MGAG: Chapter 97 Part 2

There was a click.

The back panel of the laptop was restored by Chen Qizhao. He tightened the screws and said, “Your heat dissipation isn’t very good. You should back up the data of the disk early or it will be too late to do data repair when it is really broken. I can’t do data repair, and you will have to find a professional. It should be able to last tonight, but don’t open too many programs.”

Chen Shiming didn’t answer. He suddenly asked, “Do you only plan to study finance as an undergraduate?”

Chen Qizhao’s hand stopped slightly. “Otherwise? I’ve studied it all.”

He looked at Chen Shiming. “Why?”

“You can take the cross-major exam. The computer-related majors of S College are also among the best in China.”

Chen Shiming took the laptop. “Graduate students can study or take a second degree. If you are really interested, go for it.”

Chen Qizhao avoided his gaze. “Let’s talk about it later.”

He said again, “Go and be busy with your work. Don’t disturb my sleep next time.”

“You asked me a question in the afternoon, but I didn’t reply to you at that time.”

Chen Shiming didn’t leave. “At that time, there was a possibility that no one found the locator, and we couldn’t pay attention to every problem. If the car accident did happen and I was paralyzed, I don’t think things are unsolvable.”

“How do you know it isn’t?’ Chen Qizhao looked at him, mood rarely calm. “People’s emotions are difficult to control. If you are paralyzed, you have become a waste. You can’t stand up and can only sit in a wheelchair for a lifetime. Everyone will look at you with strange eyes.”

People saw everything as perfect when they imagined a situation, and Chen Shiming was the same. He should’ve stood confidently and proudly in front of everyone. He was the pride of the Chen family and the one who could support it all by himself. But how could the torment of an illness be simple? No matter how proud a person was, their edges and corners would be smoothed out one day. He had seen Chen Shiming’s shining scenery, and he had also seen Chen Shiming’s decadent appearance of a sick dog…

“There are always times when people can’t hold on. If you think of yourself so confidently, what will happen?” Chen Qizhao stared into Chen Shiming’s eyes and asked step by step. “What if you can’t hold on one day and commit suicide?”

Some things were difficult to determine. Chen Shiming’s suicide in his last life was like a hanging needle. Even if Chen Qizhao currently thought that it was impossible for Chen Shiming to commit suicide since the ending of his previous life was likely to be caused by the Gu family—once there was a certain possibility, Chen Qizhao would consider this consequence in a paranoid manner. If it wasn’t because of the Gu family in his previous life, did Chen Shiming die due to other reasons? What if he really committed suicide?

In the ward, only Chen Qizhao’s voice seemed to remain. He had recently lost weight, and his chest would rise and fall slightly when he was emotional. His eyes looked fierce and harsh. Chen Shiming had seen Chen Qizhao questioning their father hoarsely in the lounge that day and saw Chen Qizhao looking even more emotional.

After that day, he actually hoped that Chen Qizhao could vent in this way, no matter whether it was dissatisfaction or pain. However, Chen Qizhao didn’t do so. All his outbursts seemed to completely dissolve after that day. There was no dissatisfaction, no questioning. There was only a calm that was completely incompatible with him. He was like a calm and rational adult who knew the impact of negative emotions. He tried his best to control everything and suppress everything in the bottom of his heart.

However, his brother wasn’t a calm person. He was naughty and arrogant, with a proud and overly spoiled look. That arrogance seemed to have become the mask on Chen Qizhao’s face one day. Once he no longer needed to wear that mask, all that was revealed was the calm and stagnant silence underneath.

Chen Qizhao was worried about them, so he would take Zhang Yazhi to do a physical examination in a tough and stubborn tone. He worried about Chen Jianhong’s health so that he would have an electronic blood pressure device at home. He even worried about Chen Shiming, so he paid attention to the details related to the vehicle and found some conspiracy behind it.

He probably showed it a long time ago, but they never paid attention. They thought it was just the end of his long period of rebellion and the ushering in of a gratifying understanding.

Chen Shiming was proud of his brother’s understanding, but now he would rather that it wasn’t the case.

At least in front of his family, he didn’t want Chen Qizhao to live with a heavy load.

Chen Qizhao finished speaking, and Chen Shiming didn’t answer.

After a long time, Chen Qizhao’s emotions calmed down, and he thought he wouldn’t receive an answer.

Then Chen Shiming opened his mouth.

“I won’t kill myself.” Chen Shiming spoke with a straight face, just like the seriousness he inherited from Chen Jianhong. However, his words seemed to be carefully considered and were very serious.

Chen Qizhao looked at him. “You are speaking so confidently. How do you know when you haven’t experienced it?”

Chen Shiming’s voice was steady, and he didn’t hesitate when he spoke. “In the case where the situation you hypothesized might happen, if I really had a car accident and was paralyzed, if I really had that idea… even at the most extreme point, I wouldn’t do it.”

“What if my relationship with you isn’t good, our parents are gone, and I argue with you every day? In addition, the Chen family is bankrupt and can’t rise up.” Chen Qizhao’s tone fluctuated slightly. “You have nowhere to go. The Chen family is gone.”

Chen Shiming asked, “Isn’t there still you?”

Chen Qizhao’s eyes froze. “…What is so good about having me? It isn’t bad if you don’t die from anger.”

Chen Shiming frowned slightly and corrected his statement, “If I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t say a word. It is because I worry about you that I will take care of you every time.”

Chen Qizhao looked at him.

“Suicide is an irresponsible act.”

Chen Shiming told him, “I’m your brother. If I become a waste in that extreme situation…”

“I won’t say nice things, but I won’t leave you alone.”

Chen Qizhao avoided Chen Shiming’s gaze. He recalled that every time he returned to that apartment drunk, Chen Shiming was waiting for him at the entrance in his wheelchair with a stern face.

“These are all extreme cases that you are assuming. Now nothing so extreme will happen. Neither me nor anyone else will let the situation evolve to the one you assumed.”

Chen Shiming paused after speaking. “Maybe it might’ve happened, but that is the past. Mom listened to you and did a proper medical check-up. I am having the assistant keep an eye on the medicine on Dad’s side and have a record of who changed the medicine and which doctor handled it. As for the car accident, I won’t exceed the speed limit and will also arrange for someone to do regular health checks for the drivers.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

Chen Qizhao didn’t speak. Chen Shiming stood there with the laptop for a while before saying, “Then I’ll go to work. I won’t disturb you.”

“You work all day. Even if there isn’t a car accident, you will get sick because of overworking yourself.”

Chen Qizhao suddenly spoke. “Haven’t you earned enough money? Have you ever wondered what will happen after the age of 30?”

“I haven’t thought about it, and I won’t think about it.” Chen Shiming turned on the laptop, and his tone was a bit lighter. “I will rest before midnight. Don’t worry.”

Chen Qizhao didn’t speak. He simply ignored Chen Shiming, turned around, and lay with his back to Chen Shiming.

The feeling of drowsiness pressed down on his heart, but he didn’t feel sleepy at all.

The indoor lighting was replaced by a warm orange lamp suitable for sleeping. There wasn’t any too harsh light, and the small desk lamp for work shone steadily in the corner. Chen Qizhao opened his eyes and looked at his hand on the white quilt.

The after shadow of the light slightly folded the light on his hand, and a small shadow fell on the quilt.

After a while, he closed his eyes and listened to the deliberately suppressed sound of tapping on the keyboard in the distance.

He thought to himself that it was really noisy. Then he had a night of sleep with no dreams until morning.

—

A rainy night and a sunny day.

The sunlight spilled into the ward. It was a bit warm early in the morning.

In the morning, the doctor made the ward rounds as usual. He was asking questions after measuring blood sugar when he noticed an open book on the bedside table. One side was rolled up, and it could be seen that someone had been reading it just now.

The doctor’s eyes showed a bit of softness. He was surprised to find that the answers to several questions today were richer than before.

Chen Qizhao looked around and stopped on the folding desk lamp on the small table next to the sofa.

It was in the shape of a hamburger, and the material was plastic. It was a student desk lamp that Chen Qizhao had seen in the college stationery store before.

“Who bought that little desk lamp?”

Zhang Yazhi was packing up the rubbish after breakfast when she heard this and replied, “Are you talking about this? Xiao Xu brought it. There is a small grocery store next door to the hospital.”

She paused after speaking. “Is this light too bright?”

“No, it is pretty good at collecting the light.”

Chen Qizhao commented casually. Then he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Through the transparent glass of the door, he met Shen Yuhuai’s eyes.

The door opened, and Shen Yuhuai came in with a bag.

“Yuhuai, you came so early today?” Zhang Yazhi was a bit surprised.

“Today is Saturday, and it is a day off.”

Shen Yuhuai put the bag on the table and took out a small potted plant. It was a small succulent.

Zhang Yazhi looked over. “A succulent? This one is raised really well.”

Chen Qizhao was stunned and stared at Shen Yuhuai’s movements. Previously when Shen Yuhuai chatted with him, Shen Yuhuai would occasionally post photos of succulents. The potted plant in his hand was the latest photo he received when he got up in the morning. Just an hour earlier, he had praised the succulent for its good looks.

The potted plant was small and was no bigger than a man’s palm. There was a small succulent ball in the middle and a transparent plastic bag underneath. A pink leather band was tied around the edge.

The color was relatively bright. When the sunlight outside the window shone in, the leaves seemed to reflect a bit of light.

Chen Qizhao thought to himself, ‘Such a small one can fall all over the ground if not careful.’

Shen Yuhuai placed the potted plants on the window cabinet near Chen Qizhao.

The sunlight seemed brighter, and inexplicably a bit dazzling.

“I can’t raise it,” Chen Qizhao said. “I will kill it.”

“It’s okay. I’ll teach you.”

Zhang Yazhi liked this succulent very much. After Shen Yuhuai finished arranging it, she went over to take a look.

Shen Yuhuai returned to the hospital bed and saw Chen Qizhao with his head lowered, and a magazine on his bent legs.

His hair seemed a bit longer, long enough to cover his eyes. The ends of his eyes were a bit red.

Chen Qizhao noticed Shen Yuhuai coming over. When he raised his head, he involuntarily blinked. Then he gently shook his head.

Shen Yuhuai told him, “Your hair seems to have grown.”

“It is pricking my eyes.” Chen Qizhao also noticed this problem when he was reading today. He originally wanted to find a pair of scissors to cut his forehead hair. It was just that there was none in the cabinet by the bed or in the drawer next to the sofa. He didn’t know where Zhang Yazhi took it. He said, “I’ll cut it off later.”

At this time, Shen Yuhuai turned sideways and leaned in his direction, eyes resting on his forehead.

Then his hair was ruffled. A few strands of hair were pulled aside, and Shen Yuhuai moved forward a bit. “Don’t move.”

The man pressed his hand to his forehead. The thumb seemed to contain a hint of coldness, which seemed to be mixed with the smell of earth.

It was fresh, like the smell of a field. The cold fingertips pressed on his forehead. Through the cracks in the fingers, he saw Shen Yuhuai’s face that was close at hand. Shen Yuhuai wasn’t wearing glasses today, and the bottom of his eyes seemed to have more sunlight. They were exceptionally bright.

The forehead hair was pulled up slightly. The man’s fingers held it meticulously, but there was no follow-up movement. It was as if he was grabbing something from the pocket of his coat.

Chen Qizhao didn’t move, but his gaze followed the movement to the pocket. He couldn’t help leaning forward, “What are you grabbing?”

“Don’t move.” The cold fingers were replaced by a warm palm. It pressed lightly on his forehead and held him down. “It will be fine soon.”

Chen Qizhao lost the disturbing hair in front of his eyes and said, “I’ll cut it later, okay?”

As he spoke, he suddenly saw a glass bottle that had been placed on the bedside table at an unknown time.

The glass bottle was filled with light blue candies as if they had been brought along with the potted plant.

Chen Qizhao’s gaze slanted slightly. “You bought it?”

Shen Yuhuai’s words paused a bit, and the movements of his hands were faster. “It will be bitter after taking medicine. You have taboos recently, and sugar can relieve the bitterness.”

“Yuhuai, your succulent…”

Zhang Yazhi spoke halfway when she turned around and saw the scene by the hospital bed.

The boy was sitting cross-legged, the journal on his lap randomly arranged. At this time, his head was lowered slightly, and his loose forehead hair was pulled up by the man sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. The slightly curly forehead hair that covered the boy’s eyes was tied up, becoming a small, upturned ponytail on his forehead, revealing a smooth forehead.

“I asked the nurse for a rubber band, and she gave me a few more.”

Shen Yuhuai let go of his hand. “This is okay. It won’t irritate your eyes.”

Chen Qizhao touched his forehead and couldn’t resist taking out his phone to take a look.

“…….?”

Pink?!