Sang Qiao felt that the time he woke up was probably dusk, close to mealtime.
Although the room's blackout curtains were mostly drawn, he could still vaguely see a faint light coming through the glass window into the ward.
The room was quiet.
Sang Qiao tried to take a breath and immediately noticed the oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.
Sang Qiao: "......"
Although the oxygen mask was transparent, it was quite large, making Sang Qiao feel as if he were on his deathbed.
The IV drip was still running, and Sang Qiao couldn't muster the strength to remove the oxygen mask himself, so he struggled under the covers.
However, after struggling for a short while, he disturbed the person sitting by the bed.
Fu Xingzhou stood up from the caregiver's sofa next to the bed and walked to Sang Qiao's side.
He stood for a moment, then sat down by the bed.
Possibly because he had just woken up and his mind was still not entirely clear.
At that moment.
Sang Qiao felt as though he saw a glimmer of surprise in Fu Xingzhou's eyes.
The surprise gradually dissipated from Fu Xingzhou's usually cold and deep eyes, and then slowly vanished.
Fu Xingzhou reached out and turned on the bedside lamp, then asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Sang Qiao nodded honestly.
Perhaps due to having taken too many medications for neurological and organ-related issues, his sense of pain had started becoming less sensitive in recent years.
Combined with his various pre-existing health issues.
With so many problems, even if he did feel uncomfortable occasionally, Sang Qiao didn't think he would necessarily notice it.
Anyway, just live blindly.
Sang Qiao's pair of round eyes still had a bit of dazedness from just waking up, staring at Fu Xingzhou for a while.
Then his mouth under the oxygen mask moved a few times, as if saying something untruthful.
Fu Xingzhou touched Sang Qiao's forehead, then carefully checked the hand where the IV was inserted.
Finally, he reached out and lifted Sang Qiao's oxygen mask from his nose, asking, "What's wrong?"
Sang Qiao quickly took a breath of free air, blinked at Fu Xingzhou with genuine concern, and cautiously said, "Are you... not angry?"
Fu Xingzhou: "..."
Fu Xingzhou remained silent for a moment, then put Sang Qiao's oxygen mask back on, and said calmly, "Angry about what?"
Of course, it was about what happened during dinner...
Sang Qiao couldn't speak with the oxygen mask on, his eyes rolling around, and obediently closed his mouth, pretending that the incident hadn't happened.
Maybe that night, it was just a sudden whim of Fu Xingzhou.
Maybe Fu Xingzhou had started to like someone else after being rejected.
Maybe Fu Xingzhou was just… playing around.
Sang Qiao silently imagined for a while, and started to feel uncomfortable in his heart, and a bit bitter.
However, there was a heart monitor next to Sang Qiao's bed.
His heart rate jumped a couple of times, and the line on the heart monitor showed significant fluctuations, appearing much more alarming than before.
Fu Xingzhou immediately looked concerned, forgot about being angry, and touched Sang Qiao's hand, saying, "Is your heart uncomfortable? Don't overthink, I'll call the doctor."
Sang Qiao: "..."
From Sang Qiao's perspective, he couldn't quite see the screen of the monitor and had to roll his eyes to catch a glimpse.
Sang Qiao rolled his eyes and finally caught a glimpse of his own heart rate line.
He slyly moved his hand that wasn't being given IV treatment out from under the blanket, gently held Fu Xingzhou's hand, and shook his head, "Don't, doctor."
It was hard to hear through the oxygen mask, but Fu Xingzhou immediately understood what Sang Qiao meant.
With the abrupt changes just now, the heart rate line gradually stabilized again.
Fu Xingzhou's brow remained furrowed, he held Sang Qiao's hand, and asked in a low voice, "Okay, I won't call the doctor for now. What were you thinking just now?"
Sang Qiao: "..."
Sang Qiao wouldn't tell Fu Xingzhou that he was feeling jealous, so he quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be at peace.
Fu Xingzhou: "..."
Forty-eight hours had passed since Sang Qiao was admitted, during which he had almost no food or water apart from the necessary nutrients and saline.
Even through the breathing mask, his lips looked pale and dry.
He was about to doze off again.
Fu Xingzhou gently held Sang Qiao's fingers, leaning close to his ear and asked, "Are you thirsty, Sang Qiao? Do you want to drink honey water?"
Sang Qiao's eyes immediately widened, even bigger than when he had just woken up, full of longing as he signaled to Fu Xingzhou frantically.
Fu Xingzhou ruffled Sang Qiao's hair, smiling faintly, "No. The doctor said you can't drink honey water."
Sang Qiao: "..."
Deceived and unwell, Sang Qiao gave Fu Xingzhou a disdainful look.
After a few seconds, Fu Xingzhou spoke again, "Hungry?"
Sang Qiao: "..."
This time, Sang Qiao watched Fu Xingzhou warily for a while, then turned his gaze away after ensuring that Fu Xingzhou didn't have any food with him.
Through the oxygen mask, he made a scornful noise from his nose.
Fu Xingzhou: "..."
Failing to deceive little Sang Qiao a second time, Master Fu didn't feel regretful.
He helped adjust Sang Qiao's blanket, then took a cup of hot water mixed with honey, used the end of a chopstick to dab it, pulled back Sang Qiao's breathing mask, and wiped it on Sang Qiao's lips before putting the mask back on him.
Through the transparent oxygen mask.
Sang Qiao's red little tongue came out slowly, licked his lips, and looked at Fu Xingzhou pitifully.
Fu Xingzhou was cold and resolute, denying him, "Not today."
Sang Qiao: "..."
Won't even give me a sip of honey water.
And yet he said he loves me.
Crappy man.
Sang Qiao, feeling wronged, sniffed and tried to shrink back into the bedclothes.
Yet before he could successfully retreat, Fu Xingzhou wrapped his waist tightly, like a burrito, and firmly fixed him in the covers.
Burrito core, Sang Qiao had no hope of escape, and could only stare back at Fu Xingzhou.
The two men looked at each other for a while.
Fu Xingzhou suddenly reached out and touched Sang Qiao's face.
Due to Fu Xingzhou's expression being too meaningful—Sang Qiao got goosebumps, and was so scared that even his arms and legs trembled. He carefully stole a glance at Fu Xingzhou and said, "Wh-what's wrong?"
After Fu Xingzhou finished touching Sang Qiao's face, his slender fingers stopped at Sang Qiao's delicate throat, gently drawing a few circles.
Then, Fu Xingzhou suddenly spoke, "You just asked me if I was angry, why didn't you ask again?"
Sang Qiao: "..."
Sang Qiao was completely creeped out by Fu Xingzhou's touch and felt like curling up and running away like a hamster. After trembling for a while, he softly replied, "So... then why aren't you angry?"
Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Fu Xingzhou finally withdrew his wandering hand.
He looked at Sang Qiao and answered, "Because I've figured something out."
Sang Qiao naively raised his face and said, "Huh?"
Fu Xingzhou didn't answer immediately, but slowly lifted his left hand, which was clasped with Sang Qiao's.
The difference in their fingers was quite obvious.
Fu Xingzhou's were long and strong, with distinct joints, while Sang Qiao's were slender and pale, with almost no blood color on the fingertips.
Holding Sang Qiao's hand, Fu Xingzhou brought it close to his lips and lightly bit his index finger.
Sang Qiao: "???"
Confused, Sang Qiao asked, "Why are you biting me?"
The bite mark was shallow, just a faint hint of blush.
Fu Xingzhou seemed especially tender towards this inch of faint red, scrutinizing it carefully before saying, "Because I realized that leaving the decision to you was a completely wrong decision."
Sang Qiao: "???"
Sang Qiao thought he might not have slept enough, as he didn't understand what Fu Xingzhou meant for a moment.
But Fu Xingzhou didn't intend to keep him guessing.
He held Sang Qiao's hand in his palm, smiled slightly, and said, "So I've changed my mind, my dear Bridge."
"All the matters from before are forgotten."
Fu Xingzhou leaned close to Sang Qiao's forehead and whispered softly, "Whether you agree to be with me or not isn't important. What's important is that I want you. From head to toe, all of you."