Chapter 4
“Xiao Shi?” Yin Zhiyi was now adept at using Ling Su’s tone. He smiled gently, his eyes fixed on the female lead standing still.
Xia Wanshi blinked, clearly not understanding the underlying meaning of her childhood friend’s words until her gaze landed on the blood seeping from Qiu Yiyuan’s hip bone area. She blushed instantly. “Ahem… I’ll go take a shower first.”
Qiu Yiyuan was bewildered by their strange conversation. Initially, he thought they were just ordinary people accidentally involved, but he dutifully pondered any hidden meanings in their words. Soon, he understood why the girl’s tone suddenly changed.
The hip bone area was close to a man’s most private part. Qiu Yiyuan had always disliked physical contact with others, especially in such an awkward place. However, he knew the situation called for tact, so he closed his eyes and pretended to know nothing.
In the bedroom, there was only an “unconscious” injured man and a “kind-hearted, serious” doctor. The silence was so intense that they could hear each other’s breathing, making Qiu Yiyuan even more nervous.
Yin Zhiyi, finally having sent the female lead away, slightly lifted the corners of his lips, weighing the wound-cleansing solution in his hand. It felt like facing a prey that had walked into his trap, not knowing where to start.
From his analysis of the male and female leads’ relationship, his younger brother seemed to have a fledgling complex. During his life-threatening moment, the female lead gave him safety and trust, leading to rapid romantic development. Reducing their interaction was always a safe bet.
“We need to clean the wound first. It will hurt a bit, sorry.” His gentle voice carried a hint of guilt. Even though his patient was “unconscious,” he didn’t forget to comfort him. However, the warm words contrasted with the dangerous smile on his face.
Hmm, he had just taken over Ling Su’s body, and his technique was unskilled. It didn’t matter if he accidentally caused pain, right?
His inner monologue was unknown to others. Listening to his voice, Qiu Yiyuan felt his tension ease, his brows relaxing as he subconsciously grew closer.
Since he confused Yin Zhiyi with his savior in the dream, he felt a bit afraid of Ling Su. To be fair, Ling Su was a kind and gentle doctor who, out of pity and professional ethics, chose to help despite knowing he was trouble. Comparing Ling Su with Yin Zhiyi was, in itself, a form of disrespect.
“Hiss…” While Qiu Yiyuan was silently reflecting, a surge of pain hit his wound, and the cold liquid washing over it made him cry out involuntarily, his brow furrowing.
Yin Zhiyi followed Ling Su’s memories, glancing at the male lead who, despite trembling muscles from pain, still pretended to be unconscious. He raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding his intention but suddenly felt a playful urge to tease him.
“Hmm… it’s inconvenient to bandage the wound this way. I’ll have to be a bit intrusive.” He pretended to think seriously, his tone righteous, without a trace of deliberate intention.
Qiu Yiyuan, already exhausted from the pain of wound cleaning, didn’t have the energy to move. Hearing Yin Zhiyi’s serious tone, he didn’t think much of it and was glad for his kindness. As long as the treatment could be completed quickly, he was willing to discreetly cooperate with the doctor.
As the thought arose, the area below his hip bone felt cold. His eyelids twitched. If not for maintaining rationality, he would have reflexively pulled the blanket over himself.
Stripping… since it’s already done, men shouldn’t be so fussy. Endure it.
Qiu Yiyuan took a deep breath, trying to convince himself.
Yin Zhiyi noticed the person on the bed breathing heavily, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Using Ling Su’s identity to legitimately tease Qiu Yiyuan turned out to be unexpectedly fun, adding some entertainment to the otherwise tedious and lengthy treatment. Perhaps due to the system’s task, since he saw the male lead in the alley, his annoying brother seemed somewhat more pleasing.
His undisguised gaze swept over Qiu Yiyuan, causing an uncomfortable prickling sensation for the one pretending to sleep. His hands trembled slightly, barely noticeable, as his previously calm breathing grew heavy again.
Suddenly, that blatant gaze retracted, replaced by a gentle voice laced with regret.
“Hmm? This place is injured too… and it seems infected.” He dabbed a cotton swab on what was clearly just a surface abrasion.
Qiu Yiyuan’s eyelids twitched with the movement of Yin Zhiyi’s hand, his ears heating up. He regretted not waking up the moment he regained consciousness. Now, it was hard to extricate himself. Just as he thought of pretending to wake up gradually, that pleasant voice rose a few tones.
“Looks like it’ll have to be cut off.” Yin Zhiyi leisurely picked up the surgical knife, speaking regretfully.
“Wait!” Qiu Yiyuan hurriedly sat up, cold sweat breaking out on his chiseled face. Seeing the sharp blade gleaming under the light, he felt secretly thankful his vital part was almost lost.
Originally planning to wake up when no one was around to observe the environment and prepare thoroughly, the current situation forced him to wake up. If he didn’t, he would be truly crippled. Even if he saved his father, he couldn’t face him with such shame.
“Mister, you’re awake.” Yin Zhiyi smiled at the grave-faced Qiu Yiyuan, speaking gently, “I need to discuss something with you.”
“Thank you for saving me.” He pulled the blanket closer, frowning as he replied. He had some inkling of what the other wanted to say, fully aware of his own condition. Unsure if Yin Zhiyi saw through his act or was just incompetent, he continued pretending to have just woken, saying, “I had a nightmare, and it woke me up.”
“Really?” Yin Zhiyi toyed with the surgical knife, then looked regretfully at the male lead. “Sir, I don’t know how you got injured, but I must regretfully inform you that to prevent further infection, the best course is to remove the infected part. If you don’t mind, we can do it at a hospital.”
Hearing this, Qiu Yiyuan momentarily suspected Yin Zhiyi of being a medical scammer. Otherwise, how could he so heartlessly call his abrasion an infection!
Qiu Yiyuan’s mouth twitched, still mindful of his savior. He highly valued his privacy, and since growing up, had never been this intimate with anyone, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Scrutinizing Yin Zhiyi’s expression, seeing he genuinely believed in cutting the “infected” area, he reluctantly lifted the blanket, saying pointedly, “It’s just a scrape, not infected.”
In other words, no need to cut.
Yin Zhiyi was silent for a moment, pursing his lips and glancing at the injury. Seeing the male lead enduring embarrassment to explain, his initial goal of teasing him achieved, he had no desire to continue the pretense.
He showed appropriate distress, rubbing his brow and apologizing, “Sorry, I might have been too tired tonight and made a mistake. Thankfully, no harm done.”
Hearing this, Qiu Yiyuan felt a mix of emotions. The excuse was somewhat far-fetched, but in his understanding, the reason Yin Zhiyi was so tired tonight was largely due to himself. If he hadn’t saved him from the drunkard and stopped the bleeding, he might be dead now.
Having almost no close friends, Qiu Yiyuan, who once aimed to be the excellent heir of the Qiu family and later had no time due to Yin Zhiyi’s persecution, was now at a loss on how to interact.
Forcing a slight expression on his overly cold face, he said quietly, “Although I’ve said it before, thank you for saving me.”
“Had no choice, since I came across you.” Yin Zhiyi stood up, looking down at him with a light laugh. He absorbed every rare expression on the other’s face, ones never shown to him as a brother.
After years of rivalry, they were now calmly conversing in such a way.
Most of Qiu Yiyuan’s wounds had been treated except for the hip bone area, which had been medicated but not bandaged. His gaze briefly stayed on the bullet on the bedside table, darkening before he looked down, hinting, “You should know the troubles involved with me are beyond what you can handle. Saving me might bring you big trouble.”
His words contained a probe.
Yin Zhiyi’s face showed no change, naturally reacting as Ling Su would. His half-lidded clear eyes showed a hint of struggle before he smiled helplessly, saying, “Leaving you like this would make me, as a doctor, feel guilty.”
The pure smile and the kind, gentle demeanor of the man before him overlapped slightly with the youth in the alley under the moonlight, making Qiu Yiyuan instinctively look away, feeling a bit guilty for doubting him.
“You’re a good doctor…” Qiu Yiyuan, having calmed his complex emotions, deeply gazed at the handsome face, then took the bandage from beside him, vaguely changing the subject
, “I’ll handle the rest myself.”
Was he shy?
Yin Zhiyi chuckled, shaking his head. He didn’t enjoy attending to the male lead either, so he got up to leave the bedroom. Before closing the door, he seemed to remember something and knocked to catch Qiu Yiyuan’s attention.
“By the way, my name is Ling Su. Su, like in the constellation.”
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