Don’t Ignite It chapter 41
Hickeys
The next day, Xia Yu came to the hospital again and spent the afternoon there. While Lu Zhao was working, he was also occupied with his own work. They didn’t disturb each other but still enjoyed each other’s company.
Lu Yuan came in a few times for work-related matters and saw his brother, a patient, feeding Xia Yu fruit. Xia Yu seemed more focused on a multi-billion-dollar project he was working on, with his eyes never leaving the screen.
Lu Yuan couldn’t help but twitch his cheeks. He had a lot of complaints but obediently handed a stack of documents to Lu Zhao for his signature.
Fortunately, on the third day, the doctor declared that Lu Zhao could be discharged from the hospital. His physical condition was excellent, and it was the accumulated stress that had led to his hospitalization. He had, however, recovered well.
Xia Yu stood by Lu Zhao’s side during the discharge instructions, and the doctor seemed to treat him like a family member, repeating the post-discharge precautions. However, Lu Yuan, his blood-related relative, was right there.
After leaving the hospital, Xia Yu was about to return to the art gallery. He had already been delayed by two hours due to Lu Zhao’s discharge process, and he had a client meeting scheduled for that day.
Lu Zhao didn’t stop him, but just before Xia Yu left, he asked in a low voice, “your birthday is in a few days. Can I celebrate it with you this year?”
Xia Yu was taken aback. His birthday was indeed approaching. He was born on New Year’s Day, January 1st, the start of a new year. It was already December 23rd, so it was almost his birthday.
He had already made arrangements with his family for his birthday, but he had never mentioned it to Lu Zhao. Xia Yu looked at Lu Zhao with a complicated expression. Ironically, they had never celebrated a birthday together.
During his college years, his family still treated him like a child and organized birthday parties for him. He had invited Lu Zhao every time, but Lu Zhao had never attended, not even once.
Even though they had been intimate a couple of times, with their bodies so close that there was no room for further closeness, Lu Zhao had still refused to have any kind of relationship with him, especially in public.
Now, Lu Zhao was asking if they could celebrate his birthday together. Xia Yu pursed his lips.
“It might not be possible,” he said, “I’ve already told my family that I’ll celebrate my birthday with them and Xu Zhan. I can’t change that.”
He didn’t say this to provoke Lu Zhao; he had indeed informed his family.
After some thought, he added, “We’ll just have a family dinner, not a big birthday banquet like before.”
However, he didn’t mention that there would be no outsiders, especially not Lu Zhao.
Lu Zhao seemed to understand without him saying it out loud. He blinked his eyes, and his eyes, gray-blue and carrying a sense of melancholy, silently observed him. His gaze felt like a slow-motion scene from an old movie, where a lover waited in vain for centuries.
It was easy to make someone hesitate and doubt themselves under such a gaze. Xia Yu felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny, and his fingers crossed in his pocket. He almost blurted out certain words but forced them back.
“I understand,” Lu Zhao finally said.
Lu Zhao asked again, “Can’t you spare any time for me at all?”
But Xia Yu still shook his head.
He would have a family dinner the night before his birthday and spend the entire day with his family afterward.
“After my birthday,” he said softly, “I’ll come find you. These next few days, I have a short business trip, so it’s not convenient to meet.”
Lu Zhao thought that facing the current Xia Yu, he was always at a loss.
“Okay.”
Xia Yu returned home, and he planned to visit a young artist in the neighboring city the next day, and then meet with a professor from his university to seek some guidance.
They also spent Christmas at the professor’s house, even though the professor was over fifty, he loved lively gatherings and invited Xia Yu and his family to have dinner together.
Xia Yu didn’t refuse.
At the end of dinner, the professor’s wife brought out a few cups of eggnog.
Xia Yu took it and was momentarily stunned. He remembered the Christmas that still bothered Lu Zhao, when he and Xu Zhan were on vacation, and Lu Zhao was waiting outside for him in the cold.
Lu Zhao had asked him if he had ever made eggnog for Xu Zhan.
He didn’t say anything at the time, but in reality, he had never made it.
The only one who had actually tried it was Lu Zhao himself. Xia Yu had taken a sip and even he found it distasteful, but Lu Zhao had managed to finish it, only to ask him expressionlessly after if he was trying to poison his husband.
They both paused for a moment after that statement.
Their relationship seemed to be one that didn’t require the term “husband.”
But soon, Lu Zhao got up and poured some water as if nothing had happened.
Seeing Xia Yu frozen, the professor’s wife asked with concern, “What’s wrong, don’t you like it?”
Xia Yu hurriedly smiled, took a sip, and praised, “It’s very good.”
The professor’s wife smiled gently again. She held Xia Yu’s hand as they watched her children surround her husband, playing the piano and singing. They got married late, and these twins were only eighteen.
The professor and his wife had always been deeply in love, from a young age when they fell in love at school. Their love had lasted for many years and had not changed even after they turned fifty. They were still affectionate with each other.
The professor played the piano with his daughter, occasionally looking back at his wife with a cheerful smile, and he appeared nothing like the seriousness of an academic conference.
Xia Yu watched them affectionately, shaking his head with a smile. However, he couldn’t help feeling a little envious.
……….
Five days later, Xia Yu finished his business trip and returned to Chuancheng on the eve of his birthday.
When he landed, it was already late at night, and it was dark outside. Xu Zhan came to the airport to pick him up, and they went to the Xia family home together.
The next day was Xia Yu’s birthday, so they were going to his family’s house for dinner.
However, Xu Zhan looked at Xia Yu and felt that Xia Yu didn’t seem too happy.
“What’s wrong? Are you tired from the business trip?” he asked.
“No,” Xia Yu replied, closing his phone. He had left the conversation with Lu Zhao open on his phone.
Xu Zhan didn’t press further and drove steadily. It was late, and the road was pitch-black, making the car interior exceptionally quiet.
When they arrived at Xia Yu’s home, everyone else was already inside. Xia Yu and Xu Zhan entered together. They hadn’t even reached the living room when they heard the laughter of children.
As Xia Yu took a few steps forward, he was bumped into by his niece.
“Uncle!”
Xia Mil giggled and then looked at Xu Zhan, saying, “Uncle Xu.”
This time, she didn’t ask Xia Yu to hold her; instead, she reached out to Xu Zhan. Xu Zhan bent down, picked up the little princess, and greeted Xia Yu’s family.
Xia Dad and Xia Mom were very pleased with Xu Zhan, who came from a good family background and had a good personality. They smiled when they saw Xu Zhan, and even Xia Jin was gentler than usual and waved at him, saying, “Come sit here quickly.”
Xia Yu showed his face behind Xu Zhan and pretended to be unhappy. “How come you all only call for Xu Zhan? Nobody pays attention to me anymore, not even my own niece.”
He said this while sitting down next to his mother.
Mrs. Xia pinched his cheek and said, “You come back every few days; who cares?”
Xia Yu shouted even louder, “But I’m the birthday boy, and this is how the birthday boy is treated?”
Everyone laughed together. In fact, everyone present spoiled the birthday boy.
Xu Zhan sat on the sofa next to Xia Yu, and when he heard Xia Yu’s words, he also smiled and looked at Xia Yu, pinching Mil’s cheek as he teased, “Mil, do you think your uncle is stingy?”
Mil immediately nodded in agreement.
Xia Yu couldn’t take it and took Mil into his arms, pretending to bite her tiny hand.
The two of them played around.
Fortunately, dinner was about to be served. The Xia family had deliberately scheduled dinner for a little after 8 p.m. today, just to wait for Xia Yu and Xu Zhan.
Xu Zhan was comfortable at Xia’s house. They had been married for three years, and he got along well with Xia’s family, so he often visited.
To Xia Yu’s left was Xu Zhan, and to his right was Xia Yu’s sister-in-law, Bai Ning. Bai Ning’s company happened to have some cooperation with Xu Zhan’s university, so they were discussing business.
Xia Yu was focused on eating on the side.
He had been hungry since returning from his business trip, and as he ate, a bowl of sweet soup was placed beside him.
He looked up and saw that Xu Zhan had served it for him.
Even when he was talking to Bai Ning, Xu Zhan still paid attention to Xia Yu. It was his nature, he seemed uninterested in worldly matters, but in reality, he was more patient than anyone else.
Xia Yu smiled at him, obediently took the bowl, and took a sip.
But in the eyes of others at the table, this was proof of the affection between the couple.
Bai Ning smiled and pushed Xia Jin, intentionally saying, “You should learn from Xu Zhan, be more considerate.”
Xia Jin didn’t refute either. He smiled and scooped a bowl for Bai Ning, asking, “Is this okay?”
Bai Ning glanced at him, “Barely.”
She took a sip of her sweet soup and then looked at Xia Yu and Xu Zhan, who were sitting next to her, and started chatting about family matters instead of work.
She said, “My sister has invested in a new resort island and reserved a villa for me to take Xia Jin there for Valentine’s Day. But Xia Jin and I won’t have time. How about you two go instead? Don’t overwork yourselves. If you have kids in a few years, you won’t have the opportunity.”
She said it as if it were a matter of course because after encountering Xu Zhan last time, she felt that it was only a matter of time before Xia Yu and Xu Zhan had a child.
Xia Yu and Xu Zhan exchanged glances.
“Let’s see,” Xia Yu mumbled vaguely, “Xu Zhan is busy with his project now, and I’m busy with the gallery and exhibition. We can’t go anywhere.”
Bai Ning strongly disagreed. “Take a few days off. It’s not a big deal. If you don’t enjoy your youth now, when will you? Plus, the couple’s suites there are really nice. They have all kinds of rooms. Don’t waste the opportunity. Young people should try everything.”
Xia Yu nearly spat out his soup. He coughed several times, using a tissue to cover his face, looking at his sister-in-law in disbelief.
Xu Zhan was also a bit embarrassed. He and Xia Yu exchanged glances.
“Thanks, sis,” Xia Yu wiped his mouth, “but we don’t need it. You should just go with my brother.”
Bai Ning chuckled again. She looked very elegant and refined, but her words were far from serious. “Okay, okay, I won’t tease you anymore. You’ve been married for years, yet you two are so thin-skinned.”
Xia Jin, who hadn’t said a word the whole time, smiled while listening to their conversation. He had heard every word clearly.
But could he not know his wife’s personality? He shook his head with a wry smile and said to Bai Ning, “Stop teasing them.”
After dinner, the family split into groups. Bai Ning played chess with Xia Yu’s father, and Xia’s mother put Xia Mil to sleep. Xia Yu, Xu Zhan, and Xia Jin played cards together.
However, at one point, Xu Zhan left to answer a phone call, leaving the two brothers alone on the couch.
Xia Jin opened a can of beer and handed one to Xia Yu. “Want one?”
Xia Yu took it.
But after a few sips, he noticed Xia Jin had been looking at him strangely, so he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xia Jin tapped Xia Yu’s neck with his beer can, causing Xia Yu to shiver from the cold sensation. “You have some hickeys on your neck… quite a few of them. I thought Xu Zhan was a refined person.”
Xia Yu instinctively pulled out his phone’s mirror. Near the collar of his shirt, there was a small patch of faint red hickeys.
He awkwardly covered it with his hand.
These were left by Lu Zhao during the days he was with him at the hospital. Lu Zhao, despite being in the early stages of recovery from a serious illness, had marked him like a stamp, leaving several hickeys.
It had been many days, but the marks hadn’t completely disappeared.
However, Xia Jin clearly wouldn’t think that the person who left these hickeys was someone he approved of.
He continued to tease Xia Yu, “What are you hiding? Your brother isn’t prudish about this kind of stuff. Besides, Xu Zhan and I are around the same age. Even at our age… we’re not saints either.”
Xia Yu forced a smile and didn’t know what to say.
If Xia Jin found out who had left these hickeys, it would be like lighting a fuse.
After a while, Xu Zhan came back after answering the phone and sat down beside Xia Yu. The three of them resumed playing cards.
But for some reason, Xia Yu had lost his previous enthusiasm. He kept daydreaming and made several mistakes while playing cards, ending up as the biggest loser at the table.