The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 6

“Did the pain wake you up?”

Gu Han hurriedly withdrew his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“I wasn’t asleep,” Qi Ran said, his cheek pressed against Gu Han’s palm. Every time he opened his lips to speak, they brushed against the skin of Gu Han’s hand. He found the scent of the perfume on Gu Han’s wrist intoxicating and kept nuzzling Gu Han’s palm with his soft, tender cheek. After inhaling the faint fragrance for a moment longer, Qi Ran finally spoke. “President Gu, you smell so good.”

“It’s just a very common men’s fragrance,” Gu Han replied. “Bleu de Chanel, it’s quite mainstream.”

“I know, but…” Qi Ran leaned in closer to the cuff of Gu Han’s shirt and took a sniff. “When President Gu wears it, it seems different from others. It’s sweeter, with a hint of buttered popcorn.”

“Buttered popcorn? Really?” Gu Han remarked. “I just thought this fragrance was a bit softer. I used to use Sauvage, but I felt the vibe was a bit too harsh. Honestly, most of these men’s fragrances are more or less the same. I’ve never noticed such a strong sweetness in any of them.” Gu Han leaned toward Qi Ran’s shoulder and sniffed gently. “On the contrary, I think you’re the one who smells sweet.”

“I’m not wearing perfume,” Qi Ran said obediently, lying beside Gu Han without shying away from the intimacy. “I usually don’t. I’m lazy. I only spend time on details like my clothes, perfume, and hair gel when it’s a particularly large contract. Otherwise, I don’t even wear suits. My clients trust me, so I don’t need to put much effort into dressing up like the stereotypical salesperson.”

Gu Han frowned. “Big bosses are generally very eccentric. They haven’t bullied you, have they? Those people can be bastards, when they frequent shady places, they often swing both ways.”

“No. I don’t drink. They know I have a bad stomach and are afraid of something happening to me during business functions, so they don’t dare force me. As long as I don’t drink, I won’t be mysteriously whisked away.”

Feeling a bit cold, Qi Ran shrunk further into the covers. “I know how to protect myself.”

“You know how to protect yourself? Really?”

Gu Han was very meticulous in caring for Qi Ran. Noticing his movement and realizing he was cold, Gu Han turned around, grabbed his suit jacket, and draped it over him. He teased jokingly, “I’m a grown man in my thirties, and you’re just letting me lie next to you?”

Qi Ran nodded earnestly. “President Gu, I know you aren’t a bad person.”

Gu Han asked with great interest, “How do you know? Did you learn physiognomy or something?”

“No,” Qi Ran said playfully, smiling at Gu Han. “President Gu, besides the perfume, it seems I’m the only one who can smell that sweet scent on you. They say that only happens between people who are highly compatible. It’s… well, a genetic preference. Since I’m not a bad person, the person my genes chose must not be bad either. I believe that similar people attract each other. I’m not sure if that counts as physiognomy, but it’s always proven true for me.”

Before Qi Ran could even finish, Gu Han’s face turned bright red, and his ears began to burn. Much of Gu Han’s public persona was an act, in reality, he was cheerful and open. He tended to speak bluntly and wasn’t good at hiding things. His genuine affection and heartbeat were hard to conceal, and even if his eyes didn’t give him away, his immediate blushing certainly did. His shy state was exposed directly under Qi Ran’s gaze.

However, Gu Han didn’t feel embarrassed because Qi Ran’s damp, puppy-like eyes were so gentle. When he looked at Gu Han, his gaze was always curious and mild, never sharp or humiliating. Because of this, Gu Han was even more certain he hadn’t loved the wrong person.

In Gu Han’s heart, Qi Ran was an incredibly gentle and good person, it was as if a soft radiance flowed around him. Gu Han’s eyes began to fill with “pink bubbles” again.

Marriage! Little puppy Gu Han wants to marry Qi Ran right now! Marry, marry, marry, marry! I have to find a way to marry Qi Ran as soon as possible!

“What’s wrong?” Qi Ran had a strong sense of boundaries and had been lying quietly beside Gu Han, maintaining a polite distance. Seeing his face and ears flush so deeply, Qi Ran thought he was sick. He reached out from under the covers and lightly touched Gu Han’s forehead. “President Gu, do you have a fever? Your face is so red.”

Being touched on the face and forehead by Qi Ran was pure bliss. Gu Han nearly fainted from the excitement.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” Gu Han’s endurance had reached its limit, he was about to burst out laughing in front of Qi Ran. He climbed off the bed and took two hurried, deep breaths. “It’s a bit hot in the room. I’m going out for some fresh air. Wait for me! wait for me to come back and keep soothing you to sleep.”

Qi Ran nodded blankly. “Oh, okay.”

Watching Gu Han jog out, Qi Ran’s head was full of confusion. He whispered to himself, “What is wrong with President Gu? So strange. Is he unwell?”

Qi Ran was very mild-tempered and good at caring for others because he was often unwell himself. He missed the days when his health was good, and seeing a friend suffer made him worried. It was simply a case of wanting to hold an umbrella for others because he had been drenched by the rain himself.

Despite the grievances and injustices he suffered under Zhou Cheng’s management, Qi Ran remained kind and sincere. Many of his clients were fiercely loyal to him. When he was at Ruihao, he did business for Ruihao, if he changed jobs, the clients followed him. Zhou Cheng’s foolish schemes and desperate begging for business were powerless against Qi Ran’s sincerity.

Thus, Qi Ran was truly afraid he would exhaust Gu Han. During the short time Gu Han was out, Qi Ran remained worried.

Outside the ward, Gu Han was already lightheaded with happiness. Regardless of the early hour, he sent a message to Yu Shen: [I’m telling you, Qi Ran is just too cute. Most importantly, he might actually have a good impression of me. If I play my cards right, I might be able to start dating him even sooner than expected.]

In truth, Gu Han didn’t really have an “expected” timeline, he just felt saying it that way made him seem a bit more like a gentleman. In reality, he was already impatient. If he had to name a true expectation, it would be tomorrow and if not tomorrow, then the day after.

Yu Shen was a night owl who often worked late and slept until noon. He was just bringing a freshly ground coffee to his desk when his phone buzzed. Yu Shen walked quickly with his coffee, picked up the phone, and saw it was from Gu Han.

“Strange,” Yu Shen muttered, setting down the coffee. “What time is it? He’s still awake?”

Yu Shen replied: [That’s great, but how do you know?]

It took Gu Han only half a minute to write a three hundred words “essay,” detailing everything that had just happened with Qi Ran. He sent it to Yu Shen. In Gu Han’s mind, Yu Shen was an all powerful strategist. After recounting the events word for word, he humbly asked for advice on how to continue “conquering” Qi Ran.

Yu Shen: [?]

Yu Shen skimmed the content, but for now, he was most curious about Gu Han’s schedule. Breaking the pink bubbles, he asked: [Chairman, what kind of schedule is this? Usually, I can’t find you if I message after 9:30 PM. It’s 2:00 AM right now.]

Gu Han replied: [Qi Ran’s stomach is acting up and he can’t sleep. I have to look after him, so of course, I can’t sleep either.]

Yu Shen: [Didn’t they start a painkiller IV? He can’t go the whole night without sleep.]

Gu Han: [They did, it’s just not very effective. He said he always uses painkillers to endure his stomach issues, so his tolerance is too high now.]

Yu Shen frowned: [That poor kid. You really do need to take good care of him. By the way, I’ve already thought of a way to set you two up. I’m just waiting for you to invite him to Jianchen.]

Before Gu Han could reply, he heard a faint sound of footsteps behind him. Gu Han turned around and saw it was actually Qi Ran. His body was so thin that the striped hospital gown hung loosely on him. His pale hand was clutching his stomach, and his eyes were full of concern as he asked softly, “President Gu, are you okay? I was afraid you were getting sick from staying up late.”

“I’m fine. Why did you come out? It’s late, you can’t catch a cold.”

Gu Han hurriedly put away his phone and steadied Qi Ran, touching the hand that was covering his stomach. “Does your stomach hurt a lot?”

Qi Ran shook his head. “Actually, it’s okay.”

Gu Han leaned down and swept Qi Ran up into a horizontal carry. “Don’t hide it from me, silly child. You must be in pain. I’ll carry you back. Watch your hand, don’t bump the IV needle.”

The moment he was tucked into Gu Han’s arms, Qi Ran’s pale, sickly cheeks flushed crimson. Qi Ran was too shy, he had never been in a relationship, nor had he ever been in close contact with anyone. He had always rejected everyone’s advances.

Gu Han was the only exception.

Gu Han’s name sounded cold, but his embrace was incredibly warm and his arms were very strong. At that moment, Qi Ran was completely at a loss, he didn’t even have time to refuse before he was deep within Gu Han’s arms. Qi Ran tilted his head, leaning against Gu Han’s shoulder. His breathing unconsciously quickened and his heart raced. Accompanied by a bit of dizziness, Qi Ran felt he didn’t even have the strength to keep his eyes open, his heart was beating almost too fast.

“What’s wrong?”

Hearing Qi Ran’s rapid breathing, Gu Han looked down to check on him. He found that Qi Ran was in a bad state, not only were his cheeks flushed, but his pale fingertips were pressing against his chest. Gu Han panicked instantly. “Is your heart uncomfortable? Should I call a doctor? How about… I’ll carry you to find a doctor right now.”

“No need, I’m fine,” Qi Ran refused, then told Gu Han the truth in a soft voice. “I’m just a little shy. President Gu, this is the first time I’ve ever been held in someone’s arms.”

“Are you really okay?”

Gu Han was still worried. “Your complexion looks very poor.”

“It’s always like this. Because my stomach issues are severe enough to affect my daily life, my complexion obviously won’t be good.”

Qi Ran laughed and joked with Gu Han, “It’s fine. Don’t be scared, President Gu.”

“Of course I’m scared,” Gu Han said as he carried Qi Ran back to the hospital suite and steadily placed him on the bed. He voice a soft, half-pouting protest, “Patients aren’t allowed to wander around. You didn’t listen to the doctor or me. I was so worried.”

“Then I’ll just be obedient from now on,” Qi Ran said, making room for Gu Han to rest. Watching him sit on the bed and lean over to arrange his shoes, Qi Ran changed the subject. “President Gu, this ward is so big. It’s like an expensive hotel suite. When I went out to look for you, it took me a while just to find the way.”

“It is a luxury suite. The ninth floor is exclusive to VIPs,” Gu Han explained as he lay down beside Qi Ran, chatting about the hospital. “A friend of mine provided the funds and asked Jianchen to do the design and construction for this hospital. Since completion, it has survived two earthquakes and one record-breaking rainstorm without a scratch, not even the plaster fell off. This hospital is the masterpiece of me and Jianchen. To thank me, my friend kept the largest and most beautiful room in the VIP area for me. If I’m ever unwell and come here, everything from food to accommodation is free.”

“So that’s how it is. President Gu is a good person, so your friends are good too,” Qi Ran noted. Noticing that Gu Han’s hand had already reached over to gently massage his stomach, Qi Ran lay a bit flatter to make it easier for him. “I was thinking that when I get my salary, I’d pay President Gu back for the hospitalization costs.”

“Talking about money makes us sound like strangers.”

Gu Han felt Qi Ran’s stomach cramping slightly again. Qi Ran was too thin, there was almost no fat on his abdomen, so the twisting of the stomach wall could be felt clearly. Remembering that he said he couldn’t handle a heavy massage because it was too painful, Gu Han kept his palm flat and his movements very light. Gu Han truly adored Qi Ran, so every time he spoke to him, his voice was extremely tender: “I don’t want your money either.”

Qi Ran opened his cute, watery puppy eyes. “If President Gu doesn’t want money, what do you want?”

Gu Han curled his lips into a smile. “I want you, of course.”

Qi Ran froze. “What? Want me?”