Don't You Dare Die

The night was pitch-black, the car window half-open, neon lights flickering in the distance.

The cool evening breeze streamed into the car. Fu Hanchuan pressed his thin lips together, struggling to suppress his irritation and unease.

Ever since he had last seen Wen Yanyu at the hospital, he had dreamed about him every night for nearly a week.

Either Wen Yanyu was crying and saying he wanted to go home, or he was dying in all sorts of ways. Although Fu Hanchuan knew they were only dreams, the man in them kept seeking death, his face full of anguish and despair...

Every time he woke, he broke out in a cold sweat, instinctively wanting to call Wen Yanyu to confirm he was still alive. Once, half-asleep, he had even gotten into a car to go see him.

He wanted to convince himself that he had merely been frightened by Wen Yanyu's condition at the hospital, which was why he had those dreams and reacted so strongly, but he knew perfectly well that he was not that kind of person.

Fu Hanchuan closed his eyes in frustration.

I must be losing my mind. There's no way I like Wen Yanyu.

Since when did Wen Yanyu have such a hold over me?

At the thought of their first meeting, Fu Hanchuan's expression grew complicated.

He still remembered Wen Yanyu dragging him out of the car and constantly rambling in his ear, telling him all sorts of ridiculous stories to keep him conscious.

If Wen Yanyu had not gone on to do those things that caused him trouble, perhaps they could have remained good friends.

But now, that was impossible.

The cool night breeze streamed into the car. As Fu Hanchuan watched the river outside, his mood gradually settled.

His gaze suddenly swept over a figure on the riverbank.

Fu Hanchuan abruptly froze, his heart inexplicably skipping a beat.

"Stop the car!"

The driver braked sharply, bringing the car to a steady stop by the roadside. Before he could ask what had happened, Fu Hanchuan was already moving.

Fu Hanchuan opened the door and rushed out.

Wen Yanyu leaned leisurely against the railing, strands of hair slipping from either side of his hood like two snowy-white rabbit ears fluttering in the wind.

Holding the medicine he had finally managed to get prescribed at the hospital, he narrowed his eyes contentedly.

This feels so nice.

How long has it been since I felt this free?

I can't remember.

While he was comfortably enjoying the evening breeze, a sudden force seized his waist, yanking him into someone's arms, and they tumbled to the ground together.

"Wen Yanyu! What are you doing?!"

A furious shout rang in his ear. The arm around his waist was still trembling, and the familiar, bitter scent of agarwood filled his nose.

Wen Yanyu turned his head in bewilderment. "Fu Hanchuan?"

Seeing his blank look only enraged Fu Hanchuan further. "Who else would it be?!"

"You lunatic! What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?! Trying to cause me trouble again?! Wen Yanyu! Didn't you learn your lesson last time?! Do you want to die that badly?!"

The more Fu Hanchuan spoke, the angrier he became, practically grinding his teeth. Then his gaze passed over the white hair spilling from the young man's hood, and he abruptly froze.

Bewildered by this sudden turn of events, Wen Yanyu instinctively tried to break free.

Fu Hanchuan did not loosen his hold at all. Tightening his arms, he simply picked Wen Yanyu up around the waist.

His body rose into the air, his feet suddenly leaving the ground.

"What are you doing?"

Wen Yanyu cried out, throwing his arms around the man's neck in panic, afraid he would be dropped.

Fu Hanchuan's face was furious. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the young man's waist tightly and hoisted him securely over his shoulder.

With nothing to brace himself against and no way to get down, Wen Yanyu could not stop trembling.

Is he going to get back at me now?

Once he had reached that conclusion, he simply stopped struggling.

The weight on his shoulder was absurdly light compared with before. Fu Hanchuan's eyes darkened. Pressing his lips together without a word, he shoved Wen Yanyu into the car.

"Drive."

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and silently shut his mouth.

Follow the rules of the job: talk less, work more, do as you're told, and earn plenty.

Wen Yanyu rubbed his waist and asked tentatively, "Where are you taking me?"

Fu Hanchuan did not look at him.

Wen Yanyu did not invite another snub. He tied the medicine bag shut and silently tucked it against his chest.

It took so much effort to get this. I can't lose it.

The car drove farther and farther from the city center.

Wen Yanyu pressed his lips together. "Fu Hanchuan... where exactly are we going? I have things to do tomorrow."

Fu Hanchuan finally turned, fixing the young man with a dark stare as he demanded, "What were you trying to do by the river just now?"

Wen Yanyu looked bewildered for a moment and instinctively replied, "I was enjoying the breeze."

What else could I have been doing, catching fish with my bare hands?

The air froze.

Fu Hanchuan gritted his teeth. "Wen Yanyu, do you take me for an idiot?"

Wen Yanyu: "?"

The car entered a villa complex, took a series of turns, and finally stopped.

Wen Yanyu looked up at the familiar place outside the window.

Why did he bring me here again?

Fu Hanchuan opened the car door, deftly slung the still-bewildered Wen Yanyu over his shoulder, and strode toward the villa.

Wen Yanyu said, "...I can actually walk by myself."

"Shut up," Fu Hanchuan said.

The door slammed shut. The housekeeper, busy at work, went blank for a moment at the sight of their strange position.

The plots of countless novels she had read flashed through her mind before she asked with perfect professionalism, "Mr. Fu, should I make another serving of dinner?"

Fu Hanchuan set the man on his shoulder down and nodded. "Make some congee and a few light dishes. Something easy to digest."

The housekeeper nodded and went into the kitchen.

His hood had fallen off on the way over, leaving Wen Yanyu's white hair, mixed with a few black strands, looking strange and unusual.

Fu Hanchuan's expression was grim. "I'm telling you, don't you dare die."

He paused, then added, "I won't be with you, and I won't love you, but I absolutely won't let you die."

"Wen Yanyu, don't even think about making me owe you another life."

The emotions that had built up over days turned into an icy tone. It was impossible to tell whether there was more anger or fear.

Wen Yanyu was left utterly bewildered by this series of actions.

Having spent two years with the male lead, he knew that he was actually warmhearted. After replaying what had just happened in his head, he finally realized that the man did not seem to be trying to get back at him.

Wen Yanyu lifted his long lashes, his brows drawing together slightly. "I was only enjoying the breeze there. You've really misunderstood."

Fu Hanchuan said nothing, but the distrust in his eyes was blatant, as though he were asking whether Wen Yanyu had forgotten what he had done.

Wen Yanyu waved the medicine bag at him and explained, "I only just got this medicine prescribed at the hospital today. And Sister Lan asked me to go to the company tomorrow to sign a variety show contract. If I wanted to die, would I need to do any of that?"

Fu Hanchuan froze for a moment. He studied him for a long while, then awkwardly turned his head away.

"Eat first."

"Oh." Wen Yanyu lowered his head in acknowledgment.

At the dining table.

Wen Yanyu glanced around at the familiar decorations he had arranged himself, silently grumbling that the male lead still had not moved out or thrown anything away.

With his eyes lowered, he quietly scooped up the rice congee and ate it spoonful by spoonful. After only two or three spoonfuls, his stomach was already churning.

Under Fu Hanchuan's stare from directly across the table.

Wen Yanyu kept his expression unchanged and continued putting food in his mouth, pretending he was eating a lot.

"What happened to your hair? Why did it suddenly turn so white?" Fu Hanchuan asked, breaking the silence at the table.

Wen Yanyu's hand paused. Without changing his expression, he said, "A little of it turned white at the front. I thought the color looked nice, so I had it bleached."

Fu Hanchuan looked at the young man's black-and-white "mixed-dye" hair, then at his wrists and neck, which seemed so pale against it that even his veins were clearly visible. His brows knitted tightly.

Only after a long while did he force a sentence through his teeth. "It's bad luck. Dye it back soon."

"Mm," Wen Yanyu answered offhandedly.

Having barely managed to finish the meal, his stomach churning violently, Wen Yanyu put down his spoon and spoke before Fu Hanchuan could say anything.

"Mr. Fu, you've taken care of me a great deal. It was wrong of me to develop feelings for you that I shouldn't have had and cause you trouble."

Wen Yanyu paused. He knew his experiences were too bizarre, and though they were branded into him, he could not bring himself to speak of them. Even if he did, Fu Hanchuan would not believe him. Since Fu Hanchuan already loathed him so much and he had no intention of staying by his side, he simply mixed truth with lies.

"Perhaps dying once helped me come to terms with everything. I won't have those inappropriate thoughts anymore. I may not be able to repay you for your help right now, but I'll definitely work hard to find a way to repay what I owe you in the future."

"Please don't worry. I won't cause you any more trouble. If you want me out of your sight, I'll leave immediately. If you ever need me for anything, call me anytime. If you don't need me, I'll never appear before you."

After saying that, Wen Yanyu added listlessly, "So when can I go home?"

"I want to go home."

Hearing the same words as in his dreams, Fu Hanchuan froze. He did not know which sentence had struck a nerve, but his chest felt inexplicably tight.

Fu Hanchuan's eyes dimmed slightly, his fingers clenching until his knuckles whitened.

A long while passed.

"Thank you for dinner." Wen Yanyu stood, preparing to slip away on his own.

"It's too late now. Stay in the guest room tonight. I'll have the driver take you home tomorrow," Fu Hanchuan said hoarsely.