Chapter 619: 326 Muddled (First revision)

As Tao Qian arrived at work, he noticed some shiftiness around the hospital entrance. It wasn’t until he entered the office and heard the hushed conversations of the nurses that he realized what was going on.

The friend of Ming Jing who was admitted last night, was Qu Feitai.

He remembered that Little Star’s favorite idol was Qu Feitai. Thank goodness, she still was oblivious.

“Those paparazzi at the hospital entrance are really sharp, sniffing out any scent of news. Our hospital has never been this lively. Just now, two disguised journalists were discovered in the emergency department. It’s more thrilling than a spy drama!”

“Do you guys think Qu Feitai and Ming Jing are really dating? The Internet is buzzing say they are living together.”

“It’s normal for a man and woman to live alone gets together, isn’t it?”

“Cough, cough…”

People silenced immediately after they heard the cough, they respectfully greeted, “Dr. Tao.”

The man walked over with a stern face. “No gossiping in work hours. You are all very free, aren’t you?”

Everyone scattered, returning to their respective posts.

Tao Qian shook his head, rumours are truly scary.

Qu Feitai opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling with an empty mind.

The nurse was taking his temperature, her face turned red when she noticed he’d woken up.

Qu Feitai moved slightly, the sudden pain made him gasp.

“Don’t move. You’ve just had surgery and need to stay in bed and recover for a few days,” the nurse quickly advised.

“Surgery?” Qu Feitai was utterly confused.

“You had appendicitis surgery. You probably have no recollection — you passed out from the pain. Ming Jing brought you to the hospital last night. She stayed here with you the entire time,” the nurse revealed, her eyes sparkling with excitement, just like a fan.”

“She really cares about you. You two should make your relationship last a lifetime.”

“Where is she?” Qu Feitai asked.

“I’m not sure, she was here with you all night. When I did rounds this morning, she wasn’t here. She might’ve gone to get breakfast. Don’t worry, you can’t eat anything the first day after surgery. You can eat after you pass gas,” the nurse replied.

Qu Feitai’s face visibly paled.

After the nurse left, Yun Mo walked in. “Awake?”

Seeing him, Qu Feitai’s expression darkened even more.

“I know you don’t want to see me, but I have your brother’s orders to stay and monitor your condition until you’re discharged,” Yun Mo admitted.

Qu Feitai’s face was full of misery.

The image he had worked so hard to craft in front of Ming Jing was ruined in an instant.

All that talk of being a ”male god” with a six-pack – he was now nothing more than a frail, sick man.

Yun Mo couldn’t help but laugh at Qu Feitai’s new humble state. “Finally, our young master is humbled.”

Seeing Qu Feitai’s wandering eyes, Yun Mo chuckled. “You were waiting for Ming Jing? Don’t wait any longer. She’s gone home to rest after spending the entire night by your side. That delicate young lady is surprisingly attentive to you.”

Qu Feitai’s expression fell, he didn’t seem to be cheered up by the news.

“Yun Mo, do I seem really useless?” Qu Feitai asked.

Sitting down on a chair, Yun Mo brought up a memory from the past. “Remember when you were a kid and you liked playing with guns. when your brother disagreed with you. You trekked over a hundred miles just to find me at the base, asking me to take you on as a pupil. Do you remember that?”

At the memory of the reckless thing he did in his youth, Qu Feitai laughed. But then he winced, having pulled his healing wound.

“You were only five or six years old. A tiny thing, you traveled over a hundred miles, walking a day and a night. When you saw me, you only said, ‘I can do it’, then you fainted. Never have I met a more stubborn kid. Even then, I knew you would accomplish great things.”

“Don’t be upset with your older brother. He only didn’t want you to get involved because he was looking out for you. When your second brother had an incident, you were still too young. Your older brother didn’t want you to end up like him.”

Qu Feitai’s eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling. “He raised me. How could I resent him?”

“You’re getting upset with yourself, not him. Even as an entertainer, you’re already successful. Your father, although he acts mad in person, behind closed doors he doesn’t know how to stop bragging about you. He uses your autographed postcard to infuriate his old friends. After all, whose granddaughter isn’t a fan of yours?”

“Ming Jing is a fantastic girl, and it is very normal for you to like her. Don’t think too much and just go ahead and pursue her. I don’t believe there’s a boy in the world who’s better than our young master. If she can’t see your worth, that’s her loss. But remember the saying ‘practice makes perfect’. If she is a needle in the haystack, turn her into your needle instead.”

That brought a smile to Qu Feitai’s face. “Yun Mo, the person I killed when I was six. Who was it?”

The laughter disappeared from Yun Mo’s face. He straightened up, frowning at Qu Feitai.

“Young master, what are you talking nonsense about? Have you lost your senses because of the fever?”

“Don’t lie to me anymore, both you and my brother. I remember everything. I dream about her frequently… who was she? I have the right to know.”

Yun Mo looked at him seriously. “Young Master, knowing too much isn’t good for you.””Big brother always has to have his own way. If he truly cared about me, he wouldn’t keep secrets from me.”

Yun Mo sighed, “She isn’t dead.”

Qu Feitai was stupefied, an overwhelming surge of joy encompassed him, he incredulously asked, “Not dead?”

He hadn’t killed anyone…

“Yes, she was just injured, but her life wasn’t in danger. It’s surprising that the young master has been worrying about this for so long.”

“Who is she? Where is she now?”

The twinkling gaze of Yun Mo betrayed his thoughts, “Young master, she is doing well. You shouldn’t disturb her.”

Qu Feitai was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking of something, his expression changed, “That’s not right, you’re lying to me.”

An involuntary stiffness washed Yun Mo’s face, he inquired calmly, “What do you mean by that young master?”

Qu Feitai stared at him, pronouncing each word very clearly, “Qinglong Association, Ran Bowen.”

Yun Mo squinted his eyes, then suddenly laughed: “Young master must be joking, Ran Bowen has been dead for over a decade, why bring him up now?”

“You and big brother kept it from me, it’s fine. I will uncover the truth by myself.”

He will find out who that person really was all those years ago.

Why does everyone expect him to remain ignorant?

It was a real life at stake.

Yun Mo’s gaze dropped, erasing the undercurrent of the storm in his eyes.

——

Ming Jing returned home, took a bath, got changed, had breakfast, and started dealing with phone calls.

The rumors about her relationship with Qu Feitai this time were detailed and vivid, generating more attention than ever before.

The director of Shenzhou Group’s public relations department called her personally to discuss whether they should intervene to try and deflate the situation. Qu Feitai’s agent, Huang Chao, contacted her with the idea of jointly managing the media buzz.

“Some things can’t be covered up, the more you try to hide them, the more curious people will become. There’s no need for deliberate public relations, just be on guard against any secret plots by Qu Feitai’s opponents.”

Opinions varied among the public as everyone had their own understanding and freedom of speech. The ones to blame here were the two famous figures who invited scrutiny with every action they took.

This was the price they paid for fame.

If people kept spreading rumors, they would believe it. But if they paid them no heed, it would just serve as gossip over tea, nothing more.

Those who believed you, will do so no matter what. Those who didn’t, won’t, even if you break your back convincing them.

But Ming Jing underestimated people’s enthusiasm. The matter was discussed for three whole days, and the heat only got more intense.

“Brother Qu.” Ming Chen rushed in, staring at the pale teenager in the hospital bed, her tears rolling down like beads off a broken string.

“Brother Qu, does it hurt?”

Qu Feitai chuckled and wiped her tears off. “Stop crying, little kitten, it doesn’t hurt.”

Qu Feitai’s glance fell on Ming Jing, who followed along into the room. His depressed eyes brightened at the sight of her, like the dawn brightening the day.

“You… got caught up in all of this because of me.”

Ming Jing placed a thermos and fruit on the table and asked casually, “Have you passed gas?”

His face instantly flushed red with her casual question. He wished he could bury himself in a hole.

An embarrassing spectacle.

“Huh? Brother Qu, why is your face so red?” Ming Chen added fuel to the fire.

Qu Feitai decided to play dead by closing his eyes.

“Brother Qu, you can’t sleep yet, you haven’t answered Ming Jing’s question.”

“Alright Ming Chen, let your Brother Qu sleep.” Ming Jing ladled out some soup from the thermos, filling the room with a tantalising aroma.

“Gulp gulp…” A strange sound echoed.

Qu Feitai, who was struggling to hold it in, said weakly, “Can you and Ming Chen go outside for a while…”

Ming Jing nodded understandingly and led a confused Ming Chen out of the room.

Qu Feitai stared at the ceiling despondently, praying for divine intervention, “God, just strike me down with lightning.”