If I Die, Will You Still Hate Me? - Chapter 6
What’s there to look forward to when seeing someone who hates you to the core…
In a private hospital room in the afternoon.
Jiang Xuzhou slowly woke up, opening his eyes to meet the two large dark circles around Wu Yi‘s eyes.
Jiang Xuzhou: “…”
“You’re finally awake,” Wu Yi said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you. I have some bad news and some good news. Which do you want to hear first?” Wu Yi forced a grim, self-deprecating smile.
Jiang Xuzhou’s dark eyes looked at him calmly, without a ripple of emotion: “Stop smiling. It’s jarring. Tell me the bad news.”
Wu Yi obediently dropped the smile and reported honestly: “The stock dropped, and two groups breached their contracts. Chen Xingxian is one of them.”
Chen Xingxian received the news early and immediately defected to the Zhao Group.
“The Zhao Group’s stock went up quite a bit,” Wu Yi continued. “But you don’t need to worry too much. I’ve established a management committee. In the future, any emergencies will be discussed and decided by them. If it escalates to the board level, then we’ll take over.” (1)
Jiang Xuzhou nodded, tacitly approving Wu Yi’s action, and then asked: “What’s the good news?”
“Your parents are indeed your parents,” Wu Yi said.
Jiang Xuzhou didn’t reply, as this, too, was within his expectation.
“Also, they came by,” Wu Yi continued.
Jiang Xuzhou felt this was more like bad news. He closed his eyes and said flatly: “Tell them to go back.”
After all, given his current state, it wasn’t a good time to see anyone, especially his parents.
“Also, thank you for saving me,” Jiang Xuzhou added.
Wu Yi scratched his head and rubbed his nose, accepting the thank you with a grunt.
Mei Yue and Jiang Yongjun stood outside the hospital room door, waiting for a long time on tiptoe, only to see Wu Yi exit and smoothly close the door behind him.
Jiang Yongjun, unwilling to give up, glanced at the glass window on the patient room door, trying to see Jiang Xuzhou’s condition. Wu Yi silently moved a step sideways, blocking his view.
“How is Xiaozhou?” Mei Yue held up the thermos flask in her hand, smiling broadly. “I made some soup for him.”
“Auntie, he can’t eat anything right now,” Wu Yi apologized. “His stomach isn’t good, and he has tests scheduled for tomorrow.”
“Food is fuel; if he skips a meal, of course his stomach won’t be good,” Jiang Yongjun also said, smiling. “Vice President Wu, please make an exception and let us go in and see Xiaozhou.”
“I really can’t do that. Xuzhou is resting,” Wu Yi blocked the door.
He was tall, and standing in front of the door completely obstructed it, preventing Jiang Yongjun from seeing inside.
“Then…” Jiang Yongjun started to speak again, hesitated for a moment, and didn’t finish his sentence.
Wu Yi, having spent time in the business world, could more or less tell that Jiang Yongjun and Mei Yue’s visit had more than just the purpose of seeing Jiang Xuzhou.
He smiled and asked, “Uncle and Auntie, is there anything you’d like me to relay to Xuzhou?”
Jiang Yongjun couldn’t bring himself to ask and said, “Nothing to relay,” intending to leave, but Mei Yue pulled him back.
“Vice President Wu, I know your position isn’t much lower than Xiaozhou’s,” Mei Yue’s smile was fawning. “Can you perhaps arrange a position for us old folks at the company, or…”
“Lend us some money,” Mei Yue gritted her teeth and spoke the rest of the sentence.
“Auntie, you’re putting me in a bit of a difficult position,” Wu Yi scratched his head, smiling.
The elderly couple looked like they were past their prime working age, and besides, the company didn’t have any vacant positions. Moreover, they were Jiang Xuzhou’s parents, and it wouldn’t be right for an outsider like him to interfere in their family affairs.
Wu Yi suggested: “How about you talk to him in a couple of days after Xuzhou is discharged?”
Mei Yue remembered Jiang Chengzhi‘s devilish look yesterday, and the wound on her arm throbbed faintly. She covered her arm and said: “Vice President Wu, why don’t you let me go in and talk to Xiaozhou? I’ll be quick and won’t disturb his rest.”
“Auntie…” Wu Yi said helplessly. “Please don’t make this hard for me. Xuzhou is resting right now. Let’s talk again in a couple of days.”
At this moment, he finally understood why Jiang Xuzhou’s expression always changed when these two elders were mentioned. It was simply too strange; what parents would insist on disturbing their child when they clearly knew the child was seriously ill?
Jiang Yongjun tugged at Mei Yue’s arm, trying to get her to leave, but Mei Yue shook off his hand, stiffened her neck, and was about to say something more.
“That’s enough. We’ll figure out another way,” Jiang Yongjun whispered in Mei Yue’s ear. “Let’s go back first. Xiao Zhi needs to eat.”
When Mei Yue heard the words “Xiao Zhi,” her eyes visibly softened, and her resistance ceased.
Wu Yi was completely confused. He had known Jiang Xuzhou for nearly twenty years and had never heard of him having an older or younger brother. So, who was this “Xiao Zhi”?
But any further questions would have to wait until Jiang Xuzhou woke up to be answered.
Wu Yi stayed all afternoon, finally seeing Jiang Xuzhou open his eyes around dinner time.
“…Why are you still here?” Jiang Xuzhou joked. “No overtime today?”
Wu Yi was sitting on the edge of the bed, slurping noodles from a takeout box. He swallowed the noodles and took a sip of soup.
Jiang Xuzhou: “…Don’t choke.”
“I won’t. I have a big throat,” Wu Yi confidently wiped his mouth with a tissue, packed up the takeout box, and set it aside, planning to take it downstairs when he left. Just as he was about to voice his confusion, Jiang Xuzhou beat him to it.
“Did my grandma call today?” Jiang Xuzhou asked. “Also, where’s my phone?”
After graduating, Jiang Xuzhou stayed in Mochi City and founded the Baiwen Group. As his life improved, he planned to bring his grandmother, Tan Hui, to live with him so the two of them could look after each other.
However, Tan Hui felt uncomfortable after just two days. She didn’t know how to use smart home devices like the smart toilet, and she wasn’t used to being driven everywhere and having a nanny cook all her meals; she didn’t have to do anything. She was accustomed to a lifetime of hardship, and this comfortable life was simply unbearable. She simply slipped away back to the countryside when Jiang Xuzhou wasn’t home.
Back in the countryside, her life became busy again, often causing her to miss her grandson’s calls. So, Jiang Xuzhou and she agreed to a set hour of conversation each week.
Jiang Xuzhou wasn’t sure if he had missed Tan Hui’s call.
“The phone is in the bedside drawer. Check it,” Wu Yi said. “It ran out of battery yesterday… after I rescued you. It should be fully charged now.”
Jiang Xuzhou took out the phone and opened the call history, which was empty. He then checked the emergency contact section and found that his emergency contact really was Wu Yi.
Was it really Wu Yi last night?
He briefly recalled Wu Yi’s awkward tone and found it hard to believe.
After all, given Wu Yi’s personality, he should have been demanding a celebratory dinner after saving him. Such calm composure was truly rare.
Just as he was thinking, the phone buzzed—it was Tan Hui.
“Grandma,” Jiang Xuzhou removed the nasal cannula and cleared his throat, trying to make his voice less raspy. “How have you been lately?”
Tan Hui was hard of hearing, but her voice was loud: “What? You’re coming back soon?”
Jiang Xuzhou silently lowered the volume and raised his voice: “Grandma, can you hear me?”
“Then bring Xiao Xun back with you! You keep saying he’s too busy with work and can’t come back these past few years,” Tan Hui said. “You two haven’t broken up, have you?”
Jiang Xuzhou used to bring Ye Xun back to his hometown often, so Tan Hui had a deep and positive impression of Ye Xun. She most likely guessed the nature of Jiang Xuzhou and Ye Xun’s relationship, but she didn’t see anything wrong with it.
Being in love was enough.
The only thing she ever worried about was Jiang Xuzhou not treasuring the relationship.
“Of course not,” Jiang Xuzhou said while looking through the schedule Wu Yi handed him, barely managing to free up a week. “I’ll bring him to see you the week after next.”
Tan Hui heard this very clearly, her voice filled with laughter as she repeatedly agreed.
Wu Yi heard their conversation and his mouth dropped open. It wasn’t until Jiang Xuzhou hung up that he stammered: “…You’re going to see Ye Xun?”
“Mhm.” Jiang Xuzhou briefly dealt with the messages on his phone, casually replying to a few concerned business partners, then looked up at Wu Yi’s exaggerated expression and asked: “What is it?”
Jiang Xuzhou’s tone was very calm, even carrying a hint of anticipation.
Wu Yi couldn’t understand what there was to look forward to when seeing someone who hated you to the core.
He pouted, but didn’t say anything in the end.
While waiting for Wu Yi’s reply, Jiang Xuzhou had already sent a message to Ye Xun.
To him, this matter was purely business-like, and based on his understanding of Ye Xun, he was highly unlikely to refuse.
The rain in Mochi City stopped at a little past six in the evening, and the meeting at the Yancheng Group had just finished. Ye Xun leaned back in his chair, relaxed, rubbing his temples.
At times like this, Ye Xun always remembered how happy he was working under Jiang Xuzhou, either getting work done or slipping off to Jiang Xuzhou’s office to slack off.
At that time, he was the only one who dared to slack off right under the nose of the Chairman of the Baiwen Group.
Fortunately, everyone knew about their relationship, and Ye Xun’s interpersonal skills were simply impeccable. Even without the connection to Jiang Xuzhou, he could thrive in any company. Therefore, no one had any complaints about his slacking off.
Ye Xun realized that today, he missed Jiang Xuzhou more than usual.
It was a strange feeling. His subconscious mind kept reminding him that he hated Jiang Xuzhou and should never let him have an easy time, but when he was tired, he particularly thought of Jiang Xuzhou and the Linhai Villa where they used to live.
Especially that swing. It was a shame he didn’t even get a chance to see it when he went there the other day.
“Jiang Xuzhou…” Ye Xun sighed. He wished he could use this exhale to push the man who troubled his heart right out of his thoughts.
But how could a person he had loved for five years and who had troubled him for four years leave so easily?
His wristwatch vibrated. Ye Xun lazily raised his hand to look, put it down, and then instantly realized something was wrong. He raised his hand again and quickly picked up the phone he had tossed on the desk.
[jxz: When are you free? Let’s go out for a meal.]
Ye Xun’s eyes widened. The events of this day were simply too unbelievable.
For example, Jiang Xuzhou still had his ex-boyfriend’s facial recognition data saved, still had him set as an emergency contact, and, for another example, hadn’t blocked or deleted his ex-boyfriend’s WeChat after they broke up.
As for why he hadn’t blocked or deleted Jiang Xuzhou’s WeChat, Ye Xun figured it was probably because he had simply forgotten.
Ye Xun hadn’t decided how to reply, so he slid the phone into his pocket.
He figured he was probably drowsy and confused, or perhaps he was missing Jiang Xuzhou so much that he was hallucinating.