The Pitiful Guy I Saved Is a Possessive Big Shot - Chapter 14

Specialist VIP wards are expensive, and as a result, the conditions are much better than regular rooms. When Shi Yi entered, he was met with a gentle, warm breeze. The indoor temperature was perfect, so Shi Qingning, who usually feared the cold, didn’t have to wear heavy layers.

The boy wore an undyed cashmere sweater, revealing a hint of his thin, delicate collarbones. The snow-white clothing made the vivid red marks on his neck and collarbone stand out sharply against his pale skin.

Shi Yi noticed those abnormal red marks immediately.

“What’s this?”

Hearing the question, Shi Qingning instinctively reached out to touch the area, but Bai Yexi, standing beside him, gently raised a hand to block him. Shi Qingning’s fingers only brushed against the cool back of the other boy’s hand.

He realized then what his brother was looking at.

“Oh, those were just rubbed red by the medical drapes during the procedure.”

Shi Qingning’s skin was very thin; though he was pale, he bruised and marked easily. The Shi family spent a fortune just on his clothing, using only soft natural fabrics like velvet and silk, mostly in light colors to avoid chemical dyes. As for detergents, the family only used two specific brands—several of the products were even custom-made for them. Most commercial products caused Shi Qingning to have allergic reactions.

It was no exaggeration to say that Young Master Shi’s health was built entirely out of his family’s money.

The same applied at the hospital. Shi Qingning used to stay there for years, and his bedsheets were custom-made soft silk to prevent skin damage. However, this surgery had been an emergency arrangement, so the preparations weren’t as perfect. That was why the medical drapes had irritated his skin.

Shi Qingning, being very observant, quickly added another sentence.

“In the future, I’ll have my check-ups on time. If we prepare in advance, it won’t happen again.”

Shi Yi’s face was still sour, but seeing his younger brother acting so cautious and pitiful, he barely managed to drop the subject. However, when he caught sight of Bai Yexi, his mind was not as calm as his expression.

The boy stood by the bed, silently pulling his hand back. Shi Yi wasn’t familiar with him; he only knew this was a new friend of his brother’s. But he knew that being able to listen so intently and intervene so quickly to protect someone was not something a “normal” friend could easily do.

Shi Yi walked over to check the site on Shi Qingning’s chest. Just as he reached out, he saw that the area was already covered in a thin, moisturizing sheen.

Noticing his brother’s look, Shi Qingning took the initiative to say, “Mint already helped me apply the medicine.”

“…”

Shi Yi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Shi Qingning continued, “I think I bit my cheek a little, too. Mint was just about to go get some medicinal powder.”

“Don’t apply things yourself,” Shi Yi’s temple throbbed, his voice turning colder. “Call the doctor to see it.”

“No need, I’m fine!”

Shi Qingning hadn’t even planned to use the powder, but now that his brother was here, the supervision had become even stricter.

“Sit properly.” Shi Yi’s tone left no room for argument. “I’ll have someone get the doctor.”

Before leaving the ward, Shi Yi gave Bai Yexi one last look. The silent boy had just tucked his long hair behind his ear, revealing half of his perfect, cold face. Although Shi Yi’s words were directed at his brother, the underlying defensiveness was impossible for Bai Yexi to miss.

Yet, Bai Yexi showed no reaction. He simply reached out, pulled up the sliding soft blanket, and tucked Shi Qingning in a bit warmer.

Shi Yi went out, closed the door, and sent someone for the doctor. Then he called Sun Ming over.

“How are you looking after him?” Shi Yi’s voice was icy. “Why are only the two of them in there?”

Shi Yi had just finished dealing with one “Jian Ren,” and in the blink of an eye, another person had appeared by his brother’s side. And they were staying alone together so boldly. Shi Yi was very dissatisfied. He was already an intimidating person; now that he was clearly angry, the atmosphere in the hallway became even more oppressive.

Then, a gentle female voice spoke up.

“Shi Yi, you’re here?”

It was Madam Shi. She was carrying a bouquet of light pink fresh-cut flowers; the petals still had dew on them and looked very fresh.

“I just went to pick out some flowers nearby. The room was a bit too plain.”

Madam Shi was humming a little tune and seemed to be in a great mood.

“Have you eaten? we ate early today, and there’s a bowl of chicken soup untouched. Do you want some?”

Shi Yi’s brow twitched. “You’ve been here the whole time?”

Madam Shi nodded. “Yes, today’s meeting wasn’t very important, so I canceled it.”

Shi Yi was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ve eaten.” He tilted his head slightly, signaling a bodyguard to take the flowers from her arms.

Madam Shi was curious. “What is it?”

Shi Yi asked, “Did you let that person stay in the ward?”

“Who?” Madam Shi realized who he meant. “Oh, Xiao Bai? I asked him to stay. He was a huge help this time.” She smiled. “The nurse we usually hire caught a cold and couldn’t come these past two days, so Xiao Bai has been helping. Honestly, he’s just a child himself, but he’s more attentive than a professional nurse.”

“Mom.” Shi Yi gently interrupted her. “How long have they known each other?”

Shi Yi didn’t want to mention Jian Ren; he knew that name would make her sad. He also knew his mother wanted Shi Qingning to socialize more. But was Bai Yexi really a safe choice?

Madam Shi stared at him for a while, then suddenly laughed.

“I think that child is a bit like you—looks very stern on the outside, but cares about Xiao Ning more than anyone.”

“…”

Shi Yi didn’t speak, but his expression showed he clearly disagreed.

Madam Shi placed her hand on his forearm and patted it gently.

“Xiao Bai is a good kid. Don’t worry too much.”

Shi Yi raised an eyebrow. “You’ve investigated him?”

“No,” Madam Shi said helplessly. “I’m not talking about his background.” She thought for a moment and smiled. “Maybe it’s just… a mother’s intuition?”

Inside the ward.

Shi Qingning looked at his fingers and then at the simple silver chain around Bai Yexi’s neck. He was curious. “Is that a pure silver chain?”

He moved his fingers; his fingertips were long, thin, and white.

“I think I turn red if I touch alloy materials, but I didn’t this time.”

Shi Qingning had woken up shortly after the surgery. Although his fainting had been sudden, his physical condition wasn’t too bad. Since recovery care is always needed after a heart procedure, the doctor had called it a “routine” surgery to keep him calm.

Shi Qingning was used to these procedures and recovered quickly. He actually could have been discharged on the day of the surgery, but his family insisted he stay a few more days. During these days in the hospital, he had indeed rested well, and his sleep quality was much better than before.

When he woke up today, he saw Bai Yexi sitting by the bed, having taken off the chain and looking at it closely. Shi Qingning looked at it too and noticed that although it was delicate and polished, it wasn’t like a mass-produced chain where every link is identical. Instead, it looked handmade. Every link looked like it had been manually put together.

A short while later, Madam Shi came in to serve dinner, and Bai Yexi put the chain away. Just as he was about to put it back on, Shi Qingning volunteered to help.

“It’s not silver,” Bai Yexi said, looking at Shi Qingning’s fingers. “It’s platinum.”

After confirming the boy’s fingers were fine, he looked away. “Don’t touch things randomly in the future. You might even be allergic to pure silver if it rubs against you.”

“Oh,” Shi Qingning nodded. He thought for a moment and asked, “Was it a gift from someone?”

Though Shi Qingning didn’t spend much money himself, he knew platinum was far more expensive than silver. Given Bai Yexi’s situation, platinum was quite a luxury. Furthermore, the craftsmanship of the chain looked even more expensive than the material itself. Seeing how much Bai Yexi cherished it, Shi Qingning couldn’t help but wonder.

Could this be something the An family gave him?

“No,” Bai Yexi said. “It’s mine.”

Shi Qingning felt a bit relieved. He couldn’t recall any mention of this chain in the novel or the movie. Perhaps it was something his biological parents had left him?

As he was thinking, the door opened, and Madam Shi and Shi Yi walked in. A doctor followed them. Shi Qingning was checked thoroughly once more before finally being allowed to rest.

But clearly, he had relaxed too early.

While Madam Shi was arranging the new flowers and Bai Yexi was helping with the vase, Shi Qingning put on his shoes and got out of bed to take a look. Then he heard a voice that made him break into a cold sweat.

“Shi Qingning.” Shi Yi called him expressionlessly. “Come weigh yourself.”

Shi Qingning froze. “Brother…” He answered obediently, trying to sound confident. “I weighed myself two days ago.”

Shi Yi didn’t even bother to look up. “Come here.”

Beside them, Madam Shi finished the flowers and added, “Sweetie, just weigh yourself. Since you’re being discharged this afternoon, let’s keep a record.”

Shi Qingning had no choice but to walk over. Before stepping on the scale, he tried one last struggle. “Brother, step back a bit, you’re blocking my view of the numbers.”

The excuse was so weak that even Shi Qingning didn’t believe it. Fortunately, Shi Yi seemed too lazy to call him out and actually took a step back. Shi Qingning breathed a sigh of relief and stepped on—

“Eighty-seven point six-five pounds!” a crisp electronic voice announced loudly.

Shi Qingning: “…”

Shi Yi frowned. “How did you lose another three pounds?”

Shi Qingning had just had surgery, so the family expected some weight loss, but they didn’t expect him to lose three pounds so quickly. Since he left the hospital last time, the family had worked hard to help him gain weight; now, those efforts had been completely erased.

“I’m wearing lighter clothes today, that’s why there’s a difference,” Shi Qingning analyzed logically. “Last time I was wearing a thick coat.”

“This is a smart scale,” Shi Yi looked at him ominously. “It automatically subtracts the weight of your clothes.”

Are scales today really this smart? Shi Qingning sighed quietly. “If I’d known, I would have hidden a piece of ham in my pocket.”

Shi Yi: “What did you say?”

Shi Qingning immediately said, “I said I’ll eat more ham from now on and try to gain weight.”

Madam Shi laughed and walked over. “Xiao Ning has hated weighing himself since he was little. We used to have to find so many ways to trick you onto the scale.”

Shi Qingning paused. That sentence triggered a memory. It seemed like in the past, someone used to hold him while weighing themselves, then subtract their own weight to find his.

“One time your brother couldn’t get you to do it, so he just tried to pick you up and weigh you,” Madam Shi said. “But he didn’t control his strength and ended up bruising your arm. You didn’t even know how to shout that it hurt, you just cried quietly. In the end, we didn’t get the weight, and when I came back, your arm was all swollen.”

“Since then, you’ve been especially afraid of your brother.” Madam Shi shook her head with a smile. “Actually, you don’t know this, but your brother was so scared he didn’t dare touch you for a long time.”

She looked at her two children, her gaze softening. Fortunately, not only was her younger son healthy again, but the relationship between the two brothers had clearly improved.

Shi Qingning was stunned. Not his big brother? Then who was the person who held me to weigh me?

As he was thinking, his eyes caught a tall, thin figure, and he thought of something else.

“Mint!” Shi Qingning waved him over. “You should weigh yourself too.”

Shi Qingning had noticed he was too thin long ago. After learning about the blood draws, he felt even more pained. Bai Yexi’s thinness was not normal for a sixteen-year-old boy. Mint needed to be nourished, too.

Bai Yexi had been watching from a few steps away. Surprised by the sudden call, he paused.

Only after Madam Shi said, “Xiao Bai, come check too, you are quite thin,” did he walk over.

He stepped onto the scale, and the electronic voice reported his weight.

“Ninety point six-eight pounds.”

“Huh?”

That number was very familiar to them. Shi Qingning leaned in to look. “That’s exactly what my weight used to be.”

But Bai Yexi was taller, at least 1.75 meters or more. At that height, this weight was even more alarming than Shi Qingning’s.

“You really are too thin,” Shi Qingning shook his head. “Eat ham with me.”

Madam Shi chimed in: “Then let’s start tonight.”

“Ah…?”

While they were chatting, Shi Yi remained silent. His eyes were fixed on the scale’s display—that clear “90.68.” That was the exact weight Shi Qingning had been stuck at for days, no matter how much extra food they fed him.

Shi Yi frowned inwardly. Could it really be such a coincidence?

Shi Qingning was discharged that same day. Since he had been hospitalized so many times, the process was quick. He arrived home in the afternoon. Madam Shi and Shi Yi stayed home to handle work online while keeping an eye on him.

“No reading for the next two days, just rest,” Madam Shi said.

Her son’s fainting spell had truly frightened her, and her care had become even more meticulous. Tutors and piano lessons were suspended until he was fully rested. If Shi Qingning hadn’t insisted, she would have stopped them for even longer. She didn’t care about his grades or piano exams; she just wanted him safe and happy.

After the exhaustion of the fainting spell, Shi Qingning had become more compliant and agreed to everything his mother said.

But what brought Madam Shi the most pleasant surprise was Bai Yexi.

Originally, Bai Yexi was only supposed to be a piano partner. Since the lessons were stopping, Shi Qingning had been worried about how to keep him around. There was no news of the An family yet, and with Bai Yexi’s arm in that condition, Shi Qingning couldn’t let him leave.

So, he went to his mother and said he wanted to study and rest with his friend. If he couldn’t be a piano partner, he could be a study partner. Study sessions could last longer, giving Shi Qingning a valid reason to pay him more. This way, Bai Yexi wouldn’t have to work multiple part-time jobs and risk getting hurt again.

Madam Shi agreed immediately. The two boys were close in age, and their study schedules could be easily aligned. Having seen how attentive Bai Yexi was over the past two days, she felt he was doing her a great favor.

Sure enough, that afternoon Shi Qingning didn’t just stay in the study. He and Bai Yexi spent most of the afternoon by the lake and stayed in the flower house for a long time after dinner. Both places had benches, so he didn’t have to worry about his physical strength.

It was late at night when they returned to the living room. Since the last bus stopped running early, Bai Yexi packed his things to leave. Shi Qingning watched him and suddenly said:

“Why don’t you just stay here?”

“It’s so late, and you have to come back tomorrow anyway.”

Shi Qingning looked up at him. From this angle, his eyelashes looked even longer, and the corners of his eyes drooped slightly, making him look sincerely pitiful.

He said, “The bed in my room is very big, there’s definitely enough space.”

Bai Yexi’s long hair fell forward, hiding his expression. After a long silence, he gently raised his hand to tuck the loose hair behind his ear, his hand brushing against the platinum chain on his neck.

He whispered, “No need.”

Madam Shi, who had just packed some late-night snacks for Bai Yexi, heard them and added, “Staying over is a good idea, it saves you from traveling back and forth.” She smiled and said, “These past two days at the hospital, with Xiao Bai there, Xiao Ning slept very peacefully…”

Clack.

A cold, sharp sound came from the doorway.

Shi Yi was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He had tapped his keys against the frame, causing the sound.

“My car is in the yard.”

Shi Yi looked at Bai Yexi expressionlessly. “Are you packed? I’ll drive you.”