Blinded by Lust chapter 11

The delivery arrived just in time. On Huo Zhanyan’s birthday morning, he received the notification. He couldn’t get out of bed himself, so he had to trouble the caregiver to help him.

The caregiver brought the package to Huo Zhanyan and didn’t plan to leave right away. She hesitated, standing awkwardly by his side, clearly wanting to say something.

“Is there something you need?” Since she had brought the package up for him, Huo Zhanyan took the initiative to ask.

Only then did the caregiver speak up, “Well, Xiao Yan, it’s my son’s birthday today. Could I take the night off? I’ll help you wash up now, but could you order takeout for yourself tonight?”

Young people recover quickly, and Huo Zhanyan was no longer in the state where he couldn’t be left alone. He could easily handle ordering takeout by himself.

Initially, he was eagerly eyeing the package, internally urging the caregiver to leave quickly. But now, he felt a sudden emptiness. Despite sharing the same birthday as her son, the caregiver had to leave early to prepare for her son’s celebration. Who even remembered his birthday?

Noticing Huo Zhanyan’s unpleasant expression, the caregiver realized that her request for time off might be overstepping. Just as she was about to take it back, Huo Zhanyan coldly said, “Mm, go ahead. Wish your son a happy birthday for me.”

The caregiver was overjoyed, after all, Huo Zhanyan usually had a stern face and barely spoke unless necessary. She had always been very cautious while taking care of him. She never expected that he would let her go so easily today.

“Thank you, thank you, Xiao Yan.”

After Huo Zhanyan finished his meal, the caregiver carefully helped him wash up. Before leaving, she noticed that he was still staring at the unopened package and couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Yan, do you want to open it? Do you need help?”

Huo Zhanyan extended his arm to pull the package to his side, once again putting on his usual distant attitude, even turning his back to her. “No need.”

His mood changed faster than flipping a page, but the caregiver didn’t press further and quickly packed up her things.

“I’m heading out now. Let me know later what you’d like to eat tomorrow.”

Huo Zhanyan didn’t respond, and with a sigh, the caregiver left the room.

Once the sound of her footsteps had completely faded, Huo Zhanyan finally turned to look around. The room was quiet, with only him inside. Leaning on his elbow, he struggled to sit up. As he started opening the two packages, his expression grew darker.

The first package contained a lace-trimmed blouse. Since they didn’t have his size, he had searched several plus-size stores before finding something suitable. Although the quality seemed questionable, it was passable, especially since, through the camera, Wu Bie probably wouldn’t notice any issues.

But the second package was a wig. Huo Zhanyan had deliberately chosen the classic long, straight black hair that straight men tend to like. However, after the rough handling by the courier, it now looked like it had been struck by lightning. If he wore this and video-called Wu Bie, Wu Bie might mistake him for a sea urchin.

Furious, Huo Zhanyan contacted the shop. “Does this look like what you advertised? This is false advertising!”

“We’re sorry, dear. You could try styling it with a hairdryer, or we could send you a replacement.”

He wasn’t a hairstylist, how would he know how to style it? Even if they sent a replacement, it wouldn’t arrive in time.

While Huo Zhanyan was still figuring out what to do, a soft, incredulous voice suddenly called out, “Ge?”

Huo Zhanyan spun around to see Huo Zhanting’s shocked and terrified expression. There was no time to hide; the women’s clothing and wig were laid out conspicuously on the bed.

“What are you doing here!?” Embarrassed, Huo Zhanyan wished he could find a hole to crawl into, but there was none. He raised his voice to intimidate Huo Zhanting, trying to cover up his own awkwardness.

Huo Zhanting flinched at his shout, lowering her eyes and avoiding his gaze. After a long pause, she timidly said, “It’s your birthday today… I took time off to come see you…”

Only then did Huo Zhanyan notice the cake box in her hands. The box was small and transparent, containing a tiny piece of mousse cake.

After his outburst, the blood rushed to Huo Zhanyan’s head, making his pale skin flush with color. His ears buzzed, and his mind went blank; he had no idea what to do next.

Huo Zhanting knew her second brother well—proud and concerned with his image. The best approach was to pretend nothing was wrong and act nonchalant.

“I’m coming in.”

She politely asked, and seeing that Huo Zhanyan was still fuming but hadn’t refused, she closed the door behind her, slowly walking into the room. She placed the cake box on the bedside table, carefully unwrapped it, and pushed it towards him.

“Do you want to light a candle?”

Huo Zhanyan felt light-headed, his vision blurring slightly. He stared at the cake for a long time without speaking before finally squeezing out, “Do you even know how old I am to be lighting a candle?”

“Nineteen,” Huo Zhanting replied as she pulled out a prepared candle and lit it for Huo Zhanyan. “Let me sing you a birthday song.”

Without waiting for his approval, she began to sing. Her voice was clear and pure, soothing any restless heart. Huo Zhanyan found himself quietly listening to her sing.

“Go ahead, eat.”

The cake was small, not enough for two people to share. Huo Zhanyan absentmindedly asked, “What about you?”

“I don’t eat sweets; I’m on a diet.”

Huo Zhanting was so thin that a strong gust of wind could probably blow her away, yet she was on a diet.

Ever since his accident and subsequent hospitalization, it had been a long time since Huo Zhanyan had smelled the scent of cream. He didn’t usually care for sweets, but this time he decided to indulge.

The room remained quiet as the siblings kept their silence. Once Huo Zhanyan had almost finished the cake, Huo Zhanting finally spoke softly.

“You’ll need to style the wig.”

Huo Zhanyan paused mid-bite, nearly snapping the fork in his hand. He wanted to explain that he wasn’t some kind of cross-dressing pervert, but he didn’t see the point in explaining himself to his sister.

Fortunately, Huo Zhanting didn’t seem to want to ask any more questions. She stood up and left the hospital room, and after a while, she returned with a comb and a hairdryer in her hands.

She was considerate and took the initiative to explain to Huo Zhanyan, “I borrowed these from the nurse’s station.”

Huo Zhanting moved with practiced ease. In Huo Zhanyan’s impression, his sister was just a bookworm following the path laid out by their parents, not someone capable of beauty and hairdressing.

“Are you planning to drop out of school to open a hair salon?” Huo Zhanyan asked sarcastically. “Our parents definitely won’t agree to that.”

Huo Zhanting didn’t bother to argue with him. “I’m doing cosplay with my classmates, so I need to manage the wigs myself.”

Huo Zhanyan wasn’t interested in Huo Zhanting’s matters and pretended to be indifferent, “Oh, mom and dad actually let you do these unconventional things?”

“They don’t.” The hairdryer suddenly stopped, and the room fell into an eerie silence. Huo Zhanting handed the wig to Huo Zhanyan. “I’m doing it secretly, just like you.”

Huo Zhanyan was taken aback, not understanding Huo Zhanting’s meaning, but she had already shoved the wig into his hands and was preparing to leave.

“I’ve already delivered the cake. I have to go back. I only took a two-hour leave. If I don’t go back, the teacher will call mom and dad.”

So, she had really taken time off specifically to celebrate his birthday.

“Happy Birthday, Ge.”

Huo Zhanyan wanted to respond to Huo Zhanting, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. The wig in his hands still had a bit of warmth from her. He rubbed the strands and thought that the wig now looked completely different from the sea urchin image it had when delivered.

At least someone remembered his birthday…

The “ding” of a WeChat notification interrupted Huo Zhanyan’s thoughts. He opened it to see a message from Wu Bie.

“Happy Birthday.”

“Did your parents come to keep you company today?”

“Did you eat cake?”

Wu Bie had sent three messages in a row. Huo Zhanyan couldn’t help but smile. At least he remembered too. Even if his parents forgot, Wu Bie would definitely remember.

“No,” Huo Zhanyan deliberately answered vaguely, and as expected, a voice message request from Wu Bie came through the next second.

Huo Zhanyan activated the voice changer and answered the call, “Ge.”

“Why didn’t your parents come? They left you alone in the hospital? Didn’t they even give you a call?”

Huo Zhanyan felt wronged and gave a quiet “mm” in response. He wasn’t lying; his parents really hadn’t come or called, and he was indeed alone in the hospital.

“And my caregiver took leave to celebrate her son’s birthday.”

This was bound to hit Wu Bie hard. Why did others have company on their birthday, but Zhanyan did not? If others had something, Zhanyan should have it too.

“Give me your address, and I’ll order a birthday cake for you. If you can’t eat it, just share it with the doctors and nurses.” Wu Bie felt uneasy, “I’d better just transfer you the money.”

After all, asking for the address so directly wasn’t very polite. Besides, the young lady needed her privacy. Saying that, Wu Bie transferred two thousand yuan to Zhanyan.

In this day and age, pure love was no match for pure gold.

Even though Zhanyan was in a private hospital, Wu Bie felt that she was unloved, so he figured Zhanyan didn’t have much money. Giving money was more practical than choosing a cake that might not suit her taste.

The speed at which a man transfers money determines how much he loves you.

Huo Zhanyan didn’t hurry to accept the money. He changed his clothes, put on the wig, and opened the front camera, adjusting the wig in the reflection until there were no visible flaws. He pressed the switch for the automatic curtains, which slowly closed, dimming the room.

“Quickly take the money,” Wu Bie was a bit anxious. He was afraid Zhanyan wouldn’t accept it or that she’d feel burdened. “It’s not much. Just buy yourself a birthday cake.”

“Ge.”

Zhanyan’s “Ge” made Wu Bie go silent. He let out an “ah” and felt like Zhanyan had something to say.

“I said, when it’s my birthday, we’ll video chat. Do you remember?”

Wu Bie certainly remembered, but he was too shy to bring it up. Before he could speak, a video request popped up on the screen.

Here it comes!

Wu Bie thought he was really pathetic, his hands shaking. He slapped his own hand to calm himself down, held his breath, and decisively clicked accept.

With a “thump,” Wu Bie stared intently at the screen, his mind blanking, feeling as if something was stuck in his throat, and he felt like he was falling from the clouds.

Where is she? Why is the screen pitch black? Is it dark in the country now?