CH 21

What is happening right now.

His rival in love and his girlfriend (as recognised by him) are living in the same hospital, and sleeping in the same patient’s ward (TL: …??? When did Su Xiaomo get hospitalised?)

Murong Jihua really isn’t sure where to stand at this point.

Su Xiaomo, as soon as she has finished her sessions with the homeschooling professors, ran straight for the central hospital, perhaps for her younger brother, or just simply having psychic connections to her Le-gege——

Anyway, her gaze is very prominently swinging back and forth between He Jünle and Murong Jihua, who is standing at the door. She looks like she has something to ask.

He Jünle turns towards her a little and gives her a simple smile.

Murong Jihua’s eyelids twitch.

…

Is the top of my head changing colour yet and yet again today? (TL: Changing into green, i.e. being cheated on)

He Jünle, meanwhile, is unexpectedly cooperative with the whole morning spent examining his body inside out by all the royal physicians, inspecting everywhere from his head to his toe and finally, they come to a single conclusion——

If there has to be somewhere about him that is not in perfect condition, then his kidneys could be said to be slightly spent (TL: Maybe it’s a Chinese thing, but kidneys going ‘spent’ (A Chinese medical saying) is said to be associated with… boys doing what boys do too much). Not a big problem either.

“Oh,”

Murong Jihua, with the body check-up report in his hands, says calmly, “that’s it? Simply having a spent——”

Hah? Spent kidney???

Murong Jihua gives He Jünle a fierce but also potentially pitying glance.

In his mind, the danger of this rival in love has decreased by a whole 70% at once.

Have you ever seen a male protagonist not powerful, strong, divine in bed and clingy?

Spent kidneys? A shame to all male leads! No way!

“But can a spent kidney actually trigger an acute fever and coma…?” Murong Jihua is rubbing his finger across his lower lip. A little habit he is used to do when he is thinking ever since his past life.

Though he thus misses Su Xiaomo’s deep, strange gaze making a few more rounds between him and He Jünle.

While He Jünle is quietly chatting away on his phone, Su Xiaomo steels herself, and takes a few steps forward, pulling on Murong Jihua’s hand, and dragging him out the door.

Murong Jihua reflexively folds up the report in his hands while blanking out.

Why is the female lead suddenly so proactive? Are his fortunes changing for once?

Outside the door, Su Xiaomo immediately releases Murong Jihua’s hand as if it was electrocuting her. Then she looks around, before whispering after ensuring nobody else is around,

“Mr CEO, when did it begin… between you and Le-gege?”

Murong Jihua’s chest tightens. She really is here to question him about her Le-gege’s sudden on-set sickness!

He tries to maintain his imposing form while answering truthfully, “… last night.”

——Last night, the people he told the mafia boss to arrange in order to make trouble for him was too much and shocked him unconscious.

Su Xiaomo does react like it is completely out of her expectations. Her eyes widen and water almost looks to be gathering, as a slight pink hue takes over her cheeks.

Murong Jihua grits his teeth to lament how special a place He Jünle really did have in her heart…

Su Xiaomo then asks, “then, what, do you plan, on doing about it…”

Murong Jihua rubs his brows to ponder – it is more important to calm the female lead down first. He cannot let this male deuteragonist affair drag her favorability for him down.

So he sighs to say,

“Do not worry, this shaoye… will take full responsibility for him.”

Su Xiaomo’s expression changes, to that of relief. She says, gently, “good to hear.”

Then she turns around and goes straight for He Jünle’s bed.

“Le-gege,” she calls out.

“What is it, Mo-er?”

He Jünle has finished his last phone call, and turns to her. Another gentle smile emerges from his pale face.

Eugh, goes Murong Jihua – the heck is he acting all gentlemanly in front of girls. Does he dare show her his usual outrageous side.

The sight of the ‘weakened, frail’ He Jünle makes Su Xiaomo’s eyes redden again. Her rosy lips tremble for a moment before she finally seems to resolve herself to say clearly,

“Le-gege, actually, the CEO is a good person, you do not have to worry…

I understand that he caused you to end up in the hospital, but it is still the CEO’s first time, of course. It is understandable that he is still learning to do his best. Le-gege, please don’t blame him too much…”

“Mmhm?”

“Eh?”

Murong Jihua and He Jünle glance at each other, both seemingly confused.

Murong Jihua is going –

First time?

What, the first time sending him into the hospital?

But he did a pretty good job, didn’t he?

He even arranged for all those royal physicians to check him out. How is she expecting him to do better?

Meanwhile, Murong Jihua’s device beings ringing,

“Shaoye, there are many walks of people all assembled underneath the central hospital, yelling about visiting He Jünle. How do you wish to deal with this?”

Murong Jihua thus throws the question over to the young man in question, who replies, “ah, they’re all my bros. I just called them. Can you let them in?”

“Sure,” Murong Jihua then says, “let them in.”

Gary Stu really is the Gary Stu.

Is the thought crossing Murong Jihua for the bazillionth time in ten minutes time.

The first group here certainly seems to be his companions.

“He-ge! When are you getting discharged? The Jünle Gang can’t go one day without you!”

“Boss! I heard you fell ill, so us members pooled together to buy these chrysanthemums for you…”

“Fuck me, Fat Zhang, the heck are you doing giving chrysanthemums in a hospital visit?” (TL: Chrysanthemums are the traditional funeral flower in Chinese culture)

“…”

Jeez, can these sweaty young men not smell the massive stench they’re bringing?

Ha, the price you pay for popularity.

So Murong Jihua thinks, while standing to the side with Su Xiaomo while having cold sweat all over.

The next group to arrive is probably He Jünle’s… harem. Right.

“Jünle-ge! I was so worried about you~”

“Little Le boy, do come to sis’ arcade more often. Owee, you’re sick? Is it bad?”

“He-tongxue (TL: Meaning ‘student’ literally. Fellow students in a Chinese classroom will address each other as ‘Student X,’ which is immensely awkward in English), I organised these class notes for you…”

“Jünle-gege, why did you suddenly fall ill without a word? Xue-er is so shocked…”

Now the fragrance of flowers and trees and nature has taken over the room.

Look at all his romantic conquests. What an enemy of all men, right?

Murong Jihua laments, while lowering his head to think about cheering up the poor, emotional Su Xiaomo, when he notices that, for once, she is actually looking straight at him.

?

Wait, she’s not jealous at how many romantic advances her Le-gege is having right now?

Why is she giving him this pitying gaze instead?