Dr. Ge had served as the Tang family's physician for more than thirty years, ever since Grandmother first invited him. He had watched the children grow up and handled most of Tang Yu's annual examinations.
At length he removed his reading glasses and frowned. "Nothing serious. The young master's emotions are unstable, he hasn't slept enough, and his stomach has always been weak. The nutritional drink irritated the lining."
"I'll prescribe stomach medicine. Give him congee for two days and fewer supplements. Basic nutrition is enough."
Lin Juefei lowered his eyes. "You're right. I meant well and did something harmful instead."
Dr. Ge smiled. "You were worried about him, but his health must be adjusted slowly."
He wrote the prescription, gave Tang Yu several instructions, and left. Ji Qian'ang watched Lin Juefei escort him from the residence, talking so attentively that he seemed more the host than the owners.
After Lin Shanbai mixed Tang Yu's medicine and fed it to him, he stepped outside. Ji Qian'ang remained directly before the door like a guard.
"Not resting, Qian'ang?"
"I have nothing else to do, Uncle Lin. I'll watch him."
Lin Shibai asked no more and went downstairs.
Tang Yu's door stood ajar, admitting only the dark blue of the horizon. Ji Qian'ang entered quietly, closed the curtains, wrung out a warm cloth, and crouched beside the bed to wipe the sweat from Tang Yu's brow.
Tang Yu frowned and mumbled in his sleep. Ji Qian'ang leaned close and finally understood his blurred Cantonese: "Can't eat... really can't eat. Don't make me eat... I want to throw up..."
Tang Yu's warm breath heated his ear. As Ji Qian'ang started to rise, an arm suddenly circled his neck and pulled him close. His burning ear pressed against Tang Yu's cool, dry lips.
Ji Qian'ang's Adam's apple jerked, a crack finally appearing in his glacial composure. Tang Yu rolled over and kicked off the thin quilt.
"I've been good... really good... don't leave!" he mumbled, just as he had during his stomachache at South Island High. "Ge... big brother..."
Tang Yu was never so active or talkative awake. Everything he refused to say by day poured out now.
"Tang Yu," Ji Qian'ang said hoarsely. "Your Highness, let go."
He tried to remove the cold arm, but Tang Yu would not budge. Waking a chronic insomniac might keep him awake for hours, so Ji Qian'ang resigned himself to kneeling beside the bed, hands braced on the sheet and his reddened ear still against Tang Yu's lips.
"Look at me, Ji Qian'ang... don't leave so quickly..." Tang Yu murmured.
A shiver ran through Ji Qian'ang. His fingers nearly tore the sheet. Control yourself, he ordered.
He reached for his phone to record Tang Yu, remembered he had not brought it, and used Tang Yu's.
"Ge... Peppermint candy... awful! Damn stone face... stone-faced ghost... come here... I'll bite you..."
So this was how the little tyrant cursed people in private. Ji Qian'ang smiled, unreadable meaning gathering in his eyes, and recorded every word.
Still unsatisfied, he tried talking to the sleeper. "Tang Yu. Tang Yu."
"Mm?"
"Is Ji Qian'ang your big brother or your study companion?"
Tang Yu hugged him tighter. "My... study companion!"
"Wrong. Call me ge. Now."
After a thoughtful silence, Tang Yu drew out the words, "Brother Qian'ang..."
Ji Qian'ang could barely restrain his grin. Without his defenses, Tang Yu was like someone drunk on bad liquor, all softness.
"Again."
"Brother Qian'ang... you're annoying..."
"Yes. So am I your brother or your study companion?"
"...Brother Qian'ang. Annoying!"
...
Night settled over Repulse Bay. Once the teasing stopped, Tang Yu slept soundly, even smacking his lips. His arm remained locked around Ji Qian'ang's neck, forcing Ji Qian'ang to kneel motionless until his knees went numb—and stay that way all night.
Tang Yu woke first. As his senses returned, he wondered what weighed on him and what felt so hot against his mouth. Looking down, he widened his eyes and snatched his arm beneath the quilt, his heart seeming pinned to a board.
The movement woke Ji Qian'ang. He finally straightened and looked over with dark circles beneath his eyes.
Before he could complain, Tang Yu shouted, "Bastard! Why are you in my room?" He wiped his lower lip in disgust and stared warily.
Ji Qian'ang silently took Tang Yu's phone, turned the volume to maximum, and played the recording. Tang Yu's murmurs filled the room. Disbelief crossed his face before it flushed crimson.
He lunged up. "Give me my phone! It's fake. I would never call you that!"
Ji Qian'ang's legs were too numb to stand. Leaning back with a wicked smile, he asked, "What did you call me last night, Tang Yu? Surely not 'bastard' or 'stone face'?"
Furious, Tang Yu climbed from bed and threw himself at him. "Give it back! Stop the recording."
"Beg me."
Ji Qian'ang dodged, but Tang Yu pressed his attack. Retreating on stiff knees, Ji Qian'ang held the phone high while Tang Yu nearly reached it.
"Beg me," he repeated, forcing himself upright.
Tang Yu neither surrendered nor softened. He lunged before Ji Qian'ang's numb legs steadied, and both crashed to the floor. Ji Qian'ang's back hit the boards; Tang Yu sprawled atop him, forehead striking his collarbone.
The floor was hard, but Ji Qian'ang's chest was harder. Tang Yu pushed up on his elbows, only for Ji Qian'ang to seize his waist and press him down.
"Don't move. My legs are numb."
Tang Yu froze at their closeness, Ji Qian'ang's uneven breath touching his hair. "Then why won't you let go?"
"My legs are numb. My hands aren't."
Tang Yu fell speechless.
Ji Qian'ang's thumb rested in the shallow hollow at his lower back through the thin pajamas. A shock raced along Tang Yu's spine and nearly collapsed his elbows.
Feeling him tremble, Ji Qian'ang laughed and traced a circle there.
"Where is your hand?" Tang Yu demanded.
"On your waist."
"Who let you put it there?"
"You're lying on me. Where else can it go? Or where do you want it?"
Tang Yu searched for a retort, but the thumb moved again and drew a muffled sound from him.
"Your waist is so sensitive, yet you dared throw yourself at me?" Ji Qian'ang murmured, amused.
Two knocks sounded. Tang Yu pushed against the floor, but Ji Qian'ang held him firmly.
The door opened until Aunt Liu saw them on the floor. She froze but delivered her message: "Young Master, the congee... is ready."
Tang Yu closed his eyes. "W-we'll be down soon."
Aunt Liu pretended nothing had happened. "Very well."
As she left, Tang Yu called, "I don't want to attend school today. Please ask for leave."
"I'll do it now."
The door shut. Tang Yu finally exploded, enunciating each syllable at the man beneath him.
"Ji. Qian. Ang. What exactly do you want?"