Little Meteor Chapter 20
byChapter 20: Are there Red Bean Cakes?
Shen Mu’s lips seemed to curve slightly when he heard this. He put down his spoon. “Doctor Jiang, were you always this direct when inviting people to live with you?”
“I already told you,” Jiang Chengxuan sighed, “I’ve never liked anyone else, only you. Where would ‘always’ come from? Besides, the non-stop renovations next door to your place are affecting your sleep, and lack of sleep affects your physical and mental health. Seriously, won’t you consider it?”
Shen Mu smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll consider it.”
After they finished eating, Jiang Chengxuan proactively stood up to clear the dishes. The sound of running water and the crisp clinking of bowls came from the kitchen. Shen Mu didn’t offer to help; he sat on the living room sofa, using the remote to search for the latest movies. However, Jiang Chengxuan wasn’t someone who usually watched TV, so he naturally didn’t have a subscription. Shen Mu could only exit and watch live broadcasts.
Jiang Chengxuan finished washing the dishes, wiped his hands, and walked out. He saw Shen Mu intently watching the TV screen, his profile looking especially peaceful in the soft light of the floor lamp.
A weight settled on his leg, and Shen Mu subconsciously looked down at him. “What are you doing?”
Jiang Chengxuan closed his eyes. “I’m tired. Borrowing your leg to lie down for a bit, going to sleep for a while. Don’t move. Just pretend I don’t exist.”
Shen Mu looked down at him. Jiang Chengxuan’s breathing was already becoming steady and deep. Shen Mu lowered the TV volume even more. His hand hesitated in the air for a moment before finally falling gently, resting lightly on Jiang Chengxuan’s hair.
Jiang Chengxuan slept soundly. When he woke up groggily, only the floor lamp was lit in the living room. The TV was off, and the surroundings were silent.
He sat up, and the thin blanket covering him slid to the floor.
Shen Mu was gone.
Jiang Chengxuan sighed silently. Sure enough, he had been too impatient. How could he have actually fallen asleep and not even known when the person left?
He stood up, preparing to take a shower. Just as he reached the bathroom door, the electronic lock at the entrance suddenly made a faint “beep.”
Shen Mu pushed the door open, carrying a travel bag in his hand and several folded clothes draped over his arm.
“You’re awake?” Shen Mu looked up at him. “You were sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you.”
Jiang Chengxuan was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered, forcefully suppressing the corners of his mouth. He walked over and took the clothes from Shen Mu’s arm. “I thought you had left.”
“The closet in the second bedroom is empty; use it as you like.” Jiang Chengxuan handed him a few hangers. “There are new towels and toothbrushes in the bathroom cabinet. They’re all clean.”
Shen Mu nodded and asked, “What time do you usually use the bathroom?”
Jiang Chengxuan smiled. “I have a bathroom in my room. It won’t interfere.”
“Oh, that’s good then.”
Shen Mu unzipped the travel bag and started organizing the closet. Jiang Chengxuan told him he was going to shower and left. When he came out, Shen Mu was almost finished organizing.
Water was still dripping from Jiang Chengxuan’s hair as he casually wiped it with a towel. He had changed into a light gray cotton loungewear set. The neckline was slightly large, revealing a small patch of skin flushed pink from the heat.
Shen Mu quickly averted his gaze, pretending to continue organizing the shirt in his hands. “Finished washing?”
“Mhm.” Jiang Chengxuan took a few steps closer, bringing with him the fresh mint scent of shower gel. “You should go wash up too. The water temperature is just right.”
Shen Mu acknowledged him and lowered his head to search for pajamas in the travel bag.
It was Shen Mu’s first day, and Jiang Chengxuan knew he wasn’t used to it yet. After Shen Mu entered the bathroom, he placed the hairdryer in the second bedroom and returned to his own room. He waited until Shen Mu was finished and the second bedroom went quiet before coming out and knocking on the door. “Shen Mu, good night.”
Shen Mu’s slightly sleepy reply came from inside. “Mhm, good night.”
The next morning, Jiang Chengxuan’s alarm clock went off on time. He got up, washed, checked the time, and walked to the second bedroom door, knocking lightly.
“Shen Mu,” he lowered his voice, “time to get up.”
There was a rustling sound of turning over inside, and Shen Mu mumbled an indistinct “Mhm.”
Jiang Chengxuan waited for two minutes, but there was no more movement. He smiled helplessly and pushed the door open.
The curtains in the second bedroom were excellent at blocking light, and the room was still dark. Shen Mu was curled up entirely under the blanket, only a few strands of black hair visible. Hearing footsteps, he shrank further into the blanket.
Jiang Chengxuan sat down by the bed. “Shen Mu, it’s seven o’clock.”
A muffled groan came from under the blanket. The lump of bedding wiggled once, then stopped moving again.
Jiang Chengxuan couldn’t help but laugh, patting the lump of blanket. “If you don’t get up, you’ll be late.”
The person under the blanket finally reacted, slowly poking half a head out. Shen Mu’s eyes were still closed, and his cheeks were flushed from being muffled under the covers. “Five minutes… just five minutes…”
Jiang Chengxuan sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to smooth the hair on Shen Mu’s forehead. “If you don’t get up now, the director will really scold you.”
Shen Mu finally managed to open his eyes, his gaze unfocused as it landed on Jiang Chengxuan’s face. It took him a moment to realize where he was. He slowly propped himself up. “Are there red bean cakes today?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, both of them froze.
In college, Shen Mu often couldn’t get up in the morning. They were in different departments at the same school, but they shared public classes. Shen Mu would always arrive just in time, sitting in the empty seat next to Jiang Chengxuan. At first, Jiang Chengxuan didn’t know he skipped breakfast, but one time Shen Mu suffered from low blood sugar and his face turned frighteningly pale. After that, Jiang Chengxuan always called him in the morning to wake him up.
Shen Mu would answer the phone, his voice thick with sleep. “…Hello.”
“Time to get up,” Jiang Chengxuan’s voice would come through the receiver. “What do you want for breakfast? I’ll bring it.”
Shen Mu always said he didn’t want anything, but Jiang Chengxuan never listened. Shen Mu didn’t like sweets, but the red bean cakes from the cafeteria were the exception.
“The cafeteria has red bean cakes today. Don’t you like them? I’ll buy one for you.”
Red bean cakes were Shen Mu’s motivation to get out of bed, though sometimes Shen Mu would complain, “Jiang Chengxuan, you are so annoying.”
Jiang Chengxuan would just chuckle. “Annoying or not, you still have to eat breakfast.”
Shen Mu felt like he must have been sleep-drunk. He turned his face away. “I meant… anything is fine.”
“Red bean cakes, I actually don’t know how to make those,” Jiang Chengxuan smiled. “I’ll look it up later and try making them tomorrow. Hurry up and wash up. I’ll go make breakfast.”
Shen Mu mumbled an assent, threw off the blanket, and got out of bed. By the time Shen Mu was washed and dressed, breakfast was neatly laid out on the dining table.
“You’re so fast,” Shen Mu said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
“An essential skill for a doctor.” Jiang Chengxuan pushed the milk toward him. “It can’t compare to red bean cakes, but it should fill you up.”
Shen Mu’s ears were slightly red. He forced himself to act nonchalant while eating breakfast. Fortunately, Jiang Chengxuan didn’t bring it up again.
The two of them ate breakfast and went to the hospital together. Shen Mu’s filming went smoothly, so he was able to finish on time for lunch. Shen Mu went to Jiang Chengxuan’s office but couldn’t find him. A nurse from the department recognized him and said Doctor Jiang was still dealing with something in the ward area.
Shen Mu remembered Lin Wei, whom Jiang Chengxuan had mentioned yesterday, and went to the inpatient department. Since his act of bravery last time, the nurses mostly recognized him. Seeing him, they were very enthusiastic. “Screenwriter Shen, are you looking for Doctor Jiang?”
Shen Mu smiled. “Yes, I am. I heard he’s still busy.”
“Yes, Doctor Jiang is with patient 9, Lin Wei,” a nurse lowered her voice slightly. “That young girl is still emotionally unstable today and isn’t cooperating well with her medication. Doctor Jiang is inside trying to persuade her.”
Shen Mu thanked her and walked toward Lin Wei’s room. The door was slightly ajar. He stopped at the doorway but didn’t go in.
After a while, Jiang Chengxuan walked out. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Shen Mu waiting outside, looking somewhat surprised. “Why are you here?”
“I came to find you for lunch.” Shen Mu’s gaze went past Jiang Chengxuan to the girl on the hospital bed inside. “Is that Lin Wei?”
“Mhm.” Jiang Chengxuan nodded. “I just talked to her mother again. The situation is still the same.”
Shen Mu was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Can I talk to her?”
Jiang Chengxuan pondered for a moment. “Hospital regulations require family consent for visits and communication. And since you are a stranger, going in directly might not be appropriate, and it could easily make her more resistant.”
“Oh,” Shen Mu nodded, chuckling lightly. “That’s true, it wouldn’t be appropriate. Never mind then, let’s go eat.”