It's just a toy, why would you care if it breaks?

Chapter 35 Initiative

Nan Yan, barefoot and wearing a large white shirt, ran wildly in the rain.

His shirt was already soaked through, clinging tightly to his body and revealing his thin frame; the hem of the shirt fluttered in the wind.

The man told him to leave, to go back to that hellish club.

It turns out that the gentleman still intends to abandon him.

Tears mingled with the rain, blurring my vision.

Nan Yan ran aimlessly, her feet getting cut by the pebbles on the road, causing a burning pain.

The strange feeling in his body was still there, surging up from every part of his body, intertwining with the coldness of the rain, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

That uncontrollable dependence, that urge to get closer to Jiongjiong, clung to him like vines, making him feel ashamed and desperate. He was just a toy who only knew how to please others in a despicable way; no wonder Mr. hated him.

It's better to die.

Once you're dead, you won't be abandoned anymore, and you won't have to endure this pain and shame anymore.

After running for an unknown amount of time, Nan Yan finally saw a bridge spanning the river.

The headlights of cars coming and going on the bridge resemble a flowing galaxy.

He stopped, gripped the cold bridge railing, and gasped for breath.

The river wind howled, carrying the fishy smell of the river, making him shiver.

"Fine, I'll die here."

He climbed onto the bridge railing, the cold metal digging painfully into his skin.

Below was the dark river, its waves surging.

Nan Yan closed his eyes and was about to jump when a strong hand suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Young man, don't do anything rash!" an old voice rang in my ears.

Nan Yan opened his eyes and saw an old man in a raincoat pulling him hard.

Several passersby rushed over and pulled him down from the railing.

"You're so young, what can't you overcome?" Kind passersby kept comforting him.

"Don't do anything foolish, your parents will be heartbroken if they find out."

Nan Yan slumped to the ground, feeling utterly powerless, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

He wanted to tell them that he had no parents and that no one would be sad for him, but he couldn't make a sound.

The heat in my body grew stronger and stronger, my cheeks burned, and my consciousness began to blur.

He felt ashamed and just wanted to find a place to hide, refusing to let anyone get close.

"Child, are you feeling unwell?" An older woman noticed his unusual expression and reached out to touch his forehead, but Nan Yan instinctively dodged away.

"Let us take you to the toll booth to avoid the rain," the old man suggested.

Several people helped Nan Yan walk towards the toll booth next to the bridge.

Upon seeing this, the staff at the toll booth quickly opened the door and let them in, even finding a military green raincoat to wrap around Nan Yan.

Nan Yan huddled in the corner of the toll booth, wrapped up tightly, her head buried in her knees, trembling all over.

He dared not look at anyone, feeling as if the fire within him was about to burn him to ashes. The overwhelming urge to be embarrassed grew stronger and stronger, making him feel utterly ashamed.

"Child, would you like to call your family or friends and ask them to come pick you up?" The staff member handed over a cell phone.

Nan Yan raised her head, her eyes filled with confusion.

He couldn't call his husband; his husband no longer wanted him.

But who else can I call?

Hongye? The kind girl at the convenience store.

But she lives in Haishi, which is so far away...

Suddenly, a number flashed through his mind—the drunkard at the train station.

He took the phone and, with trembling fingers, dialed Dou Xiao's number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered, and Dou Xiao's voice carried a hint of laziness: "Hello, who is this?"

"It's me..." Nan Yan's voice was choked with sobs.

"Nan Yan?" Dou Xiao's voice suddenly became urgent: "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Where are you?"

The staff around him quickly announced the name of the bridge across the river and told him to come and pick them up.

"Don't move, wait for me where you are, I'm coming right away!" Dou Xiao said and then hung up the phone.

Nan Yan returned the phone to the staff member, then retreated to the corner, closed her eyes, and waited for Dou Xiao.

He didn't know why he called Shawn Dou. Perhaps it was because Shawn Dou was the only person besides his husband who had told him that he would treat him to dinner.

Not long after, a black sedan stopped outside the toll booth.

Shawn Dou pushed open the car door and strode in.

"Nan Yan!" Dou Xiao spotted Nan Yan huddled in the corner at a glance and quickly walked over.

The elderly people in the toll booth immediately surrounded him, chattering away as they told Dou Xiao what had just happened, urging him to comfort Nan Yan.

Dou Xiao nodded, thanking him repeatedly, then walked over to Nan Yan, squatted down, and asked, "Nan Yan, how are you? Are you alright?"

Nan Yan raised her head, her face pale, her lips chapped, tears still clinging to her face, her eyes filled with vulnerability.

He tried to stand up, but found himself powerless, and the pain in his feet made him gasp.

Dou Xiao then noticed his bare feet, which were covered in wounds and still bleeding. A wave of heartache washed over him.

"What happened to your foot?"

He didn't wait for Nan Yan's reply, but bent down and carefully picked her up.

Nan Yan's body was very light, like a feather, and his whole body was burning hot; you could feel his temperature even through his raincoat.

"Thank you everyone." Dou Xiao hugged Nan Yan, thanked everyone present again, and then quickly walked out of the toll booth.

The driver had already opened the car door and saw Dou Xiao carrying Nan Yan into the back seat. He quickly asked, "Young Master, where are we going now?"

"Go to the nearest hospital." Dou Xiao frowned as he looked at the wound on Nan Yan's foot.

Nan Yan was held in Dou Xiao's arms, feeling his warm body temperature and steady heartbeat, and her tense nerves finally relaxed.

Exhaustion and the effects of the medication made him unable to hold on any longer, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Looking at the weak Nan Yan in his arms, Dou Xiao felt a mix of emotions.

He didn't know what had happened to Nan Yan, why she had run to the bridge in the pouring rain, or why she had ended up in such a sorry state.

He gently stroked Nan Yan's hair, his movements tender.

After a while, Nan Yan seemed to sense something and frowned.

He let out a soft groan, like an injured kitten, and snuggled closer to Dou Xiao, pressing himself tightly against him.

Dou Xiao's body froze instantly, and his cheeks flushed bright red.

He could clearly feel Nan Yan's soft body pressed against him, her warm breath spraying on his neck.

"Hey, even if I'm good-looking, you don't have to be so proactive, do you?" Dou Xiao muttered to himself, his heart pounding.

The driver in front coughed softly, breaking the awkward silence in the carriage.

Dou Xiao cleared his throat awkwardly and said to Nan Yan, "Do you want me to hug you? Okay, okay, I'll hug you, don't move around."

Nan Yan seemed to understand his words and stopped moving, but her brows were still furrowed and her expression looked very painful.

"What's wrong?" Dou Xiao noticed something was wrong and looked down at him. "Where does it hurt?"

Nan Yan licked her dry lips and said weakly, "I feel unwell..."

"Where does it hurt? Tell me." Dou Xiao's voice softened even more.

"My heart... my heart is going to explode."

Dou Xiao's heart tightened, and he subconsciously reached out to touch Nan Yan's chest.

The moment his hand touched Nan Yan's shirt, he felt the burning heat of her skin beneath.

As the cool palm touched the warm skin, Nan Yan hummed comfortably, gripping Dou Xiao's hand tightly and refusing to let go.

Dou Xiao's hand was being held by him, and he could clearly feel the warmth of his palm and the smooth skin, which made his cheeks even redder.

Nan Yan closed his eyes, his consciousness hazy, but he felt that Dou Xiao's hand was very comfortable and could relieve his embarrassment.

She smells very nice.

He unconsciously leaned over, gently bit the button on Dou Xiao's jacket, and slowly put it in his mouth, even licking it lightly with his little tongue.