PD Chapter 7: The Blessed Mouth

When He Linzhou leaned over to kiss him, the bridge of his high nose brushed against the tip of Wen Xunchuan’s. His warm breath evenly spread across Wen Xunchuan’s face. In that instant, Wen Xunchuan felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. His body tensed, his breath caught, and all he could feel was the flutter of He Linzhou’s thick eyelashes, like soft fan blades lightly sweeping around his lower eyelids.

The refreshing scent on He Linzhou’s body slipped into Wen Xunchuan’s nose, like a gentle breeze off the ocean—soft, natural, but also with a touch of unyielding power that he couldn’t evade. It wrapped him entirely in this cool, sweet, sea-like aroma.

… To be honest, it was enough to make him feel a bit seasick.

His stomach, which had been faintly aching for a while, suddenly twisted as if gripped by an invisible hand. A wave of nausea surged up, and Wen Xunchuan shoved He Linzhou away, standing up from the sofa, clutching his spasming stomach as he headed straight for the bathroom.

Bending over, he leaned on the sink with both hands, emptying the brandy he’d downed earlier. But the burning ache in his stomach didn’t ease up; if anything, it grew worse.

He Linzhou had followed him and watched through the mirror as Wen Xunchuan hung his head over the sink, retching but barely able to bring anything up.

“I only kissed you once,” He Linzhou grumbled, sounding a bit embarrassed and irritated. “Do you really need to react this much? Damn!”

Wen Xunchuan lifted his head, fighting against the spasms in his stomach, and shot He Linzhou a fierce glare through the mirror. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, dampening his bangs, and his thin lips had lost color, leaving his face paler than ever.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, another sharp, stabbing pain twisted through his stomach, forcing him to double over and dry heave again over the sink.

He Linzhou looked at him, momentarily hesitating. Finally, he raised a hand and patted his back, though he couldn’t resist adding sarcastically, “It was just a lip-to-lip touch. I didn’t bite a chunk off you, you drama queen. Anyone would think you were straight or something.”

“I am now,” Wen Xunchuan forced himself to quip back weakly through the pain. “Men are disgusting.”

He Linzhou found himself at a loss for words after that jab, a stinging reminder aimed squarely at himself. After a pause, he muttered, “… Damn it.”

Wen Xunchuan bent down, turned on the tap, and splashed cold water on his face, then rinsed his mouth. He propped his elbow on the marble counter, then asked, “Can you drive?”

“Obviously.”

With his brows tightly furrowed and his hand pressing down on his agonizing stomach, Wen Xunchuan turned to glance at He Linzhou behind him, his voice weak, “Take me to the hospital. I’ve been drinking, can’t drive.”

The droplets on his face glistened in the bright light of the bathroom, catching He Linzhou’s eye. The refusal he’d meant to say froze on his lips, and he found himself nodding before he even realized it.

It wasn’t until he was seated in the driver’s seat that He Linzhou fully processed the situation. Turning to Wen Xunchuan, who was resting against the passenger window with his eyes closed, he asked, “Aren’t you worried I’ve been drinking too?”

Wen Xunchuan didn’t open his eyes. He guessed that He Linzhou hadn’t drunk anything, because earlier at the bar… he hadn’t smelled any alcohol on him. But he felt so terrible that he didn’t want to argue about it anymore, nor bring up this annoying topic to ruin his own mood. So he casually asked, “Did you drink?”

“No…” He Linzhou sighed in resignation, fastening his seatbelt. “Which hospital?”

“The closest one.”

“And which one’s that?”

Wen Xunchuan pointed at the car’s navigation with his finger, then pressed his hand back onto his cramping stomach, his lips pressed tightly together as he lost the energy to talk.

Initially, Wen Xunchuan only leaned on the car window to fake a nap. But, much to his surprise, He Linzhou’s driving skills were far steadier than his personality. Accompanied by the soft music on the radio, Wen Xunchuan actually fell asleep without realizing it.

He Linzhou parked the car smoothly in the emergency area outside the hospital and turned to wake him. But when his gaze fell on Wen Xunchuan’s side profile, sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat, he swallowed his words. Unconsciously, he softened his movements as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

A warm ceiling light above cast a soft glow over Wen Xunchuan’s hair. The tense furrow in his brows had smoothed out in his sleep, and his thin lips were slightly parted. In the quiet, cramped space, Wen Xunchuan’s even breaths filled He Linzhou’s ears.

Unexpectedly, He Linzhou found himself thinking back to that teasing kiss earlier.

Those lips had been incredibly soft, likely because he’d just been sipping alcohol. There was a faint gloss on them, and Wen Xunchuan’s breath had been tinged with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that had lingered enough for He Linzhou to secretly savor it even after being shoved away.

… So, does this count as driving under the influence?

Just as he was lost in thought, Wen Xunchuan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, his brows knitting even before he opened his eyes, and his lips were paling again.

Whether it was out of fear of being caught staring or from the nonsense running through his head, He Linzhou suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Seeing that Wen Xunchuan was about to open his eyes, he quickly reached up and, with a hasty slap, turned off the overhead light.

The car fell into darkness, save for the faint glow of the emergency building’s red neon lights streaming in.

In the dimness, Wen Xunchuan squinted at He Linzhou, his tone confused. “… What are you doing?”

“Nothing, nothing!” He Linzhou turned away, his flustered expression hidden in the shadows. “We’re here. Let’s get out.” He opened the car door, trying to act nonchalant as he climbed out.

Wen Xunchuan gave him a puzzled look, unfastened his seatbelt, and followed him out of the car.

But after just a few steps, his stomach twisted again, the pain intensifying as his legs grew wobbly. Each step felt unsteady, and he instinctively braced himself on a nearby car’s hood, bending over to dry heave.

He Linzhou had reached the emergency building’s steps before he realized Wen Xunchuan hadn’t followed. Turning back, he saw Wen Xunchuan still standing by the car.

He waited for a moment, but Wen Xunchuan didn’t move.

This guy, Wen Xunchuan—he’d been acting like he was in unbearable pain, but now that they were at the hospital, where was the urgency? Suspicion creeping in, He Linzhou wondered if Wen Xunchuan was messing with him. He cursed internally, thinking, If I’m playing good Samaritan for nothing, you better really be sick. If they find nothing wrong with you, I swear I’ll make sure you drop dead on the spot.

Just as he thought this, Wen Xunchuan’s figure suddenly wobbled.

Thinking he was imagining it in the dark, He Linzhou was about to rub his eyes to look closer, when Wen Xunchuan’s silhouette suddenly collapsed sideways.

“—What the…?”

Did he really just drop dead?