Personal matters

Before I knew it, I lived in Liu Qitong's house for a week.The living habits of the two have more or less changed for each other.

A while ago, in order to take care of patients, Liu Qitong changed the night shift with others and stayed at home almost every night.Now that Lin Zhen is close to recovery, he is also relieved, and sometimes goes back to the hospital to be on duty at night.

Lying in an empty room, surrounded by gradually familiar household furnishings, even if you don’t turn on the lights at night, you can still touch the water dispenser in the kitchen.Lin Zhen thought that he would leave someday, and felt inexplicable reluctance in his heart.

……………………………………………………………

When I woke up the next day, Lin Changmin called.

"Where are you from?" There was faint anger in the father's voice.

"Dad, are you back?"

Lin Zhen was a little flustered—didn't he agree to return on Wednesday?Why is it two days earlier?

"Let me ask you, where are you now?" Lin Changmin insisted.

"I was out."

"You told your mother that you lived in the hospital, but you took sick leave in the hospital. What's going on?!" The old man was furious.

"Dad, I was really sick a few days ago... It was chickenpox. I was afraid of passing it on to Mom, so I didn't dare to go back." Lin Zhen explained patiently.

"Where do you live?"

"A friend's house."

"Which friend? What's his name?"

Lin Zhen was stunned.

"A high school classmate or a college classmate?" Lin Changmin sneered, "Can you name it?"

He knows his son too well.

Ever since he transferred from high school, Lin Zhen has been alone and has hardly any social interaction.Not to mention college, I hurried to go abroad after only one year of study, and I don't know how many male and female students there are in the class.

"Don't think I'm being fooled... To be honest, have you made friends with some dubious people outside?" Lin Changmin's tone became more and more unpleasant.

A familiar feeling of oppression restrained Lin Zhen's whole body, and he couldn't help shaking slightly.

"Dad, I didn't lie to you." He said softly. "I'm really sick."

Lin Changmin let out a heavy "hum".

"Is it Xiaozhen... Where are you?" Suddenly, mother Gu Qing's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone.

Lin Zhen hurriedly replied, "Mom, I'm at a friend's house now...I'll be right back."

"What are you doing back here? Forget it outside!" Lin Changmin said angrily.

Lu Qing argued with her husband for a few words with a crying sound.

Lin Zhen felt uncomfortable hearing this, "Mom, stop arguing, I'll be right back. I..."

Before he finished speaking, the other end hung up.

Lin Zhen stood there blankly holding the phone, the coolness poured down from the top of his head and spread to his whole body and limbs.

……………………………………………………………

Today, Liu Qitong was out at night. He hurriedly finished his work and checked the room early in the morning, left all the messy things to Wang Quan, and hurried home.

When passing by Fushengji, I suddenly remembered the duck neck I bought here last time. The guy seemed to like it very much, so I turned back and queued up.

When I got my things and arrived at the door, I looked at my watch and it was almost 1:[-] pm. I felt a little regretful that I came back late. I wonder if that person is hungry?

He took the key and opened the door to enter the house. He put the duck neck on the kitchen table and habitually called out to the bedroom, "I'm back." Then he stood by the sink and washed his hands.

The water was boiled very loudly, and he didn't hear the sound of someone coming at all. When he turned around after washing his hands, he was stunned.

Lin Zhen was dressed in the same outfit when he came, and stood quietly behind him,

Liu Qitong felt an indescribable strangeness.

"You're back...I've been waiting for you." Lin Zhen smiled.

Liu Qitong walked over and looked him up and down. "What are you doing dressed like this? What's wrong?"

"I've bothered you for so long, it's time for me to go home." Lin Zhen continued to forcefully smile.

Liu Qitong thought for a while, "I saw your dad come back this morning... Did he say something?"

"It's nothing to do with him." Lin Zhen shook his head, "I'm almost cured, so I don't need to be isolated anymore. It's time to go back to work."

"In such a hurry?" Liu Qitong frowned, "Didn't you agree to start work the day after tomorrow?"

Lin Zhen looked at him and smiled helplessly.

"Liu Qitong, thank you for taking care of me these days..."

Liu Qitong lowered his head and said nothing. After a while, he walked over and took out eggs and rice from the refrigerator.

"Haven't you had lunch yet? Eat before leaving."

"Liu Qitong..." Lin Zhen called softly.

"If you don't want to make a fuss, just shut up."

Liu Qitong said coldly, rolled up his sleeves and started frying rice.

The meal was ready, and the two of them sat at the dining table in silence, no one moved their chopsticks.

"Eat." Liu Qitong said with a straight face.

Lin Zhen picked up the bowl and swallowed with difficulty.

"There's still a duck neck." Liu Qitong reminded.

Lin Zhen picked one up, but because his hands were shaking so badly, it fell back into the plate again.

Liu Qitong helped him pick it up and fed it to his mouth.Lin Zhen looked up at him, his eyes were red.

Liu Qitong looked at him for a while, then suddenly leaned over and kissed him on the eyes.

"What a big deal, cry a fart!"

After reluctantly eating, Lin Zhen got up to leave.Liu Qitong escorted him to the door and watched him change his shoes.

"Go back and have a good rest, and you will have to work hard again soon." Liu Qitong said with care.

Lin Zhen's back, who was about to leave, froze for a moment, and suddenly turned around and took a few steps to hug him tightly.Liu Qitong was caught off guard and was almost knocked backward by him.

Lin Zhen ignored him, but hugged him tightly, as if she wanted to embed her whole body on him.Liu Qitong gently stroked his back comfortingly, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart.

The liquid in Lin Zhen's eyes flowed down quietly, soaking Liu Qitong's light gray sweater.He breathed in the smell of his body to his heart's content, as if it was the oxygen he depended on for survival.

long time, long time...

Lin Zhen opened his hands lightly, the tears on his cheeks hadn't faded away.

He smiled and said, "It's time to go this time... Liu Qitong, see you tomorrow."

Liu Qitong looked at him silently.

Lin Zhen turned around, without any further hesitation this time, opened the door, and strode out.