Under the moonlight

Chapter 171 Huang Meng's Plan

Three months later…

Xu Ao slowly opened his eyes, and all he saw was a clean white expanse. He turned his head to look at the table next to him, where Huang Meng had brought flowers and fresh fruit last time.

It's so good, it feels so good to be alive.

His last memory of S country was Huang Meng's scream when she saw him. He wanted to go forward to hug her and tell her he was okay, but his steps felt as heavy as lead, and his mind began to go blank. In the end, Huang Meng's panicked face became the last image of him in the country.

He didn't know much about what happened after that. He only remembered that he was in a coma and his body was being carried around constantly. Then there was the pungent smell of disinfectant. He heard about what happened after that from Huang Meng and Zhao Menglishuo.

Huang Meng kept avoiding the topic of his physical condition. Li Shuo inadvertently said a few words under his prompting, but quickly changed the subject. Even if they didn't say anything, according to his understanding, a bullet hitting the shoulder should be enough for a child to recover in a month once the bullet is removed. But he had been lying in bed for three months.

"Sigh, could it be that Zhao Meng's jinx really came true and I'm crippled?" He wasn't a doctor, but he still had common sense. Logically speaking, if the spinal injury was really serious, not to mention below the neck, the movement of the legs and feet would be restricted, or at least there would be no feeling. But he had pinched his thighs, buttocks, and ankles countless times, almost to the point of losing sensation, but he still didn't feel numb.

I can't understand why the doctor won't let me leave the hospital. This ward is a private room, and I'm all alone. Apart from the nurse who comes to change my dressing, I rarely even see the doctor. Isn't it time for rounds?

Xu Ao rolled over, picked up his phone and glanced at it. It was quiet, with no messages. Since he came back, it was as if the world had cut off from him. Apart from Huang Meng and the others who came to see him, everyone else seemed to have disappeared. Could it be that all those experiences were just his dream?

Prolonged solitude can easily lead to self-doubt. Xu Ao knew he had to go out and see the world, even if it was just to get some fresh air. He couldn't stand the smell of disinfectant every day!

Thinking of this, Xu Ao suddenly threw off the blanket. There was still some time before the nurse changed his dressing in the morning. He stood up and checked his wounds. Apart from the horrible scars, they were almost healed. Was the hospital trying to charge more? Hmph, don't even think about it.

Xu Ao searched the washroom but couldn't find his clothes. He must have disposed of the clothes he wore when he was injured. He hadn't asked Huang Meng to bring his clothes because he was weak and needed frequent dressing changes. He decided to just leave. Xu Ao looked down at his wrinkled hospital gown and sighed helplessly.

However, things went much more smoothly than he had expected. He was stopped by a security guard at the hospital gate and asked a few questions, but he said he was just taking a walk in the courtyard. The guard saw that he was in good spirits and didn't stop him any further. Xu Ao finally walked out of the ward, looked up at the sky, and took a deep breath. Ah, the smell of car exhaust and street food gutter oil mixed together, it really made him miss it!

With his spirits lifted, Xu Ao hailed a cab and went to Huang Meng's house.

Meanwhile, Huang Meng and Jiang Ying were busy in the courtyard of a guesthouse. "Jiang Ying, how's their food? Is it alright?" Huang Meng asked as she watched Jiang Ying walk over, chatting and laughing with Li Shuo.

"Hmm, I think it's okay, it might be a little spicy." Jiang Ying seriously offered her opinion, then pouted and looked at Li Shuo.

"Well, it's alright. But he's just recovered, so he should eat something light. Just some plain porridge will do. Save the good stuff for us first, hehe~" Li Shuo said, smiling happily at Huang Meng.

"Tch~ All you ever think about is eating. Go and set up those tables for me. You can only eat after you've done some work!" Huang Meng rolled her eyes at him, handed him the food, and turned to leave. She needed to tell the kitchen staff that the food couldn't be too spicy.

"Sigh, you still have to work after you come. I told you we'd come back around mealtime." Li Shuo looked at Jiang Ying helplessly, his eyes full of affection.

"Hmph, you still dare to talk? If it weren't for your suitor coming to my door, I wouldn't have come so early."

"What's wrong? Are you angry? Are you jealous?" Li Shuo perked up immediately upon hearing this.

"Jealous? Jealous of her? Hmph, yes, at first glance she does look like a pretty girl from a modest family, and she seems gentle and lovely. But the hatred in her eyes when she sees me is like she wants to devour me. Of course, it's not that I'm afraid of her, but I really don't know how to talk to a woman like that. She definitely won't listen to reason with me, but I can't argue with her about why you fell for me instead of her, wouldn't that be even worse!" Jiang Ying frowned, analyzing the situation with great detail.

Li Shuo just smiled as he looked at her. It was the first time he'd ever seen a woman analyze the intense rivalry between lovers so logically! Li Shuo pulled Jiang Ying into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Don't worry, things that put you in such a difficult position won't happen again. Before, I was considerate of my father's reputation, but even if it puts you in such a difficult position, that old man's reputation can be thrown away. No one is more important than you." Li Shuo's deep voice came from above her head, muffled and reaching her ears. Jiang Ying hugged him even tighter.

"Hey! You two! Did you come here to help?" Chen Che, who was sweating profusely from a distance, called out helplessly. It was almost the same as not coming at all. Why should he have to watch them show off their love?

"Don't shout!" Li Shuo said irritably when he heard Chen Che's complaint. He released Jiang Ying and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm going to help, otherwise Huang Meng will get angry soon."

Zhao Meng rushed over as soon as he finished his work at the company. He'd just parked his car when Li Shuo saw him from the yard and quickly ran over to pull him inside. "You, your business's grown so big, huh! I made several calls and you're only coming now? I can't get you to come, can I?" He then shoved a pile of decorations into Zhao Meng's arms and ordered, "Go, hang these up! Time's running out, Huang Meng has to pick up a patient from the hospital soon, hurry up!" Li Shuo then left Zhao Meng behind and ran off to work. Zhao Meng looked down at the things in his hands and smiled helplessly.

"Everyone, the rest is up to you. I'm going to the hospital now." Huang Meng said this and left, checking the time as she jogged. There were still twenty minutes left before the nurse had to change the dressing; she should be able to make it in time.

When Huang Meng rushed to the hospital, Xu Ao had already been wandering around her neighborhood in a hospital gown for several hours. If it weren't for his good looks and ability to chat with the neighborhood aunties, he would have been kicked out as a lunatic long ago.

"Oh, you know that girl named Huang Meng?" Xu Ao smiled brightly at the middle-aged women beside him.

"Oh my, how could I not know her? That girl is very pretty. Her dad always loves watching the old men in the neighborhood play chess. They've lived together for a long time. I even saw her the other day with a handsome and tall boy. Oh my, they're such a perfect couple!" The aunties seemed lost in some kind of memory, speaking with smiles on their faces. No one noticed the momentary gloom in Xu Ao's eyes.

"Oh? He's her boyfriend, isn't he?"

"I don't know. The two of them were talking as they walked, and they seemed to be in a hurry."

"I see. So, what time did she leave today?"

"It seems like it was early in the morning. I usually take a walk in the neighborhood when I get up early, and she even greeted me!" The older woman was completely unaware that the handsome young man helping her pick vegetables was trying to get information out of her.

"Oh, Auntie, all the vegetables are ready. I should go back and take my medicine. The doctor said I can't stay out for too long, or I might catch a chill." Xu Ao slowly stood up, his face indeed looking paler than before.

"Oh dear, look at me, I lose track of time when I start talking. You should go back now, young man." The old lady hurriedly got up and watched the frail but handsome young man slowly walk away. "Oh, what a handsome young man, how come he's not in good health? I was thinking of introducing him to my granddaughter!" The old lady murmured to herself after Xu Ao left, feeling regretful.

Very good, very good, Huang Meng. Even if my health is failing, you don't have to be so secretive. You can just let me know openly! When Xu Ao and the auntie met again, the warm smile on his face vanished the moment he turned away, replaced by a look of grievance and resentment.

Xu Ao flagged down a car, intending to go to the hospital to process his discharge. He thought carefully about Huang Meng's behavior over the past few days, and it seemed there was nothing wrong with it. Could it be that the old lady was seeing things wrong? In any case, he would find out about the hospital situation and then ask her about it.

Huang Meng jogged to the ward, glanced at the time at the door, and realized she was five minutes late. Luckily, it was the weekend, so traffic was tolerable. She took a few deep breaths at the door, tidied her slightly messy hair, and pushed the door open with a smile.

"Xu Ao, it's so congested today, but thankfully... Where is he? Xu Ao, Xu Ao?" Huang Meng didn't see him in the room, and she checked the bathroom but there was no one there either. Xu Ao usually strolled around the hospital corridor, but she always accompanied him. The doctor said that although his spine wasn't greatly affected, he still needed to be careful and couldn't overexert himself or walk for too long, otherwise it would be difficult for him to recover. Even if she was a little late, he shouldn't have just walked out by himself, right? Besides, it was almost time, so where could he have gone?

Huang Meng paced around the room twice, then took out her phone to make a call, when Xu Ao's voice suddenly came from behind her. "Looking for me?"

Huang Meng was startled by the sound behind her and quickly turned around. She saw Xu Ao leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, looking at her. He was still wearing the same hospital gown, and even the slippers he was wearing were the ones she had brought. It seemed that he had just gotten up and wandered around by himself. Thank goodness.

"Of course I was looking for you! Where did you go?" Huang Meng pouted and looked at him with a hint of reproach, then slowly walked over and hugged his arm affectionately.

"I'm going to get discharged." The next second, Huang Meng immediately became alert. The cute smile on her face disappeared, and her eyes became panicked. These changes in her expression did not escape Xu Ao's eyes. "What's wrong? Why are you panicking?" Xu Ao asked directly.

What's the rush? I don't even know how far along the birthday party I've prepared for you is. According to my plan, we'll go to check you out of the hospital this afternoon, then go home and take a hot shower. After that, I'll pretend I don't mind and ask you to take me to the vicinity of Biluoyuan. Then you'll see the birthday fireworks we've carefully prepared for you. Finally, we'll gather together in the romantic courtyard of the guesthouse to celebrate your birthday!

But now everything is about to be disrupted, so why should I panic?!

"No, did I? But why are you being discharged now? You haven't even had your dressing changed today!" Huang Meng just wanted to stall for time as much as possible, at least to let them get everything ready!

"Oh? No? Then I must have been mistaken. Maybe he's been in the hospital for too long and he's gotten a little neurotic." Xu Ao had a faint look of sadness on his face. Huang Meng sensed that he wasn't joking. Could it be that the long hospital stay had really made him depressed? That shouldn't be the case. She had only asked the doctor to let him stay in the hospital for a week longer so that she would have time to prepare properly and he could receive better care from the nurses.

“Xu Ao, I know you’ve worked hard. You can’t stay in the hospital forever. How about this, I’ll go with you to my house first. My parents went out to play and they’re not home. You can take a good shower and rest, okay?” Huang Meng said earnestly to Xu Ao.

"Hmm? You're willing?" Xu Ao wasn't some naive young man seeking romance; to him, his beloved's invitation to be alone was blatant seduction.

“Really! Let’s go!” Huang Meng said, then walked out first. Of course, as soon as she turned around, she took out her phone and sent Jiang Ying this message: “Plans have changed! Xu Ao has been discharged from the hospital. I’ll take him back to my house first to try and stall him. You guys need to hurry!”

Looking at Huang Meng's retreating figure, Xu Ao was a little confused. She didn't seem to have any ulterior motives. That old lady must have mistaken her for someone else. Maybe it was Li Shuo. Sigh, I've really gone crazy from being in the hospital!

Having come to terms with it, Xu Ao awkwardly chuckled and scratched the back of his head. Just as they reached the elevator, they ran into the nurse who came to change his dressing. "Huh? Why are you going out? Change your dressing first."

"No need, nurse, we'll take this medicine home and change it ourselves, thank you!" Xu Ao took the medicine from the nurse's hand and gave her a bright smile, but the nurse stood there stunned until the elevator doors closed.

"He's so handsome! Too bad he's already taken, sigh~"