nucmednet Chapter 930 How Are You?
Chapter 930 How Are You?
The birthday banquet in the courtyard was in full swing, and the dishes on the table were changed a new time.
The roast duck, glistening with dark brown oil, and the steamed grouper nestled among emerald green scallions, even the white porcelain plate holding the dessert exudes elegance.
The sounds of guests clinking glasses and exchanging toasts mingled with the babbling of the stream flowing over the artificial hill, spreading in the evening breeze with a relaxed warmth.
Gu Ze sat in the corner, his fingertips gripping the rim of his wine glass for a long time.
The glass of red wine was almost half empty. He swirled it, and the wine clinging to the glass was like his thoughts at that moment—sticky and unable to fall.
His gaze never left the main table—Mu Xiaoji's gesture of serving food to Jiang Chengyu was as natural as if he had done it a thousand times.
When Jiang Chengyu was socializing, he would always subtly turn his shoulder to avoid the serving chopsticks that Mu Xiaoji offered.
But as the other person withdrew their hand, their fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of Mu Xiaoji's hand.
That tiny touch felt like a needle pricking Gu Ze's heart.
Jealousy is something that, once it takes hold, is impossible to suppress. It creeps up his veins, making his gums ache and even the food on the table lose its flavor.
He watched as Jiang Chengyu stood up to return the toasts to the guests, his straight back drawing sharp lines in the sunlight.
Listening to him chatting and laughing quietly with Teng Zijing, the familiarity in his voice was something I had never heard before.
What made him even more uneasy was Mu Xiaoji—the man hadn't said a word, but a faint smile always lingered on his lips.
When her gaze fell on Jiang Chengyu, it carried a gentle, almost indulgent quality.
It was as if Jiang Chengyu's wine, the food in his bowl, and even the frequency of his breathing were all under his control.
"Why should I? He's mine," Gu Ze muttered to himself.
The air in the corner grew increasingly stuffy. Gu Ze suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the bluestone slab with a harsh sound.
People around him were looking over, but he didn't care. He picked up his wine glass, took a deep breath, and walked towards the main table.
He had to do something; at the very least, he couldn't just stand by and watch, making things worse for himself.
Gu Ze, holding a wine glass, walked unsteadily toward the head of the table.
He deliberately slowed his pace, a perfectly timed smile spreading across his face—
Not overly enthusiastic, nor aloof, but the kind of "harmless" persona he's practiced countless times in front of the camera.
He bowed slightly, gently swirling the wine glass in his hand, the liquid shimmering with tiny sparkles at the bottom.
His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze: "Grandpa, I am Gu Ze."
May your good fortune flow like a never-ending river, and your longevity be as evergreen as a pine tree.
The old man, who had just been persuaded by Deng Zhouyi to drink a cup of tea, looked up and sized him up upon hearing this.
His cloudy yet sharp gaze lingered on his face for a moment before he slowly nodded: "You're Gu Ze from Longteng Film and Television Company, right?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Ze's eyes, and he quickly nodded, his posture becoming even more respectful:
"Yes, I never expected that you, sir, would still know my name. It is truly an honor for this junior."
"I happened to see one of your spy dramas," the old man recalled, his tone tinged with approval.
"Your portrayal of the undercover agent, the struggle and determination in your eyes, was so vivid and it reminded me of a past experience from my youth."
"That was just a coincidence." Gu Ze lowered his posture at the opportune moment, his eyes slightly lowered.
"In the end, it is because you are a man of deep feeling that you can have such a profound understanding of the character. I am just benefiting from the role."
These words were perfectly worded, flattering the old man without appearing arrogant.
The old man smiled and waved his hand: "I'm getting old. This wine is a vintage that Junhao stored in his hometown."
"I'm already a bit tipsy. You young people, eat and drink as much as you like, don't hold back."
Gu Ze responded with a "Yes," then turned his gaze to Teng Zijing, who was sitting next to Jiang Chengyu.
He picked up the wine bottle on the table, smiled, and walked over: "Master Jing, shall I refill your wine?"
Teng Zijing picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly and deliberately;
Hearing this, she looked up, her gaze like ice, staring directly at Gu Ze, her tone so cold it could freeze the air:
"If you eat and drink well, you'll naturally have no worries. But if someone's too clever for their own good and tries to cause trouble here—"
He paused, tapping his fingertips lightly on the rim of his glass. "You should know that being forced to drink a penalty shot is not a pleasant experience."
Gu Ze's smile froze instantly, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head, and a layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out on his back.
He hadn't expected Teng Zijing to be so disrespectful; the warning in his words was practically a blatant, direct attack.
His hand trembled, and he almost dropped the bottle. He instinctively took a half step back, and his lower back bumped into someone with a "thud".
"Watch out." A deep voice warned from behind, and then a hand firmly supported his shoulder.
Gu Ze turned around and saw Jiang Chengyu. He had stood up at some point, his face expressionless.
He simply looked at him and said in a flat tone, "Gu Ze, be careful. The alcohol in today's drink is quite strong and has a powerful aftereffect. You look so pale, you're probably already tipsy."
As he spoke, he naturally took the glass of wine that had just been poured from Gu Ze's hand, "Master Jing, I'll drink this glass of wine for you."
Before he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing. The movement was swift and decisive, without even a furrow of his brow.
Gu Ze, as if he had found a lifeline, quickly followed up on what he was saying, his voice carrying a deliberately feigned weakness and grievance:
"Thank you, Cheng Yu... My head is really spinning, I can barely stand anymore, shall we go home?"
Jiang Chengyu put down his wine glass, nodded, then turned to the old man and bowed slightly.
"Sir, my friend has had too much to drink and probably can't stay here any longer. I'll take him home first and then come to apologize another day."
The old man looked at Jiang Chengyu, then at Gu Ze, whose face had turned pale. A knowing glint flashed in his eyes. He waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, be careful on the road."
"Thank you, Grandpa." Jiang Chengyu responded, then turned and helped Gu Ze to leave.
Gu Ze paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Mu Xiaoji with a complicated expression—
The other person was looking down, eating the mountain of food piled on Jiang Chengyu's plate.
He seemed completely unconcerned about the farce unfolding here, not even lifting an eyelid.
Gu Ze felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his heart, like being pricked by needles.
But he clenched his teeth tightly, looking as if he wanted to devour Mu Xiaoji whole.
Gu Ze paused for a moment, then a gentle smile returned to his face, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.
He looked in Mu Xiaoji's direction and called out, "Mr. Mu, please enjoy your meal."
I'm really too drunk to hold on any longer, so I'll have to take my leave. Cheng Yu, let's go!
Jiang Chengyu nodded and helped Gu Ze prepare to leave.
Jiang Shuo, who was at the same table, didn't touch his chopsticks at all, his eyes fixed on Jiang Chengyu.
He didn't understand why his father had become like this.
He wondered if the young father in front of him was really that cold-blooded.
She left her father, abandoned the person who raised her from childhood, and even returned Shengxue to him.
The grievances in my heart surged like a tide, and my eyes were already red like a little rabbit drenched in rain, with moisture swirling on my eyelashes, stubbornly refusing to fall.
Seeing that Jiang Chengyu was helping Gu Ze away, the father hung his head in despair.
Silently, she picked up the leftover food that she had just put on her father's plate, which hadn't been touched, and chewed it silently, bite by bite.
That quiet demeanor, as if swallowing all the coldness Jiang Chengyu had left behind, made Jiang Shuo's heart tighten.
A nameless rage surged to the top of Jiang Shuo's head without him even thinking.
He gathered a surge of true energy in his hand and swung it fiercely towards Jiang Chengyu.
"Jiang Shuo!" Zhou Xue exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands in disbelief.
Just as Mu Xiaoji was about to pick up some food, she saw the plate, covered in food juice and oil, fly whistling toward Jiang Chengyu.
At the critical moment, Mu Xiaoji almost instinctively stood up and stepped aside to shield Jiang Chengyu.
He was a head shorter than Jiang Chengyu, and when he blocked the plate, it hit Jiang Chengyu squarely on the temple.
With a muffled thud, the porcelain plate shattered. Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Jiang Chengyu's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively reached out to help, only to see bright red blood instantly seeping from Mu Xiaoji's temple.
Mixed with greasy vegetable juice, it gushed down his cheeks, dripping onto his light gray suit, spreading out in glaring red patches.
"President Mu!" Teng Zijing suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.
Mu Xiaoji groaned as he was hit, his vision went black for a moment, and he swayed.
He instinctively tried to steady himself, but Jiang Chengyu grabbed his arm. The other man's hand was trembling, and the force was so great that he almost crushed his bones.
"How are you?" Jiang Chengyu's voice was terribly hoarse, and his usually calm eyes...
At this moment, he was filled with panic and lingering fear, as well as a trace of panic that he himself was unaware of.
Mu Xiaoji wanted to smile and say it was nothing, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she felt increasingly dizzy.
His temples felt like they'd been hit by a heavy hammer, the pain excruciating. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
The scene before my eyes began to spin, and finally I was plunged into complete darkness, and I collapsed softly.
"Little Ji!"
"President Mu!" Gu Ze exclaimed.
Two gasps rang out simultaneously. Jiang Chengyu swiftly scooped him up in his arms; the person in his arms was light, yet his body was burning hot, making Jiang Chengyu's heart race.
The warm blood was still flowing down, staining half of his face. The shocking sight made his stomach churn with heartache.
Jiang Shuo was also stunned. He hadn't expected to hit Mu Xiaoji. Looking at the blinding red stain,
Tears finally streamed down her face, and she cried out in a sob, "Dad..."
Gu Ze stood to the side, his face, which had been pale, instantly losing all traces of alcohol.
All the scheming and smugness from before vanished, leaving only astonishment and a trace of panic.
The old man slammed his fist on the table, trembling with anger: "Nonsense! What are you all standing there for? Get him to the hospital right now!"
Deng Zhouyi looked at the old man who was yelling at him, put down the wine bottle in his hand,
He hurriedly replied, "Yes, Grandpa..." Before he could finish speaking, he rushed to get the car.
Teng Zijing had already taken out his phone; his fingers were almost unresponsive from the effort.
I dialed several times before finally getting through to my private doctor, and yelled into the other end:
"Quick! Come to the Teng family's old house! Someone is injured! There's a lot of blood!"
Jiang Chengyu carried Mu Xiaoji and walked towards the gate without delaying a step, his steps so fast he almost ran.
The person in his arms had their eyes tightly closed, their face as pale as paper, and only the blood flowing down their face proved that they were still alive.
Jiang Chengyu felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, causing him so much pain that he could hardly breathe.
He looked down at Mu Xiaoji's blood-stained face, the scene from just moments ago replaying in his mind—
If Mu Xiaoji hadn't stood in front of him, he would be the one falling right now.