RTCBM 34

Even after Wen Shang left the room, Mu Yuan still had no idea what he was actually angry about.

“Tch, fine, don’t buy it then.” Mu Yuan snorted irritably and made a face at the spot Wen Shang had been standing. “I don’t need you. I’ve got my own ways.”

He picked up his phone again and dialed Xiao Xing’s number, asking him to bring some double-skin milk along when he stopped by the hospital later.

There was a delay on Xiao Xing’s end because of some issue with the gang, so he didn’t arrive right away. Mu Yuan waited for a long time, bored out of his mind. He stretched, then lay back in bed with his phone and started watching a movie. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

The door to the hospital room was pushed open from the outside. A long leg in straight-cut dress pants stepped over the threshold. Wen Shang’s gaze swept quickly across the bed and landed on that dumb, sleeping face.

He had a sharp tongue, but in the end, he never truly left. After storming off in frustration earlier, he had gone downstairs and smoked through most of a pack of cigarettes. Eventually, he made a trip to the dessert shop. When he came back, he was carrying two freshly made servings of double-skin milk, still warm in their packaging.

Mu Yuan was completely out. His phone beside the pillow was still playing the movie, the volume echoing through the entire room, yet it had failed to wake him. Wen Shang walked up to the bed, set the containers down on the nightstand, and turned off the video on Mu Yuan’s phone.

He quietly pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed. He did nothing else. Just sat there in silence, staring at that sleeping face. Memories from when they were seventeen years old drifted back again, as if on their own.

For some reason, looking at the person in front of him, he suddenly felt a bit sorry for him. This guy was such a foodie, always craving snacks. Now that he was sick, he would probably have to avoid half the things he loved for quite a while.

That little flicker of pity made his hand move before he realized it. He reached out and gently placed it on Mu Yuan’s head, brushing over his soft black hair. Even after that, he could not resist and stroked it two more times.

Mu Yuan yawned and slowly opened his eyes. The sky outside the window was already tinted with the colors of sunset.

Sitting by the bed was Xiao Xing, who had dutifully stood watch the entire time. When he saw Mu Yuan wake up, his eyes lit up at once.

“Boss, you’re finally awake.”

“How long have you been here?” Mu Yuan asked.

“I came a little after one in the afternoon.”

“Fuck, you’ve been sitting here all this time? Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Xiao Xing grinned.
“When I came this afternoon, you were sleeping like a log. I figured I’d better not wake you.”

“Right, where’s my double-skin milk?” Mu Yuan hadn’t forgotten what he asked Xiao Xing to do. He asked eagerly.

“Got it right here.” Xiao Xing picked up the container from the bedside table, opened the lid, and brought it to Mu Yuan.

Mu Yuan glanced at the table and noticed there were two more identical containers.

He burst out laughing.
“Xiao Xing, why’d you buy me so many? Afraid I wouldn’t have enough or planning to stock me up for supper too?”

“Huh?” Xiao Xing blinked.
“Boss, I didn’t buy those two.”

“Then who brought them?”

Xiao Xing thought back for a moment, then told him that when he arrived at the hospital earlier that afternoon, just as he was approaching the room, he saw Wen Shang walking out and leaving down the opposite side of the hallway.

“My guess is he bought them for you.”

Mu Yuan laughed even harder and was about to deny it when the nurse who had just come in to give him medication overheard their conversation and chimed in.

“You’re talking about that tall guy in the gray suit, right?”

Xiao Xing jumped in right away.
“Yeah yeah, that’s him.”

The nurse smiled and looked at Mu Yuan.
“Those two double-skin milks were from him. I saw it myself this afternoon during rounds. He dropped them off and sat by your bed for a while.”

Sometimes, Mu Yuan really couldn’t figure Wen Shang out. The man changed his attitude so fast, it was impossible to tell what he was really thinking.

It was only the second day, but word about Mu Yuan getting hospitalized for stomach bleeding after drinking had already spread through the brothers at Sheng Yi. That evening, a whole group of fierce-looking guys showed up at the hospital to check on him. All of them were burning with anger and shouting about going to settle the score with Da K.

They were fired up and loud, voices rising like they were about to brawl. It spooked the hospital staff so badly, someone almost called the cops thinking it was some medical dispute.

As his brothers, they were furious on his behalf and wanted to get revenge. Mu Yuan understood that. But knowing the whole thing could drag Hongqing into it, he insisted they let it go. He kept trying to calm them down.

“This thing between me and Da K is already handled. I really don’t want to make it bigger than it already is. Do me a favor, alright? Let it go for my sake.”

After all that fuss, the guys finally agreed to leave. Mu Yuan thought that was the end of it. But that very night, he unexpectedly received a fruit basket.

The delivery guy handed him a greeting card after getting his signature. Mu Yuan opened it and glanced at the contents. It was filled with the usual well-wishes like “get well soon,” nothing unusual at first glance. What caught his eye was the signature at the bottom.

It was signed by Chang Yunxuan.

That man was the Big Boss of Renhe, yet Mu Yuan had never had any dealings with him. He thought about it for a long time but still could not figure out what was going on.

The next morning, Mu Yuan got word from Ah Zhi. Da K had been stripped of his title as the top dog of Qing Area by none other than Chang Yunxuan himself. Every business spot Da K had under his name was taken back.

Da K was not the most decent guy, but being able to act as the top dog of a whole area meant he had real strength. The venues under his control had all been booming over the past few years, raking in serious profits for Renhe. And now they pulled him out just like that. Unless he had broken some major triad rule, it made no sense. But as far as anyone knew, Da K hadn’t done anything that would cross the line. Everyone in Renhe was left scratching their heads.

The news spread fast. Even other gangs outside Renhe got wind of it.

The ones who got the biggest kick out of it were the brothers at Sheng Yi. Everyone said their boss Mu really had clout. Even Renhe’s Big Boss gave him face.

“Boss, you’re something else. Yesterday all of us were saying we’d go beat the crap out of Da K, but now you’ve handled it without even lifting a finger. What’s your connection to that Big Boss Chang?” Ah Zhi asked, full of curiosity. He had been following Mu Yuan for at least five years, and this was the first time he realized Mu Yuan had any sort of tie to someone like Chang Yunxuan.

Mu Yuan didn’t answer. He just lowered his head and stared at the greeting card in his hand for a long time.

Everyone in the scene knew Chang Yunxuan was the Big Boss of Renhe. People called him Elder Chang. From what Mu Yuan had heard from the older guys, Chang Yunxuan was not someone you messed with. Years ago, he had been thrown in prison for a massive smuggling case. But even inside, the man ruled the place like it was his turf. The warden couldn’t do a thing about him and had to pretend he saw nothing.

The day he got out, the prison gates were swarmed with a crowd of hundreds. Every one of them was there to welcome him back. The show of force was so intense that people thought a riot was breaking out. The prison went on full alert and even called in military police for backup.

To this day, that legendary scene was still something people on the streets talked about.

Mu Yuan had heard of Chang Yunxuan’s name, but he had never spoken a single word to the man. Not even a basic interaction, let alone a real connection. No matter how high his position was, at most Mu Yuan was just a small-time thug. What right did he have to make a triad’s Big Boss go this far for him?

It made absolutely no sense.

“Should I thank Chang Yunxuan in person?” Mu Yuan asked He Dongying over the phone, trying to get his opinion.

He Dongying had listened to everything Mu Yuan told him, but even now, he still could not figure out Chang Yunxuan’s motive. After staying silent for a long while, he finally spoke.

“You’re really sure you’ve never had any contact with him? Maybe you accidentally helped him out before and just forgot about it?”

“Everyone in the scene knows what he looks like. If I really did help him, you think I wouldn’t remember?”

“Hmm.” He Dongying thought for a moment.
“For now, don’t do anything. Just wait and see. If Chang Yunxuan really has something else in mind, he’ll come looking for you himself.”

Mu Yuan always listened to He Dongying. Whatever he said, Mu Yuan followed.

Leaving the matter with Chang Yunxuan aside, Mu Yuan had something else to bring up.
“Dongzi, are you free today? I was thinking of heading to Nathan Road and checking out Second Uncle’s place. I want to figure out what’s going on.”

“Aren’t you still in the hospital? Give it a few more days. Rest up a bit first.”

“Sigh, I’ve been thinking about it nonstop the last two days. I can’t even sleep well. I don’t want to put it off anymore. I’m heading out in a bit.”

He Dongying hesitated for a moment.
“There’s a ton of internal stuff going on with the gang right now. Since you’re not around, I’m doing the work of two people. I really can’t leave at the moment. How about tomorrow instead?”

“You handle gang business first. I’ll go by myself.” Mu Yuan had already made up his mind. He was settling this today.

“Just be careful. If anything goes wrong, call me right away.”

“Got it.”

After ending the call, Mu Yuan stepped into the bathroom to change. He was in a rush and didn’t have time to worry about style. He threw on a pair of jeans, a knit sweater, and a jacket on top. Simple and clean.

As soon as he stepped out, he ran right into Wen Shang standing at the door.

Just as Mu Yuan stepped out of the bathroom, he ran smack into Wen Shang, who was standing at the door.

Wen Shang took one look at his casual outfit, then glanced down at the pair of sneakers on his feet.
“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Got something to take care of. Just heading out for a bit,” Mu Yuan replied vaguely. He didn’t see any reason to explain the details.

Wen Shang’s sharp brows drew together.
“The doctor said you need to stay for at least a week. What day is it now? Already forgot the pain the moment the wound started healing?”

“I’m just going out for a little while. I’ll be back later,” Mu Yuan said offhandedly as he turned and walked over to the nightstand to grab his phone and wallet. He could not help tossing in another line.
“What are you, my mom or something? Why you gotta be all up in my business?”

The hospital room door suddenly slammed shut with a loud bang.

Wen Shang stood in front of the door with a cold face, blocking the exit. His chin lifted slightly as he glared at Mu Yuan. His stance and his expression both sent a clear message: I’m damn well keeping you in this room. You’re not stepping out of here unless it’s over my dead body.