The Perfect Relationship

Chapter 104: Reap What You Sow

When Shao Junling entered the room, Yin Chang was already in a deep, silent slumber.

But rather than sleeping, it was more accurate to say he was feverish to the point of being unconscious...

Shao Junling walked to the side of the bed and stared at Yin Chang for a while before muttering to himself, "You've lost weight."

"Give me your backpack." Lu Lingjuan walked over.

Shao Junling took off his backpack and went to wash his hands in the bathroom. When he came back out, he saw that Lu Lingjuan had already placed a chair next to the bed.

Shao Junling sat down and used the back of his hand to feel Yin Chang's forehead. He lowered his voice and asked Lu Lingjuan, "Did he get sick on the day Aunt Yao called me?"

"No, it started last night," Lu Lingjuan said as she poured a glass of water for Shao Junling. "His temperature didn't drop below 39 degrees the whole night, and he was given IV and glucose for a whole day and night. The fever only barely lowered in the evening. He's been sleeping all day today and hasn't eaten anything..."

Lu Lingjuan sighed and recounted Yin Chang's state over the past few months, including his chronic insomnia and deep immersion into his character, as well as the possible psychological aftermath that Aunt Yao mentioned to her the day before. It was only after this that Shao Junling understood why Aunt Yao wanted him to call Yin Chang every day.

If Shao Junling was still abroad, Lu Lingjuan wouldn't have described everything in such detail. After all, distant water can't put out a nearby fire. But now that he was back and would be staying for more than just a day or two, she naturally had to seize this opportunity to speak her mind.

It was also a way of justifying herself. Lu Lingjuan knew how much Shao Junling cared for Yin Chang, and he had only been overseas for less than four months. If his brother was like this when he returned, whom would he blame for taking care of him? So, she told Shao Junling about everything to let him know that she had done her best and was close to exhaustion.

Unexpectedly, Shao Junling remained very calm while listening to her, with no sign of anger on his face. After hearing everything, he even smiled.

Lu Lingjuan couldn't see the bitterness hidden in that smile. All she saw was Shao Junling reaching out a hand and lightly stroking Yin Chang's brow, quietly saying four words, "Reap what you sow."

Lu Lingjuan: "..."

Shao Junling then asked her, "Is there anything we need to pay attention to at night?"

"Hmm?" Lu Lingjuan was still lost in thought over Shao Junling's excessive calmness.

Seeing her weary appearance, Shao Junling realized that she had probably been taking care of Yin Chang without rest for a long time. He said, "You go rest tonight. I'll watch over him."

Lu Lingjuan was touched by this, but she didn't forget that it was her job. She instinctively said, "It's okay, you've just been on a long flight..."

A possessive look in Shao Junling's eyes interrupted her still unfinished sentence. Lu Lingjuan immediately understood that Shao Junling was not showing concern for her, but was actually telling her to leave...

"Um..." Lu Lingjuan quickly changed her words, "You need to take his temperature every two hours and change the cooling patch frequently. Also, people who have a fever tend to feel thirsty; your brother may wake up in the middle of the night and ask for water. Remember to boil some water and keep it ready. If his temperature goes above 39 degrees, we need to call the doctor to continue the IV...there isn't much else to do for now. If you have any questions, just call me."

After Lu Lingjuan left, Shao Junling looked at Yin Chang and let out a barely audible sigh.

He admitted that when he kissed Yin Chang at the airport that day, he had been a little impulsive because his brother had watched him leave with such reluctance...

But he didn't regret what he did. Now that he had realized his own feelings and had set his sights on the person he wanted, what difference did it make if his brother knew earlier or later?

Knowing earlier, the worst that could happen was that his brother would deny everything and drive him away - but before Shao Junling even made a move, his brother had already forced him to go abroad. He hadn't had much to lose.

Kissing his brother before leaving would at least give his brother some time to think about why he did it.

But Shao Junling didn't expect that his brother had already known about the first time he kissed him...

Three months ago, when he saw the chat history between Yin Chang and Mi Xiu on the AI cloud, Shao Junling's brain was in chaos.

He couldn't help but wonder if his brother knew who he would dream about in junior high, or if he remembered what happened when he got drunk Shao Junling’s sophomore year. Was his brother playing dumb this whole time just to avoid awkwardness?

But since Yin Chang knew about it, why did he still ask him to go abroad? And why did he say things like "he should have his own life"?

After he realized that his brother intended to drive him out of his world, Shao Junling was so angry that he almost lost it and intended to fly back immediately to confront Yin Chang. But in the end, reason prevailed and he gritted his teeth, and decided to wait a little longer.

He had already learned through the AI that Yin Chang had trouble sleeping because of him and felt somewhat comforted. He decided to wait, and see how long Yin Chang could hold on.

Later on, the Yin Chang chatted less and less with Xiao Ling so Shao Junling knew less and less. He thought it meant his brother had moved on from depending on him, and his heart felt suffocated.

It felt like a contest to see who was more heartless. Shao Junling even considered not returning to China before graduating from university.

He suppressed his feelings of yearning and didn't call Yin Chang, burying himself in his studies.

Until two days ago, when he received a call from Yao Manhuai...

Now, seeing his brother lying in front of him so weakly, Shao Junling's mental defenses completely collapsed, feeling like his heart was being stabbed with a knife.

...In character? When he heard Lu Lingjuan's explanation, Shao Junling finally admitted to himself in his heart: Brother, whether or not you plan to leave me in the end, I won't let go of you again.

***

Yin Chang felt hot and cold all over, feeling like a mayfly in a vast ocean...

The battlefield was full of flames and smoke, filled with cunning schemes and conspiracies. A wave struck, and he was swept into the depths of the sea, looking up to shout for help, but it was like someone was choking his throat and he couldn't make a sound.

In despair, he felt someone pulling him up.

He struggled hard, desperately swimming towards the surface, the light getting brighter and brighter in front of him...

The moment he saw daylight again, Yin Chang gasped for breath, turning around to look for the one who saved him, but he saw a figure that didn't belong in this world...

He opened his eyes in a daze, unable to distinguish whether it was reality or a dream.

"Brother..."

Confirming it was the voice he missed, Yin Chang unconsciously smiled.

Is this still a dream? How did this guy show up here?

Shao Junling looked at Yin Chang's unfocused eyes, softened his heart, and hugged the other's head, gently rubbing his brother's head and coaxing him like a hypnotist: "Sleep a little longer."

Yin Chang quickly closed his eyes and fell asleep again, but this time he held on tightly to Shao Junling's hand and didn't let go.

He slept for a full six hours this time, with no nightmares to disturb him.

At seven o'clock, Lu Lingjuan knocked gently on the door with breakfast in hand. Seeing Shao Junling, she asked softly, "How are things? Is he feeling better?"

"Well," Shao Junling looked at the time, "His temperature started to drop at two in the morning. An hour ago, his temperature dropped to 37.3 degrees."

"That's great! Did he get up in the middle of the night?" Lu Lingjuan asked eagerly.

"He woke up once shortly after you left but fell asleep again, didn't drink any water, and slept until now," Shao Junling explained.

Lu Lingjuan looked at Shao Junling like she was looking at a living Buddha. She took a step forward, intending to check on Yin Chang, but was stopped by Shao Junling: "It's not convenient right now."

"Not convenient?" Lu Lingjuan was puzzled.

"I've wiped him down..." Shao Junling explained.

"Oh, oh!" Lu Lingjuan blushed and quickly retreated.

Shao Junling took the breakfast from Lu Lingjuan's hand, "Don't you have to go to work today?"

"No, no need. The director came to see Yin Chang yesterday and gave him three days off since he was so sick," Lu Lingjuan nodded.

"Then I'll call you when he wakes up," Shao Junling said.

"Okay, okay!" Lu Lingjuan left happily.

Once Lu Lingjuan retreated to the door, Shao Junling closed the door in front of her without any hesitation.

Lu Lingjuan dubiously wondered if she was getting her job stolen again…

Yin Chang slept for another half an hour before waking up. He felt dry and comfortable all over, instead of sticky and sweaty from his nightmares.

He realized it may have been the first time in several months that he slept so soundly.

His spirits were fully replenished, his face had a bit of a glow, and his lips had some color.

Moreover, Yin Chang was woken up by the scent of food. He was hungry and looked up, but saw a figure that shouldn't be here.

"Shao Junling!?" Yin Chang was shocked and sat up.

Shao Junling put a pillow behind him and handed him clean clothes to change into.

Yin Chang was too surprised by the series of actions to ask any questions. He was overjoyed and his mind was filled with various explanations. After putting on his clothes and sitting in front of the warm heater, Yin Chang finally spoke: "How... how did you get here? When did you come? Wait... Who brought you back?"

By this time, Shao Junling had already sat down in front of him with a bowl of fresh fish congee and fed him a spoonful without saying a word.

Yin Chang accepted the spoonful and swallowed before reacting. He felt embarrassed and shy that he let his younger brother feed him. He said indignantly, "I can do it myself..."

Shao Junling ignored him and quickly fed him another spoonful. Yin Chang ate it, feeling full and satisfied with the warm liquid filling up his empty stomach.

Shao Junling kept feeding him spoonfuls of congee, and only after feeding him half a bowl did he smile and teased, "Brother, without me, what would you do?"

Yin Chang: "..."

Yin Chang was so angry that he snatched the bowl of congee away from him: "Give it to me, I'll eat it myself!"