Chapter 1#
Strong Liquor Burning the Throat#
The youth lying quietly in the ICU ward moved his fingers.
The bodyguard standing outside the door, bored, turned his head and happened to see the person inside’s fingers move imperceptibly. His eyes suddenly widened, and he ran to find someone.
“Cough…”
Mo Xuzhi’s consciousness returned, but he couldn’t muster the strength to open his eyes.
Taking that knife for Xue Feng had a pretty strong aftereffect.
A buzzing sound echoed in his ears. He struggled to open his eyes, but the piercing light forced them shut again.
The voices in his ears gradually became clear.
“…Slept for so long, finally awake… How are his vital signs?”
“Everything is normal, but he currently cannot withstand subsequent cancer treatment. The plan needs to be adjusted further.”
“Cancer?”
“Lung cancer, just detected today. The family has been notified, and subsequent courses of treatment still need to be discussed.”
Mo Xuzhi opened his eyes.
The faces of the doctors discussing while adjusting the instruments by the bed gradually became clear.
As the doctor spoke, he inadvertently glanced at the youth lying on the bed again, finding that he had opened his eyes at some point, his light-colored pupils facing them.
The youth still carried the exhaustion of just waking up from a coma, but his eyes were clear. He looked over, as if seeing through their inner thoughts.
“…You heard?”
Mo Xuzhi couldn’t speak for the time being, only moving his fingers.
Meaning he heard.
The doctors looked at each other, seeing uncertainty and surprise in each other’s eyes.
As someone who had just woken up and suddenly heard bad news, the patient on the bed seemed too calm. Hearing that he had cancer, those light-colored eyes didn’t show a single ripple.
It was as if he had known beforehand, so he wasn’t too surprised when he suddenly heard it.
Mo Xuzhi indeed knew about this long ago.
The arrival of cancer was no surprise.
After being killed by a truck in his original world, he transmigrated into this dog-blood stand-in danmei novel titled “Spoiled by Three Big Shots” as a cannon fodder stand-in, specifically used for the white moonlight protagonist to slap in the face.
The cannon fodder was devastatingly beautiful but had a massive hole in his brain. Eventually, after being diagnosed with cancer, he would become crippled on the edge of constant death-seeking and meet a miserable end.
The transmigration came with a “Transmigration Guide,” something like a table of contents that disappeared automatically after he took a rough look.
The guide said that cancer was a setting inherent to the original cannon fodder and would automatically disappear after the plot was completed.
He only needed to play the role of the cannon fodder well, ensuring the plot didn’t collapse, and he could arrange his life freely after the novel’s grand finale.
Mo Xuzhi felt this was quite a good deal; at least he got his life back.
The original cannon fodder even looked just like him, which significantly reduced the sense of discord—at least it wasn’t too awkward.
Now, most of his tasks were completed. He had blocked bullets and taken knives, and firmly established the character setting of someone with exploding vanity and jealousy. Now, he only needed to wait for the white moonlight, Shen Le, who was recuperating abroad, to return, then be abandoned by the big shots, and finally die in the snow to complete the mission.
The time limit was exactly three months.
The bodyguard and the doctor met at the door of Xue Feng’s ward.
They yielded to each other for a moment and finally entered the ward together.
When they went in, Xue Feng was on the phone.
The thin lips under the man’s high nose bridge were curved, and the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose bridge also took on a gentle tone.
He looked up at the two people entering the room, the smile in his eyes obvious.
Xue Feng said a few more gentle words to the person on the other end of the phone before hanging up somewhat reluctantly.
After finishing the call, Xue Feng immediately stood up and picked up the suit jacket hanging on the side. While putting it on, he said to the doctor, “If it’s about Mo Xuzhi, you only need to negotiate with Dr. Deng. Don’t come to me in the future. I have something very important to do right now.”
“Mr. Xue, although that’s the case, it… it will only take a moment of your time…” The doctor held the medical record, speaking somewhat anxiously.
“If no one is dead, talk about it later,” Xue Feng glanced at the doctor, then turned to the bodyguard, “Do you have something to say too?”
The bodyguard broke into a cold sweat: “…No.”
“Very well.” Xue Feng adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes returning to their usual indifference, and said, “Go to the garage and get the car. I’ll wait for you at the gate.”
“Yes.”
Xue Feng and the bodyguard left the ward, leaving only the doctor frowning as he gripped the test report.
Mo Xuzhi lay in the ICU for a few days before finally being transferred to a general ward.
During this period, he woke up several times but never saw Xue Feng once.
It’s fine if that scum doesn’t come; Mo Xuzhi didn’t really want to see him anyway.
His health was gradually improving lately, and Dr. Deng had come over several times to discuss lung cancer treatment with him.
He didn’t answer directly, playing Tai Chi with the doctor, and today he caught an opportunity to slip directly out of the hospital.
Although he was currently in a state where everyone on the internet was attacking him, “black and red” is still “red.” Over the past few years, he had still earned some money and bought a small flat in the Third Ring Road.
The house wasn’t big, but it was comfortable to live in.
Mo Xuzhi originally wanted to go back and rest, but a look at his phone showed that, well, anti-fans were blocking his door. The commotion was quite large and even made it to the trending searches.
He silently gave up the idea of going back.
“Truly a lot of trouble.”
Mo Xuzhi rubbed his hair and sighed.
It was getting late, and with nothing to do, he decided to find a bar.
To create an ambiguous atmosphere, the lights in the bar were dimmed. It was pitch black under the lights, and no one recognized anyone else—perfect for a notorious “black and red” minor star like Mo Xuzhi to fish in troubled waters and have a drink.
“A Gin, with ice.”
After entering the bar, Mo Xuzhi stuffed his mask into his pocket. He sat in the darkest corner of the bar counter. After ordering a drink from the bartender, he leaned his head on his arm and lay on the counter, his fingers lightly tapping the table.
His hair hung softly, and the ambiguous light blurred the youth’s exquisite features.
He took the drink from the bartender and drank it down directly.
“Another one, thanks.”
The bartender glanced at him, then took the glass and silently poured more wine.
Mo Xuzhi turned around and leaned against the bar, watching the men and women twisting their bodies on the dance floor, and yawned.
It was true that the bar lights were ambiguous and dim, but it was also true that it made people want to sleep.
“A Gin, with ice, thanks.”
Someone sat down beside Mo Xuzhi, their tall figure blocking the light completely.
The voice was somewhat familiar.
Mo Xuzhi looked up at the person, found it was pitch black and impossible to see clearly, then turned his head back, fiddling with the empty wine glass. The black hair on his head swayed in the air with his movements before lightly drooping down.
“Mo Xuzhi, long time no see.”
A raspy male voice came from above, containing a hint of something Mo Xuzhi couldn’t understand.
…Like gritting teeth?
Hearing him call his name, Mo Xuzhi finally took a serious look at the man.
Then another look.
“…”
Who is this?
“May I ask who you are?” Mo Xuzhi’s expression was genuinely puzzled, his behavior polite and natural.
“You really don’t recognize me anymore?”
This time Mo Xuzhi heard it.
It was indeed gritting teeth. This person’s voice sounded as if he wanted to swallow him alive.
Mo Xuzhi explained calmly, “You’re blocking the light, I can’t see.”
“…”
The man was silent for a while, finally willing to take a step back and return the light to Mo Xuzhi.
With light in his eyes, Mo Xuzhi finally saw the man’s appearance clearly.
Thick eyebrows, large eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. He wore a baseball cap and loose baseball clothes.
Although he looked a bit fierce, he was indeed a handsome guy.
Du Minsheng looked down at Mo Xuzhi, secretly gritting his teeth.
He didn’t believe Mo Xuzhi couldn’t tell who he was!
“Ah, I see,” Mo Xuzhi clapped his hands in realization and said,
“May I ask who you are?”
“…”
Du Minsheng flipped his cap to the back of his head and gritted his teeth: “Du Minsheng!”
“Remember now?”
The hand Mo Xuzhi was using to play with the glass paused.
It seemed like he might probably maybe have a little impression.
Mo Xuzhi took another careful look at Du Minsheng.
“The kid who played drums at Bailan Bar… no, that drummer?”
Doesn’t look like it either.
In Mo Xuzhi’s memory, that drum-playing kid was fair and tender, a bit arrogant, and didn’t look this… fierce?
Du Minsheng’s anger flared up again.
Even though Mo Xuzhi changed his words quickly, he still heard it.
So in Mo Xuzhi’s heart, he was just a kid?
“You…”
Just as Du Minsheng started to speak, Mo Xuzhi interrupted him directly.
“Sorry, my phone is ringing. I’m going out to take a call. If there’s anything, let’s talk next time.”
He spoke without taking a breath, finished in one go, stood up, and left the bar.
“Sir, your drink… where is the guest next to you?”
The bartender turned around with the glass, only to find a single shadow left in the corner.
“Gone.”
Du Minsheng took the glass and drank it in one gulp.
Strong liquor burned the throat.
He put down the glass with a dull thud and said, “He won’t be back. Put his drink on my tab.”
Mo Xuzhi stood still not far from the bar.
It was Xue Feng calling him.
“Xue Feng.”
“Mo Xuzhi, you have quite some nerve. Why did it take you so long to answer?”
“Something just happened.” Mo Xuzhi leaned against the roadside railing, the night breeze lifting the broken hair on his forehead, blowing it forward.
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long while before Xue Feng’s slightly low and raspy voice came through: “For this matter, what reward do you want? Make any request you want. As long as it’s not excessive, I can satisfy it.”
Mo Xuzhi raised his eyebrows slightly, thinking for a while before realizing what “this matter” Xue Feng was referring to.
So it was about him taking a knife for Xue Feng.
If Xue Feng hadn’t mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten.
“Xue Feng.”
Mo Xuzhi’s voice sounded soft and gentle. Xue Feng’s hand holding the phone tightened, his Adam’s apple moving up and down unconsciously.
“I want five million.”
Mo Xuzhi’s voice carried some laughter. He said, “I took a fancy to a piece of jewelry, but I don’t have the money.”
“I’ll have my assistant transfer the money to your card.”
Xue Feng hung up the phone directly.
Thinking about it, he felt stifled again. Xue Feng lit a cigarette, leaning back in his chair and looking at the night view outside the window, his eyes dark.
He didn’t know what he was expecting just now.
Clearly knowing that Mo Xuzhi was someone who only cared about money and loved it like his life, he still couldn’t help thinking that Mo Xuzhi would make other requests.
As for what those other requests were, Xue Feng didn’t think too deeply, he just felt stifled.
When he heard Mo Xuzhi’s voice just now, the image of Mo Xuzhi standing in front of him instantly jumped into his mind.
At that time, Mo Xuzhi even had a smile on his face, a warm smile.
He comforted him, saying not to be afraid.
Blood stained the white shirt red, yet he seemed completely unaware.
“…”
Xue Feng fiercely crushed the cigarette butt, and in the end, he personally transferred the money.
This could also be considered, for the sake of his resemblance to Shen Le, Xue Feng’s final tenderness towards Mo Xuzhi.
Mo Xuzhi waited with his phone until he received the notification of the deposit.
He made another call.
“Huimiao Charity Foundation… Yes, five million. The donor… No need, just follow the usual process like before.”
“Phew—”
Mo Xuzhi hung up the phone and let out a long breath. His ears seemed to be filled with the sounds of gratitude from the foundation head.
He donated all the money he got from those scumbag gongs to major charities, with the donor’s name being Mo Xuzhi.
This Mo Xuzhi didn’t refer to himself, but to the original owner.
The step of asking Xue Feng and the others for money was a necessary part of the plot; he couldn’t avoid it. Since he couldn’t avoid it, he could only take it, but he didn’t want the money either, so he simply donated it. This could be considered accumulating some blessings for the original owner.
When he first arrived in this world and saw the scars on his wrist, he probably knew where the original owner had gone.
Mo Xuzhi buried his face in his arms.