The Decade of Deep Love

Ziqian Ai never expected that his own brother would fight him over someone outside their family. And when the two men fought, they fought hard. This younger brother had been looked after all the time by Ziqian Ai since they were little; but now Ziyu had the guts to fight him back, which absolutely broke his heart.

“You little piece of shit! You had fun, but did you know how much money I’ve lost these days? Only three days! Twenty fucking million! Would it cost you so much to have an affair with Bingbing Fan (a Chinese actor)? If I hadn’t been protecting you, Wenxu Jiang would come after me! If I hadn’t been doting on you, it would be our dad beating up your ass today!”

A farce.

Ziyu Ai panted heavily; he even ignored his brother’s surrender in those words. He had been feeling unsettled since last night. While he was in fear and agitation, his brother groundlessly got involved.

Ziqian Ai just went too far. He cruelly abused and defamed the one Ziyu valued and loved the most. No matter how bad Zhishu He was, still, he was the one Ziyu cared the most in his heart, the unattainable moonlight Ziyu longed for. Ziqian had the punches coming.

We all had things that we were embarrassed about but couldn’t let go of. Ziyu Ai never put it on the table but he did mind that another man had pampered Zhishu for more than a decade, which made what his brother said more hurtful, almost like a nail in the foot.

Ziyu Ai had a bad feeling as he suddenly saw his brother’s look behind him in a brief daze.

Zhishu was standing behind the silkwood folding screen. The room was cold; inside the heavy coat, he was only wearing his pajama. Zhishu looked pale, his slightly drooped eyelids hid his emotion from Ziyu Ai. No one knew how long he had been standing there.

“And you are?” Ziqian Ai frowned and straightened up his outfit. He felt a bit awkward.

Ziyu Ai was totally panicked. He stepped close to Zhishu but stopped halfway. “Zhishu?” He called him softly.

Zhishu He slightly raised his head, his eyes somehow empty. “Ziyu Ai, I was looking out of the window; the plants in the garden have come into large clusters of leaves.” This was the first time he called the doctor’s name, but it made Ziyu Ai almost cry.

Ziqian Ai was a bit shocked. He didn’t expect that this was Zhishu He. He thought the man that took Wenxu Jiang’s heart away and captivated his younger brother would have the prettiest face and be a dirty, horny bitch in bed. But there he was, sad and lonely. He looked pale and gave the vibes of blandness, which could even be described as sexual apathy. Ziqian Ai always had a good memory, something his brother once had said suddenly occurred to him that Wenxu Jiang’s lover was taking medical treatment at his brother’s hospital. But didn’t his brother... specialize in leukemia?

Ziqian Ai found it absurd. This was the first time for him. He was a businessman; he would carefully do the calculations about expenses and profits so he just didn’t understand what was in it for his brother. Ziyu made so many efforts mentally and physically to take Zhishu He home but couldn’t touch him. Even He’s cancer was unlikely to be cured.

Ziqian Ai couldn’t figure Wenxu Jiang out either. The man had Ziqian’s respect because he made tough moves in business and he was a sophisticated playboy. It turned out he already had someone at home. Not until his precious went missing, did he start to worry. He just went crazy on everyone he was after. Vicious competition was but a double-edged sword. But, in this matter, Wenxu Jiang had lost more than Ziqian Ai did.

Ziyu Ai couldn’t care less about what was on his brother’s mind at the moment, all he cared about was Zhishu He. He rushed at him step by step. “Let’s go and check if the dog wakes up,” he said gently, “If he’s not, we’ll wake him up and take him to climb the mountain with us.”

Zhishu He dramatically turned his head away as it was a reflex to conceal the tears that he couldn’t hold. This love scared him. If he failed to resist the temptation, it would be a bad ending for everyone.

So he had to control himself. He turned his heart into a stone, put on a cold face and walked away. No hesitation, no looking back.

“Ziyu Ai, go back to Beijing with me.” Ziqian Ai frowned and shouted. He couldn’t see his brother suffer and distressed for a hopeless future anyhow.

Ziyu Ai didn’t listen; instead, he ran to Zhishu and held him tightly, “Don’t leave me.”

“You are better off without me,” Zhishu He patted on Ziyu Ai’s shoulder, smiled and said, “Go home.”

“Ziyu, take him with you. At least, I could help you take care of him,” Ziqian Ai softened his tone completely, “Plus, you know more experts in Beijing.”

Ziyu Ai didn’t loosen his arms. “I promised him to stay in the south. He doesn’t like the hospital. He doesn’t like the wind and snow in the north.” Ziyu’s vague voice came from behind Zhishu He’s neck.

Why must the mild southern breeze endure the rigorous cold in the north?