Chapter 55 - Flowers off the side of the road

Muchen ran out of the office in a hurry, with people looking at him weirdly. "Is it true… Does he really like me?" he questioned his friend's words in his mind as he reached the parking lot.

He quickly jumped into the driver's seat and took off for the hospital. 

Soon, he ran across a red light. He waited anxiously, shaking his leg. 

His heart was pounding in his chest. "What if he says no again... No, he didn't say no in the first place," he grinned and pulled at his tie. "Why did I think he didn't like me? He didn't reply because he was sick! He likes me… right?" He gazed out the window at his own poster that was still being displayed. "He definitely likes me. I mean, how could he not? I'm kind of awesome," he mumbled to himself while sweating. 

He was not that confident in Yunfeng's feelings toward him. 

The young man had never once explicitly said that he liked him or loved him. 

Muchen gulped loudly. He found a small lemonade bottle nearby and took a swig, chugging the whole bottle down. 

"We did roll around in bed twice... that's a start. How can anyone kiss and touch a person they don't like?"

"Honk honk!" The vehicles honked behind him. 

Stunned, he looked ahead to see that the light had turned green. He quickly started the car and drove off. 

Soon, he was in the hospital parking lot, looking at the building with nervousness. "Why did I come empty-handed? This is a confession. I have to get him something..." 

He quickly did a Google search. 

The hospital was quite far from any gift shops or flower shops. 

"Shit… I should have planned this better."

He jumped out of the car anxiously, kicking the wheel. Suddenly, a small patch of dahlias caught his eye. 

'Ah, flowers!'

He ran up to them and stood by, looking at the beautiful white flowers. 

"They won't mind if they lose a flower or two," he said, plucking two flowers. "Two seems too little…" He plucked another two. "Four doesn't sound auspicious."

Gritting his teeth, he quickly plucked the whole bunch.

Looking at the bare ground, he grimaced. "I'll… I'll plant some seeds later... I promise."

He took off into the hospital happily, clutching his newly plucked flowers. 

But soon, he came across a hurdle. 

"Visiting hours are over. Sorry, sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the nurse dully typed something on her computer and said without looking up. 

"What?" Muchen gazed at the time. It was six in the evening. "It's not that late."

"Sir, it's hospital protocol..." the nurse looked at his face blankly.

"Miss!" He tapped on the counter. "Please... please just let me in."

"Mu... Muchen..."

Muchen cast a smile her way. "You will let me in, right?"

The nurse gasped, cupping her wide-open mouth.

"I can give you my autograph. Just please… please let me in."

The nurse looked around and suddenly moved close. "Oh my god, you're real… flowers?" Her eyes fell on the bunch of flowers he was holding.

Muchen guiltily hid it behind his back. "I got them at the grocery store. Yes... I brought them..."

The girl nodded with a blank look in her eyes. 

"Can I go in, please?"

"Y-yes…"

"Oh, thank you so much." Muchen grinned at her. "Please don't tell anyone I'm here."

In his hurry, he had actually forgotten to wear his mask. Thankfully, the hospital was quite empty because it was late in the evening, and visiting hours were over. Only the hospital staff were around, and many of the nurses were busy tending to patients. Only the counter nurse had noticed his face.

He quickly found a kerchief and tied it around his face, hiding his lower half. 

Soon, he was in front of Yunfeng's room. He took a deep breath. 'Calm down... don't ramble. Just ask him... no small talk. I need to start with small talk. I can't just abruptly ask him to be my boyfriend… I have to ease into the conversation.'

"Wow, you have abs..." a soft voice was heard in the room.

Muchen frowned. 'That is not Yunfeng's voice.'

He placed his head against the door with a frown. 

"Yeah... I guess so," Yunfeng answered casually.

"I wish I had abs too. Look how flat I am. I can barely bring any flesh to my body. Ahh, touching them feels so nice."

"Stop, that tickles," Yunfeng chuckled.

"Does it? What if I touch you here?"

"Jai~ stop that."

Muchen gaped at the door. "Jai? Who's Jai?" He slammed the door open and walked in.

The sight in front of him made him freeze in his steps.

Yunfeng was on his back, busily scrolling through his phone, and a young man was lying on top of him, lifting Yunfeng's shirt up. "Waaa, look at your pecs!"

The boy actually reached Yunfeng's chest!!!

Rage filled his being. He rushed to them, grabbed the boy by his collar, and pulled him away.

"What's going on here? Who is this, Yunfeng?" With a twitching smile, he gazed at Yunfeng.

The young man seemed surprised to see him here. His phone actually slid off his hand and fell flat on his face.

"Ow!"

"You okay?" Muchen immediately let go of the pest's clothes and went to Yunfeng. "Does it hurt?" He gently massaged his pink nose. "It's not broken, right?"

"Muchen..." Yunfeng smiled up at him. "You're here."

Just that smile alone lit up the whole room. 

Muchen couldn't help but fall for him just a bit more. He gently cupped his face. "Hmm..."

"Ahem, ahem..." Jai gazed at them with his brows raised. "Who is this?"

Muchen stood up straight, adjusting his coat. "I'm Muchen... Yunfeng's friend. Who might you be?"

"I'm his BEST friend, Jai," Jai leaned down, lying on Yunfeng practically. "I never knew he had other friends."

"Well, he does."

"Did you just dig those off the ground?" Jai pointed to the flowers in his hand.

Muchen guiltily hid them again. "That's none of your business. Young man, I would like to talk to Yunfeng alone. Can you give us some privacy?"

Jai grinned up at him. "No~"