He recalled once again the sharp pain of having his fingers cut in his previous life, pain that made his vision go black and left him dizzy.
During those dark days, he had been so frightened and unsettled that he hadn't even dared to leave home.
No one could help him. He couldn't stand up to the powerful family behind his father's current wife.
He had spent his days huddled in his tiny apartment, taking a long time to mentally prepare himself before he could finally dispel the gloom in his heart and try to get on with his life.
Yet he had never expected to face the same situation even after coming to another world.
After all these years, Yu Chenyi thoroughly despised the original owner of this body. Even when he said he was going to live with a man, Yu Chenyi hadn't cared.
If he said Su Ningyue had harmed him with incompatible foods, would Yu Chenyi believe him? Even if he did, Su Ningyue had, after all, given birth to the outstanding Yu Qingluo, who was also the novel's bottom protagonist. What would Yu Chenyi do? Would he simply let her off lightly?
After all, Su Ningyue had only robbed him of his ability to have children, not taken his life. And since he had come out, he wouldn't have had children anyway.
Most importantly, all of this was conjecture. He had no evidence. With how meticulous Su Ningyue was, she might already have covered every trace. If he rashly exposed her, no one would likely believe him, and she might even turn the accusation against him.
Just like that ridiculous act of heroism of his earlier, everything had made perfect sense from beginning to end. No one had suspected a thing.
And when that happened, would exposing this only bring another perfectly concealed attempt to hurt him?
Besides, if he recovered after treatment, would Su Ningyue find another way to harm him? He had to find a way to fight back. He couldn't leave himself at her mercy.
All these thoughts tangled together. Yu Qingchuan's worry and fear were impossible to put into words, and he could only draw a little warmth from the hand he held.
Tears streamed down Yu Qingchuan's face, but he made no sound beyond faint, choked breaths. Like an injured kitten, he made anyone listening ache for him.
Lu Shiyi grew anxious. What had happened to the little chubby guy? Why was he crying like this?
He wanted to reach out and comfort him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't.
Trapped inside his body and unable to move, he could only keep him company in silence.
After crying for a while, Yu Qingchuan pulled himself together. After all, this wasn't the first time he had encountered something like this, and this time he had discovered it early. As long as he stayed away from the Yu family and kept Su Ningyue from harming him again, proper treatment could restore his health.
He murmured to Lu Shiyi, "Brother Yi, I've got it so bad. I've been poisoned. No one will want to date me like this, will they?"
Listening to Yu Qingchuan's muttering, Lu Shiyi found him increasingly adorable. In that empty space, he answered, "That's not true. Someone will love you for who you are."
Yu Qingchuan channeled his sorrow and anger into creativity, finishing his drawing of Lu Shiyi by the time Lu Shiming arrived with dinner.
The man in the drawing was devastatingly handsome, with a perfect physique. The gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, in particular, made him so attractive that they set hearts racing and cheeks burning. Even Lu Shiming thought his brother looked exactly like a male fox spirit in human form.
As Yu Qingchuan supported Lu Shiyi and helped him drink his nutritional liquid, Lu Shiming kept marveling, "Your drawing skills are freaking amazing, sister-in-law. But is this really how my brother acts around you?"
Yu Qingchuan answered without batting an eye, "Yes."
Lu Shiyi: "..." Little liar.
But the little chubby guy could actually draw? From what Lu Shiming had said, he had even drawn him?
Lu Shiyi had always liked talented people, especially those with artistic talents. He hadn't expected the little chubby guy to possess not only a beautiful pair of hands, but drawing skills as well.
He ticked every one of Lu Shiyi's boxes.
It made him even more curious about the little chubby guy.
Lu Shiyi didn't know why Yu Qingchuan was pretending to be his lover, but he sensed no ill intent and didn't mind it. In fact, he was growing more and more curious about him.
Yu Qingchuan was a little quiet that evening, and Lu Shiming soon noticed. "Sister-in-law, did I do something wrong? I feel like you're in a bad mood, and that it has something to do with me. If I've done anything wrong, you have to tell me. I'll change."
Yu Qingchuan hadn't expected Lu Shiming to be so perceptive. He simply didn't know how to face him.
Yu Qingluo and Lu Shiming were the canon couple, and Yu Qingluo's mother had harmed him.
If he told Lu Shiming the truth now, then based on what he knew of him, Lu Shiming would definitely never get together with Yu Qingluo.
At that thought, Yu Qingchuan genuinely felt an urge to sabotage them for a moment. He was the vicious cannon fodder anyway, so why should he be a good person? Good people never came to a good end.
But Yu Qingchuan still restrained himself. Su Ningyue alone had caused this, and it had nothing to do with Yu Qingluo. He shouldn't take his anger out on the bottom protagonist.
Yu Qingchuan had never intended to interfere with the lead couple, so he casually made up an excuse. "No, it isn't you. Your brother still hasn't woken up, so I'm feeling down."
At the mention of this, Lu Shiming's expression turned pained and forlorn. He looked at his sleeping brother, who was leaning against Yu Qingchuan's shoulder, and thought for a moment before saying, "Sister-in-law, the doctor actually said there's a very high chance my brother will remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. I know you love him deeply, but if he never wakes up, maybe you should remarry... find someone else. I'm sure my brother wouldn't blame you."
Making Yu Qingchuan keep watch over his brother when he might never wake up was far too cruel to him.
Yu Qingchuan: "..."
Lu Shiyi: "..."
Lu Shiyi was so angry he almost laughed. His little brother was certainly thoughtful-so thoughtful that he wanted to give him a beating.
Yu Qingchuan nearly laughed aloud too, barely managing to hold it in. His gaze settled on Lu Shiyi, looking utterly devoted. "You don't have to persuade me. I understand."
"Then thank you for taking care of him, sister-in-law." Lu Shiming didn't press him and changed the subject. "It isn't convenient for you to keep staying here. It's not as comfortable as home. My brother has an apartment nearby. You can stay there and come visit him during the day or whenever you have time."
Yu Qingchuan hurriedly refused. "There's no need. I'm planning to rent a place."
He had some money that Lu Shiming had transferred to him, and he could earn more by taking commissions later. Renting a place would be easy enough.
"Don't stand on ceremony, sister-in-law," Lu Shiming said. "I'll take you over to have a look right now. My brother had the foresight to buy several apartments, and they're all sitting empty."
What Lu Shiming didn't mention was that Lu Shiyi had actually bought that apartment as his marital home. That was why he had never stayed there, even though it was close to the hospital.
It was perfect for his sister-in-law to move into now.
Lu Shiming thought this was an excellent arrangement. He immediately helped Yu Qingchuan pack his things, picked them up, and headed out. Yu Qingchuan refused several times, but none of it could stop the top protagonist's astonishing decisiveness.
Hearing Lu Shiming's arrangements, Lu Shiyi didn't mind. It was only an apartment, after all. Even giving it to Yu Qingchuan someday would be fine.
After all, if he managed to wake up, it would be entirely thanks to Yu Qingchuan.
But once the little chubby guy left, Lu Shiyi felt lonely for the first time in ages.
He had grown used to the little chubby guy snuggling up to him from time to time. Now even a single night felt long.
Just then, he felt the little chubby guy's touch again and heard his clear, gentle voice. "Brother Yi, I'll come back tonight."
The young man spoke quickly, close to his ear, his breath brushing Lu Shiyi's earlobe and warming his entire heart.
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