Chapter 18 - 1#
He Has Already Left#
Mo Xuzhi ended up pulling an all-nighter after all.
He ran several tests and found that the experiment still had many issues. There wasn’t enough time to scrap everything and start over, so he only corrected a few of the more obvious errors.
The people in the team were all very talented and young, but they lacked practical experience. According to the records, they had made many common mistakes.
Taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, Mo Xuzhi caught a glimpse of a white sleeve in his peripheral vision.
“Clack.”
It was the sound of a porcelain cup being placed on the table.
“Drink some milk. The Institute will send a car for you in a while. Go back and rest for a bit first.”
The man wearing gold-rimmed glasses smiled gently, picking up the empty coffee cup from beside Mo Xuzhi.
Mo Xuzhi quietly took the cup and studied the man for a moment, as if finally identifying who was standing in front of him. Only then did he lower his eyes and take a slow sip of milk, before looking up to say thank you as if just reacting.
The man was one of the leads of this experiment. Like Professor Li Zhenhua, he was also a professor at Jinghua University, having become famous at a young age and hired by Jinghua University as an exceptional case.
He could keep up with Mo Xuzhi’s thinking, which others found quite leap-frogging, had a solid experimental foundation, and understood precision instruments. He was a good person; at least Mo Xuzhi felt much more relaxed communicating with him.
The result of a whole night of high-intensity output was that after several hours of high-speed operation, Mo Xuzhi’s brain automatically entered rest mode. Now he was in a daze; if you gave him a pillow, he could demonstrate falling asleep on the spot in a second.
A layer of mist rose in the youth’s eyes, the rims were red, and even the lenses couldn’t hide the weary laziness within.
Like a small animal that had just woken up.
Different from his cold appearance when he was wide awake.
Quiet and submissive, as if he could extend a noble and furry paw to anyone.
Quite interesting.
“Don’t sleep yet. I’ll go get the car keys.”
Mo Xuzhi nodded mechanically, unsure if he had heard.
What was originally supposed to be someone from the Institute sending Mo Xuzhi back ended up being handled by Wang Zhifeng instead.
The car provided by the Institute was an ordinary-looking vehicle.
The Institute had cars specifically for transporting the researchers, but most people had their own cars or were already provided with private cars, so this car hadn’t been used much.
Previously, the Institute had also asked Mo Xuzhi if he needed a private car, but he had gently refused, saying it wouldn’t be much use.
Wang Zhifeng pressed the key in his hand, and the car lights flashed.
He reached out his hand wanting to support Mo Xuzhi into the car, but Mo Xuzhi waved his hand, indicating he could manage.
Despite his face being pale and his well-shaped eyes being somewhat unable to open, he still stood straight, like a sturdy pine on a high mountain, not bending even slightly.
Wang Zhifeng opened the back door for him and pulled out a blanket, saying:
“You don’t look right. Should we go to the hospital?”
Mo Xuzhi smiled, took the blanket he handed over, and buried his face in the soft fabric. His voice came through the blanket, sounding a bit muffled.
He said, “It would be faster to go to the Medical School next door, and give them a chance for some practical experience while we’re at it.”
“I’m fine, just a bit sleepy.”
Mo Xuzhi opened Gaode Maps, entered the destination, then started the navigation and placed the phone next to Wang Zhifeng.
“Gaode Maps is navigating for you~”
After entering the destination, Mo Xuzhi buried his head in the blanket and stopped moving.
He was too tired.
Before, he could stay in the laboratory for several days without rest, but today just one all-nighter made him feel exhausted.
Perhaps it was related to the injuries on his body, or maybe it was because of the “cancer gift package”—whatever the reason, Mo Xuzhi didn’t want to delve too deeply into it.
Anyway, he’d take it one day at a time.
The youth beside him slowly closed his eyes, and then his whole face sank into the blanket.
Wang Zhifeng glanced at the destination Mo Xuzhi had entered and stepped on the gas.
The school roads were under construction, and they were stuck in traffic for a while.
Mo Xuzhi wasn’t used to keeping the windows completely closed while in a car. Wang Zhifeng opened the window on his side, and some students passing by happened to see, greeting him in twos and threes.
“Hello, Professor Wang.”
“Good morning, Professor Wang.”
“Hello, Professor Wang!”
Several students bowed to greet him, their eyes constantly peeking into the car.
There was someone else in the car.
Professor Wang was the most handsome professor at Jinghua University according to student polls. He hadn’t been in a relationship for a long time, so the students, who respected their teachers, were very concerned about his relationship status.
The face of the person in the passenger seat was completely covered by the blanket; only a head of soft black hair and snow-white earlobes could be seen.
They could only be certain it was a boy, and guessed he was a good-looking one, but beyond that, they knew nothing.
The person buried in the blanket moved, struggling as if trying to lift their head.
Several students’ gazes were fervent.
Then, right in front of them, Wang Zhifeng pulled the blanket up a bit more and gently rubbed the person’s head, pressing down the head that was slowly trying to rise.
“Have you seen enough?”
Wang Zhifeng adjusted his glasses, stepped on the gas, and said with a smile, “If you’ve seen enough, I’m leaving.”
The line of cars in front moved slowly; the road should be clear now.
The students caught peeking felt their faces flush and all said, “Goodbye, Professor Wang,” before scurrying away.
“Who was that in the car? Dammit, I couldn’t see the face at all!”
“I bet it’s Professor Wang’s boyfriend. Did you see Professor Wang’s expression just now…”
The voices of the young girls gradually drifted away. Wang Zhifeng heard a couple of words and glanced at Mo Xuzhi.
“Buzz, buzz—”
Mo Xuzhi’s phone was vibrating.
Someone was calling, the caller ID showing [Creditor No. 1].
The flow of traffic moved two steps and stopped again. Wang Zhifeng gently patted Mo Xuzhi, but he didn’t move.
He patted again, still no movement.
The phone rang for forty-some seconds and automatically hung up. After a few seconds, another call came in, the caller ID still showing the same [Creditor No. 1].
Does Mo Xuzhi owe money?
After a two-second pause, Wang Zhifeng eventually picked up the phone.
“Hello…”
“Mo Xuzhi, where are you now?”
Wang Zhifeng had just said two words when a deep, magnetic male voice came from the other side, interrupting him. “Why aren’t you lying in the hospital… fine, half an hour, come to the hospital.”
The person on the other end sounded impatient, with an annoyance of being defied.
An arrogant and impatient man.
Wang Zhifeng unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, leaned back in the seat, and tapped his long fingers on the steering wheel. “Hello sir, Xuzhi was too tired and fell asleep last night. May I ask if there’s anything urgent?”
Xue Feng, sitting on Mo Xuzhi’s hospital bed, paused and checked the contact.
It was indeed Mo Xuzhi.
Why was another man speaking?
Wait.
What did that person just say?
“What did you just say?”
His throat suddenly went dry. Xue Feng clenched his fist, his arm muscles involuntarily tightening. He said, “I didn’t hear clearly just now.”
“He worked late into the night yesterday…”
“What work could he possibly have?” Xue Feng closed his eyes and let out a long breath, loosening his tie. “Do I not know what work he does? Let him take the phone.”
Mo Xuzhi was just filming variety shows; what else could he do?
The assistant remembered Mo Xuzhi’s schedule and he had just asked; the variety show was for tomorrow. Today he should have nothing to do.
What hellish work.
Xue Feng didn’t know why, but he felt inexplicably irritable.
He wanted to hear Mo Xuzhi’s voice.
He had to hear Mo Xuzhi’s voice.
He wanted to see how Mo Xuzhi would explain.
Wang Zhifeng frowned.
This person was not only arrogant and impatient but also didn’t respect other people’s work.
Mo Xuzhi must be in urgent need of money, otherwise, with his personality, he wouldn’t borrow from this kind of person.
He would find a suitable time to bring it up later. If there were any difficulties, he could help. It was better than borrowing money from this kind of person.
At this point, Wang Zhifeng felt there was no need to wake Mo Xuzhi up to take the call.
After casually brushing off the person on the phone and confirming there was nothing urgent, Wang Zhifeng briskly hung up.
After leaving the school, the drive was smooth all the way until Gaode Maps indicated they had arrived at the destination. Wang Zhifeng patted Mo Xuzhi, but didn’t wake him.
A large truck passed by and honked as it turned a corner, the sound piercing through his eardrums and straight into his brain.
Mo Xuzhi suddenly opened his eyes, clutched the blanket, and moved quickly to the side, as if wanting to throw the blanket out.
Then he hit the car window hard, making a dull thud.
Wang Zhifeng was startled by him, hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned over to support his shoulder.
“Xuzhi, are you okay?”
Perhaps because he hadn’t fully recovered his senses, Mo Xuzhi didn’t speak.
Wang Zhifeng lowered his head and frowned as he checked for injuries.
Mo Xuzhi’s temple had already turned red.
His skin was naturally fair, so any small abnormality could be easily seen, looking quite startling.
Wang Zhifeng wanted to look further, but Mo Xuzhi reached out and gently but firmly pushed him away.
“I’m fine, just got startled awake and was a bit agitated.”
He squinted his eyes, both hands buried in the blanket, looking like he hadn’t fully woken up yet.
“Maybe we should go to the hos—”
“No need, I’ll go up and continue sleeping,” Mo Xuzhi turned his head and smiled. “Thanks for today.”
Wang Zhifeng shook his head.
“The materials I organized last night are in cabinet E32. You know the password.”
Mo Xuzhi quickly picked up his phone and opened the car door. He paused and turned back to say, “Thanks for today.”
Wang Zhifeng watched Mo Xuzhi’s figure walk away before starting the engine again.
The moment he picked up his own phone to check the time, he remembered he had forgotten to tell Mo Xuzhi that someone had called.
The old residential building originally had its gates wide open. Not long ago, because of several break-ins, a security door was finally installed in front, and residents entered with access cards.
This was perfect for a minor star like Mo Xuzhi, who was blocked by anti-fans every now and then.
Although Mo Xuzhi’s brain was foggy now, it didn’t mean he was stupid. He saw several paparazzi dressed as ordinary residents by the flower beds, cameras flashing under hidden debris.
The paparazzi were likely drawn by the photo he had posted earlier.
He wasn’t wearing a mask today, nor did he have any cover.
The stinging pain in his brain became more severe, and he even felt like he couldn’t breathe in his lungs.
Mo Xuzhi leaned against the wall, the silhouette of the flower bed reflected in his light-colored pupils. Cold sweat had already formed on his forehead, but his eyes showed no trace of panic.
He eventually entered the residential building without alerting any paparazzi.
Perhaps there was one, but the moment the paparazzi picked up the camera, the security door had already closed.
The lighting in the corridor was not bright.
Mo Xuzhi supported himself against the wall all the way until he finally returned to his small room.
The moment he closed the door, he leaned against it and slowly slid down.