Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The sweat on Chen Mo's eyelids, due to his blinking, had moistened his eyelashes, making him appear even more vulnerable at first glance. But in reality, he firmly held onto the hand on his waist and stared intently with his dark eyes, emphasizing, "If you dare to carry me out, I swear within half an hour, the whole school will think we're involved."

His voice was hoarse and breathless.

Xi Siyan raised an eyebrow.

Recalling what Xi Jianxing had said outside the restroom, though he found it annoying, his memory was excellent.

"Love that can't be declared?"

Chen Mo gritted his teeth, "That's just Gou Yiyang and his gang's imagination!"

"So?"

"So leave me alone, I'll be fine in a bit."

Xi Siyan snorted.

Without further ado, he bent down and lifted Chen Mo into his arms.

He was quite light.

This thought flashed through Xi Siyan's mind as he spoke, "If I abandoned a classmate who looks like they're about to die from pain because of such a reason, even if the law wouldn't punish me, I'd never be able to get off the pillar of moral shame."

By the time Chen Mo realized what was happening, he was already suspended in the air, staring straight up at the person above him, "Are you so morally upright?"

Carrying Chen Mo out of the restroom, Xi Siyan looked down at the person in his arms, "Do you have some misunderstanding about me?"

Bullshit, Chen Mo thought coldly.

Just as they exited the restroom, Gou Yiyang had already returned with a group.

A bunch of teenagers, around seventeen or eighteen years old, rushed down the long corridor of the KTV, drawing attention.

From a distance, Chen Mo could hear the sound of sneakers scuffing against the tiles.

"Holy crap, is he passed out?"

"Weren't they saying it was just stomach pain? It's this serious?"

"Brother Yan, how is he? Should we call 120?"

...

Chen Mo felt a crowd surrounding him. Before he could speak, he heard the person above him say, "He's not passed out. The car is outside; let's take him to the hospital."

Many volunteered, "I'll go too."

"I'll go, I'll go."

Chen Mo finally couldn't help but turn his head, his voice stiff, "I'm still alive, you don't need a whole army to carry a corpse."

He felt the chest beneath him vibrate twice, and Xi Siyan said, "Looks like you're doing okay. Just let Lao Gou come along; the car won't fit everyone."

Gou Yiyang, walking beside Xi Siyan, unexpectedly met Chen Mo's gaze.

Gou Yiyang: "Don't you think this scene feels familiar?"

Chen Mo's expression remained unchanged, "I haven't lost my memory."

Lao Gou shut his mouth.

People with stomach pain really do have a bad temper.

Everyone's tension eased a bit, finding the scene somewhat surreal.

In a short time, Chen Mo had completely overturned everyone's impression of him. Tonight, he had casually come out of the closet, which was already explosive enough. Initially, someone came back to the room saying Chen Mo was drunk and vomiting in the restroom. Everyone speculated why someone who didn't drink suddenly got drunk. After analyzing, they concluded it must be due to heartbreak.

Gou Yiyang went to check and came back, saying Chen Mo was almost vomiting to death, nearly giving everyone a heart attack.

Turned out it was just a stomachache.

They all thought their earlier speculations were absurd, but now they saw the guy who could take down a group single-handedly being carried, sweaty and pale-lipped.

Hmm... There's something about it, if it weren't for the harsh words and the one carrying him having a foul mouth too.

"Put me down."

"And then you crawl to the hospital?"

"I can walk there."

"Oh, a turtle flailing its legs also counts as standing."

"... Do you find it glorious to parade around with a gay man?"

"Do you tell everyone you like guys? Then pretend to faint; I have some dignity."

"Xi Siyan."

"Mm."

"In your future success, it won't be because of that mouth of yours."

"Thanks, I can succeed by relying on my family."

The group, from the room to the KTV entrance, was left speechless by their exchange.

Old Xi generally doesn't lash out at people; he's steady and thorough in his dealings. At most, he might curse Qi Lin, saying his brain probably got left with Wang Po two miles away. The truth is, when he does curse someone, they have no room to retort.

Take Chen Mo, for example. He blocked Bai Suxiu during class until her face turned red, and in the office, he infuriated the headmaster to the point of raging.

Now, stepping out of the main gate, he had already closed his eyes, adopting an attitude of surrender.

On Friday nights, there are especially many young people hanging around entertainment venues.

At the dazzling entrance of the KTV, numerous men and women were standing around, chatting or waiting for someone. It was a typical night until a tall, dignified young man walked out of the revolving door carrying a guy in a white T-shirt, causing a subtle commotion.

Especially when the one carrying him headed straight for the lowest-profile luxury car by the roadside, the commotion reached its peak.

After settling the person inside and closing the car door, the luxury car quickly merged into the night traffic. It left a group of guys at the entrance staring at each other, enduring the scrutiny from all directions.

Perhaps it was their first time feeling the allure of money so vividly.

"The rich heir and his little wife?"

"…Chen Mo would twist your head off if he heard you. Believe me?"

"Even if Old Xi doesn't twist it, he might lock you up in his 300-square-meter basement, where the police might find a pile of bones centuries later, only to discover that you never existed."

"Dang, you guys are scary."

The guys pushed and joked around.

Meanwhile, in the car, Chen Mo sneezed as the pain eased slightly. He leaned against the backrest, having no particular thoughts about the bombshell he had dropped tonight.

The air conditioning in the car was quite strong.

Beside him, Gou Yiyang sat like a well-behaved quail, while on the other side, Xi Siyan kept tapping on his phone.

"Uncle Lin, turn up the temperature a bit," said the person without looking up.

Uncle Lin glanced at the boy in the backseat who looked unwell and adjusted the temperature. "Is it because your cold didn't fully recover? Sometimes a cold can cause stomach discomfort too."

Gou Yiyang immediately explained obediently, "No, he drank alcohol."

A light laugh came from the front passenger seat: "Last time? Has Uncle Lin met Xi Siyan's classmates before?"

Uncle Lin replied with a smile, "Once."

By the time they realized Xi Jianxing was also in the car, it was too late.

Given that he was an elder, this was why the atmosphere remained quiet even with Gou Yiyang present.

Xi Jianxing, the second son of the Xi family, despite being senior in rank, wasn't much older than Yang Zhi. He turned halfway around, his phoenix eyes exuding a carefree charm, and smiled at Chen Mo, saying, "Xi Siyan didn't introduce us earlier. I didn't expect to meet you under these circumstances. You probably don't know me."

Chen Mo looked over, "I do. I've seen a photo of Second Uncle and… my brother."

Xi Jianxing's smile didn't waver, "Your big brother, he's quite ambitious."

Beside him, Xi Siyan looked forward, "Still not sober?"

"I'm perfectly clear-headed, just saying hello to the kid." Xi Jianxing turned back to Chen Mo with a grin, "Dealing with Xi Siyan must be tough. Our families are close, so if you ever have any grievances with him, feel free to tell me."

Chen Mo responded with a smile, "Sure, thank you, Second Uncle."

Chen Mo naturally didn't take this seriously.

Who in the Xi family is simple?

This Xi Jianxing was born with a clever mind. He was the only one independent of any Xi family business but also the family's last resort. He could be casual with anyone, even putting his arm around Yang Zhi. But when it comes down to it, apart from the old man, there probably isn't anyone in the Yang family he genuinely wants to know.

About twenty minutes later, they arrived at the same hospital.

Chen Mo underwent a gastroscopy.

The doctor held his test results for a long time, "Acute gastritis. You've had this stomach problem for quite some time, haven't you?"

Sitting on the stool, Chen Mo replied, "It used to be chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. It's been recurring for about three years now."

The doctor paused.

Behind Chen Mo, Gou Yiyang drew a sharp breath.

It wasn't that the condition sounded terrifying, but knowing one's health situation so thoroughly only proved that he was a seasoned patient.

Hmm, a seasoned patient who hadn't even turned eighteen.

Three years ago, Chen Mo was barely fifteen.

If someone saw this report, who would believe that despite his poverty, his adoptive parents loved him dearly, especially when Gou Yiyang had seen the scars on his body.

Just… how hasn't the world exploded yet?

Outside the doctor's office.

Xi Jianxing, mostly sober, retracted his gaze from inside the office and muttered to his seemingly emotionless nephew beside him, "Don't you have anything to say?"

Xi Siyan looked over.

"Cold-blooded and heartless," Xi Jianxing commented.

He glanced inside again and sighed, "Yang Zhi… well, he's surprising. If I were in his position, I'd have retaliated long ago. But look at him, still calling me Second Uncle in the car, not uttering a sound despite the pain, and calmly cooperating with the examination."

Xi Siyan glanced at his watch.

"You should go back," he urged.

Xi Jianxing: "What about you?"

Xi Siyan looked at the person who had just been given an injection by a nurse. "I'll find a way to get a bed for him in the hospital."

"Alright, I take back what I said about you being heartless."

Xi Jianxing hadn't planned to stay long and was ready to leave once things were stable.

Before he left, he suddenly turned around, thinking of something.

"Are you sure there's nothing going on between you and that kid inside?"

This remark made Xi Siyan frown deeply. He reminded him, "He's seventeen, at least one hundred seventy-eight centimeters tall, and still hasn't sobered up. I sent him to splash some water on his face in the bathroom."

"Getting angry because you're embarrassed?"

"Do I look like it?"

Xi Jianxing nodded, then changed the subject. "That's good. The Yang family is like a cat that's tasted blood; if they had a daughter, they'd probably shove her into your bed. Oh, I almost forgot to warn you—Yang Qi'an is eyeing that project in Beichuan. Without a daughter, having their son catch your eye would be just as good."

"Of course." Xi Jianxing continued, "They don't have much hope for the one inside." He seemed to find this amusing, looking his nephew up and down. "Who would have thought that the main person everyone was frantically searching for at the banquet would end up with the most unruly one? A son who's already come out of the closet. Isn't life funny sometimes?"

With that, he ignored his nephew's icy glare, seemingly satisfied with his teasing, and left with a smile.