On the way home, Su Yiran sneakily ate several more pieces of candy.

Absolutely delightful.

When they got home, the two of them began preparing dinner together in the kitchen.

Tonight’s menu included fish-flavored eggplant, steamed fish, stir-fried eggs with chili peppers, and fish head soup.

Su Yiran started by frying the eggplant until the outside was crispy and the inside tender. Once done, he scooped them out to set aside. Then he stir-fried minced meat, heating oil in the pan, and added chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic over low heat for aroma.

Since the scallions were still wet after washing, the water hit the hot oil with a few loud sizzles and splashed droplets of oil onto the back of Su Yiran’s hand. He let out a cry and quickly jumped back, pulling his hand away.

Gu Yuanting immediately put down the chili peppers he was chopping and frowned, rushing over to check Su Yiran’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Su Yiran dodged away and quickly grabbed the spatula again. “The scallions are going to burn!”

Seeing this, Gu Yuanting had no choice but to take the spatula from him and give the scallions, ginger, and garlic a quick stir-fry. Oil droplets continued to pop from the pan, and a few hit his hand as well, but he didn’t flinch and kept stirring.

Su Yiran promptly dumped the minced meat into the pan, stopping the oil from splattering. Soon, the combined aroma of scallions, ginger, garlic, and meat filled the air—it was mouthwatering.

After finishing the stir-fry in a rushed frenzy, Gu Yuanting set down the spatula and took Su Yiran’s hand, gently rubbing the spot where the oil had hit him. “Does it hurt?”

Su Yiran smiled and said, “I’m not that delicate—it doesn’t hurt.” Then, remembering that Gu Yuanting also got splashed, he quickly took his hand in return, caressed the back of it, and kissed it. “Does yours hurt?”

Gu Yuanting’s heart softened instantly. He leaned down to kiss Su Yiran’s hand. “No, it doesn’t.” And then he couldn’t resist kissing it a few more times.

The two of them ended up playfully kissing each other back and forth like kids, laughing as they made eye contact.

The air was sweet and warm.

Looking at Su Yiran, Gu Yuanting once again felt the strong urge to kiss him.

Su Yiran, meanwhile, began plating the fish-flavored eggplant, covering it with a dish to keep it warm. “Come on, let’s keep cooking. The eggplant can’t get cold.”

Gu Yuanting continued prepping the chilies, cracked eggs into a bowl, added salt and water, and began beating the eggs with chopsticks.

Su Yiran moved on to making the steamed fish and fish head soup.

After that brief chaotic moment, the kitchen settled back into a peaceful and cozy atmosphere.

After dinner, they tidied up the table and washed the dishes. While Gu Yuanting wasn’t paying attention, Su Yiran snuck a few more pieces of milk candy.

Dessert after dinner—delightful.

Gu Yuanting finished cleaning the pots and pans in the kitchen, dried his hands, and walked out—just in time to see Su Yiran curled up on the couch, watching TV and popping candies into his mouth.

He frowned slightly. Wasn’t that a bit too much candy?

Su Yiran turned his head and froze mid-movement when he saw Gu Yuanting.

Oh no. Busted?

His jaw stiffened as he hurried to melt the candy in his mouth with his tongue and swallowed it, pretending nothing had happened. “Ting-ge, come watch TV,” he said, patting the seat next to him casually.

Gu Yuanting said, “Didn’t you eat a bit too much candy today?”

Su Yiran: “…”

Busted for real…

He cursed himself internally. He’d really gotten careless today—completely lost his sense of vigilance.

Sitting up straight with both hands neatly on his knees, he looked nervously at Gu Yuanting, afraid he’d get “punished.” “I-I just had a little… I really like it…”

Seeing him look so pitiful, Gu Yuanting’s heart melted instantly. He went over, pulled Su Yiran onto his lap, held him close, and kissed his forehead gently. “If you like it, then eat more.”

Ting-ge had become so understanding! Su Yiran smiled brightly, wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. “You’re the best!”

Gu Yuanting chuckled at the affectionate gesture, his mood lifting.

Su Yiran shamelessly pulled out the remaining half-bag of milk candies from his pocket and continued eating them openly in Gu Yuanting’s arms while they watched TV. He even fed a few pieces to Gu Yuanting.

After watching a whole episode of a variety show, their relaxing evening came to an end. Gu Yuanting went to his study to handle some work while Su Yiran updated the shop’s Weibo and WeChat public accounts. Then it was time to shower, turn off the lights, and go to bed.

—

Late at night.

Gu Yuanting was sleeping with Su Yiran in his arms when he suddenly heard soft whimpers from the person in his embrace.

He opened his eyes and instinctively reached out to touch Su Yiran’s face, only to feel dampness at his temples.

It was cold tonight—why was he sweating?

He turned on the bedside lamp and saw Su Yiran’s pale face buried in the covers, brows tightly furrowed, forehead beaded with sweat, and his small whimpers sounding increasingly distressed.

Gu Yuanting’s chest tightened. He gently called out, “Ranran?”

There was no response.

Not knowing what was wrong, he held Su Yiran close, soothingly rubbing his back and face, trying to smooth out his furrowed brows.

But despite his efforts, Su Yiran seemed to grow more uncomfortable. His frown deepened, and he squirmed in Gu Yuanting’s arms, his soft whimpers now tinged with tears.

Hearing that made Gu Yuanting panic. He kept stroking his back, kissing his forehead, and calling his name: “Ranran? Ranran?”

Su Yiran was jolted awake—by pain.

The nerves in his left tooth were throbbing sharply. It had been bad enough while asleep, but now that he was awake, the pain exploded with clarity—as if tiny needles were stabbing into his gums. It was sharp, sour, and numbing all at once. Pure torture.

Sweat dotted his forehead. He instinctively reached to hold the left side of his jaw—but even the slightest touch made it worse. His entire cheek hurt, and his hand hovered there helplessly as he whimpered in pain, on the verge of crying.

Gu Yuanting’s heart ached terribly. He quickly took Su Yiran’s hand away to examine his cheek. “What’s wrong? Your face hurts?”

Su Yiran felt like the whole left side of his face was in agony. Even his temples were throbbing, and his wide eyes welled with tears. His eyelashes were quickly soaked. He was in too much pain to think—just stared at Gu Yuanting, dazed and helpless.

Gu Yuanting felt like his heart was about to shatter. He finally understood and gently tried to look into Su Yiran’s mouth. “Toothache? Let me see.”

But before he could even touch the sore area, Su Yiran pulled back in panic, the pain too intense for even the slightest pressure.

Gu Yuanting rushed to the study to get the first aid kit, returning with anti-inflammatory and pain relief pills along with a glass of warm water. He helped Su Yiran take the medicine. “How is it?”

Su Yiran swallowed the pills through the pain and lay there limply, waving his hand weakly. Half of his face felt numb from the pain. The throbbing in his temples radiated up to his brain. He was dizzy, in so much pain he couldn’t move or think.

Gu Yuanting was beyond anxious. He dressed Su Yiran in a windbreaker, carefully buttoning him up. “We’re going to the hospital.”

Throwing on a coat himself, he noticed the rain outside hadn’t stopped and the night was cold. He wrapped Su Yiran in a blanket and carried him out the door in his arms.

On the way to the hospital, speeding through the rainy night, Gu Yuanting finally pieced it together—Su Yiran’s toothache was caused by all the candy he had eaten.

His heart filled with deep regret.

He should have watched over him. Should have stopped him.

He hadn’t taken care of him properly.

Looking in the rearview mirror at Su Yiran curled up in the back seat, pale and dazed from pain, Gu Yuanting had never felt so guilty in his life.