The Decade of Deep Love

Chapter 20 - Gentleness of Doctor Ai

Chapter 20: Gentleness of Doctor Ai

Translator: Ruriko

It was a rare windless sunny day. In the hospital, the fox fur on the brim of Zhishu He’s hat looked vivid and warm in the sunlight. Ziyu Ai couldn’t help stretching out his hand to touch it, staring at Zhishu He with his bright dark brown eyes.

“What’s the matter, doctor?” Zhishu He turned to him, and the baggy collar exposed his fair neck.

“Look,” Ziyu Ai said with a sudden smile. He wrapped that ring of fox fur around the cheeks of Zhishu He, “Aren’t you like a baby tiger now?”

Zhishu He burst out laugher, not expecting that a doctor would have such a good sense of humor.

But soon he stopped laughing. The pain he suffered during the chemotherapy was even greater than that of the last time. Zhishu He’s sideburns got wet by sweat for pain; he vomited so heavily that he could even not keep his waist straight. Zhishu He could only refrain himself from making a sound when he suffered such severe pain. Ziyu Ai called his name softly in the distance. Hearing someone call him, Zhishu He slowly raised his head after quite a while, opened his moistened eyes, and squeezed two words out of his quivering lips, “It hurts...”

Hearing that, Ziyu Ai felt a sharp pain in his heart. In fact, he lied to Zhishu He, who was so thin and feeble that he was not at all like a weak baby tiger, but more like a kitten, whose little paws were not well used and any bit of carelessness could make himself hurt easily.

“Have a rest in my office,” Ziyu Ai brought Zhishu He to his office. “I’ll prescribe you some medicine.”

Zhishu He felt weak all over, without a little strength, so he did not refuse Ziyu Ai. But to his surprise, the cushion on the doctor’s cot was replaced with a thick one covered with a fluffy blanket. Zhishu He got pole-axed.

“Lie down and have a rest here. I’ll have other patients later,” Ziyu Ai did not think more, and helped Zhishu He open the fluffy blanket on the bed, which seemed recently aired, and was sweet and soft.

Zhishu He buried half of his face in the pale blue blanket full of sunshine’s smell, feeling like crying, but he did not know why. A man, who had been suffering hardships for a long time, was not afraid of being treated badly by others, but afraid of being treated well. Because he had nothing to pay back.

“You can have a longer sleep,” Ziyu Ai drew half of the curtain, “I’ll wake you up later.”

Zhishu He was tired both mentally and physically, so he fell asleep fast. However, Ziyu Ai, sat at his desk, with his mind wandering, wondering what his real feeling to Zhishu He was. To see that man suffer caused Ai a great deal of heartache; he felt uncomfortable to see the love bites left by another man; he was also angry at Zhishu He’s tolerance and deep love for that man.

Ziyu Ai was born in a rich family with great power; however, for professional reasons, Ziyu Ai had always been self-restrained. He did not smoke or drink; besides, he was not a playboy. He was just fond of cars and raising flowers; in the two hobbies of Ziyu Ai, the latter one was developed by his father.

He sent his favorite orchid to Zhishu He, even though they had met for only a few times. Ziyu Ai raised the corner of his lips unconsciously, whirling the pen among fingers.

Zhishu He hadn’t had such a good sleep for a long time. Sleeping like a log, he felt warm and safe. He didn’t even dream much, the only bit impression of the dream was a laurel standing in the sun, sweet and gentle.

The doctor did not wake him up. It was already dark when Zhishu He awoke naturally. Ziyu Ai had no night shift today, so he went off work early and came to check Zhishu He.

“You’re awake?” Ziyu Ai closed the medical report all in English with a smile.

Zhishu He looked better, and hurried to get up, “I am really sorry to disturb you.”

“Please don’t go to so much trouble about me, or I’ll feel I’m being treated as a stranger,” Ziyu Ai shook his head disapprovingly, pointing at the thermal dinner pail, “The medicated meals are delivered here already. Have dinner here and then I’ll send you home.”

Zhishu He froze on hearing the words, feeling that there was something wrong with Dr. Ai all day.

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