Chapter 74
The next morning when he woke up, Su Bin felt a bit dazed. He didn’t know when Allen had left. Thinking about what happened last night, Su Bin couldn’t help but want to bury his feverish face completely in the pillow and merge with the cotton!
It wasn’t that he had no memory. He remembered falling asleep leaning against Allen, but at that time, his sleep wasn’t deep. So when Allen wanted to leave, he greedily held onto the other’s waist… Because he didn’t want to be apart, he hummed in a pout, and because of this small action and sound, Allen stayed, letting him hold on.
Later, it seemed that Allen lay down beside him, repeatedly patting his back until he fell asleep completely…
Unable to accept his own shameful behavior, Su Bin felt his whole body heating up. It must be because he was too upset and tired that he became so fragile. He would never be like this normally!
Su Bin lay there for a while, feeling a slight pain in his temples and a dry throat… Was it because he had shed too many tears that his body had become dehydrated? He propped up his achy body and went downstairs to get some water. Walking down the stairs, he saw Yang Chengzhe packing his luggage in the living room.
“Up already?” Yang Chengzhe smiled at Su Bin and said, “I’m heading back to the country today.”
Su Bin responded with an “ah,” feeling a bit embarrassed for not attending the farewell dinner last night.
Yang Chengzhe placed his belongings into his suitcase and stood up, asking Su Bin, “Allen told me you weren’t feeling well yesterday. Are you feeling better now?”
Su Bin nodded and said, “Much better.” He didn’t plan to tell Yang Chengzhe about his inner frustrations; otherwise, he would come across as a complainer.
“Are these things you’re taking back to the country?” Su Bin asked, looking at the unopened small boxes in Yang Chengzhe’s suitcase.
Yang Chengzhe replied, “Yeah, I bring a lot of skincare products back to my parents every year.”
This statement reminded Su Bin of impulsively buying a plane ticket. He hesitated whether to tell Yang Chengzhe… Just as he was about to speak, he heard a noise from upstairs, so he quickly held back his words.
Allen had also come downstairs. “Good morning, did you rest well?” he asked, walking toward Su Bin.
Su Bin’s feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move. Allen’s voice had a magnetic quality that seemed to carry a gentle electric current, instantly spreading through Su Bin’s entire body, evoking memories of last night. He recalled himself clinging to Allen and humming to prevent him from leaving… Su Bin suddenly felt that something had changed between him and Allen.
Approaching Su Bin, Allen suddenly raised his hand, and the cool back of his hand touched Su Bin’s forehead. He frowned and said, “You have a fever.”
Su Bin exclaimed, “Huh?” Could it be true? How did he get a fever? QAQ
Yang Chengzhe expressed concern, “Did you catch a cold yesterday?”
Su Bin was puzzled too. He rarely got sick and had a fever… Could emotional issues also lead to physical illness?
“Don’t worry, let Allen give you some medicine. You’ll be better soon,” Yang Chengzhe reassured.
Su Bin found it strange, “Allen can prescribe fever-reducing medicine too?”
Yang Chengzhe nodded, “Yeah, he’s been the one prescribing medicine for my minor illnesses and pains before, and it’s been effective.”
Suddenly, Su Bin remembered that Allen had helped with a mushroom allergy before, suggesting some medicine, and he recovered quickly…
But wasn’t Allen only a year older than him? He was still in his undergraduate studies! Undergraduates could prescribe fever-reducing medicine?
…Wow, people who study pharmacy are really amazing!
Feeling Su Bin’s admiring gaze, Allen smiled and said, “You don’t need to take medicine; the fever will go away in a couple of days.”
Su Bin asked, “Why?”
Allen responded with an “uh,” saying, “If the fever is a bit foolish, you won’t be thinking about all sorts of random things.”
Su Bin, “…”
Seeing Allen playfully teasing Su Bin, Yang Chengzhe couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, I need to leave now!” He checked his passport and electronic ticket, then stood up. “It’s just you two here from now on!… Oh, Allen, you’re going home for Christmas, right?”
Seeing Allen nod, Yang Chengzhe looked at Su Bin, “So it’ll be just you here then. If you stay at home, remember to close the windows and doors at night, and buy supplies from the supermarket a couple of days in advance…” Yang Chengzhe gave Su Bin a list of reminders.
After Yang Chengzhe left, the house was truly left with only Su Bin and Allen. At least for the next few days before Su Bin went back to his country and Allen went home, there would only be the two of them.
Su Bin had a casual meal, drank some water, and swallowed two vitamin C tablets that Allen had given him. He then planned to return to his room and continue lying down.
“Michael,” Allen said as he brewed coffee, “bring your blanket and come to my room later.”
Su Bin was taken aback. Was Allen planning to give him medicine? But why bring a blanket?
Turning to look at Su Bin, Allen answered his unspoken question, “You tend to overthink things when you’re alone in your room. I want to help you distract yourself.”
Su Bin was speechless. Was Allen suggesting that he should sleep in Allen’s room? When it came to distraction, Su Bin remembered the kiss at the masquerade party before. Yes, last time Allen had used a similar method to divert his attention away from Chen Xiaotian… Oh no, Su Bin felt his head heating up even more!
“No need, I think I’ll…” Su Bin’s attempt to refuse was cut off by Allen’s determined gaze.
Perhaps Allen was genuinely concerned for him, Su Bin comforted himself. “Alright…” he reluctantly agreed.
Although they had shared a bed before, it had been unconscious back then. Now, he was consciously lying in someone else’s bed, and Su Bin found it a bit hard to accept… If it were Jin Fei or Yang Chengzhe’s bed, it wouldn’t be so awkward. But of course, it had to be Allen. Sigh!
When Su Bin lay down, he felt goosebumps all over his body and a tingling sensation. Allen acted naturally, placing a cold towel on Su Bin’s forehead and then taking his temperature.
“39.2 degrees Celsius,” Allen read the thermometer and returned to his writing desk, where he was working on something.
“…You seem like a doctor,” Su Bin commented softly, looking at Allen’s back.
Allen responded calmly, “I am a ‘doctor,’ but not the kind who treats illnesses.”
Su Bin took a few seconds to realize that Allen had made a play on words with him. “You’re a doctor?” In English, “doctor” can refer to both a medical doctor and someone with a PhD.
Allen turned around and smiled, asking, “What did you think?”
Su Bin replied, “But, aren’t you just one year older than me?”
Allen got up and sat back on the edge of the bed, looking at Su Bin as if he were a fool. He said, “Who said that being one year older than you means I can’t have a doctorate?”
Su Bin, “…”
Was Allen also a genius?
Allen rolled his eyes, then placed his hand against Su Bin’s forehead and felt his neck’s pulse. His expression turned somewhat serious. “Your temperature is too high. I need to give you an injection; otherwise, you might get delirious from the fever.”
Su Bin’s eyes widened in alarm. “No way! Isn’t taking medicine enough?” You’re a doctor of philosophy, not a medical doctor; how can you just give injections like that?!
Ignoring him, Allen stood up and opened the cabinet next to the writing desk. Su Bin remembered that Allen had taken out a bunch of things from there when he had a blood draw. However, this time, he could see it more clearly. He saw the numerous glass compartments inside the cabinet. Su Bin began to feel uneasy… Was there even a refrigerated section?
Without hesitation, Allen picked up a small bottle of liquid from the shelf. Then he put on a face mask and disposable gloves, used tweezers to pick up a piece of alcohol-soaked cotton, and came over… Su Bin suddenly felt like he was a test subject!
Allen, wearing a white face mask, looked incredibly dangerous. He looked like a cold-blooded mad scientist studying biological viruses in a Resident Evil game!
“Extend your arm,” Allen instructed coldly.
Su Bin was nearly scared out of his wits… Thank goodness it’s not an injection on the butt! QAQ
He didn’t dare to resist, mechanically extending his arm as if he were a robot. He rolled up his sleeve shakily. He felt Allen wipe his inner elbow with the alcohol-soaked cotton and then watched as Allen assembled a disposable syringe in front of him, drawing liquid from the small bottle…
“Close your eyes,” Allen said.
Su Bin closed his eyes righteously, wearing an expression as if he were preparing for death. He felt a slight pain in his hand, and two seconds later, he heard Allen’s voice, “Done.”
Allen took off the mask, and Su Bin finally saw a smiling expression on his face.
“Why are you so afraid?” Allen asked with amusement. He added, “Rest assured, I won’t let you die on my bed.”
Su Bin covered his arm, which had a bandage on it, weakly asking, “But you’re just a doctor, right?” How could a Ph.D. casually give injections? He was still hung up on this issue.
As Allen took off his gloves, he explained, “I’m licensed. Giving injections and prescribing medicine are both legal for me.”
“Oh…” Su Bin finally felt relieved.
He lay on the bed, watching Allen’s OCD kick in as he wiped the medicine cabinet inside and out with alcohol-soaked cotton. Then Allen closed the cabinet door and returned to the writing desk. Su Bin saw him drink the cold coffee with a wrinkled brow, looking a bit disgusted, and push it aside…
After that, Allen turned on some music, a lazy-sounding jazz tune. The volume was just right, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
Then, Allen began to read a book. Besides the music, the room was filled with the soft sound of turning pages.
It’s really strange, three months ago, Su Bin used to feel scared just seeing Allen, but now, he was lying on Allen’s… bed!
When he looked at Allen, he felt at ease, but when Allen got close, he felt nervous…
He hesitated whether to tell Allen about his plan to return to his country. He was worried that Allen might get angry when he found out. Although Su Bin didn’t understand why he felt that way, he was afraid that Allen would ignore him or be disappointed in him.
… Su Bin didn’t know why he cared so much about Allen. He thought maybe he was under Allen’s spell…
Lost in these thoughts, he fell asleep again.