MCFEM C11

Chapter 11: He’s a Very Vindictive Person

“So let me get this straight. Just because you were a little curious, when Song Yinxing mentioned going to the hospital, you immediately said you wanted to tag along and see his mother?”

From the other end of the earphones came Yu Bai’s voice, full of disbelief.

“Let me confirm—yesterday was the very first time you two met, right?”

“The first.”

“And you can’t possibly have any connection with his mother either, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why on earth…” Yu Bai’s words trailed off, omitting far too much. “Forget it. As long as you’re happy.”

“Oh, right, let me tell you. When you visit patients at the hospital, you’re supposed to bring fruit baskets, milk, that kind of thing. Going empty-handed isn’t good.”

“Yu Bai.” Gu Yang asked seriously, “In your mind, am I an idiot?”

What else could he think? Yu Bai roared silently inside.

He genuinely wanted to grab Gu Yang by the collar and demand to know what kind of brain circuitry could make someone, after meeting a mere classmate twice, so naturally decide to follow him to the hospital to see his gravely ill mother.

He regretted making this phone call at all.

At the fruit shop near the hospital entrance, the shopkeeper’s wife offered a few standard set combinations. Without much thought, Gu Yang simply pointed at the most expensive one.

“All right, I’m busy. I’ll talk to you later.” Gu Yang hung up, paid, and carried the basket out.

Song Yinxing, who had been told to wait by the entrance, glanced at the items Gu Yang had bought but said nothing, simply leading him inside.

The inpatient building smelled strongly of disinfectant. Gu Yang trailed after Song Yinxing, taking in the surroundings.

“It might get a little noisy inside,” Song Yinxing warned in advance.

His mother was in a four-person ward, the second bed in. There were people on both sides, with coughing and snoring overlapping in a discordant symphony, plus family members chatting in various dialects.

Gu Yang paused subtly for a few seconds before going in.

When the curtain was drawn back, a middle-aged woman sitting inside nodded at Song Yinxing. “Xiao Song, back from school? Your mother’s doing better today. She finished her IV and fell asleep without troubling the doctor.”

She then reminded him about the medication and drip before getting up to leave.

“Your caregiver’s pretty kind, even tidying up for others.” Gu Yang glanced sideways.

“She’s not ours. I hired her on a one-to-many basis,” Song Yinxing explained, realizing Gu Yang might not understand. “She has to look after several patients, so she can’t stay with us all the time.”

“The price is cheaper that way.” As he spoke, he scratched his palm uneasily.

Adolescence was when pride burned the strongest. At Guanli High, where wealthy kids were everywhere, the obvious gaps—along with occasional sneers—made Song Yinxing’s mind unconsciously sensitive.

But Gu Yang merely gave an indifferent “Oh.” His reaction was so flat it fell outside all the outcomes Song Yinxing had prepared himself for, catching him completely off guard.

Luckily, at that moment, Song’s mother stirred awake. “Xingxing, you’re back.”

She slowly turned her head and spotted Gu Yang. “And this is…?”

“Mom, his name is Gu Yang. He’s my classmate.”

“Oh, a classmate.” With effort, Song’s mother tried to push herself up. Seeing this, Song Yinxing hurriedly raised the bed for her. “You’ve gone to such trouble, coming to the hospital with Xingxing. It’s messy here, and we’ve nothing proper to offer you.”

“Not at all. I’m the one intruding. This is just a little token.” Gu Yang smiled politely and set the fruit basket aside.

Her expression softened further. She wanted to say more but accidentally tugged at her airway, breaking into several sharp coughs. Song Yinxing quickly sat beside her, patting her back.

“I’m fine.” She waved him off. “But really, you shouldn’t be dragging classmates to the hospital. Wouldn’t it be better to watch a movie after school, or have a meal together? Why keep guarding me all day? I’ve told you—I’m lucid. You don’t need to stay as a caregiver all the time. No need to hire a nurse either. Why waste that money…”

“Mom!” Embarrassed, Song Yinxing cut her off, instinctively flicking his eyes toward the boy standing nearby.

Gu Yang’s face wore that same unchanging smile—measured, distant, but flawless. It carried no warmth, yet exuded a poised coolness.

“Fine, fine, I’ll stop talking. Say a few words and already I’m nagging.” Song’s mother smiled at Gu Yang. “You young people these days are all so strong-minded.”

“Yinxing is already very outstanding.” Gu Yang inclined his head slightly. “That’s thanks to your teaching, Auntie.”

A young nurse entered then, asking whether the family member of Patient 121 was around. Song Yinxing hurried out, ears burning from the affectionate compliment.

Behind the curtain, only Gu Yang and Song’s mother remained.

She gazed at him and let out a long sigh.

“You’re the first classmate Xingxing has ever brought to meet me.”

Gu Yang thought this line sounded strangely familiar.

Novels always loved using it: You’re the first woman the young master ever brought home.

“Xingxing said your name is Gu Yang. Is that the Gu family that deals in jewelry?”

Gu Yang nodded.

Song’s mother smiled faintly. “Before I was diagnosed, I worked for a rich lady. Learned a little. Don’t mind me asking.”

She didn’t elaborate further, but Gu Yang knew the “rich lady” she referred to was Madam Nie.

“Don’t take my earlier words to heart. Truthfully, I’m glad.” Song’s mother’s clouded eyes brimmed with warmth. “Because of my illness, he’s been taking care of me since middle school, barely any time to bond with his classmates.”

“After the entrance exams, he insisted on going to Guanli High. I know that’s a school full of young masters and heiresses. Xingxing’s too stubborn and a bit withdrawn. I worried he wouldn’t fit in and would be bullied. But it seems I worried too much.”

No, actually—you guessed pretty accurately.

Gu Yang thought silently.

“Now I can rest easy.” Song’s mother closed her eyes. That short conversation seemed to have drained a day’s worth of her strength.

Who knew how much time had passed when Song Yinxing came back, lifting the curtain to find them inside.

“Looks like she’s asleep again.” Gu Yang didn’t turn, his head lowered, doing something.

Song Yinxing approached, tucking in the blanket. “Sorry, I was talking to the doctor. It’s late now, I’ll see you out… What are you doing?”

He saw that Gu Yang was peeling an apple with a small knife.

“I was going to prepare some fruit for your mother.” Gu Yang handed him the finished apple. “Now you can have it.”

“This invitation was so sudden. Did I give you a fright?” Gu Yang tidied the peelings into a plastic bag, preparing to toss them. “Here, this apple’s for you. Don’t dwell on it anymore.”

So you do realize it.

Before Song Yinxing could even marvel at his audacity, he quickly raised a hand. “Wait, don’t throw out the peel! That’s too wast—… Forget it, just leave it there. I’ll take care of it.”

After escorting Gu Yang to the hospital entrance and watching him get into a taxi, Song Yinxing finally had time to examine the gift in his hands.

Honestly, he had never seen an apple so sharply angular.

He slowly lifted it and took a bite.

So sweet.

Juice spread across his mouth. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d eaten fruit this sweet.

Back when his mother’s health hadn’t failed, she would occasionally bring home unwanted fruit from her employers and cut it into platters for them.

The memory was so distant and precious it now seemed wrapped in a hazy filter.

—The Gu household.

Gu Yang handed his coat to the waiting housekeeper. Crossing the hall, he caught sight of something that made his expression twist in naked distaste.

Just as he was about to head upstairs, a voice called out.

“Why the rush? Won’t you sit down for dinner first?”

Gu Yang rested a hand on the banister. “Not hungry,” he replied coolly.

“Wang Ma, set another place.”

The middle-aged maid bustled out from the kitchen. She cast a swift glance at the boy sitting at the table, then looked uneasily at Gu Yang.

“Quickly, Wang Ma. The dishes are going cold. My brother’s delicate—don’t let him end up with stomach trouble again.”

Urged a second time, Wang Ma could only comply in haste.

With utensils set and the chair pulled back, Gu Yang sat down.

Across from him, the other boy smiled faintly. A restless air of arrogance clung to him, screaming superiority.

Gu Qingxu—slightly less cannon-fodder than others, bosom buddy to Nie Ying, destined to sneer and ridicule Song Yinxing in the tug-of-war between the main leads.

“Not hungry at all?” Gu Qingxu studied his detached expression. “Came home late. Did you already eat? With someone? He Ming’an?”

Gu Yang ignored him.

“Fine, don’t eat. Just sit with me. Eating alone is boring.” Gu Qingxu carried on talking.

Gu Yang lowered his head and scrolled his phone.

Starting from the top of his messages, he replied to He Ming’an’s question about whether he’d gotten home. Next was Yu Bai’s gossip.

“Nie Ying’s coming-of-age ceremony is next week. You should come too.” Gu Qingxu spoke again.

“No thanks. I wasn’t invited.”

“Well, sorry to disappoint you, but A Ying already mentioned you to me.” Gu Qingxu’s smile grew oddly sharp. “All these years, you’ve never gone. One time isn’t too much to ask, right?”

So he was even inviting him personally.

Clearly, Nie Ying had no inkling of the truth. Madam Nie’s secrecy had been ironclad—silent until the moment she dropped a bombshell.

“Is that so? Then I’ll go.”

“I knew you’d refuse. Guess I’ll just have to let my father persuade—” Gu Qingxu suddenly faltered.

Why did he agree so quickly?

Gu Yang had never planned to go. After all, in the original novel, Madam Nie had quietly given Nie Ying the DNA report in private, not printed it for every guest. There was no need for him to force his way in just to spectate.

But since Nie Ying had invited him himself…

He might as well go along, and maybe use the chance to spill a bit of dirt.

Because he truly was a very vindictive person.

Scrolling further down, he found a message from Ying Jiayi, sent after school when he hadn’t had time to check his phone.

The content was simple: inviting him tomorrow to watch a good show.