Chapter 47: That Illness
Mu Le looked small and thin, and she was a hardcore homebody, but she wasn’t the type to get sick often.
In fact, from childhood to now, the times she had been sick could easily be counted on one hand.
However, like many people, when she did get sick, it hit her like a tidal wave. Suddenly, she felt dizzy, weak, and completely out of it.
Maybe having small illnesses occasionally is normal, it could even help improve immunity.
When her mind cleared again, she was lying on a hospital bed.
Mu Le blinked, her thoughts still fuzzy. As she realized where she was, her head throbbed painfully.
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly, her throat felt dry, and her whole body was very uncomfortable.
The faint smell of medicine in the air made her stomach churn.
Being sick was just as unpleasant as ever.
She carefully propped herself up in bed. The ward was empty, she was alone.
Just as Mu Le adjusted her pillow and shifted into a more comfortable position, the door opened from outside.
Mu Cheng walked in, his brow slightly furrowed. When he saw her, he paused, “You’re awake? How do you feel? A bit better?”
He walked over to her side, testing her hand gently.
“…Still a little hot. Stay for one more day. Wait until the fever goes down before going back.”
When Mu Le had fainted earlier, he had nearly been scared to death. On the way to the hospital, he had run several red lights, only relaxing when he learned it was just a high fever.
Even so, Mu Cheng, worried something might still be wrong, went through every possible check.
“Dad… I want some water…” Mu Le said, realizing with surprise that her voice was extremely hoarse.
She coughed several times, struggling to push down the scratchy, uncomfortable feeling in her throat.
Once her throat felt a bit better, Mu Cheng set a slightly warm cup of water in front of her.
After Mu Le took it, he removed his glasses and sat beside her. His calm expression betrayed a hint of fatigue.
Mu Le paused while drinking, then said apologetically, “Sorry… I made you worry, Dad.”
“If you really don’t want me to worry, then take good care of yourself next time,” Mu Cheng shook his head, speaking softly.
He had watched her grow up. When she was little, he practically held her in his hands, afraid she would fall, and was careful with her in every way. Later, conflicts with her mother forced him to bury himself in work to cope.
Over time, he realized he had unintentionally grown distant from Mu Le. Their family conflicts had left an impact on her he could not measure.
At that time, Mu Cheng regretted it deeply, but his relationship with her mother had already reached its limit. If it had been possible to stay together, even for Mu Le’s sake, he wouldn’t have divorced, and he believed her mother felt the same.
Because in the divorce, he gave up almost everything except for Mu Le, she had to stay with him.
For that, they had fought bitterly several times, even torn apart completely in anger. Looking back, Mu Cheng was surprised at how irrational he had been. But then again, it was his child.
Eventually, the woman gave up for some reason, and they gradually lost contact. Mu Cheng was still grateful for that, the only thing he could be grateful for.
“Sorry.” Mu Le murmured after finishing the water, feeling slightly better.
“Why are you apologizing to me? Next time you feel unwell, tell me immediately. If I’m not around, tell Xiao Yuze right away.”
According to the doctors, when Mu Cheng had carried her to the hospital, her fever had lasted long enough to cause a short fainting spell from exhaustion.
It wasn’t exactly unconsciousness. She was still aware, just very dizzy and weak.
Luckily, they had brought her in on time, so no lasting problems would remain.
She just needed rest, some injections, and medicine, and soon she would be back to her lively self.
Mu Cheng still felt a little shaken. He thought to himself, if he and Xiao Yuze hadn’t been around, how bad could Mu Le’s fever have gotten?
This incident reminded him to call Xiao Yuze right away and tell that kid to pay more attention.
Sometimes, worrying too much can make things messy.
Mu Le wasn’t a little child, and she wasn’t foolish. When she got sick, she knew how to take care of herself.
This time, it was just sudden. She wasn’t prepared, but she wasn’t as fragile as her dad imagined.
For Mu Cheng, though, Mu Le would probably always be his little child who couldn’t take care of herself. Protecting her from every trouble and pain, that was what he was supposed to do as her father.
After drinking water and taking some medicine, Mu Le gradually felt drowsy, the medicine starting to take effect.
After some rest and treatment, most of the discomfort faded. Inevitably, she fell asleep again.
Illness came quickly, and it went quickly too. He believed that after a good sleep, she would feel much better.
Mu Le slept more deeply than before. Her slightly furrowed brows relaxed slowly.
Once she was asleep, Mu Cheng quietly left the room.
He took out his phone, opened the contacts, and with a hint of irritation, clicked one number.
The call connected quickly. Almost immediately, a calm middle-aged man’s voice came through.
“Yo… the sun’s rising from the west? Old Mu, you’re actually calling me. What’s wrong? Economic crisis? Need to borrow money?”
Mu Cheng’s expression darkened.
Xiao Yuze’s father, Xiao Shuheng, was normally very gentle, at least on the surface. But every time he met Mu Cheng, he couldn’t resist making a teasing remark.
Of course, it wasn’t real mockery, more like playful teasing between old friends, even though Mu Cheng never admitted they were friends.
Usually, Mu Cheng just gave a cold snort, knowing exactly how this old rogue’s personality worked.
The kind who gets bolder the more you indulge him, say a few more words, and he’d probably raise the topic again of when his daughter will be married off.
This wasn’t the first time Xiao Shuheng had joked about that.
So, the real reason Mu Cheng got annoyed with Xiao Yuze wasn’t because he “stole” his daughter, but because he had a father like Xiao Shuheng.
His first love had been taken by this family, and now his daughter too, it made his stomach churn. Of course he was annoyed.
But annoyed or not, he never stopped Xiao Yuze or allowed him and Mu Le to live together.
Not wanting to talk much, Mu Cheng just said, “Cut the nonsense. Let your kid take the call.”
“Oh, so Lele is about to get married over? Okay, Old Mu, wait, I’ll tell Yuze right now!”
Mu Cheng’s lips twitched. This old scoundrel, he was bringing up marrying off his daughter again!
Just as Mu Cheng wanted to hang up, another voice came through, slightly helpless.
“Dad, don’t try to make Uncle Mu angry. If Mom finds out, you’ll get scolded again.”
Hearing his son mention his wife, Xiao Shuheng instantly had nothing to say.
He might be a shrewd businessman, maneuvering effortlessly in the market, but with his own wife, he had no power.
Sometimes, one person just has control over another, and he accepted it willingly.
Ever since he was a child, Xiao Yuze had learned that as soon as he mentioned his mother’s name, his father would listen.
He hadn’t fully understood it before, but now he did.
If Mu Le ever made a request, even an unreasonable one, Xiao Yuze wouldn’t refuse.
And why not?
Well… do you really need a reason to spoil someone you like?
“Uncle Mu, is something wrong with Lele?” Xiao Yuze said calmly after taking the phone from his father.
Mu Cheng wasn’t surprised. Besides Mu Le, he had no reason to call him.
Still fuming from Xiao Shuheng’s teasing, he let out a cold snort: “Lele is sick.”
Xiao Yuze paused, frowning immediately.
Hearing Mu Cheng’s calm tone, his initial panic slowly subsided.
Even so, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
“Where? I’ll come over right now.”
“Relax, no need to come. Just a little fever, it’s already going down. I’m just letting you know. You know Lele never takes care of herself, so be careful in the future.”
“Don’t worry, Uncle Mu. I’ll definitely pay attention from now on.”
Hearing it was just a fever, Xiao Yuze finally breathed a sigh of relief. No big problem.