The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 23

“Do I really have a fever?” Qi Ran touched his own forehead. “It seems a bit warm. Baby, it’s just a low-grade fever, there’s no need to go to the hospital. I want to sleep at home.”

“You don’t want to go?” Gu Han frowned. “I’m very worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” Qi Ran rubbed Gu Han’s head. “Maybe my immunity is just too low. I’ll listen to you, eat well, sleep well, and get my body healthy again.”

“Ranran is so good, so cute.” Gu Han felt that Qi Ran’s body, clad in pajamas, was exceptionally soft. Because of the fever, Gu Han felt he was more fragile than ever, holding him in his arms with extreme caution and gentle movements. “Ranran, where is the thermometer? Let me see what the temperature is now. If it’s too high, you have to take medicine, and luckily you’ve already eaten something.”

“The infrared thermometer is in the drawer,” Qi Ran pointed to the nightstand. “I’m so lazy and don’t want to move. Gu Baby, carry me over to get it.”

Gu Han was tall and well-built, with arms and legs much longer than Qi Ran’s. He reached back, pulled open the drawer, and grabbed it easily. After checking Qi Ran’s temperature, he readjusted him in his arms and tidied the quilt. “37.5°C. It is indeed a low fever. You rest, wake me up if you feel uncomfortable tonight.”

“Gu Puppy,” Qi Ran cupped Gu Han’s face with his palms, his smooth skin rubbing against the short, blueish stubble on Gu Han’s chin. He asked softly, “Does taking care of me so earnestly make you tired?”

“Not tired,” Gu Han said. “I love taking care of my Ranran baby.”

Qi Ran’s hands were under the quilt, groping to wrap around Gu Han’s waist as he nudged closer into his embrace until their chests were almost touching. Qi Ran was a bit mischievous when sick, he leaned his nose close to the residual scent of perfume near Gu Han’s left artery and kissed his lips. “Goodnight, Gu Baby.”

“Goodnight, Ranran,” Gu Han hugged him tight. “I love you.”

Qi Ran opened his puppy eyes wide. “Really? You love me?”

Gu Han nodded. “Mm.”

“I want you to say it to me every night before bed,” Qi Ran smiled sweetly. “At least for now.”

“I’m willing to say it for a lifetime, let alone a few days or months.” Gu Han touched Qi Ran’s stomach. “Does your stomach still hurt? Poor baby, I really hope you get better soon.”

After that, Qi Ran talked with Gu Han for a long time before Gu Han coaxed him to sleep. Before sleeping, Gu Han checked his phone, there were no unread messages. The time was 21:31.

Recalling what Yu Shen had mentioned, Gu Han was worried and sent him a message: Shen, is everything okay on your end?

Yu Shen replied instantly: It’s okay. I just finished up some work and am heading to your office to get the key. I didn’t expect you to leave a room for me.

Gu Han: Yes, 1913 is your room. 1914 is mine, now it’s the room for me and Qi Ran. If you stay at Jianchen, we’ll be neighbors.

Yu Shen was amused: The last time we were neighbors was ten years ago.

Gu Han curled his lips, Indeed. Being young was good, but it’s not as good as now. Back then, Qi Ran was only fifteen. I wouldn’t have dared to have feelings for him.

Yu Shen: That’s true. In my eyes, you’ve always been a true gentleman.

After the small talk, Yu Shen brought up company business: The accounting department sent me the reports. I checked them, and there’s a slight issue with this quarter’s revenue. It’s not a capital pool issue, but the transaction volume and the number of delivered houses don’t match lately. I suspect there are “rats” inside Jianchen.

Gu Han frowned: Again.

Yu Shen: It can’t be helped. Jianchen is too big a piece of meat, naturally, people will covet it. There are always those who don’t want to take the Chairman’s responsibility but want the Chairman’s salary. You’ll get used to it. However, it’s not hard to handle. Give me a week.

Gu Han: Don’t push yourself too hard. Get some rest.

Yu Shen: I’m fine. By the way, why aren’t you asleep? Since you started dating, your schedule has been strange.

Gu Han looked at the sleeping Qi Ran in his arms and replied: Qi Ran has a fever. He’s sleeping now, but I’m keeping an eye on him. I feel his condition is unstable, so I’m not at ease.

Yu Shen: Qi Ran has a fever? His stomach ailment hasn’t cleared up yet, has it?

Gu Han: Mm, that’s right.

Knowing Gu Han couldn’t leave, Yu Shen offered to take over the company affairs. I have Jianchen covered. You stay with him.

After comforting Gu Han and telling him to rest, Yu Shen put his phone on the desk and stood before the floor to ceiling window of the 19^th floor office. He could see almost half of the Litian Special District. This city that never sleeps was covered in lights, with the roar of traffic on the overpasses. It was incredibly prosperous.

Yu Shen loved this feeling, he loved the glitz and glamour of Litian.

When he had no money, Litian didn’t look like a Special District. It was endless bland lunch boxes, instant noodles, damp residential buildings, and hungry wild dogs barking at people. After having money, Litian was wine and neon lights, gold and jade. People around him were dressed in suits, and everyone he met was smiling. Those wild dogs would never appear before him again. This was perhaps the difference between heaven and hell.

Yu Shen gazed down, remembering his life before joining Jianchen and what Litian looked like then. He smiled slightly.

Yu Shen whispered, “Since I fought my way out of hell, I should be the first to get the credentials for heaven. Gu Han, it’s an honor to fight alongside you. We’ve won many times, and we won’t lose this time either.”

A scholar dies for his soulmate. Yu Shen always remembered Gu Han’s loyalty over the past ten years and was willing to go through fire and water for him time and again.

After watching the night view for a long time, Yu Shen went to Gu Han’s office for the key and opened room 1913. The furnishings were quite good, a three bedrooms flat. The square footage was slightly small, and Gu Han preferred European luxury decor. The furniture was exquisite, though the downside of too much furniture and garish colors was that it could easily look tacky.

However, Yu Shen’s taste was similar to Gu Han’s, he also liked the European style and found the decor pleasing. He locked the door, threw his suit on the floor, took his phone, selected a bottle of red wine and an orange blossom bath bomb, and headed to the bathroom for a soak.

Yu Shen usually drank coffee and didn’t much care for the taste of red wine, but today he just wanted a drink.

Because over these ten years, Gu Han had always kept Yu Shen in mind, listening to his opinions and never skimping on bonuses or salary. To be honest, working for Gu Han, Yu Shen’s salary only went up, never down. For years, Gu Han had treated Yu Shen as his most valued subordinate and partner. Their friendship was deep and had never changed.

Whenever Yu Shen thought of this, he felt happy and satisfied, which made him want to drink.

He didn’t bother decanting the wine because this was just an emotional release, he didn’t care about the taste. He opened the bottle and took several deep gulps. As his body was enveloped by the hot water scented with orange blossoms, the effect of the alcohol became more pronounced. Feeling lightheaded, he took his phone and dialed a number that was never saved in his contacts. The voice on the other end was blunt but respectful: “Shen-ge, it’s been years since you contacted your little brother. Is something up?”

“Are you out of your second prison stint yet? Did you listen to the guards and reform yourself?”

Yu Shen ruthlessly exposed the man’s past, laughing like a drunk: “I have a good job for you. You’ll work for me. It’s just that there are many rules before we start, but the reward is very generous, well worth the trouble of those rules.”

The person on the other end didn’t get angry at Yu Shen’s exposure. Hearing there was a good job, his tone became even more respectful: “Rules are nothing. As long as there’s money, my life is yours. Shen-ge, I’ll do whatever you say. How do we discuss the details? Should I come see you?”

“We can meet, but not today. I’m in a bit of trouble, someone is staking me out at the Jianchen park,” Yu Shen said. “Nothing is certain right now. What if someone is after my life?”

“Wait for me. I’m coming over now.” The man hung up.

Yu Shen placed his phone on the low cabinet by the bathtub and closed his eyes, his body completely relaxed.

“I had already washed my hands clean, but Zhou Cheng, you insisted on forcing me,” Yu Shen sneered. “Don’t blame me.”

It is necessary to understand an opponent’s past in detail, rather, it is a must during competition. But Zhou Cheng didn’t take Yu Shen seriously. He only checked Gu Han’s background and feared his connections, so he showed some respect to Gu Han face to face while being dismissive of offending Yu Shen.

If Zhou Cheng had properly checked Yu Shen’s background, he would surely regret today’s actions.

It was already past midnight when Yu Shen finished his bath. By then, Gu Han had been asleep for a while but felt Qi Ran was restless, as if they weren’t hugging. Now Qi Ran was burrowing back into Gu Han’s arms.

In his half-asleep state, Gu Han instinctively hugged him tight. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Baby, my stomach is uncomfortable,” Qi Ran’s voice was hoarse. “I have acid reflux again.”

“Come, I’ll help you sit up.” Gu Han wasn’t fully awake, but being gentle with Qi Ran was his subconscious instinct. He protected Qi Ran in his arms and slowly sat up, leaning against the cold, hard headboard while letting Qi Ran sit in his lap, leaning against his chest.

“Ranran, what would make it better?” Gu Han asked. “Should I rub it for a bit?”

Qi Ran nodded. “Okay.”

As usual, Gu Han placed his palm over Qi Ran’s stomach, lightly massaging in circles. This time, Qi Ran grabbed Gu Han’s fingers and pulled his hand up a bit, asking him to rub the pit of his stomach. “It’s uncomfortable here, right here.”

Gu Han was worried. “It hurts here? Is it really not your heart?”

“No, well… at least I don’t think so,” Qi Ran pressed Gu Han’s hand down, making him use more force to rub his abdomen. “When I have acid reflux, I always feel uncomfortable here.”

“Ranran, you can’t use so much force.” Gu Han grabbed Qi Ran’s wrist, easily overpowering him. “Be good, let me rub it for you. Come on, listen to me, let go.”

“You’re so strong,” Qi Ran let go dejectedly. “You’re bullying me.”

“Baby, you have a fever and your stomach hurts. Don’t cause trouble, okay?” Gu Han hugged Qi Ran’s thin shoulders. “Ranran needs to be good. Once the fever is gone, you can bully me however you want.”

“Alright.” Qi Ran obediently relaxed his body and let Gu Han care for him, no longer causing trouble.

Gu Han pressed his fingertips to the pit of Qi Ran’s stomach and massaged gently for a long time. Qi Ran eventually said he wanted to lie down as his waist was starting to ache from sitting.

Gu Han hurried to help him lie down on his side, facing away. Gu Han remained sitting, continuing to massage the pit of his stomach and abdomen. Once Qi Ran said his stomach felt better, Gu Han rubbed his waist until Qi Ran fell asleep again. Gu Han breathed a sigh of relief and checked his phone, it was already past 2 AM.

Looking at Qi Ran, who had barely fallen asleep while enduring stomach pain, Gu Han felt heartbroken. He gently stroked his stomach and whispered, “Ranran, when you didn’t have me, how did you survive night after night like this?”

Qi Ran was asleep and couldn’t answer. Gu Han’s words were more to himself.

Since getting close to Qi Ran, Gu Han often thought that if they had been together earlier, he would have suffered less and his health wouldn’t be so poor.

“I will love you well,” Gu Han leaned down and kissed Qi Ran’s cheek. “My dearest baby.”

At 5 AM at the Jianchen park, Yu Shen woke up. Thanks to his bath the previous night, he had slept well. He stretched and received a call, it was the man he had contacted yesterday.

Yu Shen spoke lazily, “Hello, Wu Hong? Looking for me this early? No manners at all.”

“Shen-ge, are you up? That guy staking you out at the park. I found him. I went to talk to them, and they shouldn’t trouble you anymore.” There was the sound of car horns. Wu Hong was already outside. “Let me buy you breakfast at the Yunjigang Restaurant. How about it?”

“Whatever,” Yu Shen said. “I don’t like pineapple buns; don’t order them for me.”

“How about the ‘Three Eyed Boy’ Char Siu Rice?” Wu Hong asked. “I remember you used to love it. Am I right?”