Chapter 13#
Offering the Crematorium to a Homophobic Straight Man 13#
The morning light seeped through the gaps in the blinds, gently falling on Qiao Qing’s face.
His eyelids twitched, and he slowly woke up.
After the anesthesia wore off, the dull pain at the injury became clearer, but what surprised him more than the physical discomfort was the scene in front of him.
Shen Youli was still sitting in the same chair as last night, his head leaning back slightly against the wall, as if he had sat there all night.
With his eyes closed and a faint dark circles under them, his face, which was usually a bit unruly or calm, only showed quiet fatigue now.
The sunlight outlined his sharp nose and jawline, giving him a different kind of softness.
Qiao Qing’s heart felt like it was hit by something, a bit sour and a bit strangely warm.
He subconsciously lightened his breathing, not wanting to wake him up.
However, Shen Youli seemed to be sleeping very lightly; almost the moment Qiao Qing’s gaze fell on him, he alertly opened his eyes.
Those deep eyes were initially hazy with sleep, but as soon as they met Qiao Qing’s gaze, they immediately became clear and even a bit joyful.
“Awake?” His voice was raspy from sleep but incredibly natural.
“How are you feeling? Does the wound still hurt much?”
“It’s okay.” Qiao Qing looked away, moving his body uncomfortably, “You… why didn’t you go back to rest?”
“I was afraid you might need something during the night.”
Shen Youli stood up and stretched his somewhat stiff neck and shoulders.
“I’ll go get some water and help you freshen up.”
Over the next few days, a fixed pattern seemed to form.
Shen Youli truly played the role of “caregiver” to his full responsibility.
He skillfully handled all the trivial matters of Qiao Qing’s daily life.
Wringing out a towel to wipe his face, using a cotton swab to moisten his dry lips, carefully handing the straw to his mouth to give him water.
And his actions were always professional and restrained; besides the necessary contact, there was no extra crossing of lines, guarding Qiao Qing’s discomfort and embarrassment well.
But occasionally, there were some moments that exceeded the scope of a caregiver.
For instance, because of lying down for a long time, Qiao Qing’s back was painfully stiff.
Shen Youli would silently stand behind him and help him massage his shoulders and back with just the right amount of force.
The warm palms transmitted steady strength through the thin hospital gown, easing the muscle stiffness and strangely calming some of the irritability in Qiao Qing’s heart.
Another example was that Shen Youli had somehow gotten a small projector.
At night, the white wall of the ward became a screen, and they watched some lighthearted, healing movies or documentaries together.
He didn’t talk much, but when Qiao Qing smiled slightly at the plot, the corners of his mouth would also rise.
When Qiao Qing stared out the window in a daze, he would silently peel an apple, cut it into small pieces, and hand it to him.
He no longer frequently mentioned “liking” him, but his presence itself was like silent, warm water.
Seeping in bit by bit, carefully filling Qiao Qing’s broken heart.
Qiao Qing also gradually talked more.
From the passive responses at the beginning to later actively asking about interesting things from Shen Youli’s work.
He would even subconsciously ask “Is it difficult to handle?” when Shen Youli frowned over a complicated medical case.
One afternoon, the sun was shining brightly.
Shen Youli supported Qiao Qing, letting him sit up halfway against the pillow, so he could better see the green trees and blue sky outside the window.
“The weather is nice today.” Shen Youli stood by the window and smiled back at him.
“When you get a bit better, I can push you out to soak up some sun.”
Qiao Qing looked at the vibrant life outside and gave a soft “mm.”
He suddenly realized that he hadn’t thought about Lin Jinbai for a long time.
Those sharp pains seemed to have been blunted by these mundane yet meticulous routines, no longer cutting him so deeply.
He turned his head and looked at Shen Youli’s back against the light.
This man had intruded into his life in a forceful, even somewhat unbelievable way.
Yet, with the most patient posture, he had propped up a world for him to breathe in.
Maybe… trying to look forward wasn’t as hard as imagined.
“Shen Youli.” Qiao Qing suddenly spoke.
“Hmm?” Shen Youli turned around.
“Thank you.” Qiao Qing said very seriously, looking at him.
Shen Youli was stunned for a moment, and then a very genuine and gentle smile slowly bloomed on his face, warmer than the sunlight outside.
“You’re welcome.” He replied softly.
Under Shen Youli’s meticulous and professional care, Qiao Qing’s injuries healed faster than expected.
The fracture healed well, and the bruises and scrapes on his body gradually faded, leaving only light pink marks.
After the final examination, the doctor announced with a smile that he could be discharged.
During his hospitalization, Lin Jinbai did come a few more times.
Sometimes with expensive supplements, sometimes just standing silently at the door for a while.
Qiao Qing’s attitude was always indifferent, polite but distant, like treating a distant relative who was not well-acquainted.
After a few times, Lin Jinbai seemed to understand something and finally stopped appearing at the ward door.
Qiao Qing didn’t notify Lin Jinbai about his discharge.
That house, which held more than ten years of their shared memories, he didn’t plan to return to for the time being.
Some things, once broken, should be broken cleanly.
He entrusted an agent to handle the packing of his belongings, planning to find a new place to start.
When Shen Youli learned of this idea, he didn’t ask much; he just took over the task of looking out for a house for him.
He was very efficient and in just two days, he had shortlisted several options that met Qiao Qing’s requirements, with impeccable locations, environments, and layouts.
On the day of discharge, the weather was fine.
Shen Youli drove the car, carrying Qiao Qing and his very few personal belongings, away from the hospital.
Qiao Qing looked at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window. The days in the hospital filled with the smell of disinfectant, along with the memories of Lin Jinbai, seemed to have been left behind.
The car eventually drove into a quiet, high-end residential area.
Shen Youli parked the car, carried the luggage, led Qiao Qing into an apartment building, and pressed the elevator button.
“This house has a great view and the decoration is nice. You should like it.”
As Shen Youli spoke, he took out the key and skillfully opened the door of one of the apartments.
Qiao Qing walked in, and indeed, as Shen Youli said, the house was spacious and bright, the decoration was modern and simple, clean and tidy.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, he could also see the well-maintained garden downstairs.
He was very satisfied.
“Thank you, it’s very nice here.”
Qiao Qing thanked him sincerely, feeling that Shen Youli had really been a great help.
“You’re welcome.”
Shen Youli smiled, a hint of hard-to-detect cunning flashing in his eyes.
He put down the luggage and casually pointed to the closed door opposite.
“By the way, I forgot to tell you, I live right across from you.”
Qiao Qing was stunned, turning to look at that dark gray door across from him, and then back at the triumphant smile on Shen Youli’s face, understanding something instantly.
“You…”
He was speechless for a moment, looking at Shen Youli’s smiling, sparkling eyes, feeling both annoyed and amused in his heart.
No wonder finding a house went so smoothly, no wonder he was so familiar with this place.
“A pavilion close to the water gets the moonlight first, you know.”
Shen Youli shrugged his shoulders, his tone assertive, with a bit of his unique rogue-like charm that made it impossible to really get angry.
“Mr. Qiao’s movement is still not very convenient. As your former caregiver and suitor, living close by for easy care is only natural and reasonable.”
Looking at him like this, Qiao Qing eventually could only sigh helplessly, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly uncontrollably.
What else could he say?
This person always had a way to leave him with no options.
Yet it made it impossible for him to… get angry.
“Whatever you say.”
He turned around and began to look at this new space, which was a tacit acceptance of this arrangement.
Looking at Qiao Qing’s slightly red earlobes, the smile on Shen Youli’s face deepened.
He helped to put away the luggage, carefully checked the facilities in the room, gave a few instructions, and then turned to leave.
The door closed, and Qiao Qing stood alone in the center of the living room of his new home. The sunlight filled the whole room, warm and tranquil.
He walked to the window, looking at the lush trees and people walking leisurely downstairs.
The end of one stage is also the beginning of another.
He left the old house where he had lived with Lin Jinbai for more than ten years and moved into the new home Shen Youli helped him choose, even becoming neighbors with this man.
He didn’t know what the future would hold.
But at this moment, looking at the bright sunlight outside the window and feeling the companionship just a wall away.
Qiao Qing felt that maybe the new life wasn’t so bad.
At least, he was no longer alone.