After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

Half a month later, Shen Li and Jiang Shiyu were discharged from the hospital together. Shen Li was picked up by a driver early in the morning, leaving Jiang Shiyu to stay behind for a final check-up before being allowed to leave.

As Jiang Shiyu stepped out of the hospital, the summer sun filtered through the lush camphor leaves, casting dappled light on the concrete ground.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the air that was completely different from the hospital’s disinfectant-filled atmosphere. The clear, cloudless weather and the joy of being discharged made even the cicadas’ summer song seem more pleasant.

A black car stopped at the hospital entrance, and the rear window rolled down to reveal Bai Yun.

Seeing her, he happily ran down the steps. Bai Yun hurriedly opened the car door, cautioning him, “Slow down, don’t run so fast.”

“Aunt Bai Yun, why did you come? Uncle Shen could have picked me up.”

Her eyes flickered but quickly returned to normal as she smiled and took his hand. “Get in the car first, it’s hot outside.”

He sat in the back seat, looking out the window. “Aunt, where’s Shen Li? Isn’t he coming with us?”

She feigned annoyance, “That rascal is too restless. He called me several times this morning complaining about the hospital and went home early. He should be waiting for us to have lunch now.”

He paused for a few seconds, realizing that he probably didn’t want to go home with him and left first. His pretty face showed a hint of disappointment for a moment but quickly recovered, his dimples faintly appearing as he clung to Bai Yun’s arm obediently.

“I’ve been craving your cherry meat while in the hospital. One night, I even dreamed about it!”

She laughed at his gluttonous expression, playfully tapping his nose with affection in her eyes.

The black Audi drove smoothly back to Jingtai Garden. The housekeeper had already prepared a table full of dishes waiting for Bai Yun and Jiang Shiyu. 

Today, even Shen Qinglin was there, whom Jiang Shiyu was a bit afraid of due to his stern demeanor. Entering the house, he greeted him politely. Shen Qinglin nodded, asked a few questions, and spoke more gently knowing he had just recovered from a serious illness.

The family was all there except for Shen Li. Shen Qinglin asked the housekeeper to call him down from upstairs. Jiang Shiyu sat in a spot where he could see the stairs clearly.

Shen Li, despite having a broken leg still in a cast, looked quite spirited after half a month of rest. He seemed to have taken a nap since returning from the hospital, his hair messily spiked, wearing a loose T-shirt that exposed his collarbones and a pair of sweatpants. He hopped down the stairs, holding the railing.

“Slow down, you’re still in a cast,” Bai Yun worriedly cautioned.

Shen Qinglin, on the other hand, maintained a strict demeanor. “It’s just one leg. Let him manage.”

Shen Li, overhearing his father’s remark, immediately retorted, “You sound like you wish I had both legs crippled.”

Bai Yun nudged her son, “Don’t talk nonsense. Today is a good day, both you and Shiyu are discharged. Let’s all eat together happily.”

Despite the Shen family’s wealth, their meals were simple and homely, enough for the four of them. Shen Li noticed Jiang Shiyu beside him, looking even thinner than when he was in the hospital bed. 

He had intentionally left early to avoid too much contact with him. Throughout their half-month hospital stay, they hadn’t met even once since that time in the ICU.

Though both had their own thoughts, the atmosphere at the table was still pleasant. Bai Yun kept adding food to Jiang Shiyu’s plate, telling him to eat more. She glanced at Shen Li, who was lazily sipping soup, and nudged him, signaling him to serve Jiang Shiyu some soup.

Shen Li, without hesitation, leaned back in his chair, lazily scooping soup with one hand while drawling, “He has hands, he can do it himself.”

Bai Yun’s eyebrows shot up in anger, but Jiang Shiyu quickly tugged at her sleeve, looking down and obediently saying, “Aunt, it’s okay. I can do it myself. Shen Li just got out of the hospital, let him eat well.”

She patted his hand reassuringly. “Good boy, drink more of the pigeon soup I specially asked the housekeeper to make.”

Jiang Shiyu, with his lips slightly red, obediently picked up the bowl to ladle the soup. The housekeeper had used a clay pot to keep the soup warm, and the heat had been retained well. As he scooped half a bowl, the scorching touch instantly transferred to his fingertips.

He didn’t expect the soup to still be so hot and was about to put the bowl down quickly when a hand suddenly took the bowl from him.

A deep, magnetic voice sounded beside him, “Can’t you let go if it’s hot?”

His hand, still in the position of holding the bowl, showed clearly that his pale palm had turned red from the heat. 

“Hey, Shiyu, what happened? Does it hurt? Quick, Li, take Shiyu to the kitchen to run it under cold water. I’ll get the medicine,” Bai Yun instructed before leaving her seat. Jiang Shiyu was pulled along by a large hand gripping his wrist, leading him away from the table.

By the time he realized what was happening, cold water was already running over his palm, the sharp, stinging pain slowly transmitting to his brain. He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but Shen Li’s grip was firm.

“Don’t move, do you want to lose your hand?” 

The familiar voice was right next to his ear. For the past half month, they hadn’t seen each other once, and each night Jiang Shiyu fell asleep in pain, longing to see the figure he missed. Now, that person was right in front of him, holding his hand.

He looked down at their overlapping hands under the water. His fingers were long and slender, with a soft layer of flesh over the joints, resembling a cat’s paw, white with a hint of pink. 

After being scalded, his palm turned crimson, contrasting sharply with the hand holding his, which was well-defined and strong, veins visible under the skin. Suddenly, he no longer felt the pain from the burn. His cat-like eyes curved slightly, showing a sly smile.

While he was staring at their hands, Shen Li’s gaze was also fixed on them. A strange feeling arose within him. They stood close behind the counter; if Jiang Shiyu turned his head, they would be face-to-face, their breaths mingling.

Shen Li felt as if he had been hit over the head, suddenly snapping out of it. He abruptly released Jiang Shiyu’s hand, stepping back, his expression a mix of disbelief and irritation.

Damn, what was he doing?

He felt as if he had lost control, angered by Jiang Shiyu holding the hot bowl without letting go, instinctively taking it from him, and then worried about his scalded palm, dragging him to the kitchen—all actions driven by an uncontrollable urge.

As he let go of his hand, Jiang Shiyu turned to him with clear, innocent eyes, his lips slightly parted, looking like a dewy rose about to bloom. His long lashes fluttered in confusion. “What’s wrong?” His voice was soft, tinged with a hint of appeasement.

Damn, it was definitely Jiang Shiyu, always acting so obedient and pleasing, making him let down his guard and lose his mind, leading to his uncontrollable actions!

He reached out, gripping Jiang Shiyu’s chin with precision, his fierce aura palpable. He lifted his delicate face, revealing his bright features.

“Jiang Shiyu, no matter what our relationship was before, I’m a straight man now. Stay away from me from now on.”

With that, he let go, patted his tender cheek, and threatened, “Understood?”

Then he left the kitchen in big strides.

Jiang Shiyu stood alone by the counter. After a few seconds, he pulled his hand from the water. Although he had rinsed it promptly, there were still a few blisters on his palm. His skin was delicate, making it look more severe.

He raised his hand in front of him, examining it closely, his lips curving into a smile, like a cat that had just successfully caught a mouse. Despite Shen Li’s harsh words before leaving, he didn’t seem upset at all. Instead, he appeared secretly delighted.

Under the kitchen light, he raised his five fingers high, squinting against the bright light. He clenched his hand in the air, making a determined fist.

Returning to the dining table, Shen Li had already left. Bai Yun hurriedly came back with medicine, gently blowing on his hand and asking if it hurt. He shook his head.

“Aunt Bai Yun, Shen Li already helped me rinse it for a long time, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Seeing his happy and satisfied expression, she knew that the opportunity she had deliberately created for her son and him had worked, and she smiled with relief.

However, seeing the blisters on his palm, she still frowned. “Do you want to call the family doctor to take a look? Your hand looks quite alarming.”

“No need, Aunt Bai Yun. My skin is just delicate, making it look worse than it is. I’ll put some ointment on, and it will be fine in a couple of days.”

“Alright, but remember to apply the medicine every day. We can’t have our Shiyu’s hands, which play the piano, getting damaged.”

He looked at her, who cared for him with such tenderness and concern, and his eyes welled up with tears. He was too young to remember what maternal love felt like when his mother passed away. 

After coming to the Shen family, she had always treated him like her own son. Even knowing about his relationship with Shen Li, her worry was about whether he would be mistreated.

Suddenly, he reached out and hugged her tightly, his voice choked with emotion. “Aunt Bai Yun, I’m sorry for making you worry.”

She was startled by his actions and didn’t react immediately. When she did, she patted his shoulder comfortingly and softly said, “As long as you and Li are doing well, I won’t worry.”

“Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so don’t worry too much about things with him. There is plenty of time in the future, and things will get better.”

He buried his head in her shoulder and nodded gently.

In fact, during his time in the hospital, he had already come to terms with it. Coupled with Shen Li’s attitude today, he was even more convinced that Shen Li wouldn’t just forget the memories between them.

There is plenty of time ahead.