Postpartum Care

The main gate was open, the Tesla in front of it was unlocked, its trunk ajar. Zhuang Fanxin entered the house and walked to the front of the stairs, hearing the sound of slippers on the floor—a rapid 'tap, tap, tap' that made one's heart beat irregularly.

He crept upstairs, thinking he should change his clothes first before anything else, or at the very least, put away his not-yet-dry little underpants. Once he was neat and tidy, he would personally brew tea or cut some fruit, have Zhuang Xianyang and Zhao Jianqiu sit down together, and listen to what he had to say.

Zhuang Fanxin took a deep breath. He was going to say he and Gu Zhuoyan were dating, which was essentially coming out of the closet, so it was inevitable that he would be a little nervous.

Halfway up the stairs, the sound of movement from the second floor grew closer. Zhao Jianqiu came around the corner, swishing her skirt, and jumped in fright upon seeing him. "Why were you so quiet? Did you just get back?"

Zhuang Fanxin pressed himself against the wall, his face tilted up, and gave a quiet "mm."

Zhao Jianqiu asked, "I called you so many times yesterday, why didn't you answer?"

"Uh," Zhuang Fanxin stammered, "I drank too much at Grandpa Xue's house."

"So promising," Zhao Jianqiu said. "So you stayed out all night and only came back at dawn?"

Zhuang Fanxin didn't dare to respond. Staying out all night—to him, this was not a very respectable phrase. It seemed to imply some clandestine, shameful affair, something that couldn't be seen in the light of day, and what he did during that night away couldn't be spoken of either.

Zhao Jianqiu softly chided him. The distance between their two houses wasn't even a hundred meters; he could have crawled back. Yet he chose to bother another family during the holidays. Could he be a little more reliable?

Zhuang Fanxin nodded with downcast eyes, thinking to himself, 'As if I had the strength to crawl back. Gu Zhuoyan had held his waist and hoisted his legs, doing him for the whole afternoon like he was some boneless thing. He didn't even know how the sky had turned dark; he only knew that his vision kept blacking out.'

Thankfully, Zhao Jianqiu didn't say much more. She seemed to be tidying up a room and went downstairs, grabbing a U-shaped pillow from the sofa. As she passed Zhuang Fanxin, annoyed that her son was in the way, she casually slapped his butt.

"—Ah!" Zhuang Fanxin couldn't hold it in.

"What are you yelping for?" Zhao Jianqiu said, puzzled. "Is it that serious? Why are you crying?"

The sharp, swollen pain of that moment swept through his entire body, making his scalp tingle. The intensity of yesterday's pleasure was matched only by the intensity of today's pain. Zhuang Fanxin wiped away the tears that had burst out, bit his lower lip to endure, and clenched his butt cheeks until they were as firm as a compressed biscuit.

He leaned against the wall to recover for a long time. When he tried to lift his legs again, his thighs trembled. Even a weak willow swaying in the wind couldn't compare to his delicateness. He went up to the second floor. The living room was a bit of a mess, and Zhao Jianqiu was going in and out, looking for something.

"Fanxin is back?" Zhuang Xianyang called out to him.

Approaching the bedroom, Zhuang Fanxin saw a suitcase open on the floor. Zhuang Xianyang was squatting in front of it, folding clothes. The U-shaped pillow from just now was also placed inside.

"Dad, are you going on a business trip?" he asked.

Zhuang Xianyang answered, "I'm flying to Los Angeles."

Zhuang Fanxin didn't understand. "What's wrong?"

Zhuang Xianyang said, "Your grandpa is sick."

A single phone call from the USA, and he was leaving immediately. There wasn't even time to go to the Art Academy to request leave and reschedule classes. Zhuang Xianyang gave the leave request form and related documents to Zhuang Fanxin, telling him to go to Pei Zhi's house in the next couple of days and give them to Professor Pei to handle.

He was leaving in a hurry. After packing simply, they headed to the airport. Zhao Jianqiu drove. Zhuang Fanxin, still in the same clothes, went along to see him off. He sat alone in the back, listless. Sickness was always upsetting, and with an ocean between them, he couldn't see his grandpa right away.

It had happened once before in early spring. At that time, Zhuang Xianyang had rushed over and stayed for about ten days. A few months ago, Zhuang Fanxin had returned home early after his competition, also because his grandpa wasn't well and didn't have the energy to spend time with him.

"Dad," Zhuang Fanxin began, "what did Grandma say?"

Zhuang Xianyang said, "She didn't explain the specific situation clearly. I'll only know the details once I get there." He turned his head. "Grandma also told me to hide it from you, afraid you'd get distracted from your final exam review. So just pretend you don't know."

Zhuang Fanxin was speechless. "How am I supposed to pretend when I already know?"

"Anyway, you don't need to worry too much. Just focus on your own things." Zhuang Xianyang looked out the window. "Old people, you know, aches and pains are unavoidable. I'm going to take care of my dad, so you take good care of your mom at home."

Holding the steering wheel, Zhao Jianqiu said that expecting him to take care of her, she'd be happy if he just didn't cause trouble. Zhuang Fanxin felt wronged. Hadn't he just stayed out for one night? She didn't have this attitude when she needed him to weed and fertilize the garden.

"Sweetheart." However, Zhao Jianqiu was not swayed. "I'm not asking you to help me with chores, I'm just asking you not to embarrass me. You used to just go to Xiao Gu's house to freeload meals, and now you're freeloading a place to sleep. How am I supposed to face Grandpa Xue?"

Zhuang Xianyang said, "If Xiao Gu were a girl, I'd even suspect you'd marry into his family."

The conversation had completely turned on him. Zhuang Fanxin couldn't argue back. At this critical moment, with his grandpa sick and them rushing to the airport, he didn't dare to confess rashly.

He understood the pressure on his parents, but he couldn't gauge their reaction. Forget it, he'd wait until Zhuang Xianyang returned.

After seeing Zhuang Xianyang off at the airport, it was just mother and son on the way back. Zhao Jianqiu was too lazy to cook, so she drove around looking for a restaurant. This was torture for Zhuang Fanxin's poor little butt. Having just been deflowered so roughly, then slapped, and now being jostled in a car for nearly two hours.

He curled up in the passenger seat, shivering. 'Mom, just put me out of my misery, I'll eat anything.'

Zhao Jianqiu turned a deaf ear. Small eateries were unsanitary, and themed restaurants had queues, so she finally found a private kitchen. During the meal, she glanced over and saw Zhuang Fanxin's face was flushed pink, his eyelids drooping. She suspected the effects of the red wine hadn't worn off yet.

Zhuang Fanxin kept his head down, eating his seaweed and bamboo shoot rolls, his zipper pulled all the way to the top. After enduring for a while, he asked, "Mom, is the temperature in this restaurant a little low?"

"I don't think so." Zhao Jianqiu ladled some soup for him. "Are you cold? Have something hot to drink."

Zhuang Fanxin didn't dare to eat much. He stopped after two sips of soup. After eating and returning home, he felt extremely cold. He went straight to bed and tucked a thermometer under his arm for a bit. 38 degrees. He really did have a fever.

He stared at the ceiling in a daze. 'Was this fever because of that thing with Gu Zhuoyan?'

He had thought Pei Zhi was ridiculous before, but it turned out he wasn't much better himself.

At the end of the alley, Gu Zhuoyan came out with Bond on a leash, using the pretense of walking the dog to scout out the situation at the Zhuang Family's house. Zhuang Fanxin had said he was going to come out, and by now, three or four hours had passed. How come there wasn't the slightest bit of news?

Lingering outside the main gate, Gu Zhuoyan sent Zhuang Fanxin a message: "How did it go?"

Zhuang Fanxin replied: "I have a fever."

After reading it, Gu Zhuoyan forgot everything else. He shooed the dog back home and ran to the Community Clinic to get some fever medicine. It wasn't until Zhao Jianqiu came to open the door that he suddenly remembered about the coming out thing.

"Xiao Gu, you're here." Zhao Jianqiu was very enthusiastic. "Sorry Fanxin bothered you last night."

Gu Zhuoyan quickly said, "Not at all, not at all."

He observed her reaction. Was she completely in the dark, or was this a successful coming out, the kind where the mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law and likes him more and more... He asked slowly, "Auntie, is Uncle not home?"

Zhao Jianqiu said, "He went to Los Angeles to see Fanxin's grandparents."

Gu Zhuoyan nodded. Flying to the USA during just a three-day holiday, could something be wrong? After exchanging pleasantries, he went upstairs. Entering the bedroom, he saw Zhuang Fanxin, a small lump on the bed, delirious with fever.

After locking the door, Gu Zhuoyan sat on the edge of the bed and fed Zhuang Fanxin medicine, saying, "You were just lying here by yourself, why didn't you tell Auntie?"

Zhuang Fanxin answered honestly: he didn't dare. Seeing Gu Zhuoyan's gaze freeze slightly, he wrapped himself around him, hugging Gu Zhuoyan's waist and resting his head on his shoulder, and said, "It's all your fault, how could I have the nerve to let my mom know?"

Gu Zhuoyan was puzzled. "I wrapped you up tightly in the blanket last night. You shouldn't have caught a cold and gotten a fever."

Zhuang Fanxin was silent for a moment, like a martial artist gathering his energy before making a move, brewing it bit by bit until the emotion was ripe. He mixed yesterday's dreamlike intimacy, today's aching muscles and sore flesh, and all the little bits and pieces from before, and spat it all out at once: "It's from you fucking me!"

The words were enunciated with extra force, carrying a coarse, vulgar flavor—very blunt, very satisfying. This crude outburst from Zhuang Fanxin made Gu Zhuoyan's downcast eyes soften. He pulled down the other's collar and licked the teeth marks there. The heat from his lips and tongue was intense, making Gu Zhuoyan's breathing turn chaotic as he held him, his palm stroking his back ceaselessly.

This was likely what happened when passion ran high. One was feverish but still wanted to be wanton, while the other's remaining rationality couldn't resist this particular temptation. They didn't do anything out of line, just stayed close, pressing against each other. If there was something to say, they would tease; if there was nothing to say, they would nuzzle neck to neck. Commonly known as being affectionate.

Zhuang Fanxin fell asleep soundly in Gu Zhuoyan's arms, his nasal passages dry from the fever, letting out stuffy little snores that rose and fell. Gu Zhuoyan arranged him so he could turn over, pulled down his pants, and took out some anti-swelling ointment to apply to his rear. He really was an animal, ruining his darling like this the very first time.

The back of his head touched the pillow, and Zhuang Fanxin, as sensitive as a months-old baby, woke up instantly. He sleepily grabbed Gu Zhuoyan's sleeve. "Are you leaving?"

"I'm not leaving," Gu Zhuoyan said. "Let me do your homework for you."

Zhuang Fanxin was reassured and, wrapped in his blanket, sank back into sleep.

A stack of sketches depicting a crown was scattered on the desk. Gu Zhuoyan remembered that Zhuang Fanxin's winning design in the ACC Competition was a crown called "White Chess Queen." The design integrated elements of Chinese Go, and its lines and patterns were related to the flow of a Go game. Gu Zhuoyan put the sketches away neatly. While Zhuang Fanxin slept, he briskly finished the New Year's Day homework.

He was truly exhausted. Zhuang Fanxin slept until dusk, his eyes a little swollen. Gu Zhuoyan wrung out a wet towel to wipe his face, the corners of his mouth always curled into a smile.

He asked in a hoarse voice, "What are you smiling at?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "I feel like I'm tending to someone in postpartum confinement."

Zhuang Fanxin would not have it. He tried to do a carp kip-up to spring to his feet but failed. His noisy protest, however, summoned Zhao Jianqiu. Gu Zhuoyan immediately put on the air of a perfect gentleman and, faster than lightning, hid the tube of anti-swelling ointment. The moment he opened his mouth to call her "Auntie," Zhao Jianqiu couldn't help but feel that this kid was lovable in every way.

"Xiao Gu, I've cooked dinner. The soup still needs to simmer for a while. You should stay and eat."

"Thank you, Auntie, but I'll eat at home," Gu Zhuoyan said. "I have to watch my little sister, otherwise she'll give my grandpa a hard time during dinner."

Zhao Jianqiu said, "Then take a bowl of soup back with you when it's ready."

Gu Zhuoyan breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't dare stay for dinner. Even if Zhao Jianqiu didn't have fiery, piercing eyes, she could probably see right through the fishy business between him and Zhuang Fanxin. After all, the two of them were completely infatuated at the moment, high on it.

The door closed, and the bedroom fell into silence. The one who hadn't finished making a fuss stopped fussing. Gu Zhuoyan touched Zhuang Fanxin's forehead; the fever had already subsided.

Zhuang Fanxin pressed his lips together and finally said, "I didn't tell my parents."

"Mm, I could tell." Gu Zhuoyan also finally asked, "Uncle flew to the USA?"

Zhuang Fanxin said, "My grandpa is sick. As soon as I got home, my dad was packing, so I didn't tell them." Feeling guilty for breaking his promise, he said, "I'm sorry, I'll tell them when my dad gets back."

Gu Zhuoyan didn't mind. It was fine whether he told them or not, and fine whenever he told them. Afraid that Zhuang Fanxin would take it too seriously and feel burdened, he said, "There's no rush at all. Don't get hung up on this."

"How can that be!" Zhuang Fanxin said with a sincere expression. "I slept with you, I have to be responsible for you."

Gu Zhuoyan almost died young from laughing. No wonder he wanted to come out right after waking up. So that's what he was thinking. Zhuang Fanxin's purity was so damn bizarre.

Before leaving, Gu Zhuoyan gave the ointment to Zhuang Fanxin, instructing him on how many times a day to apply it and how much to use. Zhuang Fanxin didn't want to listen to such details and stuffed the ointment under his pillow. "I know what to do."

Gu Zhuoyan leaned in conspiratorially and, pinching Zhuang Fanxin's earlobe, said, "You're only allowed to apply the medicine. No playing by yourself."

It took Zhuang Fanxin a good five or six seconds to process that. Forgetting the pain, he grabbed a Monchhichi doll and threw it at Gu Zhuoyan, chasing him out the door. As the footsteps faded away, he went back to stand at the window. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Gu Zhuoyan turned to look back before leaving the main gate.

He'd heard that Romeo and Juliet looked at each other just like that.

The large iron gate closed. Gu Zhuoyan had walked some distance when his phone vibrated. He switched the soup bowl to his other hand, pulled out his phone, and answered without even looking. "Hello?"

"It's me." The long-unheard voice of Gu Shibo.