Become the Sickly Villain in the Novel - Chapter 51

Under the glow of the big screen, he could clearly see tears streaming down Li Nuo’s face. It wasn’t just Li Nuo, sobs could be heard throughout the cinema.

“Hey, Li Nuo?”

Li Nuo blinked, unable to hold back his tears as he watched the protagonist struggle to run under the setting sun. His tears fell uncontrollably.

Mo Chuan appeared a bit flustered. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently turned Li Nuo’s face. “Look at me.”

He gently wiped away Li Nuo’s tears. “You’re not a child anymore. Why are you crying?”

Mo Chuan pressed the handkerchief to the corner of his eye, but Li Nuo, still fixated on the screen, showed no intention of stopping his tears.

He bit his lower lip tightly to avoid making any noise.

“Don’t bite it. You’ll hurt your lips.”

Fortunately, as this part of the movie passed, Li Nuo sniffled and temporarily stopped crying.

Mo Chuan wiped the remaining tears off his face.

“Are there any traces left?”

Li Nuo cautiously looked up at him. Mo Chuan mustered all his self-control to resist the urge to hug him.

Too cute. His tear-filled eyes are still glistening.

Phew, hold it together. Don’t scare him.

Mo Chuan lowered his gaze, hiding his thoughts. “Do you still want to watch?”

“Hmm.” Li Nuo turned his attention back to the big screen. “I think this plot is fascinating. I want to finish it.”

Mo Chuan extended his arm, placing it behind Li Nuo. As if to comfort him, he held Li Nuo in his arms and patted his shoulder.

Fortunately, Li Nuo was completely absorbed in the movie. His body was stiff at first, but he was quickly drawn in by the plot.

However, just as he managed to stop crying, the ending made him cry again.

Mo Chuan suppressed his laughter and continued to wipe his tears.

After the movie ended, Li Nuo immediately got up and rushed to the restroom to wash his face.

Behind him was Li Yan, looking deeply concerned.

Mo Chuan’s mind replayed the scene after the movie finished when the lights in the theater came on. Li Nuo’s tear-reddened eyes… This type of movie isn’t my cup of tea at all. But if it’s with Li Nuo, I could watch it again.

Because his crying was just too adorable.

I never thought someone’s tears could make my heart race. Is Li Nuo really this emotional?

Mo Chuan thought for a moment and then asked Qin Xu.

“Director Qin, does watching movies make you sad?”

“No.”

Hmm. Mo Chuan nodded. That was the expected answer.

“But he was crying so bitterly, and many others in the theater were crying too. So… Is this just a problem with the two of us?”

Qin Xu didn’t respond. How should he put it? Were they just heartless?

But… was the crying that intense?

Even though he’d noticed it, he hadn’t paid close attention since Mo Chuan was there comforting Li Nuo.

Qin Xu, deep in thought, took a step forward toward the opposite side.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Without stopping, Qin Xu walked directly toward his destination.

He headed to the convenience store across the street. Since his crying was so intense, it was certain he would need to replenish fluids.

As he stepped into the store, Qin Xu wondered if he’d gone mad. Caring about someone to the point where, upon hearing they’d cried, his first thought was whether they’d need water. Yet he still stood in front of the fridge, pondering what to buy.

Electrolyte drinks should be better than water.

When he returned, Li Nuo had just come out of the restroom. Although he had washed his face, the corners of his eyes were still slightly red.

Qin Xu handed him the drink.

Mo Chuan glanced at the bottle of drink and laughed openly. “I’m a step late.”

Li Nuo glanced at the drink but didn’t take it.

Qin Xu twisted the cap open and handed it over again. “Drink it.”

Li Nuo looked at him in surprise, not because he wanted him to open the bottle cap but because he was surprised that Qin Xu would take care of him so attentively.

“…Thank you.”

Having eaten popcorn earlier and cried for a while, Li Nuo was indeed a bit thirsty.

Li Yan told him to drink slowly, sweeping his gaze over the bottle of drink before glancing at Mo Chuan and Qin Xu.

He sighed quietly to himself. These two were now entirely focused on his brother; it was obvious. But was that really a good thing?

They weren’t from the same world. What if his brother ended up hurt later on?

Yet Qin Xu’s earlier actions had left him slightly shaken.

He had never seen Qin Xu so considerate before. Qin Xu always tried to solve problems materially, and tasks like personally buying and handing over a drink were unheard of from him.

From what he had said before the movie started indicated how closely Qin Xu paid attention to Li Nuo’s every move.

He didn’t want his brother to fall into their trap, but Li Nuo himself felt fine.

While Li Yan wrestled with his inner conflict, Li Nuo put down the bottle in his hand.

“Phew.”

“Feeling calmer now?”

Li Nuo nodded and, somewhat embarrassed, asked, “Did I cry too much?”

In hindsight, he had only focused on venting his sadness and hadn’t thought about how embarrassing it might have been.

“Other people were crying too, so it’s fine. But… did that part of the movie move you that much?” Mo Chuan asked curiously.

“Mm. Just as happiness was about to be within reach, they were separated from their family by life and death. I think it’s a pity.”

Li Nuo spoke calmly but reached out to hold Li Yan’s hand. “To have felt love and then lose it is a truly sorrowful thing.”

……………

When they returned home, Li Nuo collapsed onto his bed without even changing his clothes. While he had held up well outside, the moment he returned, he felt utterly drained.

After watching the movie, eating, and shopping, Li Nuo’s small frame was pushed to its physical limit.

“Change your clothes before lying down.”

Li Nuo wriggled a few times on the bed and then stopped. No, he didn’t want to get up after lying down.

“Come here. At least take off your sun protection jacket.”

Li Nuo mumbled in response but didn’t move.

Li Yan poked him on the back, and Li Nuo flinched away.

“Fine, I’ll help you.”

Li Yan turned his brother over effortlessly—his light weight made it an easy task.

“Pfft…”

It felt like twisting a piece of dough. Li Nuo burst into laughter, “Alright, alright, I’ll do it myself. I’ll just take a shower since I’m all sweaty anyway.”

After Li Nuo finished showering, Li Yan went in to wash up as well.

When he came out of the shower, Li Nuo lay on the bed, suddenly unable to sleep. His gaze landed on the white cat plushie at his bedside. Every time Li Yan saw it, he would frown, but Li Nuo liked it a lot and had placed it on his side of the bed.

Using his fingertips, he gently smoothed the plushie’s fur. “I’ll take you with me tomorrow. I’ll have to stay in the hospital for at least a month, and if I leave you here, Li Yan definitely won’t take care of you.”

As he stroked the plushie, his mood turned melancholic. He had never undergone such a major surgery before, and it was hard not to feel anxious.

What if it fails? Would I just die again?

Speaking of which, I was asleep before coming here. My phone… Oh no, I didn’t delete the records.

Did I really die over there?

As these random thoughts filled his mind, he didn’t even hear Li Yan calling his name.

Li Yan bent down and held his hand tightly.

“Don’t worry. Brother He Yan’s skills are trustworthy. You’ll be fine.”

Li Nuo nodded slowly. Li Yan might be even more uneasy than he was. “Mm, I trust Brother He.”

The admission procedures were completed quickly. It seemed He Yan had been waiting the whole time. Once everything was ready, Li Nuo went for his pre-surgery examinations.

After getting the results, they began discussing the surgery schedule.

Due to him taking leave that morning, Li Yan brought him to the hospital. After setting down his belongings, he hurried back to the company.

While Li Nuo was tidying up his things in the hospital room, his phone rang.

“How were the results of the health check?”

“Mm. The doctor said it’s fine. I can proceed with the surgery. They’re discussing the timing. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Li Nuo, I miss you!” Suddenly, Secretary Yang’s voice came through the phone. One could easily imagine him shouting from beside Li Yan.

On the evening of the last day of work, Secretary Yang had some personal matters and didn’t come to the barbecue restaurant for dinner.

Li Nuo chuckled. “I miss Secretary Yang too.”

Secretary Yang’s voice carried on the other end, as he bragged to Li Yan, “Did you hear that? He said he misses me!”

“Alright, brother, get some good rest. I’ll come over as soon as I get off work.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t stay on your phone too long. If you’re tired, just go to sleep.”

“I know.”

After hanging up, Li Nuo lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

It was an unfamiliar hospital bed, but it was clearly better than the single room he’d stayed in before—a VIP room, no doubt.

This was, without question, Qin Xu’s arrangement.

Staying here made Li Nuo feel a slight pang of guilt, but He Yan reassured him, saying Qin Xu had more money than he could spend and might as well use it to do something good.

Hearing this made Li Nuo want to laugh.

Rolling back and forth on the bed, hugging the plushie he had brought, he let out a heartfelt sigh, “I’m so bored.”

Having worked for a while and now idle, his whole body finally relaxed. Holding the plushie, he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

After work, it wasn’t just Li Yan who rushed to the hospital; Qin Xu and Mo Chuan also arrived.

Li Nuo, sitting on the bed, immediately stood barefoot on the ground, causing Mo Chuan to frown.

“Are you trying to catch a cold?”

Li Nuo shrugged and sat back on the bed. Li Yan was tidying up the belongings he had brought that morning, trying to avoid being nagged further.

Mo Chuan placed a fruit basket on the table by the bed.

“You even brought this?” Li Nuo looked at him in surprise.

“Cough. Just here to visit the patient,” Mo Chuan was a bit embarrassed. In truth, it was Secretary Liu Ming who had purchased it for him to bring along.

Qin Xu, who came in last, closed the door and walked closer. Li Nuo followed him with his gaze, raising his head to look at him.

“Thank you for your support, Director.” Li Nuo said with a slight frown. “Honestly, there’s no need to stay in such an extravagant room.”

Qin Xu paused mid-step. “It’s not expensive.”

Before Li Nuo could speak again, he added, “For me, it’s not expensive. A good living environment is conducive to recovery. This place is much quieter than where you stayed before, isn’t it?”

“But…”

“If you stay here, it’s also more convenient for us to visit you. If Li Yan stays overnight, he’ll rest better too,” Mo Chuan chimed in. “And with better rest, you’ll recover and be discharged sooner. Or do you plan to stay in the hospital forever?”

Li Nuo was at a loss for words.

What else could he say when they’d thought it all through?

“We’ll visit you often. Don’t you want to see us?”

“Of course I do. It’s so boring being here alone.”

Mo Chuan patted Li Nuo’s head as a gesture of comfort.

Li Nuo had changed into the hospital’s patient gown again, the classic blue-and-white stripes.

“This feels familiar.”

“What?”

“The patient gown suits you, mostly thanks to your face.”

Li Nuo frowned. It was hard to tell whether Mo Chuan’s words were an insult or a compliment.

“Aren’t you hungry? Did you eat before coming here?”

“We’ll eat later.”

Li Yan finished tidying up, picked up a light jacket, and draped it over Li Nuo’s shoulders.

Mo Chuan glanced around the room and spotted the plushie on the bedside table.

“Is that the one I gave you?”

“Mm, it’s really soft to the touch, so I brought it along.”

Qin Xu raised an eyebrow and glanced at the plushie. “Mo Chuan gave that to you?”

“Yes, he brought it back from a business trip. He said it looks like me.”

Qin Xu alternated his gaze between the plushie and Li Nuo. “Doesn’t look alike.”

He reached out, his fingertips touching the plushie, and mercilessly squished it in his hand.

Li Nuo stared wide-eyed as the cat plushie was kneaded into a shapeless mass by Qin Xu’s large hands. He tightened his grip on the plushie, trying to pull it back.

Surprisingly, Qin Xu didn’t resist, and Li Nuo easily retrieved the plushie.

“Definitely doesn’t look alike.”

Li Nuo was puzzled, but Qin Xu didn’t elaborate further.

Li Yan glanced at the time. “Shouldn’t you both leave? It’s the first day of admission, and we still have a lot to sort out.”

Mo Chuan didn’t argue and stood up. Neither he nor Qin Xu had intended to stay long.

Before leaving the room, Qin Xu turned back. Li Nuo was sitting on the bed, hugging the plushie. The warm light in the room spilled over him, making his pale complexion resemble jade.

He thought to himself, He really doesn’t look like a cat. If anything, he’s more like a fox.

A little white fox.