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Zhan Junbai hadn’t realized how sick Yu Tangchun really was until he saw it for himself. He had always heard him talking to Chen Yuzhi about his “throat disease” and he had seen the young doctor hand him small packages which he assumed was medicine, so he knew he was ill, but he had never really realized just how ill he was until one day, after he had performed a private show for Zhan Junbai when he smiled, a cough suddenly bubbled within his chest and he let out a horrible rattling cough. Zhan Junbai looked at him with concern and took a step forward.
“Boss Yu, are you alright?” he asked. Yu Tangchun nodded and quickly grabbed a handkerchief, covering his mouth as he let out another rattling cough, this one racking his body so hard that he almost collapsed. Zhan Junbai’s eyes widened and he quickly stepped forward, gently grasping Yu Tangchun by the shoulders before he led him over to a chair, sitting him down. Yu Tangchun continued to cough before he pulled the handkerchief away, looking at it quickly before folding it up so that no one else could see the contents. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) for him, Zhan Junbai saw the blood on the handkerchief and his eyes widened slightly before he looked over his shoulder.
“Qiu Ming! Bring us some water!” he barked before he looked back at Yu Tangchun.
“Boss Yu, shall I fetch Dr. Chen?” he asked gently. Yu Tangchun shook his head as he avoided Zhan Junbai’s gaze.
“I’m fine” he assured. Zhan Junbai huffed.
“Considering that you just coughed blood into your handkerchief, I don’t think you are” he replied. Yu Tangchun looked at him with wide eyes before he shook his head.
“Don’t call Dr. Chen, please. He’ll tell me to stop singing and I can’t—” he started before he began to cough again, an awful, body racking, chest rattling cough. Zhan Junbai huffed.
“I’m calling Dr. Chen” he declared, just as Qiu Ming walked into the room, carrying a tray with pitcher of water and some glasses on it. As soon as he placed the tray down, Zhan Junbai looked at him.
“Call Chen Yuzhi” he ordered. Qiu Ming nodded and quickly walked out of the room as Zhan Junbai walked over and grabbed a glass, filling it with water before walking over to Yu Tangchun.
“Boss Yu, here. Drink something” he murmured. Boss Yu nodded weakly and slowly lowered his hand, which Zhan Junbai noticed was covered with blood. He didn’t comment on it and carefully held the glass in his hand as he helped Yu Tangchun drink, since he was pretty sure that after all that coughing, Yu Tangchun would be too weak to hold the glass himself. Yu Tangchun drank greedily, which didn’t surprise Zhan Junbai at all, considering how badly he had been coughing. Once the glass was practically empty, Zhan Junbai placed it down before reaching into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief to gently wipe the blood from Yu Tangchun’s lip. Yu Tangchun blushed, just as Chen Yuzhi walked into the mansion, making a beeline for them. Zhan Junbai quickly took a step back, allowing the doctor to kneel before Yu Tangchun, looking him over before checking his pulse. After checking his pulse, Chen Yuzhi sighed heavily.
“Tangchun, I told you, you have to stop singing. It’s going to get worse if you don’t” he murmured. Yu Tangchun shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Yuzhi, but I can’t” he replied, his voice weak. Chen Yuzhi huffed.
“Well then, since you won’t stop voluntarily, then I will make you stop. You’re not to sing for the next week or so until your throat isn’t so raw” he declared. Yu Tangchun’s eyes widened.
“Yuzhi, I can’t—” he started when Chen Yuzhi fixed him with a stern gaze.
“You can and you will” he ordered before he turned to look at Zhan Junbai.
“Executive Zhan, if it’s not too much trouble, will you watch after Boss Yu? I don’t trust himself to not listen to me” he explained. Zhan Junbai smiled and nodded.
“I will make sure he gets rest” he assured. Chen Yuzhi smiled slightly before he reached into his case and pulled out a few pills, shaking them into a little package before handing it to Zhan Junbai.
“Make sure he takes one every day. They won’t cure his disease, but they can at least soothe it” he explained. Zhan Junbai nodded.
“I’ll make sure he takes them” he promised. Chen Yuzhi nodded before he pushed himself to his feet, giving Yu Tangchun a stern look before he turned and walked out, leaving Yu Tangchun and Zhan Junbai alone.
“I apologize for that, Boss Yu, but seeing you cough up blood concerned me” Zhan Junbai explained. Yu Tangchun looked up at him, tears coming to his eyes.
“But if I can’t sing, what will I do?” he whimpered. Zhan Junbai smiled.
“I’m sure there are other things you can do. You seem like a capable man” he replied. Yu Tangchun huffed before he frowned.
“What about my job? If I can’t sing for a week, I’ll lose my job” he croaked. Zhan Junbai smiled.
“Would you like me to speak to your boss for you? Explain what’s going on?” he asked. Yu Tangchun shook his head.
“If he knows that I have this disease, then he’ll definitely make me stop singing. And if I stop singing then…I’ll stop existing” he murmured. Zhan Junbai was quiet before he held out his hand.
“Come Boss Yu. You should rest” he murmured. Yu Tangchun looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Are you sure it’s okay to stay here?” he asked. Zhan Junbai chuckled softly.
“Didn’t Dr. Chen instruct me to look after you? Of course it’s okay to stay here” he replied, still holding out his hand. Yu Tangchun huffed before he reached out and took Zhan Junbai’s hand, allowing him to help him up from the chair. They then headed upstairs to the second floor, Zhan Junbai leading him to one of the first bedrooms. He then opened the door and motioned for Yu Tangchun to step inside. Yu Tangchun nodded and stepped inside, looking around before turning to look back at Zhan Junbai, who was smiling at him.
“Is this room up to your standards, Boss Yu?” he asked. Yu Tangchun smiled and nodded.
“Yes, thank you” he thanked. Zhan Junbai smiled and dipped his head before he looked at Yu Tangchun.
“I’ll be taking tea in the garden later, if you would like to join me” he stated. Yu Tangchun blinked before he nodded.
“That sounds lovely” he replied. Zhan Junbai smiled.
“I’ll have someone fetch you” he stated before he turned and headed out of the room, leaving Yu Tangchun alone. Yu Tangchun looked around the room before he walked over to the window, smiling softly as he had a lovely view of the gardens.
~*~*~*~*~
A little while later, Zhan Junbai and Yu Tangchun sat in the garden, both men enjoying the cool weather and the warm tea as the cherry blossoms surrounded them.
“This is nice” Yu Tangchun murmured, making Zhan Junbai smile.
“I’m glad. How is the tea?” he asked. Yu Tangchun nodded.
“It’s good. It’s also soothing to my throat” he explained. Zhan Junbai smiled a little wider.
“Well then, this was a good idea, wasn’t it?” he asked. Yu Tangchun smiled and nodded. Zhan Junbai smiled again for probably the umpteenth time before he took a sip of his tea, both men enjoying each other’s company. After drinking their tea, Zhan Junbai and Yu Tangchun walked around the gardens, a soft smile on Yu Tangchun’s face. Just then, a gentle breeze blew through the garden, causing the cherry blossom petals to fall around them like rain and as Zhan Junbai looked over at Yu Tangchun, his eyes widened slightly. Yu Tangchun looked like something out of a fairytale, with the cherry blossoms falling around him as he lifted his hand to catch a few of them in it, a soft smile on his face. Zhan Junbai felt his heart flutter as he looked at Yu Tangchun, who looked over at him and frowned, his brows creasing delicately.
“Executive Zhan? Is something wrong?” he asked. Zhan Junbai’s eyes widened and he shook his head.
“No, no, nothing” he replied as he walked over to Yu Tangchun and reached up, gently plucking the cherry blossom petals from his hair. Yu Tangchun’s eyes widened slightly as he looked into Zhan Junbai’s eyes, which were fond as they looked back at him. They looked at each other for a moment before Yu Tangchun coughed and turned his head away, Zhan Junbai’s eyes slightly.
“Would you like some tea? Should we go back inside? Is it too cold?” he asked, concern in his voice. Yu Tangchun coughed again before he took a shuddering breath.
“I think I would like to rest, Executive Zhan” he replied. Zhan Junbai nodded.
“Of course, of course” he agreed, both men heading back to the mansion.
~*~*~*~*~
As they were walking back, Yu Tangchun looked over at Zhan Junbai.
“Executive Zhan” he started, making Zhan Junbai look back at him.
“Hmm?” he replied. Yu Tangchun smiled softly.
“I would like to do this again…if you don’t mind” he murmured. Zhan Junbai smiled brightly.
“Of course. Is there anything else you would like to do here?” he inquired. Yu Tangchun hummed.
“You like opera, don’t you?” he asked. Zhan Junbai nodded before he narrowed his eyes.
“But Dr. Chen said you’re not allowed to sing” he reminded. Yu Tangchun laughed softly.
“I won’t sing, you will. You’ve been practicing, haven’t you?” he asked. Zhan Junbai blinked before he nodded.
“A little” he replied. Yu Tangchun smiled.
“Well, with a little help from a trained opera singer, maybe you can get better and maybe even replace me one day when you decide to retire from the finance department” he explained. Zhan Junbai huffed.
“You know I’ll never be as good as you” he argued. Yu Tangchun smiled.
“Maybe, but you can at least come in second place” he teased. Zhan Junbai’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open in shock before he let out a loud, boisterous laugh, making Yu Tangchun smile. He liked it when Zhan Junbai laughed or smiled; it made him look younger and less…serious.
“Alright then, Boss Yu. My voice is in your hands” Zhan Junbai declared after he stopped laughing. Yu Tangchun nodded.
“I shall treat it well” he replied as they continued towards the mansion.
~*~*~*~*~
That evening, as Yu Tangchun was sleeping, his breath hitched, causing him to break out into a terrible coughing fit. He quickly sat up and covered his mouth as he continued to cough, just as the door burst open and light suddenly flooded the room.
“Boss Yu” a voice exclaimed before footsteps came running towards him. Yu Tangchun weakly opened an eye and found Zhan Junbai, dressed in his pajamas, kneeling before him, concern very evident in his eyes.
“Qiu Ming. Bring water and a cool compress!” Zhan Junbai shouted before he looked back at Yu Tangchu and reached up, gently rubbing his back.
“It’s okay, Boss Yu. It’s okay, just breathe. Just breathe” he soothed. Yu Tangchun nodded and slowly lowered his hand away from his mouth as he tried to take deep breaths without sending himself into another coughing spasm. As he lowered his hand, Zhan Junbai noticed that his hand was once again covered in blood. His heart clenched a little and as soon as Qiu Ming walked over with the cool compress and glass of water, he looked over at him.
“Get me a warm wet hand towel” he ordered. Qiu Ming nodded and placed the tray down on the bedside table before he walked out of the room. Once he left, Zhan Junbai reached into his pocket and pulled out the pouch of medicine Chen Yuzhi gave him, shaking out a pill before grabbing the glass of water.
“Boss Yu. Here” he murmured. Yu Tangchun reached out with his non-bloody hand and popped the pill into his mouth before Zhan Junbai carefully helped him drink. Yu Tangchun then swallowed the pill, just as Qiu Ming came back with the warm towel.
“Thank you” Zhan Junbai thanked, taking the towel from him before turning to look at Yu Tangchun.
“Let’s prop these pillows up first” he murmured, placing the towel down before he stood to his feet and carefully helped Yu Tangchun arrange his pillows so that his head would elevated. Yu Tangchun then laid back down, letting out a heavy sigh as Zhan Junbai reached over and gently placed the cool compress over his neck.
“Just to soothe the swelling” he soothed after Yu Tangchun jumped from the cool touch. Yu Tangchun nodded, relaxing a little as Zhan Junbai took the warm towel and began to gently clean Yu Tangchun’s bloody hand. Yu Tangchun’s eyes widened and he looked over at Zhan Junbai.
“Executive Zhan, you don’t—” he croaked when Zhan Junbai shook his head.
“Save your voice, Tangchun. I don’t mind” he replied as he continued to clean Yu Tangchun’s hand. Once the hand was cleaned, he looked over at Yu Tangchun and smiled softly.
“Better?” he asked softly. Yu Tangchun looked tiredly up at him and nodded. Zhan Junbai nodded.
“Good” he replied as he placed the bloody towel on the tray alongside the glass of water, reaching out to take the cool compress from Yu Tangchun’s neck.
“Get some rest, Tangchun” he murmured as he placed the compress on the tray and picked it up before standing to his feet and heading over to the door.
“Zhan Junbai” Yu Tangchun called out, making Zhan Junbai look back at him with a raised eyebrow. Yu Tangchun then smiled weakly.
“Thank you” he croaked. Zhan Junbai smiled and nodded before he headed out of the room, shutting off the light with his elbow as he left. Yu Tangchun then shut his eyes, taking a shuddering breath before he felt sleep come for him.
~*~*~*~*~
After what happened last night, Zhan Junbai kept a much closer eye on Yu Tangchun. He tried not to hover or to be too up in his business, but he was worried about the man. Every time he coughed, he looked as if a light wind brushed him, he would collapse like a falling cherry blossom petal. Thankfully Yu Tangchun took his care in stride, smiling every time Zhan Junbai asked if he was alright or if he needed something. He was definitely feeling better, so the medicine was working, which was good. Zhan Junbai’s overattentiveness was helpful as well, seeing how the minute he coughed the man was by his side in an instant.
“Executive Zhan, I’m fine” he assured after his last small cough that nearly sent Zhan Junbai into a panic. Zhan Junbai huffed before he nodded.
“If you say so” he murmured. Yu Tangchun nodded.
“I do say so. I’m fine. You’ll know if it gets worse” he replied before he smiled.
“So, shall we practice today?” he asked. Zhan Junbai blinked before he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly nervous.
“Oh, uh, I suppose” he agreed. Yu Tangchun smiled as they headed into the sitting room, Zhan Junbai pulling out his music stand and sheet music as Yu Tangchun sat down on the chair closest to him.
“Whenever you’re ready” he assured. Zhan Junbai nodded before he looked down at his sheet music and began to sing. He had practiced this piece many times, so he knew its tune and words by heart, making it easy for him to sing in front of Yu Tangchun, who watched with a small smile but an intense gaze. After he finished singing, he looked over at Yu Tangchun, whose small smile widened and he politely clapped his hands.
“That was really good. I’m very impressed” he stated. Zhan Junbai smiled and dipped his head.
“It’s an honor to get such praise from you, Boss Yu” he murmured. Yu Tangchun smiled softly.
“I really don’t think I have much to critic. Have you taken lessons before?” he asked, looking at him. Zhan Junbai shook his head.
“I taught myself and listened to a lot of opera” he explained. Yu Tangchun’s eyes widened slightly before he smiled.
“I am impressed” he murmured. Zhan Junbai smiled before his eyes took on a delighted gleam.
“Maybe when your throat is better and Dr. Chen allows you to sing again, maybe you would like to sing with me?” he asked. Yu Tangchun blinked in surprise before he smiled.
“I would like nothing more” he replied.
~*~*~*~*~
A week went by quickly at Zhan Junbai’s mansion, since he and Yu Tangchun spent almost every waking moment with each other. They loved spending time with each other, but if you asked them what their favorite time spent together was, they’d both answer spending time out in the garden having tea. That time especially was Zhan Junbai’s favorite because whenever they’d walk around the garden, the breeze always seemed to know that they were out there and would gently blow through the trees to cause the cherry blossom petals to fall all around them, mainly around Yu Tangchun and make him look ethereal. Every time Zhan Junbai looked at him, he could feel his heart flutter and his words catch in his throat; he swore Yu Tangchun was the only person that made him feel this way…he wondered if he made Yu Tangchun feel the same way.
“Junbai” a soft voice called, shaking Zhan Junbai from his thoughts. He then looked over to see Yu Tangchun smiling softly at him.
“Is there something wrong? You’re staring” he explained. Zhan Junbai shook his head before he chuckled softly and walked over to him, standing before him.
“No…I’m just staring because you look ethereal with these petals falling all around you” he replied. Yu Tangchun’s eyes widened as a soft blush tinted his cheeks. Zhan Junbai smiled as he reached up and gently brushed the petals off of Yu Tangchun’s hair and shoulders, making him blush even deeper.
“Executive Zhan…this is inappropriate” he murmured. Zhan Junbai chuckled softly.
“Why? No one is here but us. No one can see” he replied. Yu Tangchun shook his head.
“But…you’re a high member of society and I’m just an opera singer—” he started when Zhan Junbai reached up and gently cupped his face in his hand, making him look up in shock.
“I don’t care about that. I just care about you” he murmured, gently rubbing Yu Tangchu’s cheek with his thumb. Yu Tangchun blushed and lowered his gaze, making Zhan Junbai shake his head.
“Don’t look away” he murmured. Yu Tangchun obeyed and slowly lifted his gaze to find Zhan Junbai staring fondly at him. He blinked in surprise; no one had looked at him like this before…only Zhan Junbai looked at him like this.
“Executive Zhan…are you sure you want to be with me” he asked, his voice soft and unsure, which was unusual for him. Zhan Junbai smiled and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in for a gentle hug, careful not to send him into a coughing spasm.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life” he replied. Yu Tangchun blinked at the confession before he carefully wrapped his arms around Zhan Junbai and buried his face in Zhan Junbai’s shoulder as cherry blossom petals fell around them. They didn’t know where this relationship would go but…as they pulled away and looked at each other, both men smiling softly at the other…they could feel like it was going to be something good and new. For the both of them.