Become the Sickly Villain in the Novel - Chapter 49

Secretary Yang took a sip of water and looked at Mo Chuan, who had unexpectedly appeared in the office around noon, with an expression of disbelief.

“I can’t believe it.”

“What?”

“Is it really you who finished the work in five days? In the past, we couldn’t even find you to get a stamp.”

Mo Chuan snorted disdainfully, “That was because I didn’t want to do it. If I want to, I can do it well.”

He glanced around. “Where are those two?”

“Inside. Li Yan went in to deliver documents, and Li Nuo followed along.”

Leaning against the office desk, Mo Chuan stared at the tightly shut door and asked, “Was everything fine while I was away?”

“Didn’t you rush to see Li Nuo as soon as you got back yesterday, even giving him a doll? Why are you suddenly asking now?”

“I didn’t have time to ask yesterday.”

“How come you don’t have time? Is it because you haven’t seen him for a few days, and your longing has overridden everything else?” Secretary Yang teased.

As an observer, Secretary Yang had clearly noticed Mo Chuan’s growing infatuation with Li Nuo. At first, it had been unconscious, but now it seemed Mo Chuan was becoming aware of it himself.

Mo Chuan said nothing, simply staring at the door. Seeing him like this, Secretary Yang’s grin widened.

“Ah, I hit the mark, didn’t I?”

“…Shut up.”

“Too much, huh? And to think I helped you gather information before. You should be thanking me for getting you back so quickly.”

Mo Chuan clicked his tongue impatiently. “It’s not over yet. There’s still work to be done, but things should settle down for a while.”

After saying that, he continued to stare at the door. “Why haven’t they come out yet?”

“They’ll be out soon. It’s lunchtime.”

As soon as Secretary Yang finished speaking, the door to the inner room opened, and Li Yan and Li Nuo walked out one after the other. When Mo Chuan saw the person he had been waiting for, he smiled and waved at him.

Li Nuo returned a slight smile.

“Director, good afternoon.”

Mo Chuan stared straight at Li Nuo and asked, “Where are you planning to have lunch?”

“We’re planning to go to the cafeteria.”

“The cafeteria again today?”

“It’s convenient this way.”

With another surgery approaching, Brother He had specifically called to remind him to watch his diet during this period.

“Let’s go.” Mo Chuan had intended to casually place his hand on Li Nuo’s shoulder but was stopped by Li Yan.

“Director Qin is also going. Please wait a moment.”

Mo Chuan raised an eyebrow. “Qin Xu is going too?”

“Of course. Even directors need to eat.”

Qin Xu had casually asked about lunch and, upon learning that Mo Chuan would be coming at noon, decided to join them for the meal. Li Yan figured that, under the circumstances, it was better to go as a group.

Secretary Yang suggested, “The four of you going to the cafeteria again? Forget it, you’ll just cause another commotion. Why not eat outside instead?”

Mo Chuan nodded in agreement. That made sense.

When Qin Xu came out, Mo Chuan greeted him with a wave. “We’re considering eating out. What do you think?”

Qin Xu had no objections. “Where?”

“How about Jing Yi Pavilion nearby?”

“Is Secretary Yang coming?” Mo Chuan asked before heading out.

Feeling that his presence would be out of place, Secretary Yang declined with a faint sense of regret.

……………

“Try this. It’s delicious.”

“I got it. Stop giving me more. You eat it yourself.”

Li Nuo pushed his plate aside. It was already piled high like a small mountain and couldn’t hold anymore.

Li Yan, a step behind, set down his chopsticks, his face full of disappointment at not being able to offer more food.

Li Nuo slowly began to eat the food while Mo Chuan, sitting beside him, chatted endlessly about his overseas experiences. Occasionally, Li Nuo would respond with a few words.

As they ate and talked, he unconsciously finished the bowl of rice in front of him.

He set down his chopsticks and took a sip of water.

“When will your assistant job end?”

“Next week.”

Mo Chuan nodded knowingly. “Has the surgery date been finalized?”

“Brother He said it’s roughly three weeks from now.”

Li Nuo sighed briefly, feeling somewhat dispirited. Despite his trust in Brother He, it was hard to avoid worrying about the upcoming surgery.

Mo Chuan patted his head gently but said nothing.

The following day was a rare weekend. Li Yan busied himself with household chores.

Although Li Nuo wanted to help, his younger brother firmly declined and only allowed him to handle small tasks.

Sitting on the freshly made bed, Li Nuo stared blankly out the window at the clear, cloudless sky. “I feel sleepy.”

“Brother, if you’re sleepy, just go to bed. I’ll turn on the air conditioning.”

“…That’s too wasteful.”

“We can afford the electricity bill,” Li Yan said helplessly. Ever since his brother learned about the family’s debts, he had done a complete 180 and become a little miser. If not for the oppressive heat at night, even turning on the air conditioner would have been out of the question.

“You’ll get heatstroke if you sleep like this.”

Their apartment, located on the top floor without an attic for insulation, let the heat seep in without restraint.

Li Nuo touched his sweaty forehead and then glanced at Li Yan, who was still busy and sweating profusely. Reluctantly, he agreed to turn on the air conditioning.

The sound of the old air conditioner starting up was like a lullaby, and Li Nuo quickly fell asleep.

Since that day, Mo Chuan became noticeably more enthusiastic about being around Li Nuo. Not only that, he also started texting him more frequently.

【 Are you at the office? 】

【 Let’s have lunch together. 】

【 Come to the rooftop garden if you have time to rest. 】

Though he and Director Qin shared the same office, it felt like he saw Mo Chuan more often.

Occasionally, Li Nuo would also receive messages from people he had ignored for a long time. After pondering for a while, he decided to wait until after his surgery to contact them.

“Ah, there’s also ‘Dad,’” Li Nuo muttered.

He glanced at Li Yan. According to bank records, the money Li Yan had sent to the original Li Nuo hadn’t all been spent on luxury items. Instead, part of it had been transferred to another account.

Interestingly, since Li Nuo took over this body, such transfers have ceased. Yet their father hadn’t reached out to inquire, as if he didn’t care about his two sons at all.

Let’s just leave it at that, Li Nuo thought with mixed emotions. He didn’t have a favorable impression of the original owner’s father.

“Ahem,” Li Nuo cleared his throat. “Director Mo asked, since it’s the last day, where should we have lunch?”

“Where does Brother want to eat?”

“Anywhere is fine.”

“Then let’s eat out. It’d be a shame to go to the cafeteria on the last day.”

Li Nuo nodded and sent a message to Mo Chuan.

On the other side, Secretary Yang had been rushing around with meeting notes since the morning and was nowhere to be seen.

Unsurprisingly, Director Qin was also not in the office.

“Brother, I’m going to the meeting too.”

After Li Yan left, the office became cold and quiet. Li Nuo sighed, So being a secretary wasn’t really suitable for me, was it?

Over the past three weeks, he had realized that the hectic schedule and frequent overtime were too much for his body.

Fiddling with his ID badge, he stared at the photo on it—a faintly smiling image of himself.

“I guess I do look pretty good in formal wear,” he muttered, running his fingertips over the engraved name.

“…Li Nuo.”

He looked slightly dazed. Come to think of it, what did I originally look like? Staring at this face all day, he’d almost forgotten.

“Are you mesmerized by your own reflection?”

Hearing the sound from above, Li Nuo quickly looked up and locked eyes with Mo Chuan, who was leaning on his desk.

“Director?!”

“Why are you the only one here?”

“I should be asking you that. Don’t you have meetings? It seems like everyone is busy today.”

“Ah, not me,” Mo Chuan said casually as he sat down in Li Yan’s seat. “I’m responsible for different things.”

He turned his head to size up Li Nuo, who was wearing the same suit he had on when he first joined the company. His hair was slicked back completely, a hairstyle Mo Chuan hadn’t seen before, but it still looked great.

“And your other work? Don’t you need to do that?”

Mo Chuan clicked his tongue briefly. “I’m good at my job. That’s why Director Qin recruited me.”

“……”

“Wait, what’s that look supposed to mean?”

Li Nuo couldn’t help but give him a doubtful expression.

“I do work properly!” Mo Chuan said, slightly aggrieved. Though he often sent Li Nuo messages or came to find him, he hadn’t delayed his tasks.

“So, why are you looking for me?”

“I just feel it’s a pity that today’s your last day.”

“A pity for what?”

“That I missed seeing you during last week’s business trip. You were only here for three weeks, after all.”

Li Nuo was puzzled by his words, but Mo Chuan blinked, clearly unwilling to explain.

“I’ll be here all day today.”

“Then where will Li Yan sit?”

“…Does that matter?”

“Of course.”

Mo Chuan let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Shouldn’t you ask why I’m staying here all day? Why care where Li Yan sits first?”

Since losing his memory, Li Nuo seemed to care deeply about his younger brother. Even when buying clothes, he’d remark, “This would suit Li Yan well.”

“You two have such a close bond. What will you do when you start dating someone?”

“That won’t affect anything, will it?”

“But others might feel jealous.”

Before he realized it, a large hand had covered Li Nuo’s hand, completely covering it.

“Small.”

“…I’m not short. You guys are just too tall.”

“I wasn’t talking about height, just your hands.”

“Then include the subject in your sentence.”

“Yes, yes, my mistake.”

Mo Chuan started to laugh. Recently, Li Nuo’s attitude toward him had become much more natural—replying to his messages and answering his calls without hesitation.

Slowly but surely, the day would come when Li Nuo would grow closer to him.

“When are you being admitted to the hospital?”

“Monday morning.”

“Are you going alone? Do you want me to take you?”

Li Nuo shook his head. “Li Yan will take half-day off to take me there.”

Mo Chuan clicked his tongue, his face full of regret.

Li Nuo moved his hand slightly, brushing against Mo Chuan’s palm.

“It feels like everyone else’s hands are so warm.”

Perhaps due to poor blood circulation, Li Nuo’s hands remained cool even in the summer heat unless he was directly under the sun.

“Everyone else? Besides me, who else have you been holding hands with?”

Although Mo Chuan smiled as he asked, his voice inexplicably sent a chill down Li Nuo’s spine. However, Li Nuo assumed it was because the air conditioning was too cold.

“It wasn’t holding hands, it was an accident.”

“So, who was it?”

“It was Director Qin. His hands were warm.”

That time at the izakaya, he had felt it.

Mo Chuan’s grip on his hand tightened slightly, drawing his attention back.

“And what about me?”

“Director’s hands are also very warm.”

“…That’s it?”

Seeing the wounded look in Mo Chuan’s eyes, Li Nuo wanted to say, “You’re making this difficult for me,” but he held back.

Instead, he tried hard to come up with something and, meeting Mo Chuan’s emerald-green eyes, finally said in a daze, “Director Mo, you’re like a spring breeze brushing past.”

“What an abstract concept.”

“It means you’re like spring—warm and gentle.”

Hearing this, Mo Chuan looked down at their clasped hands.

It was the first time he’d heard someone describe him this way. His heart raced slightly faster than usual.

Was it because he was holding Li Nuo’s hand? Or because of what Li Nuo had said?

But one thing he was sure of—his heart had welcomed spring.

“Li Nuo.”

“Hm? I’m here.”

“I’d like to ask your permission in advance.”

“?”

“Can I touch your face?”

Mo Chuan’s tone was serious, and Li Nuo could sense it in his gaze. Despite his habit of reaching out casually before, this time, he seemed genuinely earnest.

Li Nuo nodded, granting him permission.

Mo Chuan raised his other hand and gently touched Li Nuo’s cheek. Perhaps cooled by the air conditioning, it felt slightly cold but incredibly soft.

Unbidden, words he had once spoken to Yun Jin during a conversation surfaced in his mind, “If you choose a beautiful flower, then you must care for it meticulously. While flowers are beautiful, they are also fragile. Do you feel that desire to cherish and protect him with such care?”

Now, Mo Chuan could confidently say, “Yes.”

A wave of intense emotion surged within him.

A desire.

Yet, seeing Li Nuo’s clean, curious gaze, he withdrew his hand. If he stayed any longer, he wasn’t sure he could control himself.

Though he’d managed to sneak a kiss on Li Nuo’s forehead on the rooftop garden last time, now he found himself hesitating.

“I have to go. I’ve been away from the office for too long,” Mo Chuan said reluctantly as he stood up. “I won’t be able to see you at lunch today. I have something to take care of. But I’ll come by after work to throw you a little farewell party.”

He slowly released the hand he had been holding and turned to leave Qin Xu’s office.

Left alone, Li Nuo stared at his retreating figure, lost in thought.