After Qin Huai paid and collected the medicine, he returned to the observation room to find that Mu Nan was already getting up from the bed. A nearby nurse was helping him with the IV drip, so Qin Huai quickly went over: "What's wrong?"
After receiving fluids for a while, Mu Nan's condition improved significantly; he no longer felt dizzy with every movement. Seeing Qin Huai, he gave him a reassuring smile: "Brother, the beds are scarce, and others need them more, so it's fine if we sit here and get the injections."
Qin Huai looked around and saw that there were still two bottles of fluid that hadn't been hung yet, so he stepped forward to take the IV drip from the nurse: "Let me handle it."
The nurse was also busy, not even having time to tidy up the beds, and quickly wheeled the bed to the emergency room. Qin Huai helped Mu Nan over, only to find that there were no chairs, just a corner with beds and many people sitting on the floor getting injections. It was better than nothing, so he helped Mu Nan find a spot, letting him lean against his shoulder to rest: "Do you want to lie down for a bit? You can rest your head on my lap."
Mu Nan shook his head: "It's uncomfortable to lie down like that; just let me lean. How much longer for the rest of the medicine to finish?"
Qin Huai looked up: "At least an hour and a half to two hours."
Mu Nan sighed: "What a hassle."
Qin Huai put his arm around Mu Nan's shoulders and gently rubbed his hair: "It's my fault. In this heat, I should have thought about the issue with food outside. I was careless."
Mu Nan looked up slightly: "You're not Superman; you can't anticipate everything. You ate the same food. Are you okay?"
Qin Huai replied: "I'm fine, except for being a bit shaken by how scared I was. Everything else is good."
Mu Nan fell silent. The disparity was stark—just eating a few bites led to an ambulance ride, especially under the current strained medical resources. If he hadn't been so dizzy, feeling like his heart was leaping out of his throat, he might have thought he was wasting medical resources.
Seeing the crowded hospital, Mu Nan was worried: "Brother, there are so many people." He had never seen this firsthand before; all the information had come from the internet or others. Now, experiencing the situation in the hospital directly was much more impactful.
Qin Huai responded: "We won't be going out once we get back."
Before entering the hospital, they knew the heat was severe and many people were dying, but knowing it and seeing it firsthand were different. During the day, almost no one was outside, but at night, people gathered downstairs, chatting and cooling off with fans. Apart from the unusual daytime heat, their lives seemed to have only shifted to a night-time schedule.
Seeing the hospital's battle against death, they realized deeply that the world had truly changed.
Cars were hard to come by at the hospital entrance. With daily occurrences of vehicle fires and explosions, fewer people were driving. No matter how much money one had, it wasn't as important as staying alive. Qin Huai waited on the roadside for a while and, seeing no cars available, squatted down in front of Mu Nan: "Get on my back."
Mu Nan resisted: "Let's walk forward together. It's only a fifteen-minute walk from here to home, not far."
Qin Huai wasn't listening. He pulled Mu Nan's hand around his neck and had him climb onto his back: "Can't you just listen for once?"
Mu Nan said: "It's so hot, and you're carrying me. What if you get heatstroke from the extra weight? I can walk on my own."
Qin Huai smiled: "I'm in good health. As long as you don't scare me too often, I'll live a long life."
Mu Nan chuckled as he lay on Qin Huai's back: "Then you live to a hundred, and I'll live to ninety-eight."
Despite the heat, Mu Nan felt very secure lying on Qin Huai's back. The rhythm of walking was somewhat soothing. By the time Mu Nan woke up from talking, they were already downstairs waiting for the elevator.
They were talking to Yu Zibai and Jian Chu, who were regulars for this time of night. Jian Chu usually finished work around 11:30 p.m., coming home around midnight. Because of the nocturnal schedule, Yu Zibai often went out around that time to buy food, including dinner for himself and late-night snacks for Jian Chu.
Seeing Qin Huai carrying Mu Nan back, Jian Chu asked with concern, "What happened?" In such hot weather, unless there's a special situation, no one would want their older brother to carry them, especially since Mu Nan had a bandage over the injection site on his hand.
Qin Huai explained, "He had food poisoning and is feeling unwell."
An uncle waiting for the elevator couldn't help but interject, "With the high temperatures lately, food spoils quickly. Just today, the fried chicken stand at our neighborhood entrance was smashed up. It's because a child from the building next door ate a piece of fried chicken from there last night and ended up with severe vomiting and diarrhea in the middle of the night. He's still in the hospital, and his condition seems pretty serious—dehydration and shock. In this weather, losing fluids like that is really scary."
Jian Chu was surprised, "It's that serious? I wondered why there was so much food piled up on the ground at the intersection."
The uncle continued, "It's serious enough that the parents got so upset they smashed the stand. These days, every child is precious. That said, the stand owner probably feels wronged too. Food spoils so quickly now. Even home-cooked food can turn bad if it's left out too long, even with the air conditioning on. Outdoor food vendors have their oversights. It's better to cook at home and buy frozen meat. Fresh meat spoils so easily, you wouldn't believe it. The weather's really making it tough."
Jian Chu glanced at the food Yu Zibai was carrying and then looked at Yu Zibai. They were both hesitant about eating it.
Yu Zibai had initially thought about helping Qin Huai since he was carrying Mu Nan, but seeing Mu Nan get down, he decided to follow Jian Chu inside. Whether it was the food spoiling quickly or just the unsettling comments from the uncle, they were both unsure.
Jian Chu took a bite of the shredded meat and said uncertainly, "Does it taste off to you?"
Yu Zibai tried a bite as well: "It does seem a bit strange." The taste wasn't obvious, but there was a slight hint of sourness.
Looking at the two bowls of shredded meat fried rice, Jian Chu was reluctant to waste it: "Should we still eat it? It's thirty yuan for both bowls."
Yu Zibai said, "Maybe it's better to skip it. If there's an issue with the food, it could be harmful and expensive. We have some money for food, but we definitely can't afford a hospital visit."
Though reluctant, Jian Chu knew it was better not to risk it. He sighed and had Yu Zibai pack away the suspicious fried rice, then went to the freezer to get a pack of frozen dumplings: "I think we should get a freezer, even a second-hand one. They're not too expensive and can store more frozen food. Our current fridge is too small and doesn't hold much. As that uncle said, it's better to buy frozen meat. Fresh meat spoils too quickly."
Yu Zibai agreed: "Okay, I'll look for a second-hand freezer." Just then, he received a transfer from Jian Chu—nearly ten thousand yuan.
Jian Chu said, "Buy it. I probably won't have time while I'm at work. After getting the freezer, buy more food to stock up. I've saved this much money, so make sure you shop around and get the best deal."
Yu Zibai laughed: "So, does this mean you're responsible for earning money while I'm in charge of looking good?"
Jian Chu rolled his eyes: "Let me see you dress up as a beautiful woman first."
Although tired, Mu Nan still insisted on taking a shower when they got home. Qin Huai quickly boiled some hot water and, after Mu Nan finished showering, mixed some cold water to make a warm drink. He checked the instructions on the medicine and handed a few pills to Mu Nan: "Take these and rest for a while. Don't eat anything today. If you're hungry, just bear with it. For the next couple of days, stick to porridge. Avoid heavy foods until your stomach is better."
After taking the medicine, Mu Nan lay down and saw Qin Huai still organizing the medicine boxes. Mu Nan sat up again and took out a bowl of rib soup from his space: "Brother."
Qin Huai looked back, somewhat helpless: "Stop worrying about me. I'll get something to eat if I'm hungry."
Mu Nan said, "No way. When I fall asleep, you'll definitely stay with me so you won't wake me up, and you won't cook anything yourself. You should eat this; I'll watch you."
Unable to resist, Qin Huai ate the food that Mu Nan had brought out. But before he could finish a bowl of soup, the person who wanted to watch him eat had already fallen asleep. Qin Huai pulled the blanket over Mu Nan, sat by the bed, and watched him for a while, making sure he was sleeping peacefully and comfortably before carefully getting up.
Earlier, the nurse had mentioned that Mu Nan might experience abdominal pain and diarrhea, but since he had barely eaten the beef stew and vomited it soon after, he didn't have the symptoms the nurse had warned about. Qin Huai felt relieved, but still kept Mu Nan on a bland diet of plain porridge for two days to help his stomach recover.
The day after they returned from the hospital, the beef stew place they had eaten at appeared on the local news. An elderly person who had eaten there had severe vomiting and diarrhea that night and passed away due to acute symptoms. Besides the elderly person, almost all customers who had eaten there in the past two days either ended up in the hospital or experienced severe symptoms. Because of the high number of cases, complaints from affected families, and media coverage, the story gained significant attention.
The comments under the news article were quite extreme.
The owner of the beef stew place felt very wronged. Their beef was fresh, purchased from a market butcher with whom they had a longstanding partnership. They didn't use frozen or minced meat. Their restaurant had been established for decades, known for its fresh ingredients and good reputation. Even after reopening post-pandemic, they had no reason to deceive customers, and they even showed reporters their daily receipts for fresh beef purchases.
However, no matter how much they proved their case, the fact remained that their food had caused problems, and they were held responsible.
When Mu Nan saw this news, Qin Huai was drying clothes. He quickly called Qin Huai over: "Look, it's not that I have a weak constitution; their place really had issues. So many people got sick from eating there. Wow, I'm glad I noticed the taste was off and didn't eat much. I saw in the news that experts are saying the current temperatures are a breeding ground for various bacteria. It looks like we need to keep everything in the freezer; food spoils so quickly outside."
In his previous life, Mu Nan had also been recently discharged from the hospital due to heatstroke at around this time. Unable to find Qin Huai and facing the terrifying high temperatures, he focused solely on stocking up on food, barely having the mood to eat out. Although he had seen many news reports about food quickly spoiling due to high temperatures, his concern had mostly been about food preservation and shortages. He never expected that in this life, he would still end up in the hospital.
Qin Huai glanced at him: "You think you can just get discharged after two injections and be all proud of it?"
Mu Nan pouted and turned his back to Qin Huai: "You should be called Qin Duan Duan, not Qin Huai. You're so good at rebuking."
After hanging up the clothes, Qin Huai passed by the bed and casually picked up the blanket that Mu Nan had kicked to the foot of the bed: "Cover your stomach with it."
Mu Nan quickly pulled the blanket over himself: "Okay, Qin Mom."
Qin Huai gave him a sidelong glance: "No manners."
When the door was knocked on, Mu Nan thought it was the water delivery. He had planned to buy water yesterday, but ended up in the hospital halfway there. Seeing that the store was running a community group buy with free delivery for orders over two boxes, Mu Nan decided to buy several boxes of various mineral waters and beverages. Though the price had increased, the convenience of home delivery was worth it.
As Mu Nan was about to get out of bed to open the door, Qin Huai pressed him back down: "Lie still, don't move around."
Mu Nan sighed, thinking that if someone didn't know better, they'd think he was paralyzed from the waist down, considering how Qin Huai seemed to do everything for him.
Qin Huai also thought it was the water delivery. But when he opened the door, it was Jiang Xuan, whom he had missed in B City previously.
Jiang Xuan was quite a handsome man, wearing rimless glasses, and had a gentle and elegant demeanor when he smiled. His considerate and accommodating nature made Qin Huai feel that, while Jiang Xuan might not be able to provide extensive help, he would certainly assist Mu Nan if needed. Jiang Xuan's face was deceptively charming, especially when he talked about Mu Nan with an air of unworried familiarity, showcasing his acting skills to the fullest.
Qin Huai thought that after their last phone call, Jiang Xuan would not come looking for him again, but here he was, showing up at his door.
Seeing Jiang Xuan, Qin Huai's face remained expressionless: "What does this have to do with me?"
Jiang Xuan appeared somewhat aggrieved and patient: "I came to find you last time, but no one was home. After returning to the company, Lu Sen said you had left. I also resigned, and the handover process was delayed, so I'm only back now."
Qin Huai stared at him coldly: "And how is that my concern?"
Jiang Xuan furrowed his brows and asked, "Is Mu Nan at home? There are some things that I think we need to discuss together."
Qin Huai asked, "When Mu Nan tried to contact you, why did you say you couldn't reach me?"
Jiang Xuan took out his prepared explanation: "Did you believe him just because he said so? Yes, I haven't been in contact with him in years. When you left, he rejected everything related to you. I tried to find him and told him to reach out if he needed anything. He was very angry and told me to leave. Kids at that age are naturally rebellious; if I tried to get close, he'd only resent me more. But I asked his classmates to help look after him and left them my number for emergencies. Although I haven't appeared in front of him, I've been keeping track of his life. Aren't those photos I sent you real? If you don't believe me, you can contact his middle and high school classmates and ask!"
Qin Huai didn't expect Jiang Xuan to be so evasive: "Do you think I should trust you or Mu Nan?"
Jiang Xuan showed a wounded and self-deprecating expression, but his eyes remained determined: "After so many years as friends, Qin Huai, since I'm here now and everyone is present, let's sort things out together."
Qin Huai didn't want to waste time: "Jiang Xuan, don't take me for a fool. Get lost."
As Qin Huai turned to go back inside, Jiang Xuan grabbed him: "Qin Huai!"
Qin Huai shoved him back out of the door: "Do you think I'm someone with a good temper?"
Jiang Xuan, unwilling to give up, stared at Qin Huai: "You won't listen to my explanation or look at the evidence I've provided. Qin Huai, haven't I done enough for you over the years? Do you even care?"
To Jiang Xuan's shock, Qin Huai quickly closed the distance and delivered a punch to his face: "Put away that hypocritical attitude of yours."
Qin Huai then pulled Jiang Xuan up by his collar and punched him again, causing his glasses to fly off.
Jiang Xuan was stunned by Qin Huai's sudden violence. From the moment he met Qin Huai, he was captivated by him. Among a group of immature teenagers, Qin Huai was mature, responsible, and steady. While others were panicking over minor mistakes, Qin Huai remained calm and found ways to make amends. While others were troubled by exam results, Qin Huai was already planning his future. Qin Huai's background and upbringing meant he couldn't be carefree like others, and it was precisely his background that made him unique during their school days.
Jiang Xuan was drawn to everything about Qin Huai. He felt that as long as Qin Huai was around, there was nothing he couldn't handle. Initially, he was attracted like a moth to a flame, instinctively wanting to become like Qin Huai. Over time, he realized his deeper feelings—what he truly wanted was to have someone like Qin Huai in his life.
He even envied Mu Nan, who, because of their neighborly connection, was within Qin Huai's protective circle. Mu Nan, a person with no direct relation to him, could naturally call Qin Huai "brother," and accept his protection and care without a second thought, even expressing his temper without fear of pushing Qin Huai away. Jiang Xuan's jealousy was intense and irrational. When Qin Huai left, he maliciously thought that time would eventually erode everything. He would indulge Mu Nan's arrogance and eagerly wait for the day when Mu Nan would regret realizing that Qin Huai was no longer his.
But he never imagined that the perfect Qin Huai in his perception could also raise his fists in anger.
After delivering two fierce punches to Jiang Xuan, Qin Huai pulled him up from the floor, gripping his neck and pinning him against the wall. The bulging veins on the back of his hand showed the intensity of his effort: "If you hadn't come to find me, I would have pretended I never knew you. Since you did, then let's settle this now. Jiang Xuan, you should be grateful that Nan Nan is safe at home waiting for me to return. Otherwise, I would make you pay with your life for your foolishness and hypocrisy!"
After finishing his words, Qin Huai threw Jiang Xuan roughly to the ground. The pent-up anger he had been harboring was finally partially released. The thought of what might have happened if he hadn't returned and left Mu Nan to face this alone made him feel murderous. He was never a good person; he only cared about that one person. If anything happened to that person, legal and moral considerations meant nothing to him.
The commotion in the hallway was loud. Even though Jiang Xuan was the only one being beaten, the noise was considerable. Their neighbors came out to check the situation. Dr. Xu took a glance at the two of them, saw that it wasn't a matter of life or death, and went back inside. Yu Zibai asked, "Need any help?"
Qin Huai exhaled and touched his reddened hand from hitting Jiang Xuan: "No need, it's a small matter."
Yu Zibai nodded and went back into his room, showing no intention of intervening.
Looking at Jiang Xuan, who was bruised and bleeding on the floor, Qin Huai coldly said, "Get lost."
Afterward, he turned around and saw Mu Nan standing at the door. Qin Huai frowned slightly: "Didn't I tell you to stay in bed and not get up?"
Mu Nan glanced at the mess on the floor, grinning and giving Qin Huai a thumbs-up: "You're awesome, bro!"
Qin Huai patted him lightly on the head, completely ignoring the man still sprawled out in the hallway. He closed the iron door and pushed Mu Nan back into the room: "How long were you watching the commotion?"
Mu Nan said, "I saw you pinning him by the neck and throwing him out. I thought you were still at the door getting the water. I wondered why you were taking so long to come in. I didn't buy much, as soon as I went out, I saw you beating someone. I've never seen you fight before. Those martial arts lessons weren't in vain. You're so cool, bro!"
Qin Huai touched Mu Nan, noticing that he was still cool, indicating that he had just been outside briefly. He pushed him onto the bed: "Are you hungry? You only had a bowl of congee this afternoon. Do you want to eat some noodles?"
Mu Nan said, "Not really. I'm not in the mood for bland stuff. What did Jiang Xuan come to find you for? He's matured quite a bit, doesn't seem like the same person from when we were kids. If I saw him on the street, I wouldn't recognize him."
Qin Huai replied, "He came to make excuses and tell some nonsense that sounds fake."
Mu Nan was curious: "So why was he lying to me?"
Qin Huai glanced at him and smiled: "They say people who are sick have abnormal thought processes."
Mu Nan clicked his tongue: "Will he come to bother you again?"
Qin Huai said, "Ignore him. If he bothers me again, I'll deal with him again, until he's too scared to come back."