[I haven’t gone yet. The big hospitals nearby require appointments, which is a bit troublesome.]

[Resting at home for a few days should be fine.]

Qin Yu looked at these two messages sent by someone four hours ago, feeling inevitably worried.

[Have you taken any medicine? It’s best to go to the hospital when you’re sick. This isn’t something you can put off.]

Qin Yu got off work later than usual this time. By the time he got out of the subway station, the sky had already completely darkened.

He habitually pulled up his hoodie, navigating through the streets and alleys by the light of his phone.

Compared to how Qin Yu had left the other person hanging for over four hours, this guy’s instant replies to his messages seemed exceedingly kind in his eyes.

[No medicine to take. Just got home and forgot to stock up.]

[My body seemed to have a fever in the afternoon, but it’s gone down a lot now.]

?!!!

Come on, man, do you think you’re Superman or something? How can you treat your body like this?

Qin Yu’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the messages.

[Didn’t you go buy medicine in the afternoon?]

[I was so tired I fell asleep. When I woke up, the fever had mostly subsided, so I didn’t go out to buy medicine.]

You really… I could cry. Qin Yu marveled at this brother’s cockroach-like vitality. Was he not afraid of frying his brain? Are rich people all so stingy when it comes to this?

[Is there no one else at home? Can you ask a friend nearby to bring you some medicine?]

Qin Yu frowned slightly, finding his way in the darkness while typing with both hands.

[No, I just got back. Haven’t had a chance to tell my friends in China yet. They don’t know.]

Qin Yu was completely speechless at this guy’s response.

[You can buy medicine online. Wait, I’ll send you some screenshots.]

[Image]

[Image]

Considering that the other person had just returned to the country and might not be familiar with some domestic apps, Qin Yu was about to record a video to send him.

Who knew the other party would be even more daring and directly make a video call.

Qin Yu was so startled he almost threw his phone when the call came through.

Sure enough, young people should do less bad things.

Of course, Qin Yu didn’t even think about it and immediately hung up. Even a second of hesitation would be disrespectful to the client.

[What’s wrong? Is there something you still don’t understand?] Qin Yu politely replied.

[Yes.]

[I’m sorry, I was a bit rash earlier.]

[Can I video call you?]

The other’s response was anything but polite.

Come on, although we’re supposed to be in a “relationship,” isn’t this progressing a bit too fast? Bro, you haven’t seen your fiancé for seven years, you’ve only just started communicating online since you got back to the country, and it’s only been a few days. Do you really think he’ll have a change of heart and rekindle your old flame?

Your fiancé is probably on some island right now, maybe lying in his boyfriend’s arms, enjoying the sun, while you’re alone in an empty house, sick, and barely anyone cares that you slept through your illness.

A verdant green forest grows atop your head. We’ve all been in relationships in this circle, but I never thought you’d be so lovesick, already at this level of devotion.

All Qin Yu could say was good luck to you, bro.

[No.]

The moment Qin Yu saw the message, he unhesitatingly sent a refusal to the other party.

Maybe, Qin Yu thought, he should be merciful and just order medicine online to be delivered across cities. This would save a lot of trouble and difficulties.

But he wasn’t sure who to bill for the medicine. He hesitated for a moment, then switched accounts and opened the chat with the client.

Suddenly disturbing the client while he was on his honeymoon with his boyfriend seemed a bit presumptuous, but Qin Yu really couldn’t wait when it came to money matters.

He urgently needed money, which was why he had downloaded the app and registered to take this job. Now, before the payment for the work had even arrived, he was already dipping into his own wallet.

After careful consideration, Qin Yu lightly edited a message and sent it out.

Who would have thought the other party would reply with just a question mark.

A big question mark.

Qin Yu suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

[Who are you? What’s going on?]

[What’s your relationship with Ke-zai¹仔 (zǎi/zǐ) – When added to nouns, it typically indicates:
A diminutive or affectionate form
A young person or animal
Someone associated with a particular job or characteristic

For example:
猫仔 (māo zǎi): kitten
佬仔 (lǎo zǎi): young man, lad
车仔 (chē zǎi): driver (informal)?]

Oh boy, this is trouble.

Someone who could ask like this was almost certainly the client’s boyfriend.

What’s happening? How could he be so unlucky? He hadn’t chatted for the past few days, and the first time he sent a message to inquire today, it was seen by the client’s boyfriend.

It’s understandable for couples to look at each other’s phones to build trust, but how could it be such a coincidence that the moment he sent the message, the client’s boyfriend just happened to be holding his phone?

It’s over. There’s no point in retracting now, and deleting the account would be even worse. These actions would only backfire, making the situation even harder to explain.

Is it possible for someone to have such bad luck? To choke to death on a sip of water, to trip on a stone and fall to death while walking, to cause instant social death just by casually sending a message to inquire?

He couldn’t explain too much, and Qin Yu had no way to explain. He could only play dead.

TL Notes

• 1
  仔 (zǎi/zǐ) – When added to nouns, it typically indicates:
  A diminutive or affectionate form
  A young person or animal
  Someone associated with a particular job or characteristic
  
  For example:
  猫仔 (māo zǎi): kitten
  佬仔 (lǎo zǎi): young man, lad
  车仔 (chē zǎi): driver (informal)