Chapter 12 - Waking Up (1/2)

Chapter 12: Waking Up

Translated by Shiya of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Lu Shang was observed in the intensive care unit for the whole night. The next morning, he was transferred to a private room. Li Sui sat beside the bed, he just stared at Lu Shang, not daring to move.

Lu Shang was lying on the bed quietly, electrodes were stuck on his body, he was hooked to a ventilator. Lu Shang looked so frail, as if he would crumble with just one gentle touch. Li Sui reached his hand out to Lu Shang. His hands were cold to the touch and Li Sui couldn’t feel a shred of warmth from it. His chest’s movements were also very small. Li Sui was terrified. What if it just suddenly stopped moving? Li Sui would lean forward to check every so often.

Now that all the sharpness and shine were stripped away, Li Sui noticed how Lu Shang was a lot thinner than the average person. Usually, Lu Shang would be wrapped in a thick layer of clothes in winter, so Li Sui didn’t realize it. Now, wearing a loose hospital gown, his skinniness was as obvious as day; Lu Shang’s whole body looked thinner than usual. The neck was so frail and tiny that it looked as if one hand could envelope half of it. Li Sui could see Lu Shang’s neck shifting slightly along with his chest. Li Sui shifted his gaze to Lu Shang’s wrist, because of the surgery, Lu Shang’s white skin looked a little more sickly than usual, the blue veins were prominent as well.

The EKG machine next to the bed showed rhythmic lines. Li Sui enveloped Lu Shang’s hand, trying to warm it. But no matter how much he tried, the warmth just couldn’t persist. Li Sui called out to Lu Shang lightly, but the person lying on the bed had no reaction to his voice, Lu Shang’s eyes were still shut tightly. Li Sui laid his head on the side of the bed, the smell of familiar shampoo flowed into Li Sui’s nose, the smell was able to calm him down a little.

A constant temperature of 22 degree Celsius was kept inside the room. It was fine when the sun was out, but at night, it could get freezing cold. The nurses were kind and brought Li Sui a blanket, reminding him to have something to eat.

Li Sui didn’t have an appetite, he just ate a bit of the bread, forcing it down with congee. Around that time, old Dr. Leung visited, he checked Lu Shang’s temperature and added two new bottles of medicine.

“When will he wake up?” Li Sui asked.

“Should be anytime now. Aren’t you going to get some rest?”

Li Sui shook his head in objection. Old Dr. Leung examined Li Sui’s arm, seeing that his wounds had healed a lot already, he let Li Sui be. The room was quiet to begin with and, when night came, only the sounds of nurses chatting could be heard. Li Sui leaned on the bed, listening to the vague chatter. He couldn’t resist the drowsiness and fell asleep.

He wasn’t sure what time it was, but Li Sui felt someone brushing his hair in his dreams. Li Sui opened his eyes immediately. Raising his head, he met a pair of quiet eyes. Eyes like still water.

“You’re awake?” Li Sui sat up promptly, he was so nervous that his voice was a little rusty. “Does it still hurt?”

Lu Shang’s face was extremely pale, hearing the voice, he closed his eyelids lightly and shook his head feebly. Lu Shang couldn’t move much; he also couldn’t speak with the breathing tube still in his trachea.

The doctor on duty was called, removing the tube, the doctor made sure everything was normal. That was when Li Sui finally felt a bit relieved. It was dark outside. Li Sui moved the bed up according to the doctor’s advice, he also got an extra pillow from the wardrobe. Gently, Li Sui lifted Lu Shang’s head and placed the pillow behind him, he then pulled the blanket up. Lu Shang didn’t move an inch when Li Sui did all those actions, he was completely at the mercy of Li Sui. The two of them looked directly at each other. Face-to-face, Li Sui only needed to lean forward a little and they’d be kissing. If Li Sui kissed Lu Shang now, with how weak Lu Shang was, he wouldn’t be able to retaliate at all… Li Sui was shocked by his own crazy idea and he immediately looked away from Lu Shang.

When the sky began to brighten up, the doctor removed the electrodes on Lu Shang. Li Sui got some cotton swabs from the nurse, dipping it in warm water, he moistened Lu Shang’s slightly cracked lips. Lu Shang couldn’t stay conscious for a long time; his consciousness was sometimes hazy. Feeling the moisture on his lips, Lu Shang’s lips twitched slightly. Li Sui continued moving the swab gently and, for some reason, his thoughts were uncontrollably attracted to what he was seeing.

Slowly, without even realizing it, the distance between them shortened. Lu Shang’s pale white face was right in front of Li Sui, so close that Li Sui could feel the warmth of Lu Shang’s breath. It was as if Li Sui was hypnotized, he couldn’t move his eyes away from the slowly fluttering, thin lips.

One little kiss? Just one peck, he won’t even notice it, right?

Li Sui closed in on Lu Shang, he pecked Lu Shang’s lips ever so gently. Quickly he drew away from Lu Shang, so fast that he didn’t even get the chance to savor the sensation of touching those lips.

It was but a simple action, yet, to Li Sui, it was as if he had stolen a world treasure. He was engulfed by satisfaction, it washed away the tiny shreds of guilt in his heart. Apart from sweetness, he felt a latent sense of nervousness, his heart pounding non-stop, both of his ears red. Lu Shang’s eyelashes trembled slightly, Li Sui snapped back, his body froze, but he promptly regained his composure and left the room.

Li Sui got a jar of cold water; he drank three whole glasses to calm himself down. It was as if a mixed tape was playing in Li Sui’s mind, the image of Lu Shang flashed by, then what Dr. Leung said was replayed, followed by his inappropriate actions just now. His reasons and impulses were battling each other, just like a bee who had fallen into a closed bottle, bumping around randomly to get out.

“Li Sui? What are you doing here?”

Li Sui had yet to finish tidying up his thoughts, but hearing the voice, he turned around. Meng XinYou was standing at the door, looking at him curiously.

Li Sui stood up immediately, he raised the cup in his hand, “I’m just drinking some water.”

“What about Lu Shang, how is he?”

Li Sui put the cup down, “He is sleeping, I’ll bring you to him.”

The two of them walked in the hospital corridors, Meng XinYou continued staring at Li Sui. The subject of observation felt anxious, he felt as if his secrets were being seen through, so he turned to Meng XinYou and asked, “Umm… Is there something on my face?”

Meng XinYou smiled, “You have breadcrumbs on your face.”

Li Sui was a little shocked, he awkwardly touched the corner of his mouth. As expected, there were breadcrumbs.

The second Meng XinYou neared the bed, she pat the side of Lu Shang’s face a few times, “Wakey, wakey, stop sleeping already.”

Li Sui was startled by Meng XinYou, he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing Meng XinYou’s arm, “His surgery just ended.”

“It’s fine, it won’t kill him.” Meng XinYou said nonchalantly while waving her hand.

Li Sui wanted to say something but glancing at the person lying on the bed, he swallowed the words back.

Lu Shang was awake.

“My father asked me to come visit you.” Meng XinYou sat down on the bedside chair. She picked up an apple and started peeling it with a knife, “Can you hear what I am saying now?”

Lu Shang seemed a little tired, he lowered his eyelids slightly.

“I’m going to discuss some matters with him, do you mind leaving us alone for a bit?” Meng XinYou smiled at Li Sui.

Li Sui was conflicted. He looked at Lu Shang. Their eyes met, Lu Shang’s eyes were calm, so Li Sui obediently left the room.

Meng XinYou waited for the door to close, then she shrugged, Do you see that? He’s cautious of me.”

Lu Shang didn’t speak, but his eyes were judging.