See it through to the end

A shadow fell over him. Cheng Yue lifted his head to look up at the newcomer. Backlit, that handsome, refined face looked even more stunning.

One had just left, and now another had turned up.

His already aching head only felt worse. Cheng Yue rubbed his temples.

"No need, thank you."

He actually wasn't thinking about anything. He was just exhausted and wanted to sit here for a while before leaving. But he had no idea how frighteningly pale he looked.

To anyone else, he looked devastated by his breakup, too heartbroken even to walk.

Especially to Professor Ji, who had witnessed the whole thing.

Cheng Yue genuinely didn't even have the energy to speak. Seeing that the man before him showed no sign of leaving, he raised a hand and pointed helplessly. "Head south from here until you reach the little plaza. The property management building is right beside it."

"Got that?"

Ji Huaijin didn't look in the direction he pointed. He simply gazed steadily at him. A few seconds later, he suddenly pressed the back of his hand to Cheng Yue's forehead, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"You have a fever."

The cool touch drew an inward sigh from Cheng Yue, whose brain had been cooked into mush. He instinctively leaned toward it, only realizing something was wrong when he heard that voice. He hurriedly pulled back.

"You can talk without getting handsy."

Ji Huaijin's expression turned stern. Ignoring his struggles, he pulled him to his feet. "We're going to the hospital."

Cheng Yue hastily refused. "No need. I'll just go home and take some medicine."

Never mind wasting medical resources over a cold-the hefty bill for the tests alone was enough to give him a headache.

His money didn't grow on trees either. He still needed to spend it where it mattered-or, uh, somewhere a little less essential.

Seeing the disapproval on the other man's face, Cheng Yue didn't want to drag this out any longer. He promptly got up to leave. "Thanks for the offer. Goodbye."

Farewell, and may we never meet again!

"Wait."

Ji Huaijin caught his wrist, a calm smile returning to his face. "You're sick. If we part ways now and something happens to you, I'll be responsible."

Feeling the unyielding strength of his grip, Cheng Yue's brow twitched. "So?"

"You don't have to go to the hospital, but let me take you home."

Some things simply defied explanation. The harder he tried to avoid getting entangled, the harder it became to escape.

Life was unpredictable. Looking at the black luxury car before him, Cheng Yue was filled with emotion. Yesterday, he'd been admiring it enviously; today, he was getting a ride in it.

On the walk over, he had calmly talked himself around. This guy had already gotten free use of his ass. What was wrong with making him give him a ride?

Get in! Today, I'm riding in a luxury car!

After looking over the front and back seats, he decisively opened the rear door, buckled his seat belt, and leaned back. Comfortable.

I'll just pretend I splurged on a private car service today.

The car slowly pulled away. Cheng Yue secretly cracked his eyes open and unexpectedly met a pair of faintly amused eyes.

"Ahem. Watch the road."

What are you looking at? Showing off those pretty eyes of yours?

Amusement flashed through Ji Huaijin's eyes. "Don't worry," he said gently. "I'll get you home safe and sound."

Cheng Yue gave a barely audible huff, leaned sideways against the seat, and put his jumbled thoughts aside.

He had expected the ride to be terribly awkward. Instead, within minutes, he was sound asleep. His labored breathing, brought on by the high fever, was unmistakably clear in the enclosed space.

Ji Huaijin glanced over. The man in the back seat was trying to curl in on himself. Two patches of red had risen on his deathly pale face, and his brows were slightly knitted. Everything about him spoke of how awful he felt.

The red light, which ordinarily never seemed that long, was especially irritating now. Ji Huaijin picked up his phone with one hand, found Lin Shuyang's number, and called.

The call rang until the light turned green before it was answered.

"Find me a doctor who makes house calls. Send them to Jinhua Gardens."

Before the other man could ask any questions, Ji Huaijin added coldly, "I need them here within half an hour."

Lin Shuyang had been sleeping soundly when he was forcibly booted up. Before he could even work out what was happening, the caller had tossed out a brief request and hung up.

If the call log hadn't been right there in front of him, he would have thought he'd been sleepwalking.

"All right. Time to work."

He'd known it. With that demanding bastard back, sooner or later he could kiss sleeping in goodbye.

Someone woke Cheng Yue. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a black jacket.

"Hmm? We're here?"

The suit fabric was very smooth. The moment he sat up, it slid down and gathered in a heap on his thighs.

The car door beside him was open. Ji Huaijin stood bent over in the path of the wind, blocking most of the cold gusts. "Put the jacket on before you get out."

Cheng Yue didn't know whether he was still half asleep or the fever had slowed his brain. He stared at the jacket on his lap for a long while, then looked at the man beside him, who was shielding him from the wind and light.

The other man wore only a white shirt. On closer inspection, Cheng Yue could even make out gold threads in it. His brain suddenly short-circuited, and he asked, "Aren't you cold?"

Although the start of spring had already passed, the temperature was still very low. Apart from a little warmth from the midday sun, the mornings and evenings remained cold.

Ji Huaijin didn't answer. He picked up the jacket from Cheng Yue's lap and tried to help him into it. "Which building do you live in? I'll take you upstairs."

"Don't!"

Cheng Yue might have looked gentle and refined, but he was actually fiercely protective of his personal space and drew very clear boundaries. Ever since he'd been old enough to know better, he hadn't liked other people coming and going from his room as they pleased.

That was also why, even after dating him for several months, Fang Zhiyou still hadn't known his address by the time they broke up.

Cheng Yue pulled off the half-donned jacket and handed it back, then climbed out of the car, dizzy and unsteady. "I can get home myself. You can go."

But he had seriously underestimated the virus that had been brewing all day. His feet touched the ground, and he had barely straightened up and taken two steps before he pitched forward.

"Careful!"

Ji Huaijin caught him swiftly. His usually gentle, calm voice abruptly turned stern. "Stop moving around!"

Looking at the flower bed nearby, Cheng Yue felt a surge of belated fear. Another inch, and his smooth skull would have had an intimate encounter with its sharp corner.

Ji Huaijin pressed his lips together and frowned. Brooking no argument, he draped the suit jacket over Cheng Yue, gripped his arm through the fabric, and led him forward.

Cheng Yue shifted awkwardly. Looking at the other man's stern expression, he inexplicably lost his nerve. He lowered his voice, though he wasn't sure whom he was addressing. "Didn't I tell you to stop getting handsy?"

Ji Huaijin ignored him. "Which building and floor?"

At the mention of that, his nerve returned. "Seriously, I can get home myself. That was just an accident. Please go take care of whatever you need to do."

Stop wasting your attention on me. A considerate one-night stand should quietly disappear from the other person's world!

And don't give me any of that taking-responsibility nonsense. I don't want it!

At worst, I'll pretend a dog bit me. Once I clean up and get some sleep, I'll be a proud, unbending top again.

As though he had seen through his thoughts, Ji Huaijin reached over and snugged the jacket around him. "It's fine," he said unhurriedly. "As the old saying goes, if you're helping someone, see it through to the end. Taking you upstairs is no trouble."

Cheng Yue: "..."

Are you taking me home, or trying to send me to the afterlife?

If our ancestors knew how faithfully you followed their advice, they'd surely be very pleased down in their graves.