Qi Shi'an looked at the message with mixed feelings. How could he not want them? Beyond just being hungry, the key point was that Shen Duoyi's subtext meant he was coming to see him. Still, he replied: "No, you should get some rest."

"But I'm already in Hospital No. 2's parking lot."

Shen Duoyi grabbed the thermos and got out of the car. By the time he reached the inpatient building entrance, he received Qi Shi'an's surrendering reply: "Building 1, Room 1703."

Within minutes, a shadow appeared at the door. Qi Shi'an leaned against the headboard, holding his breath, waiting for the door to open. When it did, Shen Duoyi walked in wearing a casual hoodie and track pants, with a slight smile on his face.

"How did you know I was at this hospital?"

"It's closest to the company, and since you have a fever, you wouldn't go somewhere far."

"So you were that worried about me?"

"I couldn't sleep and was just wandering around."

Shen Duoyi sat in the chair by the bed, set up the small table, and urged Qi Shi'an to eat. As soon as he unscrewed the lid, the room filled with a fragrant aroma. Qi Shi'an was deeply touched, warmth filling his chest as he picked up a steaming wonton to eat. From his throat to his stomach, everything felt better.

"Did you make these?"

"Yeah, bought too many, so I cooked them all."

"I'll eat every last one."

Shen Duoyi took out the flatbreads: "I was afraid it wouldn't be enough, so I bought these on the way. Is your throat still hurting? Let me tear them into small pieces and soak them in the soup for you."

Qi Shi'an focused on eating, finally drinking up every last drop of soup.

The hospital room was especially quiet late at night. Shen Duoyi casually picked up a magazine to read. While the medical terms inside left him bewildered, he found the medical dispute case study at the end quite engaging.

Qi Shi'an checked the time: "It's late, go home and rest."

"Just let me finish this." Shen Duoyi quietly refused, glancing up at the IV bottle - the first bag was almost empty. When only a little remained, he got up and inserted the needle into the second bottle.

After sitting back down, he said: "I sold my stocks."

Qi Shi'an was startled: "Why? You just bought them, why sell so soon?"

"Can't lose more money if I sell," Shen Duoyi cast a pretend-resentful look at him, then smiled. "I want to focus on work without distractions."

Qi Shi'an said helplessly: "Work isn't everything. Do people in relationships break up just for work?"

Shen Duoyi retorted: "I don't know about people in relationships, but I do know someone who works overtime with a fever."

"What do you know?" Qi Shi'an's throat wasn't as painful now, but still hoarse. "Working overtime with a fever and getting an IV - but it earned me someone's concern, so it was worth it."

Shen Duoyi's face reddened: "The fever's made you delirious."

Qi Shi'an was now willing to take any criticism, saying whatever he wanted without getting angry. He leaned against the headboard with half-closed eyes and gave his final ultimatum: "Stop watching over me, go home and sleep."

"Let's wait until it's finished, since I'm already here." Shen Duoyi looked up at the IV. "Just half an hour left. You sleep if you're not feeling well, I'll call the nurse to remove the needle."

Qi Shi'an couldn't bear to sleep, so he started explaining the two types of stop-loss modes.

He watched as Shen Duoyi went from sitting upright to leaning on the bed rail, then propping his chin up, and later lying on the edge of the bed, and now had closed his eyes. Was it because his explanation was too boring, or was the other really that tired?

Qi Shi'an felt somewhat conflicted, unsure if not taking the suite was right or wrong, because here there was neither a large sofa nor a separate rest room - anyone staying to care for a patient could only curl up in a chair leaning against the bed.

But from here, he could reach out and touch Shen Duoyi's hair.

The strands were soft and fine, indicating a good temperament. He must have showered before coming out but hadn't completely dried his hair - one lock was slightly sticking up. Qi Shi'an moved extremely gently, afraid of disturbing the other's sleep.

The last drops were about to finish, so he called the nurse with the bell. After the needle was removed, he could finally move freely, though it was nearly three o'clock. The inevitable noise woke Shen Duoyi, who opened his eyes in confusion and asked softly, "How did I fall asleep? Is the IV done?"

"Mm, they've taken out the needle." Qi Shi'an lay down. "Are you leaving?"

Earlier he had urged him to leave, but now he wanted to take it back.

Shen Duoyi rubbed his eyes: "I'll go, you get some sleep."

Before he could stand up, his wrist was grabbed. Qi Shi'an frowned, seemingly in pain: "My stomach hurts."

"Your stomach?" Shen Duoyi frowned too. "Is it because you were hungry for too long and then ate so much? Should I call the nurse?" He stood up and leaned forward to press the bell, forgetting his wrist was still being held.

Qi Shi'an's fever had broken and he'd eaten well - now any movement had the power of a joint lock. He pulled hard and used his whole body to catch.

Shen Duoyi fell against the bed edge and said angrily: "Are you really in pain or just pretending?"

Qi Shi'an replied righteously: "Really in pain, keep me warm."

After a whole night of caring, was this request too much?

Since there wasn't much time left to sleep anyway, Shen Duoyi reached his hand under the blanket and placed it on Qi Shi'an's stomach. Just as he was about to sit back down, Qi Shi'an said: "Come up and lie down, get some sleep."

Shen Duoyi didn't move, and Qi Shi'an went for the heart: "We're both men, why are you being so prissy?"

"I'm prissy?" Shen Duoyi raised an eyebrow and lifted his chin, not falling for the provocation. "Fine, I'm prissy, and I'm happy being prissy."

You're happy... Qi Shi'an gave in and switched to a gentler approach: "No more teasing. My stomach doesn't hurt, but don't leave. At this hour, you won't get much sleep going back and forth. Come up and rest for a bit."

Shen Duoyi suddenly remembered his previous jobs, when he often huddled together with other temporary workers to rest, and they would secretly curse their strict boss together.

Shen Duoyi lowered his eyes, putting away all his pretend arrogance, then took off his shoes and lay down along the edge of the bed. Qi Shi'an was behind him, and even moved further to the other side to avoid crowding him.

Before their misunderstanding was cleared up, Qi Shi'an had said plenty of frivolous things. Now he seemed to be showing nothing but respect. Shen Duoyi clutched the edge of the bed, gradually growing drowsy, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

As steady breathing sounds came from beside him, Qi Shi'an, who had played the perfect gentleman long enough, closed his eyes and turned over, reaching out to pull Shen Duoyi into his arms. What a ridiculous joke - after yearning for so many years, no amount of respect or cherishing could suppress his instinctive reactions and desires.

But he wasn't greedy. Just holding him like this, for now, was enough.

When dawn was about to break, the sleepiness was at its worst. Shen Duoyi's arm was numb, and he wanted to turn over and change his position. He struggled several times but couldn’t move — finally realizing he was tightly held by Qi Shi’an.

A large hand was still covering his stomach, radiating warmth.

Half-asleep, he pried at that hand. “Let go... Don’t touch my belly button.”

Qi Shi’an suddenly murmured behind him, “What part of you haven’t I touched?”