Yu Nian watched him go out and close the door. His low voice drifted in from outside, as though a breeze could scatter it, yet it kept Yu Nian constantly aware of his presence.
He buried his head in the covers and shifted around, trying to get comfortable.
Qin Yuheng's call didn't last long. When he came back in, Yu Nian had almost disappeared beneath the covers.
He walked over and gently pulled the covers away from Yu Nian's face, then checked his forehead again. Finding nothing unusual, he relaxed a little.
Yu Nian narrowed his eyes and hid his face again like an ostrich. "Brother Yu, can you turn off the light? It's making me uncomfortable."
Qin Yuheng murmured an assent, switched off the light, and took off his jacket before getting into bed.
Everything fell quiet. Only Yu Nian's slightly labored breathing and the occasional rustle of the covers broke the silence.
"Can't sleep?"
Yu Nian gave a muffled hum. "My whole body aches. No matter how I lie down, it's uncomfortable."
Qin Yuheng's fingers twitched, but he held himself back. "If you can't bear it, I'll take you to the hospital."
Being sick always made a person vulnerable. In the quiet, all Yu Nian seemed to hear was his own struggle as he tossed and turned, leaving him feeling inexplicably empty.
But he didn't know what would make him feel better, either.
When he'd been sick on his own before, he'd simply spent a few days in bed until it passed. Now that he had someone beside him, he'd become needy instead.
Only when Qin Yuheng spoke just now did he realize that he wanted Qin Yuheng to keep him company, wanted to feel his presence, wanted to be a little closer to him.
Yu Nian quietly