Huo Junxian put her hands on her waist and lay on her chest. When Gu Siyu trembled, she carefully held her to prevent her from hitting the wound.
Gu Siyu was purely asking for trouble, regretting it in her heart and unable to move.
Huo Junxian lifted her head and wiped her mouth. "Quite sweet," she remarked.
Gu Siyu lifted her leg, feeling numb.
With Huo Junxian's voice in her ears, Gu Siyu tried to move, but the chains prevented her. The discomfort was worse than when she wanted to scratch the wound. She struggled against the chains.
"Release my hands," Gu Siyu frowned.
Huo Junxian refused.
Gu Siyu licked her lips and took a deep breath, enduring the pain. "The wound is about to reopen."
Huo Junxian let go of her, lifted her head from her chest, wiped her twice, and then unfastened her restraints at the bedside. She flipped her over to inspect.
The wound on her back didn't reopen; Gu Siyu had lied.
Gu Siyu lay on the pillow, catching her breath.
Huo Junxian kissed her shoulder and glanced at her back. The thick scab and flesh moved, indicating that the medicine had penetrated. It looked painful. She asked, "Feeling better now? The itching is gone, right?"
Gu Siyu didn't respond. Huo Junxian looked down and mischievously said, "Actually, it still looks quite itchy."
She touched Gu Siyu's mouth, wet her fingers, and flicked them on her face. Gu Siyu couldn't dodge in time, and the water splashed on her cheek.
Huo Junxian chuckled, "Adorable."
Gu Siyu buried her face in the blanket, her tone fierce. "Clean it up quickly."
"Next time it itches, just tell me, and I'll scratch it for you. You scratched the wound too hard; every time you accidentally tear it, it won't heal," Huo Junxian said.
Gu Siyu, buried in the pillow, said, "You're too much."
She said it seriously, but Huo Junxian suddenly hooked her lips while looking at her. Leaning forward, she kissed those tender petals.
Gu Siyu bit her lips on Huo Junxian's mouth, making her wince. Gu Siyu frowned, "Can't you... just stop fucking messing around?"
As she spoke, the knocking outside the door softened. The doctor was coming for a check-up.
"We're in trouble..." Gu Siyu was afraid of this doctor, who was too talkative.
Huo Junxian remained calm, withdrew her hand, arranged Gu Siyu's clothes neatly, and pulled at the handcuffs. "What about these?"
Huo Junxian didn't unlock them. The doctor, accompanied by a nurse, came in. Fortunately, no one noticed what had just happened. The doctor lifted Gu Siyu's clothes to carefully examine her wound, saying, "Keep scratching. Just go ahead and break the stitches; I don't mind sewing you up again. Those pieces of meat on your body are already a mess; let's see where they end up next time."
Gu Siyu tugged at her arm, making the handcuffs jingle. "Look, they're still locked."
"Enough, don't talk back. Let's keep them locked for a week. Wait until the flesh heals in a few years," the doctor said as she examined Gu Siyu's wound.
"A week?" Gu Siyu turned to look at Huo Junxian. "That's too long."
Huo Junxian covered her with a blanket. The doctor stopped nagging, recorded the data, and then left with Huo Junxian.
The doctor, experienced in dealing with various patients, had encountered cases like Gu Siyu's before. She warned Huo Junxian, "I'm not joking. If her condition improves, it's fine. But if not, consider taking her to the psychiatric department. Have you heard of post-traumatic stress disorder? I'm afraid she might have it. I once had a patient who seemed to be getting better but ended up cutting herself because she couldn't handle the mental stress."
"All right, I'll observe her a bit more. If she doesn't improve, I'll find a way to get her checked out," Huo Junxian said.
The doctor advised, "I hope it's just her being talkative. If she has a stress reaction, it's crucial to treat it promptly. Don't let her have regrets in the future. Don't let her have her way in everything."
Huo Junxian nodded, thanked the doctor, and returned to the ward. Gu Siyu was already asleep, lying quietly with her face against the pillow, breathing softly, her hair swaying with each breath.
Huo Junxian touched her hair, feeling a tender warmth in her heart. She pulled up the blanket for Gu Siyu. Considering the high fever she had for the past two days, she had been resistant to any physical contact.
Huo Junxian went to fetch water again and cleaned Gu Siyu's whole body.
The person on the bed didn't move again. Huo Junxian went over to unlock the handcuffs and ankle chains. She put away the handcuffs and stuffed them into the drawer.
As the lights dimmed and the curtains were tightly drawn, and the room returned to complete darkness. Huo Junxian took out a nightgown from the wardrobe and was changing when she noticed Gu Siyu's fingers on her back. Unconsciously, she began to scratch.
Huo Junxian reached out to stop her. Gu Siyu muttered, saying it was itchy. Huo Junxian leaned in to listen, and heard her say, "Stinky."
Her wrists were bound again, restricting her movements.
In the morning, Gu Siyu was awakened by the rustling sound of the wind outside. The trees were swaying, leaves floating and falling, with several landing on the balcony.
After a moment, Gu Siyu removed everything from her wrists. The residual feeling of being bound lingered. She twisted her wrists while turning to look behind her, but she couldn't see her own back. She propped herself up on the edge of the bed.
These days, Huo Junxian had been helping her put on shoes. She had gotten used to it, but today, she struggled on the floor for a while before reluctantly picking up the shoes and putting them on.
Huo Junxian was talking to Chen Tao outside.
Chen Tao asked with concern, "How is Gu Siyu?"
In the past few days, Gu Siyu had a high fever that wouldn't go away, and she seemed like a broken machine. Chen Tao had been worried for a while, even going to the temple to get a charm for her. Although seeing her lively now should be reassuring, he still felt uneasy.
"Try to talk to her more," Chen Tao advised. "Now that she's lively again, it seems like she owes us. I even have the urge to hit her."
"The more she acts like this, the more worried I am," Huo Junxian replied.
If a person could cry, it would be better, as crying could bring relief. Unfortunately, Gu Siyu always maintained an indifferent demeanor, making it difficult for others to probe into her inner world.
Chen Tao handed a bag to Huo Junxian containing several books. He said, "Take a look at these, and I'll go find more."
Huo Junxian agreed.
Gu Siyu tilted her head to look at the books in the bag but couldn't see clearly. She went to the bathroom to freshen up, and when she came out, Huo Junxian was waiting at the door. Gu Siyu didn't notice the bag.
Huo Junxian asked her to turn around and checked her, touching the newly formed scabs. She said, "Hmm, luckily you didn't scratch them open last night. Can't you control yourself?"
Gu Siyu made a sound of agreement, "Go pour me a cup of tea."
Huo Junxian went to get water with the cup, and Gu Siyu quietly opened the drawer a crack, revealing many books inside—titles like "Basic Knowledge of Psychological Counselors," "Emergency Treatment of Psychological Trauma," "Burns New Emotional Therapy," and even a "Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome."
What is all this?
Gu Siyu closed the drawer.
After that, she often saw Huo Junxian reading those books. Huo Junxian even covered them with book covers, not letting Gu Siyu see the titles. Every time Gu Siyu asked what she was reading, Huo Junxian would say it was a classic.
Gu Siyu didn't expose her. Unable to endure it, she called Huo Junxian over to cuff her hands. She endured it while Huo Junxian checked her, her brows always furrowed.
On the third day, He Xiao and Duan Jiayang came to see her together, carrying a few bags. When they entered, they seemed to have rehearsed and pointed and gestured at Gu Siyu in unison.
Gu Siyu asked Huo Junxian to hide the handcuffs securely. Sitting at the bedside, she tapped on her phone screen. Eventually, feeling tired, she raised her eyes..
"Okay, enough talking. Why do I feel like you're addicted to this?" Gu Siyu said.
"Blame it on you. Every time I want to find you, I have to come to the hospital," Duan Jiayang sat on the chair. It had been a while since she last saw her, and she looked even more dazzling now. With delicate makeup and short hair, she swept all her hair to the side, revealing a slender neck. She wore a sapphire necklace.
Noticing Gu Siyu looking, she pinched and showed it to her, smiling, "Isn't it pretty? My dad gave it to me."
Gu Siyu didn't look, and she replied, "Hospital food is good. Accidentally got hooked on it."
He Xiao placed the things they brought in the corner. Perhaps due to her long career as a doctor, she had her hands in the hoodie pockets. Compared to Duan Jiayang's refinement, she looked much plainer. She tied her hair into a ponytail. Smiling at Gu Siyu, she asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
Both of them wanted to see her back. Gu Siyu had to lie down, letting them inspect. Feeling annoyed, she said, "That's enough."
"Why is the injury so severe?" He Xiao's tone was heavy.
Duan Jiayang also stopped joking, "Yeah, did it reach the bones?"
"I told you not to look, but you insisted." Gu Siyu pulled down her clothes. She glanced at Huo Junxian, who stood at the door without much movement, just staring at them with a half-smile.
The two of them entered, but she was the one who opened the door. However, she hadn't said a word, quietly listening. Although she appeared calm on the surface, those who paid attention could sense her impatience. Fortunately, she didn't kick them out.
Gu Siyu sat up, pulled down her clothes, and resumed a serious posture. "Seen enough? Close your eyes."
"You have it, I have it. What's there not to see?" Duan Jiayang deliberately said, "But why do I feel like your chest has gotten bigger?"
"Get lost," Gu Siyu retorted. "I look at you, and your whole person has gotten bigger and plumper."
"How can that be?" Duan Jiayang pinched her waist.
After a brief silence, Gu Siyu listened to them chatting about recent developments, mostly Duan Jiayang talking about herself. She secured a big contract, and both her dad and sister were impressed. She was currently in a shining state of confidence, full of energy.
Turning to He Xiao, Gu Siyu said, "If you want to come back, just come back."
"Hmm?" He Xiao looked at her, and then realized, "Still considering."
"Do you have enough money saved?" Gu Siyu asked.
No matter how hardworking a working person was, it was impossible to save enough money to open a store in just a few months. He Xiao said, " Yes, if I return to find a new job, it should be enough to cover expenses. Don't worry,"
"How much money do you need to open a store? I'll sponsor you," Gu Siyu said.
He Xiao was stunned, "It's okay, I'm not in a hurry..."
Gu Siyu said, "I don't know much about running a business, I don't know anything about opening a store. Consider it an investment. You open the store, I'll invest money, and you give me shares, how about that?"
"But, I..." He Xiao dared not agree. Opening a store wasn't a small amount of money. She looked at Gu Siyu's back, and her fingers clenched into a fist in her pocket. "Siyu, you earn money not easily..."
"I can invest too, I've made some money," Duan Jiayang raised her voice a bit. She smiled and patted He Xiao's shoulder. "Seize the opportunity."
Just as He Xiao was about to agree, Huo Junxian knocked on the door, interrupting the conversation inside. She halted the people inside, "Alright, let's stop here for today. I'm taking Gu Siyu to shoot a film."
"Why in such a hurry?" Gu Siyu didn't want it to end.
"Don't you want to get better?" Huo Junxian asked.
Gu Siyu was speechless.
Duan Jiayang stood up first, teasingly saying, "Gu Siyu, see if you dare to get injured again. Being in the hospital is like being in jail. Get well soon."
"Get lost!"
"Or, you can come out with us. I'll wait for you," Duan Jiayang suggested.
He Xiao and Duan Jiayang had to leave after a while. Gu Siyu was tired of staying in the hospital, wanting to go out for some fresh air. Thinking of going out with them after the check-up, she was about to speak when Huo Junxian's gaze shifted towards her. With a silent shake of her head, she conveyed: Not allowed.
A few simple actions firmly expressed her attitude. Huo Junxian didn't allow her to go out, listing various reasons, showing great concern for Gu Siyu. "What if you bump into something? What if you accidentally eat something wrong? What if you scratch the wound when I'm not paying attention?"
Then, she looked at He Xiao and Duan Jiayang. "Can you two be responsible?"
Both were silent, scolded like children. In the corridor, only Huo Junxian's voice could be heard, and the two blushed.
Duan Jiayang apologized, saying, "Siyu, I'll be here for the whole month. When you're better, I'll come to pick you up from the hospital. Sister Huo is right, you should be patient and get well soon."
Gu Siyu didn't say anything, looking out of the window with a hint of unhappiness. She turned her face away, "Also, leave now and don't contact me again."
Duan Jiayang fell silent, and He Xiao stood at the door without saying a word. After Duan Jiayang came out, the two walked towards the elevator. Duan Jiayang pressed the button, He Xiao turned around to look, and Huo Junxian closed the door. Step by step, she walked towards them.
The elevator took half a minute to arrive. Huo Junxian walked up behind them, looking only at He Xiao, and said, "Next time, don't come. When you come, I and Xiaoyu don't get along well. It affects her mood. What do you think?"
He Xiao squeezed her fingers, and the knuckles tightened. She said, "Sister Huo, you're going too far."
"If you're her friend, don't you want what's best for her? When you're not here, she behaves well. The moment you come, her emotions are manipulated by you."
The elevator arrived, and Huo Junxian reached out to stop it. She casually finished her words, "If this continues, I might start disliking you."
Duan Jiayang spoke up, "Sister Huo, there's a misunderstanding..."
Huo Junxian tilted her head and said to Duan Jiayang, "Convince her. Next time there's a project, I can still give it to you. All the money will be yours to earn."
Duan Jiayang bit her lip slightly, and Huo Junxian withdrew her hand. As the elevator doors were about to close, Duan Jiayang pulled He Xiao in. He Xiao's body stiffened, and Duan Jiayang exerted a bit of force. The elevator doors slowly closed, and in the quiet atmosphere, something shattered. In the final gap, they could clearly see Huo Junxian's polite smile gradually fading, turning cold.
"Why did you pull me?" He Xiao bit her words. "Clearly, Huo Junxian was too much today. In the ward, she pretended to be nice."
"Why argue with Huo Junxian when she has money and power."
"It's dangerous for Siyu to be with her like this! I shouldn't have left last time. I should have stopped Siyu. I really..."
"Xiaoxiao, there are things I shouldn't say, but don't provoke her. Do you think I don't know anything? My dad can't do anything to her. He said if I go abroad, I have to go abroad." Duan Jiayang spoke harshly and straightforwardly. "Anyway, don't daydream."
·
Perhaps due to the recent change of seasons, the temperature dropped rapidly. Huo Junxian, when she entered, brought in a gust of cold wind. She walked over, wrapped in a chill. She wore a thin gray windbreaker with a belt tied neatly around her lower abdomen.
"I helped you send your friends away," Huo Junxian said. "No need for a check-up tomorrow. If they come, you can spend more time playing."
Conversely, Gu Siyu dressed more casually, wearing loose hospital gown. She pressed her hands on the blanket. "You know why I was hospitalized this time, right?"
"Because of me," Huo Junxian nodded, answering succinctly. She reached out to button Gu Siyu's clothes. "Hey, you can be a bit casual in front of me. But in front of guests, it's better not to be too casual."
Gu Siyu said, "If you know it's because of you, then don't restrict me in everything I do."
In these days, she was moved by their interactions. Even though Gu Siyu was in the hospital because of Huo Junxian, she didn't feel like she had lost. She didn't regret it.
Huo Junxian took care of her very attentively, and she enjoyed it, moved by it. Being moved made people indulge.
They were too good together, but their goodness couldn't accommodate others. However, the definition of "others" was too broad. Huo Junxian seemed like a trap, tightening around her more and more.
All the beauty was confined to the space where only the two of them were together, unable to accommodate others. But once an outsider barged in, their beauty would shatter, falling into the reality.
But weren't they living in reality?
She couldn't stay in the hospital forever, and she couldn't keep creating a space for just the two of them, excluding everything from the world. Then, she would just be a plaything for Huo Junxian.
She allowed Huo Junxian to use a metal chain to bind her, playing with some eroticism. But in reality, she would resist.
Avoidance will only make the wound deeper. If it deepens to the extent of the wound on her back, that would be terrible. Enduring it forcefully on a regular day is one thing, but if it starts to stink one day, she might even want to dig out the bones.
Gu Siyu understands too well, feeling helpless. That's why she doesn't want to reach that point.
You can indulge in desire, but you can't be addicted for the long term.
Gu Siyu said, "When I'm discharged, don't let those people follow me anymore."
"Give it a bit more time, okay? Last time, it was my negligence that caused this incident." Huo Junxian spoke softly. She poured hot water into a cup and poured the medicine into her palm, waiting for the temperature to drop before giving it to Gu Siyu to drink.
"I just..." Gu Siyu said, "I just feel it's unnecessary. Isn't Jin Yuansen in prison now?"
"But I don't know if he left a backdoor before. I've been checking his assets recently and found many discrepancies. I suspect he left himself a way out by opening an offshore account and storing the money in an underground bank in Las Vegas."
After hearing this, Gu Siyu moved her lips, then calmed down. She repeated this process many times, with a self-deprecating tone, "I thought if I exposed it, you wouldn't send someone to follow me again."
"I'm also surprised," Huo Junxian said.
She was surprised that Gu Siyu knew everything but only revealed it now.
Gu Siyu wasn't foolish; Jin Yuansen had reminded her many times. If she didn't pay attention, she would be as stupid as a pig. She just didn't expose it, pretending to be ignorant.
To track or not to track, there was no trust between them, just a cooperative relationship. But now that everything was over, did they still need to follow her?
"Really." Huo Junxian approached her, coming to the bedside, shortening the distance between them. She spoke gently, as if coaxing someone, saying, "Once everything is over, they won't follow you anymore. This incident scared me."
She placed Gu Siyu's hand against her chest. Sitting on the bed, Gu Siyu seemed a bit shorter, lowering her own posture.
But the more they were like this, the more strange it felt. Gu Siyu had a stubborn personality, not easily swayed. The softer Huo Junxian acted, the more it seemed like she was being manipulated. Huo Junxian intentionally used her soft spot, appearing weak but actually showcasing her unyielding nature.
----------------------
Translator's note: Huo Junxian is so possessive, although Gu Siyu won't appreciate it. Hmm... It might be suffocating sometimes. The relationship between these two is becoming toxic. And... I'm sad about it.
TO BE CONTINUE...