Chu Xingxiao was seething with rage, but he didn’t know how much more that doctor had on him—who knew what would be exposed the very next second?
Chi Zhan hesitated for a moment before turning to Chu Xingxiao.
“You should go back and rest. You’ve taken your meds—you’re probably getting sleepy.”
Chu Xingxiao hadn’t expected Chi Zhan to side with that doctor.
It was only mid-afternoon. How could the two of them… already have done that? And worst of all, it didn’t even look like it was against anyone’s will.
He’d taken his medication early that morning, hoping for a quicker recovery. Now his mind was groggy, and even if he wanted to interfere, he had no grounds to do so.
He stood up.
“Then I’ll head back first.” He paused and added, “Gege, I’m sorry for disturbing you for so long.”
Before Chi Zhan could say a word, Chu Xingxiao had already opened the door and walked out.
There was a tragic air to his departure, like a warrior cutting off his own arm.
“…???”
He was completely baffled.
Cen Chi had casually placed the medical kit on the coffee table. Now he pulled out a bottle of medicated oil and looked over at Chi Zhan.
“Do you want to do it here or… in your bedroom?”
“Let’s go to the bedroom.”
The sofa was a bit too short and narrow—lying on it would be uncomfortable.
Being at home was a completely different experience than being in the hospital. Especially with the curtains drawn and the lights on… To get the full effect of the massage, he had to take off his shirt and lie down on the bed.
Chi Zhan tried not to let his mind wander, but he couldn’t help burying his face into the crook of his arm as Cen Chi began to prepare.
“It’s a little chilly,” Cen Chi said, glancing at the air conditioner. He picked up the remote and bumped up the temperature two notches. Chi Zhan lay facedown on the bed, his fair, lean back visibly tense—clearly nervous.
Telling someone not to be nervous only made things worse.
“Yesterday, Zhou Yanxing didn’t do anything to you, did he?” Cen Chi’s eyes swept slowly over Chi Zhan. “He looked pretty furious. Was it because of me…?”
“President Zhou didn’t tell you?” Chi Zhan blinked in surprise.
He’d always thought Zhou Yanxing and Cen Chi were close—that they shared everything at private gatherings, including the fact that Chi Zhan had a boyfriend. When Cen Chi had come over today, Chi Zhan assumed Zhou had just kept things under wraps. But from what Cen Chi said, it seemed he had no idea Chi Zhan was even seeing anyone.
“What was he supposed to tell me?”
Cen Chi asked as he rummaged through the medical kit.
Chi Zhan, still lying on the bed, realized now probably wasn’t the best time to bring it up. It’d come out of nowhere.
…He’d find a better chance later.
“It’s nothing,” Chi Zhan murmured, sighing inwardly as he recalled Zhou Yanxing’s fury.
Just then, the cold touch of medicated oil spread across his back. A pair of hands followed, spreading the oil with practiced strokes. Chi Zhan instinctively flinched—something about the touch felt different.
It wasn’t the chilly, clinical sensation of gloved hands. These fingers were warm, their pressure gentle yet precise.
“There’s bruising here too,” Cen Chi said softly. “Does it hurt?”
Chi Zhan grunted a low “Mm.” He was about to ask why Cen Chi wasn’t wearing gloves, but the aching pain in his back made him swallow the question.
The first few sessions were always the most painful. They were meant to promote circulation and reduce bruising. It would get better with time.
“At school, Zhou Yanxing never had a great reputation. It’s because whenever he rejected someone, he was too blunt—never spared anyone’s pride. He’s not suited for relationships. Everyone who’s dealt with him knows—he’s too self-centered. That works fine in business, but in other aspects… he’s just not a good choice.”
“Does President Zhou… know you talk about him like that?” Chi Zhan asked, voice slightly strained as he endured the burn and throb in his back. His breath was uneven. “Doctor Cen… what exactly are you trying to say?”
“And that kid,” Cen Chi continued, “he’s not very clever. Leaves holes everywhere. Thinks he can get away with everything just because he’s young. Ah-Zhan, when it comes to judging people… you’re not very good at it.”
The air was thick with the sweet scent of medicated oil, clinging to the room like a river current—completely enveloping them. Cen Chi lowered his eyes. In the light, Chi Zhan’s fair skin and its faint, clean pink hue were especially stark.
The air conditioning was now a little too warm.
When Chi Zhan turned his head, he caught Cen Chi’s gaze—those dark eyes like freshly ground ink, fathomless and unreadable. But the emotion swimming beneath the surface… was deeply unsettling.
Seeing him look over, Cen Chi didn’t falter at all. He smiled.
“Staring at me like that—aren’t you tired?”
Cen Chi was always like this. Every time the conversation brushed up against something dangerous, he would immediately shift gears, barely skimming the surface before retreating to safer ground.
Only if he said it outright could Chi Zhan refuse. Otherwise, rejecting him would just seem self-important.
Men like that made your teeth itch with frustration.
Yet Cen Chi’s touch was so subtle, so seamless. If not for the system, Chi Zhan would’ve never realized just how high Cen Chi’s favorability score had gotten—wouldn’t have started examining his every move, realizing how many of them carried a hint of deliberate seduction.
“I’m just… really glad,” Cen Chi said softly, “that this time, you chose me.”
Then he withdrew his hands.
“The massage is done. Stay still for a while—don’t move.”
He walked to the bathroom to wash his hands. Pumped some soap and scrubbed carefully with cold water, running his fingers under the stream again and again—as if that was the only way to dispel the turbulent emotions welling up inside him.
Something had happened between Chi Zhan and Zhou Yanxing. Something he didn’t know about.
And whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Otherwise, Zhou wouldn’t have skipped today entirely. Wouldn’t have let Chu Xingxiao waltz right in.
What could’ve provoked Zhou Yanxing so much that he lost all composure—didn’t even bother with pleasantries and just kicked him out?
Chi Zhan was clearly guarded around him.
Had he… made it that obvious?
Cen Chi’s eyes darkened, but in contrast, his expression grew more serene.
He couldn’t rush this.
When he returned to the bedroom, Chi Zhan had already sat up and was buttoning his shirt.
“Doctor Cen,” Chi Zhan asked calmly, though his fingers fumbled slightly on the buttons, as if steeling himself for something—or about to deliver some heavy news. “Last time you said… you weren’t going to do blind dates anymore. Did you mean it?”
