Chapter 40 – Trying the Medicine
On the way home, Lin Ganzhi would occasionally touch the medicine packet by his side, his heart filled with joy. If the medicine worked, his dream of early retirement was about to come true!
Throughout the journey, Wenren Yi seemed to want to say something but held back, finally being silenced by a warning look from Que Jin.
Looking down, Wenren Yi received a message from Que Jin: [You have to respect Ganzhi’s choice!]
Wenren Yi gritted her teeth: [What’s so good about a scumbag like that? Didn’t you hear what Ganzhi said? From college until just two months ago, it’s a wonder he’s not completely broken! Why didn’t something happen to him sooner? No, I can’t let the kid go back today. I’ll take him to my place for a good talk! You come too, my family’s chef is a great cook.]
Que Jin looked helplessly at Lin Ganzhi in the front seat, who was humming a tune in delight: [It’s probably going to be difficult. Look at Ganzhi right now. Give him a stove, and he’d start brewing medicine for his partner on the spot.]
Wenren Yi was heartbroken: [Love brain ruins people!]
“Wenren, are you going home or to Que Jin’s place?” Lin Ganzhi skillfully made a turn.
“I’m going home. Ganzhi, do you want to come play at my house too? I have a private game room and movie theater~” Wenren Yi made an offer Lin Ganzhi couldn’t refuse.
“No thanks, I have to go home and brew medicine.” Lin Ganzhi resolutely refused. How could temporary pleasure compare to early retirement?
Wenren Yi was speechless. It was just as Que Jin had said.
Since she couldn’t persuade Lin Ganzhi not to jump into the fire pit, she had to at least understand why he was so fond of it.
“Ganzhi, can you tell me the details of your love story with your partner? It might be a good reference for my future. For example, how did you, uh, still willingly stay with him despite his physical condition?”
Because of money!
Lin Ganzhi quickly answered in his head.
“Because he’s different from others.”
Wenren Yi: Mhm, he’s quite different indeed. Someone who’s been fooling around since college is rare even in our circles.
“He… is quite caring,” except for the part where he scared him with the cat story in the middle of the night. “Although his family doesn’t have much money,” well, compared to before, “he’s very good to me. Every time some slanderous material about me comes out, he tries his best to solve the problem for me. Although he doesn’t say anything, he helps me a lot behind the scenes. Including in the previous live stream, he would fight back against the anti-fans for me,” with money, which was a bit painful. “Although he’s a bit serious usually, when we’re out, even if others can’t stand him, he will do his best to block their anger from being vented on me. And with my aunt’s side, he’s very supportive of my attitude and thoughts.”
As Lin Ganzhi spoke, he himself fell into thought. He had unintentionally listed so many of Yan Shengping’s good qualities. Looking at it this way, he had been really good to him, in many ways.
Wenren Yi and Que Jin also fell into deep thought. Was this the legendary return of the prodigal son? Ganzhi didn’t seem like the type of saint who would bottle up his grievances and speak up for others. That could only mean that Yan Shengping was currently good to Lin Ganzhi.
The two of them felt conflicted for a moment, but in the end, they didn’t try to keep Lin Ganzhi. They let him go home to brew medicine for his partner.
After all, the kid had already summarized it so sincerely.
“Forget it. If he gets bullied over there, I’ll hire the best lawyer for him in a heartbeat.” Wenren Yi sounded like a weary old father watching his daughter get married.
“If it’s as Ganzhi said, then Mr. Yan isn’t as bad as the internet makes him out to be,” Que Jin concluded. Indeed, one shouldn’t trust rumors and hearsay too much.
***
Lin Ganzhi, who had returned home, arrived just as Uncle Yan was making dinner. Lin Ganzhi deftly took over the kitchen duties. Just as he had promised Yan Shengping, he would make him a variety of delicious food. On the dinner table that night were several dishes, varied in style, but half of them had not a speck of chili, yet they smelled delicious.
Although Yan Shengping didn’t say much while eating now, he ate much more than before. His thin frame was gradually returning to normal. Sometimes, when he stood in front of Lin Ganzhi, Lin Ganzhi would even feel a sense of pressure.
After dinner, Lin Ganzhi took out the traditional Chinese medicine from Grandpa Qin and introduced it enthusiastically. “This is from Grandpa Qin, my colleague’s maternal grandfather. I heard he’s a very famous old Chinese doctor, so I got a few doses of medicine to try first.”
“Ganzhi, are you sure about this?” Uncle Yan, who had always supported Lin Ganzhi, looked at the medicine packet with hesitation. After all, this wasn’t food; medicine couldn’t be taken carelessly. Even he only dared to ask his most trusted senior brother to prescribe medicine.
“Mhm! Wenren introduced me. The old doctor seems very reliable too!” Lin Ganzhi pulled out the prescription.
Uncle Yan took the slip. He wasn’t a doctor, so he couldn’t understand it. But, “Ganzhi, you just met that child Wenren on the show, right?”
Lin Ganzhi was taken aback, then tried hard to explain, “Wenren is a very good person, I guarantee it. Although we just met, she has no reason to lie to me. Besides, I also checked Grandpa Qin’s identity before going. He was a very famous Chinese doctor before, but he went abroad more than ten years ago and only recently came back. I heard you can’t even get an appointment to see him.”
Uncle Yan frowned and nodded. “Ganzhi, I know your intentions, but the master’s health is not a small matter. We can’t try things rashly. At the very least, he needs to see the doctor himself.”
Lin Ganzhi listened quietly, his once shining eyes gradually dimming. He carefully folded his hands, his restless little finger constantly hooking the corner of his clothes. But he didn’t interrupt from beginning to end. After listening to Uncle Yan finish, he forced a smile.
He was still too young, not considering things thoroughly enough.
“Mmm, I understand, Uncle Yan. I’ll put this medicine aside for now. I’ll invite Grandpa Qin to the house some other day,” Lin Ganzhi said with a smile. Although he was a little upset, from Uncle Yan’s perspective, he wasn’t wrong.
Uncle Yan nodded. Just as he was about to help Lin Ganzhi put the medicine away, a well-defined hand reached out and pressed down on the medicine packet.
Yan Shengping looked up from his tablet, propping his chin on his hand and said in a deep voice, “The bodyguard told me you ran very far today, from the south suburbs all the way to the north suburbs?”
Lin Ganzhi didn’t quite understand why Yan Shengping was saying this, but since he asked, he answered seriously, “Mmm, because Grandpa Qin likes peace and quiet, and his old home is over there. He has a proper business license. I even took a picture.”
“Then I’ll have to trouble Uncle Yan to brew it. It’s not easy to run so far.” Yan Shengping pushed the medicine packet towards Uncle Yan.
Uncle Yan hesitated. “But sir, your health…”
“The effects of Chinese medicine aren’t as strong as Western medicine. I’ve looked at the prescription too; it’s mostly restorative herbs, so it shouldn’t be a big problem. It’s not often he goes out for a serious reason without messing with his own body, and he got this medicine for me. There’s no harm in trying it,” Yan Shengping said slowly, his face showing no signs of reluctance.
Lin Ganzhi’s nose suddenly tingled, and he couldn’t help but look at the sunset outside the window.
“Alright, since you’ve looked at the prescription, sir. Ganzhi, I hope you don’t mind. I was just acting out of concern for the master’s health. I hope you can understand my worry,” Uncle Yan said as he took the medicine packet. Having been a butler for so many years, he was a smart man. He understood that the master meant to protect Lin Ganzhi. The master had been stubborn since he was a child; once he made a decision, he would never change it.
Lin Ganzhi pinched the base of his thumb to force a smile. “Uncle Yan, I understand. You’ve been taking care of Shengping all this time, so it would be strange if you weren’t worried. It was my fault for not considering things thoroughly at the beginning. I should have told you about this in advance.”
Uncle Yan nodded with a cheerful smile. “If the medicine is effective, we’ll go to the old doctor’s place with the master next time.” With that, he took the medicine packet to the kitchen to brew it.
“You rest for a bit, I’m going to water the plants,” Lin Ganzhi said, patting his pants. He didn’t dare to let his gaze linger on Yan Shengping for more than two seconds before turning and heading to the small courtyard.
Yan Shengping said nothing, just turned his head to watch Lin Ganzhi’s back. He watched him fetch water, fill the watering can, and then water the small seedlings one by one. The twilight glow hit the tips of his hair and his right hand, which often brushed against his face.
The silly fox was upset.
Yan Shengping’s fingertips tapped on the table, once, twice. He was only thinking about one thing: with their fake relationship, there was absolutely no need to go over and comfort him.
“Didn’t you water them this morning?” Lin Ganzhi was stunned, his eyes still a little red. He never expected Yan Shengping to come out.
For the sake of his limited pride, Lin Ganzhi quickly turned in another direction. “They need to be watered in the morning and evening, just not at noon, or they’ll wilt.” The weather had been sunny recently, so even in autumn, he had to be careful.
Yan Shengping gave a long hum, looking at the seedlings that were growing taller by the day. He said, “The seedlings watered at noon are a bit like you right now.”
“Huh?”
“They’re both wilted,” Yan Shengping said in a deep voice.
Lin Ganzhi was stunned, his nose growing more and more tingly. He hadn’t felt that aggrieved at first, but hearing it put like that, “Nonsense!”
Lin Ganzhi hugged the watering can and was about to go fetch more water, but the back of his neck was suddenly gently squeezed, rendering him immobile. Yan Shengping’s unique body heat was subtly transferring over.
Yan Shengping didn’t like Lin Ganzhi’s current restrained look. “In this house, if you feel wronged, just say it. It’s not like you haven’t made me angry once or twice. There’s an old saying, strangers the first time, friends the second. I’m already used to it. Isn’t it a bit forced for you to be so polite now?”
Lin Ganzhi froze and looked up. Yan Shengping was looking at him with a half-smile, his sharp gaze softened by the hazy sunset. Yan Shengping saw all of it—Lin Ganzhi’s red-rimmed eyes and nose.
Yan Shengping took a handkerchief from his pocket and held it to Lin Ganzhi’s face. “Wipe it. If Uncle Yan sees this later, he’ll feel guilty for half a day.”
Lin Ganzhi took the handkerchief, which smelled of cool pine. “I wasn’t going to cry this much,” Lin Ganzhi sniffled, wiping his eyes.
The hand Yan Shengping had on Lin Ganzhi’s neck didn’t let go, gently kneading it. This was what he considered a way to soothe emotions. The little cat from his childhood used to act spoiled in his arms just like this.
“Yan Shengping, your illness must get better. Many people care about you in their own ways,” Lin Ganzhi said, taking the opportunity while wiping his tears to voice all his thoughts.
But as he spoke, he felt guilty. How could he let his boss comfort him when he was the one who was upset? It was so unprofessional!
It was also the first time in Yan Shengping’s life that someone had made such a request of him. He could only say, with a wry smile, “I’ll do my best.”
There aren’t many people, just a silly little fox and an Uncle Yan.
That night, after calming down, Lin Ganzhi lay in bed and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. He had actually been comforted by the person he was supposed to be taking care of, and he had even cried in front of him. Would his boss think he was useless and cut his salary?
Lin Ganzhi tossed and turned in bed several times but couldn’t fall asleep.
Taking out his phone, Lin Ganzhi opened his chat with Yan Shengping. He felt like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t know how to phrase it.
Coincidentally, Yan Shengping in the study accidentally opened his chat with Lin Ganzhi and saw that the other party was typing. Yan Shengping’s fingertips trembled. He simply placed his phone on the table without exiting the chat.
Lin Ganzhi had just typed out the two words “thank you” when a message from Wenren Yi came in: [Ganzhi, although, I feel it’s very necessary to remind you, have you checked if your partner has completely broken up with his exes?]