DMPSA CH 40

Chapter 40: What a Fool

After Su Qing had rested for a while in the small pavilion, Yue Qi helped him up and prepared to take him back to the tea house.

“By the way, weren’t you already on your way out? How did you end up sleeping here?” Yue Qi asked curiously. “This place is pretty far from your car.”

“Uh…” Su Qing rubbed his nose, embarrassed. “I walked around the hospital lobby, but when I came back out, I couldn’t find my car.”

“Oh, that’s my fault. I didn’t park the car somewhere easy for you to spot.” Yue Qi skillfully held back his laughter and immediately took responsibility for such a foolish mishap.

“You don’t need to do that. One thing doesn’t have to mean another, and not everything has to be blamed on you.” Su Qing gave him a side-eye glance and then chuckled at himself. “I know I’m terrible with directions and have no sense of direction. Da Wang has scolded me about it hundreds of times, but I just can’t seem to improve.”

“Why would he scold you?” Yue Qi held Su Qing’s hand as they walked toward the parking lot. Upon hearing that Da Wang had criticized Su Qing, his tone instantly became unhappy. “You’re adorable just the way you are. There’s no need to change. If he dares to scold you again, I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Su Qing raised an eyebrow at him. “Da Wang probably doesn’t like you very much right now, either. You’d better be careful. When it comes to relationships, his advice is always ‘break up.’”

“…” Yue Qi wore a mournful expression. Annoying your partner was already bad enough, but angering their Queen Bee-level best friend? That was truly tempting fate.

The A-University Hospital wasn’t far from the tea house. Although Yue Qi dawdled, reluctant to part with Su Qing, they quickly made it back.

Sure enough, Da Wang was still there. As soon as he saw Su Qing walk in, he immediately threw down the broom and rushed over to check on his injuries.

“It’s nothing serious. Just a few stitches. I took some painkillers earlier, so it doesn’t hurt now,” Su Qing reassured the worried Da Wang.

Da Wang muttered under his breath, “Why did he come here, only to cause you harm?” He added, “I just called Qin Yang and scolded him. Apparently, he’s at an airport abroad, sounding all anxious about rushing back. I told him not to bother—he can stay as far away as possible.”

“Yeah, there’s really no need,” Su Qing said, recalling the photos on his phone. Qin Yang’s desolate figure tugged at his heartstrings, but when he remembered how the younger brother he had cherished and cared for over the years had treated him so terribly, his stomach churned, and he felt no desire to see him again.

“And what about him?” Da Wang raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yue Qi, who was outside the tea house, staring at the signboard. “What’s he doing here?”

“Who knows?” Su Qing shrugged, but the redness of his ears betrayed him.

Da Wang was standing close to Su Qing and squinted at him suspiciously. “You smell like osmanthus, you know that?” He glared at Su Qing with disdain. “Shameless dogs in love. After everything he did to make you miserable, he shows up again, and you’re already falling for it.”

“No, I’m not. Don’t say that!” Su Qing replied weakly, his voice lacking confidence. “I… I haven’t forgiven him yet.”

“Yeah, yet. As in, you haven’t forgiven him yet, but you will, won’t you?” Da Wang had long seen through his hapless friend. “You’re already covered in osmanthus before forgiving him. Imagine what’ll happen after!” His drawn-out mocking tone was abruptly interrupted as Yue Qi entered the tea house.

“You changed the signboard? Is it called ‘No Longer a Night Owl’ now?” Yue Qi asked, looking curious. “Opening at 2 PM—isn’t that too early? Can your body handle it?”

“Hmph,” Da Wang huffed in annoyance. “It’s been changed for a while now. Whether Su Qing’s body can handle it or not, he can manage. Not like anyone cares, anyway…”

“Who says no one cares? I do,” Yue Qi said, walking over to Su Qing. “Junzhou told me you wanted to change your schedule and live like a ‘normal’ person. You don’t need to do that. Following your body’s natural rhythm is perfectly normal. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“It’s not that I’m pushing myself,” Su Qing replied, feeling a little shy under Yue Qi’s affectionate gaze. “Ever since we started opening earlier, business has improved a bit. Da Wang and the Xiao Qiao’s sisters don’t have to work so late anymore. It’s better for everyone.”

“But it’s not better for you,” Yue Qi said firmly.

“If you know it’s not good for him, then why are you clinging to him instead of letting him rest upstairs?” Da Wang interjected as he picked up the broom and resumed sweeping the floor. “Alphas these days are all talk.”

Left speechless by Da Wang’s jab, Yue Qi turned back to Su Qing. “Alright then, go upstairs and rest,” he said softly, brushing the edge of the bandage on Su Qing’s forehead with a gentle touch. “I’ll head to the pharmacy later and buy some gauze, cotton swabs, iodine, and whatever else we’ll need. I’ll help you change the dressing tonight.”

“Okay,” Su Qing agreed without hesitation. He didn’t feel the need to say something polite like, “Don’t trouble yourself,” or “I can do it myself.” He just wanted to lean on Yue Qi a little. He wanted to wake up and still see him there.

“Su Qing,” Yue Qi suddenly grabbed his wrist, his tone both tender and serious. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“And happy Valentine’s Day to you, too,” Su Qing replied, his wrist burning from Yue Qi’s touch. He felt shy, but the joy in his heart overflowed, shining through his eyes.

From the side, Da Wang let out a loud, impatient tsk, even rolling his eyes dramatically, as though he couldn’t bear to watch. Su Qing found it amusing. With a glance, he signaled Da Wang to go easy on Yue Qi. But Da Wang ignored him entirely. The moment Su Qing went upstairs, Da Wang unleashed a flurry of complaints at Yue Qi.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop flirting aimlessly? What kind of man flirts and then disappears?” Da Wang snapped, raising the broom as if to sweep Yue Qi out the door. “I told you before—if you’re just here to fool around, you’re not welcome. Get out.”

“I’m not! I’m not playing around!” Yue Qi dodged as he darted around the tea house. “This time, I’ve thought it through. I’m serious. I’ll protect him, cherish him, and never let him feel sad or hurt again.”

“So now you’re suddenly okay with him having a restrictive mark?” Da Wang didn’t beat around the bush, gripping the broom tightly as he went straight to the point.

“You already know?” Yue Qi realized that Da Wang was aware of Su Qing’s situation and decided not to hide anything. “I never cared about that. I didn’t leave because of the mark.” Yue Qi explained his reasons for leaving again, this time to Da Wang, who listened with a mix of emotion, frustration, and helplessness.

“You’re such an idiot,” Da Wang finally concluded.

Yue Qi nodded in agreement.

“So, are you two back together?” Da Wang asked.

“I’m waiting for him to calm down,” Yue Qi replied with a smile. “I’m doing my best to show him how sincere I am. Hopefully, he’ll forgive me soon.”

“As if he’d ever really stay mad at you,” Da Wang said. “He’s so hopelessly in love with you. Over the past two months while you were gone, he’d get upset whenever I cursed you out.”

Hearing this filled Yue Qi’s heart with warmth.

“I know,” Yue Qi said, smiling softly. “He can’t bear to scold me. But even so, I want to give him the chance to vent. After all, I really was a fool.”

“Whatever. You two can keep playing this back-and-forth game until the end of time if you want,” Da Wang said as he turned back to his sweeping.

“Oh, by the way, remember Qin Yang?” Da Wang added. “That brat still seems to be hung up on Su Qing. You’d better hurry up and make things official with him. Settle it quickly so Qin Yang can finally give up.”

Yue Qi wanted to act quickly too, but not because of Qin Yang. He knew that for Su Qing, Qin Yang was nothing more than a former boyfriend in name—a bond closer to family or brotherhood than romance. There was no competition there.

He simply wanted to make his intentions clear as soon as possible. To be able to care for Su Qing openly. To make him happy, to shield him from sorrow.

He wanted to give Su Qing every beautiful and wonderful emotion.

As his partner.

(To Be Continued…)

T/L: I’m so touched… (づ ᴗ _ ᴗ) づ ♡

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