Ch 39: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Mu Xing finished his meal and, in front of his mother, asked the doctor about his condition—how much longer he would need to stay in the hospital.

His willingness to face the illness head-on clearly delighted Zhu Lanjun.

After the doctor left, Zhu Lanjun said to Mu Xing:
“Xingxing, don’t worry. Your father and I have already contacted the world’s top rehabilitation medical team. We showed them your case, and the experts said that in your situation, there’s hope for your legs to recover.”

Mu Xing gave her a reassuring smile.
“I’m not worried. I’ll work hard on my rehab. You don’t need to worry either, Mom.”

Not only was her son optimistic, he didn’t even object to her calling him by his childhood nickname.

Back when he started high school, Mu Xing had forbidden the family from calling him that slightly childish name.

Zhu Lanjun couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart: this injury really had made Xingxing more fragile. It seemed he also leaned on his family more now, showing closeness he hadn’t before.

She thought of something, then carefully asked:
“Xingxing, that girlfriend of yours…”

The family knew about Mu Xing’s relationship with Qin Leyi.

Zhu Lanjun had never liked her—not because she was old-fashioned or had impossibly high standards, insisting her son find someone of equal social status.

But as a woman herself, she had observed their relationship and always felt the affection wasn’t equal.

She couldn’t see how much Qin Leyi actually liked her son.

And in fact, that was true—since the accident, Qin Leyi had not come to visit even once.

It was impossible for Zhu Lanjun not to feel resentment. But all her energy was focused on her son, so she had no time to bother with the other woman.

Mu Xing heard her and calmly said:
“Mom, let me correct you. She’s my ex-girlfriend now.”

Zhu Lanjun froze.
“You two broke up? When?”

Mu Xing said:
“Before the accident. She cheated on me—with Cheng Qian. I caught them.”

If it had been the original Mu Xing, he would never have admitted something like this. He was too proud, too concerned about saving face.

But for Mu Xing, there was nothing shameful about it. If anyone should feel ashamed, it was the ones who cheated. Why should the victim be embarrassed?

Zhu Lanjun’s anger flared instantly. She sharply thought of something else:
“Then your accident—did it have something to do with this?”

Mu Xing thought a moment, then shook his head.
“I was a bit emotional at the time, but the car accident was just an accident.”

Zhu Lanjun snorted coldly.
“So it was related. You’ve been lying here all this time, and those two haven’t come to see you even once. Don’t they feel guilty at all?”

“Not to mention your two years together. Qin Leyi signed with our entertainment company, didn’t she? For years you poured resources into her. Her entire success was built by Glory backing her. That ungrateful snake!”

“No, this won’t do!” The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She stood up.
“I’ll call that woman right now to curse her out—and then have the company freeze her career!”

“Mom.” Seeing her fury, Mu Xing had to interrupt before she worked herself up too much.
“Calm down. Don’t hurt your health over her.”

Zhu Lanjun gave him a suspicious look.
“You’re not still hung up on her, are you?”

“Of course not!” Mu Xing denied quickly.
“I don’t like her at all anymore.”

He explained:
“This is my own matter. I’m an adult now. Let me handle it myself.”

Zhu Lanjun hesitated, then pressed him for confirmation:
“You’re certain you don’t have any feelings left for that woman—and you won’t show her mercy?”

Mu Xing nodded firmly.
“I swear, I’ll make sure they get the punishment they deserve. You can rest easy.”

After his mother left, Mu Xing sent messages to both Qin Leyi and Cheng Qian:
Not going to come see me? 🙂

He closed his eyes, resting, waiting for the two of them to show up.

An hour later, they both appeared in Mu Xing’s ward.

Both wore guilty expressions. Each looked surprised to see the other, clearly not expecting Mu Xing to summon them together.

On the bed, propped against a soft pillow, Mu Xing’s black hair drooped over his pale forehead, making him look fragile.

Looking at the two as they entered one after the other, Mu Xing asked:
“I’ve been in this accident for so many days, and neither of you came once. Don’t you feel guilty?”

Qin Leyi’s eyes reddened.
“I’m sorry, Mu Xing. It’s not that I didn’t want to see you, I just… didn’t know how to face you.”

Cheng Qian gave an awkward smile.
“I was afraid you’d be even angrier if you saw me. And lately my family’s business has been keeping me busy.”

Mu Xing let out a laugh. To their ears, it sounded like mockery.

But he ignored what they thought. Looking straight at Qin Leyi, he asked with genuine doubt in his voice:
“All this time, I just couldn’t understand. What did I do wrong for you to betray me?”

He truly was puzzled. After all, in the memories, Mu Xing had genuinely cared for Qin Leyi.

Handsome, wealthy, and devoted—why hadn’t she been satisfied?

“Was I not good enough to you?”

Qin Leyi’s face turned pale, her gaze uneasy under his questioning.

Mu Xing frowned slightly.
“Is that such a hard question to answer?”

Qin Leyi bit her lip and finally said:
“Being with you, I couldn’t breathe. No matter what I did, I had to report it to you. Every step I took had to follow your will. What endorsements I accepted, what events I attended—they all had to be filtered through you first. You said it was for me to choose, but in reality, I had no choice at all!”

She stood there stubbornly, lifting her chin to meet Mu Xing’s gaze directly.
“I’m a person, not some bird you’ve caged. Mu Xing, your need for control is too strong—I don’t have the slightest bit of self left.”

She even looked aggrieved as she said it.

Mu Xing’s face was expressionless.
“If it was so unbearable for you, why didn’t you just tell me? Why didn’t you break up with me?”

Qin Leyi choked. How was she supposed to answer that?

The truth was obvious to everyone.

Mu Xing didn’t give her any face.
“Because those endorsements and events you complained about just now were all ones I carefully selected, even pulling strings to get for you. You weren’t going to find anything better.”

“And if you weren’t my girlfriend, you wouldn’t have been qualified for even one of them.”

Qin Leyi flushed red with anger.

She glared at him.
“What do you mean by that? Are you trying to humiliate me?”

Mu Xing’s eyes were cold and mocking.
“Telling the truth counts as humiliation? Which word I just said wasn’t fact?”

“You even spoke like you were the one wronged.” Mu Xing thought the original him was the real victim. “I’m the one who should be aggrieved. Handsome, rich, devoted—first time in my life I fall in love, and you treat me as a resource machine, then cheat on me on top of that. What right do you have to despise me?”

Qin Leyi couldn’t respond. She shot him a furious glare and turned to storm out, slamming the door.

Mu Xing didn’t even get the chance to stop her.

The room was left with only an awkward-looking Cheng Qian.

“Sorry, Mu Xing,” Cheng Qian was the first to speak.

He glanced at Mu Xing’s legs.
“I didn’t know you’d get into a car accident that day.”

Mu Xing let out a dry laugh.
“Neither did I. If I’d known that rushing out that day would lead to an accident, I would’ve stayed there and beaten you up until that truck had passed.”

Cheng Qian: “…”

At this moment, he felt terribly awkward facing Mu Xing.

He could only say,
“Did you call me here for something? If not, I’ll get going. You should rest.”

Mu Xing:
“Wait. Don’t rush off. I just want to ask—when did it start between you two? How long has it been? I can’t be left clueless about being cheated on, can I?”

Cheng Qian: “…”

He suddenly felt something was off about Mu Xing. Could it be… he’d suffered such a heavy blow it changed his personality?

Awkwardly, he did some mental math and answered honestly.
“About three months.”

Mu Xing thought it over. Half a year ago, he had introduced Qin Leyi to Cheng Qian himself.

That was at his birthday party, where he had invited many friends—all wealthy heirs from the same circle. Mu Xing had deliberately and carefully introduced Qin Leyi to them.

He had truly liked Qin Leyi, dating her with the intent to marry someday.

But his sincerity had meant nothing to her.

Mu Xing felt it wasn’t worth it for the original him. Looking at the man before him was equally unpleasant. He waved dismissively.
“Got it. That’s all I needed. You can get lost now. From today on, we’re done being friends.”

Cheng Qian, perhaps feeling guilty, said seriously,
“I never meant to steal your girlfriend, Mu Xing. I really saw you as a brother. I never wanted to hurt you, I just—”

Mu Xing: ???

He stared at Cheng Qian like he was some freak.
“You just what? Just made the same mistake most men would make? Or just couldn’t bring yourself to reject a pretty woman with similar interests?”

His tone was full of contempt.
“Be a man and admit you’re scum. Don’t shift the blame. I’ll despise you even more.”

Cheng Qian looked a little angry, but when his eyes fell on Mu Xing lying paralyzed in a hospital bed, he decided the man could only vent with words now. That pitifulness dulled his temper.

“Take care of yourself,” he said, shaking his head. Then, under Mu Xing’s mocking gaze, he left.

*

Qin Leyi hadn’t even made it home when she got a call from her agent.

“Sis Amy, wasn’t today supposed to be my day off? No work talk? Why are you calling me now?” Qin Leyi answered with a joke the moment she picked up.

Her relationship with her agent had always been good.

But the usually gentle Amy’s tone was serious this time.
“Leyi, did you offend someone?”

Qin Leyi’s heart skipped.
“What happened?”

On the other end, Amy said:
“I just got notice from the company. The primetime variety show you were supposed to record next week, and the gala at the end of the month—both replaced. And the drama role you’d been hinted for in advance? They gave it to Jiang Zhi instead…”

Qin Leyi pressed her lips tightly, then said quickly,
“I think I know what this is about. Hold on, let me make a call.”

She hung up and dialed Mu Xing.

Just then, Mu Xing was in the middle of playing a mobile game. The sudden interruption annoyed him. When he saw the caller ID: “…”

He hung up.

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