RTCBM 37

Mu Yuan listened closely. His gaze remained fixed on the tiger scroll hanging on the study wall. He didn’t say a word.

After a long while, he finally shifted his eyes away from the painting and looked at Wen Shang. “Can I take another proper look at the tattoo on your back?”

Wen Shang didn’t hesitate. He turned around and pulled off his shirt.

Mu Yuan slowly lifted his hand and reached out, gently brushing his fingers over Wen Shang’s back. The sight of that familiar tattoo stirred memories of his second uncle in his mind.

The study was quiet. Other than the sound of their breathing, nothing else could be heard.

After a long silence, Wen Shang suddenly asked, “Why did you join the underworld back then?”

Mu Yuan didn’t answer.

“Was it to find out the truth behind Uncle Hua’s death?”

There was no reply. The silence that followed was enough for Wen Shang to take it as confirmation.

“I’ve been trying to find out who killed my second uncle. But every time I think I’m getting close, something always gets in the way,” Mu Yuan said. His fingers passed over the rose inked into Wen Shang’s skin, and he let out a quiet sigh without realizing it.

Then he asked about that night.
“You really didn’t get a clear look at the man who spoke to you?”

Wen Shang shook his head.
“The streetlamp outside your building had been broken for a while. No one ever came to fix it. It was so dark down there, I could barely see anything apart from a rough outline.”

“What about his height? Can you remember?”

“He was probably about the same height as Uncle Hua.”

Mu Yuan nodded slightly.

“Mu Yuan.” It was the first time Wen Shang had ever called him by name.

He turned around to face him, meeting those dark eyes that held a trace of fatigue. Speaking with a serious tone, he told him,
“No matter what, I’ll help you.”

Mu Yuan blinked but didn’t say anything. He had always thought that the reason Wen Shang was willing to help him investigate the truth was because of his second uncle. That was certainly part of it, but what Mu Yuan didn’t know was that Wen Shang also had another reason. He was doing it for him.

Maybe it was because of the time he had spent with Mu Yuan’s second uncle, but all the things he used to find annoying about Mu Yuan had quietly faded. In their place, he began to feel a bit of warmth toward him.

For the first time, Mu Yuan smiled sincerely and asked, “Can you tell me more about what happened between you and my second uncle? I want to know what he was like when he was with you. What did you two usually talk about? Was he strict when he trained you in boxing? Did he ever yell at you?”

Wen Shang casually sat down by the desk and began recounting that summer in detail.

As he spoke, something came to mind. He stood up and walked over to the bookshelf, flipping through things while saying, “Back then, your second uncle and I took a photo together. If I remember right, it should still be here.”

After searching for a while, Wen Shang finally found the photo in one of the albums.

Mu Yuan rushed over, practically bursting with excitement. “Let me see it. Come on, let me see!”

Before Wen Shang could even hand it to him, Mu Yuan snatched it away. He held the photo in his hand and stared at it for a long time. Suddenly, he realized something and shouted, “Shit! It was you!”

Wen Shang was genuinely surprised. He had long stopped expecting Mu Yuan to remember who he was back then.

But Mu Yuan did remember him. The only reason he hadn’t made the connection was because so many years had passed, and Wen Shang’s appearance had changed quite a bit. He had grown taller, his frame was now sturdier and more muscular, nothing like the thin, lanky boy he used to be.

It was only natural that Mu Yuan never linked him to the seventeen-year-old from the past.

To Wen Shang, it felt like the first signs of spring had arrived. Was this the moment he had been waiting for all this time? He held that fluttering joy quietly in his chest, waiting to hear what Mu Yuan would say next.

Just as Wen Shang was waiting for his next words, Mu Yuan suddenly swung his arm and punched him in the back.

The punch stunned Wen Shang. He wanted to get angry, but couldn’t. “What the hell was that for?!”

The one throwing punches was even more self-righteous than the one who took it. “You’re asking me?! You’ve got some nerve! I used to go wait for you under the banyan tree all the damn time thinking you’d show up. But you never did. Not even once! Do you have any idea how much time I wasted on you?!”

Mu Yuan thought back to that summer.

He had just returned from an out-of-state cultural exchange program when he was hit with the news of his second uncle’s death. The shock felt like a bolt from the blue, like the sky had collapsed right on top of him. He couldn’t pull himself together. He stopped going to school and had no desire to return to that so-called home where there wasn’t a single family member waiting. His best friend, He Dongying, had moved away and changed schools. At that time, Mu Yuan had fallen into the darkest pit of his life, swallowed by grief and sorrow with no one to turn to.

He often sat under the banyan tree for hours, sometimes the whole day, just hoping to see that boy again. The one who had once eaten flatbread soup with him and quietly listened while he poured out his troubles. He wouldn’t even bring up the tragedy he’d gone through. All he wanted was for that boy to stay by his side, quietly keeping him company. That would’ve been enough.

Mu Yuan was now a man capable of standing on his own. Every time he thought back to that period in his life, he couldn’t even remember how he managed to get through it.

In life, some misunderstandings are born from unexpected twists of fate. Some people end up missing each other because of it, while others are lucky enough to find their way back, like it was meant to be. Even after a long detour, they eventually stand before each other again, with everything finally resolved.

It wasn’t until now that Mu Yuan suddenly remembered the time, not long ago, when he had asked Wen Shang for a hookup under the banyan tree. His face flushed with rare embarrassment.

But Wen Shang, the one who had once shouted at him in anger, had already let it go. He walked toward Mu Yuan step by step, came right up to him, leaned in close to his ear, and said softly, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? You’ve already seen everything. Done everything too.”

After speaking, he reached out and wrapped his arm around Mu Yuan’s waist, pulling him close. With a blunt, heated gaze, Wen Shang pressed his hips against him, then grabbed his chin and kissed him.

Their eyes met. Their skin touched. Mu Yuan didn’t try to dissect what that kiss meant. He only knew that it felt good. He didn’t mind being kissed like that, so he simply followed his instincts and accepted it .

The two of them moved from the study to bedroom and fucked. When Mu Yuan fell asleep afterward, he unconsciously shifted closer, wrapping his arms around Wen Shang’s waist. He must have been dreaming about his second uncle, because he kept murmuring “Uncle” in his sleep.

Wen Shang lay on his side, watching the man in front of him carefully. He couldn’t help but reach out, gently stroking his hair, and placed a kiss on the crown of his head.

The arm wrapped around his waist suddenly withdrew. Wen Shang thought Mu Yuan had woken up from his touch, but after a few seconds, he realized his eyes were still shut. He hadn’t woken at all.

Mu Yuan turned over, facing the other side of the bed, and went right back to sleep. A long scar stretched across his bare back. It was left from the fire—when Mu Yuan had rushed in to save him.

Wen Shang had never stopped feeling guilty about that incident. Now, seeing the scar again, his heart ached even more. He shifted his body closer and hugged Mu Yuan from behind. That scar, to him, was sacred, the highest mark. With sincerity and reverence, he kissed it again and again.

Mu Yuan didn’t return to the hospital until the next morning. Because he had left without permission during his stay, the doctor gave him a good scolding.

When He Dongying came to visit at the hospital, Mu Yuan showed him the photo.

He Dongying asked, “Where’s your third uncle now?”

“How would I know that?”

“What kind of person was he?”

“I heard a bit about him from my second uncle. Since he was an illegitimate child, my grandma used to give him a hard time and often treated him coldly. My grandpa, feeling guilty, knew that just getting my grandma to agree to let him live with the family was already a huge compromise. So even when she was cruel to my third uncle, Grandpa never dared to step in to defend him. But my dad and second uncle never held his background against him. Second and third uncle were born the same year, so they were very close. Even though my third uncle left home when he was eighteen and never came back, he still kept in touch with my second uncle. Every year on my birthday, he would send a gift through my second uncle.”

“Why didn’t he ever give it to you himself?”

Mu Yuan had actually asked Mu Huafeng that same question before. But every time, Mu Huafeng would brush it off by saying, “Your third uncle’s busy, he doesn’t have time to come over.” Back then, Mu Yuan hadn’t thought much of it. As long as he got a gift, he didn’t really care about the rest.

“Then after Uncle Hua passed away, did your third uncle ever try to contact you?”

Mu Yuan shook his head.
“I told you, I’ve never seen him in person.”

“That’s strange,” He Dongying said, still puzzled. From what Mu Yuan had told him, it sounded like his second and third uncles had a good relationship. And since the third uncle had sent him birthday gifts every year, it clearly meant he cared at least a little. So why, after Mu Huafeng died, had he never shown up? How could he bear to leave a still-underage Mu Yuan all alone with no support? Even if he hadn’t known back then, it had already been so many years. He should have heard something by now. Unless…

Unless Mu Huafeng’s death had something to do with Mu Yong’an.

The thought took He Dongying by surprise. Though nothing could be concluded before the truth was uncovered, even the smallest lead was worth chasing to the end.

To find out where Mu Yong’an was, He Dongying immediately sent someone to investigate. He had also brought another important update. Mu Huafeng’s former right-hand man, Fat Bear, had been found.
He was back in the country and currently in this city. Just a couple of days ago, He Dongying’s people had caught photos of him going in and out of the headquarters of Lei Hall under Renhe.

Fat Bear. Chang Yunxuan. Mu Yong’an.

That night, Mu Yuan lay restless, tossing and turning, with nothing on his mind but those three names.

Wen Shang had originally planned to visit Mu Yuan at the hospital yesterday, but there were several important matters at the company that needed handling. He had been so busy that he couldn’t get away. It wasn’t until today that he finally finished everything. The moment he got off work in the afternoon, he rushed straight to the hospital.

The room was quiet. At first, Wen Shang thought that troublemaker had snuck off again. But as he walked closer to the bed, he saw Mu Yuan curled up under the blanket.

“Get up and eat dinner. Still sleeping?” Wen Shang called out. He reached out to lift the blanket, but it wouldn’t budge. Mu Yuan had himself wrapped up tightly.

“Hey, did you hear me? Time to get up and eat.” Wen Shang repeated.

Mu Yuan gave a lazy grunt through his stuffy nose and stayed buried under the blanket.
“I don’t feel like eating. Let me sleep a little longer.”

That was nothing like the energetic brat he was used to. Wen Shang sensed something was off. His brow furrowed slightly. Could it be another stomach issue?

Just then, the nurse doing rounds knocked on the door, then came in and placed the evening medication on the bedside table. Wen Shang noticed that Mu Yuan’s meds had increased compared to before, and there was also an oral solution included.

Wen Shang couldn’t hide the worry on his face and asked the nurse,
“Did his condition get worse?”

The nurse explained that early spring weather changes easily. Because Mu Yuan had gone out while still sick and hadn’t paid attention to his clothing or rest, he had caught the flu and was running a fever. It wasn’t related to his stomach, so there was no need for Wen Shang to be too worried.

Before leaving, the nurse reminded Wen Shang,
“Please help keep an eye on the patient. Even if he doesn’t have an appetite, he still needs to eat something before taking his medicine.”

Wen Shang had their housekeeper make a pot of fish congee and had it delivered. He called out again and again, half coaxing and half dragging, and finally managed to get Mu Yuan out of bed.

Mu Yuan’s hair was a mess. He sat there listlessly with his eyes down, hugging a pillow. He stared blankly for quite a while before finally speaking. “Can I not eat?”

“No.” Wen Shang’s tone was firm.

“If you don’t eat, you can’t take your meds. If you don’t take your meds, you won’t get better.”

“But I really don’t have any appetite. Every time I get a fever or a cold, I just sleep it off at home for a day or two and recover on my own. I’ve never taken any medicine. I beat it with sheer willpower.”

Wen Shang really couldn’t imagine how this guy had made it through all these years. Hearing Mu Yuan talk in that flat, offhand tone about using willpower to fight off illness, his chest tightened. It hurt and left a bitter taste.

“That was then. This is now.” Wen Shang reached out and gently smoothed down his messy hair, bit by bit.

“There’s no difference.”

Yes, there is.

“Back then no one looked after you. Now I’m the one looking after you.” As he spoke, Wen Shang opened the thermos, scooped out a spoonful of congee, and held it up to Mu Yuan’s mouth. His earlier firmness melted into a softer tone as he coaxed him gently.

“Come on, have some of this. Just a few bites. Then take your meds. After that I won’t bug you anymore. You can go right back to sleep.”

Mu Yuan gave a small nod and opened his mouth. But the moment the congee touched his tongue, he spat it out onto the floor.

“It’s hot!”

“I already opened the thermos earlier and let it sit for a while. Is it still that hot?” Wen Shang glanced at the congee inside the thermos, then looked over at Mu Yuan. Judging from his expression, it didn’t seem like he was faking it.

“If you don’t believe me, try it yourself.”

Wen Shang picked up the same spoon he had used to feed Mu Yuan, scooped a spoonful, and tasted it. It really was hot. The tip of his tongue went numb from the burn, but in front of Mu Yuan, he kept a calm face like nothing had happened.

He scooped another spoonful, held it up to his mouth, and blew on it again and again. Once the temperature had dropped enough, he fed it to Mu Yuan.

Mu Yuan sat on the bed, eating spoonful after spoonful. After a while, he suddenly asked,
“You just used the same spoon I did.”

“Yeah.”

“I have the flu. You used my spoon. You’ll catch it.” Mu Yuan’s attention always seemed to drift in strange directions.

“It’s fine. I’ll take cold medicine later to be safe.” Wen Shang said it casually, then scooped up another spoonful and fed it to him.

That night, Wen Shang didn’t go home. He stayed in the hospital room to keep Mu Yuan company.

After taking his medicine, Mu Yuan lay down on the bed. But he didn’t feel sleepy at all. He reached for his phone, thinking he could play a few games. Wen Shang snatched the phone away before he could touch it.

“Didn’t you say you were tired? Go to sleep.”

“Well, after you started nagging, I’m not tired anymore.” Mu Yuan didn’t feel like sleeping. Since he couldn’t use his phone, he sat up and started watching TV instead.

Wen Shang turned off the TV too. His tone carried a hint of authority as he said,
“You’ve got the flu and a fever. Stop messing around and just lie down and rest.”

Mu Yuan’s dark eyes shifted slyly in their sockets. He gave Wen Shang a mischievous look. “Alright. Sing for me, and I’ll go to sleep.”

Wen Shang hadn’t expected a request like that. Should he agree? He had always thought his singing wasn’t bad. He could hold a tune and didn’t go off-key. But singing someone to sleep was something Young Master Wen had never done in his life. Maybe he should just say no.

Before he could open his mouth, Mu Yuan called out a song. “I want to hear Doraemon!”

Wen Shang went silent. This little brat never missed a chance to mess with him, not even when he was sick.

“Hurry up and sing!” Mu Yuan pulled the blanket over his whole body, leaving only his face exposed, and urged him.

“You’re not a kid anymore. Why are you still listening to Doraemon? Isn’t that childish?”

Wen Shang clearly didn’t want to sing. Mu Yuan could see right through him. But the more reluctant he looked, the more excited Mu Yuan became. He deliberately provoked him.

“It’s just one song, and here you are acting all shy like a proper young lady. Are you even a man? If you don’t want to sing, fine. Makes me feel like I’m forcing some poor housewife. Forget it.”

Even though Wen Shang’s attitude toward Mu Yuan had changed a lot ever since he realized his feelings, there were still moments when he seriously wanted to punch this guy.

Since the guy was sick, Wen Shang eventually gave in. He turned and glanced toward the door to make sure it was closed so no one would suddenly walk in. Then he turned off Mu Yuan’s phone to prevent him from secretly recording. Only then did he start singing Doraemon.

Honestly, it was embarrassing. And halfway through, he forgot the lyrics and couldn’t keep going. He hesitated, unsure whether to stop or to look up the lyrics online and finish the song. As he turned his head to see what kind of reaction Mu Yuan would have, he realized the guy had already fallen fast asleep.

With a grudge in his heart, Wen Shang reached over and pinched his cheek. Still not satisfied, he pinched the other cheek too. In his sleep, Mu Yuan frowned, pouted, and whimpered, shaking his head as if trying to dodge the attack, but couldn’t escape Wen Shang’s hands. The way he reacted, all unwilling and helpless, gave off the vibe of a little wife being teased. After messing around enough and having his fun, Wen Shang finally let go, letting him sleep in peace.

The next morning, Mu Yuan’s fever had gone down, and he was clearly in better spirits.

He sat up in bed, yawning and stretching, getting ready to go to the bathroom. Just as he lifted the blanket and was about to get up, he realized there was someone else sleeping beside him.

“What the fuck are you doing in my bed?” Mu Yuan was genuinely surprised. He knew Wen Shang had said he would stay the night, but there was a couch in the room. Why didn’t he sleep there? Why squeeze onto this narrow hospital bed with him?

“Get up!” Mu Yuan shoved him hard.
“The sun’s already up and you’re still lying there?”

Wen Shang had pulled an all-nighter at work. Then yesterday, he had stayed by Mu Yuan’s side the whole time, worried something might go wrong during the night. He didn’t even close his eyes until early that morning, after checking Mu Yuan’s temperature and confirming the fever had broken. He was completely exhausted. No matter how many times Mu Yuan called him, he didn’t wake up.

Just then, there was a knock on the hospital room door. A Zhi and a few brothers had come to visit, bringing breakfast with them.

“Boss, feeling better today?” A Zhi stepped into the room and saw Mu Yuan scrambling to fix the blanket on the bed. He thought Mu Yuan was trying to tidy up, so he rolled up his sleeves and offered to help.

“Boss, why don’t you sit over here and eat? I’ll help you straighten out the bedding.”

Mu Yuan quickly waved his hands.
“No, no, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself.”

If the boys saw a man sleeping in his bed with his clothes half off, and that man happened to be someone from the opposing side, the consequences would be unthinkable once the news spread. Mu Yuan was so anxious he started to sweat. He scrambled to tuck Wen Shang under the blanket, wrapping him up completely so no one would notice.

“Boss, just leave this to me. Go eat your breakfast. If it gets cold, it won’t be good for your stomach.”

Mu Yuan didn’t want him touching the blanket. But A Zhi had no idea what his boss was thinking. He insisted on helping and went over to grab the blanket. The two of them started tugging back and forth. A few of the boys saw what was going on and came up to help A Zhi. Mu Yuan couldn’t fight them all off alone. In the end, he couldn’t hold it in anymore and shouted,
“Stop it. All of you, fucking stop.”

Everyone froze on the spot. But it was already too late. The blanket had been pulled off and tossed onto the floor. Wen Shang, who had still been asleep, was finally woken by the noise. He slowly opened his eyes, trying to figure out what was going on.

The room fell completely silent. No one dared to speak. They all held their breath and looked nervously at Mu Yuan. The atmosphere was painfully awkward.