Chapter 6
For the next two weeks, perhaps frightened by the scarring, Shang Mu obediently came to the school hospital to change the dressing. Zhou Wangchuan was sometimes there, sometimes not. When he was not on duty, he would entrust the case to the doctor on duty that day.
After a while, the two of them became familiar with each other, but not too familiar. If they met on the street, they would stop and chat for a few words. If they didn't meet, they would not take the initiative to contact each other.
But perhaps it was the family secret that night that aroused Zhou Wangchuan's sympathy, and his concern for Shang Mu vaguely exceeded that for other patients.
For example, he learned that his junior had excellent grades, having won a national scholarship in his first semester; that he had just won first place in the School of Design's Creative Competition the previous week; and that he worked part-time as a model for several clothing brands, appearing on numerous fashion magazine covers. Somehow, despite being completely unfamiliar with this field, Zhou Wangchuan had seen those magazine covers—he had no idea where.
In addition, the junior brother was a frequent visitor to the school's confession wall, receiving more than three anonymous confessions a week. Zhou Wangchuan even ran into him once.
That day, he was feeding stray cats in the willow grove surrounding the lake. A familiar, cold voice drifted across the emerald green bushes: "Sorry, I don't like flowers, and I don't want to fall in love. I just want to study hard."
Soon, a girl ran out of the woods with her face covered, sobbing and throwing the bouquet of roses into the trash can by the lake.
Zhou Wangchuan poured the cat food, put away the cans, and placed a small cardboard box behind the bushes. Just as he was about to leave, Shang Mu walked out of the woods leisurely with his hands in his pockets.
Seeing Zhou Wangchuan, he was a little surprised, then smiled and said, "Senior, what a coincidence."
He came over, glanced at the cat food and cans on the ground, and asked, "Is there a cat here?"
Zhou Wangchuan said, "Yes. But she's very naughty. You need luck to see her."
As they were talking, there was a rustling sound in the bushes. Two black and white paws pushed aside the low branches, revealing a pair of big black eyes. A cute cow kitten stared at them curiously and vigilantly.
Zhou Wangchuan squatted down and called softly, "Xiao Hei, come here."
The cow cat slowly came over, licked Zhou Wangchuan's fingers, lay on the ground with its belly exposed, and made a comfortable purring sound.
Shang Mu squatted down beside him, looking a little strange: "You call her Xiao Hei? Isn't she a girl?"
"Just pick it up randomly. She has a lot of black hair." Zhou Wangchuan moved the can over. The cow cat ate it with a grunt. He turned around and smiled, "If you don't like it, you can pick it up again."
Shang Mu actually pondered this for a moment, then said, "How about 'Four Joys'? The pattern on her face looks like two Four Joys meatballs."
Zhou Wangchuan smiled and said, "Not bad."
Si Xi, who had received a new name, finished his can of food, lay on the ground, stretched his limbs, and yawned lazily.
Zhou Wangchuan saw a hint of hesitation on Shang Mu's face, so he said, "You can touch her if you want. She's not dirty. I took her to have a bath last week, had her dewormed, and had her vaccinated."
Shang Mu hesitantly extended his finger and touched the cat's chin. The cat rubbed it affectionately, making a purring sound. A flash of surprise and tenderness appeared on his face.
Zhou Wangchuan smiled and rubbed the cat's belly skillfully.
On an early winter afternoon, the lakeside and the woods are popular spots for young couples to go on dates and stroll. Two grown men squatting here, petting a cat together, looked strange. Their hands paused at the same time, then withdrew simultaneously.
Si Xi shouted twice in dissatisfaction.
After that day, when Zhou Wangchuan went to add more cat food, he found that the cat food bowl was full. He thought about it, took a photo of the food bowl and sent it to Shang Mu, asking: "Did you add the cat food?"
This was the first message the two sent to each other after adding each other on WeChat.
Shang Mu replied quickly: I just happened to pass by there today and added it by the way.
Si Xi was basking in the sun after a full meal. Zhou Wangchuan took a few photos of her charming sleeping posture and sent them to her, saying: I had a very happy meal.
In the following days, Zhou Wangchuan continued to add cat food once a week. Sometimes the food bowl was full, sometimes empty, and he knew whether Shang Mu was busy or not during that period.
Chats became more frequent, and the chat box was filled with beautiful photos of cats.
It was a truly bizarre feeling, a cat we shared on this vast campus, Sixi. When you were busy, I'd visit more often, and when I was busy, you'd visit more often. We'd never met, yet we had an inexplicable tacit understanding.
Cow Cat has many different names. Her classmates call her "Little Black," "Little White," "Little Cow," "Little Good Boy," and "Niu Ru." Everyone calls her by a different name. But only to Zhou Wangchuan and Shang Mu is she called "Si Xi."
After the winter vacation, the school became empty, and it was even more deserted as the Chinese New Year approached.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Zhou Wangchuan received large red envelopes from both his parents, along with a cheerful message: "Son, your dad and I won't be home for the New Year this year. You should eat well and dress well. ^_^ Mommy loves you."
His parents retired early, traveling the world, and were probably sunbathing in Sri Lanka right now. Zhou Wangchuan replied to the message and went to the school hospital for duty, carrying two medical books.
After dark, Zhou Wangchuan sent away a classmate who had a cold and cough, and was about to leave work when there was a light knock on the door and Shang Mu, wearing a black tweed coat, walked in.
"Doctor, do you have a Band-Aid?" He raised his right hand, revealing his ring finger hastily wrapped in toilet paper. "I was flipping through the pages too quickly and got cut by the paper. There are no Band-Aids left in the dorm."
The wound wasn't big, just a shallow cut. Zhou Wangchuan took out a Band-Aid from the drawer and covered it for him. Their fingers touched, and the temperature difference between their hands, one hot and one cold, was noticeable.
Zhou Wangchuan glanced at his unusually cool attire and asked, "Are all students in your School of Design like this? They'd rather shiver in the cold than wear bulky down jackets."
Shang Mu said, "It's not cold in the dormitory."
Since they had a cat together, their relationship became much closer and they had more topics to chat about than before.
Zhou Wangchuan took out a box of Band-Aids and handed it to him: "The weather is dry in winter, and human skin becomes brittle. It is easy to get cut by a touch. Please pay more attention to it in daily life."
"Thank you, doctor." Shang Mu scanned the code to pay, then stood up and left.
Zhou Wangchuan glanced at the falling snow outside the window, then at Shang Mu's slightly thin back. An inexplicable urge made him say, "Wait."
Shang Mu turned around and looked at him puzzledly: "Huh?"
"If you don't have anything to do tonight," Zhou Wangchuan paused, weighing his words. He felt his next words would be awkward. But remembering the bright red blood in the dark alley and the confession in the small clinic, he said, "You can come home with me."
"It's New Year's Eve, don't stay stuck in the dorm all by yourself. No one's home, don't worry." Zhou Wangchuan added, "Of course, if you have something else to do, forget it."
Shang Mu's expression changed from confusion to surprise, then to deep thought. Then, he blinked and whispered, "Senior."
"Between the opposite sex, giving someone roses or inviting them to your home for the New Year are both actions worth considering. But since my senior and I are both boys, there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
That smile seemed to have the magical power to reverse time. Zhou Wangchuan was lost in thought for a moment, thinking back to that early summer evening, the setting sun falling on the bright red rose petals. He also thought of that early winter afternoon, when their hands stroked a cat named Sixi.
Shang Mu smiled sweetly: "Isn't that right, Senior?"
Zhou Wangchuan didn't remove his stethoscope, the tip of which was resting right on his chest. He suspected the stethoscope was broken, because otherwise, how could his usually healthy and steady heart be beating so loudly and rapidly?
*
The morning light from the seaside pours into the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, gently dancing on the curved eyelashes of the sleeping person.
Shang Mu woke up, stretched lazily, turned over, hugged the pillow and rubbed his face against it.
After waking up for a while, he sat up, picked up the rose on the bedside table with one hand, put it to the tip of his nose and smelled it carefully, and looked through the chat history on his mobile phone with the other hand.
Eight hours ago: "Good night, little brother."
Twenty minutes ago: "Good morning, baby."
He looked at the two and felt inexplicably happy. While washing up, he trimmed the roses and changed the water, even humming a few lines of a song.
But this good mood was ruined during the filming.
"From the perspective of a professional photographer, I don't agree with you." Cliff shook his head, saying this for the fifth time.
The atmosphere in the venue was somewhat stagnant.
Shang Mu narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning Cliff's face sharply. He could distinguish between finding fault and discussing.
"Mr. Photographer, please follow me."
Shang Mu threw down these words and walked out of the studio. Cliff followed him.
Coming to a corner where no one could see him, Shang Mu said in a deep voice, "Mr. Photographer, you shouldn't bring too many personal emotions into your work."
Cliff smiled and said, "Mr. Shang, you have a beautiful body and a beautiful voice."
Shang Mu was about to speak, but was stopped by his next words.
"——Last night's live broadcast was very exciting."
Cliff continued with a hint of regret in his voice, "What can a mask cover? Your collarbone, your jaw, so beautiful, but you've left it exposed, only covering the upper half of your face... What can it cover?"
"It's just..." Cliff raised the corner of his mouth and lowered his voice, "If your colleagues and leaders knew you had this hobby, would they think... you were an anomaly?"
Shang Mu leaned lazily against the stone wall and raised his eyebrows: "What do you want to say?"
"If you practice with me once," Cliff said with a smile, "you should know the value of the film in my hands. If I want to make someone famous, it will be easy."
"Oh?" Shang Mu looked at him, "What if I don't?"
Cliff said with regret: "I'm sorry, I can't complete this cooperation, and I can't guarantee that I can keep my mouth shut."
Shang Mu lowered his head and rubbed his knuckles, then asked nonchalantly, "Are you threatening me?"
Cliff smiled but said nothing.
The next second, he screamed and fell heavily to the ground.
"You...you dare to hit me?"
Shang Mu answered him directly with action, punching him hard in the chest again.
Cliff was stunned for a moment, but then he quickly reacted and reached out to fight back. But of course, he was no match for Shang Mu. After a few moves, he was stepped on by Shang Mu and could not move.
"Just wait! Just wait for your disgrace!" Cliff growled in anger and shock.
Shang Mu smiled slowly, took out a small object from his pocket and pressed it lightly.
"You should know the value of the film in my hands. If I want to make someone famous, it's as easy as pie..."
He hit the pause button and the sound died down.
"Mr. Photographer, let's see who will be the first to fall from grace."
Shang Mu kicked Cliff's chin with the tip of his shoe and left the filming location.
He thought today couldn't get any worse, but after returning to the hotel, a phone call made his heart sink to the bottom.
"Hello, is this Mr. Shang Mu? This is Shishan Prison," the voice on the other end of the line said. "Your father, Shang Hongsheng, has been preliminarily diagnosed with liver cancer and would like to apply for medical parole. When would it be convenient for you to come over?"
Shang Mu's fingers began to twitch the moment he heard that name. All the sealed painful memories came flooding back. He took a deep breath and said coldly, "I won't do it for him. It would be best if he died in prison."
After hanging up the phone, Shang Mu took a few quick breaths. He grabbed the slender neck of the vase and slammed it hard on the table. A crisp cracking sound was heard, and porcelain pieces fell all over the floor.
The rose lay quietly in the water and broken porcelain shards.
Shang Mu picked up the flower and gripped it tightly. The sharp thorns pierced his palm and fingertips, and bright red blood flowed down the branch. His whole body tensed, and he looked at the blood flow indifferently.
After a few minutes, he calmed down and made a phone call.
*
Pingxi People’s Hospital, Chief Physician’s Office of Gastroenterology Department.
"Okay, take the bill and go pay the fee for the CT scan. When you get the results, come directly to me. No need to register again."
Zhou Wangchuan handed over the printed form, and the patient took it hesitantly.
He looked up and asked doubtfully, "What's the problem?"
The patient, a migrant worker, wore a coat so worn it was unrecognizable, his hands covered in rough cuts and calluses. He rubbed his hands nervously and asked, "Doctor, can we… not do the CT scan? I don't have health insurance, so I don't need any strong medication…"
Zhou Wangchuan understood what he meant and gestured for him to stretch out his wrists. The patient did so, then Zhou Wangchuan took his pulse in both hands and asked a few detailed questions, which the patient answered nervously.
"Okay, I think I understand." Zhou Wangchuan crossed out the previous prescription and wrote a new one. "These medicines are much cheaper, but they're not as effective as the previous ones. They'll take longer to take, but you'll be cured if you keep taking them."
"Human experience and judgment are always inferior to machines. You should get a CT scan when you have time."
Zhou Wangchuan said, handing him the new medical form: "Go to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine after paying."
The patient took the list gratefully: "Thank you, thank you, doctor!"
At this time, the phone rang. Zhou Wangchuan glanced at the caller ID, picked up the phone, and said in a soft voice, "Baby, what's wrong?"
"Come pick me up."
"Okay." Zhou Wangchuan said immediately, "Is this the address where we ordered takeout last night? The Deep Blue Hotel in K City, right?"
On the other end of the phone, Shang Mu felt relieved when he heard his answer: "Yes, plane, 8 o'clock."
"Okay." Zhou Wangchuan glanced at his watch and said, "I'll order..."
Before he could finish his words, a nurse's voice came from the door: "Doctor Zhou, the preoperative preparations for bed 13 have been completed. The operation will begin in 20 minutes."
Zhou Wangchuan made an OK gesture to the nurse and said to the other end of the phone, "I'll book a flight. Wait for me."
Shang Mu was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered and said irritably: "Forget it, great doctor who saves people from suffering, don't worry about my life or death."
"Don't come." He said coldly, "I'll find someone else."
The phone was hung up heavily.
Zhou Wangchuan stared at the phone screen in astonishment and immediately called back, but there was only a cold, mechanical female voice: "Sorry, the number you dialed is turned off."
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