HCILH Extra 3

Chapter 141: Extras – Speed Limit 2

After starting a relationship with Ran Shu, Sang Xian had once privately asked him what was on his mind at the time—why he hadn’t dodged when kissed and how he could so easily and naturally accept being with him afterward.

It all seemed so straightforward, without any twists or turns.

When Ran Shu heard the question, he looked confused and asked: “D-Do you know how many apps are made for hookups?”

Sang Xian didn’t understand. “What does that have to do with us dating?”

“E-Everyone’s an adult—what’s the big deal? When you suddenly kissed me, I actually thought it was quite exciting and thrilling. Later, I figured you had a good physique, so if we hooked up once, it wouldn’t hurt to try!”

“What if it were someone else?”

“That depends on who it is.”

Sang Xian didn’t know many people, so he randomly brought up a name: “What about Deng Yiheng?”

“He wouldn’t e-even get the chance. I’d push him away before he got close.”

“What about Sui Houyu?”

“Brother Yu?” Ran Shu suddenly hesitated, then chuckled. “I-If it were him, I’d just lie down and be ready.”

Sang Xian was instantly annoyed.

Ran Shu, however, was unbothered, lounging in his arms and casually snacking as he continued: “Y-You should be glad Brother Yu doesn’t like me; otherwise, we would’ve been together long ago.”

“Do you like him?”

“No, w-we’re just friends. But if Brother Yu liked me, I’d bend myself into a mosquito coil on the spot.” Ran Shu laughed even harder. “If I-I liked Brother Yu, he’d definitely dump Hou Mo immediately.”

In Ran Shu’s world, Sui Houyu was unique—a bond of friendship, not romance.

Sang Xian had always known this.

But it still irked him.

He understood it was something he couldn’t compete with. Years of companionship in friendship weren’t something easily compared.

Sang Xian rarely confided in others, and when he spoke of his past to Ran Shu, it was only under persistent questioning.

Ran Shu had long been curious about his strange relationship with Hou Mo. When he discovered that everyone else knew about it except him, he caused an uproar until Sang Xian relented and explained.

After hearing the story, Ran Shu seemed perplexed.

He sat cross-legged in front of Sang Xian, looking him straight in the eyes before asking: “I-I don’t get it—why would you want to die over that?”

“Because I feel I indirectly caused Hou Mo’s father’s death.”

“But his d-dad saved three people—three whole lives! Shouldn’t you think his dad was amazing?”

“I admit he was admirable, but I still feel guilty. I don’t have the face to go on living.”

“I-I don’t agree with your perspective.”

“My thinking must seem odd to you…”

Ran Shu nodded vigorously: “O-Odd? It’s downright incomprehensible! If it were me, I’d think that someone willing to give their life to save me means my life is incredibly valuable. If someone cherished my life that much, I’d live well for their sake.”

Sang Xian stared at him, speechless.

Ran Shu wasn’t done. It seemed he had decided to give Sang Xian a lecture that day: “T-Think about it. Someone saved you. Repaying them makes sense, but why cling to their son like some obsessed stalker? Hou Mo is really kind to tolerate you; if it were me, I’d be sick of you.”

“When something happens to him and he doesn’t tell me, I feel terrible when I find out later.”

“Are you stupid? Ask him! Observe! Being good to someone doesn’t mean acting like this. You’re repaying kindness with an obsession! Wait, no—that’s not the right idiom…”

“Biting the hand that feeds you?”

“Yeah, that fits better.”

Sang Xian stared at Ran Shu for a long time before smiling as if he’d suddenly let go of something: “I really like how optimistic you are.”

“I really hate how dumb you are.”

He exhaled deeply.

Ran Shu suddenly leaned over and hugged him, ruffling his hair. “But I-I can tell you’re a good person. You know how to be grateful, which makes you much better than those ungrateful bastards.”

Sang Xian felt a warm current in his heart.

Many people had tried to reason with him, but few had truly understood his perspective.

He had a tendency to get stuck in his thoughts, a deeply pessimistic streak that seemed ingrained in him.

Ran Shu, on the other hand, was innately optimistic, blindly confident, and full of light, as if he could illuminate Sang Xian’s world as well.

That was why he liked Ran Shu.

What truly captivated him wasn’t Ran Shu’s appeal but something he genuinely longed for.

Ran Shu embodied the kind of personality Sang Xian admired most.

Being with Ran Shu brought a rare warmth into his life.

*

Sang Xian often struggled to understand why Ran Shu would throw tantrums and threaten to break up.

Take this time, for example. Sang Xian had casually mentioned that Ran Shu reminded him of a dog he once owned. The dog was a small-faced Chihuahua with large eyes named Lang Lang.

Lang Lang was a stray he had found, emaciated and suffering from severe skin disease. It was impossible to tell the breed at first.

Feeling sorry for it, he had taken Lang Lang to a pet hospital and kept it after it recovered.

But Lang Lang had been frail and elderly, passing away less than two years later.

Ran Shu’s appearance did somewhat resemble Lang Lang’s, and Sang Xian would occasionally think of the dog when he looked at Ran Shu.

After he shared this with Ran Shu, Ran Shu suddenly exploded, shouting about breaking up and accusing him of treating him as a substitute.

Sang Xian stared at Ran Shu in bewilderment, completely at a loss.

Where did this even come from?

Even if he liked dogs, he wouldn’t be so obsessed as to date someone as a stand-in for a pet!

But Ran Shu took the matter seriously, packing his things in a huff and threatening to move out that very day.

Sang Xian, thoroughly exasperated, didn’t know how to console him and decided to retreat to his room to read.

An hour later, he summoned the housekeeper: “Did he leave?”

The housekeeper replied respectfully: “No, he opened the door and looked out several times but went back to his room when he didn’t see you.”

Sang Xian rubbed his temples, utterly at a loss over Ran Shu’s antics: “Should I go apologize?”

“You could try talking to him.” the housekeeper suggested tactfully.

He wasn’t always patient. In the end, he stubbornly replied: “Forget it. When he moves out, I’ll see him off properly. That’ll be the best I can do.”

However, he didn’t wait for Ran Shu to leave. Instead, he saw the housekeeper bring in a pot of tea.

Looking at the tea in front of him, he poured a cup and noticed some murky substance in it. He glanced up at the housekeeper.

The housekeeper cleared his throat, pretending to remain calm and silent.

He didn’t drink it, already guessing that Ran Shu must have put something in his tea. That sort of thing would leave faint sediment in the tea—hardly noticeable unless one looked closely.

After a moment’s thought, he told the housekeeper: “Add some lemon to this, make it sweeter, and take it to Ran Shu. Tell him it’s freshly brewed and that I finished the previous pot.”

“Understood.” The housekeeper carried the tea out.

He returned to his desk and continued reading. After a while, he checked the time—another hour had passed. He stood and headed toward Ran Shu’s room.

Finding the door locked, he knocked, but Ran Shu didn’t answer. He simply asked the housekeeper for the key and unlocked the door himself.

Upon entering, he saw Ran Shu poking his head nervously out of the bathroom, exclaiming: “W-what are you doing here?”

“Checking on you.”

“No need! I’m just taking a shower, then I’ll leave!” Ran Shu retreated back into the bathroom after speaking.

He followed him to the bathroom door and saw Ran Shu, freshly showered, his cheeks flushed red, his skin glowing with a rosy hue—especially his shoulders, which were visibly pink.

Ran Shu splashed his face at the sink again but still felt no relief. He switched on the hairdryer, using cool air to blow on himself.

Giving him a once-over, he asked: “Did taking a shower get you h*rd?”

“…” Ran Shu remained silent, standing straight and pretending nothing was wrong.

Sang Xian left the bathroom and noticed the lemon tea in the room had been half-drunk. It confirmed his suspicion that Ran Shu had fallen into his own trap.

Ran Shu followed him out and pointed a finger: “Y-You switched the tea, didn’t you?”

“What did you put in it?”

Ran Shu was at his wit’s end, growing frustrated and pushing Sang Xian in an attempt to drive him out.

He didn’t leave. Instead, he watched Ran Shu with great interest, finding his current state amusing.

Reaching out, he touched Ran Shu’s flushed cheek: “You’re burning up.”

Ran Shu instinctively leaned into his touch, even rubbing his cheek against his hand, making Sang Xian smile.

“Y-You already figured it out, so why are you asking me?” Ran Shu, seeing his smile, grew instantly embarrassed and furious.

“Why did you drug me?”

“You wouldn’t comfort me. I thought maybe if you couldn’t hold back, you’d come to me…” Ran Shu stomped his foot, cursing: “This feels horrible! I’m burning up!”

“Oh…” Sang Xian pretended to stay calm, rummaging around the room until he found a certain item. He tossed a toy onto the bed. “Here, deal with it yourself. Good luck.”

Ran Shu was dumbfounded. “Why do you have something like this?”

Sang Xian smirked slyly: “For when I get to play with you in the future.”

“Y-You’re into props?!”

“I’ve got more on the way. They’re still in transit.”

This only made Ran Shu angrier. He picked up the toy, almost ready to throw it at Sang Xian’s face.

But overwhelmed by his condition, Ran Shu lunged at him, wrapping his arms around Sang Xian’s neck, standing on tiptoes to try to kiss him. Sang Xian evaded him, stepping back: “We’re broken up now.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Use these to sort yourself out. I’ll watch.”

Sang Xian made it clear he wouldn’t help and seemed to find the situation quite entertaining.

Enraged, Ran Shu grabbed his suitcase, ready to leave immediately.

Sang Xian pointed at him: “In this state?”

Ran Shu hesitated and stopped. He shoved the props off the bed and declared: “I don’t n-need your crap! I’ll handle it myself, right in front of you! I’ll show you that I don’t need you to have fun!”

Ran Shu climbed onto the bed with a defiant attitude, taking care of himself while Sang Xian watched with a look of morbid curiosity, as if ready to applaud.

Afterward, Ran Shu lay on the bed, cleaning himself with tissues, only to realize he was still affected. Frustrated to tears, he started crying.

Sang Xian kept watching.

When Ran Shu had come out of the bathroom earlier, he had only been wearing a robe. After dealing with himself, the robe barely clung to his body.

Now, both upset and humiliated, he used the back of his hand to wipe his tears, looking utterly pitiful.

With “kind intentions,” Sang Xian tossed him a phone: “Call Brother Yu. Ask him to pick you up.”

Hearing that, Ran Shu erupted in insults.

You shameless bastard! 

Scumbag! 

Heartless jerk!

“Look at you, with your sneaky rat-like face! My under-eye bags are bigger than your eyes! I didn’t notice before, but now I see all your eyes show is sleaze! CEO my ass! You’re nothing but a perverted old creep!”

Sang Xian wasn’t bothered, simply watching Ran Shu with a smile.

Ran Shu seemed to reach his limit. Just as he was about to continue handling things himself, Sang Xian finally approached, leaning in to whisper: “Want to make up with the old creep?”

“Get lost!”

“Do you want to be the old creep’s boyfriend again? Let the creep ogle you some more?”

“Go away!” Ran Shu shoved him forcefully.

Sang Xian didn’t mind, leaning down to kiss Ran Shu’s forehead, then his lips.

This time, Ran Shu didn’t push him away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Sang Xian’s neck, eagerly kissing back.

In the past, Ran Shu had always been miserable during these moments, enduring both pain and pleasure.

This time, however, he was unusually uninhibited, losing count of how many rounds they went.

Sang Xian was rather satisfied with the drug’s effects—it allowed them both to truly enjoy the experience.

*

Late at night, Sang Xian turned on the bedside lamp and gently wiped away Ran Shu’s tears while he slept.

Then, he took out nail clippers and trimmed Ran Shu’s nails.

His nails had grown too long, scratching him quite a bit.