9: Chapter 9 Wang Shuo Awakens

Chen Xin had never felt as helpless as she did now, never.

She didn't know why she had to go to the Hospital, but she subconsciously didn't want to stay in that building.

Ever since she could remember, her older sister had always been the most cherished treasure of the entire Chen family, always the "child of someone else" in the mouths of her aunts and uncles, and the most dazzling star in her own circle of friends. Because she had an excellent father, a mother who loved her, and more importantly, she had a younger sister who was the complete opposite of her.

She and her sister were like two completely different fruits born from the same tree. Her sister was passionate and unrestrained, having her own opinions on everything; while she was quiet and steady, with a calm personality.

Although she was not as dazzling as her sister, she had always been the "good child" in the mouths of adults; although her personality was withdrawn, she would work hard to do well whatever was handed to her. She carefully learned so-called aristocratic etiquette, exercised her behavior and manners, and controlled the expression of her emotions; she carefully studied cultural knowledge, ranking at the top of every exam; she carefully communicated with everyone, listening to their troubles, and turned herself into a thoughtful "little cotton-padded jacket"; she carefully showed consideration for her father and mother, striving to turn herself into the image of an adult.

In the eyes of those around her, it seemed she was born not to talk much, born with a cold personality, born to be a good listener, born to be a little adult.

No one is born knowing everything; she was the same.

She didn't love talking because she didn't want people to know her childish thoughts; she had a cold personality because she didn't want people to tease her like a child time and time again; she was a good listener because she didn't want others to feel that the distance between them and her was growing, and listening to others was the best way to not be too distant without having to speak; she was a little adult because she wanted to grow up quickly so she could help her father and mother.

She had changed herself bit by bit into the image people around her liked to see.

She worked hard, she struggled, she endured, she gave up her entire childhood, just to get a few more compliments from her father and mother, and to make her image as a good child in the eyes of those around her well-deserved.

But no one knew that she was also just a little girl who needed rest. The heavy expectations of the crowd almost choked her.

She had enough of this pressure. On what grounds? Why did she work so hard while others didn't see it? Why could Chen Cheng, who had been lazy, incompetent, and always crying and snot-nosed since childhood, get everything? She didn't want to get anything, but why did she have to sacrifice for the group? Why?!

Just because he, Chen Cheng, was a man?

Chen Xin clenched her fists tightly, her white knuckles showing her extreme indignation. But she was Chen Xin after all; no matter how her heart fluctuated, the expression on her face remained calm.

"Believe it or not, young lady, your father and mother absolutely love you. But the group is the group. Even if your father is the chairman, he has to consider the opinions of other shareholders. According to the situation at the time, if a solution couldn't be produced, the group would have been split up."

"I think your father ultimately agreed to this opinion, surely having his own considerations."

Chen Xin fell silent, her tightly clenched hands slowly loosening. She watched the neon lights streaking past outside the window, feeling lost about the future for the first time.

Where exactly was her path?

On one side was the Chen family that gave birth to her and raised her, her parents and elders; on the other was the freedom and independence she had always longed for. Should she resist to the end?

...

Wang Shuo was still in a daze. In fact, in his feeling, ever since school started, he had been in a daze until now.

Where was he? What was he doing? Which mental Hospital did these two crazy idiots in front of him run out of? And this big guy lying on him with snot and tears, was he really a man? He couldn't possibly have some bad habits, right!

Wang Shuo was still contemplating life when Chen Cheng already started shouting: "Doctor! Doctor!" As he shouted, he ran out of the ward, and the sound in the hallway became even heavier: "Quick, get a doctor! He's awake! Second Brother opened his eyes!"

Before long, a doctor wearing a white coat, not even having time to put on his hat, with his glasses slightly crooked, brought a young nurse running in, and without a word, gave Wang Shuo a full physical examination.

"The patient's body has no abnormalities, he just slept for a bit too long, he needs to replenish some nutrition, preferably some liquid food, plus appropriate exercise, and he should be able to fully recover very soon."

"If you are worried, you can continue to stay in the Hospital for observation for two days, and you can be discharged after a full recovery."

The doctor who finished the check-up and found no problems gave his diagnosis.

Zheng Jun was moved to tears, and as he held the middle-aged doctor's hand, he almost cried, but he moved his lips and couldn't squeeze out a single word.

"Thank you, Doctor Liu." Chen Cheng hurriedly stepped forward and said to the middle-aged doctor in a very gentlemanly manner. As for the young nurse on the side, her eyes were already sparkling with stars as she looked at Chen Cheng.

Doctor Liu calmly pulled his hand away, nodded, and led the young nurse out of the ward.

Before leaving, Wang Shuo clearly saw that the young nurse kept looking back, casting flirtatious glances at Chen Cheng, as if she would be willing to give herself to him immediately if he just nodded.

"This is the gap," Wang Shuo sighed inwardly.

Immediately following that, Wang Shuo felt the world go black as a sturdy body suddenly pounced on him. A voice that sounded like it had gone through a life-and-death separation and then reunited, filled with a trace of relief amidst the heartbreak, suddenly exploded in his ears.

"My Second Brother! You're finally awake!"

"I was wrong! I was really wrong! I will never force you to drink again. Whoever tries to persuade you to drink again is going against me, Zheng Jun! It means they don't take me, Zheng Jun, seriously!"

Who else could this be but Zheng Jun.

Wang Shuo's muffled voice came weakly from under Zheng Jun's chest: "Can someone... tell me... what is going on? Boss is... going to crush me."

...

Half an hour later.

"So... I've been in a coma for a month?" Wang Shuo's eyes widened.

At this moment, he was still on the Hospital bed. Because he had been lying down for too long, his legs seemed a bit stiff, and he could only take a pillow to lean against behind him to barely sit up.

"It's one month and three days, less than five hours until it hits four days," Li Li pushed up his glasses and added. Among the group, he looked the most normal.

"Boss hasn't slept for two days?" Wang Shuo looked at Zheng Jun's dark circles.

"Heh heh." Zheng Jun touched his head and smiled awkwardly. He had just almost sent the newly awakened Wang Shuo back, and even though he was thick-skinned, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed about his impulse at this moment.

"Then the school military training is over now?"

"It's long over." Zheng Jun grinned, as if about to laugh out loud, but ultimately held it in.

"Club recruitment is also over?" Wang Shuo was somewhat unwilling to accept it.

"Do you think the whole school's clubs have to wait for you?" Chen Cheng stood against the wall coolly, completely unrecognizable from the person who was shouting for a doctor like a lunatic just moments ago.

"My college life... my club dreams... my..."

Wang Shuo looked lifeless.

This opening was completely different from what he had imagined! What about the imagined military training? What about the imagined encounters? What about the imagined affectionate, ptooey, happy and warm club activities?

Wang Shuo was speechless. It seemed he was destined to be a homebody; staying at home was the most important thing.

Picking up girls during military training, picking up girls through encounters, picking up girls in clubs, picking up girls in class, etc., were indeed getting further and further away from him. As for picking up girls by relying on his looks... Wang Shuo looked at Chen Cheng standing against the wall. It was really... the more he looked, the more he wanted to give him plastic surgery.

However, fortunately, they were there. Wang Shuo looked at the three brothers beside the Hospital bed. Boss Zheng Jun didn't even need to be mentioned; he was the first to send him to the Hospital, and he never left his side, refusing to rest unless forced. Even now, he was standing here carrying two large dark circles under his eyes; Third Brother Li Li, he had to worry about two people's worth, not only his own but also Zheng Jun's. He delivered food to the Hospital on time every day, supervising Zheng Jun to eat and rest; Fourth Brother Chen Cheng, in order to help him, spared no expense to contact the best Hospital for transfer, and worked tirelessly to find the best brain specialist to treat him. It seemed even the medical expenses were paid by him.

As roommates who had just met, for them to do this much for him, it was truly above and beyond.

If it were anyone else, there was a high probability they would have thrown him aside to fend for himself. If that had happened, Wang Shuo knew he would have been dead for sure.

"Thank you all." After a moment of silence, Wang Shuo said: "Boss Zheng Jun, Third Brother Li Li, Fourth Brother Chen Cheng. Although I know what I'm saying might sound childish, I still want to say, if one day in the future you need me, need my help, I will help you without hesitation, using everything I have!"

Wang Shuo's voice was firm, but even Chen Cheng, who was the most worldly, could not have imagined how heavy this promise was.

"Ha, Second Brother, what are you saying." Zheng Jun laughed, his hand reaching out as if to pat Wang Shuo, but then he seemed to think of something and awkwardly retracted it, chuckling: "It was my fault that you were in a coma for a month. Hearing you say that makes it sound like we saved your life. You really don't need to be so polite."

"I have to say a fair word on this, Second Brother," Chen Cheng said: "This matter really has nothing to do with you. What we did was what we should have done. You don't need to have any psychological burden. If this wasn't caused by our drinking competition, who would believe it!"

Li Li nodded quietly.

"You guys..." Wang Shuo felt that his tear threshold was a bit too low today, wanting to cry at the drop of a hat. He hadn't felt this way even when watching the history of human civilization evolution; that felt more like watching a sci-fi movie.

Empathy is something that, after all, requires personal experience.

Just as Wang Shuo wanted to express his stance again, Li Li quietly said the next sentence: "If you had a problem, we would all be expelled." He paused and said, "I don't want to be expelled."

Wang Shuo's moved expression suddenly froze. He looked at Zheng Jun and Chen Cheng; both of them had expressions of relief.

"...Sure enough, this is the truth."

"Even so, but Fourth Brother..." Wang Shuo still wouldn't give up.

"It's like this, Second Brother," Chen Cheng said with a look of guilt: "Your Hospital money was also paid by someone else. I don't know the reason either, it should be humanitarian aid, right?"

"Right, right." Zheng Jun nodded, testifying for Chen Cheng: "It's Chen Cheng's cousin. But Second Brother, don't think too much. You are so weak, and you don't have Chen Cheng's handsomeness, so it's impossible for her to fancy you."

Wang Shuo cut off the second half of the sentence, really wanting to reply in the Northeast dialect at this moment.

"That stings! My friend!"