Bone-Attached Disaster - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: The Kiss

Du Zhenzhen felt her brain couldn’t process it all.

One, two, three handsome men, standing together in a perfect triangle, each looking at the others.

But… Dr. Shen seemed closer to the new doctor. Oh no, my CP had barely started and it’s already an ‘ending’ (BE)? How could she hear more clearly? Du Zhenzhen wished she had ears that could catch whispers from afar; this spot was extremely disadvantageous for observing the ‘enemy’s’ situation.

The three men at the other end of the ward seemed to form a natural boundary by standing together.

“Did you have any sudden pain?”

Shen Rufeng straightened up and carefully checked the swelling around the wound again. “It looks like it’s recovering well. Tomorrow also marks four weeks; let’s get an X-ray for a follow-up. By the way, is your friend coming with you for the re-examination tomorrow?”

Lu Jie’s gaze was fixed on Fu Jia’an. He knew he should appear more composed, but the truth was, he couldn’t voluntarily look away. Only after a few seconds did he forcefully turn his head, his hand that was gripping the mattress edge had long since let go, but his palm and forearm muscles were still engorged with bl00d, the lines sharp and clear.

He regained his composure and answered Shen Rufeng: “The orderly.”

Jiang Yan was busy with company matters and could only visit occasionally. That guy, with his rich-kid generosity and humanity, covered all his hospitalization and orderly fees.

Shen Rufeng nodded, looking around: “The orderly didn’t come today?”

“He took a half-day leave today,” Lu Jie said. “Said he had something at home. I feel like I’m not…” He wanted to say that he wasn’t as mobility-impaired as before, and it was fine if the orderly was absent for just a half-day. But before he could finish, he heard Shen Rufeng say:

“Jia’an, why do you keep looking at him?”

Fu Jia’an pointed at Lu Jie and said, “Oh, this patient of yours is my high school classmate.”

“Really?” Shen Rufeng was immediately amused. “What a coincidence, you were both at Yaochen No. 1 High School?”

Fu Jia’an nodded, then gave Lu Jie a friendly wave: “Hi. I’m Fu Jia’an.”

“…” Lu Jie felt slightly choked, then forced an exasperated, somewhat sour smile: “Mhm.”

A whole history of grudges and complicated feelings was conveyed in that single syllable. Shen Rufeng didn’t seem to notice, cheerfully saying, “Since you two know each other, how about Dr. Fu takes you down to get some sun later?”

After saying this, Shen Rufeng turned his head to check on Old Du next door, and Lu Jie didn’t even have time to say “No need.” But on second thought, Dr. Shen just said it casually; Fu Jia’an probably wouldn’t agree, right?

But Fu Jia’an actually didn’t hesitate: “Okay.”

Lu Jie said, “You must be very busy. No need.”

“I just finished a surgery. I stayed overnight at the hospital last night, and I’m off work after I take you out for some sun,” Fu Jia’an said. “Or do you want Dr. Shen to find you another nurse?”

This matter inexplicably turned into a choice between “bothering Fu Jia’an” and “bothering Dr. Shen.” Lu Jie could only nod, saying very politely, “Then I’ll trouble you.”

Lu Jie silently waited for Fu Jia’an to push the wheelchair over from the wall, then he braced himself and stood up with his good leg. The wheelchair was pushed very close. Lu Jie was determined not to show weakness, holding his breath and smoothly sitting down with his arms braced on the sides of the chair. Compared to the previous days, this was the first time his movement was completely without a stagger since the injury.

He was quite satisfied with himself, like accurately sinking a three-pointer on the court exactly as he intended. Lu Jie felt his innate confidence return at this moment.

“Um, can you push me?” Lu Jie, being two years older than Fu Jia’an, spoke with the mature concern of an elder.

His answer was the easily displaced wheelchair. In the blink of an eye, the two were out of the ward, the wheelchair stopping in front of the elevator.

Ding—

The elevator doors opened, and it was empty inside. Fu Jia’an pushed Lu Jie in. Lu Jie watched as Fu Jia’an’s finger hesitated between the 1st and B1 buttons, finally pressing the “1” button.

Lu Jie’s composure broke: “…I almost thought you were pushing me to the morgue.”

Fu Jia’an laughed and said, “Wouldn’t it be more direct if I just pushed you to the crematorium?”

Lu Jie reacted poorly to the dark joke, responding with a forced, unamused twitch of his mouth.

In his heart, he thought that Fu Jia’an didn’t look like he was joking, and he was fully capable of sending him to the crematorium.

Lu Jie looked at himself in the elevator’s mirrored door. He was six-foot-two, but with a cast, his fighting power was severely curtailed. Out of all times to meet, it had to be when he looked like this, and it had to be with that damn Fu Jia’an.

He scoffed, “You’ve only been out of the ward for this long and you’re already showing your true colors. You were quite obedient in front of Dr. Shen just now.”

Before Fu Jia’an could speak, the first floor arrived, and he pushed Lu Jie out of the elevator. The center of this hospital had a man-made lake, with flower beds and benches along its edge. Usually, inpatients came to this area to get some fresh air.

As the two walked toward the flower bed, Lu Jie asked, “Is Dr. Shen your boyfriend?”

Fu Jia’an neither confirmed nor denied. “Do straight people think two men standing together must be dating?”

“If you were, I’d have something on you. Showing too much personal affection in a professional setting.” Lu Jie looked up at Fu Jia’an, his eyes direct, like an interrogation.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you,” Fu Jia’an said.

The wheelchair stopped by the flower bed. Lu Jie suddenly realized: “Oh, I see. Still in the ‘getting to know you’ stage?”

He looked up at Fu Jia’an, and Fu Jia’an was looking back at him. A few more petals fell from the trees, blurring Lu Jie’s vision. He couldn’t quite make out Fu Jia’an’s expression.

“Can you stand up by yourself?” Fu Jia’an asked.

Lu Jie nodded. This time, standing up was harder than before. Usually, the orderly would help prop up his arm, but since no one was supporting him this time, he had to rely on his own strength. He was halfway up, bracing his body, when he felt an arm steady him.

Lu Jie’s body stiffened. Subconsciously, he held his breath and adjusted his center of gravity. Fu Jia’an was naturally frail; if he leaned too hard, he’d surely pretend to be hurt. But then he realized that the arm wrapped around him, though slender, was surprisingly reliable.

Lu Jie tentatively put more of his weight on him, leaning on Fu Jia’an’s shoulder. With half his body weight loaded, the other man still stood very steady.

What the heck?

When did this guy get so built?

One in a white coat, the other in a patient gown, their posture created an inspiring, touching image of a doctor helping a patient. The thought of being in a position of vulnerable care by Fu Jia’an gave Lu Jie goosebumps all over.

Without much hesitation, Lu Jie gritted his teeth and started to mess with him, deliberately leaning more weight onto Fu Jia’an…

At this moment, Fu Jia’an tilted his head and whispered, as if breathing into his ear: “Dr. Shen is my brother.”

“Huh?” Lu Jie nearly lost his balance, only to be steadied by Fu Jia’an and smoothly seated on the bench.

“Looks like you really forgot.”

Fu Jia’an’s tone was light and mocking, sounding very much like he was laughing at Lu Jie’s intelligence.

Lu Jie looked away. Tiny petals drifted down and brushed against his high nose bridge. He felt an itch, so he raised a hand and scratched the center of his nose bone. “It’s normal not to remember after so many years.”

Now that he mentioned it, he actually did recall. Wasn’t Dr. Shen the older brother who once came to his school to attend a parent-teacher meeting for Fu Jia’an? No wonder he felt like he’d seen him before. A thread was pulled from the ball of memory, and the complex family dynamics concerning Fu Jia’an also resurfaced in his mind.

Fu Jia’an sat down beside him.

Lu Jie turned his head to look, his sight landing exactly on the side of Fu Jia’an’s nose, where there was a familiar small mole. When they were desk mates, it was just like this, sitting left and right—a scene that had played out thousands of times.

Perhaps a few more petals had fallen, and a half-wobbling flower petal rested on the strands of hair at the back of Fu Jia’an’s head.

Just then, several fresh-faced, scholarly young women in white coats walked past. When they saw Fu Jia’an, their eyes lit up as if they had met a celebrity. A group of them huddled around like chicks, greeting him as “Dr. Fu” and “Senior Fu”… different titles intermingled, filled with admiration and respect.

Lu Jie, standing by, couldn’t help but want to roll his eyes, yet he felt he didn’t need to be so childish, so he silently became transparent. That sickeningly familiar feeling returned. In front of a “genius,” even the most attractive appearance loses its appeal.

Who says youth is gone forever? Lu Jie felt that even if he were eighty, the rush of anger would immediately return whenever he was near Fu Jia’an, filling him with competitiveness and the desire to win, just like when he was eighteen. He wasn’t convinced, and he never had been.

They seemed to be discussing some professional questions. The young interns and nurses scattered soon after receiving the excellent student’s perfect answer, happily heading toward the hospital cafeteria along their original route.

Lu Jie, who had observed the whole process, appropriately added a sarcastic remark: “Why didn’t you sign autographs for these fans? Is it because the good signing pens were all taken?”

“Lu Jie, you…”

Lu Jie thought Fu Jia’an was about to say something to insult him, but then he heard him say sincerely, “You haven’t changed much. You’re still very handsome.”

“…”

A shiver ran down Lu Jie’s spine: “Holy cow, are you sick?”

He was startled by Fu Jia’an’s somewhat serious, even somewhat captivated gaze, and instinctively dodged backward. In his peripheral vision, he caught sight of Shen Rufeng walking toward them.

In the instant he pulled his gaze back, Lu Jie clearly saw Fu Jia’an’s cunning eyes, which had been withdrawn from Shen Rufeng’s direction at the exact same moment.

Without any warning, Fu Jia’an leaned in and planted a quick “muah” on Lu Jie’s lips.

Then quickly pulled away.

It was as light as a petal brushing past his mouth, leaving no trace.

Truthfully, Lu Jie had been quite confident when he first encountered Fu Jia’an twenty minutes ago.

Over the years, whether by choice or by force, he had dealt with all sorts of people, and he had accumulated enough samples. He could tell what kind of idiot someone was with a single glance.

He was smart enough and knew how to learn from failure. So when he met similar people for the second time, he didn’t need much in-depth interaction. He could predict their behavior and avoid the traps.

But at that moment, Lu Jie suddenly realized that he hadn’t actually met anyone like Fu Jia’an since then.

There was only one Fu Jia’an in the world, and if they didn’t see each other for a decade, the tactics to deal with him would atrophy from disuse. Once again, he was caught off guard.