IOLYF Chapter 78

After breakfast, Mo Ming headed to the theater troupe to discuss participating in the rehearsal of a new play with his teacher. However, as soon as he arrived, he learned from Xia Xiaotang that Zhou Yixiang had been hospitalized.

Zhou had accidentally fallen off the stage steps the previous morning while giving guidance, resulting in a broken leg. Although it wasn’t too serious, he needed to rest and recover for a while.

Qi Yue and Xia Xiaotang were also planning to visit Zhou in the hospital, so they all decided to take Mo Ming’s car together.

In the car, Qi Yue suddenly asked Mo Ming if he knew anything about Han Shao Zhou’s recent situation.

Xia Xiaotang nudged her boyfriend with her elbow, annoyed. “Why bring him up? Mo Ming has nothing to do with him anymore.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it…” Qi Yue said seriously. “It’s just that I heard from my colleague Aqi this morning that there was a car accident on the Xihuan Bridge last night. A big truck crashed into a Maybach and wrecked it. Aqi passed by the scene and said the license plate had five eights. I heard that’s Han Shao Zhou’s car.”

Mo Ming glanced at Qi Yue through the rearview mirror.

Xia Xiaotang was startled. “Are you sure?”

“Aqi said he was out late last night celebrating a friend’s birthday, and on his way home, he passed by the accident. He even took a picture and posted it in our group. Look.” Qi Yue said, pulling up a photo on his phone and showing it to Xia Xiaotang.

Xia Xiaotang gasped, her heart racing. “Oh my god, the car’s wrecked! Is he okay?”

“I don’t know. The car looks pretty sturdy, but it seems like it almost got pushed off the bridge. That bridge is so high—if it had fallen, both the car and the person would’ve been smashed.”

“Why did the truck crash into it?”

“I looked it up online. They said the truck driver was fatigued.”

“Fatigued driving? And still able to hit the car that hard? I’d believe it was intentional.”

As the car stopped at a red light, Qi Yue leaned forward from the back seat, holding his phone near Mo Ming’s side. “Mo Ming, do you think this is Han Shao Zhou’s car?”

Mo Ming turned his head and took a look. The twisted car body vaguely resembled a familiar silhouette, and if the license plate was as Qi Yue said, then there was no doubt it was Han Shao Zhou’s car.

Mo Ming turned his gaze back, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “I’m not sure…”

When they arrived at the hospital, the group visited Zhou Yixiang.

Apart from the cast on his leg, Zhou Yixiang seemed fine. He was chatting and laughing with his students, looking quite energetic.

A professional caregiver had been hired to take care of him, so there wasn’t much to worry about in terms of daily needs. Still, Mo Ming and Qi Yue discussed arranging for a colleague to visit each day. Since Mo Ming had more free time, he would visit frequently.

While other colleagues visited Zhou Yixiang, Mo Ming and Qi Yue went out to buy a wheelchair.

As they waited for the elevator, Qi Yue kept scrolling through the news on his phone, muttering to himself, “There are quite a few reports on the Xihuan Bridge accident. The car that got wrecked does have a five-eight license plate.”

Mo Ming quietly watched the numbers change on the elevator display.

“The elevator’s here.” Mo Ming reminded Qi Yue, who then put his phone away.

The elevator doors slowly opened, and just as Mo Ming stepped in, he looked up and saw a familiar figure inside.

They were both wearing masks, but being so familiar with each other, they recognized each other immediately the moment their eyes met.

Han Shao Zhou was visibly stunned, his thick brows furrowing slightly as his sharp gaze lingered on Mo Ming’s face for a couple of seconds. He let out a cold snort through his nose, looking away indifferently.

It was a blatant act of ignoring him…

Mo Ming said nothing and lowered his gaze as he walked into the elevator, turning his back to Han Shao Zhou. Standing beside him, Qi Yue lightly tapped the back of Mo Ming’s hand, whispering, “So it was fake news after all…”

Han Shao Zhou narrowed his eyes slightly as he stared at that hand.

The elevator descended slowly, and Qi Yue felt increasingly uneasy, as if something cold was pressing on the back of his neck. The silence between the three of them in the elevator was so awkward that Qi Yue didn’t dare make a sound. There was a subtle tension between the other two that made him feel like he was walking on eggshells.

After descending a couple of floors, a crowd of people squeezed into the elevator, including two medical staff pushing a stretcher, forcing the first three occupants to the back.

Mo Ming’s back was nearly pressed against the chest of the person behind him. The woman in front of him was holding a toddler, and the child, with bright eyes, reached out to touch Mo Ming’s hair. Instinctively, Mo Ming stepped back, his heel landing squarely on the foot of the person behind him.

“Sorry…” Mo Ming started to apologize, but when he turned around, he found himself face-to-face with a pair of deep, cold eyes. The brow ridge was high, and the inky black pupils reflected his own face.

Mo Ming pursed his lips and turned back around.

The elevator doors opened again, and more people tried to squeeze in. The people in front instinctively moved back, causing Mo Ming to stumble and lean heavily against the chest of the man behind him.

Knowing who was behind him, Mo Ming quickly straightened up and moved forward, only to have the woman in front step on his foot. As he pulled back his leg, he once again bumped into the man’s chest, and a pair of hands instinctively grabbed his waist, only to release him just as quickly.

“Hmm…”

A cold snort, full of disdain.

Mo Ming remained silent.

The elevator, now packed to the brim, continued to stop at every floor as people who didn’t know it was full kept pressing the button.

From his higher vantage point, Han Shao Zhou could see Mo Ming’s clean neckline, the skin there as white as fine porcelain, radiating a faint warmth and subtle scent. The tips of his ears were lightly flushed, and the skin behind them was pale and delicate… Han Shao Zhou knew that was Mo Ming’s most sensitive spot—a gentle kiss there could make the man shudder in submission.

“Heh…”

Another derisive snort, heavy with disdain.

Mo Ming remained silent.

Once they finally exited the elevator, Mo Ming walked quickly toward the hospital entrance without looking back. Qi Yue quickened his pace to catch up, unable to resist glancing back.

Han Shao Zhou stood at the elevator entrance, his eyes locked on them with a lingering gaze.

Outside, Qi Yue couldn’t help but comment, “Are you sure you guys just broke up? It feels more like you’re enemies.”

Mo Ming pressed his lips together… Maybe they were enemies.

Originally planning to leave the hospital, Han Shao Zhou turned back and made some inquiries on the floor where Mo Ming had gotten off. He soon learned that Zhou Yixiang was staying there.

Clearly, that guy was there to visit his teacher…

“What are you doing back here?” Zhao Cheng was lounging in bed, eating a banana with one hand bandaged and hanging from a sling. “Weren’t you heading back to the company?”

Han Shao Zhou, sitting cross-legged on a chair by the bed, said calmly, “No rush. I wanted to check on you some more. After all, you were in an accident in my car.”

“Really?” Zhao Cheng said, “I don’t believe you.”

Han Shao Zhou casually peeled an orange and began eating it, as if offhandedly. “I just saw Mo Ming in the elevator. You two were friends, so why don’t you call him over to visit you while he’s here?”

“…” Zhao Cheng squinted suspiciously. “Old Han, you’re not planning something, are you…”

“I’m not planning anything. We’re done, completely over. And it’s been several days now—I’m very calm and clear-headed,” Han Shao Zhou said flatly. “I’m just reminding you because you were friends.”

“Mo Ming and I weren’t that close anyway. It was all because of you. Now that you’re done with him, why should I keep up the friendship…”

“Just call him.” Han Shao Zhou cut him off impatiently. “Tell him you were in a car accident and are on your deathbed. As a friend, he should come see you one last time. What’s the harm?”

“…”

“And while he’s here…” Han Shao Zhou continued peeling his orange. “There are a few things I want to ask him.”

“…”

Great, Zhao Cheng thought. I’m just a tool now.

Mo Ming and Qi Yue had just returned to the hospital with the wheelchair when someone called out to him.

“Are you… Mo Ming?”

Mo Ming was wearing a mask, and so was the person calling him, but they recognized each other quickly. It was Wen Ci and Shen Xixi, along with three other unfamiliar, well-dressed middle-aged men and women.

“So it really is you!” Shen Xixi said, her expression darkening as she turned to the others. “This is the guy I was telling you about—the one who caused all of Xiao Qian’s trouble.”

The three people scrutinized Mo Ming, their expressions cold and unfriendly.

Wen Ci walked up to Mo Ming, his face serious. “Mo Ming, you saw Xiao Qian last night, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Mo Ming replied calmly. “He invited me for a drink.”

“See? I told you it was him!” Shen Xixi flared up, turning to her family. “We need to inform the police.”

Wen Ci stayed relatively calm and led the group into the hospital to visit Shen Qian.

After Shen Xixi and her family left, Wen Ci turned back to Mo Ming. “Do you know that Xiao Qian was severely assaulted after he met you? He’s only nineteen. You might not have a grudge against him, but what you’ve done to him will leave a lasting impact on his body and mind. It’s a terrible thing for someone so young.”

“Are you asking for my comments on this?”

Wen Ci’s tone grew heavier. “Xiao Qian was attacked right after he drank with you. Don’t you have anything to say?”

“At least he’s still alive.”

Wen Ci clenched his fists. “Do you have any idea how much damage this has caused him physically and mentally? This could be a lifelong trauma for him. And all because of you.”

“Are you just hurling insults now?” Qi Yue interjected. “Do you have any evidence to back up your accusations, or are you just blaming Mo Ming?”

“The bar has surveillance cameras everywhere. Gathering evidence isn’t difficult,” Wen Ci said coldly. “Mo Ming, Xiao Qian is the only child in his family and has been spoiled by his parents. You’ve caused him such a major issue. His parents won’t let you off easily. By the way, Xiao Qian’s uncle runs a law firm. If you don’t provide them with a satisfactory explanation, they…”

“Since he’s also in this hospital, I might as well go see him…” Mo Ming interrupted, handing the folding wheelchair to Qi Yue. He said in a surprisingly gentle tone, “Yes, I’ll go give him an explanation…”