It took an hour before the drug’s effects completely disappeared.
Cheng Yan sat up, his body still somewhat stiff, and called Qin Hao.
“You don’t have to come and check on me in the next few days. I’m giving you a holiday. Go somewhere nice, preferably somewhere far.”
“A holiday?” Qin Hao cried out in excitement.
This vacation might be sudden and unexpected, but it was most certainly welcome.
“What, don’t you want it, after all?” Cheng Yanasked wryly.
“Of course, I do! But then, I thought…” Qin Hao paused for a while, and when he spoke again, his tone had turned cautious.
“Brother Cheng, this is a paid vacation, right? You’re still paying me my full salary?”
Cheng Yan rolled his eyes. He couldn’t be bothered with these trifles. “As long as you do as I say and don’t show up in the following days. Don’t come looking for me, do you understand?”
“No problem, Boss! Thank you!”
Qin Hao was grinning when he hung up the phone. His mind was already buzzing as he considered his destination options.
The next day, Cheng YancalledYao Tang.
“Is your family doctor not coming?” She wasn’t particularly subtle with the meaning behind her question, but Cheng Yanforged on and lied through his teeth.
“Hmm, I told Qin Hao to arrange it for me, but that rascal just up and left to travel abroad without so much as a notice. He probably forgot all about it. I don’t have the doctor’s contact details, either, so I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. Won’t you come over and help me apply the medicine, at least?”
Yao Tang agreed, andCheng Yanended the call with barely concealed glee.
All that was left for him to do was to relax and wait for her to arrive.
He had already told her the passcode to his door yesterday, so she shouldn’t have any difficulty getting inside.
Less than an hour later, he finally heard the beep of his security alarm, followed by the sound of the front door opening. Yao Tangwas here.
He listened as the footsteps came into the living room, his face glowing with joy. Luckily, he caught himself at the last minute and smoothened his expression. In the blink of an eye, Cheng Yanadopted a frail and sickly countenance.
He was so good at it, too, that even his cheeks and lips lost some of their color.
Soon, he heard footsteps travel up the stairs and down the hallway. They stopped right outside his bedroom door.
After a brief knocking, the door slowly opened.
“Here you are, Yao Tang! I—”
The words died in Cheng Yan’s throat when he looked up. He stared at the man in front of him, his mood instantly turning sour.
It turned out that his visitor was not Yao Tang, but her brother,Yao Yan.
Yao Yan peered at Cheng Yan, his eyes flashing with a mix of vigilance and suspicion.
Cheng Yan couldn’t help but narrow his eyes back at the other man, but he did manage a small smile. “What are you doing here, Mr. Yao?”
“I heard you got injured trying to save my sister,” Yao Yan said casually, “so I decided to drop by and take a look.”
“There’s no need for that,” Cheng Yansaid through gritted teeth. “I was more than willing to do it for her sake.”
“Please, Mr. Cheng. Seeing as how you and my sister are mere friends, I am, of course, very thankful that you went to such great lengths to ensure her safety. You deserve every bit of my gratitude.”
Cheng Yan’s eyes darkened at Yao Yan’s words.
Friends, huh?
To an innocent onlooker, Yao Yanwould indeed appear grateful and concerned, but his remarks were obviously barbed. After all, he had just dismissedCheng Yan’s relationship withYao Tangas nothing more than a passing friendship.
In an ideal world, he wouldn’t even have to thank Cheng Yanfor what he had done, as it would have been a matter of course.
Cheng Yan shook his head derisively. SinceYao Tangwasn’t here, there was no need for him to keep up with his act. He sat up straight on his bed and lookedYao Yanin the eye.
“You’re quite mistaken, Mr. Yao. I’ve known Yao Tangfor a good while; in fact, we were close before the two of you even developed a sibling relationship. Some people might even say that I precede you. With that said, there’s no wayYao Tangand I do not share your typical, ordinary friendship.
“More importantly, I’m willing to suffer on her behalf, regardless of the situation. I don’t need you to thank me as if I did something heroic.”
His tone was firm and brooked no argument.
Yao Yan’s expression turned grim. “Oh?” he drawled. “How come I wasn’t aware that the young master of the Cheng familyhas known ourTangtangfor so long?”
“Perhaps it’s because Mr. Yao is simply not that close with Tantang,” Cheng Yancountered, making sure to useYao Tang’s nickname as well. “You haven’t been in contact with each other for a long time, have you? It’s understandable for you to be clueless about a thing or two. In any case, your thanks are not needed. Such things aren’t necessary between me andTangtang.”
He spoke slowly, almost languidly, and it fueled Yao Yan’s fury even more.
His hands clenched into fists as he grappled with the urge to land a punch on Cheng Yan’s smug face. He took a deep breath and composed himself.
“On the contrary, I believe I do have to thank you. You and I are acquaintances. It’s not like we’re brothers or anything. And I doubt we would ever reach that point.”
