It took Luo Wenzhou a month and a half to break away from the clutches of the hospital.

Technically, he had healed up nicely within the first month itself, but at the 'insistence', — or more like 'intimidation' on President Fei's part, — the hospital kept the officer under lock and key for another two weeks, — that even scars had scabbed and healed into faint red lines!

Was Luo Wenzhou surprised by the blatant abuse of power and money? — Not really.

It wasn't never beneath Fei Du to flaunt his financial supremacy when it suited him. He would have colluded with the doctors to keep Luo Wenzhou in for an even longer period of time, if he was allowed to have his way.

The only reason Luo Wenzhou was permitted to rest at home, — was because of a complaint;

— That the hospital bed wasn't big enough to accommodate Fei Du to sleep in it with him.

So, yes —
Thank God for carnal desires.

Hence, — the entanglement of bodies even before their apartment door could slam shut. Luo Wenzhou had pinned his young lover's back to the door, capturing his unsuspecting lips in a passionate kiss, before the surprised gasp could even escape.

"...Shi-xiong..." through the mess of lips and tongues, the young President's engaging moan carried a hint of insincere protest, — "... your wound..."

"What wound...?" the older man feigned, as he deliberately made a project of showcasing his virility by lifting Fei Du off his feet and into his arms...

Except, — it didn't exactly demonstrated the outcome he wanted when he nearly dropped his young lover as he doubled over, hissing painfully at the protest of his 'yet-to-completely-heal' fractured rib.

Alarmed, — "Wenzhou!" Fei Du scrambled to help the older man to the sofa.

"Had to show-off, hadn't you?" the younger man chided disapprovingly.

Chuckling weakly through the pain, — "Baobei'r... I've held back for so long now... can you blame me for being desperate...?"

Shaking his head disbelievingly at his older lover's one-track mind, — the younger man on the other hand, had already been sobered up by the reminder of the still healing injury.

Having lost the mood for a sexy time, Fei Du moved to get up from the sofa when Luo Wenzhou's swift reflexes caught hold of his wrist, preventing him from leaving, — "Where are you going?" he asked anxiously.

More amused than exasperated by the man's clinginess, — "To reheat some lunch for you... Now, let go, silly..."

Reluctantly letting go, Luo Wenzhou's eyes never left Fei Du as they trailed the younger man every step of the way into the kitchen, — "Where did lunch come from? Take-out?" he asked, seeing the man take a few containers out of the fridge.

"No, not take-outs... Mom told me that she came over this morning to stock the fridge up with some prepared meals..."

"'Mom told you'? Were you not home this morning?" The older man did not mean to sound misgiving, but it was an ingrained practice of a seasoned policeman to question everything; 

— Not that Fei Du particularly minded either.

Popping in the microwaveable containers into the appliance, — "There were a few documents in the office that required my signature urgently, so I quickly popped into the office early this morning to sign them before heading to the hospital to fetch you..." he explained smoothly as he started up the microwave.

And by 'office', Fei Du meant the newly acquired and renovated business premise. His OCD would not abide by flaws and imperfections, — what's more something that was tarnished by a reckless fool. 

Fei Du was just not having it.

So in the time Luo Wenzhou was in the hospital, — in which, he too was in the hospital, — but that didn't stop the young President from making arrangements for relocation with expedited efficiency.

And 'coincidently', the new office happened to be strategically located within the vicinity of the City Bureau.

After sharing a quick lunch together, both respectively occupied different corners of the apartment; — 

Fei Du in the living room with his laptop and files strewn all over the coffee table, and Luo Wenzhou in his study, logged into the bureau's intranet to keep himself posted on the recent happenings.

Going through the recent cases, the Captain was somewhat baffled by the progress of Hua Jintao's case in particular. It seemed that the whole time he was hospitalised, the team had little to no progress with the case. Skimming through the scanty details uploaded on the intranet, it vexed the officer how seamlessly the guy seemed to have vanished into thin air!

'Fuck!... Please don't let this be another case of psychotic rich bastards collecting criminals for their perusal... Couldn't they just fucking collect sports cars or women like everyone else instead?!' Luo Wenzhou cursed internally.

His dour expression must have said it all, when he heard Fei Du's amused chuckle at the door, holding two mugs of freshly brew coffee in his hands, — "Something the matter, Captain Luo? Anything I can help you with?" he asked, entering the room to proffer a mug to him.

Taking a long sip of the hot liquid gratefully, — "Yea, — you can help by telling me that there isn't another Zhang Chunling or Fan Siyuan out there..."

Blinking owlishly, Fei Du was clearly taken aback by the suddenness of his request; — of all the things he would be asked to verify, this was the last thing he had expected.

But Fei Du was also exceedingly perceptive.

Tickled by the Captain's train of thoughts, — "Shixiong... You're not thinking that the reason why your team couldn't find Hua Jintao to-date was because he was 'picked up' by another diabolic organisation with a penchant for crime, are you?

The only person left with such capability for transgression of such scale in Yan City, — is yours truly, me...

So, assuming that I do have such an organisation at my beck and call, — do I seem like I'd be willing to harbour Hua Jintao?" he said offhandedly.

Glaring displeasingly at Fei Du, the older man did not seem to share his tactless amusement, —

"Can you blame me for thinking that way? How else can you explain his timely disappearance without a trace?"

"I highly doubt that he'll turn up in your radars if your search parameters began from the time the bomb exploded..." the young President took a moment to ponder, before offering his supposition, —

"... The bomb was sent on a scheduled delivery, — meaning to say, he need not be around when the bomb arrived and exploded in my office. If I have to hazard a guess, he could have very likely escaped Yan City even before the bomb was delivered, and then watch the incident blow up on the news like everyone else..."

"We know he hasn't left the country. On top of a nationwide manhunt, we have also put alerts out for him at every entry and exit points..."

"My point exactly... If he had left Yan City before the manhunt began, if he never leaves his safe house in person this whole time, — unless the country deploys the entire law enforcement agency and more, out to knock on every household's door, you cannot be certain of his exact location until he actually makes an appearance..."

Scowling at rationale of the President's deduction, the Captain was not convinced that Fei Du did not know more than he was letting on, — "You know where Hua Jintao is, don't you?" He regretted sounding accusative, but with Fei Du's less than spotless track record, — it was hard not to be sceptical.

"Shixiong... If I knew where Hua Jintao is, — by now, your people would have found his body..." the younger man said almost cheerfully, with unrepentant malevolence.

"Fei Du..." Luo Wenzhou warned tersely.

Quickly holding his hands up in conciliation, — "Shixiong, before you get your feathers all ruffled, let me first set the records straight. I did not — have not — touch a single hair on Hua Jintao... And if it makes you feel more at ease, — I solemnly swear that I will not so much as touch the guy...

Is that acceptable, Captain Luo?" Fei Du promised, as a token of concession.

Taking the held up hands into his own, Luo Wenzhou yanked his young lover towards him until he was sat on his lap, securely wrapped around his arms, — 

"Fei Du... I've said this before, and I'll say this again... 

Your life is more precious than any of thing in the world. So, don't you dare dirty your hands for worthless bastards..."

"你的命。。。可比那些人金贵多了。。。"

"Your life ... is far more precious than of those people..."

-.-.-.-///-.-.-.-

Formally returning to the team two days after being discharged from the hospital, Captain Luo was hoping that his 'formidable' presence would breathe down the 'children's' neck, further 'incentivising' them into working harder on the case.

But it seemed that the pressure was hardly necessary.

On top of the regular 'bribes', Fei Du's good rapport with the guys at the Bureau had them investigating overtime from all possible angle, — hunting every nook and cranny without even needed to be asked. Some were even generous enough to call on favours from other district, other municipal, other city's local police force to help track Hua Jintao down.

But just as Fei Du had deduced, — the man had not been seen after the bomb incident, at all!

"This isn't going to be another Zhang Chun—" Lang Qiao never got to finish her statement when she was rendered mute by a murderous glare from her 'Emperor Father', silently intimidating her from finishing her words.

Audibly clearing his throat, Luo Wenzhou redirected the regression back to the topic at hand, —

"A certain 'somebody'..." — which everyone at the meeting knew was an oblique reference to Fei Du, "— raised a point that Hua Jintao might have escaped Yan City even before the bomb was delivered. I have already requested for the surveillances of all entry and exit checkpoints, 24 hours prior to the incident. The guys at the traffic department are kind enough to help weed through the recordings, but there are just too much to review so the lot of you will have to dole out some screen time too...

Glasses, you are the most detailed one amongst them, — I want you to relook again into all Hua family assets, properties, or whatever it is that can house a man on the run; — scrutinise every single one of them. Hua Jintao cannot be hiding in a public place, therefore it can only be a privately owned property. Start with his, and work your way to his immediate family, extended family, — close friends, if need be... I want to know where the asshole is holing himself in!

Now, hop to it, people!"

After meting out his instructions to the team, Luo Wenzhou retreated back into his office with Tao Ran hot on his heels.

Slumped heavily into his seat, Luo Wenzhou ran his fingers through his hair frustratedly, — 
"Nearly two months! ... And still nothing on Hua Jintao! —

Tao Ran, — do you even understand the anxiety I'm forced to contend with every time Fei Du leaves my sight?! It's almost as if I'm constantly on my toes worrying when Hua Jintao will send another hit out for him!"

Closing the door behind him, Tao Ran took the seat across the overwrought Captain and spoke with deliberate mindfulness, — "Didn't you have Lu Jia and his people keep a close eye on Fei Du? — Also, you allowed him to return home every night before you were discharged from the hospital, — so how is it any different now, that you've both returned to your respective workplace?"

"After what you told me about Fei Du's adversed reactions to my injury, I didn't want him to feel pressured to stay in the hospital all the time. I thought that he will be more at ease at home..."

Sensing a 'but' coming on, Tao Ran waited patiently for Luo Wenzhou to continue.

And true enough, — "... But, I feel like I might have overlooked something important here..."

"Such as...?" His deputy prompted.

Brows knitted together in incomprehension, not knowing how to put his finger on it as Luo Wenzhou struggled to find the words that best described his puzzlement, —

"Help me analyse this... —
Fei Du might not be the most organised person, but he most definitely is not a scatterbrain... But take yesterday for example, — he had poured himself five mugs of coffee..."

"What so strange about that? Fei Du is used to having copious amount of sugary coffee on a daily basis, anyway..."

"Except, — he has poured himself one after another before the prior mug was even finished, — and all in the span of two hours! Also, the unfinished mugs were scattered all over the apartment, — one on the dining table, another on the coffee table, there was also one at the balcony... It's almost as if after leaving them there, he has forgotten all about them..."

Surprised to say the least, — "...That does seem quite strange for Fei Du..." Tao Ran concurred.

"And that is nothing yet... You know that Fei Du had always kept to an ungodly hours in the past, — past two, three in the morning was nothing to him... and he will be awake again, sharp at six the next morning, like clockwork... But in the last two nights I've been with him, he was already fast asleep before eleven!"

"Maybe he's adjusting his sleep pattern to accommodate your resting needs...?"

Luo Wenzhou raised a sceptical brow at his long-time friend, — "It's President Fei we're talking here, — he accommodates to no one... Anyhow, that's still not the weirdest part of it all. Fei Du has always been a light sleeper, easily woken by the slightest of activity. The only times he sleeps so soundly is when he is sick or had alcohol or coffee..."

"There you go, — your culprit, the five mugs of coffee..."

"I'll give you that... But then can you explain the lethargy even after sleeping a solid six hours, when he used to sleeping less than that in the past? Fei Du was practically falling to the ground with sleepiness, on his own two feet this morning!"

Tao Ran was rendered silent for a moment by his partner's profound concerns for the younger man. One might argue that Luo Wenzhou was overreacting, but when a person knew the other so well, the slightest behaviour outside of character, would make the other terribly ill at ease; — more so an intimate couple like the both of them.

"Did you ask Fei Du about it?"

"I did, but President Fei brushed me off in his usual carefree manner, — offering the excuse that he's tired out by some things at work..."

"Maybe he is..."

"I'd like to believe that he is... But I can't stop the niggling feeling in the back of my mind that there is something up with Fei Du, happening right under my nose, that I've failed to notice..." Luo Wenzhou said, worriedly.

Not knowing how else to console his friend, Tao Ran offered the only words he knew, — 

"Have a long talk with Fei Du when you get back today. Address the thorn in your flesh, otherwise it will cause a needless rift between the two of you..."

After another fruitless day, the only thing that seemed to have the power to enlighten Luo Wenzhou's day, — was the phone call received from the guys at the Bureau entrance, informing him that his 'ride' has arrived.

Sharp at six, the Captain covertly clocked out before anyone could catch hold of him.

Now that Fei Du has been legitimately granted access into the Bureau's carpark, it didn't take Luo Wenzhou even a minute to spot the understated luxury sedan parked next to a marked cruiser. Normally the young President would wait in the neighbouring commercial district's open-air parking, but ever since the injury, Fei Du has heartwarmingly done whatever he could to shorten the Captain's walking distance in the height of winter.

Quickly stealing into the passenger seat of Fei Du's 4-door performance vehicle, the Captain grabbed the young man behind the wheels by the scruff of his neck with his cold hands and drew him close to press his own icy lips to the other's moist and warm ones for a quick but fervent kiss.

Startled by the older man's out-of-the-blue brazenness, — "Captain Luo... you're actually a closet exhibitionist, aren't you?" Fei Du remarked dryly, slapping the man lightly on the shoulder with mock reproval.

The younger man might not understand the sudden display of public affection, — but to the Captain, having his lover in his sight, within his reach, was an immediate salve over the restlessness he had to endure the whole time without him.

More importantly, he was setting the mood for tonight's inquisition; — it was always easier to get Fei Du fess up in bed. Therefore, killing two birds with one stone, and getting laid at the same time — what more could Luo Wenzhou ask for?

Drawing close enough to whisper provocations into the younger man's ears, — "It's freezing cold out there, Baobei'r... Besides, no one in their right mind will be hanging out here in the open for a voyeur feast, lest I have their hinds..." he reasoned, leaving a swift peck on the side of Fei Du's cheek before returning to his own seat.

The former playboy President was rendered dumb by the sudden role reversal!

Overly pleased by having Fei Du get 'a-taste-of-his-own-medicine', Luo Wenzhou hid the smug 'cat-that-got-cream' grin behind the action of buckling in, — "Shall we get going then, President Fei...? The sooner we get home, the sooner we can get out of the open; — to a feast, for my eyes only..."

The usually sharp and shrewd President slow-wittedly did as he was 'told', — and did not regain superior functions of his brain until the first intersection leaving the Bureau.

"Ah — !" Fei Du exclaimed, as though suddenly recalling something important, — "We have to go to Mom's place today..." he announced inopportunely.

Luo Wenzhou cursed eloquently under his breath. It seemed that higher powers out there were all hell bent on inhibiting his libido!

"Why do we have to go over to Mom's today, of all days...?"

"Have you forgotten that Luo Yiguo and Fei Qian are still over at Mom's?"

The older man groaned at the reminder, — "Do we really have to bring the 'ancestors' home today? I'm sure Dad isn't complaining..." he grumbled sullenly. The very thought of the cats alone, was giving the Captain a massive migraine.

Fei Du chuckled softly at the other's reluctance, — "We've imposed on them for too long now... Moreover, you know that Luo Yiguo puts on another pound every time he comes home from Mom's. He was already a handful; I don't have the strength to deal with the weight on top of that..."

"Fine... Fine... Fine..." Luo Wenzhou acquiesced, "We go retrieve the 'ancestors' and then we're heading straight for home!"

Unfortunately, — even the best laid-plans does not always work out as expected.

From the moment they arrived at Luo Wenzhou's parent's place, they were completely swept up by Madam Mu Xiaoqing's momentum.

At first, the freshly discharged Captain only meant to lend a helping hand in the kitchen, but when he became discontented with his mother's cooking methods, it inadvertently turned into his show; — to which his mother was only all too happy to surrender her place in the kitchen, because then she would have all the opportunity to monopolise his boyfriend instead!

Then, the whole time they were there, — through dinner and all, Fei Du alternated his attention between the two elderly folks, but barely having time to even say two words to his very forsaken lover! 

And his parents were no better because they were obviously more enamoured by the little President than their own biological son, — who was still the recovering injured here!

"You sure I'm still your blood-related son? — Because your partiality is so blatant, Madam Mu Xiaoqing... If one doesn't know better, I'm surely to be mistaken for the unfavourable daughter-in-law instead..." the Captain grumbled bitterly, but still dutifully served up a plate of freshly cut fruits for everyone after dinner.

"You're old enough to take care of yourself. But you look at Xiao Fei Du, — he has lost so much weight that he's practically a bag of bones! And look at how bloodshot his eyes looks..." Turning to Fei Du, she continued mothering — "Child, when was the last time you got a good night's rest?"

Although mildly soured by his mother's unmistakable favouritism for Fei Du, he also thanked her internally for broaching the matter he had been dying to know himself.

On the reverse side, having been put on the spot, Fei Du reverted behind his chivalrous facade and offered an answer so perfect, it could only be a lie, — "It's all remnants from the time in the hospital. Now that Shixiong is back at home, I'll rest easier..."

If he hadn't been witness to Fei Du's recent oddities, Luo Wenzhou would have swooned over the young President's words all over again. But recognising the outright fallacy, the Captain couldn't help but feel that Fei Du's deliberateness in withholding the truth meant, the truth was more dire than he was actually letting on.

And Fei Du was very careful not to let on.

Knowing very well that this was the end of the topic and that Fei Du wasn't going to divulge any more, Luo Wenzhou seized the opportunity to escape from his mother's grasp, — "You're right, mom. Fei Du needs to rest..." said the one who was actually injured, — "So we'll be taking our leaves now."

Swiftly grabbing the cats in their carriers, and tugging a nonplussed President out the door, Luo Wenzhou had made good their escape before his mother could launch into a lengthy goodbye.

Luo Wenzhou took over the wheels on the way back, because he too, concurred with Madam Mu Xiaoqing's assessment, — that Fei Du was looking very dead of his feet. Not even halfway home, his young lover had already fallen asleep with his head slumped against the wintry cold window pane.

Coming to a traffic stop, the older man tried to tilt his head away from the freezing cold glass, — but the moment Luo Wenzhou touched him, Fei Du abruptly awaken with a petrified start, — eyes unfocused and wide with unspeakable fright, his breathing laboured with every rapid breath drawn, as though he had been running from something terrifying in his dreams.

Although worried out of his mind for the younger man, Luo Wenzhou forced himself with iron-clad discipline to remain calm, — not immediately withdrawing his hand from cradling Fei Du's face, instead allowed the warmth of his palm slowly rouse the younger man to wakening.

Despite knowing the dangers of multitasking while driving, the officer was still guilty of the offence when he kept one hand on the steering wheel, the other remained on Fei Du; watching the traffic with one part of his conscious, while the other kept a watchful eye out for Fei Du's minute responses.

He didn't stop until there was some lucidity reflected in those scared and confused orbs.

"Baobei'r... did you have a bad dream...?" the older man broached softly as not to startle him.

However, Fei Du did not reply, — almost as though not hearing him.

The younger man had all of his attention gathered on regulating his breathing, swallowing his own saliva repeatedly to suppress the convulsion of his throat.

But the nauseous feeling persisted through another two intersections, — and with only five minutes away from their apartment, Fei Du finally spoke with restrained hoarseness, — "Pull over..."

As soon as the words left his lips, the all-too familiar feeling of regurgitation threatened to surge up his throat, forcing a conditioned reflex to press a hand over his mouth, in futile attempt to stop the incoming expulsion.

Luo Wenzhou was beside himself with trepidation, but still managed to skilfully outmanoeuvre the traffic to bring the car to a stop by the sidewalk.

And not a minute too soon too, — as Fei Du practically threw himself out of the car and onto the ground on fours, throwing up the dinner that haven't even had the chance to break down in his digestive system.

"Fei Du!" Luo Wenzhou cried apprehensively, hurrying to the younger man's side on the sidewalk. He had to hold onto Fei Du to prevent him from lunging too far forward from the forcefulness of his own heaving.

"Fei Du... Fei Du..." he repeated his name like a mantra, as he swept the sweat soaked bangs away from Fei Du's face, — "Tell me what's wrong, Baobei'r... Where does it hurt? Speak to me, Fei Du..." he asked anxiously.

"...med — meds... in my bag..." his broken words were spoken with much difficulty.

Without another word, Luo Wenzhou made a swift dash for the car to grab Fei Du's bag along with a bottle of drinkable water and his work jacket from the backseat, — all in double quick time.

"Fei Du..." promptly returning to wrap his young lover firmly in his insulated jacket, Luo Wenzhou rummaged through Fei Du's bag with irascible impatience, hunting for anything resembling medication of sorts, — before finding an inconspicuous pill container hidden in one of the compartments.

The officer inwardly cursed at the container. There was no label, no instruction; — heck, he wasn't even sure what was in it! While he was certain it was not some bogus drugs, — it had the markings of a reputable manufacturers — the composition, the side effects of the medication were still an unanswered mystery to him!

"Baobei'r, I don't recognise any of these drugs... Which ones am I supposed to give you? How many am I supposed to give you, Baobei'r...?" Luo Wenzhou asked, quavering with anxiety.

"...white one... just one..." Fei Du compelled his overstressed body to stop the dry heaving long enough to squeeze the words out of his mouth.

Without needing to be told twice, the older man popped one white pill into his hand before turning Fei Du over in the cradle of his arms. Carefully helping Fei Du take small sips of water to cleanse his palate, he then fed the younger man the pill and watched with bated breath for signs of adverse effects.

A minute or two passed silently between them in the same position on the ground, until Fei Du's ragged breathing eventually evened out.

"Fei Du... let's get you to the hospital, 'kay...?" Luo Wenzhou proposed near pleadingly.

Despite the heaviness of his head, Fei Du still managed to shake his head in response, — "...will be fine... go home..." he slurred drowsily.

"Baobei'r... be good for Ge, ah...," Luo Wenzhou coaxed as though cajoling a child, "... Let the doctors have a look at you... Otherwise, there's no way for Ge to be at peace tonight..."

He was practically begging, but the very drugged Fei Du was adamant not to go to the hospital, — 

"... will be fine to... morrow..." he repeated languidly, before fading into oblivion.

Luo Wenzhou was going crazy with fear, not knowing if Fei Du had fallen asleep because of the medication or had fallen unconscious due to other factors!

Ignoring the protesting rib, the older man lifted the featherweight that was Fei Du, and laid him to rest in the backseat of the car, before getting behind the wheels again.

As he drove the remaining distant home, Luo Wenzhou had Lu Jia on the speaker of his phone, doling out instructions without preamble, — "Get your President Fei's physician to my place, stat!"

"President Fei has taken ill again?"

Narrowing his eyes slightly, it took all his willpower not to launch into the aggressive brand of inquisition he normally reserved for serious felons, — "What illness, — again?"

The Captain might not have a third eye to see through the phone, but his years of experience interrogating criminals provided him clear visualisation of the soundless swallow Lu Jia just took, after realising he let slip of a terribly 'confidential information'.

"I'll get to you later. But for now, — Fei Du's physician, my place, now!"

It didn't even take Lu Jia half an hour to appear at Luo Wenzhou's door with an elderly doctor in tow. Too anxious to be bothered with introductions, the Captain expeditiously ushered the good doctor to their bedroom, where Fei Du laid unconscious throughout the entire time.

Already on the verge of a panic attack, Luo Wenzhou couldn't stop pacing agitatedly to and fro the room, — until Lu Jia manhandled him out to the living room to give the doctor some peace examining the young President.

"Dr. Yu is well versed with President Fei's medical history so, — " Lu Jia started consolingly, but never got to finish his sentence when he was rudely hauled by the collar, by a very strung up Captain.

"And you are very well versed with Fei Du's secrets as well... 

So, talk, — or I swear to God, police brutality will be least of your concern," the Captain threatened, with unreserved menace.

As Fei Du's capable right-hand man, Lu Jia was privy to many sides of the world, — so threats of this level was near harmless to him. But he also understood the officer's distress; — if the one he loved intentionally kept something from him, he too, would be out for someone's blood...

Holding the hands that was fisted around his collar in a comforting manner, not even trying to pry them away, — "Actually, there isn't much to add to what you already knew. His horrible aversion to blood is pretty much an old story... But perhaps what you weren't told, — was that President Fei was the first person to uncover you at the bomb site; he found you unconscious in the pool of your own blood...

So take his blood phobia plus your life at stake... the compounded mental stress inadvertently contributed to PTSD..."

"What... PTSD?" Luo Wenzhou asked uncomprehendingly, — as though the word itself was foreign to his ears.

It wasn't that he didn't know the word and its meaning; he was personally subjected to it once too, when he recovered Fei Du from Fan Siyuan's clutches.

But the thought of his Fei Du plagued by more mental stress, mauled painfully at his heart.

"I'm sure Deputy Tao must have mentioned to you that President Fei couldn't sleep, couldn't rest, and was constantly throwing up... Although he hadn't actually come out and say what was the exact cause of it, the trauma got so bad that he had to be prescribed with nausea reliefs and sedatives to help him get some decent rest..."

— And just like that, all his earlier unanswered questions now had an answer he despairingly wished wasn't true...

-.-.-.-///-.-.-.-

Moaning softly as he groggily regained consciousness, Fei Du's befuddled coherence registered half a beat later the familiar pinprick feeling poking into his arm, — making him want to claw testily at the painful itch.

But before he could do further damage to himself, his clumsy hand was arrested in a gentle but firm grip, —
"... Baobei'r, don't... You'll hurt yourself..." Despite the haziness of his mind, there was no mistaking the voice that spoke oh-so softly to him.

"Shi— xiong...?" Fei Du uttered weakly, mildly confused still, — as he forced his muddled concentration to train on the silhouette next to him in the dark.

He could feel his captured hand being lifted until it was pressed against the older man's forehead, akin to a solemn prayer, — "... Baobei'r... you really scared the hell out me..." Luo Wenzhou whispered hoarsely, confessing with unbridled desperation.

Fei Du's heart tore out of his chest, hearing the undisguised fear in his usually valiant Captain.

"... I'm... sorry..." — He never meant for the other to find out about his trauma this way; he would never intentionally want to frighten his older lover...

Seeming to sense the unsaid words, Luo Wenzhou pressed kisses, one after another, to the back of Fei Du's palm, — "... If you ever scare me again, Fei Du... I swear —"

He had promised retribution many times, — but time and time again, he had renegaded, never even once making good of his words, 

— Because in this lifetime, it was just impossible for him not to not forgive Fei Du...

"。。。再让我伤心 。。。好像，也不可能不爱你。。。"

"...even if you break my heart again... it seems impossible not to love you..."

Letting go of his unfinished sentence, Luo Wenzhou quickly diverted the topic, — "Baobei'r... think you can try stomach some food for Ge...?"

Food really was the furtherest thing from his mind right now, but Fei Du didn't want to cause the older man more concern than he already was, so he nodded weakly with a touch of smile on his lips.

Satisfied that he didn't have to wrestle Fei Du into agreement, — "All right... Then, you rest for a bit longer while I go make you some plain noodles, ah..." the Captain said, — silently standing up from his seated position on the bed beside his young lover, to drop a kiss on the other's forehead before exiting their room.

Fei Du didn't intend to fall back asleep while waiting, but maybe the effects of the medication hasn't completely worn off, for he was very quickly swept off to slumberland.

When Luo Wenzhou returned with the bowl of piping hot noodles, he really didn't have the heart to wake Fei Du up. But the idea of the young President sleeping on an empty stomach, didn't bode well with him either.

"... Baobei'r...?" He called out tentatively, not hoping for a repeat of the earlier unsettlement.

The older man sighed relievedly when Fei Du stirred in his sleep and woke a little more like his normal self, as his eyes slowly opened with tiredness, but no longer confused.

"Baobei'r... noodles is done... Have some first before going back to sleep, ah..." Luo Wenzhou coaxed, helping the younger man to sit up against the headboard.

Fei Du was going to receive the bowl from Luo Wenzhou, however the older man only held the chopstick with small amounts of noodles to his mouth, as he painstakingly fed him bit by bit until at least half the bowl was gone.

"Do you want some more?" the older man asked, not wanting to push the younger man into eating beyond his appetite. And true enough, — Fei Du wasn't up for more, either.

Even so, Luo Wenzhou was contended with the amount consumed.

Reclining Fei Du back onto the bed, Luo Wenzhou carefully tucked him in beneath the duvet before standing to check on the IV drip next to Fei Du. Dr. Yu had Fei Du hooked on a dextrose drip before he left. Now that the drip seemed to have run its course, the Captain deftly removed the needle from the young President's arm, — a well practiced move after many years of encounter with medical paraphernalia from work-related injuries, — and quickly dressing the pinprick wound with a bandaid before Fei Du's own blood could give rise to another bout of hemophobia.

Fei Du accepted all the manoeuvring wordlessly, letting Luo Wenzhou spoil him rotten.

But just as the Captain was about to leave with the bowl, the younger man promptly grabbed hold of the older man's shirt, not letting go, — "Shixiong... sleep with me...?" he requested coyly.

Wryly smiling at his young lover, — "Let me do the dishes first, you little minx..." he said, lightly slapping Fei Du's hand away as he proceeded to head out to the kitchen.

By the time he returned, Fei Du's eyes could barely keep open, drowsy with sleep. Quickly getting behind the duvet himself, Luo Wenzhou scooted over until he had spooned Fei Du's back against his chest. Wrapping his hands around the younger man's thin waist, he was careful to keep his naturally warm palms over the other's stomach like a hot compress, hoping it would be of some relief to the uneasiness bothering his little lover.

It was in the small details such as this, reminded Fei Du that even with all the money in the world, — could never buy unconditional love such as this.

"Shixiong ... I love you..." the young President uttered softly into the wind, as he compellingly fell into a sound sleep.

To which, the older man replied with a kiss to his young lover's nape, — "... love you, too... Feishi'r..."

-.-.-.-///-.-.-.-