BURN Chapter 2

The intense collision made Chi Zhao’s nose sting.

A crisp, cool scent flooded his nostrils, carrying a faint hint of sandalwood. Chi Zhao’s legs wobbled slightly, but a strong arm steadied him, and a gentle voice sounded in his ear.

“Be careful.”

“Sorry, sorry!”

Staggering, Chi Zhao instinctively took half a step back, only for something to catch on him. With a tug, he fell even more firmly into the embrace.

Zou Anhe, standing nearby, was stunned by the sudden scene. He stammered, “Th-this…” but couldn’t get the words out. Zhi Zhi, who had run off somewhere, finally returned, his eyes wide with excitement, clearly enjoying the drama. “Chi Zhao-ge, why are you hugging a man?”

Just as Chi Zhao was about to straighten up, his legs wobbled again, almost causing him to fall again.

This kid still had the nerve to speak to him like that!

“And why do you think that is?” Chi Zhao adjusted his white coat, finally extricating himself from the embrace. He first murmured a soft “Sorry,” then strode over to Zhi Zhi, grabbed his hood, and pulled him back like a little chick. “Stop running around. Come and apologize—”

Chi Zhao paused, his gaze lingering on the man in front of him. It took him a moment to finally say the word “apologize.”

Too handsome. That was the only thought in Chi Zhao’s mind as he locked eyes with the man.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly what made him so attractive—his thin lips, perhaps, or his calm eyes? Chi Zhao felt as if everything around him had suddenly come to life. Despite the cold, sterile environment of the hospital, he felt a warm, spring-like comfort enveloping him.

“Are you okay?” The man’s gentle voice sounded by his ear, snapping Chi Zhao back to reality.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I just wanted the kid to apologize to you too.”

Thinking about the embrace just now, Chi Zhao instinctively tugged at his earlobe. He had felt awkward at first, but after meeting the owner of that embrace, everything suddenly felt off.

“Chi Zhao-ge, why is your face suddenly red?” Zhi Zhi exclaimed, like he had discovered a new world. Zou Anhe finally snapped out of his daze and scolded coldly, “Pei Zhicheng, it’s you again! Is the ward a place to run around? Look, you’ve bumped into someone now! Hurry up and apologize to Nan’an!”

So this is the Fu Nan’an that Zhong Yangqiu often mentioned!

Chi Zhao was surprised, but it also made sense. If this man was Fu Nan’an, he could completely believe all the praise he had heard.

“I wasn’t running…” Zhi Zhi retorted angrily from the side. “Besides, it was Chi Zhao-ge who bumped into him, not me!”

Zou Anhe’s frown deepened, his tone harsher. “Still arguing? If you hadn’t been running, would Chi Zhao have been chasing you so fast?”

Zhi Zhi’s neck stiffened. “But I didn’t bump into him!”

One had a temper, the other was stubborn. Neither would yield. As they glared at each other, Fu Nan’an, standing beside them, softly called Zou Anhe’s name.

“Anhe,” his voice was gentle. “Don’t get angry with the child.”

Fu Nan’an turned toward Zhi Zhi’s voice, crouching down slightly. “It’s true you didn’t bump into me, but running in the hospital is dangerous, understand?”

“…”

Zhi Zhi’s lips were tightly sealed, refusing to speak. Fu Nan’an smiled and said, “Dr. Zou is just worried about you. If you fall here, won’t it be you who gets hurt?”

Fu Nan’an had a naturally calming presence. Just being near him made one feel at ease. He seemed even better at handling children than Chi Zhao, calming the noisy Zhi Zhi with just a few words. After a long pause, Zhi Zzhi mumbled an awkward “Sorry,” and Fu Nan’an’s lips curved slightly. “Good boy.”

He reached to pat Zhi Zhi’s head but missed the position, accidentally touching his forehead. After all, he was blind. Even though his hearing was incredibly sharp, his ability to judge positions was no match for a sighted person. The coolness of his fingertips brushed against Zhi Zhi’s skin. Zhizhi instinctively lifted his head, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Uncle, your eyes…”

“Yes,” Fu Nan’an replied candidly, “I’ve been blind for many years.”

It was only then that Chi Zhao realized Fu Nan’an was blind.

He knew he was an ophthalmology patient, but exceptional people often made other people overlook their flaws. Moreover, Fu Nan’an had strikingly beautiful eyes—pale gray irises that, even though you knew he couldn’t see, made you feel as if he was intently watching you.

Zhi Zhi continued to ask, “Does the world turn black when you can’t see? Are you scared?”

A barrage of questions followed, but Fu Nan’an answered calmly. “No, it’s not black. And no, I’m not scared.”

His smile was so tender, like a little hook tugging at Chi Zhao’s heart. It was the first time Chi Zhao had felt this way, as if a seed in his heart had suddenly taken root, sprouted, and was now eagerly trying to bloom into a pale flower.

It wasn’t until the morning rounds were over that Chi Zhao finally snapped out of his daze.

“So you came back and spent almost an hour praising Professor Fu?” Zhong Yangqiu teased as they walked back to the office after rounds. “Weren’t you the one who said I was exaggerating before?”

“It’s just that I hadn’t seen him in person before,” Chi Zhao answered frankly. “Hearing about someone and seeing them in person are two different things.”

Zhong Yangqiu clicked his tongue. “Love at first sight?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Chi Zhao shook his head. “We’ve only met once. We’re not that familiar yet.”

Having known each other for almost five years, Chi Zhao’s sexuality was no longer a secret. He never thought that liking someone of the same sex was shameful, but to say you liked someone after just meeting them was too superficial. That would be just physical attraction, wanting their body, and Chi Zhao wasn’t that kind of person.

“I just want to get to know him,” Chi Zhao concluded, smiling openly.

“Not bad, not bad, good, good,” Zhong Yangqiu grinned, his eyes narrowing as he started brainstorming ideas. “Following drama tropes, after the protagonist meets the love interest, there’s usually some coincidental accident, like something important falling into the other person’s hands. That way, they can—”

“Stop, stop, stop,” Chi Zhao interrupted helplessly, “Your plot is so old-fashioned.”

Zhong Yangqiu was great in many ways—he was warm, loyal, and got along with everyone. If there was one flaw, it was his unexpectedly girlish heart. Despite being a tall, burly northerner, he had a particular love for cheesy romance dramas. Having been subjected to this for so long, Chi Zhao quickly changed the subject. “Dr. Zou said he’s going to quiz us during the next rounds. Have you mastered all the key points?”

“…Damn,” Zhong Yangqiu’s expression changed. “Why do you have to remind me of such a sad thing?”

“I’m just letting you prepare early,” Chi Zhao said. “I remember you couldn’t answer last time when you were asked? The ophthalmology professors are pretty skilled. If you follow them around, you can learn a lot.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s just that my foundation isn’t solid, so it’s tough to keep up,” Zhong Yangqiu nodded, his tone full of envy. “If only I could study as well as you, I wouldn’t have to worry about being quizzed.”

He asked Chi Zhao, “Any study tips?”

“Read more,” Chi Zhao said helplessly. “Your textbooks are practically untouched.”

“I’ll try harder, haha,” Zhong Yangqiu laughed awkwardly. It was just a casual question, and he quickly steered the conversation back. “But your story about Professor Fu is much more interesting. Come on, let me analyze the situation between you two…”

Chi Zhao, “…”

Seeing that the topic was about to drift back to Fu Nan’an, Chi Zhao helplessly called out his name. “There’s another study method.”

Zhong Yangqiu asked, “What is it?”

Chi Zhao earnestly said, “Stop watching those tacky soap operas.”

He did find Fu Nan’an somewhat attractive, but he wasn’t interested in creating a connection with him through some accidental encounter. n his twenties, he believed in being direct—if he liked someone, he would openly get to know them and interact with them. He didn’t see anything shameful in that.

Besides, he was a top student at the medical school, good-looking, and had no shortage of people pursuing him. He wasn’t about to act like some clueless romance drama protagonist, dropping something just so the male lead could pick it up!

At 6 in the afternoon, before the end of the workday, Chi Zhao was doing the evening rounds.

The sky outside had darkened, and the ward was quiet. The corridor was empty, the cold white light casting a hospital-specific stillness. Chi Zhao pushed open each ward door, checking on the patients one by one. After finishing the row of wards, he finally arrived at Zhi Zhi’s room.

Zhi Zhi’s family was wealthy, and even in the hospital’s prime location, they had arranged a private room for him. Chi Zhao felt the side pocket of his white coat through the fabric, confirming there was still a piece of candy inside. With one hand in his pocket holding the candy, he opened the ward door with the other.

“Zhi Zhi, guess who’s here—Zhi Zhi?”

Chi Zhao’s words stopped halfway as he noticed Zhi Zhi standing on the edge of the windowsill, tiptoeing and leaning out.

“Zhi Zhi, it’s dangerous!” Chi Zhao quickly rushed over and grabbed his wrist, pulling him back two steps. His tone was serious. “Don’t stand so close to the window, it’s dangerous, do you understand?”

The ophthalmology ward was on the second floor, and there were no guardrails on the windows. However, it was still very dangerous for a child to stand at the edge of the window. Even a fall from the second floor could be serious.

“Why are you silent?” Chi Zhao asked, but Zhi Zhi didn’t answer. Chi Zhao thought he was just being rebellious and was about to scold him, but then he saw that the usually mischievous child was biting his lip, and his eyes were red.

Chi Zhao immediately realized something was wrong. “What’s going on? Did someone bully you, Zhi Zhi?”

“Ge...” Zhi Zhi called out in a hoarse voice, tears falling onto his pants.

Usually, Zhi Zhi’s parents would be in the room at this time. Chi Zhao quickly understood the situation. He pulled Zhi Zhi into a hug, gently patting his head. “Did your parents not come today?”

Zhi Zhi lowered his eyes, and after a long pause, he softly murmured, “Mm.”

The child missed his parents. Chi Zhao knew that. A child this age, staying alone in the hospital every day, couldn’t help but miss his family.

In fact, Zhi Zhi was a very sensible child. He looked forward to his parents’ visits every week, but he never cried or made a fuss when they left. He knew his parents were busy with work, so he didn’t cause trouble.

But the children who cry get attention, and Zhi Zhi was too sensible. Sometimes, his parents didn’t even notice his emotions.

“Chi Zhao-ge, do they not want me anymore?” Zhi Zhi rested his chin on his knees, his eyes staring at the slippers on the floor, unfocused.

Chi Zhao hurriedly rubbed his cheek. “How could that be?”

“Then why don’t they want to visit me?”

Zhi Zhi’s lips quivered, and tears filled his eyes again. Chi Zhao wiped them away and unwrapped a piece of candy, placing it in Zhi Zhi’s mouth. “Your parents are working hard so their precious child can have a better life, right?”

The hard fruit candy touched Zhi Zhi’s teeth. He stuck out his tongue to lick it. “If I can’t see anymore, will I still be their baby?”

“Of course,” Chi Zhao said seriously. “Zhi Zhi will always be Mommy and Daddy’s baby.”

As the candy gradually dissolved in his mouth, Zhi Zhi finally stopped crying. His eyes were still red, so Chi Zhao helped him lie down on the bed, covering his eyes with one hand. 

“Alright, alright, close your eyes and rest for a while. You need to take care of your eyes, or Mommy and Daddy will be sad too.”

“…Mm.”

At this moment, Zhi Zhi was particularly obedient. His eyes closed gently, and his eyelashes brushed against Chi Zhao’s palm. Children don’t have much stamina, and after crying so hard, he was already exhausted. His breathing slowed down, and he unconsciously grasped Chi Zhao’s white coat, holding onto it like a precious item.

He was truly a child that made one feel protective.

Chi Zhao’s gaze softened as he carefully pulled his white coat from Zhi Zhi’s grasp. His fingers unconsciously brushed over his chest. Suddenly, he realized something was off.

Something seemed to be missing?

Chi Zhao froze for a moment. Wait, where was his name tag?

The name tag had his photo and identification, serving as his pass for entering and exiting the department and clocking in. While everyone had multiple white coats, each person only had one name tag, and replacing it was a hassle.

Chi Zhao tucked Zhi Zhi in and went out to search, but after looking everywhere, he couldn’t find it.

Finally, he went to Zhong Yangqiu. “Have you seen my name tag?”

“Haven’t seen it,” Zhong Yangqiu said. “Where could it have fallen? The pin was secure. Did you leave it somewhere?”

“It’s really not here,” Chi Zhao said. “I only pinned it on this morning when I entered the ward. I haven’t done anything all day. How could it—wait.”

Chi Zhao’s eyelid twitched suddenly.

Today, he had followed the professor on rounds and written medical records, just like any other day. The only unusual event in his routine was… bumping into Fu Nan’an this morning?

“…”

Recalling Zhong Yangqiu’s words from earlier, Chi Zhao awkwardly tugged at his earlobe. Could it really be such a coincidence that it had fallen into Fu Nan’an’s hands?