Chapter 60 - Meeting the family
The next day, Yunfeng expectantly gazed at his phone. Early in the morning, the doctors had checked him up and arranged to discharge him by the afternoon. So, he quickly texted the time to Muchen.
But that guy hadn't replied yet.
Frowning, he closed and reopened the app again and again.
"Stop fiddling with your phone," Hana plucked his phone out of his hand and hid it behind her back.
"I was texting someone!"
"Who?" Excitedly, Hana pulled the phone from behind her back to check his text exchange.
Taking this chance, Yunfeng plucked it out of her hand. "Hehe... no one can fool me."
"Tsk!"
"Yuna, stop bullying your brother," their mom said from the side as she was packing a few of his clothes.
Yunfeng grinned victoriously. Right at that time, his phone vibrated. Hurriedly, he settled back into bed and opened the new message. "I'm here." It was just a two-word reply, but it made him feel like he was on cloud nine.
Grinning like a fool, he hugged his blanket and rolled around happily.
"What's wrong with him?" Hana grumbled.
"He's smitten," Jai replied from behind, startling her.
"When did you come here?" Yuna shot up, peering at the young man. He was dressed in a white hoodie and black jeans, but the weird thing was he was holding a bucket of popcorn.
"Um, did you just walk out of a movie or something? What a great friend." She awkwardly smiled at him.
"Nonsense. I'm waiting for the show to start," with a grin, he sat on the corner seat. "Come join me."
Doubtfully, Yuna sat next to him. "What show?"
Yunfeng, who was rolling around like a fool, suddenly sat up straight, slightly sniffing the air like a dog.
"Oh, I think the show is about to begin," Jai happily rubbed his hands together and chomped down on a handful of popcorn.
Outside the door, Ren Muchen stood outside the door hesitantly, looking at the handle. He quickly checked his hair and adjusted his casual yet chic pale blue winter coat. "I…" he suddenly turned back and walked away.
Shao grabbed a hold of him. "If you are aiming for the ton of gifts you have packed away in your car, don't even think about it. His mother will start to doubt you even more if you do that."
"But I can't go empty-handed! This is our official meeting! I just want to make a good impression." Muchen pouted, peering at his empty hands ruefully.
Shao sighed. "Your goal is to chase him, not scare him away with your riches. Just take it slow. You can give those gifts to his family after a while. Not now. Not here."
Muchen peered at him sharply. "You better be right." Taking a deep breath, he walked in.
A strong scent of lemons and sweet oranges hit his senses. His legs almost gave out.
He couldn't take it in enough.
Right then, his eyes met Yunfeng's.
He could not see anyone else in that ward.
Just Yunfeng.
He walked straight up to him.
Yunfeng sat up, swinging his legs off the bed. His slippers fell off in his hurried movement.
Muchen did not know what came over him. He simply knelt down and held his pale feet. Smooth pink toes caressed his palm. It felt like a feather tickled his heart.
His breath hitched.
"Muchen..." Yunfeng breathily whispered.
"Don't stand barefoot, you'll get a cold." He gently placed the soft fur slippers on his feet.
"Told you we'll have a show," Jai whispered with a grin while Hana watched this with her mouth wide open.
"Is that popcorn?" a sudden voice startled them both.
Glancing to their side, they saw a young man who was sitting on the armrest of the waiting room sofa.
"Who are you?"
"Shao, that doofus's manager," the man sighed. "I told him to take it easy. Goodness. Look at Yunfeng's mom's face." He grumbled, reaching over to take a handful of popcorn.
He crunched on it loudly. "Hmm, caramel and salted popcorn? Nice combo,"
Jai looked at him strangely. "Yeah." He rubbed his nose. A strange scent of mangoes came from that man. 'Does everyone in the entertainment industry wear perfume?'
Muchen smelled like a rose garden, and his manager was like mango pudding.
'Huh, but who am I to judge about this? My best friend also smells intensely like a lemon drop.'
Hana gazed at them both with a sigh. "Goodness, what does Muchen even see in my brother?"
Jai peered at the pair intensely. "They do make a great pair."
The other spectator in the room did not think so. Yunfeng's mom glared at the man who was currently kneeling in front of her son. 'What is going on here?!' She stomped over to him. "Hello? Who are you? Why are you touching my son?" She pulled Yunfeng's feet out of his hand.
Muchen finally looked up at her. "I-I'm so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ren Muchen, Yunfeng's… friend." He stood up anxiously, adjusting his clothes.
"I didn't know my son had a grown-up friend." She looked at him skeptically.
Muchen froze. "We… we just got acquainted a few days ago… he saved my life…"
Yunfeng interrupted their standoff. "Mom, he just came to pick me up… I'm tired. Can we go home now?"
This pulled his mom out of that protective stance. "Yeah, yeah, let's go." She pulled the packed bag on her back.
"Let me," Muchen took the bag from her.
"No need," she plucked it back and held Yunfeng's hand on the other. "Come, Hana."
They rushed out.
The cabs were scarce at that time, and Muchen had a car readily available, so she reluctantly allowed the guy to give them a lift.