By the time Yin Xigui woke the next day, sunlight covered most of the bed.
For a moment, he remained dazed. Above him were the familiar ceiling and chandelier. A familiar thin blanket covered him. Threads of pain ran across his back, and white bandages encircled his wrists.
He blinked and instinctively reached to the side. His fingers touched warm skin.
Sheng Linyou leaned against the headboard with his eyes closed and his head tilted slightly aside. His breathing was deep and even.
He clearly had not slept well. Faint shadows lay beneath his eyes, and a fine layer of stubble covered his chin.
Yin Xigui's fingers rested on his forearm for a moment before withdrawing. He tried to pull the blanket higher over Sheng Linyou.
The movement tugged at the wounds on his back. He sucked in a breath and froze.
Sheng Linyou's eyes opened almost immediately.
Sleep had not fully left them, yet his gaze had already landed on Yin Xigui. He inspected him from head to toe before focusing on his tightly drawn brows.
“Awake?”
“Mm…” Yin Xigui's voice remained hoarse. He cleared his throat and repeated, “I'm awake.”
Sheng Linyou sat upright and touched his forehead.
His temperature was normal. Warm, dry skin met Sheng Linyou's palm. He quietly relaxed, though his expression revealed nothing.
“Want some water?”
Yin Xigui smiled and nodded.
Sheng Linyou rose to pour it. When he returned, he had already tested the temperature against the rim. Yin Xigui tried to take the glass but failed to hold it steadily, splashing several drops across the covers.
Sheng Linyou clicked his tongue and reclaimed it. One hand supported the base and brought it to Yin Xigui's lips, while the other rested beneath his chin.
“Open.”
Yin Xigui paused, then obediently parted his lips. Sheng Linyou slowly tilted the glass and fed him nearly half.
Warm water flowed down his throat, soothing the dryness. Yin Xigui narrowed his eyes in comfort. When the glass moved away, a droplet remained at the corner of his mouth.
Sheng Linyou wiped it away with his thumb, the movement so quick it appeared casual. His thumb paused against Yin Xigui's lower lip before retreating.
“More?”
“No.” Yin Xigui licked his lips, his voice a little clearer. “Brother, did you stay beside me all night?”
“No. I slept too.”
“Liar.” Yin Xigui edged closer until his nose nearly touched Sheng Linyou's sleeve. “You still smell like ointment. You must have changed my medicine during the night.”
Sheng Linyou did not answer. He placed the glass on the bedside table and went to the kitchen.
Yin Xigui listened to the stove ignite downstairs and the quiet clatter of cookware. He buried his face in the blanket and smiled to himself.
Before long, Sheng Linyou returned with a bowl of porridge. The rice had been cooked until velvety, releasing a glossy film of starch across the surface. Shreds of chicken lay within it.
He moved a low stool beside the bed and stirred the porridge to release the heat.
“Can you sit up?”
Yin Xigui slowly pushed himself upright. The movement pulled at his back, making him frown before smoothing his expression again.
Sheng Linyou saw it. He propped a pillow behind Yin Xigui's waist and adjusted its angle until he could rest more comfortably.
“Eat it yourself.” He offered the bowl, then abruptly pulled it back. “Forget it.”
Yin Xigui had already extended his hands. He stared as the bowl disappeared. Sheng Linyou scooped up half a spoonful, blew across it, and held it to his mouth.
“Open.”
Yin Xigui blinked twice. His eyes visibly reddened.
He swallowed the porridge, then murmured, “Brother, you're too good to me…”
“Enough nonsense. Eat.”
Yin Xigui's eyes curved. He obediently opened his mouth for the next spoonful.
After more than half the bowl, color had returned to his face. His lips were no longer so pale, and a faint flush warmed his cheeks.
Sheng Linyou offered several more spoonfuls, then stopped when Yin Xigui shook his head.
Leaning against the adjusted pillows, Yin Xigui caught his sleeve.
“Brother, your stubble scratches.”
Sheng Linyou touched his chin. A short layer had indeed grown there.
Before he could answer, Yin Xigui continued with the cautious eagerness of someone only just regaining his strength.
“Can I shave you? I'm very good at it.”
“You can't even hold a bowl, and you want to hold a razor?”
“That's because my wrists are hurt.” Yin Xigui raised both bandaged hands and waved them pitifully, though his eyes shone. “I can do it with one hand.”
Sheng Linyou looked down at him for three seconds.
Yin Xigui gazed up, his cheeks faintly pink from the hot porridge, the corners of his eyes still red and his lips pressed together.
“…Fine. Once.”
Yin Xigui emerged from the blankets and ran barefoot toward the bathroom. Halfway there, he turned back to put on his slippers.
Sheng Linyou watched him bustle around from the doorframe. Yin Xigui soon returned carrying shaving foam and a manual razor.
“Sit here.” He patted the edge of the bed. “The light is better.”
Sheng Linyou sat. Yin Xigui knelt on the mattress behind him and looked down from above.
The distance between them abruptly narrowed. Yin Xigui's warm breath touched Sheng Linyou's forehead, carrying the faint scent of rice porridge.
“Close your eyes, or the foam might get in them.”
Sheng Linyou obeyed. He heard the foam dispense before its fragrant softness spread evenly across his chin and cheeks.
Yin Xigui's fingers pressed through it, tracing his jaw.
“Don't move, Brother.”
The razor felt cool against his skin. Yin Xigui slowly drew it down the line of his jaw, pausing to rinse away foam and stubble with warm water.
Only the fine scrape of the blade disturbed the silence.
Sheng Linyou kept his eyes closed. He could feel Yin Xigui leaning close, breath brushing his ear.
Whenever the blade passed near his lips, Yin Xigui pressed a fingertip to the corner of his mouth and guided his head aside. Its warmth reached him through the thin foam, making his throat move.
“Finished!”
Yin Xigui soaked a towel in warm water, wrung it out, and wiped away the remaining foam.
When the warm cloth touched his face, Sheng Linyou opened his eyes and found Yin Xigui's enlarged face directly before him.
They stared at each other from inches away.
Sheng Linyou's face was reflected in Yin Xigui's eyes. He could even see the window behind him wavering in those pupils.
He suddenly caught the wrist holding the towel.
“Let's see how you did.”
Yin Xigui blinked, a smile escaping his lips. He leaned closer and carefully inspected Sheng Linyou's chin.
Their noses nearly touched. After examining every line of his jaw, Yin Xigui nodded with satisfaction.
“Perfect.”
His lips were close to Sheng Linyou's earlobe, his warm breath sweeping the small patch of skin.
Sheng Linyou turned his head, released him, and went to the bathroom mirror.
His chin was smooth, every line cleanly shaved. Even the difficult patches behind his ears had been carefully tended.
He studied himself for two extra seconds before returning.
“Not bad.”
Yin Xigui had retreated beneath the blanket, only his smiling eyes visible.
“Brother, since I'm bored at home, would you like to—”
“No.”
“I haven't even told you what it is!”
“Whatever it is, the answer is no.” Sheng Linyou sat beside him, pulled him from the covers, and began changing his dressings.
Yin Xigui hissed as the gauze came away. Sheng Linyou did not stop, though his movements became quicker.
The fresh ointment felt cool and gradually suppressed the burning pain. Yin Xigui lay on his stomach with his chin upon folded arms, quietly allowing Sheng Linyou to work.
“Brother.”
“Mm?”
“Do you like it here?”
Sheng Linyou wrapped the new gauze, tied a clean knot, and patted Yin Xigui's shoulder for him to turn over.
Yin Xigui rolled onto his back. Sheng Linyou lowered his head and packed the medical kit without answering for a long time.
“I don't know.” He closed and fastened the box. “If you're here, I'll be here.”
Yin Xigui's heart struck hard against his chest. He hooked a finger around Sheng Linyou's hand at the edge of the mattress and refused to release it.
Sheng Linyou did not pull away. After allowing the hold for a moment, he turned his palm and enclosed that small bandaged hand.
Someone rang the bell at noon.
Sheng Linyou paused when he opened the door. A young man in a gray coat stood outside carrying two insulated food boxes, a polite but distant smile on his face.
“Young Master Lin sent these.” He offered them to Sheng Linyou. “They're for…Young Master Yin's recovery.”
Condensation still clung around the lids, showing that the food had just been prepared. Sheng Linyou stared for two seconds, then accepted them.
“Where is he?”
“Young Master Lin said he wouldn't come personally today, in case he disturbed the young master's rest.” The messenger added, “He also said Young Master Yin should recover in peace. He'll watch over the matter with the Yin family.”
Sheng Linyou closed the door with the boxes in hand.
When he returned to the sitting room, Yin Xigui was slowly descending the stairs, his steps unsteady. He stopped when he saw the containers.
“…Lin Zhi sent those?”
“Mm.”
Sheng Linyou placed them on the table and lifted the lids. Inside were tender stewed-rib soup and several mild home-style dishes, all fragrant.
Yin Xigui looked at the food, then at Sheng Linyou. His face was expressionless, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“Brother.” Yin Xigui tugged his shirt. “Are you unhappy?”
“No.”
“You are. You're pressing your lips together.”
Sheng Linyou looked down. Yin Xigui's expression was utterly serious, as though genuinely afraid he was angry.
“It's only that…” Yin Xigui chose his words carefully, twisting the fabric at his hem. “Lin Zhi likes sending people things. I can't stop him. But I truly didn't ask him to come, and I didn't know he would send this.”
“I don't blame you.” Sheng Linyou brushed his hair. “Eat.”
Even so, Sheng Linyou ate noticeably less. He served two bowls of rib soup, pushed one toward Yin Xigui, and set the other beside himself. After two sips, he put it down.
Yin Xigui watched around the spoon between his teeth, then swallowed whatever he had meant to say.
The bell rang again that afternoon.
Sheng Linyou opened the door with impatience already between his brows, then stopped.
Lin Zhi stood outside in a dark blue casual suit, his hair meticulously arranged and a paper bag in hand. His expression stiffened subtly at the sight of Sheng Linyou before he smiled.
“I've come to see Xigui.”
Sheng Linyou stepped aside.
Yin Xigui was curled on the sofa reading. He looked up at the footsteps and instinctively lowered the book.
“Zhizhi? Why are you here?”
“I brought you a few things.” Lin Zhi placed the bag on the table and removed several ointments and a box of nutritional supplements. His gaze paused on Yin Xigui's bandaged wrists, and he frowned. “Do your hands still hurt?”
“No. Brother already treated them.”
Lin Zhi's mouth shifted before returning to a proper smile.
“Good. I sent someone to speak with your father. He won't trouble you again in the near future. But don't draw attention to yourself. Be careful when you go out.”
Yin Xigui nodded and curled his legs closer. Seeing Sheng Linyou still standing beside the table, he caught his fingers.
“Brother, sit.”
Sheng Linyou glanced at Lin Zhi and sat beside Yin Xigui. Three grown men crowded the limited sofa space, subtle unease hanging in the air.
Lin Zhi's gaze passed over their joined hands. He lifted a glass, drank, and set it down with a quiet knock.
“Xigui,” he said gently, “I heard you missed classes these past two days. There's a joint-finance lecture next week. Would you like to attend with me? The instructor is quite good.”
Yin Xigui tilted his head in thought and looked at Sheng Linyou. Sheng Linyou showed no reaction, though one finger lightly scratched Yin Xigui's palm.
“I don't think I'll go. I haven't felt like leaving home lately.”
Lin Zhi nodded without pressing him. He remained for a while, exchanging unimportant pleasantries, then rose to leave.
At the entryway, he stopped and looked back at Sheng Linyou.
“Come outside.”
Sheng Linyou released Yin Xigui's hand and followed.
On the stone path beyond the gate, Lin Zhi turned to him, all courtesy stripped from his face.
“Yin Zhengsong knows you attacked Yin Ou this morning. He had the surveillance footage checked.”
Sheng Linyou raised a brow.
“Yes. You beat Xigui's brother while rescuing him. Yin Ou was wrong, but he's still a member of the family. They despise Xigui even more now. To them, he's an unruly illegitimate son who brings trouble.” Lin Zhi stared at him. “Restrain yourself. If something else happens, Xigui won't be able to protect you.”
Sheng Linyou remained beneath the poplar by the gate, its shadows cutting his face into light and darkness. After watching Lin Zhi for a while, he laughed.
“You rushed over merely to tell me that?”
Lin Zhi's expression did not change.
“I came for Xigui. His life is difficult enough.”
“I know.” Sheng Linyou placed both hands in his coat pockets and looked beyond Lin Zhi's shoulder. “I don't need your reminder.”
Lin Zhi opened his car door. Before getting inside, he said, “I'm trying to clear the permissions on your collar. Don't expect it to happen quickly. The Yin family's reach is longer than you imagine.”
The door closed, and the gray sedan left the alley.
Sheng Linyou remained in the courtyard for a while before returning inside.
Yin Xigui was still curled on the sofa. He immediately sat upright, eyes bright.
“Brother, what did Lin Zhi say?”
“Nothing. He told me to take good care of you.”
“Liar.”
Sheng Linyou sat beside him and rubbed his hair. Yin Xigui leaned over naturally, resting his head against Sheng Linyou's shoulder and playing with a button on his coat.
“Brother.”
“Mm?”
“What are you thinking?”
Sheng Linyou looked down at that fluffy pink head, the warm strands tickling his neck.
He was thinking about Yin Ou's bruised face when he stormed into the residence that morning. About the way Yin Zhengsong had watched from an upstairs window, looking at a person as if he were not alive.
He was thinking of Yin Xigui curled in the basement corner, trembling like a leaf in the wind.
And he was thinking about everything Lin Zhi had just said.
But when he lowered his gaze, Yin Xigui had already closed his eyes against him. His breathing was calm and steady, a slight smile on his lips as though he were having a pleasant dream.
“Nothing.” Sheng Linyou rested his chin on Yin Xigui's hair, his voice low. “Go to sleep.”