Chapter 54 – Digging One’s Own Grave

Li Ruowei led Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai to Wang Xiaoran’s hospital room. Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai didn’t rush in; they stopped in the hallway outside. Li Ruowei nodded at the two of them before entering the room.

Wang Xiaoran’s family wasn’t well-off, so she couldn’t afford a private room. The ward contained several beds, along with spaces for family members to sleep. A middle-aged man squatted on the floor, eating from a lunch box placed on a stool. A weary-looking middle-aged woman prayed facing the wall, her expression devout.

A lump could be seen under the covers of one of the beds—a little girl sleeping under the blankets, her black hair visible.

The other two beds also had their own patients and family members.

Shen Fubai caught a glimpse through the half-open door and suddenly recalled a saying.

Airports witnessed more sincere kisses than wedding venues, and hospitals heard more prayers than churches.

Li Ruowei entered quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone. Once Mother Wang finished praying and opened her eyes, she turned around. “Weiwēi. Come, sit here. We’ve been so grateful for your help these days.”

Li Ruowei looked at the girl sleeping on the bed and whispered, “Uncle and aunt, there are people outside looking for you.”

Father Wang lifted his head from his lunchbox, while Mother Wang looked curiously toward the door.

In the corridor, Father Wang and Mother Wang were initially puzzled about who would be visiting them. They had borrowed money from all their relatives for the treatment, leaving them virtually isolated, with no one willing to stay in touch.

They were even more perplexed when they saw two unfamiliar young men waiting outside. But once Shen Fubai removed his mask, Mother Wang exclaimed, “You, you’re not—”

Wang Xiaoran was a fervent fan of Shen Fubai, almost treating him as a reason to live, so Mother Wang recognized his face from photos.

“Shh—” Shen Fubai put a finger to his lips, putting his mask back on. “Don’t wake your daughter up.”

He didn’t plan to meet Wang Xiaoran right now.

The reason was simple—he feared the girl’s heart might not be able to handle it.

This surprise would have to wait until after the girl recovered.

“… You, you’re saying that you want to sponsor us?” Father Wang swallowed uncertainly, addressing the twenty-something Shen Fubai with deferential language despite his own age of over forty.

“Mm.” Shen Fubai spoke gently. “Li Ruowei has already explained the situation to me. I heard that Xiaoran is my fan—”

“Yes!” Mother Wang nodded repeatedly. “Xiaoran adores you. Whenever she wakes up, she watches your TV shows and listens to your songs…” Their generation didn’t understand the entertainment of the younger generation, but since their daughter liked it, they tried to understand too. They weren’t strangers to Shen Fubai, knowing he was a top celebrity.

That was why it seemed unreal to them, ordinary people, that such a superstar would suddenly appear before them and offer to pay for their medical expenses.

“I know,” Shen Fubai said. “Your daughter’s admiration is an honor. Now that I’m aware of the situation, I should do something. I didn’t bring my card today, but if you tell me your bank account number, I’ll transfer one million when I get home.”

Mother Wang appeared flustered. “How can we accept this…” One million was an astronomical sum.

Shen Fubai shook his head lightly. “It’s just a small effort. May Xiaoran recover soon.”

Father Wang and Mother Wang exchanged a glance before accepting the money. This was Xiaoran’s life-saving fund; there was no time for modesty. The two middle-aged people felt a pang in their hearts and nearly fell to their knees to thank Shen Fubai.

“Eh.” Shen Fubai quickly knelt halfway, supporting Mother Wang’s arm. “There’s no need for that. I’m the junior here, I can’t accept it.”

“You’re also a great benefactor to our Wang family,” Mother Wang choked out.

Jiang Heng stepped forward and helped Father Wang up.

At that moment, Li Ruowei called from inside the ward, “Uncle and aunt, Xiaoran woke up!”

Father Wang and Mother Wang hurried back to the ward, momentarily forgetting about Shen Fubai.

Xiaoran’s sleeping hours had been increasing recently, and they feared that one day she might not wake up again. They cherished every minute they spent with her.

Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai didn’t enter the room, watching the family of three inside.

Li Ruowei came out and thanked Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai.

Perhaps the interactions during the last few meetings had narrowed the distance between them. Li Ruowei was less nervous speaking with Shen Fubai. She said, “Thank you very much. Last time, I showed Xiaoran your autograph and photo together. She couldn’t believe it at first, but after she realized what it meant, she was overjoyed for half a day. Every day, she would read the note you wrote to her many times. That paper is still stuck to the head of her bed…” She bowed deeply.

Shen Fubai gently lifted her up. “You’re also a wonderful young lady, so loyal and affectionate.”

Li Ruowei was taken aback, blushing as she responded with a soft “Mm.”

Jiang Heng watched this scene.

The Shen Fubai he knew was a young man with a free spirit, carefree and unrestrained, adorable and sunny.

But he could also be gentle and meticulous.

Fubai was a treasure. This bottle of wine was sweet at first taste, soft and sweet to the palate. The second taste was spicy, with a sense of justice and righteousness, the innocence of youth uneroded by the world. The third taste was bitter, a shield of nonchalance hiding a tender and delicate heart, making it hard for others to hurt him. And finally, the taste returned to sweetness, rich and fragrant, with a lingering aftertaste that was endless.

Leaving the hospital, Jiang Heng took Shen Fubai’s hand, intertwining their fingers tightly.

Holding onto the hand a bit too firmly, Shen Fubai turned to look at him. “Why are you holding on so tightly?”

“Hold tight,” Jiang Heng said. “Then you won’t run away.”

Shen Fubai chuckled. “I’m not going to run away.”

“You’re too good,” Jiang Heng murmured softly. “You’re so good, I’m always worried you’ll fly away.”

Shen Fubai was like a deity in Jiang Heng’s heart, someone who had descended from the heavens. How could there be such a perfect person in the mortal world?

The same went for Jiang Heng in Shen Fubai’s heart.

“It’s a coincidence, I’m also worried you’ll fly away.” Shen Fubai raised the hand intertwined with Jiang Heng’s. “Let’s soar together, side by side.”

Jiang Heng looked down and gently kissed Shen Fubai’s fingers.

The sensation of lips brushing against his ring finger was slightly ticklish, causing Shen Fubai to shiver involuntarily. “What, what are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Heng raised his head, his tone calm. “I just thought this finger was beautiful. It just needs a ring.”

Shen Fubai: “…” It was too fast.

Just becoming boyfriends and already thinking about marriage. Heng was a man of action.

However, this matter needed to be handled slowly. They were both part of the industry and passionate about their careers. They needed to give the public time to adjust to their relationship.

Rather than defying everyone’s objections and breaking through obstacles to be together, they preferred to announce their relationship amid widespread blessings.

They just didn’t want to see the other suffer.

Although this matter was far from being on the agenda, it didn’t stop Shen Fubai from imagining it.

“If we really become…,” Shen Fubai began to dream. “Who marries whom? You marry me or I marry you?”

Jiang Heng replied, “As long as you’re happy.”

This wasn’t sarcasm; it was literal.

Indeed, as long as he was happy.

Shen Fubai recalled the debate he had with Amber over the roles in their intimate encounters, and now he had a chance to verify it personally.

He whispered, “So, are you a zero or a one?”

Jiang Heng: “…”

Jiang Heng said, “It depends on what you are.”

Essentially, Jiang Heng was a one, but if Shen Fubai shared the same role, he might, perhaps, not mind taking the bottom position—though Jiang Heng believed the probability of Shen Fubai being a one was zero.

This was compromise for love.

Shen Fubai was quite clear about his own role, but he wanted to tease Jiang Heng.

“I’m a pure one,” Shen Fubai said solemnly. “A domineering emperor top, seven rounds in one night, each lasting two hours.”

Jiang Heng thought about it and said, “Oh.”

Shen Fubai: “? ? ? What kind of reaction is that?”

Jiang Heng: “A reaction of trying hard to appear believing while suppressing laughter to show respect.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

“You lied to me,” Shen Fubai was furious. “You said it depended on me, but it’s obvious you don’t believe me! My self-esteem is hurt, I’m really angry right now.”

“Fubai.” Jiang Heng immediately adopted a serious expression, though there was still a hint of amusement in his eyes. “When you said the first sentence, I… believed it. Seven rounds… cough, it’s possible. But two hours? Fubai, you can’t even hold a plank for twenty minutes.”

Jiang Heng often went to the gym, and Shen Fubai had accompanied him a few times. Most of the time, he simply watched Jiang Heng exercise. Once, Shen Fubai tried to do a plank next to him but collapsed on the ground before reaching twenty minutes.

Shen Fubai protested, “Let me reiterate, I just got lazy and stopped.” As a dancer, how could his stamina be poor! He just preferred watching Jiang Heng work out at the gym to exercising himself.

Jiang Heng’s appearance while working out was full of masculinity, and the most powerful alpha in space operas couldn’t compare to his sexiness.

Jiang Heng’s voice rose slightly. “Got lazy and stopped?”

For some reason, even though Jiang Heng merely repeated Shen Fubai’s words, Shen Fubai picked up another meaning.

Sure enough, Jiang Heng’s next words were, “That’s not a qualified one, then.”

What Shen Fubai had said was practically inhuman. “You can temporarily transform into an automatic meat grinder.”

Jiang Heng discussed the issue seriously. “But I just want to lie comfortably.”

Shen Fubai lectured him. “That won’t do. This requires teamwork. It’s one person’s loneliness, but it’s the fault of two.”

Jiang Heng spoke in a pedantic, old-fashioned manner, uttering exaggerated words. “No, it’s too tiring. This kind of physical labor should be left to you. My requirements aren’t high. As long as you can last over two hours, with a slightly greater intensity, not too light, and the rhythm just right. Whatever you do, don’t lose control and crush my petite body, nor grip too tightly and break my fragile wrists.”

Shen Fubai: “…” Was he referring to that 185-centimeter-tall body and the strength capable of snapping a three-meter-high stilt barehanded as “petite” and “fragile”?

“The opportunity for exercise is yours, allowing you to burn many calories. Oh, right.” Jiang Heng added. “Seven rounds.”

Shen Fubai: “…What are you doing?”

Jiang Heng replied slowly. “I’m doing nothing.”

Shen Fubai was on the verge of a breakdown. “Do it to me, alright? If you can do it, then go ahead!” He just wanted to bluff and tease Jiang Heng, why did he have to be bombarded with these ideas? He was currently lost.

Jiang Heng looked at him sympathetically. “Fubai, I’ve already dug you out of the grave. Why are you lying back in and closing the coffin lid yourself?”

Shen Fubai: “…” Was it his fault for digging his own grave? Clearly, it was Heng who had been digging pits and luring him in!

Shen Fubai took out his phone and made a call. “Hello? Chenlu Flower Shop? I’d like to order 999 red roses, delivered to Room 521 of the Jiuzhou Hotel tonight.”

Jiang Heng was surprised. “What? Are you proposing to me?”

Shen Fubai smiled. “I’m taking you back to that rose funeral.” Let’s perish together. Did a boyfriend who was both flirtatious and devious deserve to exist?

The image of Jiang Heng as a god-like figure in Shen Fubai’s heart developed a crack.

The conversation, which started with talk of weddings, ended with a funeral.

What a tragic story this was.