After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

The carnivallasted for two days, but that night, after returning to the dormitory, Jiang Shiyu started to develop a low-grade fever without realizing it. Having been exposed to wind and sweat and then taking a hot shower upon returning, the heat seemed to exacerbate his condition.

When he came out of the bathroom, his face was still flushed. Shen Li thought it was due to the steam and reminded him to blow-dry his hair.

Jiang Shiyu sat dizzy in the chair, feeling his head heavy. He thought it might be because the bathroom window was closed too tightly, and there was no ventilation.

The hot air from the blow dryer blew steadily, and he felt his face getting hotter and harder to breathe. His arm holding the blow dryer started to feel weak. His head was so heavy that he couldn’t keep his eyes open. He turned off the blow dryer, touched his hair, which was only slightly damp at the ends, and then crawled under the covers.

When Shen Li finished with the files on his computer, he noticed the dormitory was unusually quiet. The blow dryer Jiang Shiyu had used was still on the table, unplugged, with the towel he used to dry his hair tossed on the chair and a puddle of water on the floor.

Jiang Shiyu, who had a mild case of OCD and was usually very meticulous despite his poor health, never left things in such a mess. This was unlike him at all.

Shen Li pushed back his chair and walked over to find he had buried his face under the covers again. Gently pulling the covers back, he revealed his flushed, uncomfortable face.

His eyes darkened. He placed his hand on Jiang Shiyu’s forehead and found it alarmingly hot.

“Jiang Shiyu, Jiang Shiyu, wake up.”

He lightly patted Jiang Shiyu’s face, trying to wake him up. But Jiang Shiyu, clearly uncomfortable, just moaned with his eyes closed, unwilling to wake up.

The past few days had been exhausting with setting up stalls and playing games. He, already weak, couldn’t handle the strain, especially with the recent seasonal change. Now lying in bed, his entire body felt battered and sore, even in his dreams.

Seeing that he couldn’t wake him, Shen Li found a thermometer and checked his temperature. It read 38.5°C.

During the summer when Jiang Shiyu had fallen ill, he remembered the doctor warning him to be careful about fever, as it could lead to inflammation and potentially affect his heart, given his current condition.

He quickly bundled Jiang Shiyu up in layers and carried him out of the dormitory. The dormitory’s curfew was at 10:30 PM, and they met the dorm supervisor who was just about to lock the doors. Shen Li explained the situation, and the supervisor let them out.

It wasn’t until they were seated in the back of a taxi that Jiang Shiyu groggily opened his eyes, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings.

Shen Li, noticing he was awake, touched his forehead again, finding it even hotter.

“Driver, please hurry, thank you.”

After speaking, he gently held him, asking, “Are you feeling very uncomfortable?”

Jiang Shiyu, noticing the person beside him, blinked his watery eyes but quickly drooped them again due to exhaustion. He felt as if a veil covered his senses, making everything hazy. He could barely hear Shen Li’s words.

“What did you say?” Jiang Shiyu, leaning on Shen Li’s shoulder, didn’t realize how weak and hoarse his voice sounded, like a kitten on the brink of death.

Shen Li held him tighter and asked close to his ear, “Do you feel very uncomfortable? We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

Jiang Shiyu wanted to shake his head to indicate he was fine, but his head was too heavy. He just slightly moved on his shoulder before closing his eyes again.

At the hospital, Shen Li rushed him to the emergency room. The doctor quickly arranged for him to be admitted for examination.

“Does the patient have any underlying conditions or drug allergies?” the doctor asked while examining him.

Shen Li opened his mouth but didn’t respond. His understanding of Jiang Shiyu only started after waking from the car accident, and it was only in the past two months that he had become familiar with him. Despite living together, he realized he knew very little about his health details.

Seeing no response, the doctor turned to Shen Li, “You’re not a family member, are you?”

“Um, no, I’m a classmate.”

“Do you have contact information for his family? You mentioned he has a heart condition and multiple drug allergies. We can’t administer medication without consulting them. It’s better to have his family here.”

After a moment of silence, he stepped out to call Bai Yun.

Upon hearing about Jiang Shiyu’s fever and hospitalization, Bai Yun immediately grabbed her driver and rushed out, continuously giving instructions over the phone.

Shen Li listened for a while before interrupting, “Mom, why don’t you talk directly to the doctor? I’m afraid I’ll forget something.”

After a brief pause, she agreed, “Alright, pass the phone to the doctor.”

Standing in the ward, he could clearly hear the conversation between the doctor and Bai Yun. She detailed Jiang Shiyu’s health condition meticulously, answering the doctor’s questions fluently.

Soon after, the doctor returned with a prescription and instructed him to pay the fees, saying a nurse would come to administer an IV drip shortly.

“Doctor, how is my classmate’s condition?”

“It’s not too bad. The fever isn’t extremely high. We’ll lower his temperature with an IV and monitor him.”

After the doctor left, a nurse came in. Shen Li, who was about to go pay, paused and followed the nurse to the bedside.

Jiang Shiyu’s pale wrist was pulled out from under the covers. He had thin veins, making it difficult to insert the needle. The nurse had to pat his hand several times, causing the skin to redden. Shen Li, standing nearby, radiated such intense displeasure that the nurse’s hand trembled, missing the vein on the first try.

Staring at the bleeding hand, Shen Li said nothing, but his expression was intimidating.

Fortunately, the second attempt was successful. The nurse quickly set up the IV and left after giving a few instructions.

Shen Li sat by the bed, holding Jiang Shiyu’s hand under the covers. Despite being asleep, he looked troubled, his brows furrowed, and lips tightly pressed together.

Shen Li’s heart clenched, wishing he could bear the discomfort for Jiang Shiyu. He felt helpless, not knowing how to ease his suffering.

Perhaps the old Shen Li would know how to alleviate Jiang Shiyu’s discomfort. In this moment, he had to admit that the lost memories between him and Jiang Shiyu were an insurmountable gap.

The old Shen Li would likely be able to answer any question about his health, notice his discomfort in time, and never let him fall sick in a hospital. He wouldn’t be as helpless as he felt now.

When Bai Yun arrived at the hospital, she found him sitting by the bed, holding Jiang Shiyu’s hand. The dim light only illuminated a small area around the bed, casting shadows over Shen Li’s sharp features, making him appear somewhat fragile.

Hearing the door, Shen Li quickly looked up. Seeing Bai Yun, he signaled for her to be quiet, then set down Jiang Shiyu’s hand and followed his mother out of the room.

“How is Shiyu?” she asked immediately.

“His temperature has dropped a bit. The doctor said to monitor him tonight.”

“How did he suddenly fall ill? Wasn’t he fine since the start of the term? I told you to take good care of him. Did you even listen? Even if you lost your memory, you should still treat him like a brother. Did you ignore everything I said?” Bai Yun, who had lived a pampered life with a loving husband and a dutiful son, now looked stern as she scolded him. If he weren’t already so tall and strong, she would have yanked his ear and given him a good scolding.

Shen Li remained silent, leaning against the cold wall, letting his mother reprimand him.

After a while, she noticed something different.

During the summer, whenever she mentioned Shiyu, Shen Li was either impatient or dismissive. But now, he was standing there, head down, quietly taking her scolding without a word.

“Alright, I’m done talking. When Shiyu gets better, he’ll come home with me. I’ll inform the school.”

Shen Li, who had been passively enduring the scolding, instantly reacted, “Mom, why are you suddenly asking him to go home?”

“Shiyu’s heart surgery still hasn’t been done. It’s a constant worry for me. In his first year, you covered for him, and the surgery was delayed. Then there was the car accident during the summer. Now, once he’s better, he needs to come home to recuperate and prepare for the surgery.”

“What about school…”

“Your dad will handle the arrangements with the school. There’s a car to take him to and from school. It’s not that troublesome. As long as his health improves, that’s all that matters. Staying with you, he might never fully recover.”

She had no choice but to be harsh. Since that car accident, she and her husband had indulged him too much. Now, they had to take a firm stand.

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, she felt a bit of her usual self coming back. She softened her voice, “Shen Li, the situation with Shiyu is serious. You can’t continue as you have. Your father and I have always supported you, and you know that. This time, you need to trust us to take care of Shiyu. You need to understand…”

As she spoke, her stern demeanor softened, revealing a rare vulnerability, “Shiyu’s parents are gone. Your dad and I promised to take care of him, and now he’s like our own son. Shiyu is your younger brother, and you need to protect him.”

Shen Li nodded after a moment, finally speaking up, “Mom, I understand.”

Seeing her son’s clear eyes, she felt a mix of emotions. She wanted to say more but held back, simply patting his shoulder, “Alright, go back in. I’ll stay here tonight. You go back to the dorm and rest.”

“Mom, you go back. I’ll stay here with him tonight.”

“You’ve been busy all day…”

“Mom, it’s okay. I’ll take care of him.”

She hesitated but eventually nodded, “Alright, I’ll leave it to you. Remember to take care of yourself too. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

“Okay, thank you, Mom.”

Seeing the slight smile on his face, Bai Yun sighed in relief. She patted his head gently, a gesture that had become rare since Shen Li grew taller than her. As she left the hospital, she felt a mix of pride and sadness for her son.

When Jiang Shiyu woke up the next day, he felt surprisingly refreshed. His fever had subsided, and he found himself in a quiet hospital room. As he tried to sit up, Shen Li, who had been dozing off in a chair, immediately came to his side, helping him up and adjusting his pillow.

“Feeling better?” he asked, his voice gentle and full of concern.

Jiang Shiyu nodded, his eyes still a bit glazed from sleep. He noticed the dark circles under Shen Li’s eyes and felt a pang of guilt.

“I’m sorry for causing so much trouble,” he murmured.

Shen Li shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “Don’t apologize. Your health is the most important thing.”

As the morning light filtered through the window, the two young men sat in a comfortable silence, the weight of the past night’s worries gradually lifting. They knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but in that moment, they found solace in each other’s presence, ready to face whatever came next.