Save That Miserable Protagonist - Chapter 15

Pei Tingsong’s fever persisted until the latter half of the night. Looking at the person sleeping soundly on the hospital bed, Lu Xun let out a soft sigh.

He was afraid something might happen to Pei Tingsong in the middle of the night, so he had forced himself to stay awake until now. He wondered when he, the great Young Master Lu, had ever cared for someone so thoughtfully.

“You had better hurry up and get well. My care does not come easily,” he whispered.

He thought to himself that once Pei Tingsong woke up, he would definitely make life difficult for him. He would force him to be his personal assistant for a few days, making him fetch tea and water to repay this night of care twofold.

Despite his tough internal monologue, Lu Xun acted as if he were terrified of waking the sleeping man. Only after confirming with the nurse that the fever had broken and the danger had passed did Lu Xun cautiously let go of the hand he had been holding half the night.

After leaving detailed instructions with the duty nurse, Lu Xun quietly left the hospital.

Lu Xun had a strong constitution. The number of times he had been sick in his life could be counted on one hand. Every time he felt unwell, no matter how busy she was, Luan Xiujing would personally go to the kitchen to simmer a bowl of soft white porridge for him.

That porridge seemed more effective than any medicine in the world. With just one spoonful, Lu Xun would start to feel better. Looking at Pei Tingsong’s pale, fragile face on the hospital bed, Lu Xun felt that the poor thing needed a bowl of that same porridge.

While the other was still asleep, Lu Xun drove all the way back to his family villa in the suburbs.

At this hour, the chefs and servants were just waking up to begin their morning tasks. They were all startled to see the eldest young master return home so suddenly. Lu Xun greeted them briefly and, following the butler’s directions, went straight to the living room to find Luan Xiujing, who was busy with flower arrangements.

Luan Xiujing was a Buddhist and woke up early every day to chant sutras. This made things convenient for Lu Xun; otherwise, he would have had to risk his parents’ wrath by knocking on their bedroom door.

“Mom,” Lu Xun said urgently, skipping the pleasantries. “How do you make that porridge of yours? Can you teach me?”

Hearing this, Luan Xiujing put down the flowers in surprise. “Xun? Why are you back so early? To make porridge?” Her confusion grew. “If you want porridge, just have Mother Zhao make it. Why do you suddenly want to do it yourself?”

“No, I do not want to drink it myself.” Lu Xun pursed his lips, his gaze shifting erratically as he continued. “I just want to make a bowl. The kind you always made for me when I was sick.”

Luan Xiujing was a perceptive woman who understood her son better than anyone. Seeing him like this, she had already guessed most of the story. However, she did not call him out on it. She simply smiled warmly. “Alright. Mom will teach you.”

Unfortunately, Lu Xun was a young master who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen. This sudden attempt at cooking challenged not only himself but the kitchen and Luan Xiujing as well.

Fortunately, it was only white porridge. Despite the frantic pace that felt like a battlefield, Lu Xun walked out of the house thirty minutes later carrying a thermal container. Fearing he had taken too long, he did not stay to chat. He hurried back to the hospital.

Luan Xiujing watched his retreating figure and winked her green eyes at the butler. “It seems our Xun has met the person who can finally make him willing to enter a kitchen.” After all, she had heard rumors that her son was pursuing a top student lately.

When he cautiously pushed open the ward door, Lu Xun unexpectedly met Pei Tingsong’s bright, dark eyes.

Surprised that Pei Tingsong was awake so early, Lu Xun felt a strange sense of flustered panic. Placing the thermal container on the nightstand, he asked with feigned composure, “Why are you up so early?”

At these words, the corners of Pei Tingsong’s mouth curved into a small smile. “It is not that early. I thought you had left.”

His voice was still raspy, but his eyes, like black obsidian, were startlingly bright. Lu Xun felt a surge of satisfaction from that sentence and that gaze.

“If I left, who would bring you food? Anyway,” Lu Xun paused, trying to keep his tone flat. “The nanny at home made too much porridge this morning. I figured it would be a waste to leave it, so I brought some for you.”

Having said that, Lu Xun opened the container, filled a bowl, and handed it to Pei Tingsong. Once the bowl was in Pei Tingsong’s hands, Lu Xun’s gaze wandered around the room. He did not quite dare to look at Pei Tingsong, the bowl, or the expression on the other man’s face.

Pei Tingsong looked down at the bowl. The porridge was reasonably thick, but it certainly did not look professional. The edges of the bowl showed a slight yellowing, and a faint burnt smell lingered in the air because of it.

He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and took a small taste.

A sick person’s mouth usually tastes bitter, but for some reason, Pei Tingsong’s sense of taste had become exceptionally sharp. The moment the porridge touched his tongue, he detected the hint of char. It was not a strong taste, but it was certainly not something a professional nanny would ever serve.

Pei Tingsong looked up at the man who had been staring out the window since handing over the bowl. He said nothing, but he drew out a soft, meaningful “Oh.”

Though his voice was raspy, the rising tone carried a subtle, knowing tease. Hearing that sound, Lu Xun’s face stiffened instantly. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he turned around and grumbled, “What are you ‘oh-ing’ about? Eat it or do not! Why do you talk so much?”

After a long pause, he added in a small mumble, “Is the taste that bad?”

Pei Tingsong looked up and saw the bright red tips of Lu Xun’s ears. He could not help the gentle curve of his own lips.

“It is alright.” He paused, then added softly, “Thank you.”

He lowered his head and quietly, spoonful by spoonful, finished the slightly burnt porridge.

At eight o’clock, the hospital staff began their shift, and Lu Xun helped Pei Tingsong with the discharge paperwork. Once the procedures were settled, Lu Xun insisted on driving him back.

The car sped down the road in silence until a sudden ringtone broke the quiet. Lu Xun glanced over and saw Pei Tingsong check his contacts before answering immediately. He spoke in a dialect, his tone more gentle than Lu Xun had ever heard, bordering on being pampered. “Grandmother, it is me. Yes, nothing is wrong. I was just too busy studying yesterday. Yes, I have eaten.”

On the surface, Lu Xun sat upright and focused seriously on driving, but his ears were subconsciously perked up. He could not understand the soft dialect, but he could vaguely catch repeating words like “Grandmother” and “study.”

He assumed the person on the other end was Pei Tingsong’s grandmother. Although the system had already detailed Pei Tingsong’s family situation to him, and Lu Xun had even used the grandmother to threaten him before, hearing the gentle way he comforted the elderly woman caused a strange sensation in Lu Xun’s heart. It was a complex emotion, a mixture of bitterness and slight self-reproach.

The call did not last long. After he hung up, a brief silence returned to the car. Lu Xun tapped his fingers on the steering wheel before speaking carefully. “Was that your grandmother?”

“Yes. I did not contact her yesterday, and she was worried.”

Lu Xun hesitated for a moment, trying to keep his tone from sounding too intentional. “Is your grandmother always in the hospital?”

“Yes.” Pei Tingsong looked down, his voice tinged with loneliness. “It is a chronic condition. She needs long-term inpatient treatment.”

After another long pause, Lu Xun asked softly, “It must be very hard?”

He knew exactly how hard it was. However, Pei Tingsong turned to look at him and smiled with crinkled eyes. “It is fine. I am used to it.”

“Used to it.”

What a terrifying phrase. If Pei Tingsong had said it was hard, or if he had said nothing at all, Lu Xun could have naturally steered the conversation toward offering help. It would not have been out of charity or a threat, but pure assistance. But Pei Tingsong said he was used to it, effectively blocking any offer of help.

Those four words felt like a heavy stone lodged in Lu Xun’s throat. It seemed like everything in this world, good or bad, could be summarized with that phrase. “Used to it.” Long since used to the unfairness of the world, long since used to supporting a household alone.

That phrase made Lu Xun’s nose sting. Forcing the emotion down, he drove on in silence.

When the car stopped at the old residential area again, Pei Tingsong did not get out immediately. He pulled out his old phone and insisted on transferring money to Lu Xun. “Thank you for yesterday and today. How much were the medical bills? I will transfer the money to you.”

Lu Xun frowned instantly. “No need. It was not much. Besides, you got sick because of me in the first place.”

“No, that is a separate matter.” Pei Tingsong’s dark eyes stared straight at Lu Xun. “How much exactly was it?”

Pei Tingsong was too persistent. Knowing his temperament, Lu Xun could only lie with a stiff face. “It was just a few bottles of fluids and the bed fee. It was less than a hundred total.”

Pei Tingsong fell silent. Setting aside the private VIP room they had shared, the specialized medicine he had received yesterday could not have cost only a hundred. He lowered his eyes and stared directly at Lu Xun.

Lu Xun did not flinch; instead, he glared back righteously. “What? You do not believe me? Would I, Lu Xun, lie about such a small amount of money?”

It was indeed unlikely. Any amount of money was just pocket change to Lu Xun. With a soft sigh, Pei Tingsong added Lu Xun on WeChat and transferred a hundred as requested.

After stepping out of the car, Pei Tingsong paused and thanked him once more before turning toward his rental apartment. Lu Xun did not leave immediately. He sat in the car, watching Pei Tingsong walk toward the dilapidated building.

The morning sunlight outlined his thin figure. His faded t-shirt hung loosely on his frame, and with every step, his shoulder blades protruded distinctly. Watching from a distance, Lu Xun thought they looked like two butterfly wings about to take flight.

Fragile, yet possessed of a certain resilience. Just like his name.

Lu Xun watched until the figure completely disappeared into the stairwell before slowly starting the engine and driving away.