"Here you go," Zhou Ping said, taking a few lollipops out of his pocket and placing them in Shang Yan's hand. "Try these next time."
"Oh, oh, okay." It seemed that the matter was over, and Shang Yan quickly put the candy in his pocket.
"The doctor said you'll be discharged in a few months," Zhou Ping said, bringing over two stools. He placed one next to Shang Yan and sat down on the other himself.
"Yeah, about two more months." Mentioning discharge from the hospital, Shang Yan perked up. "Which high school are you attending now?"
"Xijin No. 1 Middle School." Zhou Ping couldn't help but reach out and touch the ahoge (cowlick) on his good friend's head.
Zhou Ping is eighteen years old and a senior in high school.
"Okay, okay, I'll go to No. 1 High School when I'm discharged from the hospital, and we'll still be alumni!" Shang Yan said excitedly, gesturing wildly.
[Host, you didn't take the high school entrance exam, can you still go?] 019 remained silent.
"If all else fails, I'll set up a food stall outside the No. 1 Middle School." There's always a solution to every problem; Shang Yan is that kind of rational little shark.
"Um..." Shang Yan nudged Zhou Ping with his elbow, "How did you get here?"
"Take the car." Shang Yan's little tuft of hair swayed back and forth, and Zhou Ping's gaze would always drift towards him.
"Does it...does it cost a lot of money?" Xijin City is quite a distance from Cangnan City, and in Shang Yan's memory, money seemed to be very important.
He only remembered because of the money... Oh no, I can't remember.
"Not much," Zhou Ping's slightly hoarse voice rang out. It was nothing more than washing dishes for several hours every day after school at his third uncle's restaurant, and doing odd jobs for a few hours every night at a convenience store not far from home.
He didn't spend a lot of money because he didn't earn much.
"Brother, you're so good to me!" Shang Yan hugged Zhou Ping, deeply moved. "I want to be your brother for life!"
Seeing that Shang Yan suddenly became excited again, Zhou Ping hugged him back and said, "Mm."
【Why don't you two hug and have a good cry? I think it's quite funny.】 Every time Zhou Ping comes, Shang Yan becomes incredibly abstract. 019 has made this an indispensable part of their monthly entertainment program.
"You're on summer vacation now, are you working at the restaurant?"
"Um."
"So what kind of work do you do?"
"waiter."
"Oh... I want to go too, to earn money!"
"Go when you've fully recovered."
"But I don't have any money. You spend so much money every time you come to see me. I need to earn money to give you!"
"...No need to give it."
"No, you should say you want it!"
"don't want."
"Here we go again, you little idiot." 019 yawned as he watched Shang Yan arguing with Zhou Ping.
As the sunlight gradually moved westward, the two talked for a while and then went out for a walk together.
Sunlight streamed down the path, illuminating it brightly. A gentle breeze blew, and sunlight danced among the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light. Shang Yan squinted as the light shone into his eyes through the gaps in the leaves.
Zhou Ping took off his baseball cap and put it on Shang Yan's head, revealing his entire face. Shang Yan looked up and saw his delicate features and slightly pursed, pale pink lips.
Seeing his discomfort, Shang Yan scratched his head and tried to take off his hat. "Why do I feel like you need this more than I do?"
Zhou Ping shook his head slightly and said, "No."
He walked even faster this time, and Shang Yan quickly followed.
Shang Yan, who was following behind him, clearly saw that Zhou Ping's ears turned red. He was really easily provoked; a simple sentence from Zhou Ping could make him blush.
"Brother, wait for me! My rheumatism has flared up again these past two days!" He walked quickly, and with a single stride, Shang Yan's outstretched hand couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
That sentence was very useful. Zhou Ping stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at Shang Yan, and asked with some nervousness in his voice, "Rheumatism and bone disease?"
"Yeah, yeah, the moment I see you I feel like I've had a stroke and I want to shout, 'It's you, it's you, it really is you!'" Shang Yan clapped his hands.
Zhou Ping was already used to his nonsensical remarks.
Zhou Ping sighed softly, "Is it okay to be discharged before you've fully recovered?"
"A real man can't say he can't do it!" Shang Yan struck several poses. "Zhou Ping, just seeing you is enough for me!"
Zhou Ping's eyelids twitched, "..."
The pleasant time passed quickly, and after chatting with Zhou Ping for a while, it was time for Shang Yan's dinner.
After taking off his baseball cap and putting it back on his good friend's head, Shang Yan watched him leave with teary eyes, "Zhou Ping, sob sob, will you come to see me again next month?"
"Host, you're like a resentful woman in the deep palace," 019 remarked.
When Zhou Ping turned around, he paused when he saw Shang Yan with teary eyes. He took two steps at a time and reached out to wipe away Shang Yan's tears.
"Yes, you'll be out soon. I'll take you to your third uncle's restaurant for a good meal." Since entering the mental hospital, Shang Yan's crying was no longer a hollow wail like before; when he cried, he was truly sobbing uncontrollably.
Every time Zhou Ping left, he would come over and hug Shang Yan again to comfort him and stop him from crying.
"Then you'll have to pick me up next time. I want eight dishes, and you have to cook them!" Shang Yan said, making his request.
"Okay, I'll come pick you up," Zhou Ping said, stroking his tuft of hair. "I'll cook eight dishes for you."
"Get me some lollipops, I want orange flavor," Shang Yan continued to call out, this time the tears in his eyes had stopped.
"Okay," Zhou Ping nodded, silently making a mental note of it.
Zhou Ping walked away again, turning back every few steps. After leaving the Sunshine Mental Hospital, he reached out and pressed down on the brim of his hat. Only after confirming that the brim covered most of his face did he feel somewhat safe and continue walking forward.
Dusk was approaching, and he needed to hurry back to Xijin City so he could work odd jobs at the retail store that night. Zhou Ping walked very fast.
Shang Yan was his only good brother over the years. Shang Yan had saved him from his parents' clutches and later became mentally challenged. Even though he became mentally challenged, he was still a cute little fool in Zhou Ping's eyes.
He wouldn't look down on his brother.
After watching Zhou Ping leave, Shang Yan took his medicine as prescribed and prepared to go to bed. His routine at the Sunshine Mental Hospital was very regular; he would go to bed at eight o'clock.
At night, Shang Yan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
He took a lollipop out of his pocket and put it in his mouth.
[Host, why aren't you sleeping? You're still young, you won't grow tall if you don't sleep.] 019 felt that ever since Shang Yan became stupid, it had inexplicably taken on the responsibility of taking care of a child.
"I miss Zhou Ping. I can't sleep alone," Shang Yan wiped his face. "The people in the mental hospital aren't normal. I'm so scared being here."
019, [...]
That little idiot.
Go to sleep. You'll be released in two months. Zhou Ping will come to see you again on the 15th of next month.
After being coaxed by 019, Shang Yan finally fell asleep. He lay sprawled out on his back with his chestnut hair scattered on the white pillow.
He hadn't had a haircut in almost six months, and his hair had grown quite long, covering his eyes.
Shang Yan didn't expect that because he used the Resurrection ability once today, the energy fluctuations were detected by the night watchmen of Sunshine Mental Hospital.
The next day, Shang Yan was taken to a room right after finishing his meal.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com