Chapter 45 part 2
Bai He opened his mouth but hadn’t spoken yet when the dormitory door was knocked on twice, somewhat urgently. From outside came Bai Lu’s voice.
"Brother, are you there? It’s me, Bai Lu."
Qin Yao looked at Bai He with his clear, bright, deep-blue eyes. "Your brother? He won’t get the wrong idea with me here, will he?"
Hearing Qin Yao say this felt strange to Bai He, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. He shook his head and got up to open the door.
Bai Lu seemed anxious, his eyes almost red as if on the verge of tears. The moment he saw Bai He, his eyes became even redder. "Brother, Guan..."
Before he could finish, he suddenly noticed the person in Bai He’s room. Qin Yao had withdrawn his ears and tail, glanced at Bai Lu with a calm expression.
Bai Lu’s back instantly went cold. He had been about to grab Bai He’s sleeve but quickly retracted his hand, his voice softening. "Brother, Guan Jiayu was beaten and is in the hospital. I want to go see him..."
So, they had made up.
Or perhaps they hadn’t, but this was a turning point.
Bai He didn’t respond to Bai Lu’s words. He only glanced at the time. "It’s already 11 PM. If you go out now, you won’t make it back, and you’ll get marked for being out late."
"I know, but the dorm supervisor will check soon. Could you help me out?" Bai Lu clasped his hands together, pleading with Bai He. "Brother, I’ll tell the supervisor I’m staying with you. Please cover for me, just this once?"
Bai He stared at Bai Lu with a calm expression. "How many times have I helped you already?"
"How... many times?" Bai Lu couldn’t even remember. He tried his best to beg Bai He. "Brother, Guan Jiayu is really hurt this time. His family doesn’t have anyone who can take care of him, and I—"
"Did he tell you that?" Bai He asked, repeating, "He told you he’s seriously injured and needs you to take care of him? And you believe him?"
Why won’t he listen to reason? Bai He felt a headache coming on. Bai Lu was clearly someone who never learned his lesson. What was this? Just because he liked Guan Jiayu?
Bai He couldn’t help but think of himself. It suddenly occurred to him that he was the same way. He still softened towards Qin Yao, so in the end, he still liked him.
If that was the case, he didn’t really have the right to criticize Bai Lu.
"For the last time." Bai He frowned. "Next time you ask for my help, you’ll have to pay me according to the school’s assistance service rates."
Bai Lu, who never had any money saved up, was stunned. His eyes widened. "Brother..."
"Flattery won’t work on me." Bai He coldly turned and closed the door.
There was no more sound from outside. After a long moment, Bai Lu’s voice came faintly through the door, thanking him before his footsteps retreated.
Inside the room, it was quiet again. Bai He turned back, and Qin Yao, still sitting cross-legged on the carpet, gazed at him with a look of indifference, as if the situation had nothing to do with him.
Bai He paused, not moving forward. He lowered his gaze to Qin Yao’s happily swaying tail and closed his eyes, saying, "Guan Jiayu got hurt."
Qin Yao frowned lightly. "I’m hurt too."
Bai He opened his eyes and met Qin Yao’s beautiful eyes. Those eyes were now vertical pupils, the color a bright floral blue, more vibrant than before. Cat ears, cat eyes, and the undeniable tail made it hard to ignore.
Bai He pressed his lips into a thin line and turned his head away. "I asked you earlier, and you said the injuries weren’t serious."
"Can I take that back now?" Qin Yao asked, his voice soft and seemingly pitiful. "Bai He, it really hurts."
Bai He’s fingers twitched. "..."
"It really hurts," Qin Yao’s voice was low, almost coquettish but not sticky. "There were several of them, and I almost couldn’t win."
Bai He couldn’t take it anymore. "Then why don’t you go to the hospital?"
"I don’t want to breathe the same air as that Guan guy in the same hospital." Qin Yao clicked his tongue, his tail swishing faster and faster, drawing Bai He’s gaze uncontrollably.
Bai He felt his resistance crumbling, but it wasn’t like he hadn’t touched that tail before. It’s just that now…
The tail was attached to Qin Yao, and the feeling was so strange.
A bit embarrassing too, but Bai He admitted to himself that he really wanted to touch that big, fluffy tail.
But he definitely wouldn’t say that. Before Bai Lu had arrived, he had wanted Qin Yao to leave. But now...
He couldn’t just kick him out when his injuries hadn’t been treated yet...
Although, maybe he could.
Realizing this, Bai He immediately spoke. "Take the first aid kit to your dorm and use it yourself. I’m going to sleep."
Qin Yao was visibly stunned. The words he had been about to say seemed to hang in the air. He lowered his eyes, pressing his lips into a straight line, a hint of sadness in his gaze. He forced a smile. "Alright, I won’t bother you. I can take care of the medicine on my own."
Bai He froze, staring at the alpha as he stood up.
"I’ll leave now. Make sure you cover yourself with a blanket tonight, don’t catch a cold." Qin Yao stood there, his tail hanging low, no longer swaying. His cat ears had drooped so much they almost looked like airplane wings.
Bai He: "..."
Watching Qin Yao walk to the door, Bai He noticed that he put his hand on the doorknob but then suddenly stopped.
As expected, Qin Yao turned his head and said softly, "Those fifteen damaged white roses, you can keep them here. It’s okay if you throw them away. I’ll bring you fresh ones next time."
But he wasn’t done yet. Qin Yao opened his mouth again, and Bai He’s eyebrows twitched three times before he quickly interrupted, "Enough, stop talking. Come back."
A glimmer of light flashed in Qin Yao’s eyes before dulling again. "Will I disturb you?"
Bai He: "..."
He closed his eyes. "Don’t waste any more time."
"Okay." Qin Yao obediently returned, sitting cross-legged on the carpet again, his tail starting to sway happily once more.
Bai He felt a tickling sensation in his heart, doing his best to pretend not to see it.
He told Qin Yao to take off his shirt. The alpha hesitated for a few seconds but then removed his top, revealing the injuries on his body. They weren’t too serious but couldn’t be considered light either.
Bai He opened a new pack of cotton balls and began cleaning the wounds, applying ointment, and wrapping bandages, all with meticulous care.
Time passed slowly. The room was quiet, with only the soft chirping of night insects outside the window. It wasn’t as noisy as in the summer—actually quite soothing.
Inside the dorm, both of their breathing was steady. Bai He was treating the wounds on Qin Yao’s back, and every now and then, Qin Yao’s large, fluffy tail would brush against Bai He’s ankle, causing him to freeze for a moment before carefully moving away. But soon enough, the restless tail would brush against him again.
It left Bai He’s ankles feeling numb.
It was as if the tail had a mind of its own, but Bai He knew it was a reflection of Qin Yao’s mood. Qin Yao was happy right now.
After a while, the alpha with his back to Bai He spoke softly, his tone casual, as if they were having a normal conversation—except for the content.
"Bai He, do you think I have ulterior motives?"
Bai He remained silent, applying the medicine as he replied calmly, "Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work on me anymore."
Qin Yao, still facing away from him, lowered his head and laughed. It was a quiet laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. After a moment, Qin Yao sat up straight and turned to look at Bai He. "I’m a pretty messed-up person. We used to be friends. It was my actions that crossed the line of friendship, so I gave you the wrong impression. I’m sorry."
Silence.
For a long time.
Bai He lowered his head, using a cotton ball soaked in iodine to clean Qin Yao’s arm. "We’re just friends."
Qin Yao was stunned and then smiled bitterly. "Thanks for not abandoning me."
Bai He said nothing.
Qin Yao’s gaze lingered on Bai He’s eyes before slowly shifting downward, ultimately landing somewhere indiscernible. He seemed lost in thought as he softly prompted, "Bai He, do you want to touch my tail?"
The hand that had been cleaning his arm suddenly froze. The fleeting expression on Bai He’s face didn’t escape Qin Yao’s notice. Qin Yao’s lips curled in a smile as he gently moved his tail closer to Bai He. Before he could say anything, Bai He suddenly looked up at him, clearly showing the unrestrained expression of someone who had just been given permission.
He appeared calm, but inside, something was clearly bubbling up, ready to burst.
Bai He loved fluffy things, and this had been obvious ever since Qin Yao had been Ling Dang, when Bai He would always cuddle him.
Sure enough, Bai He slowly put down the items in his hands, and then, with both hands, he grabbed hold of Qin Yao’s tail. He didn’t do anything else, just held onto it, without letting go.
Qin Yao froze completely. His eyelashes lowered, and he slowly raised his hand to cover his face, his voice serious yet pleading. "Please don’t grab the base of my tail, Bai He…"
Comments
Post a Comment