Become the Sickly Villain in the Novel - Chapter 100

In Mo Chuan’s car, the three of them remained silent.

He was a little displeased. He had wanted Li Nuo to sit in the front passenger seat, but Li Nuo had gone straight to the back seat instead.

In the back seat, Li Nuo looked at Li Yan, whose eyes were still clear, and marveled at the boy’s drinking capacity. Although he hadn’t drunk as much as that time at the villa, he had still consumed quite a bit.

After getting out of the car, he told Mo Chuan to wait a moment and followed Li Yan out.

The two of them walked in silence to the front of He Yan’s apartment building.

Only then did Li Nuo hand over the item he had been carrying the entire time. “Here, this is for you.”

“What is it?”

Li Yan looked confused. Although he still had his own thoughts, his mind was somewhat dazed.

“I originally planned to buy you a cake and bring it over, but I figured you wouldn’t want to celebrate your birthday in front of those people, so I gave up. I’ll make it up to you later.”

Li Yan was stunned. He stiffly reached out and took the bag from his brother’s hand.

“Suddenly talking about cake? And a gift?”

“Because your birthday is January 1st. Even if I wanted to celebrate it early with you, I couldn’t get in touch with you back then, so I can only make up for it now.”

He had originally wanted to buy a better set but only had so much money on hand. With no other option, he had to compromise. But he and Aunt Zheng had picked it out with great care.

“I figured you wouldn’t say you wanted to buy clothes, so I got you a set. Remember to try it on when you get home to check the size.”

Li Yan lifted the bag and saw the casual outfit inside.

“It should suit you very well. Aunt Zheng and I both think so. Ah, don’t worry, I bought it with my own money.”

Although Mo Chuan had given him a card, Li Nuo hadn’t used it at all.

Li Yan gripped the bag tightly, feeling a little conflicted.

“Thank you, I’m really happy.” After pausing for a while, he scratched his head awkwardly. “What should I do? I’m reacting way too slowly, I wasn’t prepared.”

Just thinking about his brother fretting in the mall over this gift made him feel warm inside. Although he wanted to return the favor, his brother’s birthday had already passed.

“Let’s just celebrate your birthday on January 1st from now on. Or, if you want to have two birthdays, that’s fine too.” Li Nuo took a photo out of his pocket. “I found this in your drawer.”

Seeing the photo in Li Nuo’s hand, Li Yan instantly sobered up.

“This is…”

“I know I shouldn’t have gone through your drawer, but I felt I had the right to see these photos.” Li Nuo looked at the family portrait in his hand. “Also, your password was way too easy.”

“Brother, I didn’t mean to…”

“I know. It’s okay.”

Li Nuo smiled and comforted him. Li Yan probably hadn’t wanted him to see the photos, for fear they would bring back old memories.

“With or without these photos, it won’t change anything between us. Next year, I’ll celebrate your birthday too.”

Li Yan sniffled. “Brother, thank you. Really.”

“All right now, you’re a grown-up,” Li Nuo patted his lowered head, “Go back in and rest. You drank a lot tonight.”

“Mm.”

After watching the lights flicker on in He Yan’s house, Li Nuo turned back toward Mo Chuan’s car.

Mo Chuan was leaning against the car, waiting for him. When he saw Li Nuo approaching, he couldn’t suppress the sour feeling in his heart. “‘Next year, I’ll celebrate your birthday too’? That line was a bit too ambiguous, don’t you think?”

Li Nuo was already exhausted today and didn’t have the energy to argue with him anymore.

He sealed his lips—with a kiss.

Under the streetlight, their shadows looked especially close. The shorter one tugged at the taller one’s collar to pull him down a little, then tilted his head up to kiss him.

After a long kiss, Li Nuo finally pulled away and asked softly, “So, when is your birthday?”

Mo Chuan dazedly answered, “October 14th.”

“Okay, got it. There’s still plenty of time then.”

Li Nuo opened the passenger door and got in.

Mo Chuan happily ran to the driver’s seat. Li Nuo taking the initiative to kiss him made him overjoyed; the smile on his face couldn’t be hidden, and he no longer fussed about anything.

“Feels like you handled a lot of things today.”

“You could say we both handled a lot,” Li Nuo replied with a smile. “Because I have a lover who supports me no matter what I do, I felt a little bolder.”

“……”

In the next moment, the car swayed a bit from side to side. Luckily, there weren’t many cars on the road at that hour.

Li Nuo was startled and broke out in a cold sweat on his back. He was about to ask Mo Chuan what was going on when he saw him covering his mouth with one hand and turning his head away, refusing to let him see his face.

A muffled voice came out, “Sorry.”

Li Nuo: “……”

“Wait, are you… blushing right now?”

With the help of the car’s interior lights, Li Nuo could see that Mo Chuan’s ears had turned a little red.

This rare sight made him break into a bright smile.

“I’m not.”

“Looks like it to me.”

“I’m not!” Mo Chuan reached out with his right hand to try to cover Li Nuo’s eyes, but Li Nuo grabbed it immediately.

Since he was driving, Mo Chuan couldn’t struggle too much. He just sat there, motionless, letting Li Nuo play with his large hand.

Li Nuo found it genuinely amusing. We’ve already done things far more intimate, so why get shy just from hearing that term of endearment?

He held Mo Chuan’s hand the entire way, and Mo Chuan’s ears never quite returned to their original color.

……………

“Wow, there are so many people.”

“We came to see the cherry blossoms, but it feels more like people-watching at this point.”

Mo Chuan shook his head. If it weren’t for Li Nuo wanting to come here, he absolutely wouldn’t have stepped foot in this place.

“Hold my hand, don’t get lost.”

Mo Chuan carefully protected Li Nuo as they followed the crowd into the park.

“Look up at the cherry blossoms. Do you want me to carry you?”

“That’s too much. Once we get farther in, the crowd will thin out.”

Just as he said, the park was quite large. Once the crowd dispersed, it didn’t feel so packed. There were food stalls, flower vendors, and little trinket booths along the path.

Mo Chuan bought a headband and placed it on Li Nuo’s head.

“Ugh, I’m not a child, you know.”

“Just keep it on. I’ll take a picture of you.”

Li Nuo was photographing the flowers in front, while Mo Chuan took pictures of him from behind.

The two of them walked around the park in a big circle, their clothes gradually covered in fallen petals.

“Are you hungry?”

“A little thirsty.”

“Let’s take a break before walking around more.”

The conversation between the two never stopped. Though they had different interests, came from different backgrounds, and had nothing in common in terms of personality, the look in their eyes when they gazed at each other was the same.

Sitting on a bench to rest, Li Nuo watched a couple pass by in front of them and suddenly grew curious. So he asked, “By the way, when did you start liking me?”

“It was when we were in the hospital.”

“That’s kind of vague. I’ve been hospitalized many times.”

“The first time. On the day you lost your memory.”

The moment I met your gaze, I could hear the sound of my heartbeat.

Li Nuo’s eyes widened. That should have been the first time they met.

“That early? Wait, was it love at first sight?” Li Nuo squinted at him. “But I remember you weren’t very nice to me at the time.”

Mo Chuan rubbed his nose. “Ahem, I was confused about those feelings back then. But I came back, didn’t I?”

A lot has happened since then. He had an allergic reaction and was hospitalized again. Mo Chuan picked him up after discharge and even took him shopping.

“When I saw you in that suit, I just wanted to take it off with my own hands.”

“……”

“I still want to. But I’ll wait until you’re willing.”

Li Nuo turned his head away, feeling his face warm.

“Then it’s my turn to ask. When did you start liking me?”

“Hmm… Let me think.”

It was during that month he worked part-time at the coffee shop. Mo Chuan had come to see him nearly every day.

Each time, he brought a different flower.

The blooming flowers unconsciously reminded him of the person who gave them.

Someone who reminded him of spring.

His favorite season.

It’s the season that follows a cold winter, when everything comes back to life.

And right now, it was spring.

“Mo Chuan.”

“Hmm?”

“I like you.”

Mo Chuan, who had been drinking water beside him, choked and turned away, covering his mouth.

Li Nuo froze for a moment, then broke into a teasing smile.

Ah, so Mo Chuan is the type who’s fine when taking the initiative but gets shy when others do.

“I like you.”

Mo Chuan: “……”

Li Nuo leaned close to his ear, “I like you.”

Mo Chuan’s face gradually turned the color of cherry blossoms.

It was Li Nuo’s favorite—the color that symbolized spring.

(The End)