TBSDRA 21: Coughing Blood Again

Xu Xishuang hadn’t expected that answer at all.

Jiang Yangze saw his expression and realized he might’ve said something wrong. He quickly raised a hand to cover his mouth, stammering, “Haha, right, Yan-ge’s not here, haha…”

He couldn’t hold it in for long. He hesitated, then cautiously asked, “So, uh, Xu Xishuang, what’s your relationship with my Yan-ge now? Should I call you sister-in-law?”

Xu Xishuang held himself back, reminding himself he was pregnant and needed to stay calm. He unclenched the fist he’d nearly thrown at Jiang Yangze and forced a smile. “I’m not too sure either. Why don’t you go ask Yan Yushan?”

Something about that smile and tone felt a little… passive-aggressive. Jiang Yangze scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Oh.”

“Then I won’t bother you.” Jiang Yangze gave him a quick wave. “Bye, sis—uh, Xu Xishuang.”

Xu Xishuang had never intended to invite him in anyway. He watched as Jiang Yangze sprinted back to his flashy car and drove off in a roar of engine noise. Xu Xishuang stood there for a moment.

…So this was a place Yan Yushan stayed in often? Did that mean he would come back right after wrapping his event?

That wasn’t what Xu Xishuang had planned at all. His idea had been to avoid seeing Yan Yushan for a while—at least until the awkwardness of last night faded. Ideally, he wouldn’t see him again until it was time to give birth.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yangze, having driven a bit down the road, pulled over and took out his phone. He called Yan Yushan. “Yan-ge?”

Yan Yushan had just finished taping an interview at a downtown TV station. When he saw it was Jiang Yangze calling—not Xu Xishuang—his smile faded slightly. He picked up, “What?”

“Yan-ge,” Jiang Yangze sounded mildly horrified. “I just saw Xu Xishuang at your house! He’s living there!”

He kept babbling, “I asked him what your relationship is now, and he told me to ask you! So, Yan-ge, what’s the deal between you and Xu Xishuang?”

“…Don’t go there anymore,” Yan Yushan said calmly. “Don’t go near that place for the next year.”

With Jiang Yangze’s impulsive and reckless personality, what if he startled Xu Xishuang or worse, the baby?

Unaware that his standing in Yan Yushan’s heart had just plummeted, Jiang Yangze blinked. “Oh, okay. I won’t but seriously, Yan-ge, what’s going on between you and Xu Xishuang? Are you keeping him like—uh—?”

“No,” Yan Yushan frowned. “Don’t talk nonsense. We… It’s complicated. Right now we need to live together for a while.”

“Hmm…” Jiang Yangze was completely confused. “Is this like playing house? Or for a reality show or something?”

“No. Stop guessing,” Yan Yushan sighed. “Eight months from now… I’ll talk to Xu Xishuang about whether to tell you.”

Eight months? Jiang Yangze was even more baffled but since Yan Yushan had said so, he figured there must be a reason. He didn’t press further, hung up the call, and happily went off to hang out with his latest beauty.

Yan Yushan switched to his message screen and saw Xu Xishuang’s earlier text. He replied: “Okay, I’m coming back now.”

Back at the villa, Xu Xishuang had returned to the couch when he received Yan Yushan’s reply. He hesitated for a moment, then sent another message: ”Are you also going to be living here?”

That was basically a not-so-subtle hint for him to leave. Though Xu Xishuang knew it was Yan Yushan’s house and of course he had every right to stay, he recalled their earlier conversation and typed another message: “You said you’d find me a place to live. I thought it’d be just for me.”

The moment he hit send, a call came in. Xu Xishuang’s finger hovered, but he answered.

“Hello?” Yan Yushan’s deep voice resonated through the speaker, and Xu Xishuang reflexively touched his ear.

Holding the remote in one hand, he replied, “Yeah, I’m listening.”

“Sorry, maybe I didn’t explain clearly.” Yan Yushan’s voice echoed slightly—he was likely in the underground garage. Xu Xishuang muted the TV and listened as he continued, “When we talked before, I said I’d take care of you until you gave birth. I thought living together would make that easier, so I gave you the house I normally stay in.”

“I already told Jiang Yangze not to bother you,” Yan Yushan added, closing the car door. “But if you really don’t want to live with me, I still have a few things in the villa. I can come by now to grab them and leave.”

Xu Xishuang went silent.

Why did Yan Yushan sound so pitiful? Why did he suddenly feel like he was the one kicking Yan Yushan out of his own home?

Damn it. Xu Xishuang randomly jabbed at the remote, then took a deep breath and tried to sound calm and indifferent. “You can come over. No need to leave.”

“After all, Xiao Wang is staying too,” he added. “One more person won’t make a difference. I’ll get used to it.”

A trace of laughter flickered in Yan Yushan’s eyes. He suppressed his smile and said, “Okay.”

After hanging up, Xu Xishuang covered one ear, turned the TV volume back on, and resumed watching Yan Yushan’s period drama.

After eating the lavish lunch Xiao Wang had prepared, Xu Xishuang went back to the couch. This time, he hadn’t even finished an episode before Yan Yushan returned. Xu Xishuang saw him get out of the car through the living room window and quickly turned off the TV, sitting up straighter.

He mentally rehearsed what to say when Yan Yushan walked in. “Welcome home” sounded way too much like a wife greeting her husband. “You’re back” was pointless filler and made him sound like an idiot but saying nothing at all would seem cold…

Before he could figure it out, Yan Yushan opened the door and immediately spotted him standing by the couch. He smiled and said, “I’m back.”

Xu Xishuang’s heart skipped a beat.

Because today’s interview had been formal, Yan Yushan was wearing a fitted suit. Broad shoulders, long legs, hair slicked back—he looked more mature, a completely different vibe from the dashing young general in the drama.

Xu Xishuang quietly thought that maybe no one could resist this version of Yan Yushan. Every step he took toward you was so deliberate. His eyes were fixed only on you. You were the one he chose.

The only one.

“Did you take a photo of your belly today?” Yan Yushan had already walked up to him. When he lowered his eyes, Xu Xishuang could see the tiny mole on his eyelid. “Do you need help?”

“…I forgot,” Xu Xishuang admitted. “I’ll do it later.”

Yan Yushan’s gaze lifted from his stomach to his face. “Are you settling in okay?”

“It’s great,” Xu Xishuang glanced upstairs. “I picked the second room on the left, on the second floor. It’s spacious, and the decor’s nice.”

Yan Yushan paused for two seconds.

“That was my room,” he said. “I’ll grab my stuff later.”

Xu Xishuang: …

That plain room was his? It looked like no one even lived there!

“No, no, you should keep it,” Xu Xishuang quickly said. “I only dropped off my luggage and I haven’t unpacked anything. It’ll be easy for me to move. I’ll just pick another room.”

“How about the second one on the right? It’s right across from mine,” Yan Yushan suggested. “It gets good sunlight, has good airflow, and even a small balcony. You’ll like it.”

“Then I’ll take that one.” Xu Xishuang nodded.

They both went quiet.

Xu Xishuang felt a little tightness in his chest. Maybe it was morning sickness? He didn’t think much of it and sat back down on the couch.

Yan Yushan followed and sat beside him—leaving a polite arm’s length of space. Xu Xishuang suddenly remembered something and asked, “Do you have a lot of events coming up? Any new shoots?”

“Not many. I can cancel them,” Yan Yushan replied. “I’ll stay with you and do my duty.”

Xu Xishuang: …That’s really not necessary.

If Yan Yushan was watching him 24/7, how would he sneak off to ask Zhao-jie for new resources? How was he supposed to stir things up in the industry?

“I don’t want to delay your work because of me,” Xu Xishuang said tactfully. “Didn’t you bet with your brother that you’d make it big in the entertainment industry? You’re on the rise so you should be out there. If you get good offers, take them. Especially films and dramas. Cement your position as a Best Actor.”

So hurry up and go join a crew already.

Yan Yushan looked into his serious eyes. “But you—”

“I’m fine,” Xu Xishuang said considerately. “Your work is more important.”

Just as Yan Yushan opened his mouth to respond, Xu Xishuang’s expression shifted. He coughed like he was choking—then suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, staining both Yan Yushan’s charcoal-gray suit and the sofa.

Yan Yushan: !!!

Xu Xishuang: …So it wasn’t morning sickness. It’s just spontaneous blood-vomiting syndrome.

Calmly, he pulled a tissue from the coffee table and wiped the corner of his mouth. “Sorry about that. Cough. I got your suit and the sofa dirty.”

Yan Yushan’s pupils trembled. Even though Xu Xishuang had said before that the bleeding was just part of his body expelling toxins, and that it was actually a good thing—Yan Yushan was still deeply worried. “Do you want me to call Dr. Xu?”

“No need, I’m fine!” Xu Xishuang waved him off. “I’ll just rinse my mouth. When are you… going back to work?”

If Yan Yushan still couldn’t tell he was being asked to leave, he’d have to be a fool. He glanced at the fresh bloodstain on his suit and said flatly, “We’ll see.”