Tan Hua - Chapter 17

Blood splattered across the screen, staining it a vivid red, shocking to the eye.

 

Jun Qiyu paused when he turned his head.

 

“You… what’s wrong?”

 

His previously harsh and fierce tone softened a bit, mainly out of surprise. Song Liqing didn’t seem like someone so fragile; how could he suddenly vomit blood?

 

“Are you sick?” Jun Qiyu was still somewhat incredulous.

 

Song Liqing took a couple of breaths. His somewhat dry lips were stained with a lot of blood, and there was also a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

 

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, his previously suffocating chest felt much clearer.

 

“No…” Song Liqing shook his head. “I’m fine.”

 

He wiped the corner of his mouth, straightened his back, walked to the washbasin, and splashed cold water on his face, washing away the bloodstains.

 

Jun Qiyu stood silently behind him, watching.

 

Song Liqing thought he was blaming him for spitting blood on the screen.

 

“Sorry for dirtying your screen. I’ll try to clean it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll compensate you with a new one. It’s made by Tiangong Workshop, right…”

 

“Enough, it’s just a screen.”

 

Jun Qiyu clicked his tongue.

 

He felt a bit uncomfortable; Song Liqing was clearly distinguishing too much between ‘you’ and ‘me,’ indicating he didn’t truly accept the Qilin Residence as his home.

 

Oddly, even though he wanted to drive him away, the lack of acceptance made him feel uneasy.

 

“Do you want to call a doctor to take a look?”

 

For some reason, whether it was knowing he had a terminal illness or being humiliated by Jun Qiyu, Song Liqing hadn’t cried again. Yet hearing Jun Qiyu’s slightly concerned words made his eyes swell, and he couldn’t hold back the tears.

 

“Qiyu… are you concerned about me?”

 

Song Liqing turned around, wiped away his tears, and smiled.

 

Jun Qiyu looked at his reddened eyes. Over the past few days, Song Liqing seemed to have grown much thinner, exuding a fragile appearance that even the heavens might pity.

 

If he didn’t know Song Liqing’s duplicity, Jun Qiyu might have softened.

 

He said coldly, “I just wanted to remind you not to vomit blood all over the place next time.”

 

“Mm, I won’t. Qi Miao gave me some medicine; after taking it, this won’t happen again.”

 

Mentioning Qi Miao made Jun Qiyu furious.

 

“Cut off all contact with him. That will make you better faster than any medicine!”

 

“But…”

 

As Song Liqing was about to explain, Jun Qiyu advanced. He was much taller than Song Liqing and carried an overwhelming aura, forcing Song Liqing into silence.

 

“No buts. I won’t tolerate anyone lacking self-respect around me. Don’t let me find out you’re still involved with anyone outside.”

 

With that, Jun Qiyu wrapped one arm around Song Liqing’s back and placed the other on his waist, kneading it. Song Liqing’s waist was already flat with no excess flesh; today, it felt even slimmer.

 

“I won’t,” Song Liqing whispered.

 

Jun Qiyu didn’t say anything more. He stared at the mole on Song Liqing’s neck, feeling a rush of heat.

 

In fact, he found that although Song Liqing was inexperienced and passive in bed, lacking the skilled techniques of Hu Nu’er, there was always a wonderful sense of compatibility.

 

Perhaps it was the novelty.

 

Jun Qiyu, as if having found a new toy, was very willing to invest time in this matter with Song Liqing, enjoying the pleasure it brought.

 

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sought him out for pleasure daily, staying in the main courtyard.

 

Jun Qiyu reached out and touched the mole on Song Liqing’s neck, then slid down, prying open his collar.

 

Realizing what was happening, Song Liqing grabbed Jun Qiyu’s hand that was getting too familiar.

 

“Qiyu, no.”

 

Jun Qiyu was not used to being rejected; it easily angered him.

 

### “What’s the matter? After seeing Qi Miao, you don’t want me to touch you?”

 

“No!” Song Liqing pleaded, “Not today… Can you let me rest and recover for a few days?”

 

“Aren’t you already fine? It’s just a mouthful of blood, nothing serious.”

 

The more he was obstructed, the more forceful Jun Qiyu became. He pushed Song Liqing’s hand away, pulled him into his arms, and lowered his head to demand a kiss.

 

Song Liqing retreated.

 

“Qiyu, calm down. Let’s wait a few days until I’m fully recovered, okay?”

 

Jun Qiyu, young and full of vigor, had nowhere to channel his overflowing energy. He grabbed Song Liqing’s hair, making him face upward.

 

“This is the love you speak of? You won’t even satisfy me? Hm?”

 

Song Liqing looked into his eyes, burning with desire, and his resisting hands fell limp.

 

He knew this was wrong, but how could he refuse Jun Qiyu?

 

Jun Qiyu was his weakness.

 

Sensing his surrender, Jun Qiyu lifted him and carried him to the bed.

 

When Jun Qiyu held him, Song Liqing felt a warmth of being cared for, as if his heart had been pulled out of the cold, deep water.

 

Song Liqing noticed the stubble on Jun Qiyu’s angular jaw. He had truly grown up, completely beyond Song Liqing’s control.

 

He had broad shoulders, strong arms, and a warm embrace.

 

“Why are you so light?”

 

Jun Qiyu frowned.

 

Song Liqing was lighter than he had imagined.

 

“What’s wrong? Is being light bad?”

 

Song Liqing wrapped his arms around Jun Qiyu’s neck. Whether it was blaming himself or longing for him, he desperately needed this dwindling warmth.

 

He feared the cold, feared the dark.

 

It’s said the afterlife is cold and dark, buried underground with no light.

 

“It’s not good,” Jun Qiyu said casually. “It’s like you could be blown away by the wind at any moment.”

 

Song Liqing’s eyes grew hot and wet. He murmured, “If one day I’m blown away by the wind, would you be sad and grieve for me?”

 

Jun Qiyu found his words inexplicable and didn’t want to answer such childish questions.

 

“No.”

 

Song Liqing made a sound of acknowledgment and buried his head in Jun Qiyu’s shoulder.

 

Jun Qiyu didn’t know how much disappointment was in that quiet response. When he laid him on the bed, Song Liqing clung to his neck, pressing his forehead against Jun Qiyu’s shoulder.

 

“Qiyu.”

 

Song Liqing’s voice was muffled, sounding like it was on the verge of tears.

 

“Qiyu, no matter what happened before, I don’t want to dwell on it anymore. In the future… can you treat me a little better?” Song Liqing choked up.

 

Jun Qiyu, his blood rushing, felt Song Liqing’s words made no sense today and didn’t respond to his humble plea.

 

The bed curtain fell.

 

In the shadows of the bed, they united.

 

“Qiyu… Qiyu! Qiyu—”

 

Sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes low.

 

It was as if he was calling his name in various tones, pouring his heart out, trying to imprint this name in his heart, engrave it in his soul.

 

Jun Qiyu was called into a euphoric trance, feeling like he was floating on clouds, utterly fulfilled.

 

“You must remember me.”

 

Song Liqing said.

 

If I die, you must remember me.