Shoutout to nyanmaru for the commission!
Ye Mu had kept his injuries a secret from his parents to avoid worrying them, enduring alone in the hospital for five or six days.
Chen Mo helped arrange a nurse for him during the day and came over after work to take care of him.
Ye Mu found it hard to accept his kindness and had repeatedly advised him not to come.
However, Chen Mo was very stubborn and not only ignored his advice but came even more frequently.
Ye Mu had no choice but to let him continue.
On this rare weekend, Chen Mo did not rest at home but rushed to the hospital early in the morning.
“I’ve made you some fresh milk porridge. Do you want to have some?” The young man was tall and athletic, and in the sunlight, he looked quite handsome.
Ye Mu laid in bed, his tone indifferent. “I didn’t expect you to be able to do this too.”
Chen Mo’s lips curled into a slight, unruly smile. “Of course. I’m a standard good homebody, cooking in the kitchen and doing house chores. Now, all that’s missing is a partner.”
The meaning of this was quite clear—he hoped that Ye Mu would not refuse him like last time and give him a chance for a formal relationship.
Ye Mu did not respond directly and instead slightly pursed his lips, changing the subject. “How’s the company business recently? Busy?”
Chen Mo noticed the topic shift and his gaze darkened a bit, but he calmly continued spooning porridge. “Everything’s fine, but that person named Yan is acting a bit oddly.”
He glanced at Ye Mu, trying to discern something from his expression.
Since the last time, his intuition told him that the relationship between Ye Mu and this Yan wasn’t as simple as he thought.
Ye Mu appeared indifferent, lifting his eyelids slightly and asking in a flat voice, “What’s strange?”
Chen Mo lowered his gaze, carrying the white porcelain bowl over and sitting down. His voice was low. “It’s nothing much, just that they’re delaying progress. A simple project proposal hasn’t been signed for a week, affecting the subsequent development of the entire project. Song Shi is quite upset and is considering terminating the contract.”
Ye Mu frowned slightly, “That’s indeed not in line with his usual behavior.”
Chen Mo was silent for a moment, then furrowed his brows thoughtfully. “There’s something you might need to know.”
Ye Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at him with a questioning look.
Chen Mo stirred the porridge with his spoon, his jawline sharp. “For some unknown reason, that Yan person personally sent Gu Huai to prison.”
Ye Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly, his head lowered in thought. After a long pause, he finally said, “That’s quite ruthless.”
Chen Mo turned his head to look at him. “Do you know something?”
Ye Mu averted his gaze slightly, casually replying, “I’m not sure.”
Chen Mo cast a calm, but subtly complex look at him, remaining silent.
He always felt that Ye Mu was hiding something from him, which made him uneasy, like a thorn pricking his heart.
Ye Mu sensed this and was about to say something when his phone beeped.
Glancing at the caller ID, he answered without much thought.
“Hello, Mr. Ye? I’m Ye Chun’s tutor. The child has finished her class. Where are you? Why haven’t you come to pick her up on time?”
Ye Mu was momentarily stunned, then remembered he needed to pick up his child on weekends. He hurriedly said, “Sorry, I forgot. Can my colleague come to pick her up? Please look after her for a while.”
“Please be quick. I have other matters to attend to.”
“Okay.”
The other end said no more and politely hung up.
Ye Mu ended the call and looked at Chen Mo. “Could you do me a favor and pick up the child?”
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. “Pick her up to bring to the hospital?”
Ye Mu nodded. “Yes.”
Chen Mo looked at him. “Aren’t you afraid she’ll tell your parents? It’s been hard enough to keep it a secret for this long.”
Ye Mu pursed his lips, his tone calm. “It’s fine. Ye Chun is quite clever. Just give her some candy.”
Chen Mo scoffed. “Is this a bribe to keep her quiet? That little kid is so materialistic.”
Ye Mu nodded and casually forwarded the location. “Go ahead. I’ve sent you the address. The tutor has things to do and can’t wait long.”
Chen Mo was somewhat displeased but didn’t refuse. After feeding Ye Mu a few more spoonfuls of porridge, he reluctantly got up.
“Wait.” Ye Mu suddenly called out.
Chen Mo stopped, looking back at him.
Ye Mu moved his throat slightly, his lips parting. “It’s the child’s birthday today. If possible, could you buy a cake for her when you pass by the bakery?”
Chen Mo showed some displeasure. “It’s a hassle.”
Ye Mu, sounding unusually soft, said, “Please.”
Unable to endure his persistence, Chen Mo said nothing more and turned to leave.
Following the location on his phone, he drove to the nursery in less than half an hour.
The cold wind was biting at the entrance, and seeing someone come, the female teacher walked out holding a cute child.
When Ye Chun saw Chen Mo, her eyes lit up with stars. She tugged at the teacher and said, “Look, this is the ‘arrogant jerk’ my uncle talks about.”
The teacher squatted down and raised an eyebrow. “Is this the one you say owes your uncle money and hasn’t paid it back?”
Ye Chun made a shushing gesture. “Be quiet, don’t let him hear. His face looks so grim; it’s scary.”
She said this while hiding behind the female teacher, pretending to be timid.
Chen Mo heard everything but tried to maintain a stiff smile. “Hello, I’m Ye Mu’s colleague. I’m here to pick up the child for him today.”
The teacher, who had previously received a photo from Ye Mu, confirmed that the man in front of her looked the same as the one in the photo. She gently handed Ye Chun over.
“Hello, Mr. Chen. I won’t stay longer. Please take care of the child.”
She seemed to really have something to do, so after handing Ye Chun over, she quickly hailed a cab and left.
Ye Chun, left alone, flashed a charming smile and showed her little white teeth. “Hello, Brother Chen.”
Her childish voice was tender and sweet, and with her fair skin, she looked very endearing.
Chen Mo was not moved by this and walked closer, looking down at the little person with a tense, sharp gaze. “The arrogant jerk who owes money, hmm?”
Although he was addressing a child, his menacing aura did not diminish.
Ye Chun pouted, licked her dry lips, and said weakly, “It’s not me saying that. It’s my uncle. He always calls you that.”
Chen Mo was angry but didn’t want to take it out on a child. He snorted, opened the car door with a grim expression, and said in a low voice, “Get in.”
Ye Chun, sensing the atmosphere, quickly climbed into the car.
The seatbelt in the back was only designed for adults and didn’t fit the child properly, so Chen Mo didn’t bother with it, sat in the driver’s seat, and started the engine.
In the cold weather, the car wheels stalled several times before finally moving normally.
After buying a cake for Ye Chun along the way, Chen Mo drove her to the hospital.
It was Ye Chun’s first time seeing her uncle lying in a hospital bed, and she burst into tears as soon as she entered.
“Uncle, why do you have so many bruises on your face, and a wound on your head, and your leg too? Did someone bully you?” Her big, clear eyes were full of concern.
Ye Mu patted her small head and said, “It’s nothing, just minor injuries. I’ll be fine soon. Chun Chun, don’t tell Grandma and Grandpa; I don’t want them to worry.”
Ye Chun obediently nodded, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with her small hand. “Okay, I won’t say anything, but Uncle, you need to get better soon.”
Ye Mu smiled faintly, nodded in agreement, and, fearing she might be bored, handed her his phone to play games.
Chen Mo walked over and placed the cake on the bedside. He shot Ye Mu a sideways glance and said coldly, “Hey, when did I ever owe you money?”
Ye Mu had struggled with this issue for a long time. Being suddenly reminded, a hint of embarrassment crossed his pale face. He turned his head slightly and stammered, “It was a long time ago. It’s better not to bring it up.”
Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and his face grew stern. “Speak up, don’t keep me in suspense.”
Ye Mu coughed, lowered his thin eyelids, and his gaze wandered. “It was that time in Uruk when you borrowed those fifty thousand yuan from me.”
Chen Mo lowered his gaze, frowning deeply as he recalled the event, his expression darkening. “I forgot about it due to so many things. Why didn’t you remind me?” It was humiliating to be scolded by a child on the street for not paying back money.
Ye Mu swallowed, looking at him with a slight frown. His tone was tinged with resignation, as if it wasn’t his fault. “Haven’t I been giving you five likes every day since you came back?”
Chen Mo’s forehead twitched violently. A trace of irritation emerged on his high nose bridge, and he suddenly became angry. “So that’s why you were liking my posts?”
Ye Mu remained silent, giving him a look that seemed to say it was only natural. His tone was flat. “Otherwise, who would have the time to like your boring posts every day?”
Chen Mo ground his teeth, his disheveled hair falling across his forehead, making him look angular. “Such a vague hint, how could anyone understand it?”
Ye Mu raised his lightly trimmed eyebrows slightly. “The number was always five, wasn’t it?”
Chen Mo, no longer willing to argue with him, appeared calm on the surface but was turbulent inside. Did he misunderstand all along, thinking the other person was interested in him?
Ye Mu noticed his sudden silence and glanced at him curiously. “What’s wrong?”
Chen Mo clicked his tongue, a trace of irritation flashing in his eyes. He spoke in a low voice, “Nothing. Are you hungry? I’ll get you some more porridge.”
Ye Mu lifted his eyes to look at him calmly. “No need, I’ve had quite a lot already.”
Chen Mo responded coldly with an “Oh,” and sat beside him, saying nothing more. His expression remained stern and he seemed in a bad mood.
Ye Mu glanced at the little girl beside him, happily engrossed in her game on the phone, and discreetly stroked her fair and slender fingers through the blanket, an unusual hint of pleading in his expression.
Chen Mo looked up at him emotionlessly and said coldly, “What are you doing?”
Ye Mu pressed his lips together, his dark eyes showing some affection, and gently asked, “What’s bothering you?”
Chen Mo pushed his hand away and remained silent, his handsome face appearing distant and cold.
Ye Mu shifted his body to face him, entangled their fingers, and spoke in a soothing tone as if talking to a child. “Talking about it might make you feel better. Don’t keep it bottled up.”
Chen Mo looked at him expressionlessly. After hesitating for a while, he leaned in, his Adam’s apple moving, and said forcefully, “I thought you liked me back then, which is why you liked my posts.”
Ye Mu burst into laughter.
Chen Mo’s icy profile showed his displeasure, and he kissed Ye Mu’s lips forcefully, with a thinly veiled anger.
Ye Mu, conscious of his child’s presence, hurriedly pushed him away, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.
Chen Mo scoffed arrogantly, his fingers caressing Ye Mu’s flushed cheek, and said sharply, “You’re laughing at me.”
Ye Mu saw that the child hadn’t noticed and was still playing with her phone, and he sighed with relief but couldn’t help giving Chen Mo a reproachful look.
Ye Mu, naturally good-looking, had his eyes softened by anger, making his fair skin seem particularly alluring.
Chen Mo’s lips curled slightly as he leaned over the bed, kissing the side of Ye Mu’s ear and provocatively licking the sensitive skin with his moist tongue.
Ye Mu frowned, his gaze deepening as he turned his head away in irritation, his voice low and angry. “Are you crazy?”
He said this while signaling Chen Mo to look at Chun Chun, making it clear that he shouldn’t push things further.
Chen Mo found his anxiety both interesting and endearing for the first time. He smiled and kissed him a few more times.
Ye Mu, unable to contain his anger, reached out and pinched Chen Mo’s waist sharply.
Chen Mo’s expression softened a little, and he teased, “Now you’re shy, huh?”
Ye Mu sighed, exasperated. “Since we’re talking about it, you should just pay back the fifty thousand yuan.”
Chen Mo’s face immediately turned stormy, his mood foul. He declared resolutely, “No, I won’t pay it back!”
Ye Mu narrowed his eyes, his lips slightly parted. “Trying to default?”
Chen Mo, feeling frustrated, drank several large gulps of the porridge he had cooked himself and said, “Consider it compensation for emotional distress.”
Ye Mu glanced at him impassively and retorted, “I don’t see how your emotions have suffered.”
Chen Mo snorted, placing Ye Mu’s hand on his left chest. “Do you feel it? My heart is bleeding and in pain.”
Ye Mu pursed his lips. “Whether I had feelings for you back then or not, it’s not like that now.”
Chen Mo lowered his gaze, seriously looking at him with a deep profile. “If this back-and-forth, this ambiguous behavior is what you call liking, then I don’t think I can accept it.”
Ye Mu was taken aback by this sudden remark, which was a shift from their previous casual conversation.
The room fell silent, with only their breathing audible.
Chen Mo’s gaze was penetrating, filled with an unspoken scrutiny and severity.
Ye Mu felt an unfamiliar sense of panic and unconsciously avoided his gaze.
Chen Mo’s long, narrow eyes were deep and boundless. After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Ye Mu, give me a chance.”
He had felt more than once that Ye Mu was treating their relationship casually, showing an unspoken reluctance and hesitation.
If possible, he hoped that Ye Mu would face their feelings with the same seriousness and courage he had.
Ye Mu’s long, dark lashes trembled, and his heart felt soft and warm. After hesitating for a moment, he started to speak, “If I said that the person who…”
He abruptly stopped in mid-sentence, staring blankly at the door.
Chen Mo instinctively glanced in the same direction, his face turning colder.
“Uncle Yan!”
The child’s eyes lit up as she rushed toward the handsome man standing at the door with a joyful shout.
