Chapter 37 – Frame

But Xi Yufeng continued to look at Jiang Ruo.

In this relationship, he had always been the dominant one.

Raising the bed once more, Xi Yufeng helped Jiang Ruo sit up and proceeded to lift his shirt.

Aside from the large bruise on his abdomen, there were varying sizes of subcutaneous hematoma on his waist and back. These stood out shockingly against the surrounding pale skin.

After checking, he went to pull down Jiang Ruo’s pants, which was stopped by Jiang Ruo: “There’s nothing wrong down there.” After saying this, he found it sounded odd and added, “This is a public place, it wouldn’t be good.”

Xi Yufeng finally let go.

Due to the injury on his neck, Jiang Ruo couldn’t turn his head much. He could only guess from Xi Yufeng’s dark expression that the injury wasn’t pretty.

“Injuries you can’t see will heal with time,” Jiang Ruo said philosophically. “As long as my face is fine.”

Xi Yufeng glanced at him.

Jiang Ruo panicked. “I didn’t get disfigured, did I?”

Grabbing his phone, he opened the front camera and scrutinized his face carefully.

“Well, well, just a split lip.” Jiang Ruo tossed the phone aside and suddenly remembered something. He told Xi Yufeng, “It was your brother who used tape on me, it wasn’t from kissing… I haven’t even acted in a kissing scene yet.”

Xi Yufeng was pouring water from a kettle into a glass cup when he heard this. Without looking up, he asked, “Want to act in one?”

“No,” Jiang Ruo paused. “But… I still want to act in movies.”

Putting down the kettle, Xi Yufeng didn’t hesitate. “Alright.”

Jiang Ruo felt relieved inside.

He could guess what Xi Yufeng was thinking and was happy to provide an easy way out for himself.

Compared to feeling indebted to someone, he was more afraid that Xi Yufeng would feel guilty towards him, looking at him with an uncertain gaze about what to do with him.

However, even so, the care Xi Yufeng gave afterwards still exceeded Jiang Ruo’s imagination.

On the first night in the hospital, Jiang Ruo got up twice during the night, both times supported by Xi Yufeng to the restroom.

Jiang Ruo even suspected that Xi Yufeng hadn’t slept at all. Otherwise, how could he be by his bedside every time he propped himself up on his elbows?

During breakfast, Jiang Ruo subtly suggested that there was no need for anyone to take care of him here and that Xi Yufeng should focus on his own business and not worry about him.

“Not busy,” said Xi Yufeng. “We’ll be doing a physical examination later, I’ll take you.”

There were several tests in the morning, including blood tests, ultrasound, and measuring body temperature and blood pressure.

This was very uncomfortable for Jiang Ruo, who was accustomed to toughing out illnesses. Especially with someone by his side, this person always reached out to support him whenever he stood or sat down, giving him the illusion that he was half-paralyzed or close to death.

He had clearly just been kicked a few times and sustained some injuries. Why did Xi Yufeng have to be so attentive and serve him with such meticulous care?

After the tests, Jiang Ruo needed to relieve himself again. Xi Yufeng escorted him to the bathroom door and tried to follow him in. Jiang Ruo quickly raised his arm to brace against the door frame. “I can handle it myself.”

Xi Yufeng stared at him for a moment before stepping back. “Call me if anything happens.”

Closing the door, Jiang Ruo, sitting on the toilet, seriously considered what else he could ask for.

If this continued, he might go crazy before his injuries healed.

Fortunately, Xi Yufeng had to go to the company in the afternoon. Before leaving, he mentioned that there would be visitors later, and if Jiang Ruo didn’t want to see them, he should send them away.

Jiang Ruo pointed to the door. “Can these two gentlemen leave now?”

Standing outside the ward door were two burly black bodyguards on either side.

“They won’t disturb your rest,” said Xi Yufeng.

“But I don’t need protection,” Jiang Ruo said quietly. “Actually, I think you need it more…”

Putting on his suit jacket, Xi Yufeng walked to the bedside and gently combed through Jiang Ruo’s messy hair with his hand.

His voice fell softly on top of his head. “I also thought they’d come after me.”

Jiang Ruo was momentarily speechless, perhaps due to the fatigue in Xi Yufeng’s voice, revealing a fear of almost losing something.

The bodyguards stayed.

The first visitor in the afternoon was Xiao Shen. She brought a bouquet of flowers, which was perfectly placed in the vase on the ward’s table.

Xiao Shen was careful not to disturb Jiang Ruo’s rest, telling him that work-related matters weren’t urgent, and Zheng Yiting had already contacted the partners to adjust the schedule.

When asked if Sister Zheng had been busy lately, Xiao Shen hesitated for a moment and honestly replied, “Actually, after the incident yesterday, apart from the driver on the nanny car and me, Sister Zheng was also investigated.”

Originally, Xi Yufeng believed that the timing of the kidnappers coinciding with Jiang Ruo’s descent was too coincidental. Following the principle of better safe than sorry, he had all the involved personnel thoroughly investigated. Zheng Yiting, who had arranged to meet Jiang Ruo, was not spared.

Jiang Ruo was surprised. “Why would they suspect you? The car that kidnapped me should have been lurking nearby, that’s why they moved so fast.”

Xiao Shen said that the surveillance footage later confirmed this. That car had been circling around the nearby roads early in the morning and drove straight over when Jiang Ruo appeared.

“It’s also our fault,” Xiao Shen lamented. “We knew about the morning rush hour traffic but didn’t change our route. If we had arrived earlier, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

“It’s not your fault,” said Jiang Ruo. “They came prepared. If not yesterday, it might have been today or the day after. This feels like a destined calamity.”

Xiao Shen was amused by him.

Before leaving, Xiao Shen said, “Teacher Jiang, rest well. There’s no rush with work. President Xi said everything should prioritize your health.”

Jiang Ruo agreed.

After Xiao Shen left, the police came to record statements. An He arrived the next afternoon.

He came alone, bringing Meng Chao’s gifts along — a fruit basket and a thick red envelope. Jiang Ruo pointed to the fruit basket. “That’s the one you prepared.”

An He laughed. “No one knows me better than Brother Jiang.”

The two had seen each other at their lowest points. When they couldn’t afford meals, the one with a slightly better financial status would buy a bunch of discounted fruits with blemishes from a fruit stall closing for the day. They would share these fruits, claiming to reduce carbohydrate intake while replenishing necessary vitamins.

Now that they didn’t have to eat rotten fruits, An He peeled the crisp Fuji apples while remarking on how the world changed over thirty years. Who would have thought that one day, they’d be eating premium fruits in a private hospital room, with two burly bodyguards guarding the door.

Jiang Ruo tried hard not to laugh. “Don’t make me laugh, my belly hurts when I do.”

An He then switched to a less humorous topic. “Do you know what I heard before coming?”

“What?”

“That Xi Yufeng led people to ransack his home, causing chaos in the Xi family.”

“…” Jiang Ruo was silent for a moment. “What was the cause of the commotion?”

“Don’t you think you should be the one to tell me?” An He bit into the apple, crunching loudly. “The versions circulating outside are too absurd.”

“How absurd?”

“They say Xi Yufeng, because of a small-time celebrity, was willing to defy his family and reject an arranged marriage.”

This time, the silence lasted longer. When Jiang Ruo spoke again, he was less certain. “That small-time celebrity… wouldn’t it be referring to me?”

An He looked at him. “Why do I feel like you’re kind of looking forward to it?”

“No, you’re mistaken.”

“But Brother Meng… Meng Chao said that the wedding date is almost set, after the Spring Festival next year.”

Jiang Ruo’s hand, resting on the quilt, clenched, leaving a few finger marks.

It didn’t escape An He’s eyes. He quickly finished the apple and picked up another pear.

“Actually, these marriages between wealthy families are mostly in name only,” An He said, lowering his head to peel the pear. “I asked myself a long time ago if I could accept this situation.”

“Could I accept being in the shadows, without a title, confined to a corner of his world, watching the sun rise and set outside the window day after day, waiting for him to come.”

The description was overly specific. Jiang Ruo could almost see the pale color of those sunsets falling upon him.

“Perhaps I’d also bear the scorn, branded as a ‘male vixen seducing a married man,’ after all, outsiders don’t care about your reasons or the order of things.”

An He spoke of the most embarrassing matters with the lightest tone. “Who knows, maybe the original spouse would control us. They have their marriage certificate and can live openly, while we can only be the street rats that everyone spits on. We might suffer silently with good luck, or be beaten on the street if we’re unlucky, and that wouldn’t be surprising.”

Jiang Ruo had previously admitted that although he claimed to be An He’s older brother, in terms of experience in this area, An He knew much more than him.

At least Jiang Ruo could only vaguely guess, while An He could clearly present everything that might happen before him.

Including the pain that could far exceed his capacity to endure.

Jiang Ruo was speechless for a moment.

“It was you who said you’re clear-headed,” placing the peeled pear and the fruit knife on a plate, An He said, “So think it over, can you accept it, or not?”

Since the kidnapping hadn’t been made public, during the five days in the hospital, Jiang Ruo didn’t receive many visitors.

However, quite a few people came on the day of his discharge — Zheng Yiting, Xiao Shen, Old Liu, and Meng Chao even showed up, apologizing for not coming with An He last time, hoping the big star would forgive him.

Taking advantage of Xi Yufeng stepping away, Jiang Ruo asked him, “Are you getting married soon too?”

Meng Chao was taken aback, unsure whether to focus on the word “marriage” or the “too.”

Before he could answer, Jiang Ruo smiled and waved his hand. “Just asking, don’t be so nervous.”

Aunt Fang also came. From the hospital building to the parking lot, the old and young supported each other, walking at the end of the crowd, occasionally chatting.

“This time, you’ve really suffered,” Aunt Fang, having roughly heard the whole story, held Jiang Ruo’s hand and said, “The Xi family hasn’t been peaceful these years, Xiao Feng has had it tough too. You mustn’t blame him.”

“Why would I blame him,” said Jiang Ruo. “It wasn’t him who did this.”

Aunt Fang nodded. “Speaking of which, I’ve never seen Xiao Feng so angry before, it shows how much he cares about you.”

Jiang Ruo smiled and didn’t speak.

“Outside, everyone says he’s like the patriarch, domineering and suspicious. But I actually think he’s more like his mother deep down.”

Waiting for a moment and not hearing Jiang Ruo’s response, Aunt Fang asked, “Aren’t you going to ask me where he’s like his mother?”

Jiang Ruo said, “That’s not something I can ask. If he finds out, he’ll be unhappy again.”

Hearing this, Aunt Fang patted his hand and sighed. “You two are truly…”

Later, Jiang Ruo pondered all the way but couldn’t figure out what Aunt Fang left unsaid.

Arriving outside the hospital, irrelevant people dispersed. Aunt Fang was sent back by Old Liu, while Xi Yufeng and Jiang Ruo rode together in the nanny car. The driver’s seat was separated from the back, making the car quiet.

This made Jiang Ruo somewhat uncomfortable. He pulled back the window curtain and, looking outside, asked, “Have all the matters been handled?”

Referring to the mess caused by Xi Wangchen.

Xi Yufeng hummed in agreement.

“That betting agreement, didn’t let him succeed, right?”

“Not completely abolished, I made some concessions.”

Jiang Ruo, even if he didn’t understand, could guess it wasn’t easy. Although Xi Yufeng had come to the hospital every day these past few days, the heavy exhaustion on his brow couldn’t be faked.

A while later, Xi Yufeng added, “His acts of kidnapping and violence against you have been handed over to the police. A conviction is imminent.”

Initially startled, Jiang Ruo realized Xi Yufeng assumed he wanted to pursue responsibility and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You revealed it yourself, I didn’t even ask.” As Jiang Ruo spoke, he pushed Xi Yufeng to lean back against the backrest. “It’s a long drive yet, take a nap.”

This nap took him from the car to home.

The accumulated fatigue of recent days was released in this sleep. Upon waking, Xi Yufeng shook off his drowsiness, and his vision seemed clearer.

Exiting the bedroom, the first thing he saw was a tall figure standing by the dining table, enveloped in warm light.

Feeling inexplicably reassured, Xi Yufeng approached and hugged Jiang Ruo from behind, leaning slightly forward, his chin resting on his shoulder.

Jiang Ruo had heard the footsteps and thus wasn’t surprised. Instead, he laughed. “Don’t tickle me… I told you not to touch me and you’re doing it more vigorously… alright, alright, it’s almost done, guess what this is first?”

Jiang Ruo was kneading dough according to Aunt Fang’s recipe, planning to make dumpling soup. In the process, he couldn’t resist pinching off a small piece of dough and shaping it into an animal with pointy ears.

Staring at it for a moment, Xi Yufeng was unsure. “A cat?”

“No, it’s you.”

“…”

Jiang Ruo’s eyes curved in laughter. “Come on, meow for me?”

Xi Yufeng was certainly not going to mimic a cat. Later, it was Jiang Ruo who ended up calling out several times on the bed.

Initially, considering Jiang Ruo’s condition, he didn’t plan to do anything. However, after eating dinner and taking a shower, sitting on the bed, it was inevitable to touch each other’s bodies.

Jiang Ruo wasn’t satisfied with just moving around; he even slapped shut Xi Yufeng’s laptop and complained, “Can’t you bring work home one day?”

Xi Yufeng put the computer back on the bedside table and turned Jiang Ruo’s body, leaning in to kiss him.

Jiang Ruo felt his breath hitch and his heartbeat accelerate abruptly. Amidst the noise, he instinctively reached for the other’s neck, craving a closer distance.

However, desire originates from instinct, akin to fire. Once ignited, it could only burn brighter and hotter, escalating uncontrollably.

When they parted, Jiang Ruo hung onto Xi Yufeng, panting. When Xi Yufeng attempted to push him away, he hugged him back and whispered in his ear, “It’s alright, just don’t be too rough.”

Later, Xi Yufeng carried Jiang Ruo to bathe, and after bathing, he carried him back to bed.

Jiang Ruo was so tired that his eyelids felt heavy, but under the covers, he couldn’t fall asleep. Struggling, he opened his eyes again.

He saw Xi Yufeng bare-chested, bending down to grab a cigarette from the bedside table. Standing straight, several fresh scratch marks were revealed on his shoulders and back, forming ambiguous lines.

In a daze, Jiang Ruo extended both hands, straightening his thumbs and index fingers. With his palms facing each other, he formed a frame.

Just like countless times during his youth, like framing the brightest star in the night sky, he framed Xi Yufeng within.

As if by doing so, time could freeze at this moment.

He could forever belong to him.