I Fell In Love With My Friend's Younger Brother Who Has A Low Sense Of Presence. - Chapter 42
Chapter 42 Worry
Su Shixiao had been practically going moldy in the hospital for the past two days. After finishing his IV drip, he planned to walk around the hospital grounds. As soon as he got out of bed, he saw Nan Yanzhou calling him. His heart skipped a beat, a guilty feeling rising.
He hadn’t contacted Nan Yanzhou since seeing that video. He’d clearly been avoiding her, not wanting to bother her anymore, so why was he calling?
He debated whether to answer the call, but just as he was about to hang up, he answered it, holding the phone to his ear. “Hello, President Nan, is there something you need from me?”
Nan Yanzhou hadn’t heard him speak so coldly to him in a long time. He paused for a second before speaking: “Su Shixiao, where are you now?”
The voice was heavy and fierce.
Su Shixiao tightened his grip on the phone. “I’m at home. I’ve already asked Mr. Huang for leave.”
“Really?” Nan Yanzhou lowered his voice slightly. “What happened at home? Why are you taking so long off?”
Su Shixiao, sensing Nan Yanzhou’s increasing vehemence, swallowed guiltily. “Mr. Nan, this is a family matter. Isn’t it rude to ask so many questions?”
Nan Yanzhou’s tone grew increasingly aggressive. “Okay, then I’ll go ask your brother if there’s really something going on at home that requires a week’s leave.”
Su Xiao knew Realizing she couldn’t hide it from him anymore, she sighed softly and said in a harsh tone, “No, I’m telling you now, okay?”
Nan Yanzhou waited silently for his answer. He found a stool and sat down, his head resting slightly against the wall. After a moment, he said, “I was in a car accident.”
Hearing about the accident, Nan Yanzhou’s heart beat faster, exploding in his head. He asked angrily and worriedly, “Su Shixiao, you’re amazing! Are you okay now? Which hospital are you in? I’ll see you.”
He became increasingly flustered as he spoke, quickening his pace as he left the office and finally ran out of the company.
Su Shixiao detected a slight unease in Nan Yanzhou’s voice, a panicked tone. He paused for a moment, then snapped out of his wits and said, “Mr. Nan, don’t worry. I’m fine. You don’t need to come see me.”
Nan Yanzhou gritted his teeth in anger. “Stop talking nonsense. Send me the address.”
Su Shixiao felt a mixture of sweetness and bitterness at seeing how worried he was. Finally, he licked his lips and said, “Okay.”
Nan Yanzhou rushed to the hospital and, upon entering the ward, saw that he was indeed fine. The weight of his anxiety settled completely, but then came a surge of uncontrollable anger. “Su Shixiao, you’re truly capable! You had a car accident, but you didn’t tell anyone. You carried it all on your own, staying in the hospital for so long. How could you be so capable?”
Su Shixiao, seeing how aggressive he was, blurted out, somewhat fearfully, “But I’ve dealt with everything I’ve experienced since I was a child, all by myself.”
Nan Yanzhou’s anger vanished instantly, replaced by a bittersweet pain. He walked over to the bedside and stared at him. You’re so stubborn. Why didn’t you tell me? Didn’t I tell you you could come to me if you needed anything?
He sat cross-legged on the hospital bed, looking up at him for a moment before remembering something and turning his head back, trying to calm his racing heart. “I didn’t want to trouble you, and it’s not serious. I can handle it myself.”
Nan Yanzhou leaned over and pinched his chin, forcing him to turn and look at him. “Then why didn’t you message me?”
“You’re busy chasing after pretty girls, aren’t you?” Su Shixiao broke free and turned away, saying coldly, “You don’t have time for me. I won’t bother you anymore.”
Nan Yanzhou’s face darkened even further, and he pinched his chin again to turn his face away. “Who told you that?”
Nan Yanzhou was furious, his tone sounding like he knew who was spreading rumors and was just trying to get him to stop talking. Seeing this, Su Shixiao knew he had misunderstood and said guiltily, “No one told me.”
“Then why did you misunderstand me?” Nan Yanzhou wasn’t about to let him go.
“It’s my fault. I misunderstood you,” Su Shixiao said dryly. “Please let me go, Brother Yanzhou.”
“This won’t happen again.” Nan Yanzhou snorted coldly, straightening up and sitting down on a nearby stool.
“Why didn’t you tell your parents about such a serious incident?” Nan Yanzhou asked earnestly, staring at him.
“But I haven’t been home for two days, and they haven’t sent me a single message or called me,” Su Shixiao said indifferently, his eyes fixed on the sheets. “Besides, I’m used to carrying it all on my own. I don’t need them anymore.”
Nan Yanzhou looked at him with heartache and said gently, “You don’t have to carry it all on your own from now on. I’ll be with you.”
Su Shixiao looked up at him, his heart warmed by his embrace. “Okay.”
Nan Yanzhou stroked his hair. “Then can you tell me what’s going on between you and your family? Are they overly partial to Xiaobei and neglecting you?”
Su Shixiao’s eyes trembled slightly, and he looked at him in shock. “How did you know?”
“From observation.”
He suddenly fell silent, unsure what to say. After a long pause, Su Shixiao’s eyes etched with sadness, he said, “Well, they’ve always favored Xiaobei since we were little, and I’m often ignored. Even though I’m only a year older than Xiaobei, Xiaobei is the first person they think of when it comes to toys, snacks, or fun things. I’m always the last to know about anything, or I’m simply ignored. Like last National Day trip, and when they went to Grandma’s house without telling me, they chose to ignore it.”
“Why am I always the one ignored? Maybe I’m not that important to them.”
Su Shixiao didn’t expect himself to still feel sad at this point. Tears streamed down his face, and Nan Yanzhou felt so distressed. He wiped his tears away with his fingertips.
Su Shixiao choked up a bit. “You know, there was a time when I was jealous of Xiaobei. I wondered if I could be as lively and cheerful as Xiaobei, crying when unhappy, sweet-talking, and making my family happy, would they love me as much as they love Xiaobei, putting me first in everything? But then I realized I couldn’t be as lively, cheerful, and optimistic as Xiaobei, and make everyone happy.”
“Then I learned to hide my emotions. Just when I thought I’d be able to handle their partiality without any ripples, I’d fail again and again, and I’d still feel a bitter pain inside. Back then, as a child, I didn’t want to tell them anything, I relied on them, and I didn’t like to talk. Everyone said I’d become… “It’s getting increasingly lonely. Sometimes I wonder if it’s my fault that they’re like this.”
“They clearly love me, so why am I still so sad? Maybe I’m too greedy, wanting too much.”
He fumbled with his tears as he spoke, then smiled at Nan Yanzhou. “Am I being too sentimental?”
Nan Yanzhou shook his head and hugged him. “No, you’re fine.”
He knew Su Shixiao must have been wronged at home, but he hadn’t expected him to be the neglected one since childhood. Xiaobei had been favored by his family since childhood. Living in such an environment, how sad he must be! He was heartbroken.