No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 78

They say it takes a hundred days for bones and tendons to heal. Shu Luo’s return to school was delayed, he had to apply for a formal leave of absence, and his thesis was looming over him.

He had no love left for this hospital—only loathing. Even the smell was becoming unbearable. The irony wasn’t lost on him: he was a medical student. He’d be spending the rest of his life in places like this.

Sitting with his leg suspended in a cast while diligently typing away at his thesis was exhausting. Of course, he made sure to look as pathetic as possible; it was all part of the “bitter flesh” strategy.

Shu Luo’s mother watched her son with an aching heart. Seeing him struggle with his thesis while injured made her regret her previous harshness.

“Luo Luo, why don’t you rest for a while? Your face looks so pale,” she said, her voice full of pity.

Shu Luo winced. He had just intentionally jostled his newly set leg to look more “authentic.” The pain was agonizing. “It’s fine. I’ll write a bit more. I’ve already lost several days; if I don’t catch up now, I won’t finish in time.”

His words hit home. His mother felt a pang of guilt—he was clearly implying that it was her fault for locking him up.

“Luo Luo… did Mama push you too hard?”

Shu Luo froze. He hadn’t expected her to adopt a “soft” approach so quickly. This was dangerous; if he wasn’t careful, he’d be the one surrendering to her kindness.

“No, it’s my fault,” he said, his voice trembling. “I shouldn’t have fallen for someone I shouldn’t have loved.”

The words were so cheesy they made his own skin crawl. To ensure the waterworks started, he reached under the covers and gave his inner thigh a sharp, vicious pinch. Sweet mercy, that hurts! Tears instantly welled up in his eyes—perfect for the effect.

His mother saw the tears. Oh god, I’ve pushed my child to tears. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen him cry. Did I really break his spirit? He even tried to jump…

“Luo Luo, Mama was wrong. But you and Ah Mu… you really shouldn’t be together. People will look down on you. They’ll laugh.”

Shu Luo squeezed his eyes shut, letting a single, cinematic tear roll down his cheek. He needed to turn up the tragedy. “I don’t care about what other people think. I only care about how you look at me.”

His mother sighed. “Luo Luo, I just can’t accept it.”

Crying isn’t enough? Shu Luo thought. He decided to go for the jugular. “Then I’ll just go abroad with Brother. That way, you won’t have to see us and your eyes will be clean.”

This “threat” sparked a flash of anger in his mother. Without thinking, she slapped the bed in frustration—right onto his suspended, broken leg.

A white-hot, bone-deep pain surged through him. Shu Luo’s face turned a violent shade of red, and the veins in his neck popped. This was no longer a “bitter flesh” strategy—this was real agony.

The world turned black. The pain was so intense it triggered a sympathetic headache at the back of his skull. A moment later, his consciousness flickered out.

Shu Luo’s mother stared at her hand in horror. In her agitation, she had struck his injury. “Luo Luo? Luo Luo!”

He had fainted. She frantically hit the call button for the doctor.

When Jiang Mu entered the room, he saw a panicked mother and a deathly pale Shu Luo with tear stains still on his face. “What happened?!” He rushed to the bedside, but Shu Luo didn’t respond.

“He… I think he fainted,” his mother stammered, nearly in tears herself.

Jiang Mu forced himself to stay calm. He put a steadying hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. Did you call the doctor?” Inside, however, his own heart was racing.

The doctor arrived and examined Shu Luo, then turned to his mother with a confused look. “The patient is out cold. Did something upset him? Or…” He looked at the leg cast, which showed signs of a recent impact.

“I got angry,” she whispered guiltily. “I hit his leg by accident.”

Jiang Mu & The Doctor: “…” This mom is ruthless.

“He’ll wake up soon,” the doctor said, lecturing her. “No matter how angry you are, you can’t strike a limb that hasn’t healed. Look at the tears—he must have been in immense pain to faint like that.”

Being scolded by the doctor didn’t bother her. She was consumed by remorse. What if he hates me now? What if he really runs away to Canada with Jiang Mu and never comes back? She sat on the sofa, looking utterly defeated.

Once the doctor left, Jiang Mu knelt on one knee before her. The sheer handsomeness of the gesture made her blink; even in her grief, she wasn’t immune to Jiang Mu’s striking looks. She cursed her luck—if only she’d had a daughter, she’d have married her off to him in a heartbeat.

“Auntie,” Jiang Mu said, his voice ringing with sincerity. “I am serious about Luo Luo. For the rest of my life, he is the only one for me.”

“Ah Mu, you’re so talented and successful. Why does it have to be Luo Luo?”

Jiang Mu gave a bittersweet smile. “Love is love. There aren’t many reasons for it. I’ve looked after him for ten years; now that we’re finally together, I could never let go.”

“You fell for him at first sight?” she asked, baffled that such a thing could happen between two boys.

“Yes,” Jiang Mu replied, a soft warmth entering his eyes.

Oh dear, she thought. I really have become the ‘wicked mother’ trying to tear them apart. But she still had her reservations. “Ah Mu, you’re in the spotlight now. People will judge you. You’re like a celebrity—the scrutiny will be intense.”

“I won’t give them the chance to speak ill of us,” Jiang Mu said, his eyes flashing with a cold, protective resolve.

“Stand up,” she said softly. “Your legs will fall asleep if you stay like that.”

Hearing her tone, Jiang Mu felt a flicker of hope. He smiled and turned to look at the sleeping Shu Luo.

The midday sun was bright, casting a golden glow over the white hospital bed. The light traced the sharp, elegant lines of Shu Luo’s face, making him look like a delicate ink-wash painting.

“Mmm…” Shu Luo groaned, frowning at the bright light. He slowly opened his eyes.

A shadow fell over him, blocking the glare. It was Jiang Mu. Standing against the light, he looked like a deity, his features carved in shadow.

Thump-thump. Shu Luo’s heart skipped a beat. “Why are you here?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

Jiang Mu pulled the curtains shut before sitting by the bed. “I came as soon as I finished at the company. I found your mom in a state of self-reproach because she accidentally hit your leg.”

Shu Luo gave a sly grin. “Bitter flesh strategy.”

Jiang Mu sighed and kissed the back of Shu Luo’s hand. “Don’t ever hurt yourself again. My heart can’t take much more.”

“Sappy doesn’t suit you, Brother. You’re giving me goosebumps,” Shu Luo joked, though his smile was wider than the sun.

Looking at the dimples in his cheeks, Jiang Mu couldn’t help but reach out and pinch them.

“Oh, Brother,” Shu Luo said, suddenly remembering something. “He Zeming said something strange to me the other night. He told me to ‘be more careful.'”

Jiang Mu’s brow furrowed. Is He Zeming still up to something? He knew He Zeming ran a private security firm—Jiang Mu had even hired some of his men. But he hadn’t looked deeply into the man’s background. Why had he been at the Green Dragon Gang’s territory that year? Was it really a coincidence?

“Rest for now. I’ll handle it.”

“Rest more?! I’m practically moldy! When can I leave?” Shu Luo complained.

“In a few days. I’ve already convinced your mom to let you move into my apartment. It’ll be easier for me to take care of you there.”

Shu Luo looked at him with admiration. “Impressive. You actually won over my mom.”

Jiang Mu just ruffled his hair and smiled, staying silent.