After being moved to tears by the sworn enemy's pheromones - Chapter 34

With no other options, Shen Jin could only touch his own chest and waist, feeling deeply frustrated: Do alpha’s bodies really change this much after adulthood?

 

When they first met, Gu Yu spoke with a bit of coldness mixed with boyishness, but after his voice changed, his voice was noticeably deeper than Shen Jin’s. Shen Jin had felt a similar sense of frustration then.

 

But this time, Shen Jin found himself not only feeling humiliated but also blushing a little.

 

“…Damn.” He tried his best but couldn’t get those three numbers out of his head, so he had to comfort himself: Hmph, body shape doesn’t entirely explain everything. Once I have time to hydrate more, the difference won’t be that big.

 

For the next two or three weeks, Shen Jin went to Gu Yu’s place every day for meals and to observe any changes in his physique. On Saturdays, he could even do some cleaning to earn some extra money.

 

In November, the perpetually sunless winter of City C was about to begin, but Shen Jin felt better each day as he managed to annoy Gu Yu.

 

On Saturday, after finishing his cleaning routine, he let Bai Bai and his boyfriend look at the scenery by the bay window, then lay on the sofa to study his game while waiting for the agreed “compensatory” dinner.

 

Gu Yu was either doing homework or reading in his study. Occasionally, he would come out and ask Shen Jin if he was hungry or what he wanted for dinner.

 

Shen Jin didn’t learn his lesson and would demand fresh matsutake mushrooms one moment and snow lotus ginseng the next, doing everything he could to annoy Gu Yu.

 

After intermittently arguing for half a day, Shen Jin, feeling dizzy from looking at the game, decided to open a shopping app to relax.

 

He thought for a moment and typed “men’s clothing” in the search bar.

 

Since Gu Yu didn’t charge him for meals, he figured he could buy something for him. After all, he even had Gu Yu’s measurements now, might as well use them.

 

“Sigh.” As he scrolled through his phone, he thought: My son was right, I might just be a pure white lotus, not wanting to take too much advantage of my enemy.

 

He filtered for items priced above 2000 yuan, and the page filled with various flashy fashion and sports brands, some familiar, some he had never heard of.

 

He recalled Gu Yu’s wardrobe full of dark clothes but couldn’t figure out which brand Gu Yu preferred. Feeling a bit dizzy, he thought: These two models…don’t seem as handsome as Gu Yu, and their measurements are about the same.

 

It took him a while to realize what he was looking at, and he felt his face heating up again.

 

Defeated, he lay down for a while longer before angrily opening the browser to search: How should tall but unattractive guys dress?

 

Feeling a bit relieved, but before he could read the search results, a voice suddenly sounded: “Who is the tall but unattractive guy?”

 

Startled, Shen Jin tried to sit up but couldn’t, so he buried his face in the cushion and questioned Gu Yu: “Why don’t you make any noise when you walk?”

 

“You should get your hearing checked, senior. I was almost dancing a tap dance.” Gu Yu frowned, pausing for a moment, then said unnaturally, “Why would senior search for that… Do you think you’re unattractive?”

 

Before Shen Jin could muster the strength to respond, Gu Yu cleared his throat and continued, “In terms of conventional aesthetics, senior, your facial proportions are considered attractive.”

 

“…” It took Shen Jin a few seconds to digest the misunderstanding before he weakly said, “Damn it… I wasn’t searching for myself—also, don’t peek at my screen.”

 

“I thought you were asleep and just happened to see it when I walked by.” Gu Yu sat down steadily, drinking water and pointing at the sofa, “Tell me, who were you searching for?”

 

His tone and actions were almost like interrogating a criminal.

 

Shen Jin, sunk into the sofa, feeling like he had just been caught doing something bad, could only mutter in a low voice, “I was searching for you. Dad wants to buy you a winter coat to pay for the meals… Anyway, you can never have too many clothes.”

 

The autumn in the southern city was so unreasonable; it had suddenly dropped to around 10 degrees these past two days, so preparing for winter early wasn’t a bad idea.

 

Gu Yu lowered his gaze, repeatedly rubbing the glass in his hand, and asked, “So… senior actually thinks I’m unattractive?”

 

Shen Jin mumbled, not moving, “You’re quite good-looking… but I’m just not convinced.”

 

Saying Gu Yu wasn’t good-looking would be too dishonest; he couldn’t say it.

 

Gu Yu, who had looked aggrieved just moments ago, now couldn’t help but smile.

 

After a couple of calm seconds, he took a sip of water and subtly changed the subject, “Senior, it seems you haven’t been short on money lately?”

 

“Mm…” Shen Jin turned halfway over, his energy returning as he said, “A wealthy esports team I contacted liked the tactical reports I made… They’re trying me out as an online analyst, and my live streaming has been earning more than before.”

 

“…Really.” Gu Yu almost choked, adjusting his tone before asking, “Have more people been giving gifts in your stream?”

 

Shen Jin nodded slowly, “A viewer who used to give me gifts came back… She finished her master’s thesis and started working, making money abroad, and her income seems pretty good.”

 

Gu Yu’s initially hopeful expression turned strained, as if dissatisfied with the answer: “So it seems that senior often streams late at night for her time zone, and I didn’t even know.”

 

Shen Jin was puzzled: “The streaming times have always been uncertain, not because of her.”

 

“…Oh.” Gu Yu was skeptical and pressed further, “Is she the only one who gives you gifts? No one else?”

 

Shen Jin opened his mouth, remembering that 19-year-old newcomer in the esports circle, “Old Grandpa.”

 

“There is someone else.” So he answered honestly, “I think he’s a college student too, around your age…but his personality is the exact opposite of yours, very sweet and gentle, often getting bullied by other viewers.”

 

At that moment, the sound of Gu Yu placing his cup down was noticeably louder, even louder than his sharp intake of breath.

 

Shen Jin suspected the bottom of the cup might have cracked, and then he heard Gu Yu’s sullen voice: “Sweet? Gentle? So… senior likes that kind of sweetness?”

 

Shen Jin was feeling a bit dazed, trying to figure out how to respond, but Gu Yu continued: “Just a viewer in your streaming room, and you remember them quite clearly.”

 

Shen Jin’s temples throbbed, still confused: “Did I lose my memory…? Didn’t you ask about it?”

 

He was getting sleepy but couldn’t help laughing at Gu Yu in his mind: Moody… is his susceptible period coming soon?

 

Gu Yu took his cup back to the study, saying, “Go find your sweet and cute 19-year-old viewer. I’m going to do my assignments, don’t disturb me.”

 

Shen Jin struggled to turn over, feeling like a random passerby had plucked some fur off his rabbit tail without reason, with no way to complain: Wasn’t it you who disturbed me?

 

Separated by a slightly ajar door, Shen Jin punched and kicked the air, laughing all the while, assuming that Gu Yu was jealous of his peers for being sweeter and cuter than him.

 

Feeling relieved, he went back to shopping, thinking: I’ll buy you a little dress, some xxx little toys, a maid outfit, freeze to death for all I care.

 

*

 

At 6 p.m., Gu Yu finally closed the book he was holding and got up to go to the living room.

 

Considering that Shen Jin liked sweetness and gentleness, he decided to order takeout for dinner—after all, he didn’t want Shen Jin to like him, so he had no intention of cooking a gentle meal.

 

The late autumn sky was almost completely dark. Gu Yu went over to ask Shen Jin what he wanted to eat, but there was no response; it seemed Shen Jin had been asleep on the sofa for a while.

 

He tugged the blanket a bit, ordered the takeout, and planned to wake Shen Jin when the food arrived.

 

The quiet living room was lit by the remaining light from the study. Gu Yu sat beside Shen Jin for a while, intending to turn on the light, but suddenly froze, sensing something was wrong.

 

He quickly grabbed Shen Jin’s hand and, sure enough, it was icy cold.

 

“Senior?” he called out in shock, immediately placing his hand on Shen Jin’s forehead—this time, his palm felt a stark contrast of burning heat.

 

“Mm…” Shen Jin softly groaned, like a kitten on the brink of death.

 

Gu Yu, panicked, never expected that he would soon see the terrifying number 39.4 on the thermometer.

 

*

 

The hospital was lit with harsh white lights late into the night.

 

Gu Yu had been sitting by the bed near the window for two or three hours, his brows tightly furrowed.

 

Fortunately, the affiliated hospital of the medical university was in the university town; otherwise, he could have planned his stay in an asylum after going crazy on the way here.

 

Right now, Shen Jin was still asleep. Although the fever had subsided considerably, his face was pale and he continued to cough intermittently.

 

Listening to the weak sounds, Gu Yu couldn’t help but grasp Shen Jin’s wrist tightly, leaning his shoulder down.

 

His carefully controlled breathing became erratic again, and his heart was scorched by Shen Jin’s pulse, burning with pain.

 

He couldn’t understand how, after just playing around and not checking on Shen Jin for two or three hours, Shen Jin ended up with such a high fever.

 

A little while ago, the doctor had told Gu Yu that it seemed to be a lung infection, but other possibilities couldn’t be ruled out, and further tests like blood work and C-reactive protein levels were needed.

 

At that moment, Gu Yu’s trembling hand tightened, barely managing to say “thank you.”

 

During the day, Shen Jin was still able to run, jump, wash vegetables, clean, play games, and even tried to sneak a cigarette, which Gu Yu stopped him from doing. How did it all change in the blink of an eye, and now he couldn’t wake up?

 

The moonlight was cold. Gu Yu looked at Shen Jin’s face, feeling a heavy pressure in his chest, not knowing who he was questioning: Was it because the warm water he used to wipe things down turned cold? Was the blanket too thin… or did I neglect him, waiting like an idiot for half an hour for takeout?

 

This time, the usually talkative Shen Jin couldn’t answer him, replaced only by a few painful, feverish coughs.

 

Gu Yu tightened his grip on Shen Jin’s wrist, feeling his eyes heat up, not daring to think further.

 

When he was about ten years old, he watched his mum lying in bed, coughing severely.

 

Each time the doctor explained the condition, the reluctance in his expression deepened, as if he really didn’t want to discuss it with a young boy.

 

But his father always said he was too busy with work to come to the hospital.

 

Of course, his father would pay for the expensive medications, hire professional caregivers, and persuade Gu Yu to go back to school, saying simply: If doctors who have studied medicine for ten years can’t do it, what use is there in others keeping watch?

 

Gu Yu understood this logic even at a young age.

 

But several times when he passed by a mystical stall near the hospital, he couldn’t help but stop, wanting to ask the swindler in front of him: Is there really a secret remedy to cure the illness?

 

Be it ashes from a Buddhist temple, exorcism rituals, or the five elements and eight trigrams, every time he thought of his mum’s condition, he desperately wanted to believe in all of it.

 

Now, he feared the hospital’s smells and lights, just like he feared that stormy night of final farewell years ago.

 

“Shen Jin…”

 

In the moonlight, even though he knew Shen Jin would most likely be able to argue with him for another sixty or seventy years, he still felt suffocating guilt and fear for that one in ten thousand chance.

 

If only he had noticed earlier—if only he had been more attentive and not gone to fetch water, his mum might not have suddenly passed away in the storm, and Shen Jin wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

 

“…I was just not watching you for two hours.” He sat still like a statue, his voice low and dark.

 

In a way, he was threatening Shen Jin, pleading with and coaxing him: “If you wake up now, next time I’ll put extra cream in the cream puffs, okay?”

 

Of course, he couldn’t overdo the sweetness.

 

Holding Shen Jin’s cold hand in his own, he felt like he was back to being a helpless fourteen-year-old, but this time, Shen Jin responded to him.

 

In the quiet hospital room, Shen Jin moved the hand that Gu Yu was gripping, his weak voice carrying a familiar defiance, almost as if he was comforting Gu Yu instead: “…Are you using my hand… for tug-of-war?”