Little Meteor Chapter 34

Chapter 34: “I’m Love-Struck.”

Shen Mu had never been hit in his life; his parents wouldn’t even touch a hair on his head. The slap left his head ringing and his ears buzzing, but the situation was still better than he had imagined. At least his father hadn’t fainted—he just had to take a few quick-acting heart pills. His mother’s reaction was the most surprising; after shedding a few tears, she focused entirely on comforting his father.

Shen Mu’s father calmed down slightly, his finger trembling as he pointed at him. “Where did you pick up this kind of sickness? Did I fail to teach you properly? Is this all you learned while you were away all these years? If I had known this, I shouldn’t have…”

“Dad,” Shen Mu looked him in the eye, his tone completely calm. “I realized I liked men back when I was still in school. I didn’t ‘pick it up’ outside. And this isn’t a sickness, nor does it have anything to do with how well you taught me. If you feel better after hitting me, then hit me, but I truly cannot change.”

His father was so angry he laughed. “Has your rebellious phase arrived at age thirty? You learned nothing else, only how to defy your parents?”

Shen Mu closed his eyes and then opened them. “If you insist on saying I’m defying you, then I accept it. If I compromise any further, I will shatter first.”

Shen Mu’s father didn’t understand that description, and his chest began heaving violently again. His mother rubbed his back, her voice laced with tears. “That’s enough, Xiao Mu, say less!”

Shen Mu’s father had completely lost his rationality and roared, “If you don’t change this sickness, I’ll pretend I never gave birth to you! Don’t ever step foot in this house again!”

Shen Mu looked at his father, remaining silent for a long time. His father also cooled down slightly, realizing his words had been too harsh, and said hoarsely, “Xiao Mu, Dad didn’t mean that…”

Shen Mu smiled softly. “I won’t cut ties with you. I can’t bring myself to break with my family for the sake of love, and it’s not necessary. I know how hard you worked to raise me since childhood, and I know that I’m not the only one compromising—you are too. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have given up on making me take the civil service exams and let me mess around outside. The kindness of raising me is greater than the heavens. I won’t abandon you, and I won’t stop coming home.”

Shen Mu’s father was stunned. “Then what do you mean?”

“I don’t mean anything,” Shen Mu smiled, feigning ease. “Since ancient times, it’s been hard to have the best of both worlds. Choosing one will inevitably let down the other. If you absolutely cannot accept this, then I can break up with him. But you should completely give up the idea of me getting married and having children. As I said, don’t ruin someone else’s life.”

Shen Mu’s father had held onto a sliver of hope that his son was only saying this because he didn’t want to get married. He hadn’t expected that there was actually a person involved. He pointed at Shen Mu and stammered three “You, you, you”s before completely passing out.

It took two days before Jiang Chengxuan could get through to Shen Mu on the phone. He couldn’t get any information out of him. Shen Mu only said his father was fine, just a little high blood pressure, and the situation was better than he had expected. He didn’t say anything else.

Shen Mu’s hometown was an obscure small county, incomparable to a big city, yet the cost of living was surprisingly similar to a metropolis. The local area couldn’t develop a tourism industry; everything was man-made scenery. The taxi driver, speaking in extremely non-standard Mandarin, introduced Jiang Chengxuan to the local sights. Jiang Chengxuan occasionally responded and asked where locals usually went for medical care. The driver said the hospitals here were scams, specializing in cheating people out of examination fees, and couldn’t even cure a cold, advising him to go to a big city if he needed treatment.

Jiang Chengxuan recalled the scene in Shen Mu’s script about doctors over-ordering tests. Art truly comes from life. Jiang Chengxuan thanked the driver and got out. He didn’t know where Shen Mu lived, and he had to guess the hospital, completely flying blind. But perhaps fate was helping him. He didn’t have to search long, because the only person squatting on the roadside smoking was Shen Mu, looking like an unclaimed child.

When the light above him was blocked, Shen Mu looked up impatiently. Jiang Chengxuan took the cigarette from his mouth. Shen Mu stared blankly at the person in front of him, completely failing to react. Jiang Chengxuan originally wanted to pick him up, but considering they were outside and the small city’s tolerance wasn’t high, he helped him stand up and found an empty corner. Shen Mu’s breathing was still rapid—a classic symptom of an anxiety attack. Jiang Chengxuan instructed Shen Mu to follow his breathing commands, and it took a while for him to calm down. Jiang Chengxuan gave him some water, opened his arms, and asked, “Do you want a hug?”

Shen Mu looked at him, the corners of his eyes slightly red, his voice sounding very wronged. “Did you really have to ask me that?”

Jiang Chengxuan smiled, pulling him into an embrace. Shen Mu’s emotions completely broke down. He buried his face in Jiang Chengxuan’s neck, sobbing for a long time before stopping, his voice thick with congestion. “Why did you come? Didn’t the Director say you’d be fired if you took another leave of absence?”

“I couldn’t help it,” Jiang Chengxuan hugged him tighter. “I’m love-struck.”