Chapter 9

Sui Si felt a slight chill.

He raised his hand and gently tapped twice on the microphone. The echo of the tapping sound resonated in the empty studio at the other side.

Yu Tang was normally the most sensitive to this. Sui Si often needs to appear in front of the camera, and during the times when it is inconvenient to call someone, he will tap twice without any trace on the edge or the table or the armrest.

Yu Tang followed him and he has never missed once. Sometimes, even the people around Sui Si haven’t noticed it, while Yu Tang had already responded and came to his side.

This time, Yu Tang didn’t move at all.

…How could it become like this?

Sui Si’s throat felt dry, and he moved his fingers slowly, tightening his grip.

These days…not only the driver and Nie Chi, the hospital also repeatedly reminded him that Yu Tang’s condition was not as normal as it seemed.

Yu Tang’s condition is not suitable to work as his assistant full-time.

Nie Chi came to ask him if he needed to arrange sick leave procedures for Yu Tang in these last few months. Sui Si was indifferent to it; he had originally just recruited a new assistant. Everyone could run errands, it didn’t have to be Yu Tang.

The studio’s model was already mature, all the work was on the right track and there has never been a problem. Sui Si has always believed that no matter who left or stayed, whether there was one more person or one less, won’t actually have a very big impact.

He originally planned to take Yu Tang back home to live for some time once he felt a bit better.

In the hospital, in order to make Yu Tang obedient , he intentionally used ‘If something happened at the last moment, he couldn’t not find him’ to scare him, while in his heart, he didn’t really plan to let Yu Tang do anything.

Clearly there was someone responsible for every specific work arrangement, so Sui Si has never understood why Yu Tang appeared to be so busy everyday.

Perhaps, Yu Tang was naturally not used to having free time. Sui Si then thought that he could use work as an excuse to bring Yu Tang back and let him rest peacefully for a while.

Yu Tang had psychological issues, or maybe it was because he was too busy these year; relaxing and taking a break, he’ll eventually be able to adjust.

“Yu Tang.” Sui Si didn’t want to deny this possibility. He took out a cigarette and reached for a lighter, slowing down his tone as before. “Yu Tang, I have something…”

The person in the scene trembled slightly.

This sentence seemed to have turned on some kind of switch; in the screen of the video call, once Yu Tang heard this sentence, he suddenly stood up.

Like some kind of pre-established program that have been imputed, Yu Tang’s movements was specially smooth: turned on the work memo on the electronic screen, sorted it out by time and importance and checked the notes one by one.

While checking the time, he investigated Sui Si’s possible requirements, split the screen and was on standby. He even seemed to want to get up to get his keys and coat.

But after all, he had just walked on the line of life and death, and hadn’t even returned to the hospital to receive the appropriate treatment. He had just stood up, when he unconsciously groaned, his face paling, and had to lean on the edge of the desk for support.

“Yu Tang!” Sui Si was frightened, and his throat tightened. “What do you want to do?!”

“Teacher Sui, I’m here.”

Yu Tang hung his shoulders slightly, his forehead hair was disheveled, and a little cold sweat was seeping from his temples, but his tone remained steady. “Do you have any demand? Please wait a moment, I’ll go over in a moment…”

Sui Si looked at him in astonishment and was unable to say anything.

Yu Tang waited in silence for a moment. Not hearing his instructions, he supported himself on the desk to slowly stand firm. “Teacher Sui?”

Sui Si clutched that cigarette, his fingers stiff and did not budge.

Compared to the figure just a moment ago, the Yu Tang right now appears to be very normal. As normal as all those previous times when Yu Tang received his call late at night to urgently handle an unexpected task—exactly the same as before.

Exactly the same, even the tone didn’t change at all.

Sui Si never felt anything was wrong.

Yu Tang worked as his assistant; he was obedient, sensible, neat and useful, and won’t let him worry at all when he handles the matters.

He didn’t know that Yu Tang had actually trained himself into a machine when he was not paying attention.

A machine that can have a programmed response at any time, without the need of maintenance, without mood fluctuations and that won’t make mistakes.

“Sit down. I don’t have anything for you to do.”

Sui Si’s voice was a little hoarse. “…Yu Tang.”

Yu Tang seemed a little confused, but still didn’t question it, just sat back meekly.

Sui Si squeezed the cigarette hard. He doesn’t want to frighten Yu Tang again, so he controlled his emotions and asked Yu Tang slowly, “You don’t return to your residence, what are you doing going to the studio?”

“I remembered that there was some work I hadn’t completed yet.”

Yu Tang responded smoothly, “There are quite a few things that have been delayed these days, and there are some schedule adjustments I need to make. I wanted to take care—”

Sui Si interrupted him. “Don’t do it.”

Yu Tang paused slightly and raised his eyes to look at him.

Yu Tang’s facial features are actually quite gentle and handsome. He didn’t read a lot of books, and lacked the innocence that only students have. Sitting there so quietly, without any sharpness or brilliance, with a very unremarkable demeanor, was wasting such a good appearance.

“Don’t do it.” Sui Si didn’t want to hear him speaking again, his speech was very fast. “There’s nothing so important. Return now to the hospital and have another physical examination. Rest tonight in the hospital. I will call Nie Chi to accompany you. You—“

Yu Tang quietly listened for a while and then shook his head. “I’m okay, Teacher Sui.”

Sui Si frowned even more.

“The work of Mr. Nie will all be reported back to the family, and the Sui family also has control over the hospital.”

Yu Tang said, “Yours and Mr. Ke’s affair hasn’t been appropriately settled yet. It won’t be good for you if the Sui family knows the current situation of our marriage…”

“If you don’t like me staying in the studio, I will go back.” Yu Tang thought for a moment and gently said, “And come back tomorrow morning.”

Sui Si asked in a low voice, “Where will you be going?”

Yu Tang replied, “My residence…”

“Address.” Sui Si said, “I want to visit your residence, give me the address.”

On the other side, Yu Tang suddenly went silent.

Sui Si’s complexion was very ugly, slowly crushing that cigarette, and looked at the silent Yu Tang across the screen.

Sui Si asked, “What is the address?”

Yu Tang couldn’t respond.

The color disappeared from his face again, he sat motionless, his chest rising and falling slightly with his breathing.

Sui Si seemed to once again see that pale figure.

Such a realization almost pricked at Sui Si’s mind, and he suddenly snapped awake. Furrowing his brows with a tinge of frustration, he made an effort to adjust his tone. “Yu Tang…Yu Tang.”

Yu Tang didn’t speak and stared at him silently.

“I didn’t mean to be fierce. I—Don’t misunderstand.”

Sui Si spoke with difficulty. It was the first time for him to explain to Yu Tang and din’t know how he should say it. “I wanted to say that you can come home to live.”

Sui Si thought of Ke Ming who was in the bedroom and added another sentence, “Wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow I will bring you back.”

Yu Tang said softly, “Okay.”

He replied gently and calmly, but it made Sui Si more uncomfortable. In vain, he moved closer to the screen.

“Don’t run around anymore. Go to my office tonight; there is a break room there, which has a bed.” Sui Si said, “Don’t be like this, Yu Tang. I won’t deceive you, I will treat you well.”

Yu Tang obediently nodded. “Okay.”

Sui Si closed his eyes.

For some reason, Yu Tang responded well to every sentence that he spoke, and can’t find fault in any word.

Every sentence was utterly devoid of emphasis, completely out of control.

Sui Si leaned on the sofa and whispered after a while, “Go, hang up the phone. There is no need to return it.”

Yu Tang listened to every word he said; as expected, the other end didn’t speak again.

After two seconds sounded the busy signal of the call being hung up.

Sui Si opened his eyes and moved his arm.

He closed the phone call interface. The screen was still on and the remote surveillance of the studio automatically appeared.

Yu Tang didn’t go to his studio; he was still sitting motionless at his desk.

The ceiling lights were not turned on in the studio, and the edge of the desk lamp’s light illuminated Yu Tang’s figure hidden under his white shirt. His waist was slender, so thin that his spine protruded slightly through the fabric.

Yu Tang sat quietly like that. Perhaps he doesn’t need to rest, or perhaps he had long forgotten how to rest.

Just like how he faced Sui Si, and also like when he promised him not to pester him again once the contract was over—gradually forgetting what happiness and sadness was.

There was a group photo of the studio back then placed on Yu Tang’s desk.

Five years ago, the nineteen-year-old Yu Tang, who had just come to Sui Si’s side, was smiling shyly and with a touch of innocence.

……

Sui Si sat in a daze for approximately half and hour.

Ke Ming walked out of the bedroom and saw the silhouette on the sofa. A little confused, he softly called him, “Brother?”

After calling several times, Sui Si finally came to his sense and raised his head.

“What the matter?” Ke Ming came over. “What happened…?”

Ke Ming stopped talking when he saw the surveillance recording on the screen in front of Sui Si.

“I arranged some work-related matters. I’m a little tired.”

Sui Si rubbed his face hard and closed the surveillance. “How come you’re awake?”

“I came out to get water.” Ke Ming said, “Special Assistant Yu—“

Sui Si seemed to be pricked by this name, and his body became stiff. He went over to take the water cup from Ke Ming’s hands. “What the matter?”

Ke Ming likes to drink honey water. Sui Si has been learning to take care of Ke Ming, and when the two of them were together, this kind of trivial matters were rarely done by Ke Ming himself.

Sui Si took the honey water, added two more spoons and poured boiling water again.

“This time,” Ke Ming said softly behind his back, “he again doesn’t plan to hand it over to me, right?”

Sui Si was stupefied.

He doesn’t understand what Ke Ming is asking about. He put down the kettle, turned around and half-joking said, “What this time…Xiao Ming, what are you fighting with my assistant for?”

Ke Ming didn’t reply. The delicate and graceful corners of his eyes twitched. He stretched out his hand and took that cup of honey water.

“It hasn’t been mixed evenly yet. Wait a minute.”

The cup was very hot. Sui Si avoided hurting his hand. “Xiao Ming, you listen to me…Things are not what you think.”

“I don’t have any feelings for him, but he is sick. He is also seeing a psychologist. Recently he even has self-harming behavior.”

Sui Si said, “I’m afraid to stimulate him. In these years he has been following me, there is toil even without merits.”

“You don’t know. He is a bit younger than you and is also not a local from the Imperial Capital. I don’t even know where his family lives or what they do.”

Sui Si said in a gentle voice, “I think, with his current condition, he needs someone to take care of him. Even if it’s out of obligation, I should safely send him home…”

Ke Ming’s expression was a little strange. “He didn’t tell you his life experience?”

“No.” Sui Si handed him the cup. “Do you know it?”

Ke Ming drank two sips of honey water. He held the cup and slowly tightened his fingers around the cup’s edge as if he couldn’t feel the boiling heat.

He will compensate Yu Tang well.

He can give up everything else, but only has this small selfishness.

“I don’t know.” Ke Ming whispered, “He is an adult, and can go home on his own.”

Sui Si felt a little helpless and softly smiled.

It’s still dark and Ke Ming’s birthday hasn’t passed yet. He doesn’t want to discuss Yu Tang’s problems with Ke Ming at this time.

Sui Si took the honey water, pulled Ke Ming’s hand over, and asked softly, “Are you still sleepy? I’ll accompany you to sleep for a while more.”

Ke Ming nodded and followed Sui Si into the bedroom.

Sui Si hugged him and lay down. He knows how to coax Ke Ming; he went to take a poetry anthology, returned and adjusted the night lamp. “Xiao Ming…”

Sui Si stopped his steps, looking at Ke Ming, who had his back turned to him, curled up in the shadows at the other side of the double bed.

Ke Ming didn’t turn around, resting his head on his arms, as if he was asleep.

Sui Si stood in silence for a while. He didn’t speak anymore, put down the anthology and lay down on the other side of the bed.

With his eyes open, he turned off the lights.

Employee’s club

Wrapped in a blanket, Yu Tang was sleeping comfortably in a top-grade Hawaiian-themed bedroom with constant temperature, when he was abruptly awakened in the middle of the night by a blaring alarm.

The system was shaken. Flashing a small red light, he gathered together with Yu Tang in front of the data panel.

It was the warning of the abnormal reduction in the protagonist gon and shou’s favorability.

“What’s going on?”

Yu Tang opened the favorability between Sui Si and Ke Ming, looking at the dazzling warning that had dropped to the alert level. “Should I go over right now to fix the circuit breaker for them?”

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The author has something to say:

[Yu Tang’s work notes]

Yu Tang: The power outage has such a great influence on the favorability

Yu Tang: Can’t figure it out