Pain to the Eye

Taking the back way around, he found a passage here that led directly up to Kevin’s room. This had been the place he and Kevin had chosen together back then, so he knew the layout well enough.

He climbed the stairs expertly and opened the door. The moment he pushed it open, he saw a scene that nearly stopped his heart. Kevin was sitting alone by the window, his arms wrapped around himself in helplessness.

Even though it was summer, sitting there in such thin clothing would easily leave him catching cold. Shangguan Han strode quickly across the room and came to Kevin’s side. He reached out, shaking him as he called, “Kevin! Wake up! You’ll catch cold like this!”

He called several times, but there was still no response. In the end, he had no choice but to bend down and lift him into his arms. He carried him gently to the bed and laid him down, staring at the unusually haggard look on his face. Shangguan Han was overwhelmed with self-reproach.

It was all his fault that Kevin had been dragged into this. If he had not come here to find him yesterday, perhaps things would have turned out differently. Kevin would not be lying here now, but would instead be lively and carefree in his bar, laughing and enjoying himself.

He had never imagined in his entire life that his actions would lead to consequences like these. Right now, he could not even think of any way to reduce the harm Kevin had suffered as much as possible.

He felt like a curse upon the world, as though everyone who treated him well would end up with nothing but misery in return. After forcing himself to calm down for a while, Shangguan Han took the first-aid kit from the bag he had brought with him. He opened it and placed it beside the bed, then turned back to look at Kevin.

He had better tend to the wounds before Kevin woke up. Otherwise, if Kevin woke and refused to forgive him, he might not even allow him to treat them. With that thought, he did not hesitate to remove Kevin’s clothes.

Seeing the injuries on Kevin’s body once more, Shangguan Han was struck by an even deeper sense of guilt. Those shocking wounds covered him everywhere. Every dark-purple bruise seemed to be denouncing the evil he had once committed.

Each injury stabbed at Shangguan Han’s heart, leaving him in agony. The harm he had done to Kevin was something he could never make up for, even with a lifetime.

He took the ointment and gently applied it to the wounds, rubbing softly, afraid that being too rough might wake Kevin in pain.

But how could he know that Kevin had actually already awakened the moment he entered?

Kevin simply did not dare open his eyes. He was afraid that the moment he did, he would discover that all of this was nothing more than a dream.

He had thought Shangguan Han would never come back. And yet, when Shangguan Han lifted him into his arms, everything felt so real. If this really was a dream, then he hoped never to wake from it, so that he could keep Shangguan Han’s tenderness forever.

Until Shangguan Han removed his clothes, there was even a moment when he nearly cried out. But he did not want Shangguan Han to leave him, so he kept forcing himself to endure it, clenching his teeth tightly so he would not make a sound. When the cool ointment was spread over his wounds, he only felt even more ashamed of himself. He had actually thought, thought that Shangguan Han wanted to...

Shangguan Han carefully tended to Kevin’s injuries, and finally paused at the most badly wounded area. After a moment of hesitation, he still picked up the ointment and applied it there. When he touched the area along Kevin’s lower back, Kevin could not help but let out a soft groan.

Cold sweat had already broken out across his forehead from the effort of holding it in, and the wounds on his body seemed to burn hotter and hotter. Even after the medicine was applied, there was no sign of relief; if anything, the burning only intensified. He shifted in discomfort, but that only tugged at the injuries and brought a fresh wave of pain.

Hearing Kevin make a sound, Shangguan Han hurriedly turned to look. He found that Kevin seemed to be in extreme discomfort, though his eyes were still tightly shut.