Chen Zemian was already quite abstract without medication.
Lu Zhuonian couldn’t imagine Chen Zemian actually taking medicine, but he knew that if Chen Zemian said he would, then he absolutely would.
Under Chen Zemian’s serious gaze, Lu Zhuonian handed over the remaining half-box of paroxetine.
Chen Zemian, inspecting it like a police officer searching for contraband, asked meticulously, “Did you really only get prescribed this one box?”
Lu Zhuonian nodded.
But Chen Zemian didn’t quite trust him.
With the medication still in his mouth, he pulled Lu Zhuonian’s wrist above his head with one hand, and with the other, rummaged through Lu Zhuonian’s pants pocket, checking if any additional contraband was hidden.
Just then, the ward door was suddenly pushed open—
“Mr. Xiao, Mr. Ye, Mr. Chen is in this ward.”
The moment the door opened, Chen Zemian and Lu Zhuonian turned their heads at the same time, locking eyes with the doctor who led the way—followed closely by Xiao Kesong and Ye Chen, who had come to visit.
Time stretched infinitely in that moment.
The next second, everyone moved simultaneously, each in their own peculiar way.
The doctor, seasoned and composed even in the face of such an astonishing scene, merely cleared his throat, stepped back twice, and retreated quickly with a group of bodyguards.
Xiao Kesong’s eyes widened in shock. He stood frozen like someone struck by lightning, staring in disbelief at the two people on the bed in such an odd position.
Ye Chen smiled faintly, gave Xiao Kesong a gentle push into the ward, and followed at a leisurely pace. “Pardon the intrusion,” he said calmly.
Chen Zemian released Lu Zhuonian and rolled sideways with lightning speed, pushing the man to the side and hastily throwing the quilt back over the bed.
Lu Zhuonian stood up as if nothing had happened, calmly smoothing out his clothes.
Thanks to everyone’s quick coordination, the room returned to normal in just a few seconds.
Xiao Kesong stood in a daze.
He thought he might be hallucinating. For a moment, he wondered if that half-second of opening the door had somehow transported him to another time and space.
But it wasn’t a trick of the eye—the scene was simply too bizarre, too absurd.
Xiao Kesong would rather question his own sanity than believe what he’d just seen.
Who in the world would dare to press Lu Zhuonian down on a bed?
And even touch him all over?
That was the high-and-mighty prince of Beijing’s elite circle—the aloof eldest son of the Lu family, who was known for disliking physical contact! And the one pressing him down… was Chen Zemian. The one with the soft temper and gentle personality, someone who’d get kidnapped, bullied, and taken advantage of if he wasn’t careful.
Wasn’t this like a Maine Coon kitten standing atop a tiger’s head, showing off?
It was sheer madness. Utter chaos. A total collapse of logic and order.
Xiao Kesong’s pupils contracted sharply. His emotions couldn’t even be described as shocked anymore—he was downright horrified.
It took him a long while before he found his voice. “What were you two doing just now?”
Chen Zemian replied nonchalantly, “Nothing. Just playing around.”
Xiao Kesong clearly didn’t buy it. “Playing what? Playing with Zhuonian?”
“…”
An awkward silence fell over the ward.
After a long pause, Chen Zemian changed the subject. “Why are you here? Don’t you have classes today?”
Xiao Kesong snapped back to attention. “You’re this sick—how could I focus on class? I took leave right away.”
Ye Chen exposed him mercilessly. “Didn’t you skip because you haven’t written your midterm paper and today’s your thesis defense?”
Xiao Kesong turned to glare at him. “Do you get some kind of thrill from exposing me?”
Chen Zemian felt dizzy. He really didn’t want to listen to Xiao Kesong’s bickering. He quickly interrupted, “It’s fine. I’m glad you came to see me.”
Xiao Kesong walked to the bed. “I really missed you. What have you been up to lately? You’re impossible to get a hold of. I finally get some news, and it’s that you’re sick.”
Chen Zemian shifted to make room, patted the bed, and motioned for Xiao Kesong to sit. “I’m fine. They’re just keeping me under observation for a day. I’ll be discharged soon. You should go back and finish your thesis proposal.”
Xiao Kesong responded confidently, “That thing can be written anytime—it only takes two hours.”
Ye Chen said nothing, just glanced at him.
Ignoring Ye Chen’s skepticism, Xiao Kesong suggested, “It’s been a while since the four of us hung out. Since you’ll be out of the hospital soon, let’s go do something together.”
Lately, Chen Zemian and Lu Zhuonian had been acting strangely. They often went their separate ways, never showing up at the same events, and had been awkward around each other for no clear reason.
Now that the four of them were finally together, it seemed like a good opportunity to clear the air. Even if they didn’t talk openly about it, more interaction might ease the tension.
It’s normal for friends to have conflicts sometimes. He and Ye Chen bickered often, but true friends never held grudges overnight. All that was needed was a nudge to break the deadlock.
Today was the perfect chance.
Xiao Kesong leaned in toward Chen Zemian, still encouraging: “Come on, let’s go out. It’s rare for all of us to have time.”
Ye Chen raised an objection. “I have class this afternoon.”
Xiao Kesong waved it off. “Just take another half-day off. Didn’t Zhuonian skip school these past couple of days?”
“Zhuonian took three days off because someone in his family was sick.” Ye Chen glanced at Chen Zemian meaningfully. “I don’t have a reason to skip.”
Xiao Kesong pulled out his phone, checked the class schedule, and made the decision for him. “You only have one general education class this afternoon—Entrepreneurship and Employment Guidance. You don’t need guidance for that. Just skip it.”
Seeing how firm Xiao Kesong was, Ye Chen didn’t argue further and quietly agreed.
Having convinced Ye Chen, Xiao Kesong turned back to persuade Chen Zemian.
As long as Ye Chen and Chen Zemian agreed, Lu Zhuonian would likely go along. Besides, Chen Zemian wasn’t fully recovered yet. There was no way Lu Zhuonian would let someone else take him out. He’d insist on supervising personally.
Everyone knew Xiao Kesong wasn’t exactly the most reliable person.
But he didn’t see anything wrong with that. In fact, over the years, he’d learned to use his unreliability as a tool to get what he wanted.
Take the puppy show a few days ago—Ye Chen hadn’t wanted to go, but when Xiao Kesong insisted he’d go alone, Ye Chen tagged along out of fear that he might actually bring home a dog on a whim.
Because Xiao Kesong was the type who followed through—when he first got a cat, he kept it for a few days before dumping it on Ye Chen. If he ended up adopting a dog on impulse and then got bored with it, Ye Chen would be the one stuck raising it.
Especially since this would be a real dog. Even Ye Chen wouldn’t dare to take that on without serious thought. Forget the chaos it would bring to his household—just the absurdity of taking in his friend’s abandoned pet was headache enough.
Since childhood, Xiao Kesong had always charged ahead recklessly, leaving Ye Chen and Lu Zhuonian to clean up the messes.
Ye Chen stood with his arms crossed, staring at Xiao Kesong, wondering how he and Lu Zhuonian—both so proud and self-controlled—had ended up being friends with someone like this.
Meanwhile, Xiao Kesong persisted in persuading Chen Zemian to go out, unintentionally reenacting the way he had wormed his way into their friend group all those years ago.
In short, it all came down to two words: persistence and nagging.
After listing 3,800 reasons why they absolutely had to hang out today, Chen Zemian was at a loss for how to respond.
He wasn’t great at rejecting people—especially not when that person was Xiao Kesong.
He looked to Lu Zhuonian for help.
Catching the distress signal, Lu Zhuonian intervened bluntly and shut down Xiao Kesong’s impassioned speech about the “[historical significance of today’s gathering].”
“He’s still recovering,” Lu Zhuonian said calmly.
Chen Zemian quickly echoed, “Right. And after I’m discharged, I have to go to the studio. There’s a lot of work piling up.”
Lu Zhuonian turned to him and repeated firmly, “You’re still recovering.”
Xiao Kesong didn’t miss a beat and quickly pulled Lu Zhuonian to his side. “Going out to relax is better for your health than working.”
Lu Zhuonian didn’t move, nor did he comment.
“We don’t need to do anything strenuous,” Xiao Kesong added. “Zemian’s been so busy lately. He needs to unwind. What about going to the Lanxiangting Hot Spring?”
In April, the pear blossoms on the mountain were in full bloom. The outdoor hot springs were neither too cold nor too hot, and the scenery was breathtaking—a perfect time for a soak.
Chen Zemian was slightly tempted. “Lu Shao, do we need to book in advance? Is it too late today? It’s peak tourist season right now…”
Xiao Kesong said confidently, “Booking the place is just a matter of words. As long as you want to go, I can arrange it.”
Chen Zemian replied, “Then ask first?”
Xiao Kesong immediately called out, “Ye Chen.”
Ye Chen took out his phone and sent a message to the manager of Lanxiang Pavilion.
Xiao Kesong slung an arm around Chen Zemian’s shoulders and began to daydream aloud. “Soak in a hot spring beneath the flowering trees, then have a beautiful woman give you a massage—every ailment cured in an instant.”
Chen Zemian didn’t react, but Ye Chen let out a soft laugh.
Lu Zhuonian’s face was unreadable as he glanced coldly at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen raised his eyebrows. “What, I’m not allowed to laugh?”
Lu Zhuonian couldn’t be bothered to respond. He looked away and turned his gaze to Chen Zemian.
Chen Zemian: “?”
What are you looking at me for?
Oblivious to the undercurrents flowing between the group, Xiao Kesong continued to tug at Chen Zemian’s arm. “Come have fun. If you don’t get out and enjoy life today, then all the good traits I’ve cultivated will vanish on the spot.”
Ye Chen eyed him skeptically. “Did you ever have them?”
With uncharacteristic tact, Xiao Kesong decided not to retaliate against his only supporter on the scene. He asked, in a remarkably good temper, “So, what’s the word from the hot springs?”
Ye Chen replied, “The area’s been cleared. We’re good to go.”
Lanxiangting Hot Spring was a well-known luxury club in Beijing, built into the mountains with streams running through it. The architecture followed the classical garden style—complete facilities, exquisite refreshments, various wellness treatments, and 24-hour catering service.
By the time the four of them arrived, the entire club had been emptied and disinfected. Even the water in each of the dozens of hot spring pools—large and small—had been freshly changed.
As they stepped out of the car, uniformed staff lined both sides, bowing in unison to greet them. The grand reception made it feel less like a spa visit and more like a royal procession.
Lu Zhuonian took it in stride, accustomed to this sort of treatment, and followed the attendants into the clubhouse.
The mountain was covered in blooming pear blossoms, their fragrance thick in the air. A breeze would occasionally scatter the petals like falling snow.
Several hot spring pools of varying sizes were arranged outdoors. Four people? Even four hundred wouldn’t have crowded the space.
At the highest point sat the premier hot spring, hidden behind a folding screen. All staff respectfully remained outside, awaiting summons.
Remembering his role as the loyal lackey, Chen Zemian first arranged for the refreshments. By the time he passed through the screen, the other three were already soaking in the water.
The contrast between the cold mountain air and the steaming spring created thick layers of mist. Pavilions, towers, verdant hills, and blossoming plants all faded into a dreamlike haze.
Petals floated on the surface, lending a touch of romantic melancholy to the otherwise pristine waters. The mist blurred everything—the bamboo grove, the pear trees, and even the silhouettes of the bathers. Faces were indistinct; only body shapes offered any clue.
Chen Zemian vaguely made out Xiao Kesong and Ye Chen together on one side, sitting close.
Lu Zhuonian was alone on the other, his posture distant.
Without much thought, Chen Zemian entered the water on the side closer to Lu Zhuonian.
The moment his skin touched the spring water, warmth wrapped around him like silk. His whole body relaxed at once.
He let out a long sigh.
Lu Zhuonian, ever silent, moved back a little.
Chen Zemian didn’t notice at first. He only heard the faint splash of shifting water and turned slightly, peering through the mist. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Zhuonian shook his head.
Not thinking much of it, Chen Zemian leaned back, allowing himself to fully enjoy the hot spring.
His self-control had always been poor, making it easy to indulge.
He’d once worked day and night, determined to complete projects in one go—until he suddenly dropped dead from overwork and woke up in this new world. And even here, knowing that this body had stomach problems, he still failed to moderate his diet and landed himself in the hospital.
No need to list all the ways he sabotaged himself.
This hot spring was no different.
He closed his eyes, floating quietly. The sounds of wind, water, and falling petals amplified in his ears, slowly emptying his mind. Buoyed by the water, his body felt weightless—almost as if even his soul had begun to rise.
This is how life should be.
I really want to retire.
Why grind away at games every day for money? Wouldn’t it be better to just lie back and enjoy the good life with these rich young masters?
As if echoing his thoughts, Xiao Kesong turned to him. “Is it because Zhuonian doesn’t give you money? Why are you working so hard and ruining your body?”
Chen Zemian responded with a trace of pride, “I can’t rely on Young Master Lu for everything.”
Xiao Kesong countered, “He’s your boss, isn’t he? Of course you should rely on him. You didn’t have all these problems when you were hanging out with me. He must be mistreating you.”
Chen Zemian smiled but said nothing.
Then, through the mist, came Lu Zhuonian’s cold voice. “Xiao Kesong, his stomach issues came from drinking with you.”
Hearing his full name spoken like that, with such direct blame, Xiao Kesong immediately fell silent and instinctively edged closer to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen, unfazed, accepted a towel from a nearby attendant and turned to ask, “The red wine pool at the private bath is ready. Want to go?”
Grasping the chance to flee, Xiao Kesong answered eagerly, “Go, go, go.”
Chen Zemian stood up. “Me too—”
But Xiao Kesong gave him a look. “Didn’t you hear Zhuonian say I’m not allowed to take you drinking? What are you doing soaking in a red wine pool?”
“It’s not drinking…” Chen Zemian said, confused.
Xiao Kesong leaned in, throwing an arm around him and whispering, “Don’t think I don’t know about you and Zhuonian.”
Chen Zemian’s heart skipped. “What about us?”
With a meaningful look, Xiao Kesong replied thoughtfully, “You two had a fight.”
Chen Zemian: “…”
“You had a fight at the hospital, didn’t you?”
“Uh…”
Seeing Chen Zemian hesitate, Xiao Kesong didn’t press further. He simply offered some heartfelt advice. “If something’s wrong, just talk it out. If Zhuonian really cares about you, he won’t leave you hanging. And if he didn’t care, would he let you tease him in bed? You’re too stubborn for your own good. One or two soft words could clear this up. You can hit anyone else, but you hit Lu Zhuonian? You’re asking for trouble.”
“I didn’t hit him!” Chen Zemian protested.
Xiao Kesong clapped him on the shoulder. “Talk it out. If you really can’t, I’ll talk to him for you.”
Though Xiao Kesong’s assumptions weren’t entirely accurate, Chen Zemian was still touched. “Xiao Shao, you’re really a good guy.”
“Don’t get all formal on me. I’m going to soak in red wine first. I’ll wait for your update in the goat milk pool.”
“I can soak in red wine too!” Chen Zemian called after him.
“Wait till you’re better.” With that, Xiao Kesong slipped into his robe and left.
While Ye Chen and Xiao Kesong were present, the four of them hadn’t said much. Each minded their own business, but the silence hadn’t felt empty.
Now, with the two gone, the hot spring suddenly seemed too vast. Too quiet.
Every tiny splash echoed.
In that intense stillness, even the faintest sound became sharp.
Air could carry sound. So could water. Even fog.
The sound of a heartbeat began to reach Chen Zemian from all directions.
The petals falling on the water, the rhythm of a heartbeat—intertwined. He wasn’t sure whether his hearing had sharpened or if he was just overly tense.
Whose heartbeat was it?
His own?
Or… Lu Zhuonian’s?
He wanted to check, but pressing his chest or carotid would be far too obvious.
So he opted to check his pulse.
Both arms were underwater—if he moved carefully, no one would notice.
Just as he gently shifted his right hand to touch his left wrist beneath the surface, a hand reached out, faster than his.
Lu Zhuonian’s fingers closed over his wrist, pressing precisely where his pulse beat.
It happened so suddenly that Chen Zemian flinched.
He turned, startled, to find Lu Zhuonian just behind him.
Lu Zhuonian held his slender wrist tightly. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he said, voice low.
“Chen Zemian, your heartbeat is disturbing me.”
*****
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