Chapter 227: Try To Enjoy Yourself

Zeyu curled his fingers around Zhiyi’s hand, careful of the open box between them.

He had been waiting weeks for her to discover what he had put inside it, but now that she was looking at him instead of the gift, he needed a moment to remember what he had meant to say.

"Would you spend the afternoon with me?" Zeyu asked. "We can try one of the games after lunch. I’ll bring everything to the sitting room, if you’d like a change from being in here."

Zhiyi glanced toward the doorway before returning her attention to him. "I would like that. What time were you thinking?"

"Would two work for you?" Zeyu suggested. He almost added that they could change it if she needed more rest, then stopped. She could tell him that herself.

Zhiyi agreed and released his hand so she could return the flash drive to its ribbon loop. She took care arranging it, smoothing the ribbon with her fingertip before closing the lid.

Zeyu watched her slide the catch back into place, pleased by how readily she had understood something he had spent two evenings making.

"Thank you for waiting until I could enjoy it," Zhiyi said, resting her palm on the box.

Zeyu’s smile faded a little. He remembered standing beside her bed with the gift wrapped in cloth, wishing he hadn’t brought something that might make her feel she had to prove herself.

"I wanted you to have something you’d enjoy," Zeyu replied, watching her hand rest on the lid. "You didn’t have to open it before you were ready just because I was there."

Zhiyi looked up at him, her expression softening. "You left it with me without asking when I would try again. That made it easier to wait until I wanted to."

Beside them, Qinghe rose and picked up her empty glass.

"I’m going to see how lunch is coming," Qinghe said. He paused beside the bed when Zhiyi reached for his hand, letting her fingers rest against his before he continued. "I’ll see you at the table."

Zeyu watched the brief exchange while pretending to examine the box. Qinghe was still smiling when he left, and Zeyu’s attention lingered on the doorway until Zhiyi spoke.

"If you’re wondering about Qinghe, you can ask me," Zhiyi told him.

Zeyu turned back to her, a little embarrassed that she had noticed. "I wasn’t sure whether I’d interrupted something when I came in. I could have waited if you wanted more time together."

"Qinghe told me he was attracted to me," Zhiyi explained, resting her hand beside the wooden box. "We talked about that for a while, but by the time you arrived, he was telling me that he had changed his shirt because he wanted to look nice for our visit."

Zeyu’s thumb stopped against the lid.

He could picture Qinghe standing in front of his wardrobe that morning, wondering what she might like. It was the confession that surprised him. He had noticed how often his friend lingered near Zhiyi, but he hadn’t expected Qinghe to admit why before he found the courage to do the same.

"How did you feel when he told you?" Zeyu asked, lifting his gaze to hers.

"I liked hearing it," Zhiyi replied. "I told him I would like to spend more time with him and see what happens."

Zeyu nodded as he took in her answer, his thumb moving over the wooden lid until Zhiyi rested her fingers on his sleeve. When he looked up, she was watching him closely.

"Do you still want to spend this afternoon with me?" Zhiyi asked. "You’ve gone quiet, and I can’t tell whether hearing about Qinghe has changed your mind."

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you wonder." Zeyu turned his hand beneath hers, letting her fingers settle against his palm. "I was thinking about what you told me, but I’m still looking forward to this afternoon. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to be with you."

She seemed satisfied with that.

Zeyu stayed another few minutes, explaining which game he had in mind while she asked whether they would be competing or working together. When he told her they would need each other to finish, she asked him to save the rest of the explanation until they could play.

He left her with the box beside her pillow and went to find the controllers.

Later that afternoon, Zeyu had everything ready in the sitting room. While he waited for Zhiyi, he picked up the cushion again, wondering whether she would prefer it behind her back or beneath her elbow.

Shichen came in carrying a mug and paused beside the sofa, watching him turn it over.

"You’ve moved that every time I’ve come past," Shichen remarked, watching him turn it over. "Is there something wrong with it, or are you looking for something to do until she gets here?"

Zeyu left the cushion alone and straightened. He had angled the laptop toward her end of the sofa, put the water within reach, and then worried that reaching for it would make her lean too far.

"I want her to be comfortable," Zeyu replied, glancing over the table. "Yesterday was enough. I’d like her to enjoy sitting with me without having something hurt."

Shichen’s expression softened as he followed Zeyu’s gaze. He moved the spare chair away from the end of the sofa, clearing a wider path for the wheelchair, then rested his hand on its back.

"She’ll tell you if she needs something moved," Shichen said. "You’ve given her somewhere comfortable to sit and something she wants to do. Let her get here before you decide what else she needs."

Zeyu thanked him and sat down.

From here, he could see the screen without leaning forward, and there was room for her supported leg. He tested the controller once more before realizing Shichen was still watching him.

"I’m putting it down," Zeyu assured him, setting it beside the other one.

Shichen smiled and carried his mug toward the kitchen instead of settling into his usual chair. At the doorway, he glanced back.

"I’ll leave you two to it," Shichen said. "Try to enjoy yourself once she gets here."

Zeyu watched him go, grateful that his friend hadn’t asked him to explain why the afternoon mattered so much.

When he heard the wheelchair in the corridor, he looked toward the doorway.

Zhiyi was saying something to Hanchuan, her voice growing clearer as they approached, and he found himself smiling before she even came into view.