Chapter 29

The words of reconciliation that Lin Xuhuan had squeezed out after much thought were all bottled back up. The last time his brother had beaten someone up, his expression was terrifyingly fierce, full of hostility. He had even been worried it would scare Pei Ran. But looking at him now… He had never seen Yan Zhun with such an expression, with his brows and eyes lowered, exuding a sense of grievance that didn't match his usual self.

Wait a minute, aggrieved??

“Fuck, bro,” Lin Xuhuan took a deep breath and confirmed, “Did you win the fight? You didn’t lose, did you? How many of them were there? Why would you hit someone for no reason? That’s not harmonious at all!”

A crack appeared in Yan Zhun’s carefully constructed expression.

If this were in a game, he would have pulled out a gun and team-killed him.

Pei Ran's lips were a bit dry. He hadn't even had a chance to drink water before leaving. “Does your hand hurt? What did the doctor say?”

“It’s nothing, just a superficial wound,” Yan Zhun paused, “It hurts.”

Lin Xuhuan said anxiously, “It still hurts? Then I’ll take you to the doctor again, an injury to the hand is no joke!”

Yan Zhun: “…”

Pei Ran’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He glanced at the vending machine not far away and took a step back. “I’ll go buy some water. What do you guys want to drink?”

After Pei Ran walked away, Lin Xuhuan was still talking, “Quick, while the emergency room is empty, let’s go ask the doctor again.”

Yan Zhun leaned back and said faintly, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Lin Xuhuan: “??”

Yan Zhun glanced at the person in front of the vending machine, then turned back and asked with a frown, “Why did you bring him here?”

Lin Xuhuan felt wronged. “I didn’t call him. We met on the road.”

Yan Zhun: “On the road?”

“Yeah, Boss drove me here, and Baby Ran was standing right at the school gate.” Lin Xuhuan’s tone was casual. “I didn’t even mention you were injured. He was here to see his ex-boyfriend.”

Yan Zhun’s hand, which was rubbing his wrist, paused.

Lin Xuhuan continued, “But why did you get into a fight with him anyway? Although your roommate does seem a bit… but he’s Baby Ran’s ex-boyfriend after all. You should have held back a little. You have no idea how awkward I was in the car just now…”

Lin Xuhuan chattered on for a long time. He had always been a little chatterbox; his fans were always saying in his stream that he was annoying them to death, cursing at him while showering him with gifts.

It wasn’t until Pei Ran returned from a distance, holding several bottles of water, his footsteps echoing in the corridor, that Yan Zhun finally acknowledged him with a single phrase: “Shut up.”

Pei Ran had bought five bottles of water. He handed three to Lin Xuhuan and said, “One more is for the Coach.”

Then he lowered his eyes and asked, “Where is Luo Qingshan?”

Yan Zhun looked up at him, his eyes pitch-black, reflecting Pei Ran's figure.

After a long moment, he said in a hoarse voice, “Seventh floor.”

The elevator next to them happened to open, and two police officers walked out, coming straight to Yan Zhun.

“We’ve spoken with the other person, and his attitude is very firm,” one of them said. “But we still advise you to reconcile. After all, it’s not a big deal, and you’re still young. A man should know when to yield and when to stand firm. You threw the first punch, so just lower your head and admit your mistake.”

The Coach, having just parked the car, came over and happened to hear this part. He hurriedly stepped forward and spoke before Yan Zhun could: “Yes, yes, it’s all a small matter. Thank you for your hard work so late at night, both of you. This is our kid, young and hot-headed… But what exactly happened?”

The police officer looked at him, puzzled.

The coach lowered his voice. “Sigh, he won’t tell us adults the truth.”

The police officer understood and said, “It’s nothing major, just some minor squabble. Later, the other party broke his thing. It wasn’t anything valuable, I think it was a massager…”

Lin Xuhuan also went over to join the crowd, leaving only Pei Ran and Yan Zhun behind, one standing and one sitting.

Pei Ran listened in silence for a while, until his fingers were grabbed. “Pei Ran.”

Pei Ran hummed in response, then said, “I’m going up for a bit.”

Yan Zhun still held onto him.

They held hands for a moment before Pei Ran pulled his hand away, picked up the mineral water on his lap, and twisted it open.

“Drink some water,” Pei Ran said, “I’ll be back soon.”

The elevator doors closed. Lin Xuhuan, bored with the conversation, came and sat back down. “Baby Ran went to find his ex-boyfriend?”

Yan Zhun took a sip of water, then turned his head and asked in a flat voice, “Do you know what ‘ex-boyfriend’ means?”

Lin Xuhuan was taken aback. “I know…”

“Since you know, don’t mention it again in the future. That person doesn't exist,” Yan Zhun said. “Understand?”

There were few people in the hospital late at night. Pei Ran spotted Luo Qingshan, who was sitting on a long bench making a phone call, at a glance.

“It’s fine, don’t come. I’m not hurt anywhere… Of course I’m going to deal with him…” Hearing a faint sound, Luo Qingshan looked up, stunned for a moment, then said, “I have something to do here, so I won’t talk anymore. Hanging up.”

Luo Qingshan’s injuries were clearly much more severe than Yan Zhun's. His face was bruised, with two large bandages, and a large purple mark at the corner of his mouth. The injuries on his body went without saying.

There was a look of joy in his eyes. He unconsciously straightened his back and called out, “Babe…”

“Don’t call me that anymore.” Pei Ran walked to his side and handed him the mineral water.

Luo Qingshan froze, took the bottle and took a big gulp, then pursed his lips. “Why did you come?”

“Lin Kang called me.”

“Is he crazy, calling you so late at night,” Luo Qingshan cursed, then secretly glanced at Pei Ran. Pei Ran sat down beside him, leaving an empty seat between them. He could smell the faint fragrance on Pei Ran. “Did I wake you up?”

Pei Ran said “no.” After Luo Qingshan had tightened the cap, he finally asked, “What will it take for you to agree to a settlement?”

Luo Qingshan stiffened, the gentle expression on his face gradually fading.

He looked straight at Pei Ran, his eyes filling with sorrow and helplessness. After a long while, he managed to speak with difficulty, “Pei Ran, why have you become like this?”

He couldn't help but complain, “How is Yan Zhun better than me, that he's worth you breaking up with me for him? The way I treated you before, the years we were together, do they mean nothing to you, is that right?” Luo Qingshan said, “You don't have to deny it. You bought him that massager. I could tell at a glance. That brand is niche and hard to find. No one but you would use it.”

“I bought it,” Pei Ran said calmly. “But he isn’t Su Nian, and I’m not you.”

It was as if something was stuck in Luo Qingshan’s throat, leaving him speechless.

He was all too familiar with this side of Pei Ran.

When he had been relentlessly pestering Pei Ran, Pei Ran had always been like this, lukewarm and indifferent. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get a response.

Of course, Luo Qingshan felt guilty and had a guilty conscience, which was why he had to pretend to pin the blame on others, as if doing so would lessen his own responsibility.

“Pei Ran,” Luo Qingshan couldn’t help but ask again, “Did you ever like me?”

The hospital returned to a state of tranquility, with only the ticking of the clock overhead.

Luo Qingshan lowered his head and laughed self-deprecatingly, just about to say, “Forget it.”

“I did,” Pei Ran said.

Some time ago, Pei Ran had pondered this question late one night. It was only as he was about to fall asleep that he remembered when he had first felt something akin to a flutter of his heart.

In high school, Pei Ran’s sexual orientation was discovered by his classmates because of a search history in the computer lab. A few male students in his class couldn't accept it, which led to a period of school bullying for him.

His textbooks were torn, his school uniform was cut while he napped during breaks, his stationery was thrown away, and they even wrote nasty things on his back.

Then Luo Qingshan confessed to him, and immediately after, new textbooks, new uniforms, and new stationery would appear in his desk.

It was only from that moment on that he began to notice Luo Qingshan.

The door to the doctor’s office suddenly opened, interrupting the silence between them. The doctor passed by with a water cup, glanced at them doubtfully, not quite understanding why patients were still lingering in the hospital so late at night.

The phone he was clutching vibrated. Pei Ran looked down.

[Yan Zhun: Teacher Pei]

The "typing" indicator was there for a long time, then a completely unrelated sentence popped up.

[Yan Zhun: Lin Xuhuan is so noisy]

Pei Ran turned off his phone and returned to the topic at hand. “You know this matter can't be blown out of proportion. If possible, we still hope to settle it. You name the terms. I’ll take you off my blocklist, just send me any demands directly.”

Pei Ran stood up, hesitated for a moment, but still said, “Go back and get some rest early.”

Luo Qingshan silently gritted his teeth.

From the moment they met until now, Pei Ran hadn't once asked him if he was in pain or if he was uncomfortable.

Pei Ran took two steps before hearing the person behind him ask, “Pei Ran, is there really no chance for us anymore?”

Pei Ran stopped, turned his head, and answered very seriously, “Yes. Goodbye.”

Back on the first floor, Pei Ran stepped out of the elevator. A middle-aged man and woman were standing next to Yan Zhun.

Before he could get a clear look, he was pulled aside by Lin Xuhuan.

“Baby Ran, why are you back down so quickly? Don’t go over yet, things are tense over there.” Lin Xuhuan leaned in close to him and whispered, “His parents.”

The man was talking to the doctor with a stern expression, while the woman was looking at her son with concern. Yan Zhun sat in front of them, casually playing with his phone.

Just as the message was sent, a sound came from not far away. Yan Zhun looked up and his eyes met Pei Ran's.

Father Yan had just finished talking with the doctor. After saying goodbye, Mother Yan rushed to help her son up. Yan Zhun dodged her hand. “Mom, I can walk by myself.”

Mother Yan paused, then nodded. “Okay, okay, then be careful.”

As the family of three walked over, Lin Xuhuan subconsciously took a step back.

Perhaps it was because of the domineering words Father Yan had said a few years ago, or perhaps it was because Father Yan’s image itself was rather serious and upright, causing him to have a strange sense of awe for him.

Father Yan stopped in front of them, and the scene fell into a momentary silence.

After a while, Father Yan said, “Thank you for taking the trouble to come here so late at night.”

That short sentence sounded just like a cadre inspecting the grassroots.

“It’s no trouble, we’re all friends, it’s what we should do,” the Coach said.

Father Yan nodded and turned to leave.

Yan Zhun walked up to Pei Ran and stopped.

They were very close. Yan Zhun said, “I’ve already told them. You can take their car back later.”

Pei Ran agreed.

Yan Zhun still stood there. He lowered his voice and called out, “Teacher Pei.”

Pei Ran said, “Hm?”

Yan Zhun lowered his eyes. “The massager you gave me, I accidentally broke it.”

“I know.”

“I liked it a lot,” Yan Zhun said. “I was going to hide it away.”

“You’ll have another one, you’ll have one tomorrow.” Pei Ran raised his hand, curled his index finger, and very lightly touched the gauze on his wrist. “Sleep well tonight, don’t press on your hand.”