He kept vomiting involuntarily until everything he had eaten was gone, leaving only bitter water. The nausea didn’t fade. Qi Ran felt his ears ringing, vaguely hearing Gu Han’s voice, but it was drowned out. His chest and stomach were in agonizing pain, and his esophagus burned. These pains were too much for his weakened body. His consciousness began to drift, and he couldn’t even see the person in front of him clearly.

Even Qi Ran felt that this time, he might not make it.

Gu Han had been rubbing his stomach and patting his back. He noticed Qi Ran’s body was getting softer and softer, and he could barely remain kneeling. As Gu Han tried to help him up, he saw bright red blood in the last bit of stomach acid Qi Ran had vomited. Gu Han’s hands went cold with fear. Looking closer, he saw that the crimson blood was mixed with something brownish. His voice trembled: “Ranran, you have a stomach bleed. Hang on, I’m taking you to the hospital now.”

Gu Han had some medical knowledge. Blood from inside the stomach would appear brownish when vomited. As for the bright red blood, it was likely because Qi Ran had vomited so violently that he had injured his esophagus.

Gu Han didn’t even have time to change. He quickly cleaned up the bathroom, let Qi Ran rinse his mouth, and carried him to the garage.

At that moment, only one thought was in Gu Han’s head, get Qi Ran to the hospital. Find the nearest highway, he had to save Qi Ran.

It was the morning rush hour. Gu Han avoided the main roads and took the intercity highway. Not long after, a black car on the side repeatedly tried to cut him off.

Gu Han was in a rush to get to the hospital and was furious at being blocked. He remembered what Yu Shen said about being followed by Ruihao’s ex-convicts. In his desperation, he called Yu Shen. When the call connected, Gu Han said, “Shen, Qi Ran has a stomach bleed. I’m taking him to the emergency room at Rongxuan Hospital. Someone on the intercity highway is cutting me off, could it be Ruihao’s people? The hospital is far, at least twenty minutes on the highway. Shen, what should I do? Qi Ran’s situation is critical.”

Yu Shen frowned: “Give me the license plate number.”

Gu Han looked at the side mirror and read the number to Yu Shen.

“It’s them, the scum under Zhou Cheng. That’s the same plate that followed my car last time,” Yu Shen said. “Concentrate on driving. Leave this to me.”

Gu Han hung up, keeping his speed around 100 km/h, carefully avoiding the black car. Ten minutes later, a white car sped past, positioning itself between Gu Han and the black car, separating them.

Only then could Gu Han accelerate.

The black car still tried to overtake the white car and speed up to continue blocking Gu Han. Gu Han thought he would have to keep dodging, but the white car suddenly floored the gas and slammed directly into Ruihao’s black car. With a loud bang, the two cars collided. The sudden accident made Gu Han shout, it was impossible to stop on a highway. He desperately tried to stay calm, swerving the steering wheel to avoid the wreck.

The car carrying Gu Han and Qi Ran reached the limit of its control, heading straight for the guardrail of the elevated bridge.