Chapter Text
The moment the hospital doors swung open, Wu Suo Wei practically tore through them, and even though Chi Cheng was taller, he struggled to keep up.
It turned out to be a critical mistake. Wu Suo Wei bolted the second he spotted Guo Cheng Yu standing by the surgery room door, and slammed a fist into his face.
“YOU SAID YOU WOULD LOOK AFTER HIM!”
Wu Suo Wei raised his fist for a second punch just as Chi Cheng caught up, sliding his arms under Wu Suo Wei’s to pull him back. But instead of stopping him, it gave Wu Suo Wei the leverage he needed. With a powerful kick from both legs, he sent Guo Cheng Yu sprawling.
Chi Cheng spun Wu Suo Wei mid-kick, trying to restrain him, “They’re going to kick you out!" he yelled "Keep this up, and security will throw you out!”
Wu Suo Wei stopped struggling, but Chi Cheng could hear his harsh, rapid breathing. This wasn’t anger, it was something darker, more primal, rooted in fear. Chi Cheng felt his heart ache for him. Jiang Xiao Shuai and Wu Suo Wei loved each other in a way no lover, no romantic partner could ever compete with.
The kind of love that consumes, that burns, and only grows stronger, no matter what.
The kind that keep you rooted in the ground but it is your downfall at the same time.
The way Chi Cheng loved…
He turned to Guo Cheng Yu, still sitting on the ground, as if nothing had happened, not the punch, not the kicks, not the yells and screams. he was just sitting there, staring at his bloody hands.
Chi Cheng took a deep breath. It was time to act.
He guided Wu Suo Wei into a chair, holding his face gently in his hands, “Stay here and wait for the doctor. I need to...” His voice trailed off; he didn’t need to finish.
Wu Suo Wei’s hands shot up, gripping his collar, knuckles white, face hard, “If anything happens to my Shifu, I will kill him.” His glare didn’t waver. “And you can’t do a damn thing to stop me.”
A cold fear squeezed Chi Cheng’s heart. Wu Suo Wei wasn’t joking, and that terrified him. But more than that, he feared that if anything happened to Jiang Xiao Shuai, Guo Cheng Yu wouldn’t lift a finger to defend himself.
In times like this, he wished he were a believer, praying for a miracle.
But he wasn’t, so he squeezed Wu Suo Wei’s shoulders gently and repeated, “Wait for me here.” He bent down to press a brief kiss to Wu Suo Wei’s head, he was fairly certain that if he aimed for the lips, Wu Suo Wei would bite him viciously, and not in a fun way.
Chi Cheng turned to Guo Cheng Yu and crouched in front of him, “Hey.”
No reaction. Nothing. Guo Cheng Yu didn’t even lift his head, his gaze fixed on his bloody hands. His face was blank, his eyes hollow.
Chi Cheng tapped his face lightly a few times, but it was as if Guo Cheng Yu couldn’t feel anything, he was like a body without a soul.
Chi Cheng decided the first priority was erasing the physical evidence. He helped Guo Cheng Yu to his feet and gently guided him toward the nearest bathroom.
He washed the blood from Guo Cheng Yu’s hands and couldn’t stop himself from noticing, once again, how beautiful they were, an effortless balance of delicacy and strength.
When the blood was gone, he unbuttoned Guo Cheng Yu’s shirt. Any other time, Guo Cheng Yu would have teased him mercilessly, but in that moment, he was so still that Chi Cheng had to focus on his breathing just to stay grounded, to assure himself he is still alive.
The shirt was beyond saving, and Chi Cheng didn’t feel an ounce of guilt throwing it away. Fortunately, he had an undershirt and could lend his black shirt to Guo Cheng Yu.
As he buttoned it up, he quietly asked, “Cheng Yu, are you with me?” But no answer came. Not even a glance.
The worry and fear Chi Cheng had been holding at bay since the hospital call surged through his veins, ugly and relentless. He couldn’t breath in a world without Guo Cheng Yu’s vibrant voice, his playful smirks, his shining eyes.
That was a hell Chi Cheng refused to live in.
Not even for a day.
Chi Cheng guided Guo Cheng Yu to the nearest bench and knelt before him, cupping his face in his hands, “Baobei, look at me,” he said, his voice cracking as Guo Cheng Yu’s sorrow shattered his heart into a million pieces. “A-Yu, please… please, come back to me.”
Something in his voice, or maybe his words, snapped Guo Cheng Yu back to reality. His eyes finally met Chi Cheng’s, the blankness gone.
“A-Cheng… Shuai-Shuai… he tried to… tried to protect…” Guo Cheng Yu couldn’t finish, sobbing uncontrollably.
Chi Cheng immediately pulled him into a hug, trying desperately to shield him from the pain, though he knew it was futile.