The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 38.1

“Nonsense. Ranran is my little baby, not a burden,” Gu Han patted Qi Ran’s bottom. “Ranran isn’t allowed to talk nonsense. I won’t let anyone say bad things about Ranran, not even Ranran himself.”

Qi Ran tilted his head, feeling those words were very familiar.

Last time when Gu Han was crying and blaming himself, Qi Ran had coaxed Gu Han in the exact same way.

Qi Ran was incredibly grateful to Gu Han for his infinite patience and tenderness, and for that special fatherly affection Gu Han had as the older partner. Qi Ran was also grateful to Yu Shen while Gu Han was holding him on the floor, he had heard soft footsteps in the stairwell a few times, but Yu Shen never came down to interrupt their private moment, protecting Qi Ran’s dignity.

Qi Ran often felt that his current life was too happy, like a dream. Being pampered by Gu Han and cared for by his friend Yu Shen made Qi Ran truly understand Gu Han’s words: the world is worth it.

At 5:30 PM, Gu Han finally finished preparing the hotpot, setting a table full of vegetables and meat. Knowing Yu Shen liked the dog, he sent Hamburger up to call Yu Shen for dinner. As soon as the dog went up, he was scooped up by Yu Shen, who came downstairs happily.

“Gu Han, you really know me,” Yu Shen said joyfully, sitting on the stairs holding the dog and playing with him. “You actually knew to send the dog to get me for dinner. I’d been losing at games all afternoon, but seeing the dog made me feel great. Thank you, and thanks to Qi Ran for raising the dog so well.”

Gu Han pulled Qi Ran into his arms and smiled at Yu Shen: “Not only do I know you like our Hamburger, I also know you want to cook Wagyu in a spicy broth. Come on, sit down, Shen. Look at how much meat I prepped, eat until you’re satisfied.”

“Hubby,” Qi Ran spoke softly, “Since you brothers are so happy today, why don’t you have a drink?”

“What, wife?” Gu Han was surprised. “Can I drink? I was worried you wouldn’t like the smell of alcohol on me.”

“You can drink,” Qi Ran smiled, ruffling Gu Han’s hair. “Just remember to eat something first so it doesn’t hurt your body too much.”

Gu Han was thrilled to be allowed to drink. He rushed to the wine cabinet, grabbed two bottles of red wine, opened them, and gave one to Yu Shen. In reality, both Gu Han and Yu Shen rarely drank when nothing was happening, but they had high tolerances; a bottle of wine was just a warm-up. Neither were alcoholics, so they knew how to control themselves and never overdid it, a slight buzz was the most comfortable state.

Gu Han had asked a doctor friend. Qi Ran’s stomach issues meant he should eat less beef as it’s hard to digest. However, pork, lamb, fish, and shrimp were all fine. So, inside the “yin-yang” pot, Gu Han added a smaller pot in the center for Qi Ran to cook pork and lamb to eat with the chicken soup.

The three of them ate from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Outside, the rain poured and lightning flashed, but inside the villa, it was warm and the atmosphere was harmonious. They talked a lot. Qi Ran spoke of his school days, Gu Han talked about the struggles of starting his business, and Yu Shen spoke about being a “big brother” in Hong Kong in the early years. Everyone opened up. Qi Ran and Yu Shen, who weren’t close before, began to feel familiar and no longer constrained.

Yu Shen and Gu Han drank wine while Qi Ran drank sweet hot milk. Yu Shen was a bit tipsy as he raised his glass: “I see people online always toasting to ‘tomorrow.’ At first I thought it sounded nice, but then I heard it too much and thought it was too cliché. Let me think what we should toast to.”

Qi Ran raised his glass: “To Jianchen.”

Yu Shen nodded: “Yes, to Jianchen. Chairman, I toast to you too, to Gu Han and to Qi Ran. May you two last forever, loving each other for a hundred years.”

The three clinked glasses and exchanged well-wishes. Unlike the fake pleasantries of the business world, in this family dinner of just Gu Han, Qi Ran, and Yu Shen, every blessing was sincere.

After the toast, the past was truly in the past. Previous wrongs no longer needed to be held in the heart. Time cannot go backward, and people must always move forward.

When dinner ended, Gu Han did a quick cleanup, stuffing the plates into the oversized dishwasher. During dinner, the dog had eaten plenty, and finally got three large shrimp while Gu Han was clearing the plates. With a round belly, the dog prepared to sleep by the kitchen door, but at Yu Shen’s invitation, he followed Yu Shen upstairs to his room.

Gu Han carried Qi Ran back to the bedroom. The alcohol was kicking in, and he felt a bit lightheaded. As he lay on the bed, he fumbled to squeeze into Qi Ran’s arms, acting spoiled: “Wife, I’m a bit dizzy.”

“Did Hubby drink too much?” Qi Ran worriedly touched Gu Han’s forehead. “Rest for a bit, I’ll find you something to help sober you up.”

“No need, wife,” Gu Han hugged Qi Ran tightly. “Actually, I’m not that dizzy, I can handle my liquor. I just want my wife to love me a little more. I want to hold you.”

“Is that so, Baby Gu? Oh right, the AC is on, and you can’t catch a draft after drinking,” Qi Ran wrapped his arms around Gu Han’s waist, their warm legs intertwined. He pulled up the duvet to cover them both. “In fact, I love you immensely every single day.”

“Ranran is so good, having wife Ranran love me,” Gu Han mumbled drunkenly, peppering Qi Ran’s face with kisses. “Gu Han is truly the luckiest person in the world.”

With that, Gu Han fell asleep in Qi Ran’s arms. He was still while asleep, not moving or snoring, but whenever Qi Ran tried to change positions, Gu Han would start to wake up. Qi Ran had no choice but to go back to the original position.

“So Hubby is this naughty, he won’t sleep properly unless held,” Qi Ran’s eyes were full of doting affection. He kissed Gu Han’s lips and coaxed him softly: “Baby Gu must sleep well, eat more meat, grow stronger, and stay healthy.”

Gu Han was usually a quiet sleeper, but perhaps because of the alcohol, he spoke softly in his sleep. Qi Ran listened closely for a long time and finally heard what he was saying: “Ranran, I love you. Thank you for being willing to be my husband.”

The typhoon lasted for three days. By the early hours of the third day, the rain slowed down, and by the morning of the fourth day, the sun was out. The weather was beautiful, but the temperature was strange, at the end of February after the typhoon, it was as cold as the dead of winter.

Now that it had cleared, families had to clear the mud and workplaces had to reopen. Ruihao had technically issued a holiday notice, but that was on the day the rain was heaviest. Qi Ran hadn’t thought about braving the storm to resign, and Zhou Cheng didn’t dare bother him, so the matter had simply passed.

Today, Jianchen was resuming work, and the three of them woke early to get ready. Upon waking, they all felt the chill. Gu Han had learned a new recipe, tomato and egg noodles, the very thing Qi Ran had wanted when he was first discharged. Having just mastered it, he made it for everyone to ward off the cold.

Yu Shen needed to go home to grab a heavy coat before work. As he was about to leave his noodles on the table, Gu Han stopped him and gave him his own black leather jacket: “Wear this, don’t freeze.”

After seeing Yu Shen off, Gu Han went back to check on Qi Ran, who hadn’t gotten up yet. He slid under the covers and hugged him: “Wife, time to get up. I made tomato and egg noodle soup. Aren’t you cold? You can eat some to warm your stomach and get rid of the chill.”

“Tomato and egg noodles? Wow, sounds delicious. Thank you for your hard work, Hubby,” Qi Ran’s voice sounded a bit nasal. “Hubby, I want to lie down a bit longer. My stomach is uncomfortable and my head hurts. Hubby… do I have a cold?”

“Are you not feeling well?” Gu Han reached his hand under Qi Ran’s pajamas to feel his stomach. Pressing his palm against the stomach, he realized Qi Ran was having spasms again, and it felt bloated. Furthermore, Qi Ran’s body was very hot, he had complained of being cold at 6:00 AM, but now he was burning up. Gu Han grew worried: “Ranran, do you have a fever?”

“Do I have a fever? Hmm, then I probably do.”

Qi Ran’s eyes were red and hot from the fever, and he could barely keep them open. Feeling cold again, he curled up in Gu Han’s embrace: “Whenever I have a fever, my stomach hurts. It’s been so long since I’ve had one, I forgot.”

“Your stomach hurts and you have a fever,” Gu Han balled his hand into a fist, using his knuckles to gently massage Qi Ran’s stomach. “How about you don’t go to work today? Tell Zhou Cheng, and go resign another day. Focus on getting better first.”

Gu Han occasionally applied a bit more pressure, he could feel Qi Ran’s stomach twitching under his knuckles. Gu Han unbuttoned his own shirt and pulled Qi Ran close, letting the younger man’s body press directly against his chest, using his own body heat to warm him.

After settling Qi Ran, Gu Han wanted to call Zhou Cheng to request leave on his behalf, but Qi Ran firmly refused: “No, Hubby. I must go resign today.”

Seeing such a determined attitude, Gu Han was stunned. He asked softly: “Wife, why?”