âOh oh oh.â Ji Qishu quickly let go of Tang Zhou, then vigorously wiped his eyes, tears relentlessly pouring out.
He panicked and said, âI canât control my eyes, I mustâve drank too much water these past couple of days.â
Tang Xiao pushed Ji Qishu away, stood besides the sickbed, his eyes tinged red as he closely stared at Tang Zhou, tucking him into the blanket, âHow are you feeling?â
âBrother, does everyone know my secret now? Are you all looking down on me? Get them all out of here!â Tang Zhou was very emotional. The unspeakable disease was his deepest shame.
Tang Xiaoâs hand was on the blanket, gently patting, âDonât worry, nobody knows.â
âWhat secret?â Ji Qishu asked.
âNothing.â Tang Xiao said.
Ji Qishu persisted, âBig brother, do you have any secrets that I donât know about?â
Everyone else also wore similarly curious expressions.
âWhat secret? What secret could I have? Shut up, have I become so hideous already? Youâre crying. Have I been completely disfigured?â
Tang Zhou felt relieved, but suddenly became despairing again, âMirror, mirror, give me a mirror!â
Leng Chenmo sat on the other side of the bed, afraid that after Tang Zhou saw his own face in the mirror, he would faint from the ugliness. He consoled, âDonât worry, I asked the doctor. The doctor said that once you heal and the bruising is gone, your face will return to its normal look. Believe me, you wonât be ugly for long.â
âSo Iâm hideous now? Donât look at me, donât look at me, come visit me after I heal!â Tang Zhou yelled out loud.
The brothers around the sickbed, seeing him yell out loud, being filled with such vitality, all heaved a big sigh of relief.
âSeems like he has truly come back to life.â Ye Shiting broke into a faint smile, feeling like he had survived a calamity.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The group of brothers stayed in the hospital room with him for more than an hour. It was almost midnight when they each went on their own way, leaving the hospital.
Tang Xiao wanted to stay, but Leng Chenmo insisted to stand guard for the night. Tang Xiao looked deeply into Leng Chenmoâs eyes, remembering that his brotherâs life was saved by Leng Chenmo. Tang Xiao pondered for a moment, âCome out with me for a bit.â
Leng Chenmo followed Tang Xiao out of the hospital room. The two stood in the hallway outside the room.
Tang Xiao said in a low voice, âLeng Chenmo, thank you for saving Zhou.â
Leng Chenmo didnât say anything.
Tang Xiao continued, âI didnât agree with Zhou taking you in from the civil affairs office. I donât understand why you got so close to Zhou in the first place. I can tell that you donât mean any harm towards Zhou, itâs justâ¦â
Leng Chenmo interrupted Tang Xiao, âI know what you are going to say⦠I can accept Zhou.â
âYou know?â
âBecause I know, I want to protect him even more.â
Tang Xiao was taken aback by Leng Chenmoâs words. He frowned for a while, âYou donât despise Zhou?â
Leng Chenmo, with his exceptionally keen observation skills, had come to understand peopleâs behavior very well. With a deep and profound voice, he said, âIf I say I donât despise him, will you believe me?â
Tang Xiao bluntly said, âI would find it hard to believe.â
âSo, all the nonsense aside. You are Zhouâs elder brother. If I were to hurt him, you would not let me off. So, you may as well continue to have someone keep an eye on me just like you usually do.â
His candid words left Tang Xiao not knowing what to say. He was indeed having someone secretly observe Leng Chenmoâs every move.
Leng Chenmoâs uncanny luck of pulling out Zhouâs name at the civil affairs office seemed like more than just a coincidence. Taking advantage of his power, he looked into the matter and found Leng Chenmoâs registration form from when he had taken a number.
In the column for partner preferences, Leng Chenmo had written a sentence ten times: I only want Tang Zhou!