Chapter 89 – Night Whimpers

————Six Years Later————

Wei Lai opened his eyes, his ass aching faintly.

Chu Yin was coiled beside him, gazing at him with teary eyes.

Wei Lai: “…What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like I’m about to die?”

Wei Lai looked somewhat haggard. After all, hemorrhoids made eating, sleeping, and even shitting difficult.

Chu Yin shook his head, forcibly suppressing the questions surging in his heart. “Does it still hurt a lot?”

Wei Lai said, “It’s better now. Not a big deal. I’ll get it removed tomorrow.”

Chu Yin gave a soft “Mm,” then went out to bring in a bowl of plain congee. He set out the bowl and chopsticks, along with side dishes. “Just eat a little. I’ll feed you.”

Wei Lai: “Did you cook this?”

Chu Yin nodded.

Wei Lai couldn’t help suspecting this was some kind of dark cuisine. “Have you tried it yourself?”

Chu Yin: “I have.”

Wei Lai took a tentative sip. There was a faint burnt taste, but it was edible—definitely an overachievement for Chu Yin.

Wei Lai turned sideways, striking a coquettish pose, but just as he was about to eat, Chu Yin took the bowl away.

Chu Yin walked toward the kitchen: “It doesn’t taste good. I’ll make you another bowl.”

Wei Lai called out, struggling to shuffle into the kitchen. Chu Yin stood at the sink washing rice, his entire being shrouded in gloom.

Wei Lai stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Chu Yin’s waist. “What’s wrong? Pouting like that, on the verge of tears?”

Chu Yin shook his head.

Wei Lai kept holding him without letting go. As Chu Yin washed the rice, he suddenly turned around and buried his face in Wei Lai’s neck.

Wei Lai patted Chu Yin’s back, still patient. “Tell me. You know if you don’t say anything, I won’t know what you’re thinking.”

Wei Lai’s neck grew damp—undoubtedly from Chu Yin’s tears.

Generally, if Chu Yin could cry it out, the problem was halfway solved.

Wei Lai waited quietly. Sure enough, after a few whimpers, Chu Yin spoke slowly, word by word: “…I didn’t take good care of you.”

Wei Lai was completely caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Chu Yin to be sulking over something like this. Half-amused, half-touched, he said, “I was the one who ordered the crayfish. I was the one who ate the hotpot. The spicy food I ate that day is the reason I’m suffering now. What does any of that have to do with you? Come on, stop crying. Let’s go out for a nice meal tonight, and tomorrow we’ll go to the hospital for the surgery. Then it’ll be like nothing ever happened.”

Chu Yin reached up and gently rubbed the back of Wei Lai’s head, where a scar lay. He never dared press too hard—the moment he touched it, his legs would go weak. “…You told me this was from getting brained while being a hero. Is that true?”

Wei Lai was sharp. He immediately realized Chu Yin might have found out about his brain tumor surgery from years ago. After a brief silence, he countered, “Why are you asking?”

Chu Yin: “Is it true or not?”

Wei Lai tested the waters: “What do you think?”

Chu Yin exploded. He lifted his head from Wei Lai’s embrace, glaring at him with red-rimmed eyes.

Over the years, Chu Yin’s temper had mellowed significantly. He no longer flew off the handle at the slightest provocation and rarely resorted to violence. Undeniably, Chen Meixian’s violent tendencies had influenced Chu Yin to some degree, but after being with Wei Lai, Chu Yin had gradually learned how to resolve conflicts without using his fists.

As a result, Wei Lai had softened Chu Yin—though his tears had only multiplied.

“You liar, you’re still trying to trick me now.” Chu Yin wiped his tears, grains of rice sticking to the corners of his eyes like pearls against jade. Wei Lai found it oddly beautiful.

“I only found out now. Wei Lai, do you… even see me as your boyfriend?” Chu Yin’s tears flowed freely. “…Do you see me as a pet? In your heart, am I just completely unreliable?”

Faced with this rapid-fire interrogation, Wei Lai opened his mouth but couldn’t get a word out before Chu Yin answered his own questions.

“I can’t even cook congee right.” Chu Yin suddenly deflated. “You were right… whimper…”

Wei Lai’s survival instincts kicked in—though in a very straight-male way. He grabbed Chu Yin’s legs and hoisted him onto the counter. “Wanna have some kitchen play?”

Chu Yin: “…”

Wei Lai: “I can’t bottom right now, so this is your golden opportunity for nightly revelry!”

Chu Yin roared: “WEI LAI, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOUR BRAIN?! I’M SO MAD AT YOU!!!”

Wei Lai: confused