Husband, Let Your Husband Treat Your Illness - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Ye Mo didn’t much care for crowded places, but as the Ye family was a titan in the business world, such occasions were unavoidable. High society, fine wine, beautiful women, luxury cars, the kind of future that seemed unreachable to ordinary people were the most mundane parts of life for Ye Mo. He sat alone in a secluded corner, far from the center of the Ye family’s gossip, sipping his wine and watching the guests socialize and network.

“The Fourth Young Master Ye isn’t going to chat with anyone? Sitting here all alone, drinking sulky wine.” A tall, slender man sat down in the seat next to Ye Mo, holding a glass of champagne.

“Excuse me, I don’t know you. Please stay away from me.” Ye Mo had always kept people at a distance. It was only within the Dongfang family that his defenses seemed to have collapsed; the moment he stepped out of that environment, his cold persona returned.

“Fourth Young Master Ye has quite a temper. If the Ye family did business with that attitude, I’m afraid there wouldn’t be any business left to do.” The man continued to speak as if testing Ye Mo’s boundaries. He took a sip of champagne, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as his eyes remained fixed on Ye Mo.

“Sir, if you have something to say, please say it quickly. If not, I’m leaving.” Having finished his sentence, Ye Mo set down his glass, prepared to head home. After being away from Dongfang Jin for this long, he actually found himself missing him.

Just as he stood up, he was shoved back into his seat. The man pressed over him, causing a few wrinkles to appear on his expensive haute couture suit. A frown formed on Ye Mo’s brow as he said crossly, “What do you want? If you don’t want to be dragged out by security, get off me right now.”

“What? You can be pressed down by other men, but you can’t be pressed by me for a moment?” When the man’s thin lips uttered those words, Ye Mo’s face instantly flushed crimson. It felt like a bomb had gone off in his head as he thought: How does this man know?

“Did I hit the mark? Ever since you returned from Japan, I’ve been tracking your movements. I happened to discover a huge secret.” Every word the man spoke was like lighting a fuse for Ye Mo.

“What exactly do you want?” With a flushed face, Ye Mo questioned the man indignantly.

The man slowly rose from Ye Mo and sat back in his original seat. Fortunately, the corner Ye Mo had chosen was very remote, so the encounter hadn’t drawn much attention. “I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Mo Ziran.”

Ye Mo straightened his clothes, his eyes fixed on the man. He searched his memory for the name. Mo Ziran? Wasn’t that the powerful figure Fu Yu had mentioned before they arrived? He hadn’t expected such a “rogue” of a person. Before Ye Mo could speak, Mo Ziran said, “I like you, Fourth Young Master Ye. Since you don’t have a formal engagement with him yet, I can compete with him fairly.”

“I’m sorry, but if you’re going to keep talking like this, I don’t think there’s any need for us to continue,” Ye Mo said. “President Mo, I hope you stop having people follow me. Otherwise, you should know that with my resources, it would be very easy to collapse your company.”

“I know your capabilities, and I certainly don’t doubt the strength of the Ye family. However, if you move against me now, I’m afraid your grandfather won’t be pleased.”

Ye Mo’s brow twitched. “Why would my grandfather be displeased?”

“Because I have already signed a three-year cooperation agreement with your company. You invest in me, and I provide the returns. If you ruin me now, you’re just wasting your own family’s money.” Having said that, Mo Ziran leaned in again. “Now, can we have a proper talk?”

“Then I hope our conversation stays strictly on business. As for other boundaries, please maintain them yourself.” After speaking, Ye Mo gave Mo Ziran a fake, chilly smile. This was exactly why he disliked the business world having to smile brightly at someone he utterly detested.

“Ye Mo, I truly want to pursue you. Your current ‘partner’ surely can’t match my conditions. Besides, a union between the two of us would create a business empire far greater than what the Ye family has now.” Ye Mo didn’t speak; he just listened quietly, wanting to see what this man’s ultimate goal was.

“Ye Mo, you don’t actually like that doctor, do you? Otherwise, why didn’t you bring him to this gala?” Mo Ziran asked.

Ye Mo couldn’t listen anymore. “President Mo, I’m sorry, you’ve already wasted enough of my time. I don’t think I need to listen further.”

As Ye Mo rose to leave, Mo Ziran said, “Regarding that project, I’ve already told Old Master Ye that I want you designated as the project manager. Go ahead and leave; we’ll have plenty of chances to communicate in the future.”

Ye Mo ignored him and walked straight out. He truly didn’t want any more interaction with this man. Not since being outmatched by Dongfang Jin had he suffered such a setback from anyone else.

The Ye family members were all busy socializing; no one noticed what had happened in Ye Mo’s corner. After Ye Mo left, the Ye family patriarch took the stage to announce the partnership between the Ye Group and the Moyan Group, naming Ye Mo as the project executive. Ye Mo didn’t hear this; if he had, he surely would have fainted from anger on the spot.

Leaving the gala, Ye Mo went straight back to the Dongfang compound. Seeing everyone still eating, the Dongfang family welcomed him. “Xiao Mo, the food at the gala surely didn’t suit your taste. Come and eat quickly,” Chi Yuan said. She truly loved Ye Mo from the bottom of her heart.

“Okay.” Ye Mo naturally sat down beside Dongfang Jin. Dongfang Jin had already placed a piece of deboned fish into Ye Mo’s bowl. “Nothing happened tonight, right?” Dongfang Jin asked.

Ye Mo looked at the fish in his bowl guiltily, feeling a bit awkward as he put it in his mouth. “Nothing, nothing. Everything was fine.” His eyes wandered, not daring to look Dongfang Jin in the face for fear he would notice something.

“Is that so?” Dongfang Jin’s face held a hint of doubt as he looked at Ye Mo.

“What? You don’t believe me?” Ye Mo steadied himself and asked back.

“No, no. Eat. Try the Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish my mom made.”

“Thank you, Mom. It’s delicious.”

The Dongfang family stared blankly at Ye Mo. Chi Yuan’s eyes even started to well up. “Oh, hearing him call me that…” She turned away to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

“Dad, try this.” Ye Mo then placed a rib into Dongfang Hao’s bowl. The Dongfang family was stunned. What was with Ye Mo today? Not only had he changed how he addressed them, but he was also being so filial.

“Mo, what happened to you today?” Dongfang Jin was also a bit startled.

“What? I’ll have to change how I address them eventually, so why not now?”

Dongfang Jin’s heart warmed at these words. He silently picked up another rib and placed it in Ye Mo’s bowl. “Jin, I’m full. Don’t give me any more.”

“What did you just call me?” “Jin. Is there something wrong with that?”

Dongfang Jin couldn’t help but be excited. In all their days together, Ye Mo had always used his full name; he had never simply called him “Jin.” This small detail thrilled him.

Unable to restrain himself, Dongfang Jin pressed his warm lips against Ye Mo’s—they still tasted slightly of ribs. “Jin, everyone is watching.” Ye Mo’s protest was cut short as Dongfang Jin blocked it. “Ah!” Ye Mo gave Dongfang Jin a bite, just a very light nip.

“Mo, that’s too cruel.”

“There are so many people! Besides, your breath smells like ribs, I couldn’t help it.”

“Hahahaha!” The Dongfang family erupted in laughter. They thought they were about to see a free show, but it ended with such a nonsensical comment.

“Xiao Mo, here, have another rib.” Chi Yuan placed a rib in Ye Mo’s bowl, and his face instantly turned bright red.

Another wave of laughter followed. “Big brother, so your lips taste like ribs,” Dongfang Yi teased.

“Sweet and sour? Braised? Or maybe barbecued?” Dongfang An added.

“How does it taste? Hahaha,” Dongfang You joined in.

Ye Mo’s face was red enough to bleed, but he calmed his nerves and said, “Jin, I think my family is opening a hospital project in Africa. We seem to be short on excellent medical staff. What do you think I should do?” After speaking, he scanned all the younger generation members at the table. Those met by his gaze felt the hair on their necks stand up.

“Aren’t they all right here? Take your pick. I’m sure the elders will agree,” Dongfang Jin said with a mischievous look, scanning his siblings.

“Grandpa, Grandma, if I take a few people from our family to help our African brothers build their medical industry, would you agree?” Ye Mo continued triumphantly. “And who knows, they might even bring you back a foreign grandson or granddaughter-in-law.”

Hearing this, the two elders looked at each other, then at the younger generation. “Fine. Pick whoever you like. If you set your eyes on them, we elders absolutely agree.”

The siblings who had just been teasing Ye Mo immediately lowered their heads to eat, terrified of meeting his gaze.

“Xiao You?” Ye Mo said.

“Xiao Mo, uh, my medical skills aren’t mature enough yet. Find someone else.”

“Xiao An?” The voice sounded like the Grim Reaper.

“Xiao Mo, with my level, wouldn’t I just be making life difficult for our African brothers?”

“Dongfang Yi?”

“I was wrong! I’ll eat quietly and shut up.”

“Jin, it seems your siblings are quite humble.”

“Indeed. Did you see anyone you liked?”

“I think I’ll let it go for now. We can discuss it later. After all, with my family’s strength, it can happen anytime.”

“Good. Then I’ll keep an eye on them for you to make sure they improve their medical skills.”

The three who had been hiding their heads looked at their big brother at once, thinking: He really forgot his siblings the moment he got a spouse. Dongfang Jin, you husband-protecting maniac!

After dinner, everyone dispersed. Dongfang Jin and Ye Mo returned to their room. Dongfang Jin pulled Ye Mo into his arms. “Tell me, what exactly happened at the gala?”

Ye Mo thought: What’s coming is bound to come. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you being secretive,” Dongfang Jin’s gaze became sharp.

“It’s nothing. They just put me in charge of a project. I’ll probably be busy in the future, and I’m just worried I’ll have less time to spend with you.” Out of necessity, Ye Mo told Dongfang Jin about what Mo Ziran had said, though he didn’t tell the whole story.

“Go for it. I believe you’ll do a great job.” Dongfang Jin gave Ye Mo a kiss on the forehead.

“Jin, do you trust me that much?”

“You’re the person I’m going to spend my life with. If I don’t trust you, who can I trust?”

“Then… what if I were to deceive you?”

“Why say that? Did you do something behind my back?”

“No, I was just speaking hypothetically,” Ye Mo said. Seeing Dongfang Jin’s complete trust, he felt a bit guilty. “Tell me, if one day I were forced to deceive you, what would you do?”

“What else can I do? I’d forgive you in bed.”

“Get out! You’re a piece of ‘erotic trash’!”

The two kissed again, spending the night in “clouds and rain.”