The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 3

“No need,” Qi Ran said, hugging Gu Han’s clothes and offering a polite smile. “Thank you, President Gu.”

Actually, Gu Han felt he was being a bit intrusive himself. However, being in such close proximity to Qi Ran, he couldn’t help himself. He wasn’t usually the type to act like an old friend with strangers, but with his crush sitting right in front of him, it was difficult for Gu Han not to show initiative and care, contrary to his usual habit of remaining distant.

“Let’s head to the hospital now.”

Gu Han didn’t rush to release the handbrake. He asked Qi Ran to take out his phone and said, “We definitely won’t be able to book a gastroscopy for today. The hospital we’re going to is very busy. You should ask for leave first, at least a week. You’ll definitely feel uncomfortable after the exam and will need to rest.”

“A week?”

Qi Ran’s eyes widened. “Will Zhou Cheng approve that?”

“Zhou Cheng is your boss? That’s easy then,” Gu Han smiled. “Message him first. If he doesn’t approve it, I’ll reply for you. I could get him to approve a month if I wanted to.”

Qi Ran was skeptical and asked softly, “Really?”

Gu Han’s tone was exceptionally gentle. “Really. Trust me.”

Qi Ran followed Gu Han’s advice and messaged Zhou Cheng. Zhou Cheng’s typing speed was incredibly fast, replying almost instantly with a long essay. As Qi Ran was reading it, Gu Han reached over. His hand was well-defined, long, and handsome, it smelled pleasant, likely from perfume sprayed on his wrists. The veins on the back of his hand were faintly visible. Qi Ran’s gaze was drawn to it, his “puppy eyes” watery and dazed as he stared at Gu Han’s hand.

“Give me the phone,” Gu Han gave his hand a little shake. “I’ll reply for you.”

“Oh,” Qi Ran snapped out of it and handed the phone over. “Okay.”

Gu Han looked at Zhou Cheng’s reply, ramblings about corporate culture, how the youth need to be tempered, threats of pay cuts and performance deductions. He claimed that at Qi Ran’s young age, he should work himself to death to accumulate experience and that a stomach ailment was nothing. Gu Han’s anger flared instantly. He had to restrain himself repeatedly from sending a voice note to curse the man out. He understood that a lack of forbearance in small matters spoils great plans, it wouldn’t do to expose his identity yet. His fingers tapped the screen as he replied:

“Manager Zhou, if you don’t approve this week of leave, I’ll resign. You can save those words for the new top salesperson. I’m not listening anymore. Is that okay?”

Gu Han handed the phone back to Qi Ran. “There, it’s done.”

This time, Zhou Cheng didn’t reply instantly. He went silent, seemingly playing dead. Gu Han didn’t receive a response for a while and was about to ask for the phone back when Zhou Cheng finally messaged:

“Fine, fine, I approve the leave. You can rest as long as you want. Is a week enough? If not, you can apply for more during your break. Just don’t be impulsive, alright?”

Zhou Cheng was truly scared. He thought he was quite good at PUA-ing (psychologically manipulating) Qi Ran, but the message Qi Ran sent made him feel like a fool. He realized that despite all his tactics, thinking Qi Ran was kept in the dark, Qi Ran actually saw through his methods perfectly. Usually, they just played along, but when Qi Ran truly wanted to fight for his rights, he stopped acting and struck where it hurt most. Today’s exchange made Zhou Cheng shiver, he didn’t dare use his manipulation anymore and immediately backed down, becoming completely submissive to his top salesperson.

To be honest, Zhou Cheng always tried his best not to take Qi Ran seriously, but he was truly terrified of losing him. Over time, he felt like he was developing a split personality. In such a large company, there was only one top salesperson who held all the company’s connections and clients. If he left, Rui Hao would be finished.

Looking at Zhou Cheng’s reply, Qi Ran was both surprised and delighted. He couldn’t help but grab Gu Han’s arm to show him the message. “President Gu, you’re amazing! Zhou Cheng actually agreed.”

Gu Han looked at Qi Ran’s hand clutching his arm, and his face instantly flushed. Qi Ran also realized his impropriety and let go, apologizing softly, “Sorry, President Gu.”

“No, no,” Gu Han said, sounding a bit incoherent. “I actually… I actually quite like being this close to you. You’re young, you should be this lively.”

After Gu Han said that, Qi Ran stared at him. Qi Ran was already twenty-five, and everyone else treated him like an adult. Only this CEO of Jian Chen seemed to think he was still a young child who ought to be lively.

“What is it?”

Thinking the leave was settled, Gu Han wanted to get Qi Ran to the hospital quickly. He released the handbrake and glanced at the passenger seat, noticing Qi Ran staring at him. Thinking he was still in pain, he said, “Put my jacket on so you don’t catch a cold. We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

“President Gu, you have such a good temper,” Qi Ran said slowly as he put on Gu Han’s blazer. “You’re nothing like those clients who buy houses. Not all rich people are the same.”

“Then you should work for me in the future. You won’t have to deal with those clients ever again,” Gu Han emphasized repeatedly, fearing Qi Ran might not come to Jian Chen. “Once you’ve settled your accounts, you must come to me. We have a deal.”

Qi Ran finished putting on the jacket, the sleeves were a bit too wide. The warm water had indeed eased the stomach pain, but it wasn’t a permanent solution. After less than ten minutes, the stabbing pain in his stomach returned with a vengeance. He hunched over slightly, clutching his stomach, and leaned his forehead against the car window, answering softly, “Okay.”

“What’s wrong? Is it hurting that badly again?”

Gu Han stopped at a red light and leaned over, using his fingers to cushion Qi Ran’s forehead and pulling him toward himself. “The glass is too cold; don’t lean on it. If you’re really hurting, lean on my shoulder. We’re almost at the hospital.”

“Sorry, President Gu,” Qi Ran curled his body and leaned against Gu Han’s shoulder. “I’m troubling you.”

“Don’t say such things. It’s no trouble. You’re sick, and a patient needs careful attention,” Gu Han stroked Qi Ran’s hair, soothing him gently. “We’re almost there. Hang in there a bit longer.”

Gu Han told him to hang in there because they were almost at the hospital. Zhou Cheng told him to endure the pain because he had to hang in there for work. How could people be so different? How could life be the same regardless of who you were with?

Gu Han’s tenderness and patience were being etched into Qi Ran’s heart.

Gu Han took Qi Ran to a private hospital owned by a friend. It was a high-end facility, with fees five times higher than a standard public hospital. It felt more like a sanatorium, scenic and far from the city center. It was located on the opposite side of the city from the main event venue. Gu Han drove for a full forty minutes, including a stretch on the intercity highway, to get there.

Gu Han’s friend, the hospital director, was on duty. He didn’t have a wife or children to look after and lived in a luxury suite at the hospital, which was basically his home. Currently, he was chatting with a patient on the first floor. When Gu Han entered with his arm around Qi Ran, he saw him and shouted, “Rong Xuan, come over here!”

“What happened?” The director ran over. “Where does it hurt?”

“His stomach condition flared up, it’s very painful,” Gu Han steadied Qi Ran in his arms. “Open a room for him. He needs a thorough check-up. Look at him, he can barely stand. You go handle the admission. I’ll carry him up.”

The director called for staff to handle the paperwork while he busied himself, wondering who this young kid was. Gu Han was notoriously obsessed with cleanliness, he’d been friends with Yu Shen for so long and still kept his distance, yet he was holding this new young man in his arms? But on second thought, the patient was so weak that it was normal for Gu Han to be attentive. Life and safety came first, and in the director’s eyes, Gu Han had always been a good person.

Being a private hospital and having Gu Han’s friendship with the director meant they could settle in first and do the paperwork later. Gu Han carried Qi Ran on his back to the ninth floor. Nurses and doctors were already waiting at the door. They performed a routine check-up and started an IV drip for pain relief.

“Are you afraid of needles?”

Gu Han gently covered Qi Ran’s eyes. “It won’t hurt if you don’t look.”

Qi Ran remained polite. “Thank you, President Gu.”

“No need for thanks,” Gu Han remembered Qi Ran saying he was always too busy and asked, “Did you eat before coming? You should have something before the IV.”

Qi Ran shook his head. “No.”

Gu Han took a deep breath. “Since when? Did you not eat all day?”

Qi Ran nodded guiltily. “Mhm.”

Gu Han’s expression darkened instantly.

Seeing Gu Han’s angry look, Qi Ran was scared. He didn’t dare speak, only looking at Gu Han timidly.

Qi Ran’s large eyes were watery and his pupils were dark and bright. Whenever Gu Han saw those lovely puppy eyes, his heart would soften.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m not angry with you. I’ll go buy you some food,” Gu Han ruffled Qi Ran’s hair. “Do you like millet porridge?”

“Mhm,” Qi Ran pulled a slight smile. “I like it.”

“I’ll go now,” Gu Han watched the nurse secure the IV needle and helped Qi Ran lie down slowly, covering him with a light silk duvet. “Wait for me to get back.”

Qi Ran nodded obediently. “Okay.”

As soon as Gu Han left the ward, a familiar doctor advised him, “We can’t do the abdominal CT today, it has to wait until tomorrow noon. The gastroscopy can only be scheduled for the day after. The patient’s condition is okay, no gastrointestinal bleeding. We’ll just prescribe some medicine. Based on my experience, it’s a severe gastric ulcer. It hurts both before and after meals. If you’re buying porridge, get it warm; too hot is no good.”

Gu Han thanked him and went to the first floor cafeteria. The cafeteria was buffet style with various cuisines, rich flavors, and fresh ingredients.

Besides the millet porridge, Gu Han bought some steamed fish to help nourish Qi Ran’s body. While queuing to pay, a message from Yu Shen arrived:

“How’s your little beauty doing?”

Gu Han replied:

“The doctor said it’s okay, not too serious, but his stomach condition is very stubborn and won’t heal easily.”

Yu Shen sent an emoji:

“A sickly beauty? That’s right up your alley. Aren’t you two a match made in heaven?”

Gu Han’s lips curved upward as his fingers tapped the screen:

“I hope you’re right. I hope he likes me too.”

Yu Shen:

“Qi Ran will definitely like you. By the way, Zhou Cheng found out you were the one who sent his star salesperson to the hospital. Rui Hao isn’t some pushover, they’ll do anything. Be careful lately. Stay safe, don’t drive too fast, and don’t post anything on social media. It’s easy for them to stir up trouble. We’ve suffered from this before, their marketing department is like a pest, omnipresent and disgusting.”

Yu Shen’s perfectly timed cheekiness was exactly what Gu Han needed. He had been tense about Qi Ran’s illness the whole way, but looking at the chat now, he suddenly laughed. He replied:

“In my opinion, my previous strategy was too conservative. Now, I plan to engage them head-on.”

Yu Shen:

“What’s wrong with you? You’re being irrational.”

Gu Han replied:

“I think so too.”

Yu Shen:

“You should stay out of it. I’ll handle it. Are you staying to look after Qi Ran these next few days? Don’t worry about anything during this time, just focus on accompanying him. When he’s feeling better, find time to come back to the company. Besides cleaning out the ‘nepotism hires,’ I’ve discovered something even more serious. The company has major hidden risks right now.”

Gu Han started being stubborn:

“Why didn’t you call Qi Ran my little beauty anymore?”

Yu Shen replied instantly:

“?”