Awkward Chapter 36

—Hospital

It’s early winter, and flu season is in full swing. Even though it’s night, the hospital is still crowded.

Chen Mo had helped Ye Mu get an emergency appointment, but due to the shortage of beds, they were seated in the corridor outside the nurses’ station for an IV drip.

The cold wind at the entrance blew bleakly, and the two of them sat a little closer than usual, almost shoulder to shoulder.

Drip, drip.

The saline solution dripped slowly, one drop at a time, making time feel painfully slow.

Chen Mo, bored, pulled out his phone to play a game.

Drip, drip.

Before they knew it, one saline bag was empty.

A nurse came over to change it, then walked away.

The IV continued to drip.

An hour passed quietly.

Ye Mu awoke, his expression haggard. Seeing the IV in his hand, he said nothing, just stared blankly at a spot.

Chen Mo noticed, glanced down at him, and said coldly, “You must be sick in the head, always pushing yourself to the point of ending up in the hospital.”

Ye Mu was silent for a while, his dry, chapped lips pressing together slightly, and he murmured, “Mm.”

Chen Mo shot him a side glance, his expression displeased, “The registration fee and medical expenses total one hundred and twenty yuan. You can transfer it to me later.”

Ye Mu slowly closed his eyes, his dark lashes shading the darkness beneath them. His voice was thick with exhaustion, “You’re really stingy.”

Chen Mo scoffed, “It’s a matter of principle. You’re not anyone to me, so why should I cover your medical bills?”

Ye Mu’s long, delicate brows furrowed slightly as he mumbled with disdain, “Don’t bother me, you’re so annoying.”

Chen Mo glared at him, his tone cold, “Ungrateful jerk.”

Ye Mu, eyes closed, ignored him.

Chen Mo frowned and casually tossed something his way, “Hey, don’t sleep, eat this chocolate first.”

Ye Mu barely opened his eyes, not moving. After a while, he swallowed with difficulty, “Feed me.”

Chen Mo’s brow twitched, his face darkening, “Don’t push your luck, you pervert.”

Ye Mu tilted his head, “I don’t have the strength.”

Chen Mo half-closed his eyes, staring at him in silence for a moment before gritting his teeth and tearing open the wrapper, bringing the chocolate to his mouth.

Ye Mu hung his head, looking like an abandoned puppy, and slowly opened his lips, taking small bites.

Chen Mo, growing impatient, said, “Hey, eat faster.”

Ye Mu shook his head and suddenly stopped. “That’s enough, I can’t eat any more.”

Chen Mo didn’t push him, instead grabbing a bottle of water and handing it to him.

Ye Mu took a small sip and then stopped, staring blankly at the floor again, his gaze vacant. His messy black hair fell over his eyes, hiding his expression.

Chen Mo turned to look at him, about to say something, but then he saw Ye Mu slightly shift, resting his head on Chen Mo’s shoulder.

Chen Mo’s fair and handsome face stiffened.

Ye Mu, exhausted, closed his eyes, his dry lips barely moving as he spoke in a hoarse, tired voice, “I don’t mean anything by it, I just want to lean on you for a while, just for a little while.”

Chen Mo said nothing, remaining still.

Ye Mu’s forehead was pressed against Chen Mo’s warm skin at his collarbone, the messy black hair brushing against the back of his neck, making it difficult to breathe.

“Thank you,” Ye Mu murmured quietly, his eyes closed.

Chen Mo turned his head, deliberately avoiding looking at him. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke coldly, “Thank what? It’s going to cost you.”

Ye Mu half-opened his eyes, half asleep, “How much?”

Chen Mo scoffed, glancing at him sideways. “One hundred thousand per minute.”

Ye Mu was silent for a moment before finally asking, “Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”

Chen Mo sneered, “If you think it’s too expensive, get up now.”

Ye Mu didn’t respond, remaining quiet for a long time before whispering, “I’ll owe you.”

Chen Mo glanced at his watch, his tone dripping with disdain. “It’s been five minutes already. Can you afford it?”

Ye Mu tugged at his lips, his dark eyes showing a hint of sorrow. He whispered hoarsely, “It’s okay, no matter how long.”

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.

Ye Mu was almost asleep, struggling to form words, “Anyway, in a few days, I’ll be going to prison.”

Chen Mo paused, a complicated expression flickering in his eyes before it quickly disappeared. “Does going to prison mean you don’t have to pay?”

There was a brief silence. The other person didn’t reply.

Chen Mo turned to look and found that Ye Mu had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep, quiet as a child.

Chen Mo pursed his lips, leaning against the wall, watching the patients come and go in the medical room, his long, narrow phoenix eyes deep as the ocean.

“Waaah, I don’t want a shot, I don’t want a shot! Waaah!”

Suddenly, a piercing cry interrupted the quiet. A little kid had been brought into the medical room, crying and yelling, with snot and tears mixed together.

The doctor had no choice but to half coax, half appease him. “Don’t be scared, little one. If you get the shot, Uncle will give you some candy.”

What seemed like an ineffective strategy surprisingly worked.

The child immediately stopped crying, eyes full of expectation. “Doctor, give me lots of shots!”

He wanted candy, lots and lots of candy!

As soon as he said that, everyone around started laughing.

Chen Mo also tugged at his lips in a smile, unexpectedly reminded of his own childhood.

Bullied, despised, abandoned, filled with tears and resentment.

He had always hated his brother, thinking of how to get revenge, but had always been powerless. However, the information he had found this time gave him an opportunity.

After Ye Mu’s case goes to trial, if he appeals and submits all the evidence as testimony, a large portion of the charges will be shifted onto Yan Chen.

At that point, one would be sentenced to life imprisonment, while the other’s ten-year sentence would be reduced to one year.

This was the plan he had been scheming in his mind for the past three days.

He had always thought it was the most perfect and suitable plan.

But now, looking at Ye Mu, it still felt too cruel.