Gentlemen's Friends

Chapter 31 Part 1: Nine ([-])
When Ren Ningyuan received Zhuang Wei's call, he was out of town, and immediately booked a return flight, and it was already the next day when he arrived at the hospital.

Zhuang Wei was sitting in the ward, expressionless, only pursing his lips. Hearing the slight movement of him pushing the door in, he turned his head and looked at him with bloodshot eyes a little tiredly: "Are you back?"

The person on the bed closed his eyes and breathed between the oxygen mask and the equipment. Ren Ningyuan looked at it and asked in a deep voice, "How is it?"

"It just depends on whether he can wake up in the next two days."

There was a moment of silence in the oppressive atmosphere, and Ren Ningyuan's voice became deeper: "What's going on?"

"It's nothing. He won a photograph at the auction and wanted to send it to me to please me. He was hit by a car running a red light while driving through the intersection. The driver who caused the accident has already fled," Zhuang Wei didn't look sad either. The tone was very cold, always mean, "He's out of luck. Give up on me earlier, and don't come back this time, nothing will happen."

Ren Ningyuan sat down beside him and put his hands on his shoulders.Even if there is friction in normal times, when something happens, their long-term friendship stands out from all kinds of disturbances.

"You should go get some rest."

"Me? I'm terribly fine, and it's okay."

"From yesterday to now, have you slept and eaten?"

Zhuang Wei turned his head: "I'm fine."

"I'm taking care of Chu Mo. I'll let someone investigate the matter. Don't worry."

"I'm not worried," Zhuang Wei rubbed his temples slightly roughly, "I was just wondering if he just died like this."

Ren Ningyuan looked at him.

The movement of the man's teeth clenching became more and more obvious, and his face twisted slightly: "You bastard."

"Zhuang Wei."

"Did you dare to die like this if you didn't pay back what you owed others, and didn't even have an explanation?! You did a bunch of shit, left a mess, and left after patting your ass. How can there be such a cheap thing?! It’s just a bastard. Doesn’t this bastard usually think he’s great, and always shows off that he can’t die no matter how hard he fights? It’s too fucking cheap to dare to die like this! I look down on him!”

"Zhuang Wei," Ren Ningyuan pressed his shoulders firmly with both hands, "Calm down."

Zhuang Wei broke free from his hand: "I'm very calm! I just want to scold him before he dies, so that I won't hear how I scold him in the future!"

"I know what you're thinking."

Zhuang Wei stared at him with red eyes.

"But it's not your fault. You didn't feel sorry for him. He missed it. He knows it very well. Even if there is anything, he won't really blame you."

"..."

"So don't torture yourself, and don't think too much. If you have anything to say, tell him after he wakes up." Ren Ningyuan looked at him, "You will definitely wake up, you have to believe him."

Zhuang Wei's eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and he didn't speak any more.

"You should eat something now and get some sleep. When your mind is clear, think about it again. If Chu Mo wakes up, what exactly are you going to tell him?"

"..."

"It's very important to him, you have to figure it out. So I ask you to have a clear head. This is much more useful than sitting here torturing yourself, do you understand?"

Zhuang Wei stared at the floor in the long silence, and after a long time he said hoarsely: "Don't you need to adjust the time difference?"

"I slept on the road, it's okay," Ren Ningyuan put his arms around his shoulders, and said lightly, "Go."

No matter how chaotic it is, even if everyone panics, Ren Ningyuan will be the last one to keep calm and rational, so that everyone can rely on and count on.

He was used to this responsibility, and everyone was used to it.

Not long after Zhuang Wei left, the door was opened cautiously again.Ren Ningyuan raised his head and saw the man who was trying his best not to break the quiet atmosphere of the ward. The man just poked a foot in and saw him when he raised his eyes. It seemed to be unable to move on the ground.

Ren Ningyuan was slightly taken aback, but first said gently: "Zhuang Wei is in the hotel next door."

"..."

"I let him go. He's not in shape and needs to rest."

The man didn't make a sound, his whole body was still tense and stiff, his face was tense, as if he couldn't breathe.

Ren Ningyuan looked at the things in his hand: "Did you bring food to Zhuang Wei?"

Qu Tongqiu stood stiffly, moved his throat up and down for a while, and then reluctantly nodded.

Chu Mo had an accident, and human life was far more important than his grievances. He would not vent his emotions on such an occasion, but tried his best to suppress it, not looking at the tall man sitting there, turned around and wanted to leave with his head down. open.

Ren Ningyuan stopped him: "But I have already called room service for him."

Qu Tongqiu let out an "ah" and stopped, holding the box of food, hesitating a little.

"If you don't waste it, can you give it to me? I just got off the plane."

Ren Ningyuan would ask people for food.Qu Tongqiu was extremely surprised and was at a loss for a moment.He stood hesitantly for a while, looked at other places, and passed the lunch box after a certain distance.

"Thank you."

Ren Ningyuan took the chopsticks, opened the household lunch box, and looked at the food inside: "Does Zhuang Wei also like your fried bitter gourd and salted egg yolk?"

The man's eyes were still on the irrelevant doorknob, and he reluctantly replied: "He doesn't like it...but this...now...is cool..."

Ren Ningyuan took a piece: "Well, it's a good thing."

In silence, Ren Ningyuan ate the contents of the lunch box slowly, every movement was natural.Qu Tongqiu stood sideways to him, standing uncomfortably, waiting for him to eat all the food, and then put the lunch box back.

Qu Tongqiu took the lunch box and didn't leave. He just looked at the floor and said reluctantly, "I... don't work in the afternoon."

Ren Ningyuan looked at him: "Huh?"

"Afternoon is...it's my turn to take care of..."

Ren Ningyuan looked at his embarrassed profile, and said gently: "I know, you don't want to see me."

The man looks down.

"But Chu Mo is my good friend. I will be here with you to take care of him for a few days. Please bear with me."

"..."

"Just pretend I'm not here."

Qu Tongqiu finally moved the chair, found a place far away on the other side of the hospital bed, sat quietly, and tried to only pay attention to the movement of the patients on the bed and the machines.

But the tall man sat there, as if he had sensed some kind of huge aura all over his body, goosebumps appeared layer by layer, and he trembled slightly.He thought, it was a hatred that could not be uttered or dissipated.

The man was always nervous, trembling slightly, and did not make eye contact with Ren Ningyuan. Ren Ningyuan still felt the vigilance of his arched back, like a skinny cat.

"Qu Tongqiu."

"..."

"Are you going abroad with Zhuang Wei?"

The man was silent and nodded.

"Have you ever thought that maybe you won't be used to living there?"

"..."

"I don't want to stay in T City, there are many places to go, you don't have to go there, and you don't have to be with him." Ren Ningyuan paused, thinking about his words, "Zhuang Wei, he won't just be a friend Get along with you as an identity."

Qu Tongqiu didn't make a sound, shrunk his shoulders, but his thin face didn't waver at all.

Ren Ningyuan looked at him: "You actually know everything, don't you?"

Qu Tongqiu tensed up and sat stubbornly.

Ren Ningyuan was silent for a while: "Living with a man, are you already able to accept it?"

"..."

"Or, did you accept him?"

"..."

"Are you serious about Zhuang Wei?"

Didn't get any answer, but seemed to have already got the answer in silence, Ren Ningyuan didn't speak any more, just looked at him.Qu Tongqiu was still trembling, his stature was humble, but he was firm.

The silence also became a little weird, as if something was flowing underneath.

Without warning, Ren Ningyuan suddenly stood up.Qu Tongqiu immediately raised his head, staring at him like a frightened animal, his eyes widened.

"No, look," Ren Ningyuan waved his hand comfortingly at his suspicious eyes, and pointed to the man on the bed, "Did you see it?"

Qu Tongqiu was still inexplicably nervous: "Huh?"

"his hand."

Qu Tongqiu looked at Chu Mo's flat hand, but there was nothing unusual about it.During the few seconds of gazing intently, the imperceptible slight movement of his fingers made him suddenly "ah", stood up hastily, and forgot to avoid Ren Ningyuan for a while: "This, this is..."

The two held their breaths and looked at each other, as if they had confirmed the facts from each other's eyes, Qu Tongqiu blushed suddenly with joy, and hurriedly walked out the door: "Doctor, doctor, doctor..."

The doctor came to examine Chu Mo and talked with Ren Ningyuan for a while.Zhuang Wei also came back soon, facing the sleeping man on the bed, with expressionless face, only pursing his lips, Qu Tongqiu sat beside him as if he wanted to comfort him.

"The doctor said, according to this, you should be able to wake up tonight."

Zhuang Wei let out a "hmm", but his face was not relaxed.

"Are you worried about what will happen when you wake up?"

Zhuang Wei responded indifferently, still frowning.

Qu Tongqiu hurriedly reassured: "It will be fine, it will be fine."

"Ah."

The man's words are as simple and true as his feelings: "Chu Mo is a person who does great things, he is better than ordinary people, and his life is great. He will definitely get better."

Zhuang Wei looked at him, interlocked his fingers, and held his palm.

That night Chu Mo really woke up.

After being overjoyed, Qu Tongqiu didn't get a rest because of it, on the contrary, he became more busy.

A patient like Chu Mo will be more troublesome when he is awake than when he is unconscious.Even with Ren Ningyuan around, he still had a quarrel with Zhuang Wei, and the two broke up unhappy.

Qu Tongqiu didn't hear the quarrel, and he didn't know what was going on between these two people. If there was any quarrel that could not be resolved at this time, he and Ren Ningyuan could only take turns taking care of Chu Mo.When he changed shifts, he went to work in the company again, and by the way helped Zhuang Wei move home the work he owed, so that Zhuang Wei didn't have to work overtime and could have some leisure time to visit patients.

The time in the hospital passed day by day, and Chu Mo's body recovered smoothly. As for whether the stalemate relationship with Zhuang Wei has eased, Qu Tongqiu couldn't say.

He was a little hard to understand, when he thought the two people were peaceful, Ren Ningyuan hinted that it was a quarrel; he felt that they were quarreling, and Ren Ningyuan would let him not worry.It was as if they had a code of belonging to a small group, and he was clearly not one of them.

In any case, the day when Chu Mo recovered and was discharged from the hospital was approaching, and things were going in a good direction after all. Qu Tongqiu felt gratified and calm when he got on the track through bumps and bumps.

Ren Ningyuan and the others are doing things like coordinating the medical staff in the ward, and he can't help.With some time, he boiled a pot of chicken soup for the patient at home.He has been a father and mother for many years, and for him, being responsible for these unmanly things has long been a part of his life.It doesn't matter how high or low you are, just do your best.

After packing the soup, he took it to the hospital, but Chu Mo was not in the ward, only Ren Ningyuan was sitting by himself reading a magazine.Qu Tongqiu hesitated for a while, Ren Ningyuan had already looked up and saw him, put down the magazine, and said gently: "Zhuang Wei went to accompany him for the examination, and he will be back later."

Qu Tongqiu gave a "hmm", walked over mechanically, and put the thermos in his hand on the table.

"Sit down too, you can't leave without seeing anyone."

Qu Tongqiu tensed up and found a place to sit down.

Ren Ningyuan looked at him: "Do you still remember that the car that caused the accident was stolen, and the owner has already reported it as lost?"

"Um……"

"The night before the car accident, a death row prisoner escaped from prison. It is likely the same person who stole the car and hit Chu Mo. The police are looking for him, and the prisoner is said to be still in this area. Be careful when you go out at night."

Qu Tongqiu said "hmm" again.Even if it was a kind exhortation, he couldn't talk to Ren Ningyuan, so he could only reluctantly nod.Being alone with this man was unbearable for him.

Fortunately, Zhuang Wei and Chu Mo came back soon, breaking the suffocating embarrassment.Chu Mo seemed to be recovering well, and he was back to his former appearance, but his attitude towards Qu Tongqiu had improved, which made Qu Tongqiu very happy.

Everyone sat and talked for a while, Zhuang Wei peeled an apple for Chu Mo with an ugly face, and the atmosphere was generally good.Before leaving, Qu Tongqiu thought of a happy event that he wanted to tell Zhuang Wei when he first came.

"Zhuang Wei."

"What?" Zhuang Wei told Chu Mo, who was about to go to the bathroom after drinking the soup, to "get out", closed the door behind him, and turned to look at him.

"I went to get my visa today and it passed."

The two men looked at him, Zhuang Wei said "ah" first, and said, "That's good, it's not in vain for me to spend so much effort."

"yes……"

"I'm going to go abroad next week, just in time."

"Um……"

Just as he was about to say something more, he heard Chu Mo shouting from the aisle outside: "Zhuang Wei!"

Zhuang Wei scolded, "What's the noise in the hospital?" Then he put his arm around Qu Tongqiu's shoulder, patted his head, and said, "We still have something to do, you should go back first." Then he opened the door and went out.

The rest of him was facing Ren Ningyuan, and Qu Tongqiu felt a little scared for some reason, hurriedly grabbed the thermos, turned around and fled before the man could speak.

That night Zhuang Wei came back very late, and Qu Tongqiu was about to fall asleep when he saw the habitually frowning man push the door in and unbutton his collar impatiently with one hand.

"I'm home?"

"Well," Zhuang Wei went to the bed, leaned over and kissed him, "Why aren't you asleep?"

"Soon," Qu Tongqiu said with sleepy eyes, "You worked hard today, didn't you?"

Zhuang Wei frowned even tighter, and snorted, "Fortunately, he will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, otherwise I would have caused so much trouble, I would have been dragged down to death by him. Barbarian, the whole brain has not yet fully evolved and cannot communicate."

It was Chu Mo who scolded, and Qu Tongqiu felt a little at a loss when he heard it: "Actually, he is very good to his friends..."

Zhuang Wei looked at him: "You don't have to speak well for him, do you?"

"Although he has a bad temper, he has always been like this, and it's nothing..."

Before finishing speaking, Zhuang Wei patted his head: "You."

Lying on the bed with the lights off, Zhuang Wei touched his hair from time to time.

Qu Tongqiu fell asleep for a while, and when it seemed like a dream but not a dream, he always felt the slight but sober movement of the people around him.

"Um... don't you want to sleep?"

"Well, I remembered that there is still some work to be done," Zhuang Wei simply sat up, "I will go to work, you go to sleep."

Qu Tongqiu didn't know when the light in the study was on, he was only in his own dream all night.

The next day, Chu Mo was discharged from the hospital.During his hospitalization, some acquaintances and business partners came to visit him one after another. No matter whether they were really "friends" or not, there were still many people rushing to praise him.This time he recovered smoothly, and everyone was naturally happy, so they discussed having a party to celebrate for him.

Qu Tongqiu was also invited, so he wrapped a gift and went over.In fact, he and Chu Mo have never been able to talk about friendship. The two people's ways of dealing with the world are too far apart. I am afraid that they will never be able to like each other. Even the little affection of old classmates is definitely not a good memory.

But after such an accident, many feelings have become different.In the face of death, the grievances and grievances of human beings that seemed huge at first appear very small.

In the future, he and Chu Mo would probably still be nodding acquaintances, but his worry and congratulations for Chu Mo were genuine.

The bar where the party was booked was very lively. Both Zhuang Wei and Ren Ningyuan presided over the overall situation as friends, and Qu Tongqiu was a guest. It was a bit out of step in this kind of place.He didn't know most of them. He watched everyone drink and laugh, and the scale of the play was getting bigger and bigger, and he didn't know what to do.

When Zhuang Wei came over, he saw that he was sitting in a daze, so he reached out and touched the back of his neck like a cat: "If you are tired, go back later. Don't force it. You have worked the hardest these days."

Qu Tongqiu gradually fell in love with his touch: "No..."

"By the way, Chu Mo is going to cut the cake, come and get a piece."

Qu Tongqiu was brought in front of tonight's protagonist, and Chu Mo's attitude towards him was indeed much better than before, and he even smiled at him, showing a row of white teeth.

"Hey, don't cut it so ugly, the best one is for Qu Tongqiu." Zhuang Wei almost commanded it.

Chu Mo miraculously did not get angry: "I was the one who was hit by a car."

"He's the one who takes the most effort to take care of you. Come on."

(End of this chapter)