Chapter 46

Watching Fan Xing’s face turning pale like paper, He Qingmo’s heart was filled with both pity and regret in an instant. He wanted to hug Fan Xing tightly and apologize, but given the current condition of the child, it wasn’t appropriate. Therefore, he had to suppress these emotions, holding Fan Xing and heading back home.

Fortunately, he encountered Fan Xing not far from home, and the round trip didn’t take much time. Aunt Wu hadn’t had the chance to put away the food.

The dishes were suitable for nourishing the stomach, which was exactly what Fan Xing needed now.

Aunt Wu had always liked Fan Xing. Seeing him in such pain, she felt distressed. While reheating the slightly cold dishes, she reminded Fan Xing to remember to eat. She scolded him for not remembering to eat on time, asking why he didn’t call her to cook for him as he did for He Qingmo.

Chattering away, Fan Xing didn’t find it annoying at all. He even smiled at her and nodded obediently, saying, “Thank you, Aunt Wu. I’ll remember.”

After He Qingmo brought Fan Xing in and put him down, he called Dr. Zhang immediately. After hanging up, he saw Fan Xing, who was enduring pain yet still taking care of others. It made his heart ache inexpressibly.

He went over and gently patted the child’s head. Softly, he said, “Eat something first. The doctor will be here soon.”

Fan Xing didn’t look at him. He just obediently listened to Dr. Zhang and nodded in thanks. Dr. Zhang instructed him to take the medicine after eating and then left.

By this time, Fan Xing couldn’t eat much. Holding the medicine in his hand, he took it with the water on the table.

Observing this, Aunt Wu exclaimed, “Oh dear, why eat so little? You haven’t eaten anything for such a long time. Is this enough? How about I make something else for you?”

Fan Xing smiled at her and said, “It’s okay, Aunt Wu. I’ve been fasting for too long, and eating too much at once isn’t good. Don’t worry; I’m a medical student, and I know the right amount.”

“It’s getting late. Aunt Wu, you go back first. I’ll clean up the kitchen later,” He Qingmo said, taking over the conversation without waiting for Aunt Wu to speak.

Aunt Wu wasn’t someone who couldn’t read the atmosphere. Given the strange atmosphere from the moment He Qingmo rushed out and brought back a sick Fan Xing, she could tell something was wrong. If it weren’t for her concern for Fan Xing, she would have found an excuse to leave earlier. Now that He Qingmo spoke, she took the opportunity to leave.

However, when she reached the entrance, she hesitated for a moment. Turning back, she softly called out to He Qingmo, “Mr. He, can I have a word with you?”

He Qingmo turned back. She motioned for him to follow, and despite his impatience, he reluctantly followed her. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

Aunt Wu tiptoed to take a glance inside. Seeing that Fan Xing was just sitting on the sofa without much movement, she gently opened the door and pulled He Qingmo outside, whispering, “Mr. He, forgive me for being meddlesome, but I don’t know what happened between you and Fan Xing. However, I feel that Fan Xing is not a petty person. It’s probably not because you couldn’t make it back for your birthday yesterday. But, just now, Dr. Zhang mentioned something about emotions, indicating that Fan Xing’s condition might be related to his mood. I… don’t know if I’m guessing right, but I think it might be because of what happened yesterday that trended on the hot search.”

He Qingmo was initially impatient, but upon hearing this, he became alert. “What hot search?” He never paid attention to such things.

Aunt Wu had an expression of “I knew it.” “Isn’t it about you and a boy at the airport? It’s trending just like before, saying you went on a vacation with a new lover. I saw it last night, and I didn’t take it seriously. Others might not know, but I know you, Mr. He. It’s definitely not like what they say outside. But regardless of the truth, is Fan Xing comfortable seeing such news? I originally thought that after you came back home last night, any misunderstandings could be cleared up face to face. But who knew you didn’t come back. Just think about it; Fan Xing prepared a birthday surprise for you at home, and you were trending with someone else, causing a huge sensation, and you even didn’t return home at night. How sad must this child be in his heart?”

He Qingmo was puzzled, “Which boy?”

“It’s just…” Aunt Wu directly took out her phone, opened Weibo, and although yesterday’s hot search had already gone down, searching for He Qingmo’s name still brought up a screen full of yesterday’s news. Aunt Wu directly showed him the search results, saying, “It’s this one.”

He Qingmo took a look and then remembered the incident at the airport yesterday. Unable to stand still, he quickly thanked Aunt Wu and turned back to the room.

Fan Xing was still sitting on the sofa, seemingly motionless. Although the bloodless face from earlier had regained a bit of rosy color, it couldn’t conceal the profound exhaustion.

The man, clearly eager to explain, couldn’t help but soften his steps upon seeing Fan Xing in this state. He walked over, bent down, and lifted the person in his arms, softly saying, “Go upstairs, take a shower, and get a good sleep.”

Fan Xing’s dense eyelashes trembled as he slowly opened his eyes and looked at him. He gently shook his head, “I have to go back to school; otherwise, I won’t make it tomorrow morning.”

“Now?” He Qingmo was surprised; it was almost ten o’clock, and going back to Qing University might not be possible in time. Moreover, how could Fan Xing go back in his current condition?

Fan Xing nodded, gently breaking free from He Qingmo’s embrace. He picked up his phone from the coffee table without looking at He Qingmo, speaking softly, “Yes, I have early classes tomorrow.” He continued, “Actually, I came back just to see if my brother is feeling better. And…”

He lowered his head, paused, and then continued, “I’m sorry for what I said this morning. I wanted to apologize to my brother… Ah…”

Before he could finish his words, he was tightly embraced by the man.

“I’m sorry…” The man’s voice echoed in his ears, filled with deep regret and tenderness. “I’m sorry, Fan Xing. I should be the one apologizing. I let down your intentions. I rarely celebrate birthdays after turning eighteen; I often forget even myself. So, I really didn’t expect you to prepare a surprise for me. If I knew, I would have come back. I’m sorry, Fan Xing.”

Fan Xing’s waist hurt from being hugged tightly, but he didn’t struggle. He just comforted the man gently, “It’s okay, brother. Things happen. You had something to do.”

At this moment, for He Qingmo, full of guilt and self-blame, the more understanding Fan Xing was, the more uncomfortable he felt.

However, now was not the time to dwell on such matters. He Qingmo just wanted to resolve the misunderstanding as quickly as possible.

“Also, I coincidentally met Zhou Haoran at the airport. He was with Grandpa Wu. If he didn’t take the initiative to talk to me, I wouldn’t even remember who he was. In the morning, he was in the hospital room. It should be Grandpa Wu who asked him to go. I’m not very sure about the details. But, Fan Xing, I hardly talked to him; it’s impossible for him to be a new lover.”

Fan Xing, who had been silent all this time, slightly stiffened. He raised his head from He Qingmo’s chest, looked at him, and asked softly, “Really?”

He Qingmo felt like the biggest fool in reality. Why did he let the person he liked lack such a sense of security?

He gently stroked Fan Xing’s cheek, nodding, “Really. So, yesterday evening when you went to the bar with Lu Chi and avoided me in the morning, was it because of this incident?”

Fan Xing, feeling uneasy, nodded gently, “Yeah. Actually… I knew that my brother and he definitely weren’t like what the news said. He has a relationship with Xiao Yu, and my brother and Xiao Yu are friends. There’s no way he would do anything to him. I also know that my brother is exactly like what the outside says, someone who changes boyfriends casually. I know all of that, but… but…”

“But you still care, right?” The man softly continued the conversation, his heart filled with tenderness and guilt, mixed with a hint of sweetness.

The hands Fan Xing had on He Qingmo’s chest tightened and then loosened, and then tightened again.

Fan Xing hesitated, and He Qingmo could see it clearly. At this moment, the child was like when he wanted to ask about his relationship with Zhou Haoran in the morning.

He Qingmo firmly held the hands clutching his chest in his palm, “Fan Xing, tell me the truth. Don’t keep everything in your heart, okay? I am your husband. Is there anything you can’t tell me?”

He Qingmo liked that Fan Xing cared about such things, but he didn’t like the child keeping everything to himself and torturing himself.

In the morning, he saw that Fan Xing was avoiding him, but he never expected that the child wanted to ask about this.

He couldn’t understand why Fan Xing didn’t directly ask him. Fan Xing cared about such matters, didn’t that clearly indicate that he cared about him? He Qingmo liked that Fan Xing cared, but he didn’t like the child keeping everything to himself, tormenting himself.

“Tell me, is it because you are worried about me and him?” He Qingmo asked.

Fan Xing bit his lip gently, his whole body tense. After a prolonged silence, he suddenly seemed to have made a decision, lifted his head to meet the man’s eyes, and spoke in a calm but soft voice, “Because I know that my brother and I will eventually divorce. Our marriage is originally my brother’s capricious game. In my brother’s heart, I’m no different from those he used to date. When my brother no longer wants to play this game, we will divorce. Just like those people my brother used to date, my brother may not even remember who I am when he sees me again. I feel that under these circumstances, I shouldn’t ask, and I don’t have the right to ask.”

He Qingmo looked at him, and his heart felt like it was being struck by something heavy, causing intense pain.

He had never explained the past because Fan Xing never asked. Besides, he always had a selfish hope that one day Fan Xing would truly fall in love with him and ask him with jealousy, allowing him to explain.

But he forgot that Fan Xing was someone who liked to keep everything in his heart, no matter what happened.

Moreover, their marriage was mixed with other things from the beginning. In Fan Xing’s mind, it was a transaction, a game. Without knowing his true feelings, Fan Xing would always remember this premise.

So, even if Fan Xing cared a lot, he would force himself not to forget his identity, not to do anything excessive to interfere with him!

When was the time He Qingmo regretted the most in his twenty-eight years? Probably now. He suddenly hated his inexplicable bad taste.

“Fan Xing.” He softly called his name, embracing him. “I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

“What?” Fan Xing thought he had misheard, raised his head eagerly, but was pressed back into the man’s arms and couldn’t move.

He Qingmo continued, “Lu Chi and all those people who were photographed before, were actually arranged by me through Xiao Yu. My family always hoped I would find a woman to marry and have children, continuously arranging blind dates for me. When I wasn’t happy, I opposed them. Every time they persuaded me, I would go to the Imperial Palace, find someone to go out with, intentionally be photographed, make it a hot topic. Mainly for my parents to see. I admit that this behavior is childish and not advisable, but I assure you, I haven’t even touched their hands.”

Listening to the man’s words while being pressed in his arms, Fan Xing’s mood changed from initial surprise and astonishment to a subtle joy.

He couldn’t fool himself; he knew that He Qingmo had never been with anyone before. He was genuinely happy, and a faint smile unknowingly appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Really?” he asked softly.

“Really. So, you’re different from them, understand?” The man whispered.

The smile at the corner of Fan Xing’s mouth unintentionally faded, and his voice became a bit lower, “That’s because I’m married to my brother.”

The man was slightly stunned for a moment before understanding his meaning. “So, does that mean I can do anything to you?”

Fan Xing nodded, “Yes.”

He Qingmo felt somewhat helpless. He had long noticed that no matter how unfamiliar and scared Fan Xing was of him in the beginning or now when he had feelings for him, Fan Xing would never refuse him anytime he wanted to get close. Even on the first day they met, when the child was nervous to the point of almost bleeding from his palms, he still forced himself to accept He Qingmo.

Because Fan Xing knew clearly in his heart that he was here to please the Gu family, to win him over. His job was to comply and accept.

He Qingmo sometimes felt that Fan Xing’s mind was too clear. It was clear to the extent that he always knew what he should do. Moreover, he was particularly ruthless to himself. After deciding to do something, he wouldn’t care about his own feelings and would persist.

He sighed helplessly, released Fan Xing, supported his shoulders, lowered his head, and looked into his eyes. “Fan Xing, even though we’re married, if I’m unwilling, I won’t touch a single hair on you. Do you understand?”

Meeting those deep and profound eyes, Fan Xing clearly saw a hint of helplessness and… a tenderness that couldn’t be concealed. His little heart began to beat uncontrollably.

He instinctively wanted to lower his head and avoid the man’s eyes but was caught by the chin and couldn’t escape.
!
His cheeks were a bit flushed, but at this moment, the man lowered his head, getting closer to him. His voice was low and hoarse but incredibly solemn, “I hug you and kiss you because I like you, and I plan to do even more intimate things. Do you understand?”

Fan Xing, flustered by his gaze and the sudden approach, was trying to come up with a way to escape this awkward situation when the man’s words successfully paralyzed his brain.

He looked at the man in surprise, his clear big eyes blinking as if he hadn’t understood what the man was saying.

After a moment, his brain started working again. His pale little face turned red in an instant. He quickly moved away from the man’s hands and turned around in a panic, “What are you saying?”

Then, trying to run away, he was pulled back by the man, who encircled his waist. Their foreheads touched as they locked eyes, “I said I like you. I want to hug you, kiss you, and be with you intimately. I never planned to divorce you. So give up on that idea. You can only be with me for the rest of your life.”

Fan Xing’s face turned as red as a tomato, and his heartbeat made him suspect that he might have a heart condition. But it wasn’t just nervousness and embarrassment; there was also joy, happiness, and sweetness.

He tried to calm himself down, but the man’s deep and expectant eyes were so close that, apart from tenderness and deep affection, there was a strong sense of anticipation.

As if enchanted, Fan Xing tiptoed closer, inch by inch, and gently pressed his lips against the man’s.

The man was somewhat surprised, but soon a smile appeared at the corner of the lips that were being kissed. He took the initiative, embracing Fan Xing and regaining control, pressing him onto the sofa.

 

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