Mo Zhiyun was still unconscious from the anesthetic as she was transferred to the ward.
Mo Shenbai stood in front of the hospital bed and looked at Mo Zhiyun’s pale face.
The room was so quiet that the only sounds were from the medical equipment.
Mo Shenbai suddenly recalled his first meeting with Mo Zhiyun. At that time, she was also dressed in a hospital gown, and she held a plush toy in her arms. When she saw him, she looked nervous and scared as she called out timidly, “Brother…”
He disregarded everyone’s objections back then and brought Mo Zhiyun back to the Mo family, raising her like she was his sister. Nonetheless, he did not show any warmth to her. Apart from inquiring about her studies occasionally and providing her with a comfortable life, he did not spend time with her nor did he have the patience to listen to the thoughts in her heart.
Previously, when she had fallen ill, he only thought that she could not lie on the hospital bed forever. Hence, he agreed to Xu Youyou’s suggestion. However, it was mostly because he was not disgusted back then when Xu Youyou held his hand. On the contrary, his heart felt soft, and he subconsciously wanted to get closer to Xu Youyou.
After being with Xu Youyou for a while now, he found his frozen heart had thawed. Perhaps, that was why he also suddenly had a bond with Mo Zhiyun.
He had told Mo Zhiyun before that Lu Heyun was not worthy. Alas, it was impossible to dissuade a young girl in love.
…
After Mo Shenbai instructed the nurse to look after Mo Zhiyun, he returned to Xu Youyou’s ward.
Xu Jialu did not know how to peel apples so he only peeled a banana. He cut them into slices before he stuffed one into Xu Youyou’s mouth.
Xu Youyou had yet to finish eating, but Xu Jialu had already stuffed another piece into her mouth as though he was feeding a pig.
Mo Shenbai could not endure it anymore, and he strode over and took over. A hint of displeasure could be heard in his voice as he said, “Are you taking care of her or abusing her?”
Xu Jialu rolled his eyes. “What? You don’t think I’m taking care of her well enough? Then, you do it yourself.”
Mo Shenbai only looked at Xu Jialu coldly before he leaned forward and carefully helped Xu Youyou sit up, avoiding her injured arm.
Xu Youyou looked at Mo Shenbai as though she had seen her savior. She quickly said to Xu Jialu, “Since Mr. Bai is back, you can go back to work. Don’t worry about me.”
Xu Youyou puffed her cheeks up as she leaned against Mo Shenbai, looking as though she had been wronged.
‘Mr. Bai is still the gentlest to me…’
“Oh, you’re burning the bridge after crossing it?” Xu Jialu glared at her and said, “Very well! I won’t care about you anymore in the future. If I do, then I’m a pig!”
Xu Youyou tilted her head slightly. A hint of a smile could be seen in her clear eyes as she said, “What do you think of the nickname ‘Pig Xu’? You can be the Xu family’s pig…”
‘The nickname has a certain ring to it…’
Xu Jialu: “…”
Mo Shenbai’s tense expression eased, and he could not help but laugh.
A litany of curses appeared in Xu Jialu’s mind. He said angrily, “I’m leaving! I can’t be bothered with you two disgusting lovers!”
Mo Shenbai said seriously, “‘Husband and wife’ is more accurate than ‘lovers’.”
Xu Jialu: “…”
Xu Jialu could not be bothered anymore and left the ward.
After Xu Jialu left, Mo Shenbai asked, “Do you still want to eat?”
Xu Youyou shook her head immediately. Although the texture of bananas was soft, she still could not stand being stuffed by Xu Jialu.
Mo Shenbai finished the banana in a few bites. Then, he looked at her arm and asked, “Does it hurt?”
Xu Youyou pouted. “It hurts. It really hurts.”
Mo Shenbai could not help but glare at her. “So you know it hurts? Then, why were you so reckless?”
Mo Shenbai understood Xu Jialu’s anger. He was also angry, angry that Xu Youyou did not consider how her loved ones would feel.
Xu Youyou felt very aggrieved. “I was just trying to protect Zhiyun. Otherwise, her arteries would’ve been cut open, and she would’ve bled out…”
Xu Youyou caught herself in time and stopped talking. Her dry and pale lips were tightly pursed as a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. In her dreams, Mo Zhiyun had bled out and died after her arteries were slashed open. Since she saved Mo Zhiyun, her dream did not become reality.
After a moment, Xu Youyou stammered, “I mean… What I mean is what if… what if her arteries were slashed open.”
Xu Youyou’s gaze darted around as she panicked inwardly. She did not know if Mo Shenbai could sense something was wrong with her words.
Mo Shenbai’s deep eyes were calm as he looked at her. His face was mostly expressionless, but there was a slight frown that betrayed his emotions. Many scattered thoughts flashed in his mind. The thoughts were absurd, but if they were true, then many things would make sense. Finally, he said in a deep voice, “You know Zhiyun was going to get into an accident.”
Mo Shenbai was not asking a question. It was a statement.
He continued to say, “You deliberately made her stay in Moon Pavilion to keep an eye on her. You knew how she was going to die. That’s why when the accident happened, you wrapped your clothes around her and protected her with your arms.”
Xu Youyou: “!!!”
‘Help!’
She had just misspoken slightly so how did he guess everything at once? She lowered her head, looking guilty as she said, “I, I didn’t know… I really didn’t know anything… I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
Xu Youyou’s reaction made Mo Shenbai even more certain of his absurd speculation. He was neither happy nor unhappy. Another incident popped up in his mind, and he asked, “Back then, Xu Jialu didn’t tell you about Zhiyun being in a coma. You already knew. You also knew in advance that Grandma was in trouble so you rushed to the hospital even though you weren’t notified.”
Xu Youyou bit her lip and closed her eyes. Her mind was in a mess. She could not come up with an excuse. Most importantly, she did not want to lie to him.
“Back then, you insisted on using my car. Did you predict something would happen?”
Clearly, Mo Shenbai was convinced that Xu Youyou could predict the future.
Xu Youyou did not look at him. She bit her lip tightly, refusing to speak. She was going to pretend to be dead to pass this critical moment.
Mo Shenbai took a deep breath and held her cold hands. His eyes carried a hint of pleading as he said, “Youyou, I won’t force you to tell me your secret if you’re unwilling. However, I hope you can answer my last question. Yes or no?”
Mo Shenbai wanted to know if back then, she had truly known something was going to happen to him so she had insisted on using his car.
Xu Youyou’s hand was tightly held by his warm hand. His warmth seemed to seep into her body and flow in her blood to her heart. She slowly looked at him, meeting his dark eyes. Her heart seemed to be melting at this moment. It seemed like the answer was very important to him; he would probably be very disappointed if she refused him. She lowered her gaze again before she slowly nodded.
With this nod, not only did Mo Shenbai obtain the answer to his last question, but it answered all the other questions as well.
Mo Shenbai’s breathing hitched, and he felt as though his heart had been hit by something. His mind was in a mess, and his eyes were dark as he asked, “Why? Weren’t you afraid?”
At that time, they had just met. They were not even friends.