Everyone Regrets It After My Death - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Moving Out

Gu Pei had barely stepped out when Wu, Su Mo’s assistant, slipped into the hospital room.

Su Mingran had never met Wu in person, only having spoken to him over the phone. When Wu approached, Su Mingran initially mistook him for the relative of another patient; after all, out of everyone in the ward, he was the only one who hadn’t received a single visitor.

“Who are you looking for?” Su Mingran asked, surprised.

Wu flashed a friendly smile. “Young Master Su, it’s me—Wu!”

Su Mingran’s expression froze. He looked down, ignoring the man, and continued packing his meager belongings.

Wu had been sent by Su Mo with one mission: to get Su Mingran to sign the debut contract. Even after all the bridge-burning, Su Mo refused to let Su Mingran go. With Liu Jiqing’s career in ruins, the Su family’s “cash cow” was gone; they needed a replacement immediately.

“Young Master Su, I know you had a falling out with President Su, but you were quite frightening back then. Punching Young Master Qi for no reason… President Su had to say something to keep his staff in line. You have to understand him.”

Su Mingran didn’t listen to a single word. He was focused on something else.

Since he had brought very little to the hospital, packing was quick. After washing his face in the bathroom, he prepared to handle his discharge papers. He ran up and down the hospital floors, discussing treatment plans and costs with his doctor and picking up his medication, all while Wu followed him like a shadow.

When they finally stepped out of the hospital, Wu panted, “If President Su knew you were hospitalized, he would be so worried!”

Su Mingran stopped in his tracks, a mocking sneer curling his lip. “Do you actually believe that?”

Wu choked on his words, giving an awkward, forced laugh. “You and President Su are brothers; how could he not care? Why else would he send me to check on you? Oh, and regarding that dispute over the song—I’ve handled it. We won’t use that controversial track as your debut song, but you can’t use it either.”

Su Mingran tuned him out completely. He was messaging his classmates, asking if there were any cheap rentals near the university. He had to move out of the Su family home. He had stayed only because he thought the Su family was looking for Sister Xiaoling. Since Su Mo hadn’t even bothered, there was no longer any reason to stay.

Wu followed him onto the bus, still nagging. “Why take the bus? It’s beneath you! Where are you going? I’ll drive you! Did you look at the contract? I specifically asked President Su to increase your compensation…”

Su Mingran put on his headphones, blocking out the world.

…

After getting off the bus and walking for a while, Wu received a phone call. His expression shifted, and he stopped following.

As Su Mingran approached the Su family villa, he planned to climb over the back wall as usual, only to find three or four workers installing an extension. The Su neighborhood was highly secure; the first time Su Mingran had climbed the wall, he’d been caught by security and had to explain himself for ages. Eventually, the guards got used to his “unconventional” way of entering.

Only Su Mingran climbed that wall. The purpose of the extension was clear: Su Renhua was barring his entry. Not only was the wall higher, but the top was now covered in jagged glass shards.

He walked around to the front gate and found his belongings strewn across the pavement. His clothes had been trampled into the mud by workers coming and going; his books were torn and ruined. Fortunately, he had lent his most expensive item—his laptop—to a classmate, so it hadn’t been smashed.

Su Mingran lowered his gaze, stood silently for a few seconds, and then began to pick up the pieces.

Nearby, Su Renhua was supervising a gardener. The worker, new to the house, pointed at Su Mingran. “Boss, someone is picking up the stuff you threw out. Should I go check?”

Wealthy families threw things away often; the worker assumed Su Mingran was a local scavenger.

Su Renhua glanced at Su Mingran and said loudly, “No need. It’s just trash being cleared. None of it is worth anything.”

This wasn’t the first time Su Renhua had thrown out Su Mingran’s things. Both parties seemed used to it, and Su Mingran gathered his items with a practiced numbness. But this would be the last time.

Once he had everything, Su Mingran did a quick check. The manuscript draft he’d written recently was missing. He opened his mouth to ask, then closed it. Forget it; the professor had a copy.

As he walked away with his battered backpack, Su Renhua’s voice boomed behind him: “Finally, the bad luck has left the Su house! Our future is bright now. Some people don’t ever need to come back!”

Su Mingran’s footsteps faltered for a second, then he surged forward.

Su Renhua watched him leave, feeling triumphant. He was certain his “rebellious son” wouldn’t survive on his own and would come back begging. Then, he could make Su Mingran do whatever he wanted.

When Su Mo heard what happened, he was furious. “Dad, how could you kick him out? Xinghe is about to debut—who is going to handle the ‘clients’ for the company now?”

Su Renhua, as the head of the house, had already thought of that. “Let Su Minmin go for now. Once Su Mingran hits rock bottom, he’ll come back. Then, we can set whatever conditions we want.”

“But Su Minmin… she might not be willing…”

“She wouldn’t dare!”

Qi Xinghe, who had been eavesdropping, ran over and hugged Su Renhua. “Dad, what is Minmin doing? Also, can I handle the pre-promotion for my debut myself?”

Su Renhua smiled, patting him. “Whatever Xinghe wants! Dad agrees!”

“Dad is the best!” Qi Xinghe snuggled closer. “I’m thinking of using Su Mingran for a bit. My face is still swollen because of him—I have to settle this debt personally!”

…

Su Mingran found a small single room near the university. The conditions were poor, but it had basic appliances. After paying the deposit, he had very little money left. The coffee shop manager was already annoyed by his frequent absences; he couldn’t afford to miss more work.

That night, after a shower, he was calculating his budget when he received a message from the woman who had adopted Little Yellow (the dog).

She said that whenever she took Little Yellow out, he would look around anxiously and pull on the leash whenever he saw someone who looked like Su Mingran. He hadn’t been eating well lately; he clearly missed his old owner. She asked if Su Mingran had time to visit.

Su Mingran read the message several times before replying: Give me a few days. I’m a bit busy right now.

He closed his eyes, trying to sleep. Leaving the Su family was a good thing. No one would cause him trouble anymore. Even if no one else cared for him, he had Little Yellow, and he still had the hope that Gu Pei might find a lead on Sister Xiaoling.

With those thoughts, he finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning, Su Mingran arrived at the coffee shop on time and promised the manager no more leaves. Half an hour into his shift, he realized Li An hadn’t arrived. He sent him a text.

At that moment, Li An was sitting in a tea house across the street. Sitting opposite him was Wu.

Wu smiled at Li An. “Classmate, you have a great look. Have you ever considered becoming a star?”