Chapter 36 Love Surges Like a Tide

In the hospital room, Liao Xubai watched Lu Er’s hurried retreating figure and sighed.

Song Jingmo said, “About last time—I jumped to conclusions and misunderstood you. Sorry.”

From Lu Er’s reaction, it was clear that Liao Xubai hadn’t revealed his secret.

Liao Xubai sat down and asked softly, “Why not tell him?”

Song Jingmo closed his eyes, his long lashes casting shadows over his pale face.

“Tell him that the person I like isn’t you, but him? Tell him I’ve been waiting for him for six years, yet he still doesn’t understand his own feelings?”

He gave a bitter smile. “And then what? Watch him accept me out of guilt or sympathy? That’s not what I want.”

He knew that staying friends might last longer—but what he truly wanted was to hold the other person’s hand.

He had tacitly allowed Liao Xubai’s provocations, repeatedly testing Lu Er’s feelings. But every time, the answers he got were never what he wanted.

His feelings were already so obvious, yet Lu Er refused to respond. He was out of options.

They cared for each other as friends—but they weren’t purely friends, nor were they openly lovers.

Their love surged like a tide, yet their words betrayed their hearts.

How many more tests would it take before Lu Er realized his feelings?

After a moment of silence, Liao Xubai said, “You two really are a perfect match—one too afraid to speak, the other too oblivious. Torturing each other.”

Song Jingmo looked at him apologetically. “I’m sorry.”

To test Lu Er, he had often allowed certain things—Liao Xubai leaning close during dinners, that cup of coffee posted on social media…

It wasn’t fair to Liao Xubai.

“I like you,” Liao Xubai said. “And I’m willing to be used. You don’t need to feel guilty.”

His feelings for Song Jingmo were more admiration for strength—a desire to be envied by others.

Deep down, he knew that if he hadn’t succeeded during those six years abroad, he had even less chance now that they were back home.

“Get some rest. I’m heading to work.”

As he spoke, Liao Xubai took the takeout he’d brought with him. “I’ll take this too—better than it ending up in the trash. Wasting food is shameful.”

Lu Er wandered downstairs for twenty minutes, his mind filled with images of Song Jingmo and Liao Xubai flirting and feeding each other.

No way—Song Jingmo’s injuries hadn’t healed yet. What if things escalated and they ended up in bed?

He had to stop it.

Lu Er returned to the hospital room, surprised to find Liao Xubai gone.

Before he could ask, a young and pretty nurse walked in.

Blushing, she stood by Song Jingmo’s bed. “Dr. Song, what would you like to eat tomorrow? I’m off, so I could cook and bring it to you.”

The admiration in her eyes was unmistakable—Lu Er had seen that look in countless people before.

Before Song Jingmo could reply, Lu Er strode forward, his tone stiff. “Don’t waste your effort. He’s not interested in women.”

The nurse froze. “What?”

Enunciating each word, Lu Er said, “Song Jingmo is into men. You should give up.”

Silence fell over the room.

The nurse’s expression shifted from confusion to shock, then to embarrassment and anger. She muttered “Sorry” and hurried out.

“Finished?” Song Jingmo’s voice was terrifyingly calm.

Lu Er met his deep, unfathomable gaze.

In those usually composed eyes, emotions surged—disappointment, anger, and a trace of pain.

Lu Er refused to back down. “Was I wrong? Don’t you like men?”

Song Jingmo slowly sat up, the movement clearly straining his abdominal wound.

“Six years ago, you humiliated me with money. Six years later, are you going to humiliate me with my sexual orientation?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Lu Er argued. “I wasn’t trying to humiliate you. I just didn’t want her to waste her effort.”

“And you?” Song Jingmo’s voice was icy. “What effort are you wasting?”

“If you dislike homosexuality so much, why do you keep doing things that send mixed signals?”

Genuine, consistent care and affection—that was love. What Lu Er was doing, hot and cold, was like yanking a dog on a leash.

Lu Er was left speechless.

Yeah… what was he doing?

Why did Liao Xubai’s presence bother him so much?

Why did he want to sabotage Song Jingmo’s potential relationship?

Struggling to find words, Lu Er said, “I don’t like Liao Xubai. He’s not right for you…”

Song Jingmo smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “And what right do you have to say that? Who I like—what does it have to do with you?”

Each word felt like a knife stabbing into Lu Er’s heart.

Song Jingmo closed his eyes. “Don’t come again.”

Flustered, Lu Er packed up the food containers and left in a sorry state.

In the taxi home, Lu Er stared at the neon lights flashing past the window, replaying everything that had just happened.

It left him restless and confused, yet he sensed that beneath the chaos lay a truth he didn’t dare face.

In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere in Song Jingmo’s room, Leng Keyan’s room felt warm and cozy.

Yin Siyao pushed the door open. “Sorry, there was an issue with a patient—I’m half an hour late.”

“Teacher Yin, you’re finally here,” Leng Keyan said, his tone clearly coquettish. “I’m only mad at my uncle, not you.”

“Oh? What did your uncle do?”

Half-reclining on the bed, Leng Keyan looked at Yin Siyao with bright, pleading eyes—like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

“He doesn’t care about me at all. All he cares about is Dr. Song. He just dropped off the food and left.”

Yin Siyao walked over and naturally ruffled his hair. “Your uncle’s worried about Dr. Song. His injuries are more serious.”

“But he can’t just ignore me completely,” Leng Keyan pouted. “Teacher Yin is better. From now on, you’re number one in my heart—my uncle’s only second.”

Yin Siyao’s heart melted at those words. He opened the thermos, and a rich aroma filled the room.

Inside were braised ribs, stir-fried vegetables, and a fragrant chicken soup, all carefully prepared.

He scooped up a spoonful of rice with a piece of rib and held it to Leng Keyan’s lips. “Hungry? I’ll feed you.”

Leng Keyan’s eyes lit up instantly.

Yin Siyao blew gently on a spoonful of soup to cool it before bringing it to his mouth. Leng Keyan obediently opened his mouth, his gaze never leaving Yin Siyao.

Under the warm yellow light, Yin Siyao’s profile looked soft and refined. His long lashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes.

He hadn’t even had time to take off his white coat, revealing a light blue shirt underneath, its collar slightly open to show his delicate collarbones.

His fingers were long and clean, his movements elegant—like he was crafting a work of art.

Leng Keyan felt his heartbeat begin to spiral out of control.

The room was quiet, broken only by the faint clinking of utensils.

Yin Siyao carefully divided the food into small portions, feeding him bite by bite, occasionally wiping soup from the corner of his lips.

Leng Keyan accepted the feeding obediently, but his gaze grew increasingly bold as it lingered on Yin Siyao’s face.

After swallowing, he suddenly said, “Teacher Yin, you’re really wonderful.”

Yin Siyao looked up. “What’s that about?”

“I just think you’re great,” Leng Keyan said with a bright smile. “You’re handsome, skilled, and so gentle. Whoever becomes your girlfriend in the future will definitely be very happy.”

Caught off guard by the direct praise, Yin Siyao looked a little embarrassed and lowered his head to scoop another spoonful of soup. “Don’t talk nonsense. Eat properly.”