Val was so weak. He let Jason wipe his forehead, neck, and chest, just silently looking at him. Val was too weak to greet him, and all of this still felt like a dream. His fever made him wake up and sleep quickly as if everything was just fragmented movie clips.
Jason smiled. He knew what Val was looking at now; he must be thinking he was dreaming, so he just looked at him silently, looking at him with his beautiful, bluish-green eyes like a beautifully glowing opal stone. Jason couldn't stop smiling. He didn't care what would happen in the future; all he knew was that he wanted to always see the gaze of those beautiful eyes, forever. Jason washed Val's hands, then lifted and kissed them, and that's when Val knew it wasn't a dream.
"Boss," Val's voice was hoarse. He had no strength to pull his hand away from the grip.
Jason stroked Val's forehead, wiped the sweat from it, and leaned in to kiss it.
"Here, so you could get well soon. We'll go back to Argent after you're better, okay? Hang in there," Jason whispered.
Val looked at his Boss for a moment, then tried to pull his hand away. But Jason didn't let go until Val slowly shifted his gaze elsewhere. It wasn't a dream, his Boss was really there. How could he be there?
"I'm staying, Boss. I've already put my resignation letter in your office," Val said in a hoarse, weak voice.
"I didn't accept it. Why would I accept it?"
Jason cut Val off. Val turned, seeing his Boss looking at him with a cheerful face. He thought his Boss would be angry; with his temper, he usually would be. But no, he was smiling broadly in front of him, raising his hand to caress Val's cheek. A pair of beautiful eyes looked at him. Although he wanted to keep enjoying that beautiful gaze, Val couldn't be selfish. This wasn't a small matter that should drag his boss into his chaotic life.
"Boss, why did you come here? It can't be just to persuade me to come back, right?" Val asked.
"Well, it's not just to persuade you to come back. No, I didn't drive alone from Argent for six hours straight, didn't sleep for thirty-five hours, didn't feel hungry, had a headache, and almost despaired while looking for you here. No, I didn't come here for you." Jason's words sounded sarcastic.
"Boss, you don't need to try for me. I know you're so kind, Boss, but my problems are not your responsibility. Let the relationship between a boss and an intern like me end here, Boss. Please forgive me," Val said, turning his face away.
"Is that all that's on your mind? A boss-intern relationship? Besides that, nothing special happened between us that could be more than just that?" Jason asked. He restrained himself from talking loudly, as had always been his nature, impatient. He knew Val's condition made him think, a little 'spoiled' in Jason's opinion. But no, Val wasn't being spoiled; he was not in good condition and confused. Everything happened so fast in his previously very good life. He could understand him.
Val held back his tears, closing his eyes and holding his breath to reduce the pressure in his chest. Val then turned, seeing his Boss's face, which seemed about to get angry at that moment. Jason released his hand, grabbed a bowl of abalone porridge, lifted it, and blew on the hot steam. Val lowered his head, feeling guilty.
"I'll come back when you finish this porridge. At most, I'll drive alone for another six or seven hours. Who knows what will happen on the road? Not to mention, I feel so heartbroken from being rejected. What else can I do? Someone being so stubborn," Jason said, turning his body away. Until Val pulled his sleeve.
"Boss."
Jason smiled, but he didn't let Val see it. He turned back towards Val and saw the kid with his pouting face.
"What do you want?" Jason asked, with a somewhat sharp tone.
Val pursed his lips, looking at his Boss with his pleading puppy eyes.
"Boss, are you going to give up? You haven't even tried to persuade me."
Jason fell silent. He tried to be firm, but he really couldn't bear to see Val's guilty-looking face. The kid was conflicted; at this moment, he wasn't himself, thinking clearly. Val was sick, and everything he was doing wasn't always what he wanted right now.
"How can I persuade you?" Jason asked, trembling slightly.
Val pursed his lips, thinking.
"Well, Boss hasn't even persuaded me yet, how can I go back to Argent?"
Jason looked at Val's adorable face until he finally couldn't resist and smiled. He pinched Val's nose affectionately.
"This brat, what should I do about you?" Jason pulled Val into his arms, tears falling even though he was quite relieved at that moment. He released his embrace and stroked Val's bangs that fell over his forehead.
"Boss, aren't you angry? I'm sorry for making you tired looking for me all the way here," Val said.
Jason smiled, holding Val's two hands, who seemed annoyed with him.
"How can I be angry with you? How can I make you sad? Heh, all of that means nothing. I will go as far as it takes to find you and bring you back to my side. So, Valiant Arcady, come back with me to Argent, okay? Whatever happens, don't leave. You have no right to leave me, do you hear that?"
Jason's eyes gazed deeply into Val's. Val almost cried because of it. Jason smiled, held the back of Val's neck, lifted his body, and hugged him.
"Val, let's go home, okay? Your home is by my side, there's grandpa and the others too, you're not alone, you can come back here once in a while, but not like this."
Val choked up. He couldn't cry; his tears had dried up since he lost all those feelings. How could he cry? With a slight tremor, he raised his hands. Did he have the right to hug his Boss? Jason pulled Val's hands, wrapping them around his chest.
"What else are you thinking about?"
"But Boss, I'm so sick, what if I make everyone worried? I don't want to see you sad because of my illness; let me go through this alone. This is just my own problem."
Jason hugged Val tightly; his body was so big that Val looked like a child in his arms.
"Since when did that become your problem? No, that's our problem, remember that, Val, it will be our problem. I won't let you go through this alone, do you hear that? I insist."
Val smiled, even though his Boss was annoying, he was the one who now pulled him into a warm embrace that he missed.
"Boss, why do you like to force people so much?"
Jason smiled broadly, showing all his teeth through his thin lips, resting his head on Val's thin shoulder.
"Because this is Val, I can't let you go, you know that, right?" Jason whispered. He released his embrace, stroked Val's forehead, and kissed his warm forehead.
"Sweet child, you will be stuck with me, whether you like it or not; you have to accept it."
"This Boss is so pushy."
Jason pulled Val back into his arms, letting Val's body heat blend with his.
"Heh, you just found that out?"