Chapter 813: Love Starting from a Breakup 02

Jin Chen took his hand and had him sit on the sofa; the hair dryer's temperature was just right, his movements were gentle, as if he were doing something that required full concentration.

Qiao Xu's hair was slightly longer; when smoothed, it looked very obedient, softening the striking beauty of his brows and eyes, yet his noble air became even more apparent.

He leaned on the sofa enjoying Jin Chen's hair‑drying service, bare feet on the velvet blanket beside the sofa, quite pleased, like a noble cat.

The warm atmosphere was just right.

But in order to eat tonight's dessert, Qiao Xu had barely eaten dinner, and he was already a little hungry.

After blowing his hair, he curled up on the sofa, stepping onto Jin Chen's thigh; his pale feet against the black lounge pants created a striking visual contrast.

"I'm hungry, it's all your fault."

His tone was a bit aggrieved and dissatisfied.

"I'll feel unwell tonight."

Jin Chen naturally covered him with the blanket; although the room's heating was on full, the young master was simply of a delicate constitution.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat the late‑night snack you make; go check the kitchen to see what's left."

Qiao Xu is especially picky about food; when he says this, he usually hasn't decided what to eat, making him even harder to please.

Jin Chen had no hesitation at all; he tucked the blanket in securely, put on a classic movie, and went to the kitchen to prepare the late‑night snack.

Watching his back, Qiao Xu frowned slightly, feeling that tonight he seemed different from usual.

So was he.

He rested the back of his hand on his forehead and muttered.

"He doesn't even have a fever."

Strange and weird.

Qiao Xu didn't want to think too much, snuggled comfortably on the sofa to watch his favorite movie.

Before the movie was halfway through, hearing a sound, Qiao Xu looked up and saw Jin Chen already coming out of the kitchen.

Considering the young master's stomach, Jin Chen simmered some easy‑to‑digest lean meat porridge, plus a small portion of the fish balls Qiao Xu liked.

It was just enough for one person.

Qiao Xu leaned over to smell it, then tentatively took a small bite; after confirming it was fine, he began to eat.

Seeing this routine, Jin Chen couldn't help but chuckle; he sat beside him, put an arm around his waist, and teased.

"Are you afraid I poisoned you?"

"Who knows? You're basically poisonous anyway."

Qiao Xu retorted without hesitation, then quietly drank the porridge.

He doesn't like to talk while eating, and Jin Chen naturally knew that, so he kept him company while watching the movie.

Perhaps from being overly tired from recent projects, Jin Chen grew a bit drowsy after watching a while, propping his head up and leaning against the sofa back to rest with his eyes closed.

To give the movie a better atmosphere, only the floor lamp beside the sofa in the living room was turned on; the light was warm and not glaring.

In the quiet atmosphere, only the movie's sound remained.

Qiao Xu finished half a bowl, felt no longer hungry, stopped, wiped his mouth, and turned his head.

Jin Chen was already asleep, his face showing fatigue, half his body hidden in the glow of the floor lamp, his profile looking even more profound and handsome.

After all, coming from an underworld family, Jin Chen's temperament, though gentle, also concealed an edge, especially during his university years.

Everyone in their circle said Jin Chen yielded to him in everything, but only Qiao Xu knew that when they first got together, both were unwilling to yield and domineering.

His mind inexplicably started wandering; Qiao Xu shook his head and reached out to push Jin Chen.

"Don't sleep here."

Who would have thought that the next second the hand on his waist suddenly tightened; Qiao Xu, unprepared, fell straight into Jin Chen's arms.

"Stay with me and rest a while."

The voice beside his ear was low and tender, a vulnerability Jin Chen had never shown before.

Qiao Xu blinked, enveloped by warmth, and an inexplicable strange feeling welled up in his heart.

This position made his waist a bit uncomfortable; he pushed Jin Chen's shoulder and said, "Go sleep on the bed."

Jin Chen stroked Qiao Xu's nape, his hand applying no pressure, just a light pinch.

"Honey, be a little more obedient."

Qiao Xu was stunned, even forgetting to push.

Perhaps sensing the fatigue in his tone, he blankly leaned into Jin Chen's embrace, inexplicably not waking him.

So he could only adjust himself to a more comfortable position, half‑closing his eyes, each breath filled with the warm, sandalwood‑like scent emanating from that person.

It seemed like a long time since he had heard that term of address.

To be precise, only when they had just gotten together did Jin Chen teasingly call him that a few times.

But back then he found it awkward, so he didn't allow Jin Chen to use it; every time he heard it he got angry.

Why does it not feel awkward today when he hears it?

How strange.

Qiao Xu lifted his head again to look at Jin Chen, whose face was near; light and shadow crossed his features, and at that moment he seemed to be sleeping uneasily, his brows furrowed.

He reached out and tapped Jin Chen's brow, muttering, "Just like an old man."

Clearly, when he's awake normally he never worries this much; why does he feel so awful in his dream?

"Cold…"

In a daze, Qiao Xu seemed to hear Jin Chen murmuring something, and puzzled, he moved closer to listen.

"Cold……"

This time he heard it clearly.

But the living room had ample heating; even I didn't feel cold, and Jin Chen's physique is so good—how could he feel cold?

Qiao Xu opened the smart temperature control system on the coffee table, raised the bedroom temperature a bit more, then went to push Jin Chen.

"Jin Chen, don't sleep here; if you catch a cold I won't take care of you."

He sat up, left Jin Chen's embrace, and immediately saw the man's brows furrow deeper, his face turning a bit red……

Red?

Qiao Xu immediately placed his hand on Jin Chen's forehead, his eyes filled with surprise.

So hot!

Jin Chen had a fever.

No wonder I felt hot just now—leaning against someone with a fever, how could I not be hot?

Qiao Xu quickly picked up his phone to call the family doctor.

His health isn't good, so Jin Chen hired a doctor to be on standby; actually, it's usually just minor ailments.

As he hung up, Qiao Xu's eyes flickered, and his gaze turned again to the man on the sofa.

He seemed to realize only then that, although he usually complained about Jin Chen being busy with work all day and complained about his aloof attitude,

but he really did take good care of him.

Qiao Xu pressed his lips, recalled common sense, poured a cup of warm water, and then covered Jin Chen with his own cashmere blanket.

He knelt on the sofa, preventing Jin Chen from pulling him back into his embrace, and pushed him up from behind.

After struggling to feed him some warm water, Jin Chen sensed it and drank cooperatively, then continued holding his wife as he fell into a deep sleep, his consciousness hazy.

Qiao Xu sighed helplessly, resignedly burrowed into the blanket, muttering under his breath.

"If you pass the fever to me, you're dead."

This pose was even more intimate than before; Qiao Xu intended to lay Jin Chen flat on the sofa to sleep, but his motion suddenly halted when he touched the back.

He tilted his head in confusion, brushed the fallen hair behind his ear, and slipped into the blanket to see what was on Jin Chen's back.

After lifting the home clothing, Qiao Xu let out a soft exclamation, his trembling hand dared not touch again, fear surging in his pupils.

How could there be bandages, how could there be bleeding?

It's an inflamed infection of the wound, and it's this severe.

Even the family doctor was of no use.