The weight-loss meal Lu Shiming had bought consisted of tuna with mixed-grain rice and a small bowl of vegetable salad, totaling only 409 calories. After eating it, he would drink a tube of zero-calorie nutrient solution and skip his late-night snack. He was bound to weigh a little less tomorrow morning.
He had truly had enough of this chubby body.
In a little while, he would also have to follow along with a workout to boost his metabolism.
To his surprise, Lu Shiming had even brought back a scale, saving Yu Qingchuan the trouble of going out to buy one.
Lu Shiming had a well-proportioned physique and enjoyed exercise, and his dinner was quite substantial.
He was very considerate. Worried that the aroma of his food would tempt Yu Qingchuan, he had even gone out onto the balcony to eat.
Yu Qingchuan had known Lu Shiming for less than a day, yet he had already discovered many of his good qualities.
His looks and abilities went without saying. He was cheerful, self-reflective, respectful of others, observant, and thoughtful down to the smallest detail-qualities many young men lacked.
No wonder this book was so popular. Lu Shiming really was a very charming person.
Yet he owed much of what made him so exceptional to Lu Shiyi's guidance.
So, what kind of person was Lu Shiyi?
The book had not described him much. He only appeared occasionally in scenes from Lu Shiming's memories, and the more movingly the author wrote those memories, the harder readers found it to accept Lu Shiyi's death.
Even he had felt a pang for Lu Shiyi while reading the book.
Now that Yu Qingchuan considered Lu Shiming a friend, he very much hoped Lu Shiyi would wake up.
After dinner, Lu Shiming washed his hands, gathered up all the rubbish, and held it in a bag as he said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, I have work tomorrow, so I'll head home now. But I'll come over early in the morning and bring you breakfast. If you need anything, just call me. I'll find time to bring it over."
"Okay, thank you." Yu Qingchuan smiled as he saw him out of the ward. "Stay safe on your way home."
"Will do. Bye, brother-in-law."
Yu Qingchuan painted for half an hour while his food settled, then went out onto the balcony, found a weight-loss workout on a short-video platform, and gritted his teeth through half an hour of exercise. He was drenched in sweat and panting with exhaustion, but it had certainly worked. When he stepped onto the scale afterward, he had already lost three jin!
The bad news, however, was that he had not eaten much for dinner to begin with, and after all that exertion, he was already hungry.
The ingrained habit of eating late-night snacks made him helplessly recall the elaborate suppers prepared for the family's young master every night. They were lavish, with plenty of variety, and tasted absolutely incredible.
Yu Qingchuan miserably clutched his stomach, which would not stop growling. With all desire to create gone, he could only blow-dry the canvas and put it away for the time being, planning to go to bed early. Once he was asleep, he would not feel hungry anymore.
He first checked on Lu Shiyi. After making sure everything was normal, he took a quick shower, dried his hair, drew the curtain over the glass in the ward door, and lay down on the attendant's bed beside him.
Soon, Yu Qingchuan fell asleep.
The ward was very quiet, with only a small night-light casting a warm orange glow. The young man on the attendant's bed slept restlessly, one hand pressed to his stomach the whole time, looking deeply uncomfortable.
Yu Qingchuan had thought he would sleep until dawn, but cramping stomach pain woke him from his dreams. He raised his wrist to check his watch. He had slept for only two and a half hours. Normally, this was exactly when he would have his late-night snack.
His whole body felt weak, and he was so miserable that his vision blurred.
So hungry. I'm going to starve to death-
Yu Qingchuan climbed out of bed on unsteady legs, intending to press the call button beside Lu Shiyi's bed and ask the nurse for another tube of nutrient solution. But merely reaching Lu Shiyi's bedside drained every last bit of his strength.
His legs buckled, and he pitched helplessly toward Lu Shiyi.
He was too heavy; he would crush him. Yu Qingchuan hurriedly reached out to brace himself while forcing his body to fall to the side.
Thank goodness, I didn't land on Lu Shiyi. But he had brushed against the hand resting at Lu Shiyi's side.
Warmth instantly seeped through his thin pajamas to his skin. Yu Qingchuan was a little surprised. For that brief moment, he seemed to be less hungry.
Yu Qingchuan thought he had imagined it, but the instant he moved away, hunger came crashing over him again. Without hesitation, he pressed his belly back against that hand.
Huh? How amazing!
Yu Qingchuan could not make sense of it, but the steady flow of warmth into his body felt far too good. Like a big, fat orange cat, he narrowed his eyes in contentment.
"Shiyi, I'm really sorry. I'm just so hungry," Yu Qingchuan whispered. "I'm not a pervert."
Listening to the young man's clear, gentle voice, Lu Shiyi chuckled inwardly. He had been planning to return the touch once he woke up, but he had never expected the little chubby fellow to deliver himself right into his hand.
It made him... really want to give it a squeeze.
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