TL: Hua

“Howdy? Third Grasp?” Qi Xiaoyu’s voice got here from distant by way of the receiver. It was low and hoarse, as if gently rubbing towards his coronary heart. Each tone might make him tremble barely.

“Sure.” Xun Qian’s entire physique relaxed, and the 5 fingers that had been clenched collectively slowly relaxed and dropped.

Listening to Xun Qian’s response, Qi Xiaoyu smiled softly, though there was clear tiredness in his voice. “I heard from Mama Li that you just discovered a physician for me. I wish to make a name to thanks.”

Xun Qian leaned again in his chair. Exterior, there was the sound of rising waves hitting the rocks. Inside, there was the sound of the pet protruding its tongue and panting. From the second he pressed the reply button, it appeared like every part had simply begun to point out its true kind.

Xun Qian replied, “No want.”

“Woof woof woof.” In all probability as a result of it keenly heard the voice of its proprietor on the opposite finish of the telephone, the little black canine anxiously circled the wheelchair twice, then raised its head and barked eagerly at Xun Qian.

On the opposite finish of the telephone, Qi Xiaoyu’s consideration was instantly drawn away. He coughed and requested, “Huh? Is White-browed Hero subsequent to you? Is it handy to deliver it with you when you could have enterprise outdoors?”

Xun Qian bent down, took the little black canine into his arms, and patted its head comfortingly. “It’s fantastic.”

After some time, he squeezed the pet’s entrance paws seemingly subconsciously and mentioned, “I’ll come again tomorrow to have fun the New 12 months.”

“Are you coming again tomorrow?” After Qi Xiaoyu completed talking, he most likely realized one thing was flawed. This was Xun Qian’s house. In fact, Xun Qian might come again any day he wished, so he shortly modified his phrases and mentioned, “Okay, I’ll discuss to Mama Li and ask her to purchase extra greens tomorrow.”

“Um.”

Xun Qian hung up the telephone and got here to the window, holding the pet.

Fog condensed on the glass, and outdoors was the countless black sea.

The nights on the finish of winter are darker than every other time.

Qi Xiaoyu…is afraid of the darkish.

*****

“Third Grasp, why are you again?”

Mama Li was cooking porridge when she heard the noise outdoors and hurried out. She noticed Butler Cheng push Xun Qian in with the canine in his arms.

Butler Cheng’s expression appeared heavy, however his tone was clearly joyful. “Does the Third Grasp have to tell you first when he comes again? The place is Mr. Qi? Is he within the room?”

Mama Li nodded shortly. “Yeah, Mr. Qi is resting within the room. I simply despatched a pot of sizzling water up. He appears to be sleeping.”

Butler Cheng lowered his voice subconsciously and requested, “Is the fever nonetheless extreme?”

“Sure, his garments are all moist. The place’s the physician? When will he come?”

“I simply known as and requested. It could take one other hour.”

After talking, Butler Cheng waved to her, “Okay, you may go make porridge. If I don’t name you later, don’t come up once more.”

“Okay, okay.” Mama Li poked her head out and watched Xun Qian enter the elevator with out a second’s pause.

Qi Xiaoyu was certainly nonetheless asleep.

Beneath the dim yellow evening mild, his eyebrows furrowed barely, his lips parted, his eyelashes trembled, his cheeks sunken, and his hair on his brow and temples was soaked with sweat.

Seeing him like this, Xun Qian couldn’t assist however really feel somewhat nervous. Simply an hour in the past, he nonetheless had the vitality to name and thank him.

When the little black canine noticed Qi Xiaoyu, it wished to bark and climb onto the mattress, however Xun Qian shortly pushed it into Butler Cheng’s arms.

Butler Cheng understood, instantly picked up the little black canine, closed the door, and went out.

Quickly, the one sound left within the room was Qi Xiaoyu’s considerably stuffy respiratory.

Xun Qian pushed the wheelchair to the bedside.

Qi Xiaoyu gave the impression to be in a nightmare, respiratory quick and gradual and turning over with problem every now and then.

This sort of Qi Xiaoyu made him really feel reluctant to depart.

If he was at house, he might have taken him to the hospital yesterday.

He himself simply began to get sick and didn’t get therapy in time. The delay acquired worse and worse, main to the current state of affairs.

He was already on this state, so he didn’t need Qi Xiaoyu, too, to undergo from this.

Xun Qian lowered his eyes and noticed Qi Xiaoyu’s hand hanging over the sting of the mattress.

The hand was additionally purple, however the fingers had been slender and barely curved, giving a very pitiful and helpless look.

It was clearly only a small piece of hand hanging outdoors, however Xun Qian couldn’t look away from it.

It was an extended, very long time earlier than he moved barely, leaning his physique ahead midway.

He gave the impression to be attempting to seize the hand, after which once more, simply to take a look at it.

He cautiously wished to the touch the delicate paintings and approached it slowly and calmly, touching the little pores and skin on Qi Xiaoyu’s fingertips.

Piping sizzling and moist.

It appeared as if he might really feel the heart beat beating at his fingertips.

He first touched Qi Xiaoyu’s fingertips calmly, then held his fingertips, then moved up little by little, hooked his total fingers, and eventually wrapped his hand in his palm.

Lastly, Xun Qian supported his brow together with her proper hand, grabbed Qi Xiaoyu’s hand together with his left hand, and raised the corners of his mouth in a self-deprecating smile. How infantile.

However there’s one other sort of contentment.

He thought he cared about Qi Xiaoyu somewhat greater than he thought he did.

I don’t need him to get sick.

I don’t need him to get damage.

I don’t need him to be lonely.

In case you are additionally a lonely particular person, then let me accompany you for some time.

****

An hour later, Zhang Han accompanied the physician to Xun’s home.

After the physician fastidiously examined Qi Xiaoyu, he concluded that the latter was overworked, coupled with fever and bronchitis brought on by repeated colds.

He introduced fever-reducing drugs and mentioned that if Qi Xiaoyu was given an injection for 3 consecutive days, then took the medication on time and rested in mattress for a number of days, he could be cured.

Qi Xiaoyu was affected by a fever and was unconscious, so the fever-reducing drug needed to be injected on the hip space.

Xun Qian gave Zhang Han and Butler Cheng a glance, and the 2 instantly rotated and left the room.

When Zhang Han got here out, he mentioned, “I believed the third grasp was all in favour of a no-name movie star, however I didn’t anticipate him to be so severe.”

“Sure,” Butler Chen mentioned as if he had been watching his kids fall in love. “It’s not straightforward for somebody to accompany him after so a few years. Within the leisure trade, it is best to all the time look out for Mr. Qi.”

Zhang Han barely questioned, “If he’s the person who the third grasp desires, why hassle becoming a member of the leisure trade? That place is such a multitude, and the work is tough. Each time he goes out to report a present, it takes at the very least ten days or half a month… Why not let him keep at house and correctly accompany the third grasp to recuperate?”

“This…what you mentioned is smart, nevertheless it will depend on what Mr. Qi means.”

Zhang Han was much more curious: “Will we nonetheless should hearken to what he desires?”

“Sure,” the butler nodded. “You’ll know later after spending extra time right here. Issues are an excessive amount of for me to say in a second proper now.”

Zhang Han and Butler Cheng stood within the hall chatting for some time, then noticed the physician strolling out of Qi Xiaoyu’s room carrying a medical package.

Zhang Han walked over and glanced behind the physician. “The place is the Third Grasp?”

The physician replied, “He’s nonetheless within the room. I suppose he desires to accompany the affected person.”

Zhang Han was much more stunned.

Butler Cheng made a “please” gesture and patted Zhang Han on the shoulder. “Ship the physician again. You don’t have to fret about issues right here.”

****

The following morning, the late New 12 months’s Eve solar shone by way of the floor-to-ceiling home windows into Qi Xiaoyu’s room.

The daylight first shone on Xun Qian’s again after which on Qi Xiaoyu’s quilt.

Qi Xiaoyu raised his hand to dam the intense mild shining on his face and squinted his eyes.

Then he turned to the aspect and noticed Xun Qian sitting subsequent to his mattress.

Xun Qian supported his head together with his palms and gave the impression to be asleep.

He stared at Xun Qian for some time, and a wierd feeling arose in his coronary heart. Though it sounds somewhat pretentious, having somebody accompany him when he was sick all the time felt completely different.

Qi Xiaoyu opened the quilt and climbed up gently and slowly.

He moved very slowly. Though the fever had subsided after the injection, he nonetheless felt sore throughout his physique, as if he had been run over by a automotive. He felt muscle soreness simply now when he raised my arm.

Xun Qian wakened simply as he sat up.

Xun Qian watched him stand up from the mattress. His face nonetheless paled as if he had been sick, and he beckoned to him, “Come right here.”

Qi Xiaoyu walked over, as he mentioned.

Xun Qian grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Nicely, the fever has certainly gone away.”

Qi Xiaoyu was shocked for a second, feeling that this gesture was a bit overly caring and overly intimate and exceeded the boundaries between him and Xun Qian.

However when he checked out Xun Qian, the opposite social gathering’s expression was nonetheless the identical as earlier than: detached, as if it had been only a matter in fact, so casually shaking it.

He requested, “When did you come again?”

He initially wished to ask, did you come again final evening? However Xun Qian replied vaguely, “For some time, I heard from Mama Li that you just had been sick, so I got here to see you.”

Then he mentioned, “Let’s go; push me all the way down to have breakfast.”

Butler Cheng, Mama Li, and the little black canine are all downstairs.

Though the household hadn’t ready any new-year items, these days, with superior commerce and handy categorical supply, so long as you could have cash, something may be delivered instantly.

Butler Cheng had risen early within the morning to make preparations, and now the purple lanterns had been hung on the entrance, and the lounge had been piled excessive with all types of meals.

Biscuits, candies, oranges, apples, and grapes stuffed the espresso desk, and packing containers of categorical supply had been nonetheless being delivered to the home.

The little black canine had by no means seen this battle earlier than, and he was very excited to see a lot meals.

Listening to the doorbell, it barks frantically. When it noticed the meals being introduced in, it barked once more with pleasure.

When Butler Cheng was there organising the plate, it circled round Butler Cheng’s ft, wagging its tail uncontrollably.

When it sees any meals, it raises its hind paws, stands up straight, and needs to go up and odor it.

Butler Cheng was so irritated by it that he saved laughing, “Xiao Hei, don’t make hassle. I purchased you some recent, canned beef. I’ll give it to you when it arrives.”

The little black canine appeared to grasp the phrase “eat” and howled “oooooooooo” much more cheerfully.

Over within the kitchen, the aromas of cooked meals had been going sturdy.

Mama Li has been giving her all, beginning with breakfast, with noodles and congee, fried eggs, and stewed soup.

It was like she wished to make breakfast a full banquet.

Simply as Qi Xiaoyu pushed Xun Qian out of the elevator, the little black canine heard the sound and caught the acquainted odor. When its ears moved, it ran in the direction of them at a dash velocity of 100 meters.

Qi Xiaoyu shortly squatted down, caught the flying little black canine, picked it up, and bounced it into the air like a toddler.

When Butler Cheng noticed them coming down, he additionally came visiting with a smile and mentioned, “Why are you up so early? You must sleep somewhat longer.”

Whereas comforting the overly enthusiastic little black canine, Qi Xiaoyu mentioned somewhat shyly, “I’m hungry and wish to come down for breakfast.”

Butler Cheng laughed out loud. “That’s good. Mama Li has made a desk for breakfast, simply ready so that you can eat whenever you’re hungry.”

Then he mentioned, “You must eat extra whenever you’re sick. Third Grasp, you also needs to eat extra.”

When Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu had been having breakfast, sitting reverse one another, the canned beef they purchased for the little black canine additionally arrived.

Two individuals and one canine gathered across the eating desk to have breakfast on one other sunny winter day.

Thus, the final day of this yr begins in such a harmonious and heat ambiance.

****

The climate was good on New 12 months’s Eve. The solar shone on the out of doors garden, making it a vibrant inexperienced.

However Qi Xiaoyu wasn’t effectively and couldn’t go outdoors to keep away from catching a chilly once more.

So that they stayed indoors all through the day, sitting on the couch in the lounge and watching Qi Xiaoyu’s selection present.

The present has reached its third episode. The primary episode is after they first arrived in New Zealand to run a restaurant; the second episode is after they put together a party for visitors from New Zealand; and the third episode is after they go deep diving collectively.

After deep diving, the digital camera caught Qi Xiaoyu leaning towards the speedboat with a frown on his face.

Within the later stage, a brief piece of unhappy BGM was added, and a pitifully crying emoticon was added to boost the ambiance.

This system group didn’t need the scene to be emotional, however somewhat to be humorous. The emoticons used had been additionally cute.

Xun Qian’s face didn’t look excellent. He seemed on the TV and requested casually, “Did you get sick earlier than you even went to the ocean?”

Qi Xiaoyu didn’t anticipate that Xun Qian would abruptly turn into involved about this, so he felt a bit like a toddler caught by his mother and father. “It was fantastic on the time, not too severe… I didn’t really feel something.”

Xun Qian mentioned nothing.

After some time, this system filmed him falling asleep within the automotive and being despatched to the hospital. Xun Qian abruptly mentioned, “Subsequent time you get sick, don’t report this system.”

Qi Xiaoyu was keenly conscious of one thing barely flawed within the ambiance. “Oh, okay.”

****

This delicate ambiance lasted till meal time earlier than slowly recovering.

At evening, all of them gathered to look at the spring pageant gala.

After Butler Cheng and Mama Li completed their respective duties, in addition they went to the lounge to look at the present collectively.

Qi Xiaoyu ran upstairs as quickly as he completed consuming and didn’t come down till the present began, holding a giant paper bag in his hand.

Xun Qian glanced at him and requested, “What are you carrying?”

Qi Xiaoyu smiled mysteriously and mentioned, “You’ll discover out later. Let’s watch the present first.”

There was nothing in this system that notably attracted Xun Qian. He wasn’t very within the singing and dancing sketches. His eyes would fall on Qi Xiaoyu’s bag now and again.

However, Mama Li and Butler Cheng loved this system lots and even mentioned collectively, “There are increasingly more younger actors and actresses showing within the Spring Pageant Gala these days.”

“Will we be capable of see Mr. Qi on TV in two years?”

“Mr. Qi will certainly look higher than them if he goes up there.”

Xun Qian folded his palms on his knees, glanced to the aspect out of the nook of his eye, and thought in order effectively.

When this system on TV was coming to an finish, the twelve o’clock bell lastly rang.

Straight away, the sound of fireworks exploding might be heard within the distance, and the home windows of the lounge had been full of colourful fireworks from distant.

Qi Xiaoyu first took out a purple envelope and present bag from the paper bag and handed them to Butler Cheng. “Uncle Cheng, pleased new yr.”

Butler Cheng took it with a smile and mentioned, “Thanks, Mr. Qi. Usually, I’m the one who ought to give it to you1Because it’s customary for elders to offer purple envelopes to youthful individuals.. You don’t should spend a lot cash subsequent time.”

Qi Xiaoyu had a smile on his face. His restoration from the sickness made him look notably candy and wonderful. “Uncle Cheng, you’ve taken such excellent care of me at house. Now that I lastly earn cash, that is what I ought to do.”

After saying that, Qi Xiaoyu took out a purple envelope and present bag from the paper bag and mentioned, “Mama Li, pleased New 12 months.”

Mama Li took it with a smile, not as modest as Butler Cheng. She simply mentioned thank-you repeatedly.

In December, Xun Qian can pay double wages to all of the servants within the household. After they come to work subsequent yr, Butler Cheng may also give them purple envelopes.

However since New 12 months’s Eve isn’t normally celebrated, the household isn’t within the behavior of giving out New 12 months’s Eve purple envelopes.

When abruptly receiving a brand new yr’s purple envelope and a thick one at that, Mama Li is of course very pleased.

She had thought that this yr it might be her flip to maintain such a giant villa all to herself for New 12 months’s Eve, abandoned and chilly. However this yr turned out to be unexpectedly energetic, and she or he even acquired such a giant purple envelope!

Xun Qian’s eyes adopted Qi Xiaoyu’s palms till these palms lastly turned to him.

“Third Grasp, it is a New 12 months’s present for you. I want you a contented New 12 months and peace yearly.”

Xun Qian took the purple envelope and present bag from Qi Xiaoyu. Inside was a grey wool scarf.

This isn’t an costly present, not even beneficial to Xun Qian, however the final time he acquired a New 12 months’s present was when he was six years outdated. After that, the household didn’t have fun the New 12 months anymore, and much more so, nobody dared to offer Xun Qian a present. In any case, going through Xun Qian, nobody felt their presents had been worthy.

Xun Qian accepted the present and seemed up at Qi Xiaoyu, who was additionally taking a look at him.

Xun Qian mentioned softly, with a smile as mild as a gossamer, “Comfortable New 12 months.”

One other firework rose excessive and exploded outdoors the window.

****

After the New 12 months, simply after the seventh day of the lunar month, Qi Xiaoyu needed to fly to New Zealand once more to report this system. This time the recording time is 2 weeks.

After resting at house for a number of days, Qi Xiaoyu’s physique has virtually utterly recovered.

Beneath Mama Li and Butler Cheng’s supervision, he even gained somewhat weight, and the look on his face turned extra energetic and good.

Xun Qian despatched a driver to take Qi Xiaoyu to the airport. “It’s not handy to park the automotive outdoors… Ask the driving force to select you up whenever you come again.”

Going forwards and backwards to the car parking zone to select up the automotive is de facto not as handy as having somebody choose you up. “Thanks, Third Grasp.”

Xun Qian thought of it for a second, checked out Qi Xiaoyu, who was about to get within the automotive, and added, “Should you encounter one thing on this system set… you may name me and let me know.”