Chapter 124: Extra 23: But what about your work?
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
“Baby, why didn’t you call me when you had a fever?”
Luo Songran, still half asleep, looked dazedly at Duan Yizhou who appeared in front of him as soon as he opened his eyes. He was a bit puzzled, wondering why this person had come when he hadn’t even called.
He reached out and pinched his own face.
Then Duan Yizhou grabbed his hand.
The ring on his ring finger faintly gleamed under the bedside lamp, and it was this real touch that made him realize that Duan Yizhou had indeed come.
Originally, he wanted to say it was okay, but when his lover appeared in front of him, he couldn’t help but feel aggrieved. His nose couldn’t help but feel sore, and he buried his face in Duan Yizhou’s chest and hugged him tightly.
“…Why did you come?”
“Uncle Zuo told me you had a high fever, so I came over.” Hearing the hoarse tone of this little guy, Duan Yizhou couldn’t help but furrow his brows. “Why didn’t you call me when you were feeling uncomfortable?”
He wrapped Luo Songran in his arms, gently rubbing his back with his palm.
“I was afraid you were too busy.” Perhaps because the fever hadn’t completely subsided, Luo Songran heard his own voice sounding muffled.
Duan Yizhou also noticed. He lowered his head, pressing his cheek against Luo Songran’s slightly warm cheek, giving him enough sense of security through the embrace. “No matter how busy work is, it’s not as important as you. I’m most afraid of you getting sick.”
He had been taking care of him every day for these years, and finally managed to improve Luo Songran’s health to some extent. How could he fall ill as soon as he left?
“…I don’t know why I got a fever.” Luo Songran closed his eyes, feeling quite tired overall, but because he had Duan Yizhou holding him, he felt very secure and couldn’t help but relax, then hugged Duan Yizhou tightly.
“When you were at home, I told you to rest. Were you too tired?” Seeing the usually lively little guy looking listless and nestling in his arms, Duan Yizhou’s heart ached, making his tone even gentler. “You’re not allowed to practice the piano like this anymore. Your health is the most important.”
“But I don’t feel tired when I practice. I feel like I’ve found a direction, found something I want to do. This is the first time I’ve felt this way and I want to keep practicing endlessly.” Luo Songran whispered, idly fiddling with the buttons on Duan Yizhou’s shirt.
“I know, but you also need to take it easy. Without your health, how can you have the strength to continue pursuing your passion?”
“Did you used to be like this when you were at the institute?”
“Yes, I probably spent almost the whole day at the institute. When I was tired, I would lie down on the table or sit in a chair.”
“Did you feel tired in that state?”
“Tired, but I felt it was worth it, and it was necessary for me.” Duan Yizhou understood what Luo Songran meant by asking this. He chuckled softly and rested his chin on his head. “But I’m very hypocritical. I can endure hardship like this, but I can’t bear to see you like this.”
“That’s not okay. I’ve finally found something I want to do.” Luo Songran said, feeling dizzy again, uncomfortably emitting a muffled groan and covering his ears with his hand.
Seeing his condition suddenly turn serious, Duan Yizhou sat up, looking down at Luo Songran. Seeing his face pale, he asked anxiously, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”
“…Tinnitus.” Luo Songran was dizzy and his ears were ringing, he closed his eyes tightly, not daring to open them at all. He clenched his teeth, enduring the discomfort. “My head feels so dizzy…”
His eardrums seemed to be pulsating, as if something was banging against them, and there was a constant noisy cicada sound, stimulating his nerves. This was the first time he had such a feeling when he had a fever.
Just as Duan Yizhou was about to get up to call the doctor, he was tightly hugged by Luo Songran.
“Don’t go, hold me.” Luo Songran felt the warmth of the person holding him disappear, and despite feeling uncomfortable, he opened his eyes and reached out to hold Duan Yizhou’s arm, his eyes slightly red, looking at him pitifully. “Honey, if you hold me, I won’t feel uncomfortable. Please hold me.”
Duan Yizhou couldn’t resist Luo Songran’s coquettishness, let alone his pitiful request for a hug. In his eyes, his beloved was always like a child who needed company and comfort.
He lay back down beside Luo Songran, holding him in his arms, letting him rest his head on his arm, with his ear against his arm, and covering his ears with his other hand.
“Okay, I won’t go, I’ll hold you.”
Perhaps it was because the warm palm was covering his ears, strangely, the noisy cicada sound in his ears began to weaken. In this quiet state of being covered, he heard his own heartbeat.
And Duan Yizhou’s heartbeat.
Duan Yizhou’s heartbeat was fast, even through his chest, he could feel it pounding against his cheek pressed against his chest. Was it because he was worried that he was beating so fast? Definitely. His Duan Yizhou loved him so much, he flew over to take care of him as soon as he knew he had a fever.
This made him more determined to stand on stage again, to let Duan Yizhou see his shining self.
And to earn money for Duan Yizhou.
He wanted to buy things for Duan Yizhou with his own money.
He wanted to tell Duan Yizhou that he would also work very hard to be a great lover.
“Duan Yizhou…” His eyes felt hot, choked up.
“What’s wrong?” Duan Yizhou covered Luo Songran’s ears with both hands, gently asking as he lowered his head. “Feeling better now?”
Luo Songran raised his head, meeting Duan Yizhou’s gaze that was fixed on him. His eyes were moist, and he covered Duan Yizhou’s hand that was covering his ears with his own, smiling. “Hmm, I feel better now that you’re here. You’re really my panacea.”
Little Ancestor’s cheeks were flushed unnaturally red from the fever, tears welled up in his eyes. Although he had looked listless just now, his eyes were now shining brightly, but his voice was still hoarse, revealing his weakened state.
Duan Yizhou felt very distressed seeing this.
He held him tightly and sighed, “Baby, how can I feel at ease letting you leave me, only to fall ill half a day later?”
“Am I making you worried?” Luo Songran lowered his head, asking in a muffled voice. But it was true, ever since Duan Yizhou arrived, his symptoms of tinnitus had become less unbearable.
“Yeah, you are.”
Luo Songran gave a light hum and hugged him without saying anything.
“It’s because I love you too much that I worry. When you’re away, I’m constantly thinking about you, worrying about you. Even Little Piglet is asking why Daddy hasn’t come back yet.” Duan Yizhou hugged Luo Songran, resting his chin on his head. “If you really choose to go on the path of touring with an orchestra or performing solo, there will definitely be many tours.”
“Yeah, what about you?”
“It’s okay, wherever you go, I’ll follow you.”
“Huh? But you still have UNE, you can’t neglect your work.”
“It’s okay, wherever you go, I’ll set up a UNE branch there.”
“Loving you is really expensive. How much money do I need to earn to support you?”
“Loving you is like a risky investment. I willingly accept all the consequences, and I can afford it. Don’t worry, Baby, you’re still young. As long as you have goals, take it slow, I’ll support you from behind.”
Luo Songran was moved again by this, he turned over and lay on Duan Yizhou’s body, entangling his limbs, like a clingy little baby. “Honey, hug me.”
“Aren’t I already hugging you?” Duan Yizhou knew this little guy was being spoiled, so he smiled and allowed it, holding him firmly with both arms. “Are you still feeling uncomfortable now?”
“I’m not uncomfortable when you’re holding me. It was really uncomfortable just now.” Luo Songran pressed his ear against Duan Yizhou’s chest, listening to the strong heartbeat beneath, his lips unconsciously curled upwards.
“In the future, if you’re not feeling well, you must call me. Don’t keep it from me, okay?”
“I just didn’t want you to come over when you’re busy. Now I seem immature.”
“What do I need you to be mature for? If you were mature, it would make me look incapable of taking care of you, wouldn’t it? A qualified husband should make his partner rely on him wholeheartedly, thinking of his husband first in everything, and needing his husband for everything.” Duan Yizhou held Luo Songran’s waist with both hands, lifting him up to face him.
Luo Songran placed his hands on Duan Yizhou’s chest and planted a kiss on his lips. But immediately after kissing, he covered his mouth, looking horrified. “Oh no, I have a fever. What if I infect you?”
After speaking, he quickly wiped Duan Yizhou’s mouth.
“Do you think your husband is so fragile?” Duan Yizhou kissed his palm and then held his hand, smiling. “You better take care of yourself. I’ll stay here with you until you recover completely after the competition.”
“But what about your work?”
“It’s okay, I came here to see a friend anyway, I want to ask him for a favor.”
Luo Songran didn’t know who Duan Yizhou was talking about, so he asked casually, “What favor?”
“I’m planning to relocate UNE’s international department to M country. I need a competent assistant to be the executive CEO here. I want to ask him if he’s willing.”
“Who could refuse you? UNE is so powerful!”
Duan Yizhou smiled indifferently, seeming to have some concerns in his eyes. “Not necessarily, not everyone may be willing. UNE’s cooperation with Galaxy Group is very close now, apart from patent technology, almost all other businesses are connected to Galaxy Group. So the CEO of the international department must coordinate with Galaxy Group.”
“What’s wrong? Could it be that the person you’re looking for doesn’t want to cooperate with Galaxy Group?”
Duan Yizhou was stunned for a second, somewhat surprised by Little Ancestor’s sensitivity. He chuckled, pinched Luo Songran’s ear, “Pretty smart, you’ve guessed it.”
“Hehehe.” Luo Songran lowered his gaze, feeling a little embarrassed. He hugged Duan Yizhou again, adjusting himself comfortably against his chest, closing his eyes. “But no matter what, wherever you are, it will definitely be fine. The person you want will definitely agree out of respect for you.”
“Hope so.” Duan Yizhou pondered silently, not saying anything more, gently stroking the head leaning against his chest.
Probably not even two minutes later, he heard shallow breathing.
Luo Songran fell asleep.
Duan Yizhou couldn’t help but laugh. This guy really didn’t recognize beds, he could fall asleep anywhere. Then, he carefully placed him back on the bed, covered him with the blanket, and reached for the thermometer on the bedside table.
With a ‘beep’, the thermometer lit up with an orange light, showing 38.2 degrees.
But it had gone down a bit from when he had arrived earlier, thinking that there should be some improvement by tomorrow.
However, on the third day of the competition, his temperature still hadn’t gone down, remaining at a low-grade fever of 38 degrees.
At this time, participants were gradually entering the competition venue, the Romil Music Hall.
Luo Songran stood outside the door, his nose red from the fever, and his throat was still very sore. But there was no choice, he had already come, as long as there was no tinnitus, he had to go on stage.
It wasn’t about the ranking, but about his determination to stand on the international stage again.
He reached out to Duan Yizhou, indicating that he wanted to take the violin case. “Give it to me, I’m going in.”
Duan Yizhou looked at Luo Songran with concern, brushed his hair away from his forehead, and used the back of his hand to check his temperature, feeling that it was still a bit warm. “RanRan, don’t force yourself, your health is the most important.”
He adjusted Luo Songran’s suit.
“I’m not forcing myself, I can still do it. As long as there’s no tinnitus, I’ll be fine for these ten minutes.” Luo Songran took the violin case handed over by Duan Yizhou and then looked at Uncle Zuo beside him. “I’ll go in now, don’t worry too much, just silently cheer for me from below.”
Duan Yizhou and Uncle Zuo looked at each other helplessly.
The music hall was quite large, capable of accommodating three thousand people. At this moment, the solemnity of the competition filled the entire music hall, and backstage, the drawing of lots for the performance order was underway.
Luo Songran didn’t expect to be so lucky as to draw number one. He thought that fate was really favoring him.
However, this happiness didn’t last long. When he was tuning the strings, his face turned pale, and the tinnitus became stronger. The discomfort of the tinnitus persisted until he went on stage, showing no signs of weakening.
“Now, please welcome the first contestant, Luo Songran from Huaxia.”
When the spotlight shone on the stage, a young oriental man in a delicate white suit walked out, holding a violin gracefully. He walked to the center of the stage, bowing respectfully to the judges’ seats and the audience seats respectively.
The tinnitus became even stronger, like the noisy buzzing of cicadas, affecting his sense of rhythm. And what he needed to play next were the designated pieces of the competition, “24 Caprices” No. 1, and “Violin Concerto No. 3 in D minor”.
Luo Songran took a deep breath. He tried his best to overcome the influence of the tinnitus, placing the violin on his shoulder, the bow on the strings. When he closed his eyes, he thought to himself, he could do it.
During practice, he could complete even all 24 Caprices flawlessly. These two pieces were nothing.
The ranking didn’t matter. What mattered was his determination to his love for the violin, to live with more purpose and direction. He didn’t want people to think of him in the future as the son of the heir of the Galaxy Group, or as Duan Yizhou’s lover.
He wanted to strive to become a better version of himself.
But just as he dropped the first note, suddenly the tinnitus became more intense, his face turned even paler, and his fingers pressed the strings with force, but the bow made a wrong note in that instant.
The entire music hall was suddenly shattered by this completely off-key note.
The atmosphere froze instantly.
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