Chapter 97

Fang Yu took Yang Lei all the way to the military district. The field operations military district was across the river and in the suburbs. Ordinary people who didn’t know the way would have difficulty finding it, but Fang Yu turned the steering wheel with familiarity.

“You know it?”

Yang Lei looked at Fang Yu.

“When I was driving the taxi, I brought someone here.”

Fang Yu paused and said.

“…”

Yang Lei didn’t speak.

After checking in at the gate of the military district, Fang Yu took Yang Lei all the way to the dormitory.

The cadre dormitory of the military district barracks was pretty good, a large room with a separate bathroom. There were two beds in the dormitory. Every day, an orderly would clean it up, so it was very neat and clean.

“I’m fine. I’ll just lie down. You can go back.”

Before, Yang Lei felt cold. Now, as expected, his temperature had risen. The day before, he had suffered from the cold during field training. His stomachache had also started up because of the cold. Yang Lei rarely got sick, but once he got sick, all kinds of illnesses like headaches and fevers would break out together. Yang Lei knew that he was burning again this time, and he didn’t want Fang Yu to find out.

“I’ll go fill a bottle of water.”

Fang Yu picked up the empty thermos. When he went upstairs, he saw a hot water room downstairs.

“No need. I’ll call the orderly later.”

Yang Lei wanted Fang Yu to go back quickly.

Fang Yu still went out with the water bottle. He got water and came back, poured a cup of hot water for Yang Lei, put the medicinal tablets and granules on the table, and told Yang Lei to remember to take the medicine when he woke up.

“It’s all right. Go back,” Yang Lei said.

Fang Yu hesitated for a moment.

“Then I’m leaving.”

“Okay. I’ll call a car to take you.”

“No need. There is a shuttle bus to the city.”

Fang Yu handed the warm water cup to Yang Lei. Yang Lei reached for it, and Fang Yu touched his hand.

“…”

Fang Yu was stunned and raised his head.

Before Yang Lei could react, Fang Yu’s hand covered his forehead.

“…You have a fever?”

Yang Lei’s hand and forehead were both boiling hot.

“It’s nothing.”

Yang Lei dodged Fang Yu’s hand.

“It’s still nothing when you’re this hot?”

Once Yang Lei had a fever, it would be a high fever.

“Is there a hospital around here? I’ll take you!”

Fang Yu’s expression became serious. He knew that once Yang Lei had a fever, the temperature would be frightening.

“It’s really nothing. I’ll be better after sleeping!”

Yang Lei hated going to the hospital the most. If he had a fever, he only had to sleep all night to get over it.

“Don’t be stubborn!”

“I’m not being stubborn! I’m really not going.”

In recent years, when he got sick, he had gotten used to sleeping alone to get over it. He didn’t want Fang Yu to worry about it here.

“…Then lie down on the bed.”

Fang Yu watched Yang Lei take off his military uniform and lay in bed. He covered him in a blanket, and then brought over a set of blankets from the nearby bed to cover Yang Lei.

“Do you have medicine here?”

“I’m really fine… Don’t worry about it.”

“Sleep first.”

Fang Yu knew that there was a health center in the barracks, and there would be antipyretic tablets.

“…Fang Yu!”

Yang Lei wanted to call Fang Yu, but Fang Yu had already left.

Yang Lei was hot all over. He dozed off in the blankets…

Yang Lei didn’t know how long he was out. In the daze, he felt someone gently lift him up. He leaned against a warm and firm chest. Yang Lei hazily opened his eyes. A palm holding a tablet was brought to his mouth. Yang Lei subconsciously took the tablet into his mouth, and with the warm water that came to his lips, he swallowed the medicine. He closed his eyes and felt that he was being helped to lie down. But as he was cold all over, the comforting warmth behind him made him instinctively lean into it, and he unconsciously snuggled into the warmth. The familiar and reassuring atmosphere surrounded him. Yang Lei fell into unconsciousness again…

Yang Lei woke up in the midst of his stomach tumbling. His consciousness was still murky, and he knit his brows tightly and turned over from the sharp stomach pain. A hand pressed his abdomen through his shirt and gently rubbed it. The warmth and gentle strength of the palm came through the shirt, alleviating the pain, like a silent comfort, making Yang Lei settle down…

Yang Lei opened his eyes.

Seeing that he was awake, Fang Yu removed his hand from him.

“How are you?” Fang Yu asked him quietly.

“…Much better.”

Yang Lei had taken the antipyretic tablets and sweated all over. The fever had gone away. Fang Yu touched Yang Lei’s neck and forehead. They were both sweaty. Fang Yu took a hot towel and wiped down Yang Lei. His hand moved to the buttons of Yang Lei’s tightly buttoned shirt. The shirt of the military uniform was tightly buttoned up to his neck. Fang Yu wanted to unbutton two buttons for Yang Lei to make him more comfortable. But as soon as Fang Yu undid the first button, Yang Lei blocked Fang Yu’s hand.

“…I’ll do it myself.”

“…” Fang Yu stopped for a moment, turned, and walked away.

Yang Lei quickly buttoned them up again.

He buttoned up, using the collar to cover the thing around his neck…

“…You haven’t gone back yet?” Yang Lei sat up, his voice still hoarse.

“You’re not comfortable because I’m here.” Fang Yu poured water with his back to Yang Lei and spoke.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Yang Lei didn’t want Fang Yu to misunderstand.

“I don’t want to make trouble for you.”

Fang Yu put down the water bottle and didn’t turn around.

“Are we brothers?” Fang Yu suddenly said.

Yang Lei was stunned. He raised his head and looked at Fang Yu’s back. He was silent for a moment and understood Fang Yu’s meaning.

“Do you need to ask?” Yang Lei asked.

“Okay. With your words, it’s okay,” Fang Yu said.

Neither of them said anything else. Some things didn’t need too much verbal expression.

Fang Yu turned around, and Yang Lei looked at him. They made eye contact and smiled faintly.

“Leader, drink some water.”

Fang Yu handed the water cup to Yang Lei.

“…Fuck, don’t tease me.”

Hearing Fang Yu’s words, Yang Lei couldn’t hold back.

“Your orderly came, and I told him to go back. Why? Am I not good as an orderly?”

“You’re not. You’re not professional.”

Yang Lei drank water and joked along.

“How am I not professional? Does the leader want to eat?”

Fang Yu really brought porridge over. He asked the orderly to get it from the canteen after Yang Lei fell asleep, and he kept it warm with a thermos cup.

Yang Lei was really a little hungry. Taking the spoon that Fang Yu handed over, Yang Lei ate. After eating the warm porridge, his stomach felt much better. Yang Lei ate several large bites, raised his head, and saw Fang Yu sitting on the chair beside the bed, looking at him. Their eyes met a little unnaturally, but they were instantly at ease again. Fang Yu smiled at Yang Lei, and Yang Lei smiled slightly, lowered his head, and continued to eat.

There was a lamp in the room. The apricot yellow light warmed the room and caged the shadows of the two people…

“What tapes are you listening to?”

Fang Yu looked at Yang Lei’s Walkman on the desk and flipped through the scattered tapes.

“They’re all old songs.”

Yang Lei laughed at himself.

“I’m out of date. I still like listening to old songs.”