Little Fish. Chapter 16.

Gu Lang knew he shouldn’t have brought up their engagement, but he could only take being cold-shouldered for so long. He’d kept the apartment, cut his losses, and believed that Wei Zangchen had truly died. He’d wanted to give the esper the main bedroom, yet Chi Ren recommended not forcing it on him and also stated that Wei Zangchen should rely on his wheelchair until they could remove the metal embedded in his stomach.

Overhearing Wei Zangchen’s request for sticky tape, Gu Lang started rummaging through his desk drawers, only finding wall-tak instead. He’d have to get some sticky tape—when Shu Min called him later, he’d ask her to bring a lot. This apartment was where he thought he and Wei Zangchen would build their family together. He knew they were young when espers and guides lived well into their 120s thanks to gate exposure, and he’d been more than happy to spend each of those days married to his esper.

After Wei Zangchen’s death, his mental cloud had become manic. He’d met Chi Ren at his darkest time. She had wanted to help, but he was grieving the loss of his esper and hadn’t been the nicest person. Especially since he kept hitting roadblocks when it came to the truth behind Wei Zangchen’s death. That’s why he hadn’t given up in four years. Every time someone brought Wei Zangchen up, he was reminded that his esper didn’t want to go public—that he wanted the world to see Gu Lang’s own strength and not label him as important just for dating a grade S esper.

Wei Zangchen had been his biggest fan. Then he’d been gone, and Gu Lang felt like the first family he’d found in the world had been lost because of his own carelessness. He’d never made the same mistake again. He’d never loved again. He’d never physically guided anyone, nor did he have people over anymore. The administration had given him his own team, but that had been to distract him from investigating Wei Zangchen.

He now had a good idea how Gun Wen and Wei Zangchen had ended up at the institution. Both so wounded they were sent essentially for disposal. Someone had signed off on it, meaning someone had to know about the inhumane work being done there.

Knock, knock.

“Sir! It’s Gun Wen. Can I come in?”

“Come in.”

Opening the office door, Gun Wen slipped inside. Gu Lang was conflicted in his feelings. For four years, Gun Wen had taken his spot, raising Wei Zangchen’s son with him. Chi Ren had prepared a full report on the boy, which he hadn’t read. He wanted Wei Zangchen to tell him the truth himself… But then Chi Ren had discovered past evidence of Wei Zangchen’s surgery, and Gu Lang had felt even more confused about it all. Who else had Wei Zangchen been with?

Now that he knew they had a shared past, Gun Wen seemed unsure how to act. He’d wanted to ask something at the dining table, then hadn’t.

Staring down at his feet, Gun Wen asked,

“Sorry to disturb you. I… You see… Uh… X-X-Xiao Li made some signs for the doors. I completely understand if you don’t want that kind of stuff put up… Wei Zangchen said to ask you for some sticky tape. Is it okay?”

“I have wall-tak. I’ll have Shu Min bring some tape later. If you want to put Xiao Li’s art up, then I give permission, as long as he doesn’t draw all over the walls.”

“Xiao Li wouldn’t. Wei Zangchen will talk with him.”

Gu Lang had already heard their talk. Xiao Li was scared of him… He didn’t want Wei Zangchen’s son to be scared of him. He didn’t want his son to be scared of him. Gu Lang held out the strip of wall-tak.

“It’s fine. All matters concerning Xiao Li are between you and Shu Min. There really is a park down the road. If you wish to take him, you’ll need to bring her with you. Chi Ren’s number is in your device in case of emergencies.”

Gun Wen accepted the strip of wall-tak, staring at it before shaking his head.

“Thank you. Xiao Li never had a room so nice. The other children would give him lots of things and try to play with him, but he’s too attached to Wei Zangchen. Please don’t separate them.”

“We’ll see. I’ll send you the dinner menu. I saw that Wei Zangchen’s meal was different?”

“I can’t talk to you about that, sir. I can only say that it’s necessary.”

If it was necessary, that would explain why Wei Zangchen ate very little on the drive home and hadn’t touched the snacks he’d prepared. They had all been favorites of the esper in the past.

“I understand. The whole first floor is available to the three of you. This floor is off limits. I hope you respect my privacy.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You should get back to Xiao Li.”

Gun Wen nodded. Gu Lang admired the fact he kept all his questions to himself. He surely had to want to know about Wei Zangchen’s past life just as much as Gu Lang wanted to know about the four years he’d missed.

“Yes, thank you. I like to serve dinner at 6:30 p.m., if that’s alright.”

“It’s fine. Thank you.”

Left alone in his office again, Gu Lang rose from his chair and left through the side door, straight into the master bedroom. He knew it was unhealthy, yet he’d preserved this room. When he couldn’t buy the same sheets anymore, he paid to have them custom-made.

Sitting down on his bed, he buried his head in his hands. He didn’t feel that Wei Zangchen loved him anymore. He also didn’t feel that it was blatant hatred either. He knew his fiancé. They’d dated properly for five years before Wei Zangchen had “died.” Before that, they’d been fumbling around in the dark as rookies. Their families had hated each other. Initially, they’d tried to avoid each other too… Then Wei Zangchen had gone and become more magnetic by the day.

That Wei Zangchen was an omega had been simply an added bonus in bed. Everything else had been… had been their hard work. The only one who didn’t want to kiss his ass or fawn over him for guiding had been his fiancé. Wei Zangchen had pushed him harder and harder. When they were in a gate together then… it was like magic.

Wei Zangchen didn’t want him to know he was alive because he wanted him to remember how he was.

But one bad accident wasn’t going to stop him from caring. He wouldn’t let the esper go and actually die on him. He’d tried so hard for answers, and he deserved them. He wouldn’t accept Wei Zangchen leaving without knowing what he’d been through.

Showered and changed into casual clothes, Gu Lang went downstairs to meet with Shu Min and Chi Ren. Shu Min was going through clothes with Gun Wen and Xiao Li, while Chi Ren was in Wei Zangchen’s room.

Giving Shu Min a wave of acknowledgment, Gu Lang walked down the hall. The bedroom Wei Zangchen was now using had been where he’d stored the esper’s things. Noticing the signs on the door, he couldn’t decipher the scribbles, but he did find them cute in their own way. He’d meant what he said—as long as Xiao Li didn’t start drawing all over the walls, he could put up with the artwork if it made the child less scared of him.

Walking to Wei Zangchen’s room, he noticed extra scribbles like “care” written on the door sign. The bond between Xiao Li and Wei Zangchen almost made Gu Lang uncomfortable. However, the boy would be his stepson, so he’d have to learn to share. Without thinking, he opened the door. Wei Zangchen was lying on the bed, facing away from the door, while Chi Ren had her hand on his forehead. Seeing him enter, she frowned.

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

“There are no secrets in my house. How is he?”

Chi Ren sighed at him.

“He’s got a low fever, and his mental cloud is a little less stable than I’d like. You didn’t make him use his powers, did you?”

“Of course not. I’m not so beastly I’d attack a guest. What were you two talking about?”

“I just gave him something for his headache. We were going through his medication and formulating a surgery plan. Which you would’ve heard.”

Gu Lang pointed at himself.

“I was taking a shower.”

That was true. He’d spent the afternoon going around in circles mentally, then gone to shower when Chi Ren arrived. Despite how everyone painted him, he was only human and could only take so much.

“Yes, well. My plan for surgery is in a month’s time. In that time, you should bring his mental consciousness up to a level where I’ll be able to use healing espers. The first surgery will be to correct his digestive issues and remove the piece of metal in his abdomen. After dinner, I’ll set up fluids. He needs to be getting adequate fluids.”

“Gun Wen made sure he ate lunch.”

Chi Ren looked skeptical.

“If he’s cooking lunch, make sure it’s edible. Wei Zangchen needs a softer diet.”

“Wei Zangchen is still right here. Gun Wen knows what I can and can’t have. Just give him an idea, and he’ll make it happen.”

The esper sounded grumpy. Gu Lang sucked in his lips to keep from laughing. Chi Ren immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know him or his style. I suppose I should have considered he’d know with all the time you spent together. Did he do the cooking at the institution?”

“We all did. The children needed to know how to look after themselves once they left.”

“That’s very smart of you. How’s your head feeling?”

“Better.”

“That’s what I like to hear. We’ll go through those plans again once I’ve finalized my approach. For now, concentrate on your recovery. I’ve left a written schedule with your medication. No injections without calling me first.”

“I get it. I’ll follow your instructions.”

Wei Zangchen sounded so done with Chi Ren that Gu Lang nearly choked trying to hold down his laugh. Chi Ren didn’t seem pleased that her patient was this fed up.

“It’s for your own good. It may seem like an impossible summit at the moment, but I’m not about to let this drag out. I’ve made it my personal goal to have you out of that wheelchair by the end of the year.”

“Good. I hate them anyway. Thanks, I’m going to try to take a nap before dinner.”

“Are you sure?”

“Gun Wen has a pretty strict rule about meals. I’m not going to piss him off.”

Chi Ren finally smiled.

“I think I’m going to have to become friends with him. Does he have any other skills?”

“Get him talking about fashion. Even better, take him shopping. You’ll be his best friend forever if you do that.”

The doctor laughed, patting Wei Zangchen’s shoulder.

“Unfortunately, I’m not so fashion-minded. I’ll leave you to talk to Gu Lang now. If you’re still in pain after dinner, we’ll talk about giving you another shot for it. I don’t want you using your powers at all if it can be helped. Gu Lang, make sure he doesn’t.”

Seeing as he’d been the reason Wei Zangchen had, Gu Lang wasn’t sure that rule was going to stick.

“I’ll try my best. Our Xiao Shen-Shen’s recovery comes first.”

He waited to be flipped off but got no reaction. Chi Ren didn’t question the new nickname either.

“Don’t let him get under your skin.”

Now actively trying to get a rise out of Wei Zangchen, Gu Lang added,

“It’s far too late for that, Chi Ren. We were going to be wed. This apartment is going to be our family home.”

Chi Ren glared.

“Get out. I’m sorry. I’ll take him away now.”

Marching around the bed, Chi Ren took Gu Lang by the arm and dragged him out into the hallway, where she promptly kicked his shin. Gu Lang crossed his arms. He didn’t deserve to be kicked.

“That’s enough. He’s my patient.”

And? Gu Lang had had him first.

“He’s my fiancé.”

“Have you asked him that?”

“Why would I? He’d say no, then I’d have to ignore his wishes. It’s better to accept it as it is.”

Aware that Shu Min was down the hall and they weren’t alone, Chi Ren started yelling at him in whispers.

“This is not how a normal person looks at things like this!”

“He’s not normal. He’s never been normal. I’m frankly astonished you got him to agree to surgery so fast.”

Chi Ren pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You’re… you’re a beast. You want to go back to being his fiancé and support him, I understand that. But you haven’t learned the most basic things about his new life.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means figure it out yourself. Gun Wen better have created something nice for dinner or I’m going to be mad.”

“Why didn’t you tell me his dietary needs? I didn’t know he couldn’t eat proper meals.”

“He literally has a hunk of metal in his gut! It should have been obvious.”

Gu Lang’s lips turned downward. This was definitely Chi Ren’s fault.

“I expect you to submit a nutritional plan.”

“Leave it to Gun Wen. Wei Zangchen is less likely to be suspicious. He needs nutrition, not food poisoning.”

Now Gu Lang felt truly insulted. He’d cooked for Wei Zangchen repeatedly in the past. They even had a good habit of cooking for each other and leaving meals when one had to go away.

“I used to cook for him.”

“You cooked when his body had the energy to heal itself. I want two grade A healing espers in that surgery or I won’t be able to touch him. Make the preparations. May the 4th will be the date of surgery.”

As a guide, Gu Lang knew plenty of healing espers. But finding two that he’d let touch Wei Zangchen…

“Two…”

Chi Ren held up two fingers, reiterating.

“Two. It’ll be a long procedure. I believe removing this piece first will be easiest, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t carry high risks. Wei Zangchen made this choice. Respect it.”

Gu Lang clenched his fists. He didn’t want to admit he felt helpless, and that a month was severely rushing things. He also knew he’d be frustrated should he be in Wei Zangchen’s shoes. They were treated like gods, paraded around with their lives under constant scrutiny. It was because Wei Zangchen had been a god that he knew his fiancé’s mind.

When a god falls to become human, how does he find a new way to pass his days—when no one is there to catch him and guide his human path?