RTCBM 33

The doctor from the gastroenterology department ran a full blood panel and performed a gastroscopy on Mu Yuan. The diagnosis was upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by excessive alcohol intake. In plain terms, he had a stomach hemorrhage.

Judging by the results, Mu Yuan’s condition was serious. He needed to be hospitalized for treatment until his condition stabilized.

“I’ve seen many cases of stomach bleeding from alcohol, but this kind of situation is rare.”

“What do you mean by that?” Luo Yi asked anxiously.

Wen Shang stood beside him with both hands stuffed into his pockets. His face was cold and tense. He said nothing, but his eyes remained fixed on the doctor.

“Does the patient usually drink a lot?”

Luo Yi was unable to answer. Wen Shang wasn’t sure either. Neither of them knew much about Mu Yuan’s daily habits.

The doctor continued. “He drank far more than his body could handle in a single sitting. That kind of uncontrolled drinking puts a heavy strain on the body. The digestive system, in particular, takes the damage.”

He then asked, “What is your relationship to the patient? Are you family?”

Luo Yi nodded. “Yes.”

“Then you need to help guide and watch over him more carefully. Drinking occasionally is fine, but he must learn moderation. Without it, the consequences will be serious.”

The doctor went on to explain a few more things. He told them that Mu Yuan was currently in the ward receiving IV fluids, with a nurse watching over him. He advised them to go home and get some rest and return tomorrow to visit.

When they reached the hospital entrance, Wen Shang suddenly stopped.

“Uncle,” he said. “You go ahead. I want to stay a while longer.”

Luo Yi looked at his nephew. He said nothing, just nodded once, placed a hand on Wen Shang’s shoulder, then turned and left.

When Wen Shang returned to the ward, the nurse was gone. Mu Yuan was already asleep. He lay quietly with an IV needle in the back of his hand.

Wen Shang moved quietly to the side of the bed. Just then, a ringtone rang out from the drawer next to it. He opened it and glanced inside. The caller ID on the screen read “Dongzi.” He picked up the phone and looked again at the person beside him. Mu Yuan’s tired face was sound asleep. Wen Shang decided not to wake him. He took the phone out into the hallway and answered it himself.

When He Dongying heard that Mu Yuan had been hospitalized, he rushed over that same night.

As soon as he pushed the door to the hospital room open, he saw Wen Shang sitting beside the bed. Wen Shang looked up and, without saying anything, made a gesture to keep quiet. Then he got to his feet and stepped outside with him to talk.

“He was fine at lunch. How the hell did it turn into stomach bleeding so suddenly?” He Dongying’s voice was edged with frustration.

“I don’t know either,” Wen Shang said. “He was eating dinner with us tonight, and in the middle of the meal, he suddenly rushed to the bathroom and started throwing up blood all over the floor. The doctor ran tests and said it was caused by heavy drinking in a short time.”

He Dongying frowned. “He drank a lot during dinner?”

“No,” Wen Shang replied immediately. “Probably something he drank this afternoon.”

He Dongying thought about it for a moment. Mu Yuan had mentioned he was going out with Liu Jiaxin to celebrate her birthday that afternoon. To get a better idea of what happened, he called Zhuo Fei.

Zhuo Fei didn’t hold anything back. He recounted everything that had happened in detail. When he finished, he asked nervously, “Ying-ge, did something happen to Senior Mu?”

“He’s fine. When he came back, he reeked of alcohol and passed out cold. I figured you guys got him that drunk, so I just wanted to check,” He Dongying said, trying to sound casual. “Your senior’s tough. No need to worry.”

“Ying-ge, that bastard Da K went way too far. You guys can’t just let this go.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. The street’s messy. We’ll handle it our way.”

After hanging up, He Dongying repeated the entire phone call to Wen Shang.

Wen Shang looked calm on the surface, but both hands shoved into his pockets had quietly clenched into fists. The veins on the back of his hands stood out beneath the skin.

“They pushed it this far and we’re just going to let it go?” His voice rose two notches, echoing exactly what Zhuo Fei had said earlier.

“He brought this on himself,” He Dongying replied and glanced toward the bed.

Then he explained everything to Wen Shang.

It wasn’t that He Dongying and the others were unwilling to help Mu Yuan get back at Da K. They were more than ready. But doing so would expose his ties with the troupe, and Mu Yuan did not want them getting involved. That was why he chose to let things slide and agreed to Da K’s absurd demands.

Wen Shang said nothing after hearing it. That night, after returning home, he was in a foul mood. He stayed at the gym for a long time, pounding the sandbag. Even after pouring out all his energy, the frustration in his chest still refused to go away.

The next day, when Wen Shang visited the hospital again, Mu Yuan looked a lot better. He was his usual self, loud and carefree, joking and grinning, although he still was not allowed to get out of bed.

Mu Yuan could never stand being idle. After just a morning in bed, he could not take it anymore and started fussing about wanting to go for a walk.

Wen Shang shot him a sharp glare.
“Did the doctor say you could move around? Who told you to get out of bed?”

As he said this, he pressed Mu Yuan’s shoulder and pinned him back onto the bed. Then he opened the thermos and poured out a bowl of warm congee.

“Eat this, then take your meds.”

Mu Yuan lifted the bowl, blew on it, then suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Wen Shang, his eyes suspicious.
“You keep coming to see me and bringing me food. Do you have some kind of motive?”

For a brief second, Wen Shang almost thought Mu Yuan had seen through that little secret in his heart. He was not sure whether to be relieved or unsettled. But soon, he dismissed the thought. Given how carefree Mu Yuan was, there was no way his emotional intelligence was that high. He was just overthinking it.

“Uncle asked me to come see you,” Wen Shang said calmly. “He’s not in a position to visit every day, so he told me to handle it.”

That was not true. Luo Yi had insisted on visiting Mu Yuan every day, but Wen Shang had talked him out of it. Not only that, he had even volunteered to take over the daily visits. Of course, none of that could be said in front of Mu Yuan.

“Quit spacing out and eat.” Wen Shang reached over and gently supported the bottom of the bowl, bringing it closer to Mu Yuan’s lips.

Mu Yuan took a couple of sips and sighed dramatically.

Wen Shang stared at him in silence. A few seconds passed before he asked,
“What’s wrong?”

“It’s too plain. Can’t I eat something else besides congee?” Mu Yuan pouted. The attending doctor had reminded him just the day before that patients with gastric bleeding had to be extremely careful with their diet. Not only were spicy and irritating foods forbidden, there was also a long list of things he was not allowed to touch. But Mu Yuan was used to eating heavy and flavorful food. Cutting everything out at once was worse than when he hurt his back last time. It was unbearable.

“One bad meal ruins the next ten.” That saying did not come out of nowhere.

“You’re already hospitalized for a stomach bleed and you still want to eat nonsense?” Wen Shang raised his brow like a parent watching over a picky child, then pushed the bowl of congee back in front of Mu Yuan and gestured for him to stop talking and eat.

Mu Yuan glanced at him and gave a cheesy smile, softening his tone.
“Wen-ge~”

That smile could not have been more obvious in its intent. Wen Shang said nothing. He simply stared, waiting for him to speak first.

“Wen ge, desserts should be okay, right? I know a dessert shop right outside the hospital. Can you go get me some taro balls?”

“No.” Wen Shang shut it down.

“Why not?”

“Starchy foods are off-limits too.”

“Then I’ll have jelly.” He said it with so much confidence it sounded less like a request and more like placing an order.

“No.”

“Why not again?”

“Jelly is made from starch too. Do you seriously not know that?”

Mu Yuan let out a pitiful sigh. Still not giving up, he asked, “Then what about double-skin milk? That should be okay, right?”

When he saw Wen Shang lower his head and start thinking, Mu Yuan knew he had a chance. If taro balls and jelly were off the table, then he would settle for double-skin milk. Anything was better than nothing.

He tugged on Wen Shang’s sleeve with a bright smile and switched to a pleading tone. “Wen-ge, please? I really want to eat double-skin milk.”

Wen Shang shot him a sideways glance.
“You just said you wanted taro balls.”

“Well, I can’t have taro balls,” Mu Yuan said, putting on a pitiful face. “If I can just have double-skin milk, I’ll be satisfied. But I can’t leave the bed, so can you please go get it for me?”

Wen Shang glanced at him again and stayed silent.

“Please?” Mu Yuan widened his eyes, staring at him with hope, waiting for a nod.

“Please please please please…”

It was the first time Wen Shang had seen Mu Yuan act spoiled. That usual bold and rough bossy vibe was completely gone. Once this guy softened up, he really was hard to resist.

After a few rounds of coaxing, Wen Shang almost gave in. His mouth had already started to part to say yes when the ringtone suddenly went off and broke the mood.

“Fuck… Who the hell is calling right now?” Mu Yuan grumbled impatiently as he pulled out his phone. He glanced at the screen with an annoyed look, but the very next second, his entire face changed into something gentle and pleasant. He hit the answer button and brought the phone to his ear with a cheerful “Hello.”

Just moments ago, he had been cursing nonstop. Now he looked delighted. This time, Wen Shang was the one left irritated.

Maybe the room was too quiet, or maybe the phone’s volume was turned up. Either way, even while standing beside Mu Yuan, Wen Shang could hear the voice on the other end loud and clear.

It was a girl’s voice. Mu Yuan kept calling her “A-Xin” during the conversation, so Wen Shang immediately figured it out. She had to be the junior from the troupe, Liu Jiaxin, the one Mu Yuan had helped by taking her place at the drinking party.

Liu Jiaxin had heard from He Dongying that Zhuo Fei had called asking about Mu Yuan. She had been worried ever since, so she called Mu Yuan herself to check on him.

“I’m really fine. You don’t have to worry,” Mu Yuan said casually, as if it was no big deal. He even thumped his chest and laughed heartily, putting on an act to sound full of energy so she would not worry.

Wen Shang quietly watched him putting on a brave face. He didn’t tease him, nor did he call him out on it.

“Your junior called?” Wen Shang asked, pretending it was just a passing question once Mu Yuan hung up.

“Yeah. How’d you know it was her?”

“You called her name so many times anyone could guess.”

“Oh.” Mu Yuan shrugged, then seemed to suddenly think of something. He nudged Wen Shang with his elbow and gave him a wary look.

“You paying that much attention to her… don’t tell me you’re interested? I’m warning you, Liu Jiaxin is my junior. You’d better not touch her. Not just A-Xin, but anyone from Hongqing Opera Troupe. No matter how cute or pretty they are, they’re off-limits. Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, or I swear I’ll fight you.”

Wen Shang froze. He could tolerate Mu Yuan’s low emotional intelligence, but he never expected that one casual question would be twisted like this. What the hell, did this guy think he was some pervert who would pounce on anyone?

Seeing Wen Shang’s darkened expression, Mu Yuan thought he had guessed right and gave him two friendly pats on the shoulder.

“There are plenty of flowers in the world. Why cling to just one?”

Wen Shang stood up and walked straight out of the room.

“You going to get the double-skin milk?”

“Eat your damn congee yourself.”