Chapter 10: Safe Buttocks, Sturdy Tailbone…

Shen Jichuan never expected to see Shen Zhi at this very moment, under these circumstances.

After realizing what was happening, he abruptly stood up, immediately bumping his head against the Safe House roof: Ouch… Rubbing his forehead while feeling a dull ache in his back, Shen Jichuan finally became aware of his current wretched state.

His clothes had been half-soaked when he came out, his hair too, and having curled up here – it went without saying that his current appearance was far from presentable.

Moreover, being here alone late at night made it seem like he was homeless.

Shen Jichuan rubbed his nose: Well… oh right.

He looked at the crystal-clear white snowflakes outside: I came out to admire the snow. This place might look like a doghouse to you, but it’s actually my secret base! The view of snow from here is absolutely beautiful. Brother Shen, would you like to come in too? Then he reconsidered, Never mind, watching from outside is fine too. I haven’t cleaned the inside for a while.

His words came pouring out, and to convince Shen Zhi, he even flashed a brilliant smile.

Paired with his frost-reddened nose and slightly trembling body—

He looked utterly foolish no matter how you saw it.

Shen Zhi lowered his eyes.

The moment his gaze dropped, Shen Jichuan froze for a second. Was it an illusion? Brother Shen’s eyes… seemed slightly red?

Having talked for so long without getting any response from Shen Zhi, he grew hesitant and finally remembered to ask: By the way, Brother Shen, what are you doing here?

Shen Zhi: You weren’t answering my calls.

Only then did Shen Jichuan remember the phone he’d stuffed in his zipped pants pocket.

He was annoyed: I had it on silent. I was so focused on coming here to watch the snow, the scenery was so beautiful, I forgot about it…

I already know everything.

Shen Jichuan’s voice cut off abruptly.

I called you repeatedly but you never answered. I was worried, so I asked around and went to your home, Shen Zhi lifted his eyes again, no trace of abnormality visible as he said, I’ve clarified things with your family. You’re working for me now, and from now on, they won’t use this matter to trouble or mistreat you anymore.

My coming here wasn’t accidental or coincidental. Just as you suspected, I came specifically looking for you. I know they were wrong, that they wronged you.

The forced sunny smile on Shen Jichuan’s face melted away like ice and snow.

He instantly became utterly silent, corners of his mouth drooping, jaw tightening slightly.

Sadness and grievance surged like wildly growing thorns, piercing through his skin, his throat clogged with discomfort.

Brother Shen… His nose turned sore and red, a layer of moisture veiling his eyes, shimmering more brightly than star lights in the pale yellow glow.

His voice became hoarse with what felt like weakness.

A person could normally endure much grievance and bitterness without showing any sign, but when someone else knows your pain, the emotions hidden and suppressed within can no longer be contained.

Though he hadn’t known Mr. Shen for long, he always felt an inexplicable familiarity with him.

This strange familiarity brought subconscious trust, and Shen Jichuan understood that prolonged trust would eventually transform into dependence.

Like at this moment, he couldn’t deny the thread of dependence toward Mr. Shen growing in his heart.

This really shouldn’t be happening. Mr. Shen would eventually leave one day. Once you develop dependence and taste the ease it brings, it becomes difficult to return to the mindset of struggling alone.

But even with such clear reasoning, Shen Jichuan was only eighteen after all.

He sniffled loudly and shouted, Brother Shen, you’re the best! before darting out from the doghouse, lunging forward to wrap his arms around Shen Zhi’s waist.

Caught off guard, Shen Zhi stumbled and fell onto the snow-covered ground, his umbrella tilting sideways beside him.

He lowered his head, plucking the stray grass blades from Shen Jichuan’s hair before tossing them away. After a helpless pause, he remarked, Really now, I am your boss after all… What kind of behavior is this? You’ve truly become a puppy.

Shen Jichuan continued nuzzling against his waist, deliberately making loud whimpering noises. Soon, however, the sounds softened, leaving only the slight tremble of his back and occasional muffled sobs.

Shen Zhi paused for a moment before gently placing his palm on the younger man’s back.

It’s alright, he said, glancing up at the quiet, snow-filled night sky. He picked up the fallen umbrella and gently held it over Shen Jichuan’s head.

Across time and space, he had opened this umbrella, finally shielding his younger self from the wind and snow, if only for a moment.

Shen Zhi’s voice was quieter than the night sky as he said:

Come home with me, Shen Jichuan.

Late night.

The streets were long empty.

After crying, Shen Jichuan felt embarrassed and became unusually chatty on their walk.

Brother Shen, you gave me your coat—aren’t you cold?

I am, but you must be colder.

You’re so honest. Anyone else would’ve said they weren’t cold.

Because I’m an honest man.

What if you get sick?

I’m an honest and sturdy adult. My body isn’t that fragile. I’m more worried about you catching a cold and falling behind on your problem sets.

Oh…

Brother Shen, when I bumped into you earlier, you fell. Is your… um… rear end okay?

Don’t worry, it’s safe. The tailbone is sturdy.

Hahaha, I’ve noticed you can be pretty funny sometimes.

Just an evil capitalist’s tactic to make employees loyal.

Their casual banter flowed effortlessly, their thought processes remarkably aligned. Sharing the umbrella, they left two nearly identical trails of footprints in the thin layer of snow.

Whoosh—

Steam fogged up the bathroom.

Shen Zhi warmed his hands against the radiator for a while. Estimating that Shen Jichuan was nearly done showering, he fetched a change of clothes from the bedroom wardrobe.

Just as he finished selecting the items, a muffled call came from the bathroom: Brother Shen!

Coming.

Carrying the clothes, Shen Zhi approached and knocked on the door.

The door cracked open slightly, revealing a damp, well-defined arm reaching out.

It was a nice arm.

Shen Zhi stared for several seconds before handing over a towel. Dry yourself first.

The arm retracted with the towel. After some rustling sounds, it immediately reappeared.

Shen Zhi passed over the pajama top.

The arm withdrew and extended for the third time.

Shen Zhi handed him the pajama bottoms.

When the arm retreated and reached out a fourth time, Shen Jichuan sighed in exasperation, Brother Shen, stop teasing. I need to get dressed quickly—you haven’t showered yet. If you stay damp too long, you’ll definitely catch a cold.

He could have handed everything over at once, yet he deliberately delivered each item separately.

Alright, fine, Shen Zhi’s lips curved slightly. Last item—underwear.

He pressed the square fabric into Shen Jichuan’s palm, clearly feeling the latter’s body stiffen.

Shen Zhi leisurely withdrew his hand: It’s new, never worn. And you don’t need to worry about the size.

The male reproductive organ typically stabilizes around age 18, with very few continuing to grow until 20.

At 18, they were identical in every aspect. Shen Zhi had once measured with his fingers – he knew exactly the dimensions under various conditions.

Shen Jichuan didn’t overthink it, but after putting on the same style pajamas and underwear as Shen Zhi, his ears inexplicably felt warm.

Rubbing his face, he opened the door. Brother Shen, you should go shower now.

The pajama collar was loose, and in his haste, it had slipped to reveal half his shoulder. Shen Zhi’s eyes narrowed slightly. What happened to your shoulder?

Bruises could be seen extending from Shen Jichuan’s shoulder toward his back.

Shen Jichuan twisted his head to look: Uh… After seeing clearly, he chuckled. Grandma hit me with a stick a few times. It’s fine, will heal in two or three days.

Come here.

Shen Zhi pulled him by the wrist to sit on the sofa, then retrieved the medicinal oil he used for injuries. Standing behind Shen Jichuan, he tilted his chin slightly. Take off your shirt.

Really, it’s nothing.

Take it off.

Shen Jichuan reluctantly removed his shirt, revealing his back.

Fortunately, winter clothes were thick – only three bruises from the shoulder downward, fading in severity.

Shen Zhi rolled up his sleeves, warmed the medicinal oil in his palms, then pressed firmly against Shen Jichuan’s back, slowly massaging. Does it hurt?

Shen Jichuan propped his chin. Doesn’t hurt, just feels… novel.

Novel?

Yeah.

It was just… merely bruises that would heal quickly if left alone. No one had ever treated such minor injuries on his body so seriously before.

Shen Zhi poured more medicinal oil into his palm, slowly warming it.

During this pause, Shen Jichuan turned around intending to say this was enough and that Shen Zhi should go shower, but his peripheral vision caught sight of Shen Zhi’s right forearm.

The moment he saw clearly, his pupils contracted.

The forearm that should have been slender and well-proportioned was covered with jagged, lurking scars beneath the skin – uneven, ugly and terrifying.

Shen Jichuan had seen such injuries in books.

This kind of injury usually occurred when the forearm bones shattered and were subjected to external pressure, causing bone fragments to pierce through the skin from inside, with obvious surgical reconstruction and suture marks.

Since Shen Zhi had never exposed his arms before, this was Shen Jichuan’s first time seeing it.

Did it scare you? Quite ugly, isn’t it. Shen Zhi said calmly, pressing his left palm against Shen Jichuan’s back again. Bear with it, I’m applying more pressure.

Hisss… Not scared. I’m determined to become a doctor – how could wounds scare me? Shen Jichuan grimaced. It’s just… you mentioned before you were in a car accident and injured your right hand, but these wounds are much more severe than I imagined.

Shen Zhi asked: Have you ever considered you might not become a doctor in the future?

Shen Jichuan answered without hesitation: That’s impossible.

Shen Zhi: I mean just in case. There are always unexpected events – like during college entrance exams, missing the medical program by a narrow margin.

Shen Jichuan: Won’t happen. If I don’t get in, I’ll retake the exams next year. E University’s admission score is fixed – it’s just a matter of time. I can do it.

Shen Zhi remained silent for a moment. If there were such a future where you didn’t become a doctor, would you be disappointed in that version of yourself? Seeing him fail to become what you expected, neither accomplished nor outstanding, even being badly deceived and becoming a laughingstock—would you be disappointed?

Shen Jichuan found Mr. Shen’s question somewhat strange, though he couldn’t immediately pinpoint why.

He thought it over seriously.

Well… I suppose I would be, a little.

The hands that had been massaging the bruises on his back stilled.

Shen Zhi pulled down his sleeves to cover the scars and moved away from behind Shen Jichuan.

Shen Jichuan hurriedly asked, Shen-ge, where are you going now?

Shen Zhi’s tone was even flatter than usual. To take a shower.

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