AAWOMAHI Chapter81

If you were to ask Lu Xingmian what the most wonderful thing in the world was, he would answer without hesitation that it was Lu Shiran’s voice.

 

The low, resonant sound traveled into Lu Xingmian’s ears, from his earlobes to the very core of his heart, making him feel completely soft and tingly. Lu Xingmian felt a place in his chest grow hot and tender.

 

This time, he heard it very clearly: Lu Shiran’s strange behavior the other night was because he was jealous. Lu Xingmian found it both exasperating and amusing, yet also felt a pang of sympathy. He even wondered if Lu Shiran had been waiting there all night.

 

He wrapped his arms around the man’s neck and whispered, “Ge, don’t be jealous. You’re the only one I like.”

 

Then he kissed the corner of his lips, it was a light, teasing touch that was most alluring.

 

Lu Xingmian’s words calmed the man’s anxious mood, and his tightly pressed lips finally formed a lovely curve.

 

The man kissed Lu Xingmian’s earlobe, lightly biting at the earring, and said, “Zai Zai, say that again.”

 

“Ge, I like you; you don’t…” The rest of his words were drowned out by a passionate kiss.

 

Only then did Lu Xingmian realize how terrifying it was when an old man got jealous; he was a bit overwhelmed. His legs shook as he tried to get off the bed, but a strong hand caught his ankle and yanked him back.

 

After some time, a pale arm shakily reached out, only to be grabbed by a large hand once more, followed by a low voice asking, “Where are you going?”

 

“Ge, I want some water.”

 

“Water? Okay, water.”

 

The night was very, very deep. Lu Xingmian lay on top of Lu Shiran. Beneath them was a newly changed bed sheet with a faint scent of laundry detergent. The smell felt comforting and peaceful. But what was truly most comforting and peaceful was having Lu Shiran by his side.

 

After that, Meng Shun still sent Lu Xingmian messages but no longer said things like “good night.” Meng Shun had returned to their original, platonic relationship.

 

The weather gradually warmed up, and people could finally take off their heavy coats. However, Lu Shiran got sick in the middle of spring, which was rare for him. He didn’t have a fever, just a cold. His voice was a bit hoarse and sounded completely different from usual. It had turned quite rough.

 

On the way back from the hospital, Lu Shiran went to the school to pick up Lu Xingmian. He parked the car by the roadside and soon saw Lu Xingmian coming out with his classmates.

 

Looking at Lu Xingmian’s bright, smiling face, Lu Shiran was deeply relieved. Lu Xingmian had finally gained some weight; when he first saw him, he had been incredibly thin.

 

As he watched Lu Xingmian chatting with his classmates, Lu Shiran recalled a minor detail. The Lu family had placed all their hopes on a project their friend had told them about. But that so-called friend had recently taken all the money the Lu family had mortgaged and fled abroad. The Lu family couldn’t even find the person now, and the supposed project they had claimed to have seen with their own eyes turned out to be nothing but a fabricated illusion created by the swindler.

 

Lu Yan and Xia Yuefang still dreamed of the family making a comeback, but they never expected it to be just a fleeting fantasy. This time, they had truly lost everything.

 

During this period, they tried to find Lu Xingmian again, but Lu Shiran warned them off. No one knows what Lu Shiran said, but since then, they have never dared to appear in front of Lu Xingmian again.

 

There was also another matter that Lu Shiran would never let Lu Xingmian know about, which involved the Lu and Song families. Sometimes, the human heart can be truly disgusting.

 

After parting ways with his classmates, Lu Xingmian headed straight for Lu Shiran’s car. When he got in and saw Lu Shiran wearing a mask, he was surprised. “Ge, why are you suddenly wearing a mask?”

 

Lu Shiran’s eyes were deep and beautiful. With the mask on, only his eyes were visible, which made him look especially handsome and captivating. His eyes softened as he looked at Lu Xingmian.

 

“Why aren’t you talking?” Lu Xingmian asked.

 

Lu Shiran responded by ruffling his hair.

 

The more Lu Xingmian thought about it, the more something felt off. Every time Lu Shiran saw him, he would call him “Zai Zai” or “Mian Zai.” But today, Lu Shiran was acting strangely. He was wearing a mask, which was unusual, and he just smiled instead of speaking when he saw him. This wasn’t normal.

 

“Ge, why did you suddenly put on a mask? Why aren’t you talking? Are you feeling unwell?” Lu Xingmian’s eyes began to well up with tears out of worry. “If you don’t say anything, I’m going to take your mask off.”

 

Lu Xingmian pulled the mask down. Lu Shiran’s face wasn’t injured, which made him even more anxious. “Ge, please say something, okay?”

 

Lu Shiran sighed helplessly, “Zai Zai.”

 

The voice sounded both a little familiar and very strange. Lu Xingmian was stunned. It was unmistakably Lu Shiran’s voice, yet it carried the dryness of a desert. It was hoarse and rasping, as if his mouth were filled with sand and brittle grass, each word forced out with effort.

 

Lu Shiran didn’t expect his voice to be even more raspy than it was in the morning. He coughed once. His voice was truly terrible now.

 

Lu Xingmian became even more nervous. “Ge, are you sick?”

 

Afraid of infecting him, Lu Shiran put his mask back on. “It’s nothing, just a minor cold. I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

 

He said it calmly, but from the sound of his voice, Lu Xingmian knew it wasn’t just a minor cold. If it were, Lu Shiran’s voice wouldn’t be so hoarse, and he wouldn’t be wearing a mask.

 

Lu Shiran smiled. “It’s really nothing. I already went to the hospital. It’s just a common cold. I’ve taken the medicine, so don’t worry, Zai Zai.”

 

Lu Xingmian was half-convinced. “Is it really not serious? Don’t lie to me.”

 

“It’s not serious,” Lu Shiran replied.

 

“Then why are you wearing a mask?”

 

“I’m afraid of getting you sick, you silly Zai Zai.”

 

Knowing that his voice sounded unpleasant, Lu Shiran tried not to speak in front of Lu Xingmian, but when Lu Xingmian talked to him, he couldn’t bear not to respond.

 

That night, Lu Xingmian had a class reunion, but after learning that Lu Shiran was sick, he wasn’t in the mood to go out and have fun. He messaged his classmates to tell them he had something to do and couldn’t make it. Lu Shiran, however, urged him to go.

 

Lu Xingmian said, “I’ll just stay home and be with you.”

 

When he was sick, Lu Shiran had stayed by his side without leaving even once, so naturally, he now wanted to care for Lu Shiran just as attentively.

 

“Even if I went, I wouldn’t have fun either,” Lu Xingmian continued. “I’d just be thinking about you the whole time.”

 

As soon as they got home, Lu Xingmian began to fuss over him. First, he poured a glass of hot water. “Ge, drink some hot water.” Then he brought him some washed fruit. “Ge, have some fruit.” He would also sit by his side and ask, “Ge, do you have a headache? Are you dizzy? Do you feel unwell anywhere? Do you want to sleep?” These were all things he had experienced when he was sick, and he knew how miserable it could feel.

 

Lu Shiran asked, “Zai Zai, does my voice sound awful right now?” It was raspy and hoarse; even the sound of an old bellows was better. Lu Xingmian had first fallen for Lu Shiran’s voice, but now it was utterly changed, no longer carrying even a hint of its former allure.

 

Lu Xingmian see through what Lu Shiran was thinking. “Ge, no matter what your voice sounds like, I love you. I love your voice now, too, because it’s your voice, it’s my Ge’s voice.”

 

Lu Shiran’s heart felt even sweeter than honey.

 

Even though he was sick, Lu Shiran started to prepare dinner, but Lu Xingmian stopped him and insisted that he rest. He volunteered to handle dinner himself. However, standing in the kitchen and looking at the high-end ingredients in the fridge, Lu Xingmian was stumped. He knew his own cooking skills were usually fine, but Lu Shiran was sick, and he couldn’t let him eat something that tasted bad.

 

Lu Shiran came over and said, “I’ll call Uncle Hou.”

 

Uncle Hou arrived right away. Lu Shiran had meant for one of the housekeepers to come and make them a meal, but as soon as Uncle Hou heard that Lu Shiran was sick, he came in person. Uncle Hou wasn’t just a butler; he was also an excellent chef, and Lu Shiran had learned most of his cooking skills from him. It’s no surprise that the food Uncle Hou made was comparable to that of a Michelin-star chef.

 

Lu Xingmian’s eyes lit up after one bite, and he couldn’t stop praising Uncle Hou’s cooking. It smelled wonderful, but it tasted even better.

 

After dinner, Lu Xingmian did the dishes, absolutely refusing to let the sick Lu Shiran step foot in the kitchen. After cleaning up, he went to stay with Lu Shiran.

 

During this period, Lu Xingmian was concerned that he might have a fever, so he fetched a thermometer to check his temperature, but the result came out normal. After taking his temperature, Lu Xingmian brought him some warm water and supervised him as he took his medicine, breaking off each pill one by one and handing them to Lu Shiran. Lu Shiran, who was so revered outside, acted like a little kid in front of Lu Xingmian, obediently taking his medicine.

 

“Ge, since your throat is hurting, try not to talk too much. If you need something or want me to get something for you, just let me know.”

 

Lu Xingmian had been busy all evening.

 

Lu Shiran pulled him into his arms. “Just rest for a bit and keep me company.”

 

Earlier, Lu Shiran had been worried about infecting Lu Xingmian and wanted him to stay away, but Lu Xingmian had gotten angry, and once he got angry, Lu Shiran had no choice but to give in.

 

Lying in Lu Shiran’s embrace, Lu Xingmian was still busy, looking up online what the best things were for a sore throat. When he saw steamed pears with rock sugar, his eyes lit up. He immediately ran to the kitchen. There were pears in the fridge, and he was going to make this for Lu Shiran.

 

Following the online instructions, he almost cut his finger and ruined two pears before finally succeeding in making them presentable. The instructions said it needed to be steamed for about two hours, and during this time, Lu Xingmian kept checking on it in the kitchen.

 

Two hours later, Lu Xingmian had made two bowls of steamed pears with rock sugar. He was a little nervous, but he tasted a spoonful and was surprised by the results—it was sweet and delicious. Lu Xingmian, who was otherwise a poor cook, seemed to have great success with desserts.

 

Lu Xingmian brought both bowls over. “Ge, taste the pear I made. It’s not too sweet.”

 

Lu Xingmian watched with anticipation as Lu Shiran took a sip of the liquid. “How is it? How is it?” He was nervous, even though he knew it didn’t taste bad.

 

With his deer-like eyes, he gazed at Lu Shiran, who felt his heart soften. “It’s delicious. I love it.”

 

He and Lu Shiran each had a bowl. Lu Shiran savored every spoonful, knowing it was made with Lu Xingmian’s care. He finished all the liquid and pear in his bowl.

 

Lu Xingmian asked, “Ge, does your throat feel better?”

 

Lu Shiran smiled and nodded. “Much better.”

 

Lu Xingmian was happy. “Then I’ll make it for you again tomorrow.”

 

That night, Lu Shiran lay in bed while Lu Xingmian had yet to return, saying he was going to find something. Just as Lu Shiran was about to go look for him, his little boyfriend returned with a storybook.

 

“Ge, tonight I’ll read you a story and tuck you in.” Lu Xingmian said. It turned out he had gone to the study to find a storybook.

 

He climbed into bed and nestled into Lu Shiran’s arms. “Ge, which story do you want to hear?”

 

“Any one will do.” Lu Shiran replied.

 

Just as Lu Shiran used to read to him, Lu Xingmian now read to him. However, before he could even finish the third story, Lu Xingmian’s eyelids grew heavy. He mumbled out one more sentence before the book in his hand fell onto Lu Shiran’s chest.

 

The person who was supposed to be lulled to sleep was still awake, while the one doing the lulling had already drifted off.

 

With a gentle, smiling face, Lu Shiran kissed his forehead. It had been Lu Xingmian taking care of him all night long.

 

“Good night.”