You're lucky

"Mr. Shen, Boss is downstairs."

At Sun Binghe's words, Shen Lian immediately put away his phone, tousled his hair, and slipped under the covers, closing his eyes and lying there peacefully.

Sun Binghe: "..."

After Chu Yilan pushed open the door and entered, Sun Binghe promptly left the ward.

He could tip Shen Lian off, but helping him keep up the act was another matter. Becoming Chu Yilan's trusted aide had instilled one absolute habit in him: never lie.

Chu Yilan approached quietly, stood beside the bed for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Keep pretending."

Shen Lian couldn't hold it in. He gave a little chuckle, then opened one eye.

The bright amusement and vitality in his expression put Chu Yilan at ease.

But just as Sun Binghe had said, Chu Yilan's concern was one thing; settling accounts was another.

He was about to speak when Shen Lian covered his mouth and began coughing. The young man's brows drew together slightly, and he looked uncomfortable.

Chu Yilan immediately pressed the bedside call button to summon a doctor.

This time, it wasn't an act. The head of Shen Lian's bed was raised, and he was given oxygen for a while.

"Is this caused by the infection?" Chu Yilan asked the doctor, touching Shen Lian's forehead. It had become clammy in that short time. He smoothed Shen Lian's hair, then supported the back of his neck with his broad palm.

"Yes." The doctor nodded. "Make sure he rests and takes his medication on time."

There wasn't much else they could do for now. After the doctor left, Shen Lian pulled Chu Yilan down to sit beside the bed, then inched into his arms until he had successfully wrapped his arms around the man's waist.

Don't go soft, Chu Yilan told himself.

"I'm sorry. I'll definitely be more careful next time."

Chu Yilan gave a dry chuckle. As if he didn't know Shen Lian. Faced with the same situation, this man would still dare to jump.

Sun Binghe stood outside the door for a while. He heard no screams from Mr. Shen. Safe for now.

Chu Yilan never got a chance to lay into him. Shen Lian took another nap that afternoon, and when he woke up this time, he insisted on showering. Chu Yilan offered to stay with him, but Shen Lian was embarrassed.

"No, no, no. Let's save showering together for next time, when I smell nice. I'm all stinky today."

Chu Yilan: "..."

Chu Yilan waited outside the bathroom door. Fortunately, Shen Lian emerged about ten minutes later, feeling thoroughly refreshed.

"Boss." Sun Binghe knocked and came in, his expression grim. "Something's come up."

"Get some rest. I'll be back soon." Chu Yilan's voice was gentle as he tucked the covers around Shen Lian.

An inexplicable chill ran through Shen Lian's heart. Now that he was a little more lively, was Chu Yilan remembering the score he had yet to settle?

"Okay, go on."

Most of the time, Sun Binghe was mild and affable. It was his mask and his camouflage, so when he actually showed irritation, it meant he truly disliked the person in question.

Chu Yilan asked, "What happened?"

"Zheng Ge called Secretary Cui," Sun Binghe said succinctly. "He asked whether you could arrange to bring him from Qu City to Lin City."

"Why?"

"Apparently, Zhou Tangsi is in Lin City."

At this point, Sun Binghe drew a shallow breath.

Chu Yilan when you need something, Zhou Tangsi when you don't, huh?

For once, Chu Yilan was curious. "What, is the road between Qu City and Lin City blocked again?"

"No, but from what Zheng Ge said, the paparazzi have been hounding him lately. With Zhou Tangsi away, he wants to use your influence to shake them off and come here unnoticed."

"That just means Zhou Tangsi is useless." Chu Yilan's voice was cold. "Block Zheng Ge. Don't report anything about him to me again."

That was exactly what Sun Binghe had been waiting to hear. "Yes, Boss."

"Right, come in and help me with this..." Chu Yilan pushed open the ward door as he spoke. Sun Binghe followed without thinking much of it.

When Boss fell silent, Sun Binghe instinctively looked up.

Shen Lian was sitting propped against the head of the bed. God only knew how he had managed to blow-dry his hair in the time it took them to exchange those few words. Whether deliberately or not, he had even styled it into a relaxed, effortlessly tousled look.

Shen Lian had been gazing out the window. At the sound, he slowly turned his head, exuding a gentle, slightly fragile air, almost as though the moment were playing in slow motion. Once those affectionate eyes focused on someone, they could draw that person's very soul into them. After holding Chu Yilan's gaze for a moment, Shen Lian smiled shyly. "I missed you."

Chu Yilan: "?"

If the setting hadn't been wrong, Sun Binghe would genuinely have applauded.

A true man knew when to bend and when to stand tall. The old saying suited Shen Lian perfectly. In just a few minutes, he had already brought out the seduction tactics.

"Bing He, you..."

"Boss, I have things to do. I'll be back tomorrow morning." Sun Binghe turned and left.

The door closed.

Passing the sofa, Chu Yilan casually took off his jacket. He walked to the bedside and bent straight down to wrap his arms around Shen Lian's waist, brushing his nose against his cheek. His breath was hot, and even his voice had gone hoarse. "You really are a little menace."

"Master Chu, if this is my punishment, don't hold back."

I can't out-flirt him. Chu Yilan's resolve hardened.

Chu Yilan pushed the covers aside. As the atmosphere heated up, Shen Lian's breathing changed too. But Chu Yilan only kissed him for a while before letting him go.

Shen Lian was astonished. "You can hold back even now?"

Chu Yilan scoffed. "You're lucky. This ward and the fact that you're a patient just saved you."

Catching sight of the roiling darkness suppressed in Chu Yilan's eyes, Shen Lian abruptly wilted.

Instinct warned him that he'd better stop showing off.

Shen Lian stayed in the hospital for three days before his condition finally stabilized. Chu Yilan had already arranged a full checkup with Ning Sixian; that would give him greater peace of mind. Meanwhile, as the disaster outside subsided and public attention waned, people inevitably began bringing Shen Lian up again.

His fans finally dared to speak out.

That was right. Shen Lian had fans now, too. Real, active fans.

When Hu Kailan told him the news, Shen Lian nearly bowed down in thanks to the heavens.

Zheng Ge's fans had only just been thoroughly lambasted and wouldn't dare show their faces anytime soon. Most of Shen Lian's fanbase came from viewers who had spontaneously promoted him after the earlier variety show, along with the fangirls from the convention. There weren't many, but they could still muster a few thousand comments. Before long, people picked out a fansite operator among them-one from Chang Qing's fandom.

[Is Shen Lian planning to leech off Chang Qing again? How much did this fansite operator get paid? Would Chang Qing even give him the time of day?]

Doubts and nasty comments quickly surfaced. After all, Chang Qing really did have an exceptionally clean reputation in the industry.

Then the fansite operator posted a photo of Chang Qing and Shen Lian from behind. Beneath a clear blue sky, the two walked side by side, apparently talking about something. Even their profiles were breathtakingly handsome.

The fansite operator had discussed the photo with Zhu Wen before posting it, and Chang Qing had given his approval. Though he wasn't yet close to Shen Lian, Chang Qing was willing to lend him a hand. He was someone who always stayed true to his own convictions.

[They're friends?]

[You know, they look pretty good together.]

[Um, I want to...]

Shen Lian didn't see any of this. He had been cooped up for days, and at noon, Chu Yilan said he would take him to a small gathering.

Shen Lian had a hunch, and sure enough, when they arrived, he saw Xu Jingge.

Having returned rested and refreshed, Xu Jingge was once again his usual casually composed self, seemingly careless yet in control of everything. The instant he saw Chu Yilan and Shen Lian arrive together, his eyes lit up.

Of course, someone else's eyes shone even brighter: Special Assistant Yang Bin, who had taken care of everything and been waiting for two days.