Chapter 35 Is He Pursuing You?
"What is there about me that you're curious about?" Mu Yan thought to himself.
It's probably the misplaced emotions that arose after doing that kind of thing.
Mu Yan had only ever dated Lu Chong, so he couldn't understand the existence of one-night stands. In his view, only after two people had met, gotten to know each other, fallen in love, and their relationship had naturally progressed should they do such a thing.
His and Shang Qiyue's plans were completely disrupted.
Ordinary people, after getting to know each other, want to understand each other; after understanding each other, they naturally want to fall in love; and after falling in love, they want to have that kind of relationship. But Shang Qiyue, perhaps after taking that final step, felt something was missing, and that's why he wanted to understand him.
Mu Yan was unaware of his feelings just now, but he had to admit that when he made love with Shang Qiyue, under the influence of hormones, he seemed to have a happy illusion of being loved.
But it was just an illusion.
Shang Qiyue was probably quite comfortable with it, which is why she set a one-year deadline with him and even felt the urge to get to know him better.
But there was really nothing about Mu Yan that was worth knowing.
The only thing that might seem novel to Shang Qiyue is how ridiculously poor he used to be. But Mu Yan still couldn't let go of that pitiful and laughable pride, and couldn't play a pure clown like Granny Liu.
"Sir." Mu Yan didn't answer Shang Qiyue's question in the end, but just called his name softly. Using the dim moonlight outside the window, she reached out and kissed Shang Qiyue's lips. "Good night."
Shang Qiyue didn't answer immediately, and Mu Yan knew that he probably wouldn't bring up the topic again.
After a while, he pressed Mu Yan's head closer to his chest and kissed Mu Yan's forehead.
"good evening."
......
"Mr. Mu, we really should thank you this time. You've really helped our hospital a lot. Here, I'll drink this first, please feel free to drink as you like." The office director in charge of the meeting filled his glass with baijiu and then drank it down in one gulp.
Ostensibly, this was a dinner organized by the hospital to thank Mu Yan for stepping forward and helping them that day. The hospital originally wanted to invite Mu Yan's mother as well, but she declined because she didn't want so many people.
Mu Yan was not used to this kind of occasion and somewhat flusteredly raised his wine glass with both hands.
Shang Qiyue turned his head and leaned closer, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, "If you don't want to drink, just take a little bit as a gesture, it's okay."
His brother was right on his other side, and Shang Qiyue was speaking too close. Mu Yan wasn't good at socializing, and at this moment, his heart was pounding with nervousness.
Seeing him stunned, Shang Qiyue raised his glass to the office director, indicating that he would drink for Mu Yan, and then took a small sip.
"Why are you nervous when someone toasts you?" Shang Qiyue asked in a low voice.
Mu Yan knew he had performed poorly. He had always been afraid of crowded places, and even though he was the one being toasted, he was still a little at a loss.
"It's alright, it's alright," Shang Qiyue reassured softly. "He's just toasting you, relax. This wine is actually quite good, you can try it yourself."
Mu Yan did as instructed, picked up the small wine glass, and carefully took a small sip.
"How is it?" Shang Qiyue asked him.
"It's bitter," Mu Yan said softly.
Shang Qiyue couldn't help but laugh, but he didn't say anything. He just asked Mu Yan if he wanted to change it to a drink.
"It looks like there's yogurt, and probably some juice too. Would you like some?"
"Is this wine very expensive? I'd like to try some more."
Mu Yan was actually thinking that it would be a waste not to drink it, but he felt it would be too embarrassing to say that in front of Shang Qiyue, so he swallowed it back.
"If you don't like it, even the most expensive wine is worthless. But this baijiu is actually quite good. Try it again, and if you really can't stand it, we can exchange it."
His brother probably heard what he just said and couldn't help but smile.
"Brother," Mu Yan said, feigning anger, "what are you laughing at? You're not allowed to laugh anymore."
Lin Yi immediately stopped laughing: "I'm not laughing anymore. This wine is indeed quite expensive. You have several hundred yuan with you. Drink more if you want."
"Mr. Lin, Mr. Mu," Section Chief Yuan said, raising his glass to them from a distance across the table, "I really have to thank you both this time. I'm too old to drink this much, please don't mind."
"Section Chief, what are you saying? It's just a casual meal, there's no need to be so formal," Shang Qiyue interjected with a smile.
"Let's also toast President Shang! Wishing you great wealth and all the best." The section chief raised his glass to Shang Qiyue, who in turn raised his glass with one hand.
"Our hospital has been thinking long and hard about how to thank Mr. Mu. Since he was there, we figured the best way to repay him is to provide your mother with better medical care. We happen to have an empty VIP ward; how about we have your mother move in tomorrow? Our hospital also has a collaboration with the medical school at University A, so if there are any cutting-edge research plans, we'll let you both know promptly..."
"Then I really have to thank Section Chief..." Mu Yan's older brother was clearly stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up. "My younger brother doesn't drink much, so let me toast you."
Shang Qiyue stood up and said it was just a casual meal, and everyone should be relaxed. He chatted freely with the people at the table, handling this kind of situation with ease, and even had time to serve food to Mu Yan.
The older brother chatted with Director Zhang beside him, then stood up to toast the section chief and other leaders in turn. Finally, it was Shang Qiyue's turn, who was standing next to Mu Yan.
Shang Qiyue stood up: "I already said it's just a casual meal, Mr. Lin, why are you being so polite? Mu Yan is my subordinate, it's only right that I take care of him. I can't let you toast me like this, let's drink together."
Amidst the clinking of glasses and the joyful atmosphere, the elder brother and Shang Qiyue piled a full bowl of food onto Mu Yan's plate, like thin noodles that kept piling up as soon as he finished eating.
By the time Mu Yan finally finished eating the food that kept overflowing from his bowl, the meal was almost over.
Shang Qiyue said he had already called his assistant to pick him up, and that the hospital staff only needed to take Mu Yan and Lin Yi back.
Mu Yan actually felt that her brother was probably drunk. He was a little unsteady when he stood up, which was unusual for him.
But his brother said he wasn't drunk at all, he was just too full. Mu Yan was too lazy to argue with him, so she helped him walk away.
Lin Yi's home was in a small alley, and it was difficult to drive there. Mu Yan didn't want to make things difficult for the nurse who was taking them home, so he just told her to park the car outside and he would take his brother upstairs himself.
Several of the streetlights in the alley were out of service, and bicycles and electric bikes were parked haphazardly, some even lying on their sides. Mu Yan used her phone's flashlight to help her brother skillfully navigate around the bicycles and electric bikes.
People in urban villages leave early and return late, and generally go to bed very early. At this time, the only sound is the wind blowing.
The older brother said he wasn't drunk, but he was leaning most of his weight on Mu Yan, and he was walking unsteadily. As a result, their shadows twisted and turned crookedly under the streetlights.
He still claims he's not drunk.
"Yan Yan," Lin Yi suddenly called out to him, "Tell me the truth, is President Shang... pursuing you?"
"How could that be...? Why would I think that, brother?"
“He took good care of you when we were eating. When he called you and heard that you were in trouble, he came over immediately.”
"And the VIP ward for Mom, that must have been his doing too. The people at the hospital and the police station all seem to respect him a lot... Does he like you?"
Mu Yan didn't expect her brother to think that way.
On the way here, he had already planned how to explain his relationship with Shang Qiyue to his brother.
Mr. Shang is young and promising. For him, changing his mother's hospital room was just a matter of course. There was some factional struggle in the company, and he was considered Mr. Shang's protégé. After Mr. Shang learned about his mother's illness, he simply helped her change her hospital room.
But he forgot that his brother was always soliciting business at the dinner table, and it was hard to hide such things from his eyes.
"I don't like it. President Shang is so nice, how could he possibly be interested in me..." Mu Yan subconsciously denied.
Does Shang Qiyue like him?
There might be some truth to that. Otherwise, why would she rush to the hospital immediately after learning he was injured? Why would someone who never lifts a finger cook tea eggs for him? Why would she kiss and comfort him during sex, saying things like "Baby is so beautiful, I love you the most"?
But Mu Yan knew that those were things he had given away casually.
Shang Qiyue's liking is the same.
"Do you like him?" Before Mu Yan could finish explaining why Shang Qiyue didn't like him, the older brother asked again.
"I don't like it." Mu Yan shook her head decisively.
"Because...because of Lu Chong?" Lin Yi seemed to hesitate for a long time before asking, seemingly lost in thought.
Mu Yan then realized that she hadn't told her brother about her breakup with Lu Chong.
"No, Lu Chong and I... have already broken up."
"Is it because of money?" Lin Yi seemed anxious. "That's my problem. I remember you said he's starting a business and doesn't have much money right now. Don't..."
"It's not because of that." Mu Yan looked at her brother's anxious expression and, recalling what Lu Chong had said before their breakup, felt even more ironic.
His nose stung, and he felt a pang of sadness, but not because of Lu Chong.
"For many reasons, I talked to him for quite a while and realized that we weren't compatible. It wasn't a momentary impulse, and it has nothing to do with Mom's situation. Don't overthink it."
"That's good..." Lin Yi seemed relieved, letting out a long sigh of relief. "I was afraid it would be us..."
“You didn’t hold me back,” Mu Yan quickly interrupted him. “Everyone else in the village started working to pay their household expenses, and I was still in school and needed you to give me money. Did you think I was a burden to you?”
The two had arrived at Lin Yi's door. Lin Yi took out his key from his pocket and tried inserting it into the lock several times.
The old, worn-out motion-sensor light kept turning on and off. Lin Yi turned around and looked at his younger brother, who had grown taller than him, and smiled silently.
"Yan Yan, what I just wanted to say is... I hope that when you make decisions in the future, you can consider yourself more. Mom doesn't necessarily need to stay in a luxury ward. She's quite happy living with Aunt Peng."
"President Shang and we are not the same kind of people. You should understand the principle of 'unequal marriage' better than I do. Look at those celebrities on TV who marry into wealthy families, how many of them are truly living a life of luxury? President Shang is good to you now and willing to fawn over you, but what if he finds a new love or gets married in the future? What will you do then? I don't want you to suffer."
“I know, brother, I know what I’m doing,” Mu Yan said softly. “President Shang is just my boss now. He can have any kind of omega he wants. Right now, he’s just a novelty to me. He’s a respectable person. Even if I don’t agree to his proposal, he won’t make things difficult for us. As for Mother’s VIP ward, they can just take it back if they want.”
Mu Yan lowered his eyes gently, his voice was very gentle, and it gave people a very reassuring feeling.
Even though he had fooled Lin Yi with this appearance several times.
"Yan Yan, I don't mean you're not good enough for him. You could be good enough for anyone else. Don't say things like that."
The motion sensor light went out again, and Mu Yan smiled. Then the light came back on, illuminating his brother's serious expression.
"If he likes you and you like him, then of course you can be together."
“But I don’t want you to be with him just because he can arrange a VIP ward for Mom.”
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