Chapter 25: Painless Syndrome 5

Lu Shun’s pupils contracted sharply.

Before his brain could process what was happening, his legs had already carried him forward. The moment he rushed into the hospital room, he collided head-on with Lin Xu who was returning from outside.

President He! The daily necessities Lin Xu was holding scattered across the floor, but he paid them no mind as he rushed to He Qiuting’s bedside in one swift movement, supporting the man.

The IV tube swayed, casting fragmented reflections of light.

He Qiuting’s gaze was unfocused as he looked down, the corners of his eyes flushed red. His Adam’s apple moved slowly as he realized he didn’t even have the strength to reach for a glass of water.

I want water, he said hoarsely, with a hint of despondency. When he lifted his eyes to look at Lin Xu, it was as if he were looking through air – he didn’t grant Lu Shun so much as a glance.

Lu Shun stepped on the wet, broken glass fragments on the floor, grinding them viciously under his leather shoes. His gloomy gaze fell upon Lin Xu’s bent back, then slowly moved to the two hands supporting He Qiuting.

Two hands – one supporting He Qiuting’s arm, the other holding He Qiuting’s palm as if their fingers were interlocked, the fingertips unconsciously stroking the wrist bone. It was a display of heartfelt tenderness.

Just like that… skin against skin.

The wheat-colored skin formed a stark contrast with He Qiuting’s pale complexion. Lu Shun stared closely at the two overlapping skin tones, his Adam’s apple bobbing as a metallic taste suddenly spread through his mouth.

Only then did he belatedly realize he had bitten his own tongue until it bled.

Lu Shun’s chest felt tight, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer, about to explode.

He Qiuting hated others touching his hands the most.

Back when they had first confirmed their relationship, when Lu Shun excitedly went to hold his hand for the first time, the latter had shaken him off as if electrocuted – like shaking off a snake – his brows furrowed unpleasantly, saying he found it too warm.

But now, he was letting Lin Xu hold his hand like this? Whether intentional or not, he was even weakly leaning into the latter’s palm?

Lin Xu softened his voice, affection written all over his face. The doctor said you can’t drink water for now, President He. Please bear with it a little longer, alright.

Bear with it.

Lu Shun was bearing with it too.

Lu Shun felt like his internal organs were about to bleed from the restraint. He hadn’t wanted to reveal his emotions in front of others, but at this moment, he felt he couldn’t hold back any longer.

What right did Lin Xu have? What gave him the right to coax He Qiuting in that tone?

A surge of anger rose within him, and Lu Shun reached out to pull the man up, somewhat roughly shoving him aside.

Lin Xu wasn’t tall, and when pulled by this force fueled by jealousy, he stumbled and crashed into the support of the monitoring equipment, creating a loud clang that sounded particularly jarring in the quiet hospital room.

Can’t you, as an assistant, know your place?

Lu Shun hadn’t expected he would lower himself to this extent – being able to confront He Qiuting’s assistant right in front of him.

You’re paid to do what you’re supposed to do.

Lin Xu, rubbing his lower back, was about to retort but instantly fell silent when he met those murderous eyes, instinctively shrinking back somewhat.

It was genuine killing intent – a real look that wanted to knife him.

Lin Xu stopped talking. Just as he lowered his head, he heard a rather cold voice.

Get out.

Lin Xu pressed his lips together and turned to leave.

Not you…

He Qiuting caught his breath and looked up at Lu Shun, his cold black pupils dull and lifeless. I’m telling you to get out.

He Qiuting genuinely despised this version of Lu Shun.

He loathed how Lu Shun could so skillfully categorize people into hierarchies, putting on an imperiously arrogant front toward those beneath him, yet bowing and smiling obsequiously before beneficial resources and connections, treating his self-respect as stepping stones.

It wasn’t that Lu Shun didn’t know how to respect others—it was just that his respect was reserved solely for those who could be useful to him. Speaking human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts, he was fundamentally a self-serving individual.

Their fundamental differences often left He Qiuting feeling uncomfortable. This disappointment and disgust had accumulated over time, never finding resolution.

He Qiuting had always believed that if one had to forcibly change the other to achieve what he perceived as perfection and harmony, then such a relationship was inherently flawed.

He himself had no desire to compromise, nor did he want his partner to compromise just to accommodate him.

That day at his doorstep, He Qiuting had tearfully laid everything bare to Lu Shun, voicing all the words he had kept bottled up inside and pinpointing every issue that dissatisfied him. Ultimately, he had been aiming for a clean break.

He no longer wanted to continue maneuvering around Lu Shun, nor did he hold any expectations for him anymore. He simply wanted this relationship to end with clarity.

But now, it seemed things remained as murky as ever.

Do I need to repeat myself? He Qiuting frowned, his pale face full of weariness.

I’ll step out. Lu Shun didn’t dare argue with him. Though unwilling, he took two steps back and said quietly, Don’t be angry. Your stomach is injured right now—you shouldn’t get emotional…

After speaking, he shot a warning glance at Lin Xu before silently exiting the hospital room.

He Qiuting didn’t look at him, his gaze calmly resting on Lin Xu instead. Feeling somewhat apologetic, he asked, Are you alright?

Lin Xu shook his head. Are you okay, President He?

Don’t take his words to heart. He’s been like this since he was young. He Qiuting paused and sighed softly. He’s just used to being domineering.

Before his words faded, a series of knocks sounded from outside the door.

He Qiuting watched as Lin Xu stood and walked over, returning with a pack of cotton swabs and a cup of warm water.

Surprised, he asked, Who was it?

Lin Xu lowered his head, unwrapped two cotton swabs, moistened them with the warm water, and brought them to He Qiuting. …It was President Lu. He said you might be thirsty and that if you can’t drink water, you can at least moisten your lips.

He Qiuting’s eyelashes drooped as he stared blankly at the cotton swab touching his lips, momentarily lost in thought.

President He… Lin Xu hesitated for a long while before finally gathering the courage to speak. You and President Lu… are you really just old classmates?

He Qiuting gave a slight nod.

A moment later, he said to Lin Xu, Help me find a nursing assistant, then return to the company. Coordinate with Zhou Hang to handle all matters and report the progress to me at any time.

The taste of blood grew stronger—his throat was likely scraped raw by the stomach tube. But He Qiuting couldn’t feel the pain; he could only sense the foreign object and the swelling of his throat’s mucous membrane.

President He… Lin Xu wanted to stay, but when he saw the look in He Qiuting’s eyes as he spoke, he knew this wasn’t up for discussion.

You should go out too. I’m not used to having people around when I sleep, He Qiuting said.

Perhaps he was truly too weak. The moment He Qiuting closed his eyes after speaking, he fell into a deep slumber.

Lin Xu sat by the bed watching him, his gaze lingering as it drifted from He Qiuting’s face down to his neck, then followed the line of his neck to his collarbone and that alluring hollow of his throat.

Further down, He Qiuting’s hospital gown was open, exposing half of his chest.

The He Qiuting he had always seen was dressed in impeccable suits, radiating an unapproachable aura, but at this moment, he felt that distance vanish—the distant figure had become within reach.

Well-defined muscles, soft skin, pale with a faint blush.

Lin Xu heard his own heartbeat thundering in his ears, felt his entire body grow hot, his limbs numb and tingling…

He scrambled to his feet in a panic, his face flushed crimson as he fled the hospital room.

Lu Shun was sitting on a chair outside, intently reviewing reports on his phone. He looked up at the sound, his eyes carrying a hint of confusion.

What’s wrong? he asked.

President He… President He is asleep, Lin Xu explained. He told me to go back to the company to work on the project and then find him a caregiver.

No need to find a caregiver, Lu Shun said without paying him much attention—genuinely unwilling to spare him another glance. He quickly lowered his head again, focusing on his phone, and added, Your company has a lot going on right now. Just focus on your work and don’t come back to the hospital.

His tone was quiet but carried undeniable authority. Lin Xu fell silent, then turned and left without another word.

Only after Lin Xu had been gone for a while did Lu Shun pause what he was doing. He turned off his phone screen and sat there in a daze.

His mind replayed the scene from the hospital room earlier.

Lu Shun replayed the events in his head.

He had actually sneered at Lin Xu right in front of He Qiuting. He had never once regarded Lin Xu as worthy of his attention, so why had he suddenly treated him as his number one imaginary rival?

He didn’t understand what was wrong with himself.

Lu Shun felt like a stranger to his own actions.

He shouldn’t be someone so lacking in restraint.

In the business world, he could calmly force opponents to back down at the negotiation table, smile as he accepted a knife handed to him by others, then turn it back on them. He could play the fool to take down tigers, swallowing enemies many times stronger than himself.

Yet in front of He Qiuting, he lost even the most basic ability to think rationally, becoming an unrestrained, easily provoked madman.

Whenever it came to matters related to He Qiuting, he struggled to control his emotions.

Madman wasn’t even the right word—Lu Shun felt more like a rabid dog.

He had countless ways to express his displeasure with Lin Xu, yet he had chosen the most inappropriate verbal attack.

It was utterly foolish.

A hand waved in front of his face, and a lazy voice sounded above him, What’s on your mind? Have you lost it?

Lu Shun slowly looked up and saw Zhang Wenqian’s face looming close.

Here. Zhang Wenqian handed Lu Shun a laptop and a stack of documents in kraft paper envelopes. The stuff you asked for. Brought it over for you.

Lu Shun took them, his voice lacking energy. Thanks.

Come on, President Lu, what’s the deal? Keeping an eye on someone in the hospital while watching the stock market? Zhang Wenqian rarely saw him so serious and found it somewhat amusing.

Yeah, Lu Shun replied, lowering his head to open the laptop. The doctor said he needs to be observed for 24 hours. I’m worried Qiuting might bleed again.

Tsk tsk, ‘worried Qiuting might bleed again’～

Zhang Wenqian dragged out his tone, deliberately mimicking him, then plopped down beside him and nudged him with his shoulder. What’s with the act of devotion here? Weren’t you part of the team shorting Cloud Horizon’s stock? You were hitting the market harder than anyone—don’t think I didn’t notice. What’s this, a love-hate relationship?

Get lost. Lu Shun frowned. For some reason, though He Qiuting’s speech usually sounded normal to him, every word now felt like sarcasm.

He said with complete seriousness, I’m not pretending, okay? I’m genuinely worried about him, I genuinely can’t set my mind at ease. Even if you send me back to the company, I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else.

This tone sounded even more ridiculous to Zhang Wenqian’s ears.

Alright, alright, fine, fine. He wouldn’t argue with Lu Shun, instead affirming along with his words while smiling. You’re not pretending, you’re just deeply sentimental—the most sentimental man in Sky Dome Port.

Lu Shun ignored him, turning to look at the computer screen. His slender fingers slid across the touchpad, pulling up the position interface.

Zhang Wenqian had initially only glanced casually, but the next second, his smile slowly froze.

On the screen was the overview section of Lu Shun’s offshore account, with a blood-red pop-up window displaying a high-risk warning level.

Leverage: 5X

Current Position: Yunji Real Estate

Beside it was the intraday chart for Yunji Real Estate. The stock price was oscillating at low levels, with massive buy orders hanging in the order book—desperately propping up the declining trend.

Five-times leverage to support the stock? Zhang Wenqian slammed his laptop shut. Lu Shun, have you fucking lost your mind?!

Not using company funds, but leveraging 5 billion in personal capital to move 25 billion.

How did you secure the financing?

Lu Shun reopened the laptop screen, staring at the waveform with a placid expression. I mortgaged some assets.

What assets could secure that much?!

Pledged some equity shares, along with two properties.

The air fell into a brief, dead silence.

After a long moment, Zhang Wenqian asked through gritted teeth, If Yunji’s stock price falls, your leverage will blow up. Do you understand the consequences of that?

Lu Shun sounded impatient. Of course I understand. If even a restaurant owner like you gets it, how could I not?

He would go bankrupt, potentially even lose control of CL, and face heavy regulatory penalties.

Lu Shun had considered all the pros and cons, yet he’d made his decision within half a minute.

But why, for god’s sake? Zhang Wenqian was frantic with anxiety, unable to comprehend. Haven’t you and He Qiuting always kept things separate? Who was it that said, ‘business is business, feelings are feelings’?

In principle, yes. Lu Shun’s voice softened slightly. But…

But what?

Lu Shun’s Adam’s apple moved as he lowered his gaze to the floor. I don’t want He Qiuting to wake up and see Yunji’s stock price fallen.

Since I don’t want it to fall, it must rise.

This answer didn’t surprise Zhang Wenqian.

Lu Shun had always been like this—since childhood, whenever he wanted to achieve something, he would stop at nothing to make it happen. Regardless of cost or risk, he was always the first to decide and act.

In Lu Shun’s dictionary, the word hesitation didn’t exist.

He would go to any lengths and bear any consequences to achieve his goals.

Besides, it’s not just for He Qiuting.

Lu Shun suddenly turned his head, meeting Zhang Wenqian’s gaze with sharp eyes that held a trace of concealed excitement. I’m making an unprecedented high-risk investment.

Investing in Yunji’s Sky Citadel Project?

No. Lu Shun shook his head.

Investing in He Qiuting.

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