For someone suffering from hypothermia, they couldn't be directly submerged in water. First, their freezing clothes needed to be removed to allow them to warm up in the heated room. Only after their limbs were no longer so cold and stiff could they be placed in water that was close to body temperature. If they were placed in hot water too quickly, it could lead to cardiac arrest. Fortunately, Xu Ming was at home and had experience dealing with many cases of hypothermia at the medical station during this time.
Seeing Song Jia's face turn pale, trembling and sweating even in the warm room, Xu Ming reassured him, "It's okay we found him just in time. Feel his body his temperature is starting to recover. As long as we can warm him up, he will be fine."
Mu Nan and Jian Chu brought two more buckets of hot water and asked, "Do you need more hot water?"
Xu Ming replied, "Not for now. The water won't cool down that quickly. Let's wait a bit; we can't have him soaking in water that's too hot all at once."
Mu Nan sat down next to Qin Huai, looking at Wu Zheng, whose face was pale and lips were dark. "Do you think he was robbed on his way back? Did someone take his clothes?"
Qin Huai shook his head. "I don't know. We'll have to wait until he wakes up to find out what happened. Today is the cold wave even yesterday, while the temperature was low, the wind wasn't this strong. With the clothes he was wearing, he should have been warm enough to make it home, but the strong wind and snow today caused his body temperature to drop rapidly, which is why it's so serious."
Mu Nan leaned against Qin Huai. "At least he can be saved."
He then glanced at the tearful Song Jia. "Don't worry too much. Your brother will be fine. By the way, Xu Ming, can Wu Zheng eat or drink anything?"
Xu Ming answered, "Yes, we can give him some sugar water."
It wasn't until almost dawn that Wu Zheng's body temperature slowly began to recover, though he still hadn't regained consciousness. They had been changing the water all night, and as his temperature gradually rose, they needed to gently rub his body to help him warm up, checking his temperature regularly. They managed to maintain his body temperature, but he had been frozen for too long, and now his hands and feet were turning black, which looked quite alarming.
Mu Nan had never seen such severe frostbite before the people he had seen were usually already frozen to death. Seeing Wu Zheng like this made him worry. "Will his hands and feet be okay in the future?" It looked serious enough that amputation seemed possible.
Xu Ming nodded. "Yes, they can heal over time, but he can't be exposed to the cold anymore. He needs proper care." He then looked at Song Jia. "Do you have enough food at home? Once the wind and snow die down a bit, if you're running low, we can go with you to get more."
Perhaps it was because Xu Ming had known Mu Nan when he was just a high school student in uniform, while he himself had already started working and earning money. Even though Mu Nan was now an adult, Xu Ming still treated him somewhat like a child. Song Jia was about the same age as Mu Nan and in a similar situation, having an older brother. Now that his brother was in trouble, Xu Ming instinctively viewed both Song Jia and Mu Nan as equals, seeing them as kids who needed extra care.
Song Jia replied, "We have enough. We stocked up on food before."
Jian Chu stretched a bit. After a whole night of work and the previous day's labor, he was quite tired. "Now that his condition is stable, keep him warm and make sure to regularly give him sugar water and saline. Later, we can go to Building One to see if we can find someone to check on him. With his condition, he can't be exposed to the cold anymore. Given how severe his frostbite is, he should also need some medication for treatment."
Xu Ming responded, "I have to go to work too. If you need anything, message me, and I'll see if I can bring some medicine back today."
Mu Nan said, "I have frostbite ointment at home can we use that?"
Xu Ming replied, "Yes, rub it on his hands and feet it will help him heal faster."
After reminding everyone of what needed to be done, Mu Nan delivered the frostbite ointment and then took a shower. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the bed. Qin Huai rubbed his arm. "You're worn out, aren't you?"
Mu Nan turned over. "Not really, you went out looking for people. You're more tired than I am. Let's eat something and then sleep for a bit. We can't sleep too long, or we won't be able to sleep tonight."
Qin Huai said, "Then let's eat something light. Don't eat anything too greasy, or your stomach will feel uncomfortable. How about some red bean porridge with a few side dishes? If you still feel hungry, you can have a couple of thin pancakes."
Mu Nan climbed out of bed. Although his eyelids were heavy with sleep, he insisted on finishing breakfast. Without even waiting to digest, he flopped back onto the bed.
Once Qin Huai joined him in bed, Mu Nan nestled against him and whispered, "I saw Song Jia today, and I felt so sorry for him. What will he do if something happens to his brother?"
Qin Huai understood that Mu Nan thought of himself when he saw Song Jia. He opened his arms, allowing Mu Nan to rest his head on his arm. "What else can he do? He'll have to carry on with Niu Niu."
Mu Nan hummed, considering it for a moment before mumbling, "But that's impossible."
Qin Huai looked down at him. He knew Mu Nan relied on him, but beneath that reliance, he wondered if there was something more. For Qin Huai, not having Mu Nan would make life unbearable because he loved the person in his arms. But what about Mu Nan? Did his reliance on Qin Huai also stem from a love he wasn't fully aware of?
Seeing Qin Huai's enigmatic gaze fixed on him, Mu Nan felt an inexplicable flutter of anxiety in his heart and looked up. "Brother?"
Qin Huai sighed softly and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I'm here."
Mu Nan buried his face into Qin Huai's chest, rubbing his forehead against his sleep shirt, but then suddenly sat up. "Brother, you can't do that."
Qin Huai followed suit and sat up. "Do what?"
Mu Nan pointed at his forehead. "Kissing me like that out of nowhere."
Seeing that Mu Nan didn't seem repulsed, Qin Huai smiled and asked, "Why not?"
Mu Nan tugged at his hair, looking conflicted. "It just feels a bit weird."
Qin Huai pressed further, "What feels weird?"
Mu Nan fidgeted. "It just feels strange, I get this itchy feeling all over."
Qin Huai chuckled. "Based on how you plot your comics, what do you think will happen next?"
Without thinking, Mu Nan replied, "Of course, it's first... first..."
Qin Huai prodded, "First what?"
Turning away, Mu Nan thought about how it was supposed to be first kisses leading to love. The signals were so obvious that if they didn't end up in bed together, it would feel like a disservice to the audience. But how could real life be like a comic?
Qin Huai turned his head back to face him. "What are you thinking about?"
Mu Nan pushed his hand away and buried himself back under the covers. "Nothing!"
Qin Huai lifted the blanket and touched Mu Nan's warm ear. "Nan Nan."
Mu Nan pulled the blanket over his face, leaving only his eyes visible. Qin Huai continued, "If I kiss you, will you hate it?"
Mu Nan shook his head slightly. Ever since the last kiss, he had dreamt a very embarrassing dream, making it hard for him to face Qin Huai.
Qin Huai gradually pulled down the blanket covering Mu Nan's face. "There's something I've wanted to do for a long time, but I was afraid you'd hate me for it."
As Mu Nan's slightly flushed lips appeared, Qin Huai leaned down slowly, their breaths mingling. Instinctively, Mu Nan closed his eyes, his body stiffening like a log. He had drawn countless scenes of romantic tension, but in reality, he had only experienced one kiss before!
Seeing Mu Nan's reaction, Qin Huai couldn't help but laugh. Just as Mu Nan was about to open his eyes to check if Qin Huai was teasing him, a pair of cool lips gently landed on his.
In that instant, Mu Nan's eyes widened in shock, and he forgot to breathe, feeling his heart race. Qin Huai was so close that he could see the slight flutter of his eyelashes.
He was kissing his brother—his first kiss! In that moment of surprise, he didn't even think about how wrong it was; all he felt was a dazed confusion.
Mu Nan felt a bit dizzy, as if the world was spinning. It wasn't until Qin Huai pulled away, tapping his nose to remind him to breathe, that Mu Nan emerged from his daze.
Staring at Qin Huai, Mu Nan could only hear the pounding of his own heartbeat. All the reactions he had once imagined—shy, experienced, flirtatious, or pure—vanished entirely. At that moment, he felt nothing but a blank mind and a stiff body.
Qin Huai asked softly, "How was that? Do you hate it?"
Mu Nan stared at him blankly, his mind buzzing. He could see and hear Qin Huai, but his thoughts seemed to short-circuit, making it hard to process what Qin Huai was saying. Just then, Qin Huai leaned down again, reminding him to breathe before another long kiss enveloped him.
When Mu Nan finally woke up, he felt as if he had run a marathon, every muscle aching as if he had been crushed. Normally, this kind of sensation in his romantic drawings happened after a passionate encounter, but he had only kissed Qin Huai without anything else. The gap between fiction and reality was stark; Mu Nan couldn't help but wonder if he had been through something more intense, would he still be alive?
Noticing that Mu Nan was awake, Qin Huai turned to embrace him, his voice low as he called out, "Nan Nan."
Mu Nan felt a tingling sensation spread through his body, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.
Qin Huai chuckled softly. His Nan Nan's reactions were so adorable, making him want to pull him closer.
Once he confirmed that Mu Nan was awake, Qin Huai pulled him up from the bed. "Wash up a bit. You can eat something light, but don't eat too much dinner will be coming soon." He had slept from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon, and he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and peace.
Mu Nan got up, not lingering as he usually would. Instead, he hurried into the bathroom, feeling hot all over whenever he was in the same space as Qin Huai. Even hiding in the bathroom felt like a way to cool off.
He brushed his teeth at an unusually slow pace, and while doing so, he caught a glimpse of himself smiling in the mirror. Instinctively, he touched his face, trying to maintain a neutral expression, but his facial muscles seemed to have a mind of their own, pulling back into a smile. Unable to help himself, Mu Nan splashed cold water on his face to cool down, but the cold water only felt refreshing for a moment before he started feeling hot again. He thought to himself that he was done for; he had completely lost his composure and didn't know how to face Qin Huai.
After a while, Qin Huai knocked on the bathroom door, unable to suppress his curiosity. "Nan Nan?"
Mu Nan quickly opened the door and blurted out that he was done before darting away.
Qin Huai tilted his head, surprised by Mu Nan's reaction. However, it was evidently a good sign Mu Nan didn't seem to hate him. In fact, he was clearly showing signs of a budding crush, which eased the anxiety in Qin Huai's heart. He had worried about whether Mu Nan would be repulsed or if he would take their closeness for granted. Whether he was awakening to love or remaining oblivious, he found himself troubled by both possibilities.
Now, all the veils of uncertainty before him had been lifted, and even the gloomy wind and snow outside couldn't dim his bright mood.
They couldn't let one sleepless night disrupt their entire rhythm, so after waking up, the two had some roasted sweet potatoes. Qin Huai wasn't a big fan of sweets, so he opted for an extra ear of corn, while Mu Nan enjoyed a bowl of double-skin milk, feeling particularly warm and wanting something cool to help him chill out.
Qin Huai said, "I'll go check on Wu Zheng later, you should stay at home."
Mu Nan nodded, and Qin Huai deliberately observed him, saying, "You haven't looked at me since you got up."
Mu Nan, focused on the movie playing on the wall screen, replied, "What's so interesting about you? You just have a nose and two eyes."
Qin Huai asked, "How does your sweet potato taste? Sweet?"
Mu Nan mumbled, "It's okay."
Qin Huai said, "Let me try."
Mu Nan turned to look at him, puzzled. Just as he was about to say that Qin Huai had just eaten something, Qin Huai leaned in and kissed him, playfully nibbling on his lip.
In an instant, Mu Nan's face flushed, feeling embarrassed. It was broad daylight, and here they were kissing—his lips might end up swollen!
Qin Huai chuckled and ruffled Mu Nan's hair. "Stay at home, I'll be back soon."
As soon as Qin Huai left, Mu Nan buried himself under the covers. Had their status suddenly switched? It was all too abrupt. Did this mean that when night fell, they would...?
Mu Nan instinctively glanced at the things in his space, realizing what he was doing and almost bursting from embarrassment. He couldn't help but reflect on when he had started having these improper thoughts about his brother. How could he accept such a significant change so easily? Transitioning from being a brother to a boyfriend felt more shy and flustered than awkward, with uncontrollable blushing and racing heartbeats.
Wu Zheng was much better today he had woken up, and Song Jia had fed him half a bowl of warm porridge. However, when Qin Huai arrived, Wu Zheng had fallen asleep again, lying on the floor on a blanket. There was no bed, but with the underfloor heating functioning normally, it was warm and cozy.
After observing for a while, Qin Huai asked Song Jia, "Did he say what happened when he woke up?"
Song Jia shook his head. "He's still having trouble speaking, but he probably wasn't robbed on the way back."
Qin Huai's heart sank this incident was likely related to Wu Zheng's biological father.
Song Jia didn't hide anything and explained straightforwardly, "My brother's dad used to be quite a good person, very family-oriented. But he worked on construction sites and was too busy, hardly able to come home throughout the year. My mom couldn't handle that kind of marriage and ended up having an affair."
Qin Huai looked at Song Jia, who shrugged. "She cheated on my dad, and they say it was true love, but I don't know. They got caught in the act by my brother's dad, and it nearly turned deadly. After that incident, that man changed. This is all stuff my brother told me. I've seen how he treated my brother poorly. After he remarried, he had another son. He used to care about my brother, but I don't know if that affair left a scar, making him feel my brother isn't his son. After the affair, he started treating my brother badly. My mom wanted to leave with my dad and didn't want my brother. My brother was still young; since mom didn't want him, he had to follow his dad. Before his dad remarried, my brother faced emotional neglect. After the marriage, it quickly turned into emotional and physical abuse. That man would rather give everything good to his younger son, believing he was the real one. My brother worked to pay for his own school fees, but that money went to buy a game console for his younger brother. When my brother was preparing for the college entrance exam, he wasn't allowed to take it, and the day before the exam, he got beaten so badly he couldn't get up, his hand shaking too much to hold a pen. That man had the audacity to strip my brother of his clothes in this freezing weather. He didn't care if my brother lived or died, he'd probably feel better if my brother were dead."
The entanglements of the previous generation were too complex. Song Jia could understand but couldn't fathom how a father could vent his hatred on his own flesh and blood. Did the love they had shared during those early years mean nothing? Yet, his parents weren't exactly good people either. He was slightly better off than his brother, having escaped a childhood filled with such emotional and physical violence.
Qin Huai didn't linger at Wu Zheng's house for long, just checking in before heading back. With Xu Ming needing to go to work, Jian Chu and Yu Zibai, despite not having slept all night, had taken a nap and gone off to work in the afternoon. That left him and Mu Nan at home, and he worried that Song Jia might need help but hesitate to reach out.
Upon returning home, Qin Huai found Mu Nan munching on shrimp chips, reminding him, "Don't eat too much."
Mu Nan nodded, responding, "Or I won't be able to eat dinner. I know, I'll just eat a little."
As Qin Huai approached, Mu Nan instinctively shrank back, avoiding him, and offered him the shrimp chips. "If you want to try, just take some yourself." Kissing and all that was still too new for him. He had been single all his life, and suddenly being in a relationship—especially with his brother—required some adjustment.
Qin Huai pulled him closer, noticing Mu Nan covering his mouth and glaring at him. He chuckled, "Don't you think we should talk?"
Seeing that Qin Huai wasn't being aggressive, Mu Nan relaxed his grip and hugged the shrimp chips closer. "About what?"
Qin Huai asked, "Who am I to you?"
Mu Nan thought that if he answered directly, it would be quite embarrassing. But seeing Qin Huai's serious demeanor, he mumbled, "Um, my boyfriend?"
Qin Huai laughed at that, praising, "Good, your understanding is clear." He then stood up.
Mu Nan looked up at him. "Is that it? We're done talking?"
Qin Huai replied, "With such clear understanding, of course, we're done. What else do you want to discuss?"
Mu Nan hesitated and asked cautiously, "When did you start having, um, those thoughts about me?"
Qin Huai remembered it clearly. "It was probably during our second year abroad."
Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai. "You remember the time so clearly?"
Qin Huai chuckled. "Maybe even earlier, but I realized what I truly wanted during our second year. There was a junior who confessed to me. I told her I didn't have time for a relationship. At that time, you had just started your university journey, studying art. Art school isn't that expensive, and I knew your parents had saved enough for you to finish. But in art schools, there are a lot of wealthy kids. If I were by your side, I wouldn't worry too much, but being away made me anxious about whether you were eating well and dressing well. Even though school is a bit more innocent compared to the real world, there's still plenty of comparison going on. I feared you might get bullied or feel looked down upon for being frugal, so I spent all my time working to save money for when I returned home. When that junior asked if I would think of her when I had time for a relationship, the first person who came to mind was you."
Mu Nan chewed on his shrimp chips, then said, "So you must have had quite a few girls confess to you."
Qin Huai laughed. "Quite a few, but once I lost my wealthy dad, I didn't have any anymore."
Mu Nan clicked his tongue. "How realistic."
Qin Huai sighed. "The only one who doesn't mind my financial situation is my Nan Nan. You don't look down on me for being poor."
Mu Nan huffed, munching on the shrimp chips with more enthusiasm. Whether he had money or not, it was no big deal.
After dinner, they cleaned the house inside and out. Once their neighbors returned, Qin Huai and Yu Zibai went out to clear the snow from the yard. Their rooftop was manageable, with just a canopy that could be shaken off with a stick. Yu Zibai's rooftop, however, had accumulated so much snow that it was almost as high as the surrounding walls, making the job quite labor-intensive.
Jian Chu remarked, "Had I known this would happen, we should have changed the canopy earlier. It would have only cost about ten points."
Mu Nan, bundled up like a bear, helped shovel the snow off the rooftop. "Let's wait until next year; it's too late for a new canopy this year."
Jian Chu used his shovel to toss snow over the edge and gasped for breath. "What does 'next year' even mean? We don't even know what day it is is it almost August?"
Yu Zibai chimed in, "Pretty much. It's hard to believe we've been here for nearly two months. Time flies."
After spending a good part of the afternoon clearing the snow from the rooftop and piling it in the yard, they moved downstairs to shovel the snow outside. Soon, Song Jia joined them. Since they were all living in the same yard, and with his brother unable to get up, it fell to him to help. The girls living in the other building hadn't interacted with them yet, so it was just the men working together, and they made quick progress.
Jian Chu asked Song Jia with concern, "How's your brother doing?"
Song Jia nodded. "He's doing better, he can eat now."
Jian Chu sighed in relief. "That's good to hear."
The group continued to work in silence, taking advantage of the brief lull in the wind and snow to clear the yard. After an hour of hard work, they finally managed to push the snow out of the way and create a small path to walk through. They then all returned to their homes.
Mu Nan had initially thought about having a midnight snack, but when Qin Huai asked him, he hesitated and shook his head. "Maybe not tonight. Do you want some?"
Qin Huai replied, "It's rare for you not to want a midnight snack, so I won't have any either. I don't want to tempt you. You must be tired go freshen up and get some rest."
Mu Nan nodded, then took his change of pajamas into the bathroom. Of course, he couldn't just rinse off he took a long, hot shower, using a fragrant body wash. Feeling warm and fresh, he climbed into bed, anxiously waiting for Qin Huai to finish his shower and join him. He turned off the light.
In the dark, Mu Nan felt a mix of anticipation and reluctance as his thoughts wandered. After a long time, he noticed that Qin Huai remained still beside him.
Unable to contain himself, Mu Nan turned slightly to see that Qin Huai seemed to be asleep. His heart sank; this wasn't how things were supposed to go! Feeling frustrated, he kicked at the air under the covers.
Qin Huai, sensing the movement, turned and pulled him closer. "What's wrong?"
Mu Nan flipped over, facing away from him. "I'm going to sleep!"
Qin Huai was confused. What was going on with him?