Save That Miserable Protagonist - Chapter 19

Lu Xun was an impatient person. Once he decided on the hospital transfer, he notified Pei Tingsong the very next day.

With Lu Xun personally overseeing the matter, the grandmother’s transfer procedures were exceptionally smooth. By that afternoon, Lu Xun had helped Pei Tingsong arrange everything. The cramped eight-person ward was replaced by a VIP suite on the top floor of Minglai Hospital. It was spacious, bright, and so quiet that one could hear the gentle rustle of the wind outside the window.

Zhang Hongli looked around the room, feeling somewhat out of place. “Tingting, this is a bit too nice. It is so quiet that I am almost uncomfortable.” She paused before adding, “This must cost a great deal of money, does it not?”

Before Pei Tingsong could answer, Lu Xun leaned down. He took Zhang Hongli’s hand, offering a smile that was both charming and dutifully sweet. “Grandmother, please rest easy here. Did you not know? Our university has a collaborative project with Minglai. This is a special scholarship benefit approved by the school.”

“Is that true?”

“Of course it is.” Lu Xun’s eyes curved into crescents as he glanced at Pei Tingsong’s face. “Our Tingsong is such a brilliant student, always ranking first. The school established this specifically so that top students like him do not have any worries at home. You can stay here with a peaceful mind. Tingsong earned this through his own merit. Furthermore, the doctors and nurses here are top-tier professionals. If you need anything at all, just press the call button.”

Pei Tingsong was stunned by Lu Xun’s beaming face and his seamless, airtight explanation. This was the first time he had seen Lu Xun like this. Shedding his arrogant young master persona, Lu Xun spoke to the grandmother in a soft and slow tone, wearing a smile that could almost be described as well behaved.

Yet, his core remained unchanged. Lu Xun was still the type to speak human to humans and ghost to ghosts. Even though he had personally arranged this special treatment, he framed it in a way that made Pei Tingsong seem like the incredible one.

Regardless, Lu Xun’s words allowed the grandmother to stay there without guilt. Seeing his grandmother’s affectionate gaze, Pei Tingsong pursed his lips and nodded. “Yes. Grandmother, please just focus on resting here.”

Zhang Hongli narrowed her eyes and patted Lu Xun’s hand with a smile. “Good boy, I have truly troubled you today, running back and forth for me.”

“It is no trouble at all, Grandmother,” Lu Xun replied with apparent sincerity. “Tingsong and I are best friends. He is brilliant and has a great personality. He usually helps me out. I am more than happy to finally be of some help to him.”

He called him Tingsong repeatedly, his tone so intimate and natural that one would think they had been close friends for years. The grandmother shook her head with a smile. “I know my Tingting. He is stubborn and does not listen to others. You will have to be patient with him.”

“Not at all. Tingting has a wonderful personality.”

As Lu Xun said this, his eyes, curved like crescent moons, stared vibrantly at Pei Tingsong. A smirk played on his lips, and his entire aura radiated a playfulness he could not hide.

Pei Tingsong could tolerate Lu Xun calling him Tingsong for the sake of the act, but the moment Tingting left Lu Xun’s mouth, his face flushed crimson. Blood rushed to his head. Since his grandmother was present, he could not say anything harsh, so he resorted to a flustered attempt to shoo him away. “Um, you, do you not have things to do? Why are you still here?”

Seeing him turn red from his neck to the top of his head, Lu Xun looked even more triumphant. He drew out his words while watching Pei Tingsong. “Oh? Do I have things to do?”

“Of course you do!”

Seeing that the cat was about to blow its top, Lu Xun stopped teasing. “I just remembered, I do have a class in a bit.” Turning back to Zhang Hongli, he shed his playboy air. He leaned against the bedframe, looking perfectly polite. “Then, Grandmother, I will take my leave. Please rest well. I will come to see you another day.”

The moment he stood up, he was shoved toward the door by Pei Tingsong. “Studies are important. Go, quickly.”

Pei Tingsong’s go sounded exactly like he was chasing someone away, and he used a fair amount of force. However, Lu Xun was not angry at all. He laughed and let himself be pushed out. The moment they stepped outside, Lu Xun leaned toward Pei Tingsong’s ear and whispered, “Are you that sensitive, Tingting?”

The name Tingting, carried by the gentle airflow of Lu Xun’s breath, brushed softly against the tip of Pei Tingsong’s ear. It was a feather-light touch, not painful but incredibly itchy. Like an electric shock, half of Pei Tingsong’s body went numb.

The redness that had just started to fade returned with even greater intensity. His physical reaction outpaced his thoughts. Before his brain could process it, his hand shoved Lu Xun away, followed by the loud bang of the door closing. He moved so fast that all he left for Lu Xun was the sight of an ear tip turned bright red in an instant.

Lu Xun covered his mouth and began to laugh. He looked stunningly handsome when he laughed, his eyes curving into crescents, radiating an irrepressible air of rakish satisfaction.

Inside the room, Zhang Hongli watched the interaction between the two boys. After a long silence, as Pei Tingsong walked back with stiff and uncoordinated steps, she took his hand and asked softly, “That young man, is he a very good friend of our Tingting?”

Pei Tingsong’s heart, which had just begun to settle, started thumping wildly again. He paused, lowering his eyelashes as his throat tightened. “Yes, a friend.”

A look of relief appeared on Zhang Hongli’s face. Gently patting the back of her grandson’s hand, she smiled. “That is good. It is rare for our Tingting to make such a close friend. Grandmother is a good judge of character. That boy has an honest look in his eyes. He is a reliable child.”

“You carry too much on your mind. In the future, do not carry everything alone. When you have such a good friend, you must learn to cherish them, do you understand?”

Pei Tingsong responded softly, “I understand.”

After saying this, he picked up an apple that Lu Xun had brought. Tilting his head, he began to peel it with focused precision. Zhang Hongli watched his movements with maternal affection, reaching out to gently rub the top of his head. Her voice was incredibly soft, yet her eyes were full of guilt. “Over all these years, my Tingting has truly worked too hard.”

Pei Tingsong immediately looked up. “What are you talking about?”

Zhang Hongli smiled, letting the topic go as her grandson wished. “Grandmother’s greatest wish in this life is for our Tingting to be happy. No matter if you are alone in the future or living with another good child, you must be happy. Smile more and do not always frown. Our Tingting is so handsome and has such a good heart. You are worthy of anyone, do you understand?”

The meaning behind her words was too obvious. Pei Tingsong acutely sensed a tone of finality, as if she were giving her last instructions. His face darkened, and he hurriedly interrupted her. “Grandmother! What are you thinking about all day? You are just tired. Do not think about all this nonsense!”

“Minglai is the best hospital in the city, and the people Lu Xun found are all top experts. Just stay here and rest comfortably. We can be discharged in a few days. If you miss home, I will take you back for the New Year this year.”

He did not even notice he had let a detail slip, but Zhang Hongli did not call him out. She looked carefully at his face and nodded compliantly. “Fine, Grandmother will not think about it anymore. That little mountain gully, we will not go back. We will not let them gossip. Grandmother is happy just staying here with our Tingting.”

“Good. Then I will stay here with you.”

Suppressing the unease in his heart, Pei Tingsong continued peeling the apple. Perhaps because his mind was restless, he soon cut his finger. Fearing his grandmother would worry, he pressed down on the wound and stood up. “Grandmother, I am going to use the restroom.”

After tending to the cut, he returned to the ward to find his grandmother had fallen asleep. The old woman’s energy levels had been dwindling lately, which was the primary reason Pei Tingsong had agreed to Lu Xun’s help. There was a nagging sense of dread in his heart, as if something terrible was about to happen.

Gazing silently at her peaceful sleeping face, Pei Tingsong sat by the bed and let out a soft sigh, taking her hand in his. She soon squeezed back in her sleep. As her heartbeat stabilized, he finally felt a sense of peace. At that moment, his phone on the table lit up. He gently withdrew his hand from his grandmother’s grasp and opened the device.

Lucien: [Everything is arranged. The best experts, private nursing. Do not worry anymore.]

Seeing this, Pei Tingsong pursed his lips. [Okay. Thank you.]

Lucien: [No need for thanks.]

Lucien: [Cool-Sunglasses-Emoji.jpg]

Seeing that emoji, for some reason, Pei Tingsong felt as if he could visualize Lu Xun’s arrogant young master posture. He pursed his lips again, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a tiny arc.