Zhai Yanjun tsked at Shui Xian's words and said, "Do you have any conscience? Or that has also been frozen by your coldness?" He took a heavy breath and went on, "Instead of asking me if I'm doing well or not, you actually are more concerned about the meal I owe you?"
"If you're in the mood to use sarcasm with me, it's obvious that you're doing well," replied Shui Xian. "But I'll still ask you. How are you?"
Zhai Yanjun calmed down just with that one question and replied in a pleasant mood, "I'm doing good. How about you?" Before Shui Xian could reply, he went on, "Don't answer that. I can even hear gloating in your voice. That means you're doing better than ever."
Shui Xian walked over to the chaise and slumped down, "Yanjun, I actually feel like you know me quite well. You can even tell I'm doing better than ever. And indeed, I am. I haven't felt this good and lighthearted in a long time now."
"Of course, I can tell that already," replied Zhai Yanjun. He hadn't heard Shui Xian talking in such a lighthearted way in a long time as well. Although the young Shui Xian was cheery and charming, he later turned into a stiff board that barely even spoke out his true feelings.
"How did you think of calling me today?" inquired Shui Xian making casual small talk.
"I just wanted to know about your health."
"That's all?" Shui Xian's brows quirked up in surprise which Zhai Yanjun couldn't see.
"That is all!" answered Zhai Yanjun honestly.
Shui Xian was silent for a moment before asking, "Are you sure that's all?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
"It's because we don't call each other just for having small talks," told Shui Xian.
And he was telling the truth. The relationship between Shui Xian and Zhai Yanjun was strange. They had known each other since they were in their diapers. And they had even been playmates when they were young. But they never became good friends. Even now, they only described their relationship as an acquaintance. However, that was the wrong word.
They both knew about each other more than even a best friend would do. But they never reached out to each other for small talks.
"But today I wanted to change that," replied Zhai Yanjun.
"Why?"
Zhai Yanjun thought of something and said, "Xian, yesterday I went to the hospital to see a senior of mine. He got injured in a recent mission. He has no friends because he had always been a workaholic. Even though he was supposed to be on a vacation, he still took that dangerous mission. That can tell you how much of a workaholic he is."
Shui Xian listened to him attentively. "But why are you telling me this?"
"As I said, he devoted all his life to this country. But in the hospital, the only people who came to see him were those from his work. There was no friend around him. And that made me realize that I don't want to end in the same situation one day."
"Huh?"
Zhai Yanjun cleared his throat and went on, "So, I'm telling you, whatever happens to me in the future, you better come to see me. I don't want to seem like a pitiful person who has no friends!"
"But you really have no friends," reminded Shui Xian with his lips curled up. He was just teasing Zhai Yanjun because he was quite amused by his words.
"Then who the hell are you?" shouted Zhai Yanjun.
"Me? I just know you casually," replied Shui Xian.
"Xian, I'm really gonna beat you now. For years, I've been your drinking buddy. Are you telling me all those hours I spent listening to you were wasted?"
"I also listened to you," said Shui Xian. "Is there still a time when you didn't come to tell me that your girlfriend broke your heart?"
"And that is why I'm saying this," argued Zhai Yanjun. "We have laid bare our deepest scars before each other. That actually means we are closer."
"Alright. Next time, you end up in this hospital, let me know. I'll be there with the biggest fruit basket for you."
"Are you cursing me right now?" retorted Zhai Yanjun making Shui Xian chuckled silently. "You can look for me without a reason as well. Just like I did."
Shui Xian shook his head, "When are you coming back?"
"I was supposed to come back this week but something cropped up."
Just like that both of them had a conversation over the phone until Raelle came out of the bathroom. Shui Xian threw his phone aside and said, "Yanjun is saying hello to you."
Raelle gave him a nod to show that she heard it.
"By the way, shouldn't you avoid taking showers so much in your condition?"
Raelle ran her fingers through her hair that she had already dried inside the bathroom and replied, "We just came back from the hospital. I had to take a shower. You should too."
"Hospitals are quite clean though," said Shui Xian. "You can always smell the disinfectants."
"Hospitals have the most germs," replied Raelle in a certain tone.
Shui Xian didn't want to argue over germs now. So, taking the command of his wife, he indeed went to take another shower.
....
"Yue, you enjoy the hotpot. I have to take this call, so I'll be right back," said Mu Chenyan as she stood up with her phone and walked out of the private room.
She had brought Yue Yue out to try the hotpot she used to love when she young. But she wasn't able to enjoy it. There was no doubt that the taste was just as authentic and delicious as she recalled. But currently, her mind was elsewhere and she couldn't share this with Yue Yue either.
What weighed down on her mind wasn't Hyson's condition but the fact that she was hiding it all from Yue Yue. She called Yue Yue her best friend and she knew she was going against the code of friends by doing this. But she couldn't go against Elle's words as well.
She was stuck in a dilemma.
But that won't change her decision to make those who Hyson pay for it. It was a serious matter. And just teaching a small lesson was never her style of doing things.
Mu Chenyan found a corner and took the call, "What's the situation?" When she heard the details from the person on the other side, she said, "What do you mean by she is young and her life will be ruined? Our family's son could have lost his life but I can't even ruin someone's life? You better get her rusticated from her university! In fact, after the case goes to court, her school will definitely get rid of her." She quietly listened to the other person before adding, "You just follow what I said. This whole issue won't just end in court. There is no way my Elle would settle with monetary compensation. She'll do everything to send that tiny girl behind bars and I have more than one ways to make her life hell in there!" She took a pause and added, "Just because I have smoothened my scales, doesn't mean they have lost their sharpness. Whoever dared to hurt my son has to suffer!"
"Son?"
Mu Chenyan's body stiffened when she heard that voice from behind her.
"When did you have a son?"
Mu Chenyan disconnected the call and licked her dry lips before slowly turning her body around to face the person who was questioning her.
"Why do you care?" she tried to act haughty as she stared him down.
"As your brother, I should know about it, no?"
Mu Chenyan looked at the face of Xiang Hulin and answered, "But I don't want to tell you."
"If you can't tell me about that, then do you also mind telling me what's wrong? Why do you look ready to hack someone to death?"
"Because I feel like hacking someone to death right now," replied Mu Chenyan while cracking her knuckles. She took a deep breath and changed the topic, "What are you doing here? Are you following me now?"
"This isn't just your favorite hotpot place," reminded Xiang Hulin. "Don't forget that the one who used to sneak out with you to eat hotpot here was me."
"I haven't forgotten," grumbled Mu Chenyan. When she came to Nanzhou, she did expect to run into Xiang Hulin. But she didn't expect to run into him twice in a row. She didn't know whether it was her good luck or bad luck.
Now that he wasn't wearing his uniform, Mu Chenyan observed him carefully before she passed by him saying, "Then General Xiang, enjoy your meal. And don't forget to eat more meat."
As she walked away, he called from behind with a smile hanging at his lips, "Chen Chen, are you concerned about me?"
Mu Chenyan didn't even stop to spare him another glance and kept walking farther away from him.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶