Chapter 103 Lost Appetite

Chapter 103: Too Upset to Eat

Cheng Feng cried for a long time, his arms wrapped tightly around Shang Xu's waist with a force that seemed to want to crush him into his own body, never to part again.

Shang Xu patted his back gently. "You're not wearing any clothes. Hurry and get under the blankets, it's cold."

Cheng Feng sniffled and loosened his grip. "Young Master, I want to see my mom."

Shang Xu immediately video-called. On the other end, a man held the phone towards the bedside. Cheng Feng's mother was hugging her knees, trembling, her head shaking uncontrollably.

Cheng Feng's heart tightened, his voice trembled. "Mom..."

Shang Xu patted his shoulder to comfort him. "She's fine, just frightened. The doctor said she'll recover after a period of care."

Cheng Feng watched as a female doctor in the video gently soothed his mother, and only relaxed when he saw her gradually fall asleep.

Shang Xu noticed his pallor. "You haven't eaten anything since last night. Are you hungry?"

Cheng Feng nodded, his voice soft and muffled. "So hungry."

Shang Xu called Gu Ming'en. Before long, Gu Ming'en came upstairs with a meal.

Cheng Feng looked at the table full of exquisite dishes, licked his lips, then lifted his eyes to gaze pleadingly at Shang Xu. He asked softly, "Young Master, I'm just a domestic helper. I'm of no real use to you, I can't help you with anything... Why... why are you so good to me?"

Shang Xu's expression was impassive. "You helped our Shaohao turn over a new leaf. You're Shaohao's friend, and I've watched you grow up. It's only natural to be good to you."

Was it just because he was the young master's friend? Clearly, it was because of *him* that Shang Shaohao had changed for the better. Why was all the credit being given to him?

He doubted what the young master said, because he felt there must be a reason for being good to someone.

After all, he himself had reasons for being good to people. If the other person wasn't good to him, he wouldn't be good to them either.

So what about the young master? Was he just being kind out of goodness?

Cheng Feng asked, "Are you this good to all the children you help?"

Shang Xu fell silent for a moment and did not answer.

The two sat quietly for a while without speaking. Shang Xu slowly stood up. "I have something to do..."

Cheng Feng immediately grabbed his wrist, looking utterly pitiful. "Young Master, it hurts so much. Please don't go, okay?"

Shang Xu looked down at him, took out his phone, and glanced at the screen. "I really do have something to take care of. I need to go out."

Cheng Feng pressed on, "I don't think I can eat by myself. Will you feed me?"

Shang Xu's brow furrowed even tighter, but Cheng Feng caught a glimpse of a message from Ye Ximo on the screen.

His heart felt heavy. What he feared most was Shang Xu getting closer to Ye Ximo, meeting her more often, and eventually falling in love with her.

After all, Ye Ximo was a wonderful girl. If he hadn't fallen for Shang Xu, and had met a straightforward, outspoken girl like Ye Ximo, he probably would have become good friends with her.

He had recently come to understand a truth: if you like someone, you have to fight for them, to seize the chance. If you don't try, you'll never get them. Even if you're doomed to fail in the end, at least you'll have no regrets.

Moreover, the young master was so good to him. How could he possibly be willing to give him up?

Young Master, it's because you're too good to me. If only you could be a little worse...

Shang Xu answered the call.

Ye Ximo's voice faintly came through. "Brother Xu, if you don't come to the banquet tonight, Uncle Shang will be angry. He's now..."

Shang Xu turned and walked towards the balcony, moving further away. Cheng Feng couldn't hear the rest, but he knew that Shang Xu seemed to have angered Master Shang because of him, and had also displeased the Ye family.

Shang Xu hung up and came back, sitting down by the bed. He picked up the soup bowl. "Here, have something to eat first."

Cheng Feng's heart pounded wildly. He hadn't expected Shang Xu to still be willing to feed him.

Shang Xu fed him bite by bite until he finished, then stood up to leave. This time, Cheng Feng didn't try to keep him.

Later, Shang Shaohao and Zhang Yuantao came again.

From Shang Shaohao, Cheng Feng learned that Shang Xu's relationship with Master Shang had been very tense lately.

It was probably related to the marriage with Ye Ximo. He heard that Shang Xu and Ye Ximo's wedding had been postponed for a while, but a firm date had been set.

They would marry next autumn.

A sharp pain shot through Cheng Feng's heart. His eyes instantly welled up, and he hung his head without a word.

He had known this day would come. Theirs was a marriage of alliance between families, unrelated to love.

They had to marry.

Even if Shang Xu didn't love Ye Ximo, they still had to be together. His heart ached terribly.

Seeing him cry, Shang Shaohao and Zhang Yuantao were somewhat bewildered. They hadn't detected his feelings for Shang Xu at all, so naturally found Cheng Feng's tears inexplicable.

Zhang Yuantao asked, "Does your wound hurt?"

Cheng Feng shook his head. "No."

Shang Shaohao thought for a moment. "Cheng Feng, don't cry, crybaby. Those people online aren't cursing you anymore, and as for those scumbags, once we gather enough evidence, they'll all be sent to prison. You don't need to be so afraid of them. Zhang Yuantao and I will help you too."

Cheng Feng's heart was a tumult of mixed emotions. He didn't know if he was fortunate or unfortunate.

Unfortunate to always encounter revolting people, yet fortunate to also always meet a bunch of good people.

His co-workers at the shop, the people of the Shang family, the Shang family's young master, as well as Luo Jun, Fang Xuran, Butler Liu, and Uncle Li—they all treated him extremely well.

He lifted his eyes to look at the two of them, his voice hoarse. "I'm not sad. I'm happy, and touched. Thank you for being willing to help me."

Shang Shaohao coughed lightly twice, somewhat embarrassed, and waved his hand. "Hey, it's no big deal. We're brothers. Helping each other out is what we should do. I didn't really do much anyway; it was all my big brother who settled things for you."

Zhang Yuantao handed him a tissue, teasing with a smile. "We're all brothers. Cleaning up these social parasites is also what us patriotic youths should do. Don't cry all the time; you're making us feel awkward."

Shang Shaohao chimed in, "You're a grown man, always crying, such a crybaby. It's so unsightly, really ugly. Don't cry all the time. Acting like this makes people want to bully you, especially since several of those guys had those... particular preferences."

Cheng Feng wiped his tears. He didn't think there was anything wrong with a man crying. He said softly, "Why can't a man cry? If you're sad, you should cry. Bottling up emotions for too long is bad for you. Tears are your own; why shouldn't you let them flow? Young Master, have you forgotten how you used to cry when the young master spanked you as a kid? Cry if you want to. Besides, crying doesn't mean weakness. Grown men can cry too."

Shang Shaohao: "..."

"Don't bring up me crying, it's so embarrassing! And saying that hurts our feelings."

Zhang Yuantao laughed, "Don't get him started on that, or he'll go off crying again for ages."

Shang Shaohao chuckled.

Cheng Feng's cheeks flushed, a little embarrassed. What was that about him crying again? He wasn't a crybaby; he just felt upset and needed to vent.

At ten-thirty at night, Gu Ming'en brought a new phone, saying it was from Butler Liu.

Cheng Feng knew in his heart that it must have been Shang Xu's idea.

Lying in bed, he clutched the phone and logged into the chat app, staring blankly at Shang Xu's avatar. The young master hadn't come back tonight.

In the following days, Shang Xu never came to see him again.

When Cheng Feng asked Shang Shaohao about Shang Xu's situation, he only learned that Shang Xu had been punished by Master Shang—apparently forced to kneel—though the specific reason was unclear.

Cheng Feng's injuries were severe, leaving him almost unable to get out of bed. Propped up against the headboard, he let Gu Ming'en apply medicine and suddenly asked softly:

"Brother Ming'en, does it make you angry?"

Gu Ming'en paused his hands and looked at him in confusion:

"Angry about what?"

"I'm just a nanny, yet you have to take care of me. Don't you feel it's beneath you?"

Gu Ming'en chuckled lightly, continuing his task. "A job's a job. As long as I get paid, why would I be angry? Being a nanny is just a job; it's never a label that makes someone inferior. Besides, we're already friends, aren't we?"

Cheng Feng was taken aback. "Yes, we are friends."

Being a nanny was indeed just a job and shouldn't make anyone feel inferior.

But then again, the high salary and good treatment you receive are all given by the employer.

Given that, one shouldn't always think of being on the same level as the employer. You have to keep the right attitude.

If you always think you're on the same level as the employer, unwilling to be more considerate or cooperative, getting above yourself, then this job definitely won't last long, and you won't last long in the employer's house.

A week later, Shang Shaohao took him to the police station.

The group that had tried to humiliate him before were all locked up, covered in wounds, looking utterly wretched, with none of their former aristocratic airs left.

Shang Shaohao patted his shoulder. "If you're still upset, you can go in and beat them up a bit. Just don't kill them."

Cheng Feng looked at the people huddled in the corner, trembling.

"How many years will they be in prison?"

"My brother said at least ten years. Don't worry, even if they get out in the future, they won't dare to bother you. You're a friend of mine, Shang Shaohao, and someone under the protection of our Shang family. No one would dare touch you."

Cheng Feng was deeply moved.

If it weren't for Shang Xu, these people would still be at large. He had no desire to hit them; he had already done so before. Their remaining lives would be worse than death, and he saw no need to dirty his hands.