Ruthless Romance

Chapter 14: Becoming This Way

The principal shuddered, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Mr. Mu... this was just an isolated incident, truly. That counselor was only a temporary hire, a temporary worker. I'll have her dismissed immediately!"

Mu Tingchen stood silent, his eyes burning with an intensity that spoke of his simmering anger.

Chen Mengyao let out a derisive laugh. "Temporary? That's a convenient excuse if I've ever heard one."

The principal was at a loss for words, and finally managed to say, "Chen Mengyao, you shouldn't get involved. School affairs are not something students should meddle in!"

Chen Mengyao frowned, ready to argue further, but at that moment, the doctor came out, asking, "Who here is a family member of the patient?"

Both Chen Mengyao and Mu Tingchen answered simultaneously, "I am."

Hearing Mu Tingchen's voice, Chen Mengyao was taken aback. What was he trying to do?

The doctor, naturally inclined to speak to the person who seemed more responsible, turned to Mu Tingchen to explain the situation: "The patient is not in serious danger. It's just gastritis, though it's concerning for someone so young to be in such poor health. She needs to watch her diet and take better care of herself. Once the IV drip is finished, she can be discharged."

Mu Tingchen merely nodded, a soft "Mm" escaping his lips as he moved into the emergency room.

Wen Yan lay unconscious, resting quietly on the hospital bed. Her long hair was slightly tousled, and the cold fluid from the IV drip flowed steadily through the thin tube into her veins. Her hand, with its clear, pale skin, showed veins that stood out starkly, a testament to her frail condition.

He found himself wondering when she had begun to let herself fall into such a state...

Chen Mengyao approached him, speaking in a low voice, "Yan doesn't have any parents, only an older brother who isn't even related by blood. And he barely takes care of her. Eating cold buns with cold water in this freezing weather, it's no wonder she has gastritis."

She didn't notice how Mu Tingchen's expression darkened, his eyes, usually as serene as a starry night, now clouded with emotions too complex to easily decipher.

Continuing, Chen Mengyao said, "Recently, it seems her brother has returned. He insists she comes home at exact times every day. I can't even take her out for a decent meal anymore. Isn't that just insane?"

"Indeed, it is," he replied, a touch of sarcasm in his voice. "What else?"

With that, Chen Mengyao seemed to have found her voice, pouring out her frustrations: "I've known her for over three years, ever since high school. In all that time, I've never once seen her buy new clothes like any normal person would. It's as if she's living right out of a slum! She's been doing part-time jobs since middle school, taking on all sorts of exhausting work. Handing out flyers in the scorching summer heat, washing dishes in restaurants during the freezing winters – just thinking about it breaks my heart!"

"It's bad enough that her brother doesn't take care of her, but he doesn't even let others help! Now that she can't work part-time, her situation must be even worse. It makes me so angry! Riding her bicycle to and from school in the dead of winter, and those hands of hers – hands meant for painting – are cracked and damaged from the cold!"

Mu Tingchen drew a quiet breath, his eyes flickering with something indefinable. "Thank you for taking care of her."

Chen Mengyao became somewhat awkward, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her demeanor. "She's my only friend; it's what I should do. I just wish her brother would treat her better, or at least not prevent others from helping her. It's so wrong. If I ever meet him, I swear I'll give him a solid punch!"

Seeing her endless chatter, the principal, worried she might say something inappropriate, pulled her away. "Come on, Mr. Mu is here, we don't need to worry. Mr. Mu is such a kind person; he'll surely help contact Wen Yan's real family members and arrange everything properly. Let's not disturb Wen Yan's rest. The school has already covered the medical expenses."

Mu Tingchen remained silent, watching as they left. Once the room was quiet again, he turned to look at Wen Yan, his eyes filled with a mix of helplessness and determination. He gently covered her cold hand with his own, feeling the chill seep into his skin. "Why wouldn't you ask me for help? Why do you insist on appearing so pitiful in front of others? What are you... being so stubborn about?"

Time seemed to stretch on, the quiet of the room only broken by the soft beeping of the medical equipment. After what felt like an eternity, Wen Yan stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She was greeted by a pair of intense, burning eyes staring down at her.

Confused and disoriented, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Her gaze met Mu Tingchen's, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was thick with unspoken words and emotions.

Finally, Wen Yan found her voice, though it was weak and hoarse. "Mu Tingchen... why are you here?"

His grip on her hand tightened slightly, a small, almost imperceptible gesture of reassurance. "Because you need someone to be here for you," he replied softly, his voice carrying a warmth that seemed to envelop her.

Wen Yan's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She wanted to speak, to explain, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she simply nodded, a silent acknowledgment of his presence and the comfort it brought.

Mu Tingchen watched her, his expression softening. "You don't have to do everything alone, Wen Yan. It's okay to rely on others sometimes."

His words hung in the air, a gentle reminder that she wasn't as alone as she felt. And in that moment, Wen Yan realized that perhaps, just perhaps, she could allow herself to lean on someone else, to share the burdens she had carried for so long.

As the IV drip continued its steady rhythm, Mu Tingchen remained by her side, a silent guardian in the quiet room. And for the first time in a long time, Wen Yan felt a flicker of hope, a promise of brighter days ahead.

With Mu Tingchen there, she knew she wouldn't have to face the challenges alone. And that realization, more than anything, gave her the strength to keep going, to keep fighting for a better future.