PTBC chapter 56

Bai Yu had already left.

But Xu Cong still didn’t enter the hospital room. He stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall, his gaze dark and unreadable.

Everything that had happened recently replayed in his mind like a spinning carousel.

He wasn’t oblivious to Bai Yu’s hints, but he felt like a man drowning for too long—so much so that even if he saw a floating log, he’d think it was just an illusion.

Through the small gap in the door, he stared at Xia Yan.

Xia Yan was typing something on his phone, but with only one usable hand, he could only poke at the screen with a single finger.

It made him visibly irritable.

Yet, just moments ago, Xu Cong had heard him say—if he had to do it all over again, he still wouldn’t regret it.

Even knowing that he might have to pay a greater price, Xia Yan had said he wouldn’t regret it.

Xu Cong exhaled slowly. If this weren’t a hospital, he would’ve lit a cigarette right then and there.

He could never understand Xia Yan.

Since he was eighteen, Xia Yan had been the sun he chased after. But sometimes, Xia Yan also felt like mist in the mountains—impossible to grasp.

There were moments when he truly believed Xia Yan loved him.

Like at Fu Hui’s wedding, when Xia Yan looked at him across a sea of floating petals and confetti. At that moment, Xu Cong almost thought—Xia Yan was gazing at him like one gazes at their lover.

And when Xu Cong had mentioned his plans to leave the country for vacation, Xia Yan had looked at him with such sorrowful eyes, crying as if the whole world was abandoning him.

That had nearly made him waver.

Made him want to take back his empty promises, willingly become Xia Yan’s prisoner, and stay by his side forever—even if it led nowhere.

But other times, it all felt like an illusion.

Xia Yan was stubborn and unyielding. Forget falling in love—he didn’t even seem to understand what love was.

Xu Cong’s expression grew complicated. Just then, his pocket vibrated.

He pulled out his phone and saw a notification from the estate hotel he had booked. The butler was reconfirming his travel plans and preferences.

He stared at the message for a moment—then typed out two words: “Trip canceled.”

His original departure date was March 20th.

But now, he knew he wouldn’t be leaving, no matter what.

Xu Cong stood in the hallway a while longer before finally stepping into the room. He set down the food container and heated it in the microwave before placing it in front of Xia Yan.

Because of his hospitalization, Xia Yan had finally stopped eating ‘rabbit food’ for the sake of maintaining his physique.

Though the meal was still light, it was at least normal food—and it nearly moved him to tears.

After eating, he had Xu Cong help him brush his teeth before leaning against the bed, scrolling through his phone again.

Fans had gathered under his injury-related posts these past few days, cursing the company as their daily ritual, then showering him with concern and well wishes.

Reading those messages made Xia Yan’s heart feel warm.

And also made him even more irritated with Xu Cong.

Since entering the room, Xu Cong had been unnaturally quiet. He stood by the window, staring outside, lost in thought.

Xia Yan didn’t like this.

Xu Cong had always been the silent type, but before, his quietness carried an unspoken gentleness. Whenever Xia Yan was around, his gaze would naturally gravitate toward him.

Now, he felt distant.

Xia Yan flipped his phone face down and suddenly called out, “Xu Cong.”

Xu Cong turned his head.

Xia Yan lowered his eyes, speaking as if in passing: “Bai Yu said that after the new album’s promotions are over and your work is wrapped up, you’re planning to announce your leave at the end of next month. Is that true?”

Xu Cong looked at him for a moment before deliberately replying, “Yes.”

Xia Yan nearly exploded with anger.

For a second, he wanted to shove his injured arm right in Xu Cong’s face and force him to look—look at how badly he was hurt. And yet, he still had the nerve to leave?

But saving him had been his own decision.

If Xu Cong wanted to run, there was nothing he could do to stop him.

So, all he could do was scowl and turn his face away, glaring at the wall, refusing to even look at him.

Xu Cong stared at Xia Yan’s profile. Over the past few days, he had noticeably lost weight. He had also injured the back of his neck in the accident, leaving a thin scar just below his gland, now freshly healed.

Since they were staying in the hospital, Xia Yan had been wearing a suppression patch the whole time.

Xu Cong’s eyes lingered on that small patch for a long while before he finally sat down at Xia Yan’s bedside.

Xia Yan still had his back to him, acting as if he didn’t exist.

This childish act made Xu Cong inexplicably want to laugh.

“I overheard your conversation with Bai Yu,” he said quietly.

Xia Yan’s head snapped around. He glared at him. “You were eavesdropping?!”

Xu Cong showed no remorse. “You two were talking. It would’ve been rude to interrupt.”

He studied Xia Yan for a moment, then added, “But I think Bai Yu was right. Why did you save me? If your angle had been slightly off, you could’ve died. Was it worth it?”

His tone was calm, like he was discussing some abstract philosophical question.

But Xia Yan was furious.

What the hell?

He had been asked this question twice today—once by Bai Yu, and now by the person he had actually saved.

Did these people have a problem?

Grinding his teeth, he snapped, “What the hell are you trying to say? That I shouldn’t have saved you? That I should’ve just let that steel pipe bash your head in instead?”

Xu Cong leaned in slightly, pressing a hand over Xia Yan’s. “That’s not what I mean.”

His voice softened as he continued, “But have you considered my feelings? You might not feel scared, but I do. Every time I close my eyes, I see your mangled hand. I see your blood dripping down, landing on my face. And I can’t stop thinking—what if that steel rod had been just a little off? What would’ve happened to you then? How the hell would I live with that?”

Xu Cong hadn’t had a single good night’s sleep these past few days. His eyes were red, lined with exhaustion.

Their gazes locked.

Xia Yan was the patient—yet right now, Xu Cong somehow looked even more drained than him.

Xia Yan had been full of confidence at first, but after a series of relentless questions from Xu Cong, his momentum faltered.

He really hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Pressing his lips together, he muttered defiantly, “But I’m fine, aren’t I…”

Xu Cong stared at Xia Yan’s face, his gaze deep and unreadable.

“Are you stupid?” he asked in a low voice. “Who would go this far for someone else? Even family might not react that fast. You don’t even love me—was it really worth risking yourself for me?”

Xia Yan couldn’t take it anymore.

What the hell?

Now he was getting scolded? Was saving someone a crime now?

Couldn’t Xu Cong just thank him properly, then kneel down and swear he’d never leave the group again?

“What do you mean ‘someone else’? Are you the same as other people?” Xia Yan snapped, furious. “Xu Cong, don’t push your luck—”

But before he could finish, Xu Cong silenced him.

With one knee on the bed, Xu Cong grasped Xia Yan’s wrist, using his immobility to easily pin him down.

Their lips pressed together.

Xu Cong kissed him hard, almost aggressively, biting at his lips with a mix of relief and fear—like he had almost lost something precious.

Xia Yan’s eyes widened.

He tried to fight back with his one good hand, but it was useless. Xu Cong’s grip was like iron.

Not only that, he could feel Xu Cong’s palm on his waist—hot, burning.

The kiss lasted so long that Xia Yan was starting to feel lightheaded from lack of oxygen.

By the time Xu Cong finally let go, Xia Yan was dizzy.

But he quickly snapped out of it, furious. “What the hell are you doing?!”

Xu Cong, however, remained calm. “You were willing to risk your life for me—what’s wrong with a kiss?”

Xia Yan was stunned. What kind of twisted logic was this?

His face turned red with fury as he searched for a weapon, ready to teach Xu Cong a lesson.

But then, Xu Cong said, “If you really hate me that much, I’ll leave the team tomorrow. That way, you’ll finally have some peace.”

Shit.

Xia Yan instantly shut his mouth, stopped looking for a weapon, and just glared at Xu Cong, his eyes burning with shame and defiance.

The room fell into silence.

Xu Cong watched Xia Yan closely. “I heard you tell Bai Yu that you wanted me to stay—that you didn’t want me to leave. Is that true?”

Caught off guard, Xia Yan froze, unsure whether to nod or not. He sat there, stiff as a board.

But Xu Cong wasn’t really looking for an answer. He remained kneeling on the bed, locking eyes with Xia Yan.

His gaze dropped to Xia Yan’s slightly swollen lips, and he suddenly said, “I want to stay too. But being around you, smelling your pheromones—it’s unbearable. A 100% compatible Omega right next to me… It’s torture for any Alpha.”

“So…” Xu Cong took Xia Yan’s hand, staring straight at him. “If you really want me to stay, let’s make a deal.”

Xia Yan knew it was a trap, but he still took the bait.

“…What deal?”

Xu Cong said, “Just like I helped stabilize your pheromones before, I need you to do the same for me. I need your kisses, your hugs. If you agree, I’ll stay.”

Xia Yan was speechless.

He had never heard anything so ridiculous in his life.

But Xu Cong looked so serious that Xia Yan started wondering if he was the one being unreasonable.

“This is straight-up blackmail,” Xia Yan said in disbelief. “I saved your life, and instead of thanking me, you’re making demands?”

Xu Cong folded his arms and looked at him, completely unfazed.

“Then just think of it as blackmail,” he said. “Xia Yan, I just want to know—how far you are willing to go to keep me here. You were willing to risk your life for me, so is this really that hard?”

“…”

Xia Yan knew Xu Cong was talking nonsense, but somehow, it was starting to make sense.

His gaze fell to Xu Cong’s lips—soft pink, perfectly shaped. They say people with thin lips are heartless, but Xu Cong seemed to be the opposite.

Xia Yan pressed his lips together.

Honestly, it wasn’t that unacceptable…

They had already kissed several times. Annoying as it was, it wasn’t like he had lost anything.

He waged an internal war with himself.

Xu Cong waited for his answer, but he didn’t expect Xia Yan to agree.

Yet after a long silence, a voice finally broke the stillness.

“…You swear it’s just kissing and hugging? Nothing else?”

This time, Xu Cong was the one caught off guard.

Xia Yan squeezed his eyes shut, his face burning under Xu Cong’s gaze. Then, in one breath, he said, “If it’s just that… fine. I’ll just pretend it’s a dog licking me. But not too often…”

His voice got quieter and quieter, until the room fell into an even deeper silence.

Xu Cong completely froze.

He had only been testing Xia Yan, wanting to see his reaction.

Even though he had already decided to stay, he couldn’t let go of his frustration.

But he knew how unreasonable his request was. He had expected Xia Yan to explode, to punch him, and then he’d finally tell him—

He wasn’t leaving.

His plans, his so-called leave… None of it mattered anymore.

Because in his entire life, there would only ever be one person this foolish, someone willing to risk everything, even their life for him.

So he was willing to bet his whole life that Xia Yan would one day love him back.

But now…

What had he just heard?

Xu Cong stared at Xia Yan in shock. Meanwhile, Xia Yan, realizing how utterly humiliating his answer was, buried himself under the blanket in shame.

The room remained silent for a long time.

Moonlight crept onto the windowsill, but it couldn’t outshine the indoor lighting, which illuminated everything brightly.

Xu Cong suddenly let out a soft laugh. “My god…”

He sighed quietly. “I think I’ve made a huge mistake.”

Everything from the past suddenly became clear in his mind at that moment.

That night at the wrap party, Xia Yan had walked in the room without hesitation.

He had bitten Xia Yan’s nape. Xia Yan had clearly felt uncomfortable, yet he still pretended not to care.

No matter how many people were around, Xia Yan would always walk over and hold his hand.

Even at nineteen, Xia Yan had stood outside the hospital window, lightly knocking, just to see the surprise on his face.

Everything—all those moments of confusion—suddenly had an answer.

Xia Yan liked him.

That realization landed in Xu Cong’s mind like a star pushed ashore by the waves.

Xia Yan was just too slow to realize it himself. He didn’t know what it meant to love someone.

Xu Cong raised a hand to rub his temple, unsure whether to feel frustrated or relieved.

He could hardly believe it.

It was one thing for Xia Yan to be oblivious, but how could he have been just as blind?

Everything Xia Yan had done in these past few days… Wasn’t it all proof?

Even when pushed to the edge, Xia Yan still couldn’t bear to turn his back on him. His instincts still drove him to protect him.

Even knowing how dangerous it was for Xu Cong to stay in the group, he still selfishly wanted him to stay.

If that wasn’t love, then what was?

Even just now—

Xu Cong had kissed him, crossed every possible line, yet the moment he mentioned leaving the group, Xia Yan had immediately shut up.

And what kind of threat was that, really?

To anyone else besides Xia Yan, it would’ve meant nothing. Definitely not enough to be worth risking oneself just to make him stay.

But Xia Yan had fallen for it completely, letting him do whatever he wanted.

All these thoughts crowded into Xu Cong’s mind, and after a brief moment of blankness, he started laughing.

The laughter grew louder and louder.

He leaned his forehead against Xia Yan’s shoulder, his entire body shaking with it.

He was an idiot.

Completely oblivious.

The answer had been right there, within reach, and yet it had taken him this long to see it.

…..

Xia Yan was starting to feel creeped out by Xu Cong’s laughter.

He had never seen Xu Cong laugh like this before—it was downright chilling, like a villain in a drama just before they were about to kill someone.

He even considered reaching for the call button at the bedside, to get a doctor in here to check on Xu Cong’s mental state.

But before he could move, Xu Cong pulled him into his arms and kissed him again.

“Mm—”

Xia Yan panicked, trying to push him away, but then he remembered the threat—leaving the group—and hesitated. His hands hovered midair, unsure of what to do.

By the time Xu Cong finally let go, Xia Yan was furious. “You’re pushing it—!”

Xu Cong only grinned at him. “I just barely escaped death. What’s wrong with a kiss?”

As he spoke, he shamelessly leaned in and stole another quick peck.

“Besides, you already agreed. If I can’t kiss you, I’m going abroad.”

“You—Stop using that as a threat!” Xia Yan snapped, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at Xu Cong.

But it was useless…

Xu Cong had completely lost his mind—along with any sense of shame.

That entire night, Xia Yan’s lips were swollen. He had lost count of how many times Xu Cong had found an excuse to kiss him.

Whenever Xu Cong felt like it, he’d just do it.

Even while reading, he would suddenly look up, pull Xia Yan over, and kiss him.

It was enough to make Xia Yan question his entire existence.

But every time he tried to resist, Xu Cong would say, “If you push me away, I’ll go abroad.”

And Xia Yan would instantly freeze, not daring to move.

Even when he went to sleep that night, he was still in a daze.

Was this really the reward he deserved for being a good person?

This was so unfair.

Xu Cong was a lunatic.

Just a few days ago, he had been normal. Sure, his secret crush was a little strange, but at least he still acted like a rational human being.

But today—he had completely lost his mind.

Xia Yan bit his lip, glaring at Xu Cong, who was lying beside him, keeping watch.

He seriously wanted to kick him off the bed.

But after thinking about it, he figured there was no point arguing with a crazy person.

Forget it…

Xia Yan slumped in defeat, trying to console himself. Maybe Xu Cong was just acting out because of the near-death experience.

It was just a couple of kisses, right?

He could endure it for the sake of team morale.

Maybe after a few days, Xu Cong would come to his senses again.

It wasn’t like he had agreed to this forever…

Xia Yan pulled the blanket over his head, but no matter how much he tried to reassure himself—

He had a sinking feeling.

This wasn’t over.

Xu Cong’s madness wasn’t going to end anytime soon.