Sui Si felt a slight chill.
He raised his hand and tapped the microphone twice, and the echo of the tapping sound echoed in the empty office on the other end.
Yu Tang is usually the most sensitive about this. Sui Si often has to appear in front of the camera, and when it is inconvenient to call someone, he will knock twice on the edge of the table or the armrest without leaving any trace.
Yu Tang followed him and never missed a single time. Sometimes, even the people around Sui Si didn't notice, Yu Tang had already responded to his call and arrived beside him.
But this time, Yu Tang didn't move at all.
… How did it turn out like this
Sui Si's throat felt dry, and he moved his fingers and slowly clenched them.
These days... Not only the driver and Nie Chi, but the hospital also repeatedly reminded him that Yu Tang's condition should not be as normal as it seemed.
Yu Tang's condition is not suitable for him to be his full-time assistant.
Nie Chi came to ask him if he should arrange sick leave for Yu Tang in the last few months. Sui Si thought it was fine, as he had already hired a new assistant, and anyone could do the errands, not necessarily Yu Tang.
The studio model is mature, all work is on track, and there have never been any problems. Sui Si has always believed that who stays and who leaves, one more person or one less person, will not have much impact.
He originally thought that when Yu Tang felt better, he would bring him back home to stay for a while.
In the hospital, Sui Si, in order to make Yu Tang obedient, deliberately scared him by saying "I have a temporary job and I can't find people", but in his heart he didn't really want Yu Tang to do anything.
There was clearly someone responsible for each specific work item, but Sui Si couldn't understand why Yu Tang seemed so busy every day.
Perhaps Yu Tang was not used to being idle, so Sui Si thought that he could use work as an excuse to bring him back and let him have a good rest in peace.
Yu Tang has psychological problems, perhaps because he has been too busy in recent years. If he relaxes and takes a break, he will be able to adjust himself.
"Yu Tang." Sui Si didn't want to deny this possibility. He took a cigarette, reached for the lighter, and spoke in a slow tone as before, "Yu Tang, I have something—"
The person in the picture shuddered slightly.
These words seemed to have triggered some switch. On the video phone screen, Yu Tang suddenly stood up after hearing these words.
As if it was some kind of pre-programmed procedure, Yu Tang's actions were exceptionally smooth. He clicked on the work memo on the electronic screen, sorted it by time and importance, and checked the notes one by one.
While checking the time, he also looked up Sui Si's possible needs, stood by with split screen, and even looked like he wanted to get up to get his keys and coat.
But after all, he had just walked through the line between life and death, and had not even returned to the hospital for proper treatment. As soon as he stood up, he groaned unconsciously, his pale face swayed, and he held onto the edge of the table.
"Yu Tang!" Sui Si was startled by him, his throat tightened, "What are you doing?!"
"Teacher Sui, I'm here."
Yu Tang drooped his shoulders slightly, his hair was a little messy, and cold sweat oozed out of his temples, but his tone was still stable: "What do you need? Please wait, I'll be there soon..."
Sui Si looked at him, stunned, and unable to speak.
Yu Tang waited quietly for a while, but when he didn't receive any instructions, he slowly stood up by the edge of the table and asked softly, "Teacher Sui?"
Sui Si held the cigarette tightly, his fingers were stiff and did not move.
Compared to the figure just now, Yu Tang now seemed too normal. Just like every night in the past when Yu Tang received a call from him and urgently dealt with emergencies.
Exactly the same, not even the tone of voice changed.
Sui Si never thought there was anything wrong.
Yu Tang worked as his assistant. He was obedient, sensible, efficient and useful, and he never let him worry too much about anything.
He didn't know that when he never noticed, Yu Tang had trained himself into a machine.
A machine that can respond in a programmed manner at any time, requires no adjustments, has no emotional fluctuations, and makes no mistakes.
"Sit down, I have nothing for you to do."
Sui Si's voice was a little hoarse: "...Yu Tang."
Yu Tang seemed a little confused, but still did not ask any questions. He just sat back meekly.
Sui Si squeezed the cigarette tightly. He didn't want to scare Yu Tang again, so he controlled his emotions and asked slowly, "Why are you coming to the studio instead of going back to your residence?"
"I remember some work I haven't finished yet."
Yu Tang answered smoothly: "I have been delayed a lot these days, and there are still some arrangements to be made. I want to take care of it..."
Sui Si interrupted him: "Don't do it."
Yu Tang paused slightly and looked up at him.
Yu Tang's facial features were actually very gentle. He had read too few books and did not have the innocence that only students have. He sat there stiffly, neither sharp nor eye-catching. His temperament was so ordinary that it did not attract any attention, which was a waste of his good looks.
"Stop it." Sui Si didn't want to listen to him anymore, and spoke quickly, "It's nothing serious, go back to the hospital now, have another physical examination, and rest in the hospital tonight. I'll ask Nie Chi to accompany you, you-"
Yu Tang listened quietly for a while, then shook his head: "I'm fine, Teacher Sui."
Sui Si frowned even more tightly.
"Mr. Nie's work will be reported to the family, and the hospital is also controlled by the Sui family."
Yu Tang said: "You and Mr. Ke's affairs have not been fully settled. If the Sui family knows about our current marriage status, it will be bad for you..."
"If you don't like me in the studio, I'll go back." Yu Tang thought for a moment and said softly, "Come back tomorrow morning."
Sui Si asked in a low voice: "Where are you going back to?"
Yu Tang replied: "My residence..."
"Address." Sui Si said, "I want to see where you live. Give me the address."
On the other side, Yu Tang suddenly fell silent.
Sui Si's face looked very unhappy. He tore the cigarette into pieces bit by bit and looked at the silent Yu Tang through the screen.
Sui Si asked: "Where is the address?"
Yu Tang couldn't answer.
The color had drained from his face again and he sat there motionless, his chest rising and falling slightly with his breathing.
Sui Si seemed to see that pale shadow again.
This realization almost pierced Sui Si's mind. He suddenly came to his senses, frowned in annoyance, and tried his best to adjust his tone: "Yu Tang... Yu Tang."
Yu Tang said nothing and just looked at him quietly.
"I didn't mean to be mean to you. I just - don't get me wrong."
Sui Si spoke with difficulty. It was the first time he explained to Yu Tang and he didn't know how to start: "I wanted to say that you can come back home and live."
Sui Si thought of Ke Ming in the bedroom and added, "Wait until tomorrow. I'll pick you up tomorrow."
Yu Tang said softly, "Okay."
He answered gently and calmly, which made Sui Si feel even more uncomfortable and he moved closer to the screen in vain.
"Don't run around anymore. Come to my office tonight. There's a rest room with a bed there." Sui Si said, "Don't be like this, Yu Tang. I won't lie to you. I'll treat you well."
Yu Tang nodded obediently: "Okay."
Sui Si closed his eyes.
For some reason, Yu Tang responded to every word he said and could find no fault with any of it.
Every sentence was completely out of focus and completely out of control.
Sui Si leaned on the sofa and after a while, he whispered, "Go ahead, hang up the phone, no need to call back."
Yu Tang listened to every word he said, and the other end did not speak again.
After two seconds, the busy tone sounded.
Sui Si opened his eyes and moved his arm.
The call interface was turned off, but the screen was still on, and the studio's remote monitoring popped up automatically.
Yu Tang did not go to his office, but still sat motionless at the desk.
There was no ceiling light in the office, and Yu Tang's figure was hidden under his white shirt at the edge of the desk lamp. He had a narrow waist and was so thin that his spine bulged out through the fabric.
Yu Tang just sat there quietly. Perhaps he didn't need to rest, or perhaps he had long forgotten how to rest.
Just like what he said to Sui Si and just as he had promised, he would stop entangled with him when the contract was about to expire and gradually forgot what happiness and sadness were.
On Yu Tang's desk, there is a group photo of the original studio.
Five years ago, Yu Tang, who was nineteen years old and had just come to Sui Si's side, was smiling shyly and immaturely.
…
Sui Si sat in a daze for nearly half an hour.
Ke Ming walked out of the bedroom and saw the figure on the sofa. He was a little confused and called him softly: "Brother?"
He called out several times before Sui Si finally came to his senses and raised his head.
"What happened?" Ke Ming came over, "What happened..."
Ke Ming stopped talking and looked at the surveillance video on the screen in front of Sui Si.
"I have some work arrangements, and I am a little tired."
Sui Si rubbed his face vigorously and turned off the surveillance camera: "Why did you wake up?"
"Come out and get some water." Ke Ming said, "Assistant Yu—"
Sui Si seemed to be stabbed by the name. His body stiffened. He stood up and took the water cup from Ke Ming's hand: "What's wrong?"
Ke Ming likes to drink honey water. Sui Si has been learning to take care of Ke Ming. When the two are together, they rarely ask Ke Ming to do these little things by himself.
Sui Si took the linden honey, added two small spoonfuls, and poured boiling water.
"This time." Ke Ming asked softly from behind him, "He's not going to give it to me again, is he?"
Sui Si was stunned.
He didn't understand what Ke Ming was asking, so he put down the kettle and turned around, half jokingly: "What did you fight with my assistant for this time... Xiao Ming?"
Ke Ming did not answer. The corners of his delicate eyes tightened and he reached out to take the cup of honey water.
"It's not mixed yet, wait a minute."
The cup was very hot, and Sui Si avoided it for fear of hurting his hand, saying, "Xiao Ming, listen to me... Things are not what you think."
"I have no relationship with him, but he is ill and is seeing a psychiatrist. He also did some self-harming behavior some time ago."
Sui Si said: "I am afraid of irritating him. He has followed me all these years and has worked hard even if he has not made any contributions."
"You don't know. He's a little younger than you, and he's not from the capital. I don't even know where his home is or what his family does."
Sui Si said in a gentle voice: "I think he needs someone to take care of him in his current situation. Even if it's out of obligation, I should send him home safely..."
Ke Ming looked a little strange: "He didn't tell you about his life experience?"
"No." Sui Si handed him the cup of water, "Do you know?"
Ke Ming drank two sips of honey water, then held the cup, seemingly unnoticed by the scalding heat, and slowly tightened his grip around the cup.
He will compensate Yu Tang well.
He doesn't want anything else, except this selfish desire.
"I don't know." Ke Ming whispered, "He is an adult and will go home by himself."
Sui Si felt a little helpless and smiled softly.
It was not yet dawn and Ke Ming's birthday had not yet ended. He did not want to discuss Yu Tang's problem with Ke Ming at this time.
Sui Si took the honey water, pulled Ke Ming's hand over, and asked softly, "Are you still sleepy? I'll sleep with you for a while."
Ke Ming nodded and followed Sui Si back to the bedroom.
Sui Si embraced him and lay down. He knew how to coax Ke Ming. He went to get a collection of poems and turned on the night light: "Xiao Ming..."
Sui Si stopped and looked at Ke Ming, who was curled up in the shadow on the other side of the double bed with his back to him.
Ke Ming did not turn around, but rested his head on his arms, as if he was asleep.
Sui Si stood quietly for a while without saying anything, put down the poetry collection, and lay down on the other side.
He opened his eyes and reached out to turn off the light.
Staff club.
In the super-high-grade constant-temperature Hawaiian-style king-size bed room, Yu Tang wrapped in a quilt slept comfortably until midnight, when he was suddenly awakened by a loud alarm.
The system was shaken and flashing red lights, and it came to the data board with him.
This is a warning that the affection between the protagonists has dropped abnormally.
"What's going on?"
Yu Tang clicked on Sui Si and Ke Ming's favorability and looked at the glaring warning that had dropped to the alert level: "Should I go over now and fix the switch for them?"