Bai Yao spent almost the entire final stage of the National Day holiday in the hospital.
He felt there was no need for him to be so dedicated to taking care of Qiu Ye.
The guy could walk and jump; he only had a broken left arm, which just made carrying things a bit inconvenient.
Moreover, they didn’t have the kind of ambiguous relationship described by the system.
They were just ordinary friends—perhaps not even best friends.
He could have easily stayed out of it.
Bai Yao looked up at the doors of the operating room, his mind filled with a mess of random thoughts.
‘Is this guy an ungrateful wolf? Is he going to forget my kindness the moment he leaves the hospital?’
‘He should be grateful like a brother and treat me to dinner every day. He just better not have his favorability explode and try to send me to the Department of Anorectal Surgery like the system’s nonsense suggested…’
‘I originally saved that money for my own check-up, but basically all of it went toward Qiu Ye’s fees. Will this guy even pay me back? I should have asked my parents for my allowance instead.’
‘There shouldn’t be any complications with this surgery, right? It is a Grade A hospital, after all.’
Bai Yao couldn’t help but look toward the operating room again, his brow furrowed as his legs shook restlessly.
When he had heard the doctor explain the situation earlier, he had been in a complete state of confusion.
He only understood that Qiu Ye’s fracture was quite serious and the surgery was relatively complex…
To end up like this just from a fall—he really was a “fragile college student.”
After about an hour, Qiu Ye was wheeled out.
He had likely been under local anesthesia, as he still had the energy to wink and make faces at the anxious Bai Yao.
Bai Yao finally stopped worrying.
Since the patient himself was heartlessly teasing him, he simply rolled his eyes at Qiu Ye and slowly followed behind the gurney.
Once they returned to the ward, Bai Yao finally asked, “How’s it going?”
“The doctor said it’s fine. I’ll probably be discharged in three days.”
“That’s pretty fast…”
Bai Yao sat on a small stool and pulled out his phone to check the dormitory group chat.
“Wang Zuhao is already back at the dorm. He’s shouting in the group for someone to open the door.”
It was already the afternoon of the last day of the holiday, and the roommates were trickling back one by one.
However, Bai Yao had locked the dorm door, and Wang Zuhao couldn’t get in.
“Are you going to go open it for him?”
Qiu Ye’s lips curved downward piteously.
“I just finished surgery. Let him wait in the hallway for a while.”
“Yeah, I don’t feel like going back either.”
Bai Yao disliked Wang Zuhao to begin with, so how could he possibly go back just to open the door for him?
He fiddled with his phone, observing Qiu Ye only out of the corner of his eye.
He didn’t want to look like he cared too much.
‘This guy is hospitalized and just had surgery. He looks pretty pathetic.’
Qiu Ye was actually quite handsome, but currently, his complexion was poor, and his hair was a messy bird’s nest.
He had lost all his vigor, looking like a scruffy puppy.
‘I like him better this way! It gives me the illusion that I can easily handle him!’
“Hiss… It hurts…”
Perhaps the anesthesia was starting to wear off.
Qiu Ye felt the post-operative pain along with a dizzy, heavy-headed sensation that was incredibly uncomfortable.
Even though he had rugged features and was supposed to be a tough guy, he was now crying out in pain like a child.
“It’s your own fault for drinking,” Bai Yao mocked him verbally, but he put down his phone and gently cupped Qiu Ye’s right hand.
His eyes darted around awkwardly as he tried to maintain a cold expression.
He felt like this behavior was a bit too “gay,” but Qiu Ye seemed to appreciate it, as he actually stopped crying out in pain.
‘Why am I going this far? Am I too much of a nice guy?’
Bai Yao sighed inwardly.
“What do you want to eat tonight? I’ll go to the hospital cafeteria for you.”
“Don’t. I don’t want to eat hospital food.”
It wasn’t that the cafeteria food was terrible, but it was so bland that he couldn’t stomach it.
Bai Yao, however, thought it was fine.
He preferred lighter flavors, whereas the food at the school cafeteria was way too greasy for him.
“I don’t have any money left to order delivery for you.”
Since he had been stuck in the hospital, he hadn’t triggered any tasks, which meant he had no income.
“…”
Bai Yao thought for a moment, then picked up Qiu Ye’s phone.
He unlocked it with practiced ease and started typing in the dormitory group chat.
“I had an accident and I’m hospitalized at the Affiliated Hospital. I urgently need surgery fees. Send me fifty!”
Then, he took an ugly photo of Qiu Ye’s current state and sent it to the group.
“Don’t take pictures,” Qiu Ye muttered, turning his head so only his profile was visible.
“Do you still care about your image?”
Bai Yao doubled down and took a few more.
“Don’t mess with me in the future. If you do, I’ll post these ugly photos everywhere.”
Qiu Ye nodded helplessly.
The group chat soon became lively.
“For real? Is this an AI scam?”
“Is Bai Yao at the hospital too? No wonder the door is locked.”
“Wait, what? I’m hanging out with my senior nearby. I’ll head over now.”
‘Another senior! Another senior!’
Even though “the playboy’s” luck with women was enough to make anyone jealous, he was still a pretty reliable guy.
Bai Yao continued to pretend to be Qiu Ye and sent another message:
“Bring me some McDonald’s while you’re at it. One Grilled Chicken Burger, one Bacon Vegetable Double Beef Burger, a box of chicken legs and wings, and two 1.5-liter bottles of mineral water.”
Qiu Ye peeked over curiously.
Bai Yao tilted the screen so he could see the text clearly.
“McDonald’s? You’re the one who wants to eat McDonald’s, aren’t you?”
Bai Yao kept a straight face and said solemnly, “This is your phone. You’re the one who wants it.”
Since Qiu Ye usually spent his time teasing him, now that Qiu Ye was weak and his phone was compromised, Bai Yao was going to handle him however he pleased!
“Fine, fine. I want to eat it.”
The corners of Bai Yao’s mouth curled up in triumph as he continued chatting in the group using Qiu Ye’s identity.
As he typed, he continued to pester Qiu Ye.
“Why are there so many dirty pictures in your album?”
Qiu Ye was perfectly candid.
“Because I’m a man.”
There was no arguing with that.
“Don’t tell me you don’t even have any on your phone?”
Qiu Ye struck back.
“Are you even a man?”
“I value my dignity,” Bai Yao replied before asking, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll read your chat logs too?”
“It’s not like I have anything to hide.”
It was true.
Whether it was QQ or WeChat, the guy didn’t seem to have many female friends.
His recent conversations were all with Bai Yao.
Before long, Lin Mingxin arrived with the McDonald’s and a jug of water.
As soon as he entered, he saw Bai Yao leaning against the window with his arms crossed, while Qiu Ye lay weakly on the hospital bed.
“Look at you, ending up like this after a few days.”
Lin Mingxin teased Qiu Ye with a grin.
“You okay?”
“I’m not dead yet.”
Lin Mingxin sat on the small stool nearby and noticed it was still a bit warm, but he didn’t pay it much mind.
“Here, your burgers and water.”
Lin Mingxin handed over the McDonald’s, looking at Bai Yao with some surprise.
“Bai Yao, you’re actually here…”
Even though Bai Yao had become a bit more cheerful lately, he still often wore an icy expression.
Previously, he had always remained distant from the rest of the dorm, acting as if he wasn’t close to anyone.
But now, he was actually visiting Qiu Ye?
“Open it for me.”
Qiu Ye couldn’t move one arm, and it was hard to open the burger box with just his right hand.
“Is it that serious?”
Just as Lin Mingxin was about to help, he saw Bai Yao walk over.
Bai Yao opened the box, unwrapped the burger paper, opened the fried chicken box, and even stuck a straw into the Coke…
He was being incredibly attentive!
Lin Mingxin looked at Bai Yao as if he were seeing a ghost, then looked back at Qiu Ye on the bed.
“You two should just get married.”
“Not a bad idea!” Qiu Ye chirped.
Bai Yao acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
He took a sip of the Coke and walked away with the burger and fried chicken.
“No water or food allowed after surgery.”
Qiu Ye let out a long, despairing sigh.