Chapter 19.1: Treat me better

If you can’t wash your hair, then just don’t wash it. 

Why are you calling out for me? 

You are already so old, but you’re still acting like a spoiled brat? 

Gu Yanshu pretended that he didn’t hear anything. 

He nonchalantly continued to make his bed. 

Shen Jue called out once again, “Gu Yanshu, my bandages are wet. The doctor said they can’t get wet.” 

“……” 

Then why did you wash your hair?

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His two legs were leaning lazily, as his muscular calves peeked out from the bathrobe, leading all the way down to his feet, creating a beautiful line.

He turned his head lightly, and his black wet hair flopped onto his shoulder, as he turned to Gu Yanshu and raised his arm, “It hurts.” 

“….” 

A man of 1.89M was acting like a spoiled child. 

He almost couldn’t take it. 

Gu Yanshu suddenly realised that he really wasn’t that straight. 

However, he still felt that Shen Jue’s actions were shameful, so he walked over and chided him, “Stop moving around if it hurts.” 

“I can’t not wash my hair.” 

“Can’t you just learn from Brother Nan, get a buzz cut and just rinse it with water?” 

“But weren’t you the one who said that I looked good with longer hair?” 

“……” 

It was true that he said that before. 

Back then, during one performance, the make-up team was suddenly inspired to create a European prince style for Shen Jue. He wore a tux, had a ponytail and when he stood on stage, he suddenly turned and smiled at Gu Yanshu, causing the latter to miss half a beat. 

After the performance, as the captain, Shen Jue locked Gu Yanshu into the little black room and asked him why he made the mistake. Back then, Gu Yanshu was very young, and psychologically, he wasn’t strong yet, so he somehow spoke the truth. 

In the end, Shen Jue didn’t punish him like he usually did, to make him practice for another thirty minutes more. Instead, he smiled and rubbed his head a few times. 

Back then, he didn’t understand what was happening, but now that he recalled the incident, it seemed as though Shen Jue really did start growing his hair out after that incident. 

Gu Yanshu felt that the temperature in the bathroom was too high, and he was feeling rather warm. He needed to cool down. He replied nonchalantly, “Now, I think that a buzz cut is quite nice too.” 

Shen Jue chuckled, “Alright, you can cut it for me tomorrow.” 

He sounded like he was coaxing a child. 

Gu Yanshu felt like he shouldn’t have responded to that previous comment. 

Not daring to reply further, he turned around and took a towel, “Lay down in the bathtub.” 

The crew had prepared freestanding bathtubs, and it wasn’t placed against the wall, so Gu Yanshu could sit on a chair by the shower head. 

Shen Jue leaned into the bathtub, leaning his neck onto the edge and lifted his head up. 

The warm water covered his hair, and the clean white bubbles rustled under the shampooing. Gu Yanshu’s fingers were very gentle, and he seemed very skilled at it. 

It wasn’t the first time that he had helped Shen Jue wash his hair. 

Because it also wasn’t the first time that Shen Jue had been injured while trying to protect him. 

Even though there had been a gap of five years, Gu Yanshu still seemed familiar with what to do, handling even the tiniest details such as preventing the water from flowing into Shen Jue’s eyes. 

Time was a magical thing. No matter how much time had passed, or how thick a layer of dust was covering those ancient memories, one would always be able to easily swipe it clean in an instant and reveal the yellowing pages underneath. 

And then realise that he had never actually forgotten about it. 

Or perhaps it might be that the time wasn’t long enough. 

Or that there were too many memories between Shen Jue and him, so much so that time couldn’t even cover it. 

Regardless, those memories of his youth seemed to be freshly sealed in some corner, and have never been covered in dust. 

There was a rare silence in the room, and all that could be heard was the flowing of water and the light breathing sounds. 

Gu Yanshu looked at Shen Jue. 

Shen Jue closed his eyes, and his lashes covered that pair of obsidian gaze as well as the smile in that gaze of his. He looked more calm, and his features were more defined and firm as compared to five years ago, presenting the look of a truly mature and reliable man. 

Only the graceful curve of his lips exuded a flirtatious charm, as though he could say something teasing or seductive at any moment. 

Then, he saw the two lips slowly open, “Gu Yanshu, are you secretly looking at me?” 

Gu Yanshu: “……” 

“I know that I’m good looking, but don’t look at me for too long. I’m afraid that you might fall in love with me. After all, I’m homophobic…” 

Splash!

Gu Yanshu emotionlessly took the shower head and aimed it at Shen Jue’s face. 

Homophobic? Mature? Reliable? 

That’s all rubbish. 

Shen Jue was caught unawares, so he choked on the water. He turned his face away, feeling angry yet tickled, “Maknae Gu, how dare you…” 

Splash!

Gu Yanshu emotionlessly turned on the tap, and more water gushed out. 

Who was the daring one? 

Shen Jue was injured in one hand, so he couldn’t hide from the attack. Instead, he pushed himself up with his left hand, then grabbed Gu Yanshu’s waist and pulled him into the bathtub. 

Gu Yanshu was very skinny, and weighed barely even a hundred and twenty pounds. His waist was slim like a small bamboo pole. On the other hand, Shen Jue was close to 10CM taller than him, and when he stood up in the tub, he was even taller. Hence, when he used his left hand to grab and lift Gu Yanshu up, the latter was like a kitten being carried into the bathtub. 

Before Gu Yanshu could even exclaim, he had stepped onto a puddle of water and slipped. When he fell, he instinctively grabbed Shen Jue’s clothes, and with one pull, both of them fell into the tub together. 

The shower head was now beyond their control, and sprayed all of them till they were fully drenched. 

Shen Jue used his hand to support himself so that he didn’t fall onto Shen Jue’s body. 

And Shen Jue lay under him, his brown hair slightly damp and curled up between his beautiful eyes, which were misty due to the water vapour. His t-shirt was wet and had turned translucent, and one could clearly see the tight waistlines and well-defined ribs, plus that fair and intricate collarbone under it. 

The sight made Shen Jue’s heart itch. 

And at that moment, for some unfathomable reason, he said, “I was lying. I’m not homophobic.” 

His expression was solemn, as though he was seriously explaining. 

He was so serious that Gu Yanshu almost thought that he was hinting something. 

And the fingers that were grabbing onto Shen Jue’s belt shivered. 

Then Shen Jue chucked softly, “Little ribs.” 

You’re the one with the little ribs. 

Gu Yanshu knew that he had lost a lot of weight recently, and when he looked at the smooth and bulging muscles that peeked out from Shen Jue’s collar, he felt that Shen Jue was mocking him. Hence, he became furious and used his knee to bump Shen Jue’s thigh. 

Shen Jue sucked in a cold breath, “Why are you so fierce?” 

Gu Yanshu was prepared to kick him again, but Shen Jue’s arm suddenly buckled, and he fell directly atop Gu Yanshu. The warmth from the other young man spread through the wet materials of their clothes, and Gu Yanshu wanted to push him away. 

But Shen Jue’s voice sounded from the area around his neck, “Don’t move. I seem to have pulled my injury. It hurts.” 

His voice seemed to be trembling. 

After a long time, when the pain seemed to have subsided, Shen Jue finally spoke slowly, “Gu Yanshu, I’m already injured, can’t you just treat me more gently?” 

He sounded as he usually did, with a casual teasing feel, but Gu Yanshu somehow felt as though he was speaking from his heart, even though he might have been mistaken about it. 

And suddenly, he felt a sour feeling in his heart. 

In fact, he couldn’t tell why he would act this fiercely in front of Shen Jue. 

He was probably like a small animal who had been wandering outside for too long, and when he finally met his owner again, he missed the days in the past, but was also afraid that he might once again be abandoned. There were countless grievances and unspeakable hope in his heart, hence only a light touch would spark off a temper. 

But what right did he have to throw a tantrum? 

Shen Jue didn’t owe him anything. 

He was the one who owed Shen Jue. 

Besides, during the chase, the moments when Shen Jue protected his neck with his hand, and his yelling, “Shen Jue, be careful”, were the same; both were the instinctive reactions that arose from their bones at the most critical moment. 

Hence, no matter what, Shen Jue meant well. 

Even if they were going to be ordinary friends, it was worth cherishing. 

He was content. 

And hence, he replied, “I can.” 

Silence ensued. 

Shen Jue seemed to be so surprised that he was in a slight daze. 

Then, he chuckled in a low voice, “Alright. And all men should keep their words.”