ASFSODS 32

If Wen Chi had been on the phone with Jiang Siheng instead of seeing him in person, he would’ve assumed the man was joking. But now, looking at Jiang Siheng standing right in front of him, with not a hint of amusement on his face, Wen Chi didn’t dare say a word.

Jiang Siheng finished replying to a message and, as if he hadn’t noticed Wen Chi’s reluctance, said, “Let’s go. Get in the car.”

At the hospital, the doctor carefully examined Wen Chi’s eyes. In just a few minutes, they had turned even redder than they had been at the studio.

“Besides itching and tearing, are there any other symptoms?” the doctor asked.

Wen Chi blinked. “They kind of hurt too.”

The doctor nodded and after prescribing medication, he reminded him to rest his eyes more.

Wen Chi, who had been feeling pretty down about needing medicine, instantly perked up. “So by resting, you mean I should sleep more?”

“Uh…” The doctor glanced at Jiang Siheng behind Wen Chi, who was clearly trying not to laugh. The corner of his mouth twitched. “I mean taking breaks from using your eyes. You don’t have to sleep all day.”

The moment he said that, Wen Chi’s smile dropped.

Jiang Siheng leaned down and said, “I’ll go get your meds. Wait here.”

Wen Chi looked up with red-rimmed eyes, like a little bunny. “Okay.”

As Jiang Siheng walked off, the doctor wrote something down, only to look up and find Wen Chi silently crying again.

Wen Chi couldn’t help it. Every time he blinked, his eyes teared up.

With nothing urgent at the moment, the doctor made small talk. “You just finished a performance?”

It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption. Wen Chi still had makeup on. “Just finished work,” he replied.

The vague answer made the doctor assume Wen Chi was an actor or performer.

“The guy who brought you, why do I feel like he looks familiar?” The doctor asked curiously. He was certain he hadn’t seen Jiang Siheng before, but he looked awfully familiar.

“Him?” Wen Chi was just relieved the doctor didn’t recognize Jiang Siheng. He hesitated about how to answer, since the man had a much higher chance of being recognized than he did. “We’re in the same profession.”

“Oh, coworkers then,” The doctor nodded, not doubting it. “You two seem pretty close.”

“Huh? Why do you say that?”

The doctor went back to writing. “When I was checking your eyes, he looked really serious and worried. Honestly, I thought you two were dating.”

Wen Chi forced a smile. “Not possible.”

Jiang Siheng returned with the meds. He hadn’t even gotten close before hearing the tail end of their conversation, the atmosphere between them very friendly.

The doctor looked up. “Give him eye drops now and another dose before bed. Has he eaten yet?”

That last part was directed at Wen Chi.

Wen Chi shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Eat something before taking the medicine. There’s an anti-inflammatory, taking it on an empty stomach might upset it.”

“Got it.”

Wen Chi tilted his head slightly. “Mr. Jiang, let me know before you put the drops in so I can brace myself.”

Jiang Siheng nodded.

The moment the dropper came near his eyes, Wen Chi reflexively shut them, his lashes fluttering.

“Open your eyes,” Jiang Siheng said, helpless.

Wen Chi: “…”

The process was so difficult it made the doctor laugh.

Wen Chi blushed. “I wasn’t doing it on purpose.”

Afterward, Jiang Siheng packed up and turned to Wen Chi. “All done. Let’s go. Say goodbye to the doctor.”

That line made Wen Chi choke. “I’m not a child.”

Even after they walked out of the exam room, the doctor could still hear Wen Chi muttering things like “Stop treating me like a kid” and “I’m not your son.”

Both Sang Sang and Jin Ge had texted to ask if Wen Chi had gone to the doctor. While sitting in the passenger seat, he replied to their messages. When he looked up, he saw that Jiang Siheng had driven to a lively but unfamiliar street.

He assumed they were going to eat and unbuckled his seatbelt. He was ready to get out only to feel a hand cover his own.

Startled, he turned to Jiang Siheng. “What is it?”

“Wait in the car.”

Jiang Siheng didn’t explain where he was going, and Wen Chi had no choice but to stay. Honestly, slouching in the seat like this wasn’t half bad, it was pretty comfy, in fact.

It was just around mealtime, and the smells from the street’s many restaurants were floating through the air.

A short while later, Wen Chi spotted Jiang Siheng through the window, returning with a big plastic bag in hand.

With his cap and mask on, tall and well-proportioned, even in simple everyday clothes, he was still a head-turner.

The car windows were one-way glass. People outside couldn’t see in so none of the passersby noticed a guy inside peering out with his nose practically pressed to the glass.

If they had, they probably would’ve jumped.

Wen Chi had taken note of all the reactions Jiang Siheng was getting. As the man approached, he tapped lightly on the window.

Wen Chi was startled and whipped his head toward the driver’s seat. Jiang Siheng opened the door and set the bag on Wen Chi’s lap.

The warmth of it seeped through the bag. The lid wasn’t fully sealed, and a delicious smell wafted out. Wen Chi forgot all about asking how the man knew he’d been “spying.”

“Teacher Jiang, what’s this?” he asked.

“Dinner,” Jiang Siheng replied while opening his GPS. “Hotel name?”

Wen Chi absentmindedly reported it, then snapped out of it. “Wait, this is for me? What about you?”

“Mine’s in there too.”

“Oh.” Wen Chi began opening the bag. “I’ll separate the dishes now so it’s easier to hand out later.”

When the car in front stopped, Jiang Siheng hit the brakes and looked over at him. A little cowlick peeked out from his hair. After a second of consideration, he asked, “Can’t we eat together?”

“Huh?” Wen Chi looked up, confused.

“The portions are for two. I told the chef it was for two people. He probably assumed we’d be eating together, so it’s all packed in one box.”

Wen Chi had assumed the meals were packaged separately. “Oh, I see…”

Then he thought of something.

“But what if someone takes a photo? The gossip bloggers these days can turn anything into a scandal. Today it’s ‘they’re dating,’ tomorrow it’s ‘they’ve met each other’s parents,’ the day after it’s ‘wedding bells,’ and next thing you know, our kid’s turning one.”

The more he spoke, the more plausible it sounded. He twisted around. “Teacher Jiang, how about this. You take the food and eat it with Xiao Pang or something. He came with you, right? I’ll just order takeout at the hotel.”

Jiang Siheng shot him a sidelong glance. “You think if I eat with Xiao Pang, I’ll actually get any food?”

Wen Chi blinked. “He’s got that big of an appetite?”

“Next time you eat with him and find out.”

“No thanks. I’m socially anxious.”

Jiang Siheng chuckled and watched as Wen Chi tied the bag back up.

“By the way, whose car is this? Don’t tell me it’s yours…” Wen Chi couldn’t imagine someone like Jiang Siheng owning homes and cars everywhere, it was terrifying.

“It’s not mine.”

Wen Chi exhaled in relief. See? Life isn’t like a novel.

“It’s my boss’s. The company’s loaded,” Jiang Siheng added.

“…”

Wen Chi thought of his own tiny agency and immediately wanted to bomb the building.

Calm down. Wen Chi, stay calm.

Jin Ge had booked a hotel fairly close to the studio. When he got Wen Chi’s message saying Jiang Siheng had picked up dinner and was coming to the hotel with him, he nearly dropped his phone.

He grabbed Sang Sang. “Er Sang, emergency!”

She almost choked on her milk tea. “What?!”

“If you don’t want your Xiao Chi Ge to get roasted by the entire internet, come downstairs with me. Now.”

Sang Sang: Holy crap.

They arrived at the hotel’s parking lot just as Jiang Siheng parked. Wen Chi stood off to the side holding the bag. Moments later, Jin Ge and Sang Sang came running over from the elevator.

Jin Ge greeted Jiang Siheng politely, then pulled Wen Chi aside and hissed, “Seriously? Bringing him to the hotel? Are you not worried about getting papped?”

“Of course I’m worried! But—but…” Wen Chi figured if he told Jin Ge he was more scared of Jiang Siheng going hungry, he’d be dead meat.

“But what?” Jin Ge squinted dangerously.

“In any case,” Wen Chi straightened up, “I have a clear conscience.”

“I’ll give you a clear conscience—” Jin Ge raised a hand to swat him on the head, only to freeze when he felt an intense stare burn into the back of his skull.

Turning around, he locked eyes with Jiang Siheng.

Sang Sang was busy scanning the surroundings for paparazzi. “Let’s go upstairs and talk. It’s not safe here.”

She had major anxiety, poor thing.

Wen Chi huffed and returned to Jiang Siheng’s side, but before he could say anything, Jiang Siheng offered, “It’s okay. If it’s inconvenient, I won’t come up. You guys can just eat what’s in the bag.”

Wen Chi’s eyes widened. Um…? That’s not what you were saying in the car!

Sang Sang felt bad hearing the disappointment in Jiang Siheng’s voice. “Then what about you, Teacher Jiang?”

He smiled at her, but his gaze was on Wen Chi. “I’ll just eat something simple.”

Jin Ge suddenly felt like the evil mother-in-law ruining true love.

Wen Chi sighed. “Come eat with us, Teacher Jiang. Ignore Jin Ge. He’s prone to dramatic fits.”

Jin Ge: “I—”

Sang Sang snorted.

In the end, Jiang Siheng did indeed follow Wen Chi up to his hotel room. Jin Ge and Sang Sang came too.

They ate in the little living room just outside Wen Chi’s room. The coffee table was too low for the couch, so all four sat on the floor.

Wen Chi’s dishes were all mild-flavored. Across from him, Sang Sang and Jin Ge were digging into spicy braised chicken. Wen Chi stared longingly.

“You can’t eat that,” Jiang Siheng said.

“I know. I just wanted to look at it more.”

Jiang Siheng chuckled.

Mid-meal, Sang Sang suddenly gasped. Everyone looked at her.

“Xiao Chi Ge, someone posted a picture of Mr. Jiang at the studio today,” she said, shoving her phone at him.

Before Wen Chi could even see it, a hand covered his eyes.

His vision went dark. “…”

He heard Jiang Siheng say, “His eyes can’t handle bright screens right now.”

Across from them, Jin Ge bit his chopsticks with a deeply conflicted expression.

Damn it. He had lost his appetite.