Despite staying up late the night before, Ning Wen woke early, the discipline of his routine stronger than his fatigue.
He made the bed neatly before turning his attention to the living room—a small battlefield left in Jiang Kaishan's wake, clothes scattered across the floor while the man slept lazily on the couch. Ning Wen sighed softly, tidying up with quiet efficiency.
After freshening up, he prepared breakfast, placing the dishes carefully on the table. He didn't eat; his appetite had vanished along with the lingering ache in his chest.
Dressed in a simple shirt and black trousers, he paused in front of the mirror. His pale skin and soft, round features were slightly swollen from lack of rest, yet he carefully shaped his expression into a gentle, reassuring smile—one that would make patients and colleagues feel at ease. His hair fell softly over his forehead, framing his beautiful, peaceful blossom eyes. Tucking his shirt neatly into his pants, he took a deep breath and glanced once more at Jiang Kaishan, then quietly stepped out, ready to face the day.
The hospital buzzed with energy, colleagues greeting one another and the occasional laughter drifting through the halls. Ning Wen moved quietly through it all, heading straight to his office.
Liang Yue was already there, sprawled lazily over his chair, fingers flying across his phone.
"Darling, you're back! I missed you," Liang Yue said with a grin, leaping up to pull Ning Wen into a quick hug.
"We just talked a few hours ago," Ning Wen replied gently, patting Liang Yue's arm with his usual calm demeanor.
"Oh, so what? I still missed you! C'mon, darling, I keep thinking about you, hehe. Anyway… have you talked to that jerk about the camp?" Liang Yue asked, a mischievous spark in his eyes.
Ning Wen hummed noncommittally.
"Good, because we're going tomorrow," Liang Yue said, with a triumphant nod.
"Wasn't it next week?" Ning Wen asked, brow slightly furrowed.
"Change of plans," Liang Yue replied smoothly. "Actually, I heard from others that the chief's dear nephew is coming along too."
Ning Wen blinked, surprised at the sudden news. "Huh?"
"Yes, you heard right. He's tagging along as a guest. Apparently, he really wanted to come and couldn't wait a week—so he asked the camp organizers, and Chief Tang immediately approved," Liang Yue explained, practically humming with the thrill of spreading gossip.
Ning Wen frowned. "Who is he?"
"Not sure. Never seen him. But everyone says he's a spoiled, arrogant brat," Liang Yue said. "Chief Tang asked us specifically to take care of him and make sure he has a good trip."
"Is he a doctor?" Ning Wen asked, tilting his head.
Liang Yue shook his head. "Nope."
"Then what's the point of him coming?" Ning Wen raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly what I thought," Liang Yue said, shrugging. "But being Chief Tang's nephew is enough to get him a free pass. Chief said he won't cause much trouble—he'll just enjoy the scenery. The camp's in a rural village, green and full of hills and forests. Honestly, it sounds pretty exciting. If it were me, I'd also rush to tag along."
Ning Wen blinked, then nodded slowly. It sounded odd, but he understood. Chief Tang Jianhong—one of the most respected figures in the country, and the owner of Fifth City Care Hospital—was a good man, highly esteemed, and someone Ning Wen admired deeply as a junior. Chief Tang had personally encouraged him to attend the camp, valuing Ning Wen's skill and professionalism. If he wanted his nephew along, perhaps it was to help the boy socialize, learn from experienced doctors, or simply enjoy the environment. Ning Wen trusted the chief's judgment—and that was enough.
Ning Wen didn't dwell much on Chief Tang's nephew. He carried on with his usual routine, checking on patients alongside Liang Yue.
Ning Wen, a physician who had later specialized in surgery, moved through his tasks with calm precision. Liang Yue, a cardiologist, was equally busy, but neither allowed their packed schedules to stop them from enjoying life. Especially Liang Yue—whose personal mission was to savor every free moment.
As soon as they wrapped up their rounds, he dragged Ning Wen to a club to continue celebrating his late birthday. Liang Yue had slept poorly the night before, worried about Ning Wen spending the evening alone and sad, and now he was determined to make up for it.
After partying, eating, and laughing until their cheeks hurt, they were ready to leave. Ning Wen suggested heading back to his place.
"You sure that jerk will allow it?" Liang Yue asked, slightly tipsy, his stethoscope perched on his head like a crown rather than around his neck.
Ning Wen chuckled softly, removing his own stethoscope and tucking it into his bag. "He isn't coming tonight."
"And why's that?" Liang Yue raised a brow, incredulous.
"He has a meeting," Ning Wen said quietly, the words half-lie, half-truth.
"Ah, yes… I wonder with who he has a meeting, that cheater jerk," Liang muttered, fuming slightly. "I really don't get you. How are you still with him when he's toxic, abusive, and cheating? I can handle a lot, but cheating? No way."
Ning Wen lowered his gaze, a soft smile playing at his lips. "If that's what fate wants, how can I prove it wrong?"
Liang Yue sighed, concern and exasperation mingling in his tone. Then like a sudden thought entered his mind, he said excitedly, "Hey… did you ever notice?"
"Notice what?" Ning Wen asked, raising an eyebrow, genuinely curious.
"You fix stomachs, I fix hearts. Funny how neither of us can fix our own mess, huh?" Liang Yue winked.
"And what mess are you in?" Ning Wen asked, crossing his arms. He knew he had his own life tangled, but Liang Yue? Surely he couldn't have the same level of chaos.
Liang Yue gasped theatrically. "My life is messier than anything else. How could you act like I have nothing on my plate? First of all, being single is a mess. Second, I'm single. Third, I'm still single. And as a bonus… I have back pain."
Ning Wen burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Okay, okay, I get it now. Let's go. I still need to pack." Pulling Liang Yue along, they caught a cab to Ning Wen's apartment.
Once home, Ning Wen freshened up and began packing clothes and essentials, the hum of routine soothing his mind. Meanwhile, Liang Yue took over the shower, belting out songs at full volume, his exaggerated theatrics filling the apartment with chaotic cheer. Ning Wen couldn't help the soft smile tugging at his lips—despite the mess, despite the exhaustion, Liang Yue always managed to make life lighter.
After finishing up, Ning Wen made two cups of hot coffee and settled onto the couch, handing one to Liang Yue, who had just come out of the shower and plopped down beside him.
"Grandma called me and asked me to make sure you've packed up everything again."
"Ah, great. She won't leave me alone. She still treats me like a damn baby." Liang Yue sighed.
Ning Wen chuckled.
"Speaking of her, she keeps asking about you. I knew it, she adores you more than me." Liang Yue faked a sulky pout.
"Well, cause she knows I'm the most obedient one." Ning Wen teased him.
Liang Yue rolled eyes then added, "Let's visit her together after the camp ends. Okay?" He said, sipping on his coffee.
"Absolutely, I miss her, too." Ning Wen instantly nodded, blowing in his coffee gently.
They spent a long time talking about random things, the kind of effortless chatter that made the night feel warmer, before eventually drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Ning Wen woke first. After freshening up, he gently nudged Liang Yue awake.
Standing before the mirror, he studied his reflection—a pale, fresh face framed by soft hair—and offered himself a small, soft smile. He pulled on his usual white shirt just as Liang Yue's voice floated from the bathroom.
"Hey, don't wear white today! We're going somewhere new, remember? Let's wear something different… we need to show off!"
"What do you want me to wear then?" Ning Wen asked, tilting his head slightly.
Liang Yue opened the cupboard, staring at Ning Wen's endless row of grey and white shirts, and sighed dramatically. "You really have nothing else, huh?"
"Forget it… I'll give you some of my clothes," Liang Yue said, pulling out his suitcase that they'd packed for the trip. He fished out two loose pink t-shirts—one with a black cat, the other with a white cat.
Ning Wen's expression fell. "You want me to wear that?" He stared at the black cat, as if it were judging him.
"Yes! You wear this, I wear this—bestie twinning!" Liang Yue grinned, his excitement infectious. The shirts were comfy and loose, but undeniably bright and attention-grabbing.
Ning Wen eyed it warily. "I feel like this'll make everyone remember us… too well." He held the shirt, the black cat seeming to stare at him with uncanny intensity.
"That's the point!" Liang Yue said, smirking. "We need to make ourselves known. Stop sulking and just wear it already." He practically wore his own with effortless confidence, like magic.
Ning Wen sighed but didn't argue. He slipped into the shirt, the loose fabric draping over his frame and exposing a delicate collarbone, marked with a tiny mole.
"My dear, you're so beautiful… so good-looking," Liang Yue gushed dramatically. "If only you weren't an O, I'd marry you for real."
Ning Wen rolled his eyes, smiling faintly, and continued getting ready while Liang Yue's laughter echoed around the room.
Later, standing outside the hospital grounds, Ning Wen and Liang Yue checked their wristwatches for the umpteenth time. The big, sleek bus loomed behind them, ready to take the medical team to the camp. Colleagues and friends were already boarding, greeting each other with cheerful chatter as they walked in.
The bus was spacious, modern, and impressively equipped—enough to accommodate everyone comfortably.
Yet Ning Wen and Liang Yue couldn't board just yet. They had been specifically assigned to greet and assist the new guests—the chief's nephew. At first, it had only been one guest, but shortly after, the chief personally called to say his son would be coming along too. Now, instead of one, they had to handle two of the chief's favorites, both of whom apparently commanded his utmost adoration.
Both Ning Wen and Liang Yue felt a twinge of overwhelm at just how much trust and favor the chief had placed on them. But with the two VIP guests running late, Ning Wen's patience was already thinning.
"Seriously… if I knew they were going to be this careless, this… late, I would've just declined the chief's request," Liang Yue muttered, drumming his fingers on his arm.
Ning Wen, wired earphones in and half-listening to his playlist, simply nodded. "Agreed." He hated, more than anything, people who treated time as if it meant nothing.
"Let's not get angry just yet," Liang Yue said, patting his own shoulder with one hand and Ning Wen's with the other. "I heard they're much younger than us, so we need to keep our cool."
Ning Wen nodded, glancing at his wristwatch again before checking his phone. A new message had arrived—somehow, Jiang Kaishan had finally replied. He had messaged five times earlier, saying he was leaving already, but an hour had passed before Ning Wen got a response.
< Remember what I said. Don't take too long to come back. You know how I hate eating food that's not cooked by you, right?
A faint curve tugged at Ning Wen's lips as he typed a simple "Okay," staring at the screen.
There was a time when a message like this would have made him glow with pride and happiness—proof that Jiang Kaishan loved nothing but him and his cooking. Seven years of shared moments, small possessiveness, quiet pride… all of it had once felt warm. Now, the warmth seemed distant, fading into something uncertain. Ning Wen wasn't sure what to feel anymore—whether it was sadness, emptiness, or simply the growing realization that some things could no longer hold the same meaning.
"Wen Wen! They're here! Finally—the timing!" Liang Yue shook Ning Wen's shoulder so hard that his phone slipped from his hands. The earphones connected with his phone tumbled out, clattering onto the ground.
Ning Wen blinked, startled, and looked up. It took a moment for the realization to hit—the reason behind Liang Yue's wild excitement.
The sleek, dark, roofless car came to a stop before them, its polished surface catching the sunlight like liquid night. The driver's seat door opened, and a figure stepped out.
Long legs stretched as he emerged, each movement precise, commanding the space around him. He stood tall, broad-shouldered, easily over six feet, dressed in layers of dark, luxurious fabrics that whispered silent wealth and effortless style. His black hair fell in a deliberate mess, the kind that made it obvious it took careful effort to look undone, the wind teasing it into even finer strands.
Ning Wen felt a sudden chill—or maybe it was something else—as the man's gaze landed on him. A pair of black headphones hung loosely around his neck, a careless detail that somehow made him more captivating. His neck was long and pale, collarbones sharp, and his Adam's apple prominent—a subtle, intoxicating allure.
The figure stopped a few steps away, eyes locking onto Ning Wen's with sharp hazel intensity. His lips, thin and slightly red, curved into a lazy, confident smile that somehow made the air feel thinner. His jawline was sculpted, impossibly perfect, like it had been carved with precision.
Each step he took toward Ning Wen made the space around them shrink, and with it, a strange warmth settled in Ning Wen's chest—an unsettling, thrilling heat that he couldn't place.
Before Ning Wen could process anything, the figure suddenly bent on one knee, and Ning Wen's heart skipped a beat—no, a dozen beats at once. His eyes instinctively dropped, only to see the man picking up his fallen phone and earphones.
Standing again, he extended them toward Ning Wen, their fingers brushing ever so slightly as he placed it in Ning Wen's palm.
"You dropped something, Doctor."
His voice was deep, husky, and laced with deliberate confidence and tease. The way he looked at Ning Wen made the world narrow to just that stare. For a heartbeat, Ning Wen felt something in those sharp hazel eyes shift—just a flicker—but it was enough to make him forget to breathe. Then the smile returned, lazy and teasing, dripping with quiet assurance.
Tang Zeyan's gaze lingered, sharp and assessing, like he was taking stock of Ning Wen from head to toe. His lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile as he commented, "Never thought pink could be deadly. But now, seeing you… I guess I was wrong."
Ning Wen was left utterly speechless. That smile—effortless, infuriating, intoxicating—hit him like a storm he hadn't seen coming. And somehow, just like that, Ning Wen felt it: his carefully ordered life was about to shift, the calm before now replaced by a thrilling, unpredictable whirlwind.