[Beijing General Hospital]
The car screeched to a halt in front of the imposing Beijing General Hospital. Before the tires had even stopped turning, Yang Zi flung the door open.
His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs, a cold knot of dread tightening in his stomach.
He didn't wait. Shi Wang, a grim line set on his face, followed him out, having to jog to catch up with Yang Zi's sprint.
Inside the hushed, brightly lit lobby, Yang Zi skidded to a halt at the main counter.
"Excuse me! I need to know the room for a patient, Yu Han! He's... he's in the VIP ward! Please!"
The lady behind the counter looked up, a placid calm that only fueled Yang Zi's panic.
"VIP wards are on the sixth floor, sir. Names will be posted outside the room."
"Sixth floor."
Yang Zi didn't wait for directions to the elevator, already moving like a man possessed. Shi Wang, ever the steady anchor, was right behind him, pushing the button before Yang Zi could even fully register it.
The elevator ride was agonizingly slow, each floor seeming to stretch into an eternity. Yang Zi bounced on the balls of his feet, his gaze fixed on the glowing numbers, his hands clenched into tight fists.
Shi Wang placed a reassuring hand on Yang Zi's shoulder,
"Easy, Yang Zi. He'll be alright. He's strong."
He felt the tremors in Yang Zi's body, knew the words were hollow comfort against the storm of fear.
Finally, with a soft chime, the elevator doors slid open. Yang Zi burst out, his eyes frantically scanning the long corridor.
He spotted a room down the hall, a discreet "VIP" plaque beside the door, and didn't hesitate. He practically tore it open.
The room was vast, an almost sterile luxury that felt entirely wrong for Yu Han. And there he was, a pale figure on the large, pristine bed, his eyes closed in what looked like a profound sleep.
Beside him, Li Hao sat, his head bowed, eyes fixed on his phone. The sound of the door crashing open made Li Hao's head snap up, his gaze, sharp and guarded, landing on Yang Zi.
Yang Zi achoked gasp, "Yu Han! Yu Han!"
The words exploded from him, shattering the silence, a raw cry of pain and relief.
He lunged forward, but Li Hao was quicker, springing up and forcefully clamping a hand over Yang Zi's mouth.
Li Hao hissed, and said in low and furious voice,
"Keep your voice down! He's sleeping!"
Yang Zi struggled, his eyes wide with outrage, muffled protests bubbling from his throat.
Just then, Shi Wang strode into the room, his eyes narrowing at Li Hao's actions.
Shi Wang grabbed Li Hao's wrist and tore his hand away from Yang Zi,
"What are you doing, Li Hao?! Get your hands off him!"
The sudden commotion, the raised voices, finally stirred Yu Han. His eyelids fluttered open, slow and heavy, his body weak as he tried to orient himself.
His eyes, hazy with sleep and pain, scanned the room, landing on the three figures.
Yu Han's voice was fragile and faint,
"Y-Yang Zi...?"
That weak, raspy sound was all it took. Yang Zi shoved both Li Hao and Shi Wang aside with surprising force, rushing to Yu Han's bedside.
He gently, almost reverently, took Yu Han's hands in his.
" Yu Han, Yu Han! I'm here! I'm right here! Tell me, how are you feeling? Does anything hurt? What do you need? Just tell me!"
Yu Han's grip on Yang Zi's hands was surprisingly tight for someone so weak. A faint, almost sorrowful smile touched his lips.
"I... I'm sorry, Yang Zi. I always... I always cause you so much trouble."
Yang Zi's heart ached. He squeezed Yu Han's hands tighter.
"Bastard! How can you say that?! Don't you ever say that again! You're my brother, Yu Han! My family! You don't cause me trouble, you are me! I'm always with you, always! Don't you dare think otherwise!"
They continued their whispered conversation, a desperate reunion in the sterile hospital room, a silent pact of enduring love and friendship.
Meanwhile, Li Hao stood a few feet away, a bewildered look on his face, his gaze flickering between Yang Zi and Shi Wang.
"Shi Wang... how did he get here with Yang Zi?" The question hung unspoken, but he quickly pushed it aside as a doctor, followed by a nurse, entered the room, their presence a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation.
Doctor: "We need to change the dressing and check his vitals. Everyone out, please."
Reluctantly, Yang Zi pulled away, but not before squeezing Yu Han's hand one last time. Li Hao and Shi Wang stepped out, forming an uneasy trio in the quiet corridor.
Once the door clicked shut, Li Hao turned to Yang Zi, his voice clipped and dismissive, regaining his earlier composure.
Li Hao: "You can go now. I'll manage everything here."
The words struck a raw nerve in Yang Zi, sparking his already simmering rage.
"Manage?! You want to 'manage' him into more pain, like before?! We don't need your help, Li Hao! I know you, I know what you're capable of! I can't trust you, I wouldn't leave a stray dog with you, let alone Yu Han! I'm not leaving Yu Han with you at any cost!"
Shi Wang let out a soft sigh, seeing the familiar fire in Yang Zi's eyes. He turned to Li Hao, his voice low and earnestly requesting, a stark contrast to Yang Zi's fury.
"Li Hao, please. Yang Zi lives with Yu Han, he literally knows him better than anyone. He's family. You should head home, catch some rest. We'll manage everything here. We've got him."
Li Hao didn't respond, didn't even acknowledge Shi Wang's words.
His eyes, however, were not the cold, indifferent or angry eyes Shi Wang remembered. There was something... unusual.
A flicker of genuine care, a deep, silent worry that seemed to etch lines around his usually impassive gaze. He didn't even look at Shi Wang with his usual competitive or ragged stare. Shi Wang, a shrewd observer of human nature, understood then.
Something was profoundly different with Li Hao. He saw the stubborn, unyielding determination in Li Hao's posture; if he wanted to stay, no one could turn his decision.
But on the other hand, Yang Zi, consumed by the cruel memories and the pain Li Hao had inflicted on Yu Han in the past, couldn't bear to be near him.
A moment later, the doctor emerged from the room, looking grave.
Doctor: "Mr. Li, his condition is still quite serious. The fracture is severe and will require absolute bed rest for several weeks. Any movement could worsen the situation significantly. He needs constant care."
Li Hao's jaw tightened.
"Don't worry, Doctor. I'll make sure he gets everything he needs. Every single thing. He will have the best care."
Hearing this, Yang Zi's fury ignited anew.
"You! You don't have to do anything, Li Hao! Just stay away from us! Don't you dare touch him! I can't stand you near Yu Han, not after everything!"
Li Hao, his face now a mask of cold determination, didn't respond.
He simply turned, walked directly to Yu Han's door, stepped inside, and locked it from the inside.
Yang Zi pounded on the door,
"Li Hao! Open this door! You bastard! What are you doing?!"
Shi Wang immediately grabbed Yang Zi, pulling him back from the door.
"Yang Zi! Stop it! You'll attract attention! Calm down!"
Inside the room, the lock clicking shut echoed in the sudden silence.
Li Hao's impassive facade dropped slightly as he turned to Yu Han, his voice softening, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.
Li Hao a quiet urgency in his voice,
"Yu Han, are you in pain? Where does it hurt the most?"
Yu Han, slightly startled by the sudden locking of the door, winced as he shifted.
"My leg... it's burning. It pains very much. But I want to leave, Li Hao. I can't stay here. I have to attend my classes, and... and what about my part-time job? I can't afford to miss weeks!"
Li Hao gently but firmly grabbed Yu Han's hands, his gaze intense.
"Yu Han, listen to me. Your foot is severely fractured. The doctor just said you need absolute bed rest for weeks, perhaps even months. If you move, if you try to leave, you risk permanent damage. You're not going anywhere. Forget your job, forget your classes. Your health is more important than anything. And I... I'll take care of you."
Yu Han's eyes widened in shock, not just at the severity of his injury, but at Li Hao's offer.
"W-what are you saying, Li Hao? Why would you take care of me? And stay with you? I... I can't."
Li Hao's patience, always thin, frayed slightly. He saw the flicker of doubt and distrust in Yu Han's eyes, and he knew he had to push.
Li Hao voice tinged with frustration, but also a calculated weight,
"So, you want to trouble Yang Zi, then? Make him shoulder this burden, worry himself sick trying to care for you while you're like this? He has his own life, his own responsibilities."
The mention of Yang Zi struck Yu Han deeply. His shoulders sagged, his gaze drifting to the locked door.
The thought of being a burden to Yang Zi, of dragging him down, was more painful than his fractured leg. He knew Yang Zi would insist on staying, would sacrifice everything, and that guilt was a heavy weight.
After a few minutes of agonizing silence, Li Hao's expression softened almost imperceptibly. He walked to the door and unlocked it.
"Yang Zi. He wants to talk to you."
Yang Zi, still struggling in Shi Wang's grasp, stumbled forward.
He rushed to Yu Han's side, his earlier rage temporarily forgotten in his concern.
Yu Han looked at Yang Zi, a forced smile on his pale lips, his voice still weak but determined,
"Yang Zi... you need to go home. Get some rest. I'll be fine here. Really."
"No! Yu Han, no! I'm not leaving you! Especially not with him! I told you, I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying with you!" Yang Zi protested.
Yu Han's gaze shifted, meeting Shi Wang's eyes. It was a silent plea, a desperate look that Shi Wang immediately understood. He nodded, then gently but firmly grabbed Yang Zi's arm.
"Come on, Yang Zi. Let's give him some space to rest. He needs quiet."
"But... Shi Wang! No! I can't leave him! Not with Li Hao! You don't know what he's capable of!"
Shi Wang pulled Yang Zi further down the corridor, away from the room, his voice dropping to a low, earnest tone, his eyes full of a steely resolve.
Shi Wang hold Yang Zi's shoulders, looking directly into his tear-filled eyes,
"Look, Yang Zi, please. Don't worry about Yu Han. I know Li Hao. Deep down, I know him. If he's doing something like this, if he's making this promise, he's damn serious about it. He won't harm Yu Han anymore, not after this. And if he dares... (His voice turned chilling, a dangerous edge in his eyes) If he even thinks of doing anything to harm him again, I swear to you, Yang Zi, I will peel his skin layer by layer. I will make him regret it for the rest of his life. You have my word. Trust me on this."
Hearing these comforting, yet terrifyingly real, words from Shi Wang, Yang Zi's raw rage slowly, painfully, began to recede.
His shoulders sagged, his breathing hitched, and he finally leaned into Shi Wang's steadying embrace, exhausted and emotionally drained.
"You... you really mean it?"
"Every single word. Now, let's get you some water. You look like you're about to collapse."