DASFAM_98

When he woke again, the hospital room was still dim, with only a soft call light left at the bedside.

The hospital's venetian blinds were drawn very densely, making it impossible to see the scenery outside or to tell whether it was day or night. Instead, there was some movement in the small bathroom diagonally across.

"……"

Before Bai Xu could think further, the hospital room's bathroom door opened, and Shang Yanxiao walked out from inside.

He immediately noticed Bai Xu waking up and unconsciously quickened his pace, "A' Xu, how did you wake up? Did I disturb you?"

Compared to before sleep, Shang Yanxiao had already changed into a fresh set of clothes by now, and even the stubble that had emerged was cleaned up neatly. When he drew near, his body still carried the fresh scent of shower.

"…What time is it?"

Bai Xu's throat was somewhat dry, but speaking was no longer as laborious.

"Just before six in the morning. The nurse on duty just removed your IV a moment ago," Shang Yanxiao answered, proactively and thoughtfully pouring him warm water, "Want some?"

Bai Xu slowly drank two sips, staring at Shang Yanxiao, "…Why are you washing up at this hour?"

Shang Yanxiao sat at the bed's edge, holding Bai Xu's left hand, "Afraid that Young Master Bai would wake up and still find me unpleasant, so I hurried to tidy up my appearance."

Xie Qi had brought fresh clothes beforehand, but since Bai Xu had not woken up for a long time, Shang Yanxiao stood guard like a sculpture, never leaving his side for a moment, which was why he had ended up in such a disheveled state.

Shang Yanxiao proactively bent down, guiding his lover's left hand to rest against his own chin, "Go ahead and check. Is it better now?"

Bai Xu let out a very faint laugh, "It's better, but it's still not enough."

Shang Yanxiao asked, "Hm? What's not enough?"

Bai Xu didn't respond to that, only attempted with great difficulty to shift his body.

Shang Yanxiao noticed his small movement and quickly stopped him, "What are you doing? Don't move around carelessly."

The bed in the high-level intensive care room was already quite spacious in size. With a slight shift, Bai Xu made room, "Come up here and sleep with me."

Shang Yanxiao refused, "Don't mess around. Isn't there a companion bed right next to us? You sleep on your side, and I'll just stay like this and keep watch."

"Keep watch over what? I'm fine."

Bai Xu glanced at the companion bed beside him and insisted, "Can you even sleep on that one-meter-eighty single bed? Come on up. How long has it been since you've had a proper rest?"

"……"

Shang Yanxiao still hesitated.

Bai Xu, seeing this, pulled out his trump card, "My head is dizzy. I don't have the energy to repeat myself a second time. You sleep with me."

Shang Yanxiao sighed helplessly, his brow furrowing then relaxing, "Okay."

The main bed had no problem accommodating both of them. Shang Yanxiao turned on his side and found a comfortable position, carefully drawing Bai Xu into his embrace, "Tell me if you're uncomfortable."

Bai Xu took a deep breath, and feeling his lover's presence, he felt nothing but completely at ease, "Yanxiao."

"Mm?"

"I'm sorry for worrying you."

"……"

Shang Yanxiao's gaze stiffened slightly. He inconspicuously kissed Bai Xu's messy hair, "Don't apologize to me. It's because I didn't protect you well enough."

Bai Xu sensed his lover's restrained breathing and reached his left hand up to touch the side of his neck, "I don't know how long I was unconscious for, but during my unconsciousness, I think I had a 'dream.'"

"What?"

"I can't remember the specifics clearly. It seems like I returned to the real world and saw the 'me' lying on the hospital bed."

Shang Yanxiao didn't respond, only unconsciously gripped Bai Xu's left hand tightly, "A' Xu."

Bai Xu casually shared his "dream" with him, "I was thinking at that time, maybe that way I could return, but I… but I didn't want to return."

Because there was no Shang Yanxiao in the real world.

If a year ago Bai Xu couldn't find true belonging in this world, then now, Shang Yanxiao had filled that gap.

"I told myself, I couldn't just leave like this. I couldn't lose you and then…"

"I heard you calling me back, telling me not to abandon you."

Shang Yanxiao still didn't speak, only his breathing against Bai Xu's ear suddenly became heavier.

Bai Xu closed his eyes gently, his voice soft but resolute, "Do you know? I never believed in these things before."

But what happened to him was too strange, making it impossible for him to distinguish between dream and reality. Even so, Bai Xu had made a decision—

"No matter if this is reality or a dream, wherever you are, that's where I am."

If it was reality, he was willing to stay in the book world where Shang Yanxiao existed.

If it was a dream, he was also willing to sink into a dream with Shang Yanxiao and never wake up.

"……"

What responded to him was not Shang Yanxiao's voice, but an unexpected warmth falling against his neck.

Bai Xu sensed something, but because of his injuries, he wasn't able to turn on his side. He could only thrash his hand about, trying to touch his lover's cheek.

But the next second, Shang Yanxiao firmly pulled his left hand back and pressed it against his own cheek.

The warmth in his palm returned with force.

"Yanxiao?"

"A' Xu…" Shang Yanxiao suppressed the sob that was about to break through, revealing a vulnerability and plea visible only to him, "Don't get hurt anymore. Don't leave me again."

In just one year, whether it was the sudden death of his parents or the unexpected passing of Old Master Shang, each was a blow to him.

He was a living, breathing person. No matter how strong one's heart was, it couldn't bear the successive deaths of family and lover.

"Do you know? I would rather die myself than watch you fall from a building in front of me. During the time you were in a coma, I was consumed by self-blame and suffering every single moment."

Why had he dragged Bai Xu into a dispute that didn't belong to him?

Why, knowing there was danger, did he let the other person face it alongside him?

Why, when he was so close, couldn't he hold on? Why could he only watch helplessly as his lover fell?

"I didn't dare close my eyes, and I didn't dare let go. I was terrified that when I woke up, you would be gone."

"……"

Bai Xu's eyes grew sore, and he turned his head with effort to meet his gaze.

If the wheels of fate couldn't be changed, if there was destined to be a tribulation in the confrontation between Shang Yanxiao and Shang Qi Shun, then at this moment Bai Xu could only feel fortunate—

Fortunately, it was he who had taken this 'tribulation' for Shang Yanxiao. At least what befell him was not a destined death.

"Yanxiao, it won't happen again."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Bai Xu caressed Shang Yanxiao's cheek, "Sleep now. Get a good rest."

For every night after this, they would sleep soundly in each other's embrace.

...

The hospital room door was lightly knocked on twice, but no one responded.

Zhang Changxu pushed the door open, with Old Madam Shang and Shang Keshu, whom he had happened to meet in the elevator, following behind him. The moment the three entered the room, they all unconsciously slowed their steps—

On the relatively spacious hospital bed inside, Shang Yanxiao was holding Bai Xu and sleeping deeply.

The knock just now had no effect on them whatsoever. There wasn't even the slightest sign of them waking up.

"Well, well, these two little spouses are quite clingy," Shang Keshu couldn't help but stifle a laugh, teasing Old Madam Shang beside her, "Didn't Bai Xu just wake up last night? And now they're already sleeping in an embrace?"

Old Madam Shang's heart finally settled into her chest, "It's fine as long as he's okay. Yanxiao has been burning himself out day and night during this time. Now that he can finally get a good night's sleep, let's not disturb them for now."

Zhang Changxu was of course aware of his friend's condition during this period and felt too bad to disturb him.

He looked uncertainly at the Shang family elders beside him, "Old Madam, Miss Shu, why don't you two sit on the sofa for a while? I'll come back later."

Just as his words fell, there was some movement on the bed—it was Bai Xu who opened his eyes first.

Zhang Changxu, seeing this, finally moved forward, "You're awake? How does your body feel? Is there anywhere that's particularly uncomfortable?"

"……"

Bai Xu looked at the still-sleeping Shang Yanxiao beside him, then looked at Zhang Changxu in his white coat, and it took his blank mind a long time to process.

"Dr. Zhang?"

"It's me."

As soon as he spoke, Old Madam Shang and Shang Keshu also came closer.

Bai Xu suddenly became more alert and awake, "Grandmother, Little Aunt, how did you come as well?"

Shang Keshu looked at Shang Yanxiao, still holding Bai Xu and sleeping soundly, and teased in a low voice, "Mother heard last night that you woke up and wanted to come to the hospital first thing this morning."

"As it turned out, the sun is already high in the sky, and you two are still sleeping soundly here."

"……"

Bai Xu turned his head to look at Shang Yanxiao. His companion's breathing was long and steady. It seemed he was sleeping quite soundly.

He explained on his lover's behalf, "Yanxiao has been exhausted from watching over me recently. I asked him to come up and get some proper rest."

Zhang Changxu glanced at the time and asked for Bai Xu's opinion, "Bai Xu, I've arranged a full set of examinations for you. If you're not tired now, shall I take you over first?"

Zhang Changxu had to work the afternoon shift, so his morning was free.

Bai Xu of course had no objection, "I'm fine with it, it's just Yanxiao…"

Zhang Changxu said, "I'll take you in a wheelchair."

If they woke Shang Yanxiao, the other party likely wouldn't blame them. But if this couldn't wake him, then let him continue sleeping.

Bai Xu couldn't help but smile, "Then let's keep our movements light and try not to disturb him."

After all, from six o'clock until now, Shang Yanxiao had only slept for less than four hours. How could that be enough to make up for the sleep he'd lost over these past few days?

Bai Xu made a request, "Grandmother, Little Aunt, please stay here and wait. That way, when he wakes up, he won't panic looking for me."

Old Madam Shang's response was equally soft, "Alright, you two go ahead. Don't delay the examinations."

She then turned to Zhang Changxu, "Thank you for taking care of this, Changxu."

Zhang Changxu gave Old Madam Shang a polite nod. In his gaze toward Bai Xu lay a complexity that had never been there before, "Of course."

...

The examination area was two buildings away from the inpatient ward.

Zhang Changxu knew his way around Central Hospital like the back of his hand. Moreover, after learning about Bai Xu's situation last night, he had immediately arranged a reasonable examination schedule and timeline for him.

The entire set of examinations was completed quite quickly.

"The examination results will come out in the next two days. If you experience any discomfort at all, you must inform the medical staff on duty immediately."

"When you go back, have Yanxiao arrange soft foods for you to eat as much as possible. Our hospital has a specialized nutritionist. At that time… never mind, I'll coordinate directly with Yanxiao then."

Zhang Changxu continued to ramble on with instructions as he pushed Bai Xu into the elevator.

Bai Xu quietly made note of everything, somewhat surprised, "Dr. Zhang."

Zhang Changxu looked at him through the reflection in the elevator door, "What?"

"This is the first time I've seen you say so much. I thought you only spoke at such length and with such weight to Changning."

Bai Xu's voice was still somewhat weak and hoarse, but he had long since recovered his usual ease, "You haven't suddenly had a change of heart, have you?"

"……"

Zhang Changxu seemed about to speak but held back, as if something was stuck in his throat that he couldn't bring himself to say.

Ding dong.

The elevator doors opened in response.

Zhang Changxu pushed Bai Xu out and found a quiet corner where few people lingered, coming to a stop.

This time, it was Bai Xu who didn't understand, "Dr. Zhang?"

Zhang Changxu sighed imperceptibly, but he wouldn't beat around the bush to build up to the topic, "Bai Xu, there's something I'd like to ask for your consent on."

Bai Xu was completely bewildered, "What?"

Zhang Changxu fixed his gaze on his face, hesitating before speaking, "Would you be willing to do a paternity test with my family?"

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