I'm Here to Pick You Up, Xiaoxun

Chapter Forty-Three

"Mr. Yan, my friend is still inside..."

"I arranged for someone to look after him. Don't worry about anything. Relax, Xiaoxun."

It had been nearly an hour since they left the He Household. His clothes were no longer dripping, but they were still soaked through.

Ye Nanxun kept replaying everything that had happened that night in his mind. His head, chilled by water and wind, was overwhelmed, swollen with unbearable pain, his temples throbbing.

Yan Beiyou's sudden appearance was like a breeze, a painkiller, an umbrella held over his head on a stormy night.

Almost instinctively, Ye Nanxun hid within that safe space. It was only after getting into the car with him that he realized how filthy he was, sitting in Yan Beiyou's clean car without even changing clothes.

"Sorry, I got your car dirty..."

"Mm. Since you've already apologized, don't apologize again when you get my clothes dirty too."

A jacket still carrying body heat was draped over Ye Nanxun. Yan Beiyou was tall, and the long coat hung so loosely on Ye Nanxun that it could wrap him up completely.

And Yan Beiyou did exactly that.

Having just gone through his first adventure since being reborn that night, Ye Nanxun's taut nerves slackened, leaving him dazed and sluggish.

Wrapped in the long coat that brought warmth and security, he followed Yan Beiyou out of the car. Though his reactions were somewhat slow, manners were ingrained in his bones, and he still remembered to lower his head and change shoes when entering.

"Take a hot bath first." Yan Beiyou walked ahead, then looked back and asked, "Can you wash yourself?"

Ye Nanxun nodded. "I can."

"Here are pajamas, a towel, disposable toothpaste and a toothbrush, and slippers." Yan Beiyou pushed open one of the doors. "If you need anything else, call for me. I'll have the robot bring it in."

After saying that, Yan Beiyou left.

The door clicked shut. Ye Nanxun took off the coat and looked around. As he wondered where to put Yan Beiyou's clothes, he noticed the other items in the bathroom.

An electric toothbrush on the sink, a tube of toothpaste that was more than half full, a clearly used white towel hanging nearby...

Ye Nanxun froze for a moment. Was this Yan Beiyou's own bathroom?

He pressed his lips together slightly and looked up at himself in the mirror.

His hair was half-dry and damp, his face pale. He looked bedraggled and miserable.

The large bathtub had already been filled with hot water. Ye Nanxun hurriedly removed the rest of his clothes, and when he sank into the tub, he let out a long, comfortable breath.

After using body wash three times and soaking in the hot bath for another ten-odd minutes, Ye Nanxun finally climbed out of the tub.

He had not looked closely when Yan Beiyou handed him the toiletries earlier. Now, when he found a pair of briefs among the pajamas, his face heated up.

Yan Beiyou had even prepared this, and it was even... rather well-fitting.

After brushing his teeth and casually toweling off his hair, Ye Nanxun came out of the bathroom carrying his dirty clothes.

He hurriedly glanced at the bedroom with its broad bed. Not daring to linger, Ye Nanxun quickly opened the door and went out.

An enticing fragrance drifted from the kitchen, and Ye Nanxun followed the scent to find the alpha.

Yan Beiyou had changed into loungewear as well, pale blue like the set Ye Nanxun was wearing.

With his back to Ye Nanxun, the alpha's tall, impressive figure made even ordinary loungewear look irresistibly alluring.

Yan Beiyou turned and chuckled, glancing at the dirty clothes in Ye Nanxun's hands. "Throw them in the trash can over there."

"Okay." After taking two steps toward the trash can, Ye Nanxun stopped again. "Your coat..."

"Just give it to me." Yan Beiyou carried a tray toward the omega. "Eat something."

This was Ye Nanxun's second time in Yan Beiyou's private apartment, his second time seeing the alpha cook, and his second time eating food personally prepared by him.

The alpha who took away the dirty coat was no longer merely a symbol of power and wealth. Without Ye Nanxun realizing it, he had suddenly become vivid and approachable.

Ye Nanxun had not eaten much that evening, nor had he had much appetite. Strangely, as he ate, he finished all the food Yan Beiyou had made.

Perhaps everyone who cooked personally liked seeing the food they prepared get eaten. As a reward for Ye Nanxun clearing his plate, Yan Beiyou brought the omega a cup of hot milk.

After eating, Ye Nanxun was led by Yan Beiyou to the guest room where he had stayed last time.

"Will you stay here tonight?"

Holding the cup in both hands, Ye Nanxun sat by the bed and nodded. "Okay. Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Yan."

Yan Beiyou took something and placed it beside Ye Nanxun. "Our Mushroom Egg. Let it sleep with you tonight."

Ye Nanxun's eyes instantly lit up. He put down the unfinished milk, turned sideways, and carefully held Mushroom Egg in his hands.

Sensing the presence of its omega father, Mushroom Egg flashed with light. Waves of warmth passed through the eggshell, warming Ye Nanxun's palms.

It was as though a warm spring had flowed into his chest. Holding Mushroom Egg and lowering his head, Ye Nanxun's expression softened considerably.

A dry, warm touch suddenly landed on his forehead. Ye Nanxun looked up blankly.

Yan Beiyou withdrew the back of his hand after lightly touching the omega's forehead. "You're a little feverish. Finish your milk and go to bed early."

"Okay."

Ye Nanxun felt even hotter. Lowering his head, he stared unblinkingly at the well-behaved Mushroom Egg in his hands. His previously pale cheeks were now stained a brilliant crimson.

"Sorry, Mr. Yan. At the He Household, I was busy taking my friend to the hospital and forgot to call you..." Ye Nanxun said remorsefully, ashamed. "Even though you said you would come pick me up..."

"Haven't I already picked you up?" The alpha had reached the doorway. He gave the omega by the bed a gentle smile. "Good night, Xiaoxun."

Ye Nanxun finally raised his head, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Good night, Mr. Yan."

His phone was waterproof. Ye Nanxun checked it while taking off his clothes, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Once he turned it on, a string of missed calls and unread messages popped up. Ye Nanxun did not remember hearing his phone ring. Though it was likely that he had been so tense earlier that he failed to notice it.

The missed calls included ones from He Lanxue, Ye Zhineng, William...

And one from an unknown number.

Ye Nanxun did not look at them closely. He first called his parents at home, telling them that he would be staying at a friend's place that night and would not be going back.

His mother, Chen Mingzhu, stammered from the other end of the line, "It's a good thing that Xiaoxun has grown up... Mommy trusts you... Remember to take precautions!"

Ye Nanxun's face heated up. What was his mother thinking? He hurriedly explained, "Mom, we're just ordinary friends. Don't overthink it."

Ye Nanxun had no plans to return the other calls for the time being. He scrolled through the unread messages, his gaze settling on his friends' profile pictures. Other than the one with the Little Yellow Dog avatar, he ignored all the rest.

An hour earlier, Yan Beiyou had sent him a message.

[Xiaoxun, I'm here to pick you up.]