After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

On the fourth day of Jiang Shiyu’s hospital stay, Li Muzi came over. Initially, he was unaware of the events that had transpired since they left the seaside villa. It was only when Chen Xu inadvertently mentioned that Shen Li had regained his memory and that Jiang Shiyu was hospitalized that he became aware.

When he arrived, a man in a light khaki sweater cardigan was walking out of the hospital, holding a stack of reports. The man greeted him politely with a smile and a nod, to which Li Muzi, confused, nodded back. He then saw Shen Li approaching with a bag of takeout.

Shen Li exchanged a few words with the man at the door. The hospital corridor did not seem suitable for their conversation, and the man soon left.

Li Muzi tilted his head towards the man’s departing figure. “Who was that just now? Why did he come out of Shiyu’s room?”

Shen Li did not answer, only saying, “Go in. Shiyu should be happy to see you.”

Li Muzi had only learned from Chen Xu that Jiang Shiyu was ill and hospitalized, but the reasons were unclear. The two of them entered the room, where Jiang Shiyu was propped up in bed with a small table in front of him. A tablet was playing a Hayao Miyazaki movie.

“Shiyu.”

Jiang Shiyu was surprised to see him and brightened up a little. “Muzi, what are you doing here?”

“Chen Xu said you were sick. What happened? You seemed fine at the villa. Didn’t the surgery go well? Is there a problem with your heart again?”

His concern was evident, and Jiang Shiyu patiently answered each question.

Shen Li quietly unpacked the bag, taking out porridge and soup dumplings and placing them on the small table.

“Eat and talk. I’ll go get some medicine.”

Without waiting for a response, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Li Muzi keenly noticed something was off and turned to see a fleeting look of sadness on Jiang Shiyu’s face, which quickly brightened as he looked at him.

The two “kittens” chatted endlessly, mostly with Li Muzi talking while Jiang Shiyu occasionally responded. A hint of color returned to Jiang Shiyu’s pale, sickly face.

Somehow, their conversation turned to Shen Li’s memory recovery. Jiang Shiyu’s previously smiling face froze, and Li Muzi sensed something was wrong.

Li Muzi cautiously probed, “Shiyu, is everything okay with you and Shen Li?”

Jiang Shiyu’s smile faded, turning into sadness. He slowly leaned back against the pillow, his eyes misting over.

Li Muzi was startled. “Hey, Shiyu, don’t be upset. I won’t ask any more questions.”

Jiang Shiyu lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong. “Muzi, I think I’m sick again.”

The man in the khaki sweater who had just left the room was a psychologist Shen Li had hired, and he had already visited twice.

Li Muzi widened his eyes in disbelief. “A psychologist?”

“Shiyu, you?”

Jiang Shiyu had always appeared reserved and sensitive, but those who understood him knew he was pure-hearted, strong-willed, and positive about life. Despite numerous challenges, he never gave up. However, the sudden development was unexpected.

His fingers were tightly intertwined, turning white at the tips, a sign of his recent nervousness.

His parents had long passed away, and he had few friends due to his health. Before meeting Shen Li, all his emotions and feelings were self-managed. After they were together, Shen Li could always understand his thoughts and help him sort them out. Now, the source of his distress was Shen Li himself, and Shen Li could no longer help him untangle his feelings.

The only person who could still listen to him was Li Muzi.

He rested his head gently on Li Muzi’s shoulder, speaking softly. “Muzi, Shen Li has regained his memory, but I’m even more afraid. I keep dreaming that my parents and Shen Li are leaving me. They don’t want me anymore. 

I mustered the courage to start over with the amnesiac Shen Li, only to see him lying in front of me covered in blood. Fate keeps playing tricks on me. I’m really tired, Muzi. I’m scared. Shen Li can’t leave my sight. This thought has been lingering in my mind, tightening around my nerves. I know it’s not right, but I can’t control myself.”

Tears quietly fell from the corners of his eyes. He was physically weak and mentally unstable, speaking with some incoherence, but Li Muzi understood.

He held him, the two of them leaning together like two kittens seeking warmth.

Li Muzi remembered the first time he saw Jiang Shiyu at the beginning of the school year during a class meeting. He was sitting alone in a corner, looking aloof, with a shabby college bag. Despite being in such a hidden spot, he was still eye-catching. Li Muzi, who was a fan of good looks and had a social nature, immediately sat next to him and asked, “Can I sit here?”

He always remembered the surprise and fleeting joy in Jiang Shiyu’s eyes, like a little kitten. He nodded slowly, as if feeling that not answering would be impolite, and softly said yes.

After that, Jiang Shiyu continued to be solitary, often seen with a tall and handsome boy, smiling brightly in his company.

As Li Muzi persisted in sitting next to him, they became friends. Li Muzi realized that Jiang Shiyu was not as cold and difficult to approach as he seemed. He was actually soft, kind, and had a boyfriend who loved him deeply.

Everything seemed perfect until Li Muzi learned that Jiang Shiyu’s parents had passed away in an accident, and he had no close friends or good health. He felt deeply saddened and distressed.

No wonder Jiang Shiyu was always so cautious and almost endlessly accommodating towards him.

Reflecting on it, it seemed that Jiang Shiyu’s sense of insecurity stemmed from his parents’ deaths, living with others, and several turbulent relationships.

Li Muzi hesitated for a while before finally saying, “Shiyu, have you considered that maybe you rely too much on Shen Li, which is why you’re so afraid of losing him? After your parents passed away, all your emotional support and sense of security came from Shen Li. He occupies most of your life’s joys and sorrows. Emotion should be a complement that makes you better, not a dependency that makes you fearful.”

Li Muzi had long noticed that Jiang Shiyu was overly dependent on Shen Li. Shen Li was indeed impeccable in his treatment of Jiang Shiyu, and anyone would fall for him, but Jiang Shiyu, who was extremely insecure, was more vulnerable to his intense love. This, combined with the two accidents, made Jiang Shiyu feel increasingly fearful within the love.

At night, in the quiet hospital room, Jiang Shiyu opened his eyes, his dark pupils bright and wide awake. He gently turned towards the window, where moonlight filtered through the semi-transparent white curtain, illuminating Shen Li’s sleeping face on the adjacent bed.

He lay flat with his eyes closed, his prominent nose making his features appear more defined. During the day, those eyes, which always looked at him but instinctively avoided, were now concealed, hiding their emotions.

Jiang Shiyu lay on his side, resting his hands under his face, quietly and obsessively staring at the figure across from him.

In the darkness, he silently mouthed the name.

Shen Li.

The simple name felt like a brand, burning hot and fervent on his chest. Each time he spoke it, he felt his heart beat faster, as if trying to engrain the name into his very being.

A week later, he was discharged from the hospital. On the way back to the villa, he asked the driver to take a different route after leaving the highway.

Shen Li turned to look at him.

The car had the heater on, and he was dressed warmly, his pale skin flushed pink.

“I haven’t visited my parents for a long time. I want to go see them.”

Shen Li didn’t speak, recalling the psychologist’s advice about mild depression and the importance of getting out and relaxing.

“Okay, I’ll go with you. It’s been a long time since I visited Uncle and Auntie too.”

At the Jiang Hua Cemetery.

The cemetery was nestled by the mountains and water, with picturesque scenery, surrounded by no new buildings, creating a peaceful and natural environment.

Shen Li had the driver stop at the entrance, and he walked in with Jiang Shiyu. The neatly trimmed trees on both sides of the path stood tall despite the cold winter, and the two of them walked up the stairs from the base of the hill to a solitary tombstone.

This was where Jiang Shiyu’s parents rested.

Shen Li took out the offerings from a bag, arranged them in front of the tombstone, and lit the incense. He handed it to Jiang Shiyu.

Jiang Shiyu took it, thanked him softly, and bowed.

After Shen Li had performed the rites, he said he would wait down below. Jiang Shiyu had not been here for a long time and might have a lot to say to his parents.

Jiang Shiyu watched his departing figure, then turned to look at the tombstone, where the figures of the Jiang couple were depicted in a close embrace. His eyes reddened.

“Dad, Mom.”

His voice choked with emotion.

Shen Li stood at the base of the hill, looking up at the slender figure at the top. Jiang Shiyu was crouched by the tombstone, looking solitary and pitiful.

A gust of wind blew, lifting his coat and passing through his hollow chest.

After a long while, his phone vibrated. He picked it up to check.

Cat Head: “Shen Li, I can’t move anymore.”

Shen Li looked up and saw the familiar figure at the top of the steps. From a long distance away, dressed in white, he looked like an angel standing on a cloud, as if he could fly away at any moment.

He hurriedly climbed to the top in a few large steps. Jiang Shiyu stood there unmoving, and when he saw him approaching, he smiled, breathless.

“Shen Li, you’re getting weaker.”

Shen Li momentarily lost his focus, feeling a bit dazed.

Since regaining his memory, Jiang Shiyu hadn’t spoken to him in such a sweet, playful tone.

Seeing Shen Li’s lack of response, he took a few steps forward and waved his hand. “Shen Li?”

Shen Li snapped back to reality, his gaze complex as he looked at Jiang Shiyu. “You…”

Jiang Shiyu tilted his head, his large, bright eyes slightly wet at the corners from crying, looking innocent and pitiful.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Li swallowed, “It’s nothing.”

“Can you still carry me down? You’re breathing heavily.”

Shen Li smiled, turned around, and crouched in front of him. “Get on. I can carry you even if it’s ten times.”

Jiang Shiyu climbed onto his back, pouting, “You’re bragging.” He tightened his grip around Shen Li’s neck.

Shen Li lifted him slightly and said, “Hold on tight.”

“I’m holding tight.”

“Let’s go.”

At this moment, a flock of birds flew across the mountains, startling the trees, and the leaves fluttered as the birds soared towards the sky, getting further away.

As Jiang Shiyu’s legs swayed from Shen Li’s waist, he suddenly said, “Shen Li, our school has three spots for exchange students to France next semester, and my name was recommended by the teacher.”

Shen Li stopped on the steps, not continuing downward.

“The teacher said that based on my previous grades and performance, the chance is quite high. This opportunity is very valuable. The teacher mentioned it to me at the end of the semester.”

Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Jiang Shiyu’s swinging legs also stopped. After a long time, Shen Li finally spoke, “Why bring this up all of a sudden?”

Jiang Shiyu looked up at the birds flying over the distant mountains, his gaze soft yet determined. “Shen Li, I’ve been overly protected by my parents since I was young. Even after meeting you, I’ve been well cared for. Gradually, my world has revolved around you. Muzi is right—I rely on you too much. I’ve never lived independently. I need to learn to grow up on my own.”

“Emotion should not be a burden or a drag, nor should it be something I’m constantly worried about. Shen Li, I want to become better, to become excellent. When I’m strong enough not to rely on external sources for security, I think I’ll have the courage to stand by your side.”

Shen Li’s dark eyes were intense, his handsome features momentarily devoid of expression.

He wanted to persuade her to stay, to say that it was all his fault, to tell Jiang Shiyu that he didn’t need to grow up. But no words came.

“How long will the exchange program last?”

“One year.”

His expression flickered. Before he could speak, Jiang Shiyu seemed to anticipate his thoughts and gently stopped him. “Shen Li, I want to spend this year on my own, without everyone’s care. I want to rely on myself and be able to live well.”