Evil Love Appears chapter 36

When Xu Jiale returned to the hospital room, he not only had two large plastic bags in his hands but also carried a large backpack on his back.

Normally, he was generally laid-back and casual, often just carrying his phone and maybe a MacBook for work. Now, his current appearance, weighed down by bags, looked somewhat comical. This time, he had finally put on his spare glasses, but they still had gold frames.

“Have they all left?”

“Yeah, not long ago.” Without much thought, Fu Xiaoyu reached to open the plastic bags. He was a bit like Xia’an, intuitively knowing which bag contained the food.

Xu Jiale had brought a large box of drunken crab claws, four aromatic garlic steamed scallops, salted edamame, egg custard, a large red grapefruit, a bag of rambutans, and the unsweetened Coke that Fu Xiaoyu ordered. He also brought a can of Tiger beer for himself.

The late-night snacks Xu Jiale prepared were so abundant that it felt like they were having a picnic in the hospital.

“Fu Xiaoyu, does it still hurt?”

Since Han Jiangque and Wen Ke had left, Xu Jiale no longer maintained his distance. He pulled back the blanket on the hospital bed, then touched Fu Xiaoyu’s abdomen through the hospital gown.

“It doesn’t hurt…,” Fu Xiaoyu was about to get out of bed, but when Xu Jiale touched him, he stopped and replied, “It doesn’t hurt at all; I’m just a bit hungry.”

Xu Jiale let out a low laugh, then couldn’t resist ruffling Fu Xiaoyu’s hair somewhat roughly. He then took a deep breath and let go of him, saying, “I’ll wash my hands and then help you shell the crab.”

His actions were somewhat disorganized, but for some reason, Fu Xiaoyu felt that Xu Jiale wasn’t as irritable as before. He seemed to be in a better mood after going outside in the cold wind.

They set up a small dining table on the hospital bed. After finishing their sumptuous meal, they began to tackle the grapefruit.

“We need a knife for this; otherwise, it’s impossible to eat it,” Fu Xiaoyu suggested.

“No, that’s not necessary,” Xu Jiale suddenly became determined. “I must conquer it tonight.”

He seemed to have made up his mind to challenge the grapefruit. Xu Jiale started to use brute force, tearing at it with his hands.

“Ah… What the heck,” Xu Jiale cursed as he exerted his strength.

The grapefruit’s skin was thicker than an orange, and forcibly peeling it was an almost impossible task.

Veins popped on Xu Jiale’s arms, and even his facial expressions were out of control.

Fu Xiaoyu burst into laughter, which was undoubtedly quite impolite. However, after Xu Jiale had changed into a thick and simple camel-colored turtleneck sweater when he returned, he sat on the bed with a fierce yet diligent expression, attempting to peel the grapefruit for him. It was genuinely comical.

“Are you still laughing?” Xu Jiale lightly tickled him under the covers.

“I’m not,” Fu Xiaoyu blushed slightly from his touch.

As his legs felt a bit numb, Fu Xiaoyu saw Xu Jiale stretch out and, no longer hesitating, he sat cross-legged. He leaned back a bit, but the moment he extended his leg, Xu Jiale quietly pulled his right foot into his lap.

Fu Xiaoyu tilted his head away, initially trying not to laugh. But on a narrow hospital bed, having his foot cradled by Xu Jiale, sharing a blanket, that warmth allowed him to relax entirely.

He suddenly found himself not satisfied with just cola and, while Xu Jiale was intently battling the grapefruit, he took the half-empty bottle of ice-cold beer from the table and started sipping it.

“Damn, forget it for tonight.”

After a while, Xu Jiale couldn’t take it anymore. His nails were hurting, and he threw the grapefruit aside. “Give me the beer…”

“Fu Xiaoyu, did you finish my beer…?”

When Xu Jiale took the beer can from Fu Xiaoyu’s hand, he realized it was empty. Fu Xiaoyu had managed to finish it.

Fu Xiaoyu handed over the empty beer can to Xu Jiale and then promptly slipped off the bed.

“I’m going to take a shower…” Fu Xiaoyu said, entering the bathroom.

Fu Xiaoyu slammed the bathroom door shut with determination. However, after a while, he gently pushed the door open a bit and stuck his head out, saying somewhat shyly, “Xu Jiale, can you pass me the toiletries?”

“mmh,” Xu Jiale unzipped his backpack, then began taking things out, one by one. Besides the pile of toiletries and dental care products that Fu Xiaoyu had endlessly asked for, he even brought his own pajamas.

“Hospital clothes are uncomfortable to sleep in,” Xu Jiale said when he reached the bathroom door.

Fu Xiaoyu rummaged through the pile of items and found the requested toiletries and toothbrush. He also noticed a pair of white underwear.

“Your own…” Xu Jiale said calmly. “I saw it had dried back at home.”

“Mm…” Fu Xiaoyu quickly rolled up the underwear and promptly hid his head back in the bathroom.

Fu Xiaoyu had always been quite healthy. The last time he was hospitalized seemed to be when he was studying in the United States. He had developed gastroenteritis one night and had to stay in the hospital for an IV drip. Han Jiangque had driven him to the hospital and quietly kept him company throughout the night.

Staying comfortable in the hospital was generally challenging, but this time, Fu Xiaoyu felt there wasn’t much difference from staying in a hotel.

After taking a hot shower and changing into Xu Jiale’s pajamas, when Fu Xiaoyu came out, he found that Xu Jiale had also brought a hairdryer with him. The alpha had prepared for all eventualities with that massive backpack of his.

Xu Jiale also finished showering quickly, and when Fu Xiaoyu finished drying his hair and lay down on the bed, Xu Jiale came out of the bathroom.

It was time to sleep.

Fu Xiaoyu suddenly felt a bit nervous. While there was a companion bed that could be pulled out in the room, even though he knew that, he still… discreetly left half of his bed for Xu Jiale.

He didn’t make it too obvious since he still needed to maintain his dignity.

However, all this psychological preparation didn’t matter because as Xu Jiale finished drying his hair and was about to go to bed, he didn’t think at all. He simply lifted the blanket and slipped into Fu Xiaoyu’s bed.

“Did you turn off the light?” Xu Jiale asked.

“Yes!” Fu Xiaoyu buried his face in Xu Jiale’s embrace, inhaling the cool, minty scent that filled his nose.

“Xu Jiale…” At the moment when the light went out, Fu Xiaoyu couldn’t help but murmur softly.

He was in a strange state, wanting to quietly cuddle with Xu Jiale yet also wanting to talk.

Speaking, not because there was a specific topic, but because he just wanted to prolong this night a little longer.

“Sleep…,” Xu Jiale whispered softly. “You need more rest.”

Xu Jiale’s warm and generous palm slowly found its way under the pajamas, rubbing his abdomen, just like last night.

“…” Fu Xiaoyu fell silent for a moment. “Okay…”

He certainly had no valid reason to refuse. He closed his eyes gently.

Darkness surrounded him.

He was genuinely tired. In fact, even while waiting for Xu Jiale, he had yawned several times. However, he also knew that when he woke up, he and Xu Jiale would return to being nothing more than casual colleagues, as they had agreed upon earlier.

Xu Jiale’s hand would no longer stroke his abdomen this way, they wouldn’t talk about sad nipples, and he wouldn’t have this beautiful heat of a heat cycle.

He would go back to his life, work, diet, and day-to-day routine, just like the previous 25 years.

It felt as if he were wearing glass shoes, watching the clock move toward midnight, while the magic was about to disappear.

He couldn’t resist opening his eyes again, looking up at Xu Jiale embracing him.

“Fu Xiaoyu…” Xu Jiale seemed to sense his struggle. His voice was low and held a hint of tenderness. “How about this, let’s do a boring questionnaire. As you answer, you’ll fall asleep quickly.”

“Alright…” Fu Xiaoyu was confused but felt relieved. Even if it was just extending a second, it would make him feel better.

“This time, for my sexual performance, rate me from 1 to 10?”

“…” 

Fu Xiaoyu couldn’t help but quietly laugh. Even when he was feeling down, Xu Jiale seemed to have a way of making him laugh.

Sexual performance…

He felt a bit embarrassed but replied with confidence, “10 points.”

Xu Jiale didn’t show any complacency but continued to ask, maintaining a very professional tone. “For the food I provided, rate me from 1 to 10?”

“10 points.”

“For my service attitude, from 1—”

“10 points,” Fu Xiaoyu interrupted, all were 10 points.

Xu Jiale continued to ask one question after another. His intention was to let Fu Xiaoyu gradually fall asleep in the process.

He could feel Fu Xiaoyu in his arms trying to stay awake out of reluctance. The more Xu Jiale asked, the more stable and emotionless his tone became, and the more Fu Xiaoyu didn’t need to think, the more he tended to fall asleep.

The tired Fu Xiaoyu finally drifted off to sleep.

In the darkness, Xu Jiale gently stroked the tip of his slightly upturned nose. The breath there was steady and warm.

He used to do the same with the sleeping Xia’an, whether it was with someone else or even a cat in the same bed. It seemed that he was always the one to stay up late.

This was an informal and unreviewed questionnaire.

But Fu Xiaoyu gave him 10 points across the board.

He wasn’t actually surprised.

Xu Jiale, you know you’ve received a perfect 10 for your care for Fu Xiaoyu.

He told himself.

In that instant, as he was lying in the darkness, he suddenly felt a shiver of anxiety and fear.

An omega had found him and wanted him to accompany them through their heat cycle. Because of his weakness, he had given in.

This wasn’t a great sin.

But he received a score of 10.

If he had received a 7, he knew he would unquestionably be a good person.

But if he received a 10, he knew that no omega could forget a 10-rated heat cycle.

Could he really… still consider himself a good person?

Xu Jiale—

Why did he give Fu Xiaoyu a 10-point experience?

The next day, Fu Xiaoyu woke up quite early, but Xu Jiale woke up even earlier.

He was packing his things, and when he saw Fu Xiaoyu, he just raised his head and nodded as a form of greeting.

“Freshen up, I’ve just completed the discharge procedures. I’ll drive you home in a bit,” Xu Jiale said.

Something was amiss.

Fu Xiaoyu even sensed in that moment that Xu Jiale had created distance between them. All the intimacy, the lightness he had felt earlier suddenly seemed locked away, and he was back to square one.

On the way back, neither of them said much. Fu Xiaoyu remembered that his shirt was still at Xu Jiale’s place, but the silent atmosphere made it hard for him to bring up the matter.

Xu Jiale parked the car in front of Fu Xiaoyu’s luxurious villa and opened the car door for him. “Okay, off you go…”

Xu Jiale said.

“Xu Jiale…” Fu Xiaoyu had reached the door but couldn’t help turning back, whispering softly, “Thank you…”

He really wanted to say thank you.

“You’re welcome…”

Xu Jiale just waved his hand at him, then turned and drove off in his Tesla, leaving him standing on the porch for a long, long time.

Xu Jiale was like a passing breeze, leaving gracefully in the wild night, only leaving his silhouette behind.

Author’s Note:

Xu Jiale: Tactical retreat.

Fu Xiaoyu: Lost in thought.