PAPER Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Stay Close to Me
Translator: Abo Dammen
Qu Yin had met Wen Jianzhi six months ago.
Zhao Lang and Qu Yin were college roommates and had remained close friends. After graduating, Zhao Lang started a music studio and brought Qu Yin on board. After more than five years of hard work, they had gained some recognition in the industry.
Wen Jianzhi was a sophomore who had started working part-time at their studio six months ago.
Qu Yin remembered the first day Wen Jianzhi showed up. He was wearing a white windbreaker and a sporty crossbody bag, the very picture of a college student. With his striking bone structure, clear eyes, and tall frame, the outfit accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, making him look even more spirited and confident.
This kind of guy would turn heads wherever he went, and he quickly became the studio’s golden boy.
Wen Jianzhi wasn’t just good-looking, he had a great personality too. He was polite, humble, and well-mannered.
At work, despite being a student, his skills were terrifyingly impressive. He outperformed even the seasoned professionals, handling every task flawlessly.
In private, if someone struck up a conversation with him, he would respond with a smile, maintaining eye contact and listening patiently. He never pried into others’ privacy, striking the perfect balance between being engaging and respectful.
Zhao Lang couldn’t stop praising him, calling him mature for his age and saying he clearly came from a well-educated, cultured family.
Zhao Lang assigned Qu Yin to help Wen Jianzhi integrate into the team, but in reality, there wasn’t much to do. Wen Jianzhi’s social skills were far better than Qu Yin’s, and he would have blended in faster without Qu Yin’s interference. Besides, Wen Jianzhi was a quick learner, so there was no need to worry about him.
Qu Yin wasn’t the type to initiate social interactions. Aside from discussing work with Wen Jianzhi, he rarely spoke to him. When it was just the two of them, the atmosphere would often fall into an awkward silence. Whenever this happened, Wen Jianzhi would quickly notice Qu Yin’s discomfort and start a conversation to ease the tension.
Wen Jianzhi was truly a good person with no apparent flaws.
He treated all his colleagues equally—or so Qu Yin thought.
It wasn’t until later that a colleague casually mentioned to Qu Yin that Wen Jianzhi seemed much more attentive toward him than anyone else.
Wen Jianzhi would check on Qu Yin, bring him things, and even come to pick him up after work on days he wasn’t working, rain or shine. He would squeeze every bit of free time he had to be by Qu Yin’s side, even if Qu Yin didn’t pay him much attention.
Qu Yin didn’t think much of it.
He assumed Wen Jianzhi just found him likable, like how you’d pick a favorite cat at a cat café and focus all your attention on it.
But then, one day, Wen Jianzhi unexpectedly confessed his feelings to Qu Yin.
Being confessed to, especially by another guy, was certainly a surprise.
But after the initial shock, Qu Yin agreed to date him. However, just a week into their relationship, Wen Jianzhi disappeared.
He went missing for three months.
Qu Yin had never heard Wen Jianzhi mention his family, and today was the first time he found himself in such an awkward situation.
Initially, Wen Jianzhi’s family had no idea who this “Qu Yin” was. Now that they had seen him, Wen Jianzhi’s grandfather was furious, as if he wanted to tear Qu Yin apart on the spot.
It was understandable. Their once-outstanding grandson had not only lost his memory and forgotten his family but had also turned into a crazed gay man overnight. Anyone would struggle to accept that.
Qu Yin, the person Wen Jianzhi couldn’t forget, had been found, but this did nothing to help his amnesia.
On the contrary, seeing Qu Yin but not being allowed to approach him drove Wen Jianzhi even crazier.
Sedatives weren’t nutrients, they couldn’t be injected into his body repeatedly.
The doctor suggested letting Qu Yin see Wen Jianzhi again, but the family refused, fearing Qu Yin might carry some kind of bacteria that would make Wen Jianzhi even worse.
The group stood outside Wen Jianzhi’s room, each holding their own opinion, and the situation reached a stalemate.
Meanwhile, Qu Yin and Zhao Lang stood quietly away from the crowd, waiting for the outcome of this “meeting.”
Zhao Lang was unhappy that Qu Yin had kept his relationship a secret.
“When did you and that guy get together? You hid it from me for so long. I had no idea.”
Qu Yin dodged the question. “It wasn’t that long.”
“I didn’t know you liked guys…”
The two of them were alone in this corner, and Zhao Lang’s voice trailed off. When Qu Yin didn’t respond, Zhao Lang thought he might be upset and tried to change the subject. But then Qu Yin spoke up, asking, “Is it weird? Do you think I’m disgusting?”
Zhao Lang saw Qu Yin’s reflection in the window.
Qu Yin was smiling, not looking angry at all.
Zhao Lang relaxed and said, “No. I’m just… surprised, that’s all.” Back in college, Zhao Lang had tried to set Qu Yin up with girls multiple times, but Qu Yin always brushed it off.
Zhao Lang had thought Qu Yin just wasn’t interested in dating.
Turns out, he was just interested in the wrong gender.
Older folks might have issues with this kind of thing, but Zhao Lang didn’t see anything wrong with his friend. Worried that Qu Yin might overthink it, he slung an arm around Qu Yin’s shoulders and said, “You should’ve told me earlier. I know plenty of single guys. I’ll introduce you to someone.”
Qu Yin pushed his hand away. “Forget it. I’m not interested.”
Zhao Lang pouted, understanding.
After all, none of the guys he knew could compare to the madman on the hospital bed.
Even in his current state, Wen Jianzhi’s looks were unmatched.
Once you’ve tasted fine cuisine, leftovers just don’t cut it.
Zhao Lang shook his head, dismissing these pointless thoughts.
Half an hour later, they finally reached a decision.
The doctor must have said something to convince Wen Jianzhi’s family, because they agreed to let Qu Yin see him one more time.
Qu Yin had no idea what they were planning, but he had no choice. The doctor gave him some instructions on how to handle the situation, and Qu Yin nervously stepped into the room, slowly approaching Wen Jianzhi’s bed.
This time was different from the last. The door remained open, and the doctor, police, and Wen Jianzhi’s family were all watching from the doorway, their eyes fixed on Qu Yin’s every move.
Qu Yin wanted to run away, but the situation left him no choice. He had to face it head-on.
Wen Jianzhi was still tied down.
His eyes were locked on Qu Yin’s face, filled with obsession and longing. The closer Qu Yin got, the more intense the emotions in his eyes became.
Qu Yin had never seen such an openly possessive look from Wen Jianzhi before. The unfamiliarity made his legs feel weak.
He stopped by the bed and, following the doctor’s gesture, gently removed the bite guard from Wen Jianzhi’s mouth.
Now Wen Jianzhi could speak.
As soon as he could, Wen Jianzhi whispered, “Ge…”
His voice was hoarse and low, perhaps from being restrained for so long.
Wen Jianzhi had always called him “Ge,” and Qu Yin was used to it. He was secretly relieved they didn’t have any strange nicknames for each other. If Wen Jianzhi had said something shocking in front of all these people, Qu Yin would have wanted to disappear.
Seeing that Wen Jianzhi wasn’t struggling this time, the doctor felt they were making progress and signaled Qu Yin to continue.
In this situation, Qu Yin couldn’t stay silent or say anything strange, so he asked a safe question, “Are you feeling better?”
“I missed you.”
Wen Jianzhi didn’t answer the question. Instead, he started expressing how much he had missed Qu Yin.
Qu Yin felt awkward and didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t dare look back at the others’ expressions.
The room fell silent.
Wen Jianzhi seemed oblivious, his eyes fixed only on Qu Yin. “Come closer.”
His hands and feet were still tied, and the doctor was nearby, so it should be safe.
Qu Yin thought for a moment, then leaned down slightly. “What is it?”
As soon as Qu Yin got close, Wen Jianzhi suddenly lifted his head, trying to kiss him.
Qu Yin’s eyes widened, and he quickly pulled back, but Wen Jianzhi’s lips still brushed against his chin.
It felt like being licked by a cat’s rough tongue.
Missing his target, Wen Jianzhi grew frantic. He leaned forward, trying to reach Qu Yin. “Ge… Ge… Come closer. Don’t go. Stay near me.”
Seeing the uncontrollable desire in Wen Jianzhi’s eyes, Qu Yin didn’t dare get any closer. He took a few steps back.
“No! Don’t leave!”
“Ge… Ge! Qu Yin!! Come here!”
Qu Yin’s retreat sent Wen Jianzhi into another frenzy.
The quiet room was suddenly filled with Wen Jianzhi’s desperate screams, echoing like crashing waves.
Wen Jianzhi’s parents immediately tried to rush in, but the doctor stopped them, gesturing for Qu Yin to move closer to the bed.
Qu Yin’s eardrums were almost shattered by the noise.
The old Wen Jianzhi would never have yelled at him—he had never even raised his voice.
Wasn’t this just amnesia? Why had his personality changed so drastically? He really seemed like a madman now.
Everyone was waiting for him, so Qu Yin couldn’t delay. He slowly walked back to the bed. As he got closer, something strange happened: the closer he got, the quieter Wen Jianzhi became. By the time Qu Yin was standing right next to the bed, Wen Jianzhi had completely calmed down, as if the person who had been screaming like a lunatic moments ago wasn’t him.
The doctor signaled Qu Yin to proceed.
Qu Yin had no choice. He reached out toward Wen Jianzhi.
“Ge, Ge…” Wen Jianzhi stared at his hand, his tone cheerful, as if he was excited about something.
Qu Yin gritted his teeth and began untying the restraints on Wen Jianzhi’s wrists.
With a soft tearing sound, the restraints fell away, first from his hands, then his feet.
Wen Jianzhi was free.
As soon as he could move, he sat up abruptly, startling Qu Yin, who took a small step back. Before Qu Yin could steady himself, Wen Jianzhi lunged forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Wen Jianzhi didn’t run or hurt anyone. He just held Qu Yin tightly.
Qu Yin was immobilized by the hug, his chin resting on Wen Jianzhi’s shoulder.
Wen Jianzhi buried his face in Qu Yin’s neck, his soft black hair brushing against Qu Yin’s skin.
Qu Yin’s back stiffened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the group outside the room watching intently. He quickly wrapped his arms around Wen Jianzhi’s back, gently patting him to soothe his emotions.
Wen Jianzhi kept murmuring, “Ge…”
Qu Yin whispered, “I’m here.”
In response, Wen Jianzhi held him even tighter.
Wen Jianzhi didn’t lose control again.
His earlier madness had been driven by the fear and anxiety of being separated from Qu Yin.
Now that he had Qu Yin in his arms, everything was resolved.
He had become a gentle lamb.
After countless doses of sedatives, all it took was a simple hug from Qu Yin to calm him down.
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