[Recap: They did the deed and the next day Qingge is feeling the aches of being a bottom.]
Qingge was still a little confused from having just woken up. He opened his eyes to find Duan Yujing at his side ma.s.saging his waist. It felt nice and he turned over to face the other man only to stop immediately as an intense pain shot through his lower half. This reminded him of last night and what transpired. He was suffering so much because of it, but he was the one to initiate it wasn’t he?
"Be careful, just hold on to me." Duan Yujing whispered as he looked at the tight frown on Qingge's face. He held onto Qingge's hand as he helped him sit up, leaning Qingge against his body while patting him gently on the back and comforting him like a child.
"Brother Jing, it hurts." He leaned against Duan Yujing's chest as he said so groaning in the process. Although he didn't regret giving it to Brother Jing, he couldn't help but feel a bit of grief over the whole matter. It was really painful and he was suffering. It was his first time so it was understandable it would be uncomfortable, but why did it have to hurt so much?!
"It's my fault for not being good to you. You must feel like I've wronged you. Here drink some honey water. I'll give you a ma.s.sage OK?" How could Duan Yujing miss the grievance in Qingge's voice? Even in the Lin house, although they neglected him and were verbally rude to him, no one dared to physically abuse him. Duan Yujing wondered if he had been too hasty, Qingge was only eighteen after all.
Qingge took the drink and felt better as the honey moistened his parched throat. The hand at his waist also did wonders in alleviating his discomfort and combined with the honey water served to completely dispel the thread of grievance in his heart. He became more awake and alert as his head cleared. It was then that he realized he had no clothes on. Blushing uncontrollably, he said, "Brother Jing, my clothes. I want to get dressed."
"OK, but let me know if you feel uncomfortable anywhere else. Don't suffer in silence OK?" Duan Yujing patiently coaxed Qingge. He stood up and picked out some clothes for Qingge to wear. Duan Yujing specifically paid attention to Qingge's behind as Qingge dressed. He was relieved to find nothing unusual.
"En. Just now it wasn't that I felt you did me wrong. It was just that it hurt more than expected," Qingge awkwardly tried to correct the misunderstanding. He didn't make a fuss about Brother Jing checking out his rear, after all it wasn't like the other party hadn't already seen everything.
After dressing and washing up Duan Yujing carried Qingge downstairs. It wasn't that Qingge was so pained he couldn't walk on his own, it was just that his legs were a little tired. That this was the only issue was amazing. He was originally worried his body wouldn't be able to handle it, and wasn't sure what he would do if things fell apart. Fortunately, everything worked out.
This was all thanks to the aftercare Duan Yujing gave him, ministrations that Qingge was completely oblivious to. Duan Yujing had soaked him in really hot water and rinsed him clean before bringing him to bed and covering him oppressively with thick blankets, coc.o.o.ning him like a mummy and forcing him to sweat profusely. Qingge did have a slight fever but because Duan Yujing kept his body temperature so high, he was able to sweat it out in his sleep.
Duan Yujing carried Qingge to the living room and deposited his lover on the couch. With a smile he said, "Sit here. I'll get breakfast going."
Breakfast was mung bean porridge. Duan Yujing purposefully added extra sugar to sweeten it up. There was even a jujube cake on the side. It was such a wonderful way to wake up, how could anyone complain or want to be a slouch in bed?
Supporting a lover who loved food wasn't bad. This lover of his had a big heart who would let bygones be bygones as long as there was something good to eat. Duan Yujing calculated how much food to buy for the menu he had in mind. He wanted to diversify their meals as much as possible so Qingge wouldn't get tired of eating the same things everyday.
After they finished breakfast Duan Yujing carried Qingge to the car, treating him like some kind of sacred treasure, holding him very dearly to his chest the entire way. Their destination was his friend Hou Siming's hospital.
"Do you want me to carry you or do you want to walk on your own?" Duan Yujing asked once they arrived. He reached over to the side and touched the figure next to him. Today Qingge was wearing an ash gray hoodie vest and khaki skinny jeans paired with leather loafers. He'd always been a Young Master of a rich house, but now he really looked the part.
He smiled in reply. "No need. I can walk on my own."
The distance and sense of estrangement between the two had completely vanished after last night's intimacy. In fact the way they were gazing at each other now was sickeningly lovey dovey.
Qingge broke eye contact and got out of the car. He held out his hand towards Duan Yujing waiting for the other man to coming around so they could hold hands. At the contact Qingge laughed joyfully. They walked into the hospital comfortably in each other's company.
Duan Yujing quietly listened to Qingge talk about this and that, occasionally adding a comment here and there to introduce a new topic if needed. He was never too attached to any one particular topic, but neither was he absentminded, always giving Qingge his full attention. A skill he developed from being a successful businessman was the art of conversation. He knew when to take the initiative and when to follow, as a result the two conversed smoothly and happily together.
"Brother Jing, this is my first time meeting your friend Hou Siming. Isn't it bad for me to show up empty-handed? How about we go out and look for a present first?" Qingge tilted his head up at Duan Yujing as he asked. The wind messed with his bangs blowing it about and bringing attention to his eyes. They shined with intelligence while his face showed joy and embarra.s.sment.
"It's not your first time."
Qingge: "?" Do you know I met him in my previous life?
At Qingge's inquisitive look, Duan Yujing explained. "He came over last night with Shen Ningyu when you were asleep."
"Eh?! That's too impolite. You should have woken me up," said Qingge with a furrowed brow on his face. We're partners. My behavior will reflect on you. How can you let me make you look so rude? Qingge was adapting to being Duan Yujing's wifey without even realizing it.
"It's nothing. They're both very easy to get along with. You don't have to be anxious. You're so amazing, who wouldn't like you?" Duan Yujing had a huge smile on his face as he lifted their linked hands up. "Even if something is wrong, so what? You're my lover. You'll always have me no matter what."
Hearing this reminded Qingge of a really catchy song on the internet back when he was in university in his first life: I'm Not Money. It's Impossible to Be Loved By Everyone.
Eh! Am I. Am I in Brother Jing's heart comparable to money? Wait no. I have Brother Jing's bank, I'm even more important than money!
That last thought made him blush. I need to work hard and strive towards my goals so I can say those lines back to Brother Jing and be able to back it up. Don't worry Brother Jing, even if everything falls apart, you'll still have me to rely on. Note to self: must work hard!
Qingge was in charge of paying all the bills since he had the bank. All of a sudden a random thought entered his mind. I wonder what kind of expression Brother Jing would have if he's eating out and he discovers he can't pay for the meal.
"Pachu! Chh...chh...chh..." Qingge fell into a fit of giggling as he imagined the scene. It was so funny he found it hard to stop despite trying his best to cover up his giggling.
"Why are you laughing? I'm very serious here?" Duan Yujing grumbled as he leveled a disgruntled look at Qingge while pressing the other against a wall. Duan Yujing began to wonder if he'd gotten too starry eyed and revealed too much to his lover.
Qingge laughed shallowly as he reached out to wrap his arms around Duan Yujing's waist. Acting coquettishly like a spoiled child he said, "Brother Jing, my b.u.t.t's still sore, can you carry me?"
It was still early morning so the hospital corridor was deserted. Duan Yujing didn't waste time and just directly picked his childhood love up and walked down the corridor.
"Brother Jing, I was laughing earlier because I have your bank. Those words you said earlier, shouldn't it be me saying it to you?" Qingge wrapped his arms more tightly around Duan Yujing's neck as he jokingly said, "Brother Jing, I'll try my hardest to be the man who supports you from behind."
Duan Yujing's lips lifted up in a smirk as he said, "That's good. It'll be the beginning of the month soon. Please don't forget to pay the utilities." But really you only need to rest, wash, eat, and lounge around the house.
"Hahaha. I will definitely remember. I'll also be sure to give you extra pocket money too." Qingge didn't expect that the ever serious Duan Yujing would be able to go along with him and joke in this kind of way. It was an unexpectedly a very lovable side of him. Qingge was full of good cheer, his infectious laughter ringing down the corridor. It felt like he was back to his carefree days as a small child.
In no time at all they reached an office. Inside was a young doctor in a white lab coat intently studying a file on a laptop. From time to time he would pause and use a fountain pen to notate something down before going back to reading the file. Duan Yujing knocked on the side of the open doorway.
*knock knock*
"Come in," he said as he closed the laptop and put it away to the side. Only then did he look up to see who the visitor was. Duan Yujing stood by the doorway holding a young man in his arms princess style. Hou Siming raised his eyebrows at the sight of his normally reserved friend being so intimate with someone. Even Duan Yuchen didn't get such treatment. Thinking this Hou Siming concluded the young man had to be the Young Master of the Lin family people were gossiping about.
"Hey Jing, why are you so early?" Hou Siming smiled slightly as he spoke. He walked over to the sofa and sat down to pour some tea for them. "This person is...?"
"There's something I need your help with. This is Qingge. He's my lover," Duan Yujing said as he released Qingge and laid him down on the sofa.
The Hou family and the Shen family were both well known influential families in Qing city. The former specialized in trade imports and exports while the latter dealt in the entertainment industry. Both were powerful families that wielded considerable influence in their respective fields. As the second oldest male in his family, Hou Siming didn't have the obligation of taking over the family business, allowing him to pursue the medical sciences. His parents didn't pester him about his career path because of his accomplishments in the field. Case in point he owned the privately held Qing city hospital.
Hou Siming wasn't the only amazing one in the room, in fact Hou Siming quite admired Duan Yujing and his ability to befriend other people despite his natural reservedness. For him to be able to befriend both the stupid Shen brothers and me and my brother is really quite a feat. We don't normally open up to others because of our backgrounds, but somehow this guy managed to do it. And it's not a shallow friendship about gains or sabotage either. We're actually genuinely friends.
"h.e.l.lo, I'm Hou Siming. Yujing and I are friends." Hou Siming smiled as he reached out his hand toward Qingge, sizing the other man up with his eyes.
Qingge extended his hand to the other man for a handshake, while giving his introduction. "Lin Qingge. Duan Yujing's lover." In his previous life Qingge had met Duan Yujing's close friends before and knew they were just naturally haughty and a little standoffish, so he didn't think too much about the once over Hou Siming gave him. He knew there was no hidden malice in the gaze so didn't take it personally and give Hou Siming an att.i.tude.
"Qingge, you don't have to stand on ceremony. Siming is my very good brother. Nowadays he's studying traditional Chinese medicine. Yesterday you and I talked about visiting the hospital to get you checked out; that's why we're here now." Duan Yujing took the tea and brought it over to Qingge to warm his hands, completely unconcerned about present company.