Become the Sickly Villain in the Novel - Chapter 48

Mo Chuan held up the cat plushie in his hand. The more he looked at it, the more it reminded him of someone. He was certain he had made the right purchase.

Half an hour later, the phone on Li Nuo’s desk lit up with the vibration.

Li Nuo hadn’t planned to check it at this time, but the vibration persisted, so he picked it up.

Sender: Mo Chuan

5:00 PM

【 Come to the rooftop garden. 】

【 Hurry up. 】

A minute later, another message arrived.

【 Still not here? 】

【 Are you busy? 】

【 …Busy? 】

Li Nuo tilted his head. Mo Chuan? Hadn’t he gone abroad for a business trip?

【 Just saw the message. You’re back already? 】

Mo Chuan:

【 Yes, I’ve been waiting for you since earlier. 】

【 Come quickly. 】

Mo Chuan’s urgency piqued Li Nuo’s curiosity. After glancing at the documents he had mostly finished tidying up, he stood up.

“Li Yan, I’m heading to the rooftop garden.”

“Hmm? Brother, do you want to take a break? Alright, go ahead.”

“Not exactly,” Li Nuo scratched his head. “Director Mo asked me to come.”

“…Director Mo?”

Li Yan looked up from his computer, swiveling his chair to face him. “He’s back?”

Secretary Yang on the other side immediately perked up his ears.

“Yeah, just got back, apparently. I’ll be quick.”

Before Li Yan could respond, Li Nuo grabbed his phone and disappeared in a few strides.

The office fell into silence.

Secretary Yang sighed, “As expected, human potential is limitless. Previously, Director Mo needed constant prodding to get things done. This time, he was given two weeks, but he finished everything in just five days. Guess he needed a bit of motivation.”

“……”

Secretary Yang glanced at the silent Li Yan and shook his head. This brother complex is hopeless.

If he had known, he would have blocked him again. Li Yan clicked his tongue but then considered that if he screened the messages, Mo Chuan might come in person, which made him even angrier.

Secretary Yang leaned back. “Don’t worry about it. You’re watching too closely. Nothing will happen.”

“…I know,” Li Yan reluctantly replied.

……………

When Li Nuo opened the door to the rooftop garden, Mo Chuan was standing at the entrance. His eyes lit up when he saw him.

Before Li Nuo could say a word, he was pulled into an embrace. Mo Chuan’s tall figure almost completely enveloped him.

Fresh from the airport, Mo Chuan’s clothes carried an unpleasant smell. His hug wasn’t particularly tight, but Li Nuo inexplicably felt the other’s anxious heart gradually calm down.

In his ears, the restless heartbeat slowed. After holding him for a while, Mo Chuan slowly let go.

Li Nuo looked up at him. It was the same smiling face as always.

“I brought you a gift,” Mo Chuan said.

Before Li Nuo could ask what it was, a flash of white passed before his eyes, and he found a fluffy plush toy in his arms.

“I heard you wanted a pet, but your health doesn’t allow it. A plush toy should be fine. It even looks like you.”

Li Nuo looked down at the fluffy toy, confused about how it resembled him.

“White, likes to sleep, and…”

Mo Chuan’s hand brushed against Li Nuo’s cheek. Having stayed on the rooftop garden for a while, his hand was warm.

“The expression, too.”

“Did you miss me? We haven’t seen each other in a while.”

Li Nuo tilted his head. “It’s only been five days.”

“Not only five days! You should’ve said you missed me! I even booked the earliest flight back. Oh, right, and flowers.”

Mo Chuan picked up a bouquet of flowers from the bench nearby. “Good thing I asked Liu Ming to prepare these in advance.”

Li Nuo noticed that, even though Mo Chuan had tidied himself up, the dark circles under his eyes and the exhaustion on his face were still evident. Taking the bouquet, Li Nuo lowered his gaze. “You could have come tomorrow. You should rest properly.”

“I know, but I wanted to see you as soon as possible.”

Mo Chuan gently caressed his face. “Look at me. Did you miss me?”

Standing where the sun was setting, Mo Chuan blocked most of the light, leaving Li Nuo in his shadow. Perhaps because of this, Li Nuo felt that Mo Chuan’s deep green eyes looked even darker.

Li Nuo opened his mouth and honestly said, “I did.”

It was true—meals were always more fun with Mo Chuan around.

Hearing his response, Mo Chuan finally laughed. “Although I know that’s not what you meant, for now, let’s leave it at that.”

Holding the bouquet in one hand and the plush toy in the other, Li Nuo asked, “Did Director come straight to the office? Do you need me to report anything?”

“Hm? No need. The follow-up work is still in progress and requires others to return first.”

“Wasn’t the trip supposed to last two weeks?”

“Yes, but I’ve been working hard.”

“Director.”

“Hm?”

“You’ve worked hard.”

After saying those words, the rooftop garden fell silent. After a brief pause, Mo Chuan covered his face and laughed. “So sly. If this keeps up, I won’t be able to escape.”

Ignoring Li Nuo’s confused expression, Mo Chuan leaned closer. “Sometimes, you really know what to say.”

The sudden proximity made Li Nuo reflexively lean back and take a step away.

“So mean. Surely, you wouldn’t want to run away just because of my face.”

“I was startled. You came so close all of a sudden.”

“Good reaction. If anyone else does this, just slap them. Don’t think twice. If they get hurt, I’ll handle it.”

Li Nuo found the words familiar. Thinking back, Qin Xu had said something similar. Those two really were good friends.

“What’s your plan after work?”

Li Nuo glanced at his watch. It was already time to leave.

“Nothing, just heading home.”

“Can I come with you?”

Li Nuo hesitated, “To my house?”

“Yeah,” Mo Chuan’s tall figure slouched, making a deliberate effort to appear pitiful. “I’ve been staying at Qin Xu’s place, but he recently kicked me out. I’ve had to stay in hotels ever since, and I’m sick of hotel food.”

“This business trip, I was alone. I didn’t know anyone who went with me. I felt so lonely.”

“……”

Li Nuo looked at him with an expression that said, I’ll just quietly listen to your story, prompting Mo Chuan to turn up the drama.

“Am I supposed to go hungry tonight?” He sighed dramatically, sneaking glances at Li Nuo.

Left with no choice, Li Nuo relented, “Stop looking at me. Even if you keep staring, I still have to ask Li Yan. He’s the one who handles dinner.”

Since lunch was usually eaten outside, Li Yan prepared easy-to-digest dinners.

Li Yan had always disliked others entering their home. In the past, he’d strongly opposed both Qin Xu and Mo Chuan dropping by.

Mo Chuan sighed even more heavily. Asking Li Yan? But what is the point of asking? He will surely be rejected.

Sure enough, Li Yan’s response was firm.

“No.”

Predictable as ever, Li Nuo wasn’t surprised and just nodded.

“What’s that?”

Li Yan noticed the bouquet and plush toy Li Nuo had brought back from the rooftop garden.

“This? A white cat?”

Li Nuo unwrapped the bouquet, placed it in a vase, and picked up the plush toy. He had to admit it felt incredibly soft and didn’t shed.

“Director Mo said it resembles me. Does it really?”

He held the toy up to his face, flashing a wide smile.

Li Yan’s expression softened. “No, my brother is definitely cuter.”

“……”

Li Nuo put the toy down. “You’re really something else…”

In Li Yan’s eyes, nothing could compare to his brother.

Perhaps it was because of the emotional damage from their scumbag father when they were younger, Li Yan seemed to have carved the responsibility of caring for his brother into his soul.

Even when he was engrossed in his own tasks, he could immediately stop to twist open the cap of a bottle of water for Li Nuo.

At home, Li Yan took care of all the chores, never letting Li Nuo lift a finger.

Li Nuo sighed. It will take a long time to change such habits.

“Why are you sighing all of a sudden?”

“It’s nothing. Since Director Mo was turned down, I’ll just send him a message. Let’s have lunch with him tomorrow at noon.”

Li Yan begrudgingly nodded. Having lunch together was better than inviting him home.

As Li Yan packed up for the day, Li Nuo pulled out his phone to text Mo Chuan.

【 Not tonight. Let’s have lunch tomorrow instead. 】

Mo Chuan: 【 Boo hoo hoo. 】

【 Crying won’t help. Rest up tonight, okay? 】

Mo Chuan: 【 Fine… I’ll just eat dinner all alone…】

【 Pat-pat.JPG】

【 See you tomorrow. 】

Mo Chuan: 【 Alright, see you tomorrow! 】

Li Nuo put his phone away. Qin Xu had other plans for the evening, leaving Li Nuo with a rare evening free from overtime.

Secretary Yang stretched, glancing at the plush toy on the desk.

“That plushie does look like you, Li Nuo. Director Mo’s eye for detail is incredible.”

“It doesn’t.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, Li Yan.” Secretary Yang rolled his eyes at him before smiling at Li Nuo. “The resemblance is in the spirit. It’s very cute.”

Li Yan picked up his belongings. “Time to leave.”

There was no place for the toy in the office, so Li Nuo ended up carrying it home.

On the way back, it attracted quite a few stares. Li Yan usually wouldn’t care about such things, but to ensure the plush toy didn’t fall, Li Nuo carried it tightly against him the entire walk.

It was just a plushie; logically, there wasn’t anything to be jealous about.

And yet—it was a gift from Director Mo.

Mo Chuan had worked tirelessly and, upon returning, came straight to see Li Nuo.

…Is he serious about this?

Recently, even Director Qin had been unusually gentle toward Li Nuo. If the two of them were serious, what should he do?

Should he stop them from getting close, or simply let things be?

“…Brother.”

“Hmm?”

Li Nuo looked up from playing with the plush cat’s paw.

Li Yan, trying to keep his voice steady, asked, “If someone confessed their feelings to you, what would you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“About dating and all that…”

Li Nuo stopped fidgeting with his hands. “I don’t have thoughts about that right now.”

What a joke. This is the world of a novel, after all. What if I returned to my world one day, leaving the one I loved behind, separated between two worlds?

“Why not?”

“It’s not that I wouldn’t date if I liked someone. I just don’t like anyone yet. I’ll think about it when the time comes.”

Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

“What about you, Li Yan? Would you date someone?”

“No, I’ll dedicate my life to taking care of you.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

Li Nuo gazed out the window. Was it because of his arrival? The current events were completely different from the original novel.

Qin Xu and Mo Chuan no longer displayed intense fixation on Li Yan. While Qin Xu still treated him well, it no longer seemed obsessive.

Mo Chuan, well, it seemed like he was spending more and more time around Li Nuo.

This should be a good thing.

Especially Qin Xu, who was originally the one to kill him. Now, he provided him with a job and continued to fund his medical expenses.

Even the way he addressed him had changed to “Brother” in private.

Did the original Li Nuo know about this side of Qin Xu?

The window reflected Li Nuo’s current face—one he had grown accustomed to.

After coming here, where did the original soul go?

Of course, no one could answer him.

Until the day I truly go back, I hope this happy life can last a little longer.