The date on the ID card showed Chris' date of birth.
It was only then that Donovan realized Chris was exactly one year younger than him. Judging by the registered date, Chris' birthday was fast approaching.
Donovan stared at the ID for a long time. Eventually, he put his phone down and habitually lit a cigarette. As he exhaled a cloud of smoke, he found himself recalling the days he had spent with Chris.
He had to admit that he had never held such complex feelings for another man in all these years.
Donovan stood at the very top of the social pyramid. In his circle, there was hardly anyone he truly respected. Consequently, he had never had a real buddy in the truest sense of the word.
His current friends were not people he could open his heart to. At most, they were people he gathered with in his spare time to exchange favors and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.
Only Chris possessed the specific abilities and traits that aligned perfectly with what Donovan valued.
However, considering the massive disparity in their backgrounds and status, Donovan didn't want to easily break the employer-employee dynamic. He just wanted Chris to stay by his side and work for him.
In the afternoon, after finishing his work, Donovan drove alone to the hospital where Chris was staying.
When he pushed open the door to the ward, a nurse was in the middle of changing Chris' IV bag.
Seeing Donovan enter, Chris tried to force himself to sit up in bed.
Donovan pressed down on his shoulder. "Lie down. Don't move. How have you been these past few days?"
Before Chris could answer, the nurse smiled and spoke up. "Mr. Thompson has a very strong constitution. He is recovering quite well. He can sit up on his own now, and he can even walk around with crutches. His appetite has returned to normal too. At this speed, he will be discharged in less than a month."
"That's good." Donovan breathed a sigh of relief at the good news.

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