Chapter 48: Visit

Only two people were allowed to visit at a time to avoid disturbing the other patients.

As evening approached, Chen Zhilong arrived with two large boxes of pre-cut fruit.

He and Qiu Ye had always been on good terms.

“Crap! I thought it was just some AI post. Is this for real? How are you doing now?”

Chen Zhilong sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Qiu Ye’s left arm with curiosity.

“How did you fall? You really messed it up.”

“Just had surgery. I drank too much and took a tumble.”

With his roommates there, Qiu Ye’s spirits improved significantly.

He no longer looked as pitiful as he did when it was just him and Bai Yao.

“Did you ask the counselor for a leave of absence?”

“Not yet. It doesn’t matter if I skip, anyway. Just help me with roll call when the time comes.”

“Sure thing!”

Qiu Ye looked up at Bai Yao, who was leaning against the window playing on his phone.

“Help Bai Yao with roll call, too.”

“Bai Yao?”

Chen Zhilong was puzzled as he looked at their somewhat antisocial roommate.

There was so much to be confused about! In just one week, how had Bai Yao changed from a delicate, slender boy to looking like a girl?

When he first arrived, Chen Zhilong almost thought she was Qiu Ye’s little girlfriend.

Looking closely, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the change had occurred.

Was the curve of his chest more prominent?

Bai Yao noticed Chen Zhilong’s gaze and turned his back to him.

Chen Zhilong continued to observe…

Did his face look more refined?

Had he gained a bit of weight?

He looked much softer now, not as thin as before.

Besides, given Bai Yao’s personality, why would he even come to visit Qiu Ye?

“Bai Yao’s been taking care of Qiu Ye for several days now,” Lin Mingxin remarked from the side.

“Cold on the outside, warm on the inside?”

“Several days?”

Chen Zhilong was even more shocked.

He considered himself a loyal friend, but even he would only visit a few times a day at most.

Overhearing his roommates’ conversation, the corners of Bai Yao’s mouth curled up with pride.

If he had a tail, it would be wagging at the sky right now.

‘Hmph—I’m a very reliable man!’

‘Don’t judge a book by its cover, okay?’

But then Bai Yao started worrying about the dorm.

All those unspeakable Mission Rewards were on his bed, hidden under the covers.

Now that his roommates were back, what if they were discovered? Especially that oversized toy and the women’s clothes!

He couldn’t leave right now, so he couldn’t keep an eye on things.

He felt incredibly uneasy.

‘The bed curtains should be zipped up, right? My roommates have never climbed onto my bed before, and there’s no way they’d lift my covers. It shouldn’t be a problem.’

“Let’s all go out for a meal once you’re discharged, alright?”

Chen Zhilong offered grandly.

“My treat!”

Qiu Ye didn’t stand on ceremony.

“Then your wallet is going to bleed.”

“It’s the beginning of the month, who cares! Eat whatever you want!”

While they talked about the meal, Lin Mingxin walked over to Bai Yao and leaned against the windowsill.

Both were men of few words, and they quietly played on their phones.

Only at times like this did Bai Yao feel a sense of “same kind” closeness to Lin Mingxin.

But remembering the guy was a veteran of actual combat, Bai Yao felt a surge of bitter envy and a sense of distance!

Forget about combat—his “little brother” could barely even react anymore.

He couldn’t even reward himself.

“Alright! We should probably head back. Take care of yourself, and we’ll visit again when we have time.”

Chen Zhilong waved and headed out, with Lin Mingxin trotting after him.

But he noticed Bai Yao hadn’t moved.

“Aren’t you coming back to the dorm tonight?”

Bai Yao turned to look at Qiu Ye with an inquiring gaze.

The guy had been chatting happily with Chen Zhilong just a moment ago, but now he was lying on the bed looking like he was at death’s door, his spirit withered as he gazed longingly at Bai Yao.

Even though he knew Qiu Ye was likely faking it, Bai Yao couldn’t bring himself to be cruel.

“I’m not going back. Can you help me with roll call tonight?”

Chen Zhilong gave an OK gesture and left with Lin Mingxin.

Once they left, Bai Yao sat back down on the small stool by the bed.

He plugged his phone in to charge and leaned back slightly against the other empty bed.

Just then, the doctor arrived for rounds.

Facing a stranger, Bai Yao lowered his head and played on his phone in silence, trying to minimize his presence.

He pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on the conversation between the doctor and Qiu Ye, occasionally glancing up.

Come to think of it, orthopedic doctors seemed generally young and sturdy.

Although this doctor was wearing a mask, his eyes were quite nice, and he was very tall—maybe 6 feet 3 inches?

‘Ugh—it’s all the system’s fault! It’s making me consciously observe a man’s looks!’

**[You have encountered a handsome doctor. He is tall, refined, and a respected doctor with a bright future! He is simply the perfect marriage candidate!]**

**[Go strike up a conversation and get his contact information! Reward: 100 cash]**

Bai Yao didn’t even bother to see what the reward was and continued playing on his phone.

This system was ridiculous.

It was encouraging him to hit on other men right in front of his so-called “love interest,” Qiu Ye?

Even if he was dirt poor, he wouldn’t sell his integrity and soul! He wasn’t some nympho who threw orgies every day!

The doctor gave a few instructions and left.

Bai Yao finally looked up and met Qiu Ye’s gaze.

“What’d he say?”

“I thought you were listening.”

‘I was, until the system interrupted.’

“Anyway, I can be discharged in two or three days.”

Qiu Ye tried to stretch, but a jolt of pain shot through his left arm the moment he applied pressure.

He leaned back against the headboard helplessly.

“I want to shower. I feel gross.”

“Just use a towel to wipe down.”

Qiu Ye lowered his head and pulled at his collar, sniffing.

“I don’t smell, do I?”

He stretched his arm out, shoving the back of his hand almost against the tip of Bai Yao’s nose.

“You smell too?”

Bai Yao pulled away in disgust.

“Just one sniff?”

He helplessly took a few sniffs.

Qiu Ye’s hand had a faint scent of skin, mixed with a hint of sweat and the heat of his body temperature.

It wasn’t necessarily good or bad, but Bai Yao didn’t find it repulsive; in fact, it felt rather nice.

“No smell.”

If anything, it smelled a bit like the hospital—disinfectant and the like.

“That’s good.”

Qiu Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he wasn’t a clean freak, he couldn’t stand looking like a slob.

He picked up his phone and scrolled with one hand.

“You have no idea. During my surgery, the doctors were talking about what to eat for dinner.”

Bai Yao played along.

“Yeah? What were they eating?”

Though he didn’t look up, he was reading a newly updated novel.

“I think they were going to get poached fish after work. They said there’s a good place nearby.”

Qiu Ye’s mouth couldn’t stay still unless it was stuffed with snacks.

“Damn, they were banging around on my arm doing who-knows-what. It felt like they were doing home renovations.”

Qiu Ye suddenly changed the subject.

“Hey! I’ll pay you back once my allowance for next month arrives, okay?”

“What am I supposed to do this month then?”

“We’ll go begging for food together!”

Bai Yao narrowed his eyes and looked at Qiu Ye with disdain.

“…”

‘Maybe I really should have asked that doctor for his contact info. At least it was 100 bucks!’