ASFSODS 56

The quiet hospital room was filled with the tingling, ambiguous sound of water. Wen Chi was lifted into Jiang Siheng’s arms, their bodies pressed tightly together, feeling each other’s breath with absolute clarity. This was the closest they had ever been since they met.

Wen Chi’s mind was blank. Everything that happened was led by Jiang Siheng. If he had the courage to open his eyes, he would have realized that throughout the entire kiss, Jiang Siheng had never once closed his eyes the way he did.

When Wen Chi was on the verge of running out of breath, Jiang Siheng leaned back slightly, retreating just a step, his hand still inside the boy’s clothes.

Wen Chi opened his eyes in a daze, mist still clinging to them. Instinctively, he leaned forward, but Jiang Siheng pressed his thumb against Wen Chi’s now red and slightly swollen lips, let out a soft chuckle, his voice brushing Wen Chi’s ear like the tickle of a feather. “No more kissing.”

“Hm?”

Jiang Siheng set Wen Chi back onto the bed, turned on his side, and pulled him into his arms. “Sleep.”

Wen Chi: “?”

Held in the man’s embrace, his forehead resting against the crook of his neck, Wen Chi’s breathing gradually slowed from hurried to calm. He pressed his lips together, still feeling as if that soft touch lingered there and sure enough, his lips were like the man himself, just as gentle as Jiang Siheng.

Oh no~

Wen Chi shyly lowered his head, his hair brushing against the fabric of the man’s clothes with a faint rustle, the crown of his head touched by light, shallow breaths.

He wasn’t the least bit sleepy. In fact, he was surprised to find that being held like this was actually quite comfortable. After a while, Wen Chi quietly lifted his head, as if checking to see whether the man had fallen asleep. Seeing Jiang Siheng’s eyes closed and his breathing steady, he gently poked his cheek. No reaction.

A sudden boldness welled up in Wen Chi. Taking advantage of the man’s supposed slumber, he leaned up and planted a quick kiss on his chin, then snuggled deeper into his arms, finally satisfied enough to close his eyes and sleep.

After a while, Jiang Siheng’s eyes opened in the darkness, clear and bright. He obviously hadn’t been asleep and had felt every bit of Wen Chi’s little mischief.

Thinking of that sneaky kiss just now, the corner of Jiang Siheng’s lips curved upward. He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of the boy’s head.

…

Last night had been a mix of sleeping and waking, with a kiss somewhere in between. Now, sunlight streamed through the curtains that had never been drawn, falling directly across Wen Chi’s cheek. His long lashes fluttered slightly. Instinctively, he hugged Jiang Siheng tighter, burying his face into the warmth of his chest to escape the light.

Jiang Siheng had already been awake for a while, leaning against the headboard replying to the messages he hadn’t answered last night. Feeling Wen Chi shift, he thought the boy had woken, but when he glanced down, he was still asleep.

Two light knocks sounded at the door. Sang Sang stepped inside carrying two bags, moving quietly. When she looked up unintentionally, she locked eyes with Jiang Siheng on the bed.

Sang Sang: ??

She stared at him in shock for several seconds, then let her gaze drop—only to see her own Xiao Chi Ge wrapped around the waist of the movie emperor Jiang, sleeping soundly.

Jiang Siheng said, “He’s still asleep.”

That was obvious. He was still asleep, and sleeping very soundly. Stunned, Sang Sang awkwardly set the breakfast on the table, almost tripping over her own feet. She thought she heard Jiang Siheng speaking softly, and couldn’t resist glancing toward the bed again.

One look was enough to almost sweep her off her feet a second time.

Jiang Siheng was coaxing Wen Chi to wake up and eat breakfast, his tone and manner so gentle it was hard to believe this was the same man from last night.

Wen Chi didn’t realize there was a third person in the room. He usually had a bit of morning grumpiness, but with Jiang Siheng coaxing him like this, waking up suddenly felt perfectly natural.

He rubbed his cheek lightly against Jiang Siheng, his voice hoarse from sleep. “Teacher Jiang…”

“Hm?” Jiang Siheng noticed that half of Wen Chi’s shoulder was exposed and pulled the blanket up to cover him. “Your assistant brought breakfast. Eat, then take your medicine.”

“Oh…” Wen Chi mumbled drowsily, then a few seconds later it hit him—assistant?

He shot upright, meeting Sang Sang’s gaze, which was filled with a complicated mix of emotions.

Right now, Sang Sang was looking at Wen Chi the way a parent looks at a grown child they can’t keep at home, helpless and sighing, which only made her look even more like that.

She set the breakfast neatly on the table, sticking to the doctor’s advice with a spread that was light and nutritious. “Xiao Chi Ge, Jin Ge will be here in Nanhui City soon.”

Wen Chi paused mid–bun grab, muttering a guilty-sounding, “Okay.”

Last night, through Jiang Siheng, Wen Chi had learned what kind of trash Chen Han and the others really were, and also that those few bosses had always had some sort of “partnership” with him.

The hospital room was quiet. Wen Chi absentmindedly ate breakfast. When a bun appeared in front of him, he bit into it without even thinking.

Jiang Siheng stayed in that position, holding it for him.

Sang Sang took a swig of soy milk after witnessing that, her sip landing a bit harder than intended as she set the cup down.

Yesterday, Jin Ge had been running schedules with the company’s other artists until midnight. When he finally had a chance to breathe and saw Sang Sang’s message, he nearly choked to death on the spot, then immediately booked the earliest flight to Nanhui City.

By the time Jin Ge reached the hospital, Wen Chi was gaming while Jiang Siheng sat beside him peeling an apple. The door suddenly banged open, hitting the wall with a loud thud, making Wen Chi jolt all over.

“Xiao Chi, my baby!! Are you okay?!” Jin Ge wailed, lunging forward to hug him, then pulling back to cup Wen Chi’s cheeks, inspecting them from every angle. Seeing the bruise on his face, he let out another wail. “It’s my fault!!!”

Wen Chi’s face was squished into little puffs, and he was forced to mumble, “Can you calm down first…”

Jin Ge was still drowning in guilt and regret. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t investigated Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng properly, those kinds of people! He had almost gotten Wen Chi hurt. The thought made his emotions boil over again. “I’m sor—eh?”

Before he could finish, a hand pulled him away from Wen Chi’s face. Turning, Jin Ge found Jiang Siheng looking at him expressionlessly.

“Oh, Teacher Jiang, you’re here too.”

From the couch, Sang Sang: “…”

Jiang Siheng handed the peeled apple to Wen Chi, then said to Jin Ge, “His injuries aren’t healed yet. Don’t touch him.”

Already feeling guilty, Jin Ge didn’t challenge him like before. He just muttered an “oh,” then sighed again. “Xiao Chi, I really am sorry. I never thought something like this would happen.”

Wen Chi actually ended up comforting Jin Ge. “It’s not your fault. Who would’ve guessed Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng were that kind of people?”

“When you told me the boss went over my head and contacted you directly for an audition, I checked into it. I saw there really was a wuxia drama in the works, so I let you go. This morning I called Zeng Xianhong, that dog, and he claimed he had no idea it would turn out like this.” Jin Ge’s voice grew angrier as he spoke, even naming the company boss outright. “Bullshit he didn’t know. I think he did it on purpose, wanted Wen Chi to… to you know, so the company could build connections.”

Sang Sang frowned. “So you didn’t know Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng have a habit of exploiting rookie actors in the industry?”

“No.” Jin Ge sighed. “Honestly, I haven’t been a manager for much longer than Wen Chi’s been in the business. All I knew about Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng was that they were well-known director and producer names. I figured if Wen Chi could play the second male lead in their wuxia drama, it would be his big break.”

Jin Ge started cursing the boss again, just as Qin Xiyu and Xiao Pang came through the door, suddenly crowding the room.

After greeting everyone, Qin Xiyu got straight to the point. “Those guys were sent to the hospital last night too. The one most seriously injured was Liu Yuanshan, but the doctor says it’s nothing major.”

He glanced at Wen Chi’s slender frame, raised a brow, and added, “You’ve got quite the punch.”

Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

Wen Chi quickly darted a look at Jiang Siheng, only to find him already looking back. Their gazes locked for a few seconds before Wen Chi guiltily turned away.

Sang Sang suddenly frowned, asking, “Will they try to get back at Xiao Chi Ge? In dramas, when big-shot bosses get beaten up, they always send people for revenge.”

Jin-ge had thought of that too. Wen Chi wasn’t some big star, at most he had a bit of rising fame, but nowhere near enough to make those capital bigwigs think twice. There was no way they could count on the company for help.

“They won’t,” Qin Xiyu said, glancing at Jiang Siheng, whose eyes had never left Wen Chi. “They were the ones who started it. If they dare to make this public, they know the tide of public opinion will ultimately turn against them.”

“I saw the trending searches. Right now, netizens are just speculating about the reason Wen Chi fought,” Jin Ge said, then suddenly remembered something and sighed. “Good thing that Weibo post came out in time and it killed most of the suspicions right away.”

Wen Chi, gnawing on his apple, had been listening the whole time. “What Weibo post?”

Jin Ge said, “Remember when you and Teacher Jiang were in Country Y and saved that pregnant woman and child? She sent you two a silk banner.”

Wen Chi: “That’s pretty cool.”

“It should arrive in about ten days or so.”

Wen Chi nodded.

Just as Qin Xiyu had said, those people wouldn’t dare blow things up, otherwise they would have already accused Wen Chi online. They knew that if this went public, their companies and even their families would be ruined by their own doing. Even after getting beaten up, all they could do was swallow the insult.

Qin Yiqing had already been discharged. She had visited Wen Chi earlier, bringing a fruit basket and the apple Wen Chi was eating now came from it. Aside from thanking him, she also said that if Wen Chi needed a witness, she could testify. She had kept photos of the wrongdoings those men committed against her.

Truthfully, when Qin Yiqing said she was willing to come forward, both Jin Ge and Sang Sang were a bit shocked because most women, when encountering something like that, would rather hide themselves away.

The doctor came by again to give Wen Chi a full checkup, confirming that he was fine and could be discharged if he wanted.

“How about staying one more night?” Jin Ge still wasn’t entirely reassured.

“No need. I’m fine, and home is way more comfortable than the hospital.” Wen Chi rejected it without hesitation.

Unable to win the argument, Jin Ge compromised. “Alright. I’ve asked Old Chen to cover for Cheng Yue, he only has one event left this afternoon. I’ll take care of you these next few days.”

He didn’t notice the slight change in Wen Chi’s expression at those words. Wen Chi paused mid-step, turning to look at Jiang Siheng.

Jiang Siheng looked back at him, and in that brief eye contact, they both knew what the other was thinking.

Remembering that kiss from last night, Wen Chi instinctively pressed his lips together. Even after hours, there was still a faint tingle when he did.

Seeing Wen Chi silent, Jin Ge assumed he was just being shy. He laughed. “What’s wrong? You’ve got an injury on the back of your head, so washing your hair will be tricky. Sang Sang’s a girl, so she can’t really take care of you up close. Don’t be polite with me.”

“It’s not that…” Wen Chi didn’t know how to tell Jin Ge he might be staying at Jiang Siheng’s place for a few days.

“Then what are you hesitating for?”

Jiang Siheng walked over to him. Wen Chi raised a hand, and Jiang Siheng lifted his own so Wen Chi could rest against it. It all felt so natural.

Then Jiang Siheng looked at Jin Ge, and under his bewildered stare, calmly said, “He’s coming to my place.”

Jin Ge: “Huh???”