Chapter 3: Bro, I Really Like You!

Chapter 3: Bro, I Like You So Much!

Hospital, Ward 48.

Shen Yixing lay beside the bed, cupping his face in his hands, his voice childish.

"Daddy, do you really not remember Little Star at all?"

"Daddy, isn't Little Star the cutest baby ever (－ｏ⌒)"

"Daddy, are you and Papa going to stay together forever?"

Shen Yixing had just turned three, much smarter than other kids his age.

He knew his daddy had been in a car accident, lost his memory, and forgotten a lot of things.

He'd also gotten a bit weird.

He even teased Mama and looked at Little Star with adoring eyes.

Little Star liked this new Daddy.

Lu Hechi was doing a bit better—at least his left hand could move normally now.

He reached out and ruffled Little Star's hair. He didn't find the questions annoying at all and answered them very seriously.

"I'm sorry, Little Star. Daddy really did forget."

"Little Star is the cutest baby."

"Daddy will of course stay with Papa forever."

Shen Lanxue's fingers rested on the door handle. The ward door wasn't soundproof—you could hear everything said inside from outside.

Those words echoed in his mind.

"Daddy will of course stay with Papa forever."

Shen Lanxue's heart thumped again, betraying his composure.

He curled his fingers, burying all his emotions deep inside.

He twisted the door handle and pushed the door open.

"Bro! You're finally back!"

Lu Hechi's eyes lit up when he heard his voice. He hadn't eaten since morning and was already lightheaded from hunger.

The moment he saw the food, he almost pounced on it.

"Mm."

Shen Lanxue carried the plastic bag, set the food on the nightstand, studied it for a moment, then lowered the bed tray.

It was clear he'd never done this before.

He moved a little slowly.

Lu Hechi pushed himself up with his left hand and slowly sat up. He wasn't actually hurt much—only his right arm was in rough shape.

"Papa, my food! Little Star wants some too!"

Shen Yixing grabbed Shen Lanxue's pants with his tiny hands, tilted his head up, and stared at him with big, sparkling eyes.

Lu Hechi said, "You take care of Little Star. I'm fine—I can handle it myself."

Shen Lanxue said nothing, silently setting up the porridge, opening the lid, and putting the spoon in his hand.

Lu Hechi gripped the spoon tightly, his heart softening without him knowing why.

He had to admit—being treated like this made him happy.

Shen Lanxue bent down, picked up Little Star, and set him on the bed. He pulled a wet wipe from the small backpack at the foot of the bed and wiped Little Star's little hands.

Only then did he hand Little Star the chopsticks.

Lu Hechi looked at Little Star's hands, then down at his own long, slender ones.

"Bro!"

Lu Hechi set the spoon down in the bowl and said seriously, "I want my hands wiped too!"

He stuck his hand right in Shen Lanxue's face, clearly demanding the same treatment.

Shen Lanxue's eyelids fluttered. He lowered his eyes.

This hand had once caressed every inch of his body, and had also coldly refused to touch him. Now it was just lying there, right in front of him, carefree.

"Bro?" Lu Hechi called out, annoyed when he didn't move.

Even though he'd lost his memory, he was still a clean kid who needed his hands wiped before eating too.

Shen Lanxue finally moved.

He pulled out two more wipes from the big pack of baby wipes, took Lu Hechi's hand, and gently wiped it.

His palm was warm, his skin fair, with faint blue veins visible underneath.

Shen Lanxue wiped carefully—from palm to back of hand, even between the fingers.

When he was finally done.

Shen Lanxue let go of his hand, stood up from the bed, and let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief.

He walked to the foot of the bed and threw the wipes in the trash.

By the time he turned and came back to the bed, his expression was back to normal.

After the meal, Shen Lanxue took a phone out of another bag, put in the SIM card, and set it by Lu Hechi's bed.

He explained.

"I didn't see your phone earlier—it probably got damaged in the crash, so I got you a new one."

Lu Hechi's eyes were practically brimming with gratitude.

He was eighteen, and the old phone he used was one his dad had retired—it could only make calls and play videos.

Having a husband rocks! Having a husband's the best!

"Bro, I freaking love you!"

Lu Hechi said excitedly, then picked up the phone with his left hand and swiped to unlock it.

The new phone was silky smooth.

Unlike his outdated piece of junk that lagged every time he touched it.

Shen Lanxue could tell he said it without thinking, but his ears still turned red at the compliment.

Eighteen-year-old Lu Hechi was just too innocent.

He couldn't help thinking, if only it could always be like this.

Lu Hechi said, "Bro, what's your QQ number? I'll add you."

Shen Lanxue was taken aback. "Nobody really uses QQ anymore. Everyone's on WeChat."

Lu Hechi didn't think even the chat apps would have changed.

He felt a quick twinge of disappointment but bounced back fast.

Okay, the chat app had changed, but the phone was smarter and there were way more games.

The best part!

Lu Hechi didn't have to go to school anymore!

He quickly found the WeChat app, waited for it to update, and signed up with his new phone number.

When setting his profile picture, he pointed the camera at himself and snapped a quick selfie.

A man in a hospital gown, with a few messy strands of hair sticking up, sharp features, a big grin showing his teeth, and radiating vibrant youthful energy.

After uploading the photo, he thought for a moment and came up with an epic name.

Nether Seraph.

"Bro, I'm all set. Add me."

Lu Hechi pulled up his friend-request QR code and held it toward Shen Lanxue, waiting for him to scan it.

Shen Lanxue stared at that cringey name, his lips twitching as if to say something, but he held back and said nothing.

He pulled out his phone from his pocket and opened the scan feature.

He sent the friend request.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

Shen Yixing had eaten half his meal and didn't want any more. He was eavesdropping with his ears perked.

Hearing they were about to add each other on WeChat, he eagerly stuck out his chubby little hand, revealing a kids' phone watch on his fair wrist.

"Little Star wants to get added on WeChat too!"

So Lu Hechi successfully added his son on WeChat too.

He looked at his once-empty contact list, now with two new avatars.

The first one, with the note "Little Snowflake," had a cute kitten for his profile pic.

The second one, with the note "Little Star," had a merle Border Collie for his profile pic.

Lu Hechi was pretty pleased with himself.

"Daddy, can you change your username?"

Shen Yixing crawled over to Lu Hechi, looking at him with a scornful look. "Your WeChat name is so ugly. Even the kids in my kindergarten wouldn't pick such a babyish name."

Lu Hechi: ...

Lu Hechi tried to pull the dad card.

"Little Star, the Seraph is super powerful. He can burn away all the filth and wickedness in the world."

Shen Yixing asked, confused, "Is he stronger than Ultraman?"

"Of course!" Lu Hechi's eyes lit up with excitement. "He shoots out a blast of fire, and the monster turns into barbecue!"

"..." Shen Lanxue quietly looked away.