Chapter 2
When Qi Yaoguang woke up, it was already the next day. His stomach was growling, but he didn't feel hungry at all. He let his stomach rumble, staring blankly at the ceiling with its water-splashed mold spots, lost in thought.
"You're awake? You've slept for a whole day and night. Are you feeling better?"
Gu Mengzhu walked in with a washed glass of water. Seeing that he was awake, she pulled out a stool and sat down next to the bed. Qi Yaoguang looked at the overly familiar woman in front of him and felt somewhat displeased. He didn't particularly like the woman's familiar tone, so comfortable that it seemed as if there was some past between them.
"Who are you? Do I know you?"
Qi Yaoguang leaned back to avoid the water glass the woman offered, his eyes fixed on her with a strange and wary gaze, as if guarding against a venomous snake. She awkwardly took the water glass back and placed it on the table, then sat upright facing him with her hands on her knees.
"Don't you remember? I saw you lying on the ground downstairs, and I called an ambulance for you. They brought you here. You even opened your eyes and looked at me then. Don't you remember?"
"I can't remember."
"Oh." Gu Mengzhu lowered her head with some regret, then smiled at him. "But that's normal. You were so badly injured, it's inevitable that you'd be confused. Anyway, now that you're in the hospital, everything will be alright."
"You're quite kind."
His tone didn't sound very pleasant, so Gu Mengzhu couldn't help but look at the man, but after noticing his resistant expression, she looked away.
"Thank you for the discount, but the ambulance ride costs 200, and the doctor said you'll need to stay in the hospital for three days. The bed fee, consultation fee, medicine fee, and all that will add up to about 4,000 to 1,700. Don't think I'm ripping you off; I have all the receipts here, take a look."
Qi Yaoguang turned his head away. She paused for a moment, then smiled awkwardly, finally putting the things in her hands back into her pocket, her movements becoming a little restrained. He didn't turn around, and she waited patiently. Neither of them spoke, and the ward remained quiet for a long time.
Finally, Gu Mengzhu couldn't hold back any longer, scratched her hair, and spoke:
"Um, when would you like to transfer the money to me? Cash or online transfer, I'm fine with either."
"You think I have money?" He turned his head back, laughing maniacally. "I gambled away all my money. I'm broke, that's why I got beaten up like this. Do you understand? I don't have any money to pay you back! And did I beg you to save me?"
Gu Mengzhu stood up abruptly, the scraping sound of the stool against the tiles echoing loudly in the empty hospital room. He rolled his eyes at the noise, his long hair obscuring his face, which was full of impatience.
"No money? How could a big star like you be broke? You're lying!"
After hearing her words, Qi Yaoguang laughed absurdly and ironically:
"What, you recognize me? I've been blacklisted for three or four years, all the news about me in the newspapers and online has died out, and I've turned into this," he ruffled his long hair on his forehead, then pushed it aside with both hands, staring at her like a madman, "This is what I look like! You still recognize me?! Are you crazy!"
She avoided the man's aggressive gaze, lowered her head, and twisted her fingers, fidgeting without looking at him.
"Anyway, I recognize you. I'm not face-blind, I'm naturally good at recognizing people, so what can you do about it? I don't care, you have to pay me back!"
"I've already said, I have no money."
"You're a big star, how could you be broke?"
She frowned, finding his shameless behavior unbelievable.
"I've lost all my money gambling."
"Finished gambling? Then ask your parents for it. And do you know that gambling can kill your whole family?"
"Your whole family died?" Qi Yaoguang laughed even more exaggeratedly, raising both hands and waving them outwards. "Yes, that's perfect, my whole family except for me is dead!"
"Hey, stop messing around."
Gu Mengzhu laughed too, waving her hand, clearly not believing him.
"Don't you watch the news? That's true, what media outlet would bother with someone like me? Ha—let me tell you the truth, my father, Qi Yaoguang, was arrested for embezzlement and is going to serve decades in prison. His company went bankrupt, and I was harassed by creditors on the street. I died on the spot. My mother heard I went to Da'ao to gamble, had a heart attack in her hospital room, and died of anger. Her funeral was just six months ago. Do you want me to take you to see how tall the grass has grown on her grave?"
Seeing her stunned, Qi Yaoguang gave a self-deprecating smile:
"I don't even know how much this news is worth. If you report it to those paparazzi, you might be able to earn an extra meal."
Gu Mengzhu stared straight into his eyes, as if trying to discern whether what he said was true or false.
“I don’t care, you still have to pay me back. Things are much better these days than before; as long as you have hands and feet, you can earn a living. Go find a job, a part-time job, short-term or long-term, it’s all fine. Anyway, you have to pay me back.” She held out her hand to him, “Give me your ID card, tell me your address, and your phone number.”
Qi Yaoguang took out his ID card from his pocket and threw it to her, then lay back down in front of everyone.
“I have nowhere to live. I used to live in a casino, but I’ll be staying under a bridge after I’m discharged from the hospital the day after tomorrow. Come find me there.”
He grinned at her, looking every bit the street thug. He thought Gu Mengzhu would storm off in anger, but instead, she just kept her head down, pondering for a long time, until he was almost completely worn out before finally speaking:
"You live in my place and work for me to pay back the money."
His expression turned strange, and he looked at her as if she were an oblivious fool, finally letting out a mocking laugh.
Should he say she meant well, or was she just incredibly stupid for inviting a strange man into her home?
"Whatever you want, you're the creditor anyway, you're in charge."
Qi Yaoguang shrugged, looking completely unconcerned. Seeing that she didn't say anything more, and after picking up her bag and walking out the door, he finally commented:
"There are such stupid people in this world, what a waste of water and rice."
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