The two of them sat in the school clinic for a while. Bai Nanxing lay on a temporary bed, his face so pale and bloodless that he looked no different from the living dead.
Zhou Lin had never imagined that Bai Yi could be so ruthless; it was as if he wanted to take Bai Nanxing’s life directly. “If it weren’t for the fact that he has a marriage contract with your family, he probably would have been beaten to death by now.”
“Then he should really thank the Old Master for leaving him a path to live, allowing him to die a slower death,” Mo Leyang replied nonchalantly.
“But he is your future sister-in-law, after all. You really are cold-blooded enough.”
Mo Leyang’s thumb stopped scrolling on his phone. He looked up at him. “Zhou Lin, why do I find that you’re more anxious than I am? If he really were beaten to death, we’d just change the marriage partner. Do you think the Old Master insists it must be him?”
Indeed, he didn’t.
The Mo family was never short of candidates for marriage alliances.
Zhou Lin knew this better than anyone.
“Fine. Since you’ve brought him here and there’s a doctor watching over him, let’s go. I still want to go see my little darling’s beautiful figure.”
Mo Leyang felt a slight surge of curiosity. “Who have you set your eyes on?”
Zhou Lin said nothing, merely gave a small smile and left the clinic.
Now, only Mo Leyang and Bai Nanxing remained in the room.
Perhaps because the pain in his back was too intense, Bai Nanxing woke up after a short while.
He felt his throat was extremely dry and desperately wanted a drink of water. Out of habit, he wanted to ask someone to pour it for him. “Can you help me pour a glass of water? Thank you.”
Hearing someone call out, Mo Leyang stood up and walked over.
The moment Bai Nanxing saw it was him, he instantly wanted to travel back in time and slap himself. However, since it was Mo Leyang who had brought him here, he still had to say thank you. “Senior, can you help me out?”
His weak voice sounded as if he were acting spoiled, and combined with his shattered, sickly appearance, he looked every bit the genuine “ailing beauty.”
Mo Leyang felt an inexplicable, sudden urge to completely tear this person apart.
“Senior?” Bai Nanxing called out softly again, seeing him unmoved.
Mo Leyang finally snapped back to his senses and casually poured a cup of warm water.
Bai Nanxing propped himself up to sit on the sickbed. The stinging pain in both hands made him look at Mo Leyang expectantly again. “Senior, can you feed me? My hands hurt.”
As he leaned against the bed, his collar had been pulled wide open because the doctor had removed his clothes to re-bandage his wounds, revealing his fair chest and collarbone. However, his chest was covered in whip marks—some quite hideous—which marred what was originally an inviting sight.
Mo Leyang swallowed hard and instinctively brought the cup to Bai Nanxing’s mouth.
Bai Nanxing lowered his head to drink, occasionally licking the rim of the cup with his tongue. His soft lips appeared even more red and delicious against his pale complexion.
At this moment, Mo Leyang had to admit a fact: he was becoming excited.
It was the first time he had felt this way.
For the first time, he wanted so badly to completely break someone, to turn them into a doll that belonged only to him, to be toyed with at his whim.
Bai Nanxing noticed something wrong with his gaze. After finishing the water, he raised his head. Mo Leyang was still staring at him, his thoughts not hidden in the slightest. Bai Nanxing was far too familiar with this look; it was identical to the eyes of those men who wanted to possess him for themselves.
They were all the same, without any difference.
He had thought Mo Leyang might be different, but it turned out he was just putting on an act.
“Thank you, Senior.” Bai Nanxing silently buttoned his shirt and turned his head away.
Mo Leyang understood his meaning instantly. He leaned his body in close. “Is my little junior planning to toss me aside as soon as he’s done using me?”
Bai Nanxing turned back with an innocent look. “I thought Senior didn’t want to see me, so I turned my face away. Is there a problem with that?”
Mo Leyang’s mouth twitched. This “troublemaker” was not only a nuisance but also held a grudge.
“Of course there’s no problem.”
Bai Nanxing thought Mo Leyang would have the sense to leave, but in the next second, a sharp pain shot through his chin. Mo Leyang hadn’t left; instead, seemingly enraged by what had just been said, he squeezed Bai Nanxing’s chin hard with his hand.
Feeling that this wasn’t enough to vent his anger, he simply wrapped his arms around him in a hug and then used his other hand to ruthlessly rub the injured, newly-bandaged back.
“Ah—!”
Bai Nanxing let out a cry of pain instantly. Because it hurt so much, a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The intense agony nearly made him faint again, leaving him able only to lean against Mo Leyang’s chest, panting slightly.
However, Mo Leyang had no intention of letting him off. He rubbed once and felt it wasn’t enough; hearing Bai Nanxing cry out, before the boy could even catch his breath, he continued with his hand.
Bai Nanxing was in too much pain. He clutched Mo Leyang’s clothes tightly and pleaded, “It hurts… stop… I’m sorry…”
Mo Leyang asked intentionally, “Little junior, you did nothing wrong. Why are you apologizing? I can’t accept that.”
Bai Nanxing clenched his teeth. The wounds on his back felt like they were being burned. Perhaps due to the alcohol used for cleaning, the wounds felt as if they were raw and exposed to the air, only to have saltwater poured over them. It was worse than death.
No, it was a living hell.
Mo Leyang, this pervert, certainly didn’t disappoint.
“Little junior, your body is shaking. Is it because you’re cold?” Mo Leyang let out a cold laugh.
Bai Nanxing seemed to know what he was about to do and used all his strength to try to break free. “No… no, I was wrong, I’m sorry, sob sob sob.”
In the quiet clinic, a faint sound of sobbing began to drift out—low and rhythmic, like a crying infant wailing out of physical discomfort, looking utterly pitiful.
Perhaps the commotion was a bit too loud, as the school doctor working next door was drawn by the noise. She stood up and opened the door.
“What is going on with you two? I could hear you making a fuss from outside! There’s a patient lying in bed!” The doctor scolded them first.
However, once she entered, she saw Mo Leyang holding Bai Nanxing, who was even shivering in Mo Leyang’s embrace. The doctor was momentarily stunned.
The atmosphere in the room turned awkward in an instant.
But Mo Leyang didn’t think so. Instead, he smiled at the doctor and said, “My little junior said he was feeling a bit cold, and there are no blankets here, so I could only hold him to keep him warm. I didn’t startle you, did I?”
The doctor was someone who had seen the world; she was long used to such things, and her expression showed no surprise at all. “Cold? Does he have a fever again? That shouldn’t be possible. I just gave him anti-inflammatory medicine. How could he burn up again? Let me see.”
With Mo Leyang there, Bai Nanxing didn’t dare move recklessly. But if the doctor came over and saw the situation, she would definitely overthink it. So, he refused directly. “I—I’m fine, doctor. I just broke out in a bit of sweat. Once it dries, I won’t be cold anymore.”
The doctor saw that his face was still pale, but his overall energy seemed much better than when he first arrived, so she didn’t suspect much. “Maybe the window is open too wide and the wind is blowing in. I’ll close it for you.”
Bai Nanxing tried his best to push the pervert Mo Leyang away, only to find he still couldn’t move him. However, after Mo Leyang had finished his “retaliation,” his mood seemed to have improved significantly, and he slowly let go.
“Little junior, still cold?” Mo Leyang asked, knowing the answer perfectly well.
Bai Nanxing knew he was doing it on purpose, but with the doctor present, he couldn’t show it. He could only follow Mo Leyang’s lead. “No, not cold anymore.”
The doctor didn’t quite believe it. She walked over and felt the temperature of his forehead. Confirming he didn’t have a fever, she said, “The window must have been too open just now, letting the wind in. It’s good that you’re not cold. Your back is seriously injured; make sure you don’t touch water when you go back. If you must bathe, try to cover the inflamed areas with something waterproof. Of course, to be safe, it’s best not to bathe for the next few days to avoid wound infection.”
Bai Nanxing nodded.
Seeing there was nothing else, the doctor turned and went back to her work.
Once she was gone, Bai Nanxing was in so much pain that he could only lie half-sideways on the bed to seek relief. Mo Leyang stood nearby with a malicious smile, as if Bai Nanxing were a clown in a circus and Mo Leyang was a spectator in the audience.
“Little junior, why are you looking at me with that kind of eyes? Am I that good-looking?”
Bai Nanxing bit his lip and finally closed his eyes, refusing to look at him.
Having achieved his goal, Mo Leyang turned to leave.
However, at that moment, Bai Nanxing’s phone rang.
Mo Leyang stopped in his tracks. He didn’t actually know why he was so sensitive to this phone call, but in the moment it rang, it was as if a spell had been cast on his feet, and even his brain wouldn’t follow his commands.
Bai Nanxing thought it was Yan Mo calling because he noticed he wasn’t there and was worried. After glancing at the phone, he hesitated over whether he should answer.
The person calling him was none other than Mo Yichen.
He didn’t know why Mo Yichen was calling him so suddenly at this time, but given the Mo family’s style, they would never look for him for no reason.
Was it because of the marriage alliance?
Everything had already been discussed with Bai Yi at the Mo family estate; there was no need to seek him out.
Bai Nanxing hesitated for a minute before swiping to answer.
“Brother Chen, is something wrong?”
Mo Leyang’s expression darkened instantly. He hadn’t expected the caller to be Mo Yichen.
Bai Nanxing was equally surprised. “I’m in the school clinic right now. Brother Chen, you can speak directly.”
Sitting in his office at the company, Mo Yichen stared at a banquet invitation on his desk and said, “Nanxing, are you free next week?”
Next week?
Bai Nanxing had a bad feeling. “Brother Chen, is it convenient to say which day?”
The invitation specified next Friday.
Mo Yichen knew Bai Nanxing would be in class at that time, but he wasn’t asking for Bai Nanxing’s opinion; he was giving a notification. “Next Friday.”
Bai Nanxing understood Mo Yichen’s meaning immediately. Regardless of what it was, he had to go.
“I understand, Brother Chen. Will you be coming to pick me up then?”
Mo Yichen didn’t agree immediately. He hadn’t expected Bai Nanxing to be so sensible. Amidst his surprise, he felt a bit curious; Bai Nanxing didn’t look like someone who understood the ways of the world, but rather like an innocent, naive college student who didn’t know how things worked.
At least for a normal student, nothing was more important than their academic credits.
Yet, before he even said what it was for, Bai Nanxing had agreed without asking a single question, and hadn’t even considered whether he would allow any flexibility.
In other words, Bai Nanxing knew this call wasn’t meant to seek his opinion, but was merely a notice.
Interesting.
Mo Yichen gave a small laugh. “The Gu family is having a banquet next Friday. I’m taking you there. I’ll help you ask your counselor for leave; it won’t affect your credits.”
Bai Nanxing knew he had guessed correctly. “Okay, then thank you, Brother Chen.”
After hanging up, Mo Yichen asked his capable secretary beside him, “You heard the contents of the call. What do you think of him? Is he suitable to be my partner?”
The secretary pushed up his glasses and replied honestly, “Based on the conversation, this illegitimate son of the Bai family is very clever and not as simple as his appearance suggests. He knows he can’t refuse this matter, so he might as well follow your lead directly. He’s smart enough. But as for whether he’s suitable, it still depends on whether you actually like him, Young Master. If you don’t like him, then no matter how suitable he is, he might not satisfy you.”
This was true. There were many “suitable” people, but very few who suited one’s taste.
“However…”
“If you have something to say, say it. There’s no one else here.”
The secretary thought for a moment and said, “Young Master, I must remind you that this marriage was orchestrated by the Old Master, and the purpose certainly isn’t simple. I believe this is a great opportunity to bring down the Third Young Master.”
Mo Yichen had considered this layer, but he had promised Mo Qingqing that he wouldn’t involve Bai Nanxing. If he used Bai Nanxing to deal with Mo Leyang and Mo Qingqing found out, she would surely make a scene again.
“Let me think about it more.”
“Young Master, are you unable to make up your mind because of the Fifth Miss?”
Mo Yichen didn’t deny it. “I promised Qingqing that I wouldn’t involve Bai Nanxing.”
The secretary said, “I know you cherish the Fifth Miss very much, Young Master. But opportunities only come once. If you miss it, given the Third Young Master’s personality, he might…”
Mo Yichen rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache. Then he asked, “Is Qingqing also attending the Gu family banquet next Friday?”
The secretary nodded. “That is the Old Master’s intention. The Third Young Master will be going as well.”
After saying this, the secretary added, “By the way, Young Master, if you promised the Fifth Miss not to touch that illegitimate son of the Bai family, doesn’t Bai Yi have another son? We could start with Bai Ruoning.”
Mo Yichen hadn’t ignored that point, but the one with the marriage contract with the Mo family was Bai Nanxing, not Bai Ruoning. This wouldn’t have a practical impact on Mo Leyang.
Furthermore, if used improperly, it could allow Mo Leyang to counterattack. If the Old Master became angry because of it, his position as the successor would be even more precarious.
It might even be shaken.
“He won’t work.”
“Why?”
“The one with the Mo family marriage contract is Bai Nanxing, not Bai Ruoning.”
“I see. I understand, Young Master.”
Mo Yichen waved him away. “You go get busy. I’ll think about the rest.”
The secretary said no more, bowed, and closed the door behind him.