Sweetness Part 1

After returning from the airport, Shi Jin stumbled into the hotel room and then checked into the hospital to keep Fei Yujing company.

Fei Yujing leaned back on the bed, with a plate of sliced apples that Shi Jin had prepared in front of him, and a tablet computer beside him.

"What is this?" he asked.

Shi Jin laid out the bed and turned back to sit by his bedside, also picking up a tablet computer and saying, "As a patient, you should act like one. Don't work. Let me teach you how to play something that doesn't require much brainpower."

"Mahjong?" Fei Yujing answered instantly.

Shi Jin twitched his eyebrows and said, "No, I've figured it out. For you elite professionals, mahjong is actually a game that requires a lot of brainpower. Let's not play that. Instead, let's play another adventure action game that can be played online. Let's play in two-player mode, but don't drag me down."

The idea of the two brothers playing games together seemed very interesting.

Fei Yujing glanced at Shi Jin and picked up the tablet in front of him.

To accommodate the novice, Shi Jin deliberately chose the easy mode for the game, but even so, their journey to pass the level became incredibly difficult. Two-player games require cooperation, but the two of them had no understanding of each other, and their characters kept getting sent to inexplicable places. They lost eight out of ten rounds.

Shi Jin was bored to death and wanted to smash Fei Yujing's head in. Fei Yujing was also frowning, looking completely unable to understand the logic of the game.

"How about we play mahjong instead?" Shi Jin couldn't help but suggest.

But Fei Yujing had been stirred up by the game and refused directly, "No, we just need to coordinate better, it's not a technical problem. If we work together a little more, we can definitely pass this level."

Shi Jin pretended to lament on the surface, but secretly thought to himself that he had taken the bait. He reluctantly started the next round of the game.

Winning and losing, losing and winning... Unknowingly, the morning had passed, and the two gradually got used to each other's attack rhythm and pace. They learned to anticipate each other's next move, and their coordination became more and more seamless. They began to pass the level more and more frequently.

After lunch, Fei Yujing, who tasted the sweet taste of victory, wanted to continue playing games. However, Shi Jin waved his hand and pulled him out of the ward, taking him for a walk in the hospital garden.

It wasn't until they were basking in the sunshine outside that Fei Yujing realized, belatedly, that he hadn't thought about work all morning and didn't feel any pain from his wound. He turned his head to look at Shi Jin walking beside him, his lips slightly curved.

He gestured towards the bodyguards following behind them and initiated a conversation, asking, "Are these people sent by Lian Jun to protect me?"

"Yes, they are here to protect you. Meng Qing is likely to come after you again," Shi Jin replied, feeling a little guilty. "I'm sorry for involving you in this dangerous life that requires constant vigilance."

"Don't apologize. I was paid to work for Mr. Lian, and taking risks is part of the job. I don't think you need to apologize to me," Fei Yujing replied.

Upon hearing this, Shi Jin paused and turned to face him. "I'll give you another chance to rephrase your words," he said.

Fei Yujing was puzzled and met his gaze for a few seconds before realizing that he had once again used personal gain to deal with emotional expressions.

He paused for a moment and said, "I'm sorry. What I said earlier wasn't what I meant. I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel burdened. We're brothers, and brothers should support and help each other. There's no such thing as being a burden. You don't need to apologize for this."

"...That's about right," said Shi Jin, satisfied. He held onto Fei Yujing's arm and continued walking forward. After a few steps, he thought of something and said, "Stop apologizing all the time, it's too polite."

Fei Yujing replied, "But you were the one who..."

"I'll learn not to apologize all the time too. Anyway, we're learning together, so don't worry too much about the details," Shi Jin brushed it off and glanced at him, changing the subject. "Let's watch a movie on the tablet this afternoon instead of playing games. Playing games all the time can be tiring."

Fei Yujing tactfully followed his lead and replied, "Sure."

......

After their walk, the two returned to the hospital room to watch a movie. Fei Yujing reached out and clicked on the horror movie category, but Shi Jin's eyes widened and he quickly pulled the category back, choosing a comedy instead.

Fei Yujing was puzzled, "Don't you like horror movies?"

Who would like horror movies!

Shi Jin wanted to argue, but he remembered how he had scared Fei Yujing with horror movies back in L country. He coughed and hesitated between deceiving and being honest for a while, but finally chose honesty and replied, "Actually, I don't like horror movies."

Fei Yujing frowned as expected and asked, "Then in L country..."

"I did it because I saw you struggling with nightmares and couldn't sleep. I was afraid that you would suffer and your health would deteriorate, which would affect Lian Jun. So, I thought maybe I could use horror movies to counteract the poison..."

Shi Jin looked at Fei Yujing, whose aura was slowly sinking, and lowered his voice, pulling the corners of his mouth to reveal a smile mixed with guilt and embarrassment. He spoke softly, "I didn't expect the effect to be unexpectedly good... Anyway, I'm being honest with you, so you can also learn to be more honest with me. Of course, not in the sense of honesty you used to have, but in this sense of honesty... Well, actually, I don't know what I'm saying."

After speaking, he lowered his head and deeply reflected on his own verbosity. Fei Yujing looked at his furry head and couldn't help but reach out and flick his forehead.

Shi Jin immediately looked up at him, frowning - it hurt a little, and he wanted to retaliate.

"I feel very happy," Fei Yujing spoke up, rubbing the spot where he had just flicked him, "I know you really watched that horror movie with me just to keep me company and help me. I feel very happy, and I'm sorry for being so cold to you back then...no, I won't be like that anymore. Thank you."

He stopped himself from apologizing and chose to express his gratitude instead, thanking Shi Jin for his constant kindness and understanding.

Shi Jin's brow furrowed and he couldn't hide his cunning smile. He leaned in towards the tablet in Fei Yujing's hand and scrolled through the movie options as he spoke, "I remember there was a very popular animated movie last year, it was really fun. Let's watch that one."

Fei Yujing playfully flicked him and said, "I'm not being cunning, I'm just being honest about what I want. And don't end the conversation so abruptly."

"Shut up! The movie is starting," Shi Jin pushed his hand away. "Of course I know all that... don't you understand the subtleties of our culture? Just focus on the movie."

"Are you feeling shy?" Fei Yujing asked.

"I said focus on the movie!" Shi Jin glared at him.

"But you asked me to be honest," Fei Yujing continued to tease.

Shi Jin: "...Don't talk during the movie!"

......

After watching the movie, the two of them took a nap and then discussed work together. They had dinner and took a few laps around the room as a form of exercise. They watched the news and finally, after washing up, they lay in bed and started chatting.

"When the gift you sent me arrived at my school, I almost refused it. There were over ten boxes, and one of them was even filled with books. It was too much," Shi Jin complained, holding the back of his head and laughing at the memory. "But when I opened the boxes and saw the contents of the gift, I was glad I didn't refuse it. I really liked those books. Thank you, Second Brother."

Fei Yujing honestly said, "You're welcome. I intentionally sent the package from different places because I guessed you might refuse to accept it. I also specifically instructed the delivery guy over there to persuade you to accept the package."

"... " With such a heartwarming atmosphere, some unpleasant truths didn't need to be said.

Suddenly, Shi Jin felt that being too honest wasn't always a good thing. He hesitated for a few seconds before continuing, "My good friend who helped me unpack the box at the time even said that you were romantic. Second Brother, how did you come up with the idea of giving me those things?"

For Fei Yujing, this idle night talk with Shi Jin was a novel experience. He turned his head to look at Shi Jin's slightly blurred facial features in the night, and continued to honestly reply, "Because I want you to think of me every time you see those gifts. There are many types of gifts, whether it's money or expensive items, they will all eventually be used up or become boring. But a magnificent story or an art piece with collectible value may accompany you for a lifetime. I want you to remember me even if you hate me in the future."

Shi Jin felt a little hopeless and said, "Actually, you only need to say 'I think you will like it' at this point. Also, your answer just now is easily misunderstood. Second brother, why do you have to calculate people's hearts even when giving gifts? Isn't it tiring?"

"To calculate a person's heart is the highest expression of my regard for them. If it were Old Third, I'm sorry to say that I wouldn't even bother remembering his birthday, let alone giving him a gift." Even at this moment, Fei Yujing couldn't resist dragging Rong Zhouzhong out to be ridiculed.

Thinking back to the innocent victimization of Rong Zhouzhong this time, Shi Jin should have sympathized with him, but for some reason, he couldn't help but want to laugh. After struggling with his emotions, his conscience finally won over his amusement, and he said, "Second Brother, don't always bully Third Brother. He's actually a good guy."

"Didn't you bully him too? Last year, you even gave him a centipede pillow." Fei Yujing had no intention of reflecting on his actions, and even tried to recruit Shi Jin to his side.

Shi Jin retorted, "He was the one who gave me the cucumber pillow first, so my retaliation was justified... Anyway, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's change the subject."

Suddenly, Fei Yujing chuckled lightly. It was the first time Shi Jin had heard him laugh, and it was low and gentle, like the whisper of a piano. It was very pleasant to listen to. Shi Jin was stunned and turned his head towards the direction of the hospital bed, letting Xiao Si activate his night vision buff.

Fei Yujing had to lie on his back to avoid putting pressure on his wound. At this moment, he raised his hand and clenched his fist, pressing it against his forehead. His lips curled up, his eyes curved slightly, and his chest trembled slightly. He looked incredibly gentle, like a completely different person.

Shi Jin widened his eyes slightly and felt like he was getting to know Fei Yujing all over again.

Fei Yujing chuckled a few times before stopping. He put down his hand and composed himself, returning to his usual demeanor. He turned his head and changed the topic, asking, "Xiao Jin, do you still hate cucumbers now?"

Their gazes seemed to briefly meet, and Shi Jin's heart skipped a beat. He knew that Fei Yujing didn't have night vision, so he couldn't see his face clearly in the dark. But he still felt a sense of guilt and awkwardness, as if he had been caught peeking.

He replied vaguely, "Um, I don't hate them anymore, but I wouldn't say I like them either."

Fei Yujing could tell that something was off in his voice and asked, "Are you tired?"

"No," Shi Jin retorted, realizing that his voice was a bit too loud. He quickly lowered it and said, "No, I'm not tired. I usually go to bed around eleven."

Fei Yujing glanced at his phone to check the time. It was only just past nine, so he relaxed and tentatively asked, "It's still early. Can you tell me about your life at school, Xiao Jin? I want to get to know you better."

It seemed like the first time Fei Yujing had taken the initiative to care about his school life.

Shi Jin looked away from the dark ceiling and slowly calmed down before replying, "Actually, I don't spend much time at school. There's not much to say about my studies, but I have made two very good friends at school..."

Fei Yujing listened attentively, not wanting to miss a single syllable.

......

In the days that followed, Shi Jin would find new things every day to entertain Fei Yujing and help him pass the time. They played games, watched movies, read magazines, and gossiped together. Before going to bed, they would chat with each other, and in the morning, they would say good morning to each other. They gradually became closer as they learned more about each other's lives.