Chapter 2: What They Call Awakening

Chapter 2: What They Call Awakening

Though phrased as a question, the tone was firm and laced with hostility.

Yet, Wen Muyan was met with complete silence.

And a look that made him uneasy.

Wen Muyan eyed the indifferent man, frowned slightly, and tucked his glasses back into his coat pocket.

"Xiao Han, Xiao Fan is resting and doesn’t want to see you. I don’t want someone like you hurting him again. Leave."

Xiao Han ignored him but had to stop when Wen Muyan blocked the doorway.

"Get out of my way."

Wen Muyan’s frown deepened as he said sternly, "I’ll repeat myself: Xiao Fan doesn’t want to see you. Stop hurting him! His leg’s burned, but his heart’s in worse shape. Haven’t you done enough damage?"

Xiao Han chuckled, amused, "You think I started the fire?"

Wen Muyan was stunned, then heard the other say, "You’re blaming me instead of the restaurant?"

Wen Muyan laughed in anger, "Weren’t you too busy saving your ex to care about Xiao Fan?"

"So, you’re saying Chenli should’ve died?"

Wen Muyan didn’t fall for the logic but mocked, "Go take care of Chenli. Xiao Fan’s got me, so back off."

Honestly, I couldn’t care less.

Xiao Han thought to himself but said aloud, "Zhuo Fan’s my boyfriend. Of course I’d visit him." He pushed Wen Muyan’s arm aside and entered.

There was Zhuo Fan, sitting on the hospital bed, staring blankly out the window at the branches. Hearing the door open, he slowly turned his head and stared at Xiao Han’s familiar face before hoarsely mocking, "Just 'a friend,' huh?"

He turned back to the window, as if looking at Xiao Han any longer would make him sick.

Xiao Han, of course, understood. He stood by the bed with an apologetic look, gazing at Zhuo Fan with unprecedented seriousness. "You know I hate explaining myself, but I’m saying this to ease your mind. I didn’t mean to leave you for Chenli. I just didn’t see you..."

"But all you did was scream Liang Chenli’s name!" Zhuo Fan turned, unable to suppress his anger.

Xiao Han wanted to ask why Zhuo Fan hadn’t called out to him, but the script wouldn’t allow it. He looked guilty and said softly, "I was just trying to get him out first, then come back for you..."

"So to you, I’ll always be Liang Chenli’s stand-in! A second-rate copy!" Zhuo Fan shouted, finally releasing years of pent-up frustration. He felt a wave of relief, his body relaxed, and he fell back onto the pillow, dizzy, his chest still heaving.

Wen Muyan rushed over, his face stern but voice gentle. "Xiao Fan, the doctor said stress worsens your condition. He’s not worth it. Promise me you’ll ignore him, okay?"

"Mu Yan, thank you. I’m so grateful you’re here."

"Xiao Fan, we’ve known each other forever. No need for thanks."

Wen Muyan soothed him until Zhuo Fan finally relaxed.

Xiao Han, the lead, was left out as the two exchanged glances—just as the script planned. It was meant to make him furious, resent Wen Muyan, and assert, "Zhuo Fan is mine," in a fit of jealousy.

But after watching for a while, Xiao Han only did one very inappropriate thing—he yawned.

No wonder—this drama was dull, and standing so long made his legs hurt.

Fortunately, the shou and the devoted cannon fodder gong (Zhuo Fan) were so caught up in the thrill of revenge that they didn’t notice.

Xiao Han figured the scene had played out enough, so he said in a low, slightly melancholic voice, "Take a good rest, I’ll come to see you tomorrow."

As expected, he heard Zhuo Fan’s cold reply, "Don’t bother coming back; I never want to see you again."

Xiao Han paused for effect, then walked out without a care, sat on the bench by the door, and waited for the cannon fodder gong to come out and find him.

In less than two minutes, Wen Muyan finally came out. He was momentarily stunned to see Xiao Han at the door, seemingly not expecting this guy to still be around.

"I have something to say to you," Wen Muyan said as he put on his coat and glasses. "Come with me."

Where else? The underground parking lot, of course.

Xiao Han leaned against the cold wall, finding it all particularly ridiculous. However, the annoying part was suppressing his laughter, which was indeed a very tiring task.

Wen Muyan pushed his glasses, speaking seriously first, "I’ll say it again, please stay away from Xiao Fan."

"And you are?" Xiao Han actually didn’t want to mock the poor man in front of him, but according to the plot, he indeed didn’t even know the other’s name yet.

Wen Muyan paused, not showing any displeasure, whether he was genuinely good-tempered or just good at hiding it. "I’m Xiao Fan’s childhood friend, Wen Muyan."

Seeing that Xiao Han didn’t respond, Wen Muyan continued, "Xiao Fan has done so much for you, and you’ve ignored it all. What face do you have to let him return to you now? Someone like you doesn’t deserve him!"

Xiao Han changed his posture against the wall, cooperating, "And what makes you think you’re qualified?"

"Because only I truly love Xiao Fan," Wen Muyan solemnly said these words.

Only then did Xiao Han really look at Wen Muyan, feeling both amused and pitiful. He couldn’t hold back any longer, so he smiled coldly, revealing a row of white teeth.

"Zhuo Fan loves me, always has, always will. I won’t let him leave me."

With that, Xiao Han stepped forward, patted Wen Muyan’s shoulder, and walked away. Of course, the final move was his own touch.

But in fact, Xiao Han was very troubled. What troubled him wasn’t how to win Zhuo Fan back, but that from now on, he would have to follow the script’s direction and become a truly loyal dog gong, commonly known as a cheap gong.

This was simply unbearable! But he didn’t know what the consequences would be if he went against the script’s arrangement, but it definitely wouldn’t be good.

After a tough mental battle, Xiao Han decided to call it a night.

The next morning, Xiao Han headed to the kitchen to make some chicken soup, but when he saw the plucked chicken on the cutting board, he was depressed—he didn’t know how!

But it’s okay, with the omnipotent script! So the chicken soup was quickly made. Why worry about bird flu? Don’t be ridiculous. In novels, there are gay relationships everywhere without condoms; how many got AIDS?

When Xiao Han brought the chicken soup to find Zhuo Fan, Wen Muyan happened to be absent.

"What are you doing here?" Zhuo Fan looked at him coldly, the previous tenderness and care completely gone.

Xiao Han felt a pang, set the soup on the table, and said softly, "I see you’ve lost so much weight. I cooked this myself. You’ve always done these things for me, and I didn’t cherish them properly. It’s my fault."

Zhuo Fan was obviously a bit surprised, but it quickly turned into sarcasm, "What do you take me for? A dog that can be lured back with a piece of candy? I said I don’t want to see you again!"

At this moment, the male lead didn’t realize the extent of the shou’s despair, only treating this as an ordinary tantrum. So Xiao Han scooped a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and fed it to him, saying, "After you finish this, I’ll leave."

Zhuo Fan closed his eyes and turned his head away, the spoon moving with him, ignoring his command to leave.

"I told you to get out!" Zhuo Fan felt his self-esteem severely trampled, angrily waving his hand, causing the bowl of soup to spill, the hot soup splashing on both of them, making Zhuo Fan wince and cry out.

Just at that moment, the hospital room door opened again, and Wen Muyan walked in bringing lunch.

"Xiao Han, what have you done to Xiao Fan?!"

Xiao Han had anticipated this, quickly dodging the splashing soup and grabbed tissues to clean it up. Zhuo Fan, of course, tried to dodge, and in the struggle, Wen Muyan obviously misunderstood.

A fist flew towards Xiao Han's face!

But it didn't land squarely, grazing his cheek, and Xiao Han immediately caught the wrist.

Xiao Han felt the force in his hand, his expression darkened. That punch could have knocked out a tooth.

He glanced at Zhuo Fan, who still coldly turned his head away, not even looking at him.

Missing the first punch, Wen Muyan, furious, didn't stop, and threw another punch at the stomach!

Even if it was just acting, Xiao Han was getting mad, sidestepping and elbowing him in the stomach, immediately making Wen Muyan, who wasn't a fighter, retch.

"Stop!" Seeing his friend hit, Zhuo Fan couldn't take it and immediately struggled to get out of bed, inevitably aggravating his injured leg, and predictably fell into the arms of the supporting character.

"Where did he hurt you, Muyan?" Zhuo Fan looked at him with guilt, "It's my fault for spilling the soup and causing this misunderstanding."

Wen Muyan gently held him, shaking his head, "Of course it's not your fault."

"Zhuo Fan, what's wrong with your leg?" Xiao Han patiently expressed concern.

"I don't need your concern! Xiao Han, what gives you the right to hit him? He was the first to visit me and has stayed by my side. What right do you have to hit him?!" Zhuo Fan angrily glared at Xiao Han, full of loathing.

Xiao Han sneered inwardly, Wen Muyan hitting him was justified, but he retaliated and got scolded.

He tried to suppress his anger and continued the plot, stepping forward to pull Zhuo Fan from Wen Muyan's embrace, saying coldly with a dark face, "Come home with me, I'll take care of you from now on."

"Let go of me!" Zhuo Fan, with one leg injured, struggled hard but couldn't break free, so he used his other hand to swing with all his might!

"Slap—!"

With that sound, the hospital room suddenly fell silent.

After a second, Xiao Han began to feel the burning pain on his right cheek, and it was getting worse.

Damn it!

What kind of sin did I commit in my past life to end up with this plot!

Xiao Han inwardly vomited blood, but it wasn't over yet. Zhuo Fan's slap didn't relieve his anger at all, he indifferently looked out the window, not even sparing a glance, "Xiao Han, I don't love you anymore, let's break up, and don't appear in front of me again."

Xiao Han's eyes gradually darkened, staring at him for a long time, then slowly turned and walked out of the room.

But he didn't go far, because the script required him to sit at the door all day, reflecting, and the next day, with a haggard face, go in to apologize to the man who had just slapped him.

Wen Muyan came over to support Zhuo Fan's shaky figure, saying with relief, "Xiao Han is a jerk, only knows how to hurt you, it's better this way, you still have me."

Zhuo Fan seemed not yet recovered from his daze, his eyes somewhat unfocused. After Xiao Han left, his gaze couldn't help but linger on the door, then he subconsciously broke free from Wen Muyan's support, forcing a smile, "I'm fine, the doctor said I can be discharged in a few days."

"Really? That's great." Wen Muyan put down his stiff hands in the air, smiling.

"Huh..."

The door swung open with a bang again, and it was none other than Xiao Han who walked in!

Seeing Xiao Han approach him, Zhuo Fan frowned, his face full of exhaustion as he turned his head away, he murmured, "Xiao Han, let me go. No matter what you say now, I won’t return to your side. Give up, I—"

He stopped mid-sentence, not because he was interrupted, but because Xiao Han walked right past him, straight to the table—picking up the chicken soup thermos he had left behind.

Realizing he had been presumptuous, Zhuo Fan’s face instantly turned extremely unpleasant.

Xiao Han carried the thermos to the door, then suddenly turned back, smiling at Zhuo Fan, "To hell with your heart of ashes. Goodbye."

The door closed again, and this time Xiao Han walked out feeling light and unburdened, finally free from all this nonsense. Though he didn’t know what the consequences of altering the script would be, there was no way he would endure being slapped on one cheek and then offering the other.

As he drove away from the hospital, the sunlight outside mirrored his radiant mood.

Just as Xiao Han was contemplating how to live his life without following the script’s arrangements, a truck barreled toward him—!

Everything happened too fast. Xiao Han only had time to leave his final words in this world.

Just two words: "Ha, ha."