Chapter 18 You’ve Spoiled Me

Song Jingmo didn’t speak, only quietly watched the person on the bed, patiently waiting for more.

“But look at me like this—you also bear some unavoidable responsibility.”

“If you hadn’t spoiled me, I wouldn’t have ended up like this…”

At these words, Song Jingmo couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

He appreciated the self-awareness.

Between them, the initiative always belonged to Lu Er.

He was long accustomed to Lu Er’s “use-and-discard” habit.

After all, Lu Er’s injury was mostly healed now, and as his attending doctor, it was about time he stepped back.

At seven in the evening, when Song Jingmo pushed open the door, Lu Er was lounging on the bed, bored, scrolling through his phone.

His eyes lit up briefly at the sight of Song Jingmo, but soon returned to a calm expression.

“Why are you here?”

“Just came to check on you,” Song Jingmo walked over to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good… just a bit bored.” Lu Er put down his phone. “I want to take a walk in the garden.”

Song Jingmo nodded. “Sure.”

The hospital was quiet at night. In the garden, only a few patients strolled, accompanied by family.

The early winter breeze carried a slight chill, making people instinctively wrap themselves tighter.

Lu Er stole a glance at Song Jingmo beside him.

He was in a simple white coat, looking especially cool under the moonlight—more about style than warmth.

“Dr. Song!” A crisp female voice broke the silence.

They both turned to see a young girl in a pink nurse uniform jogging over, her face lit with a sweet smile. “What a coincidence! You’re taking a walk too?”

Song Jingmo nodded slightly. “Accompanying a patient.”

The nurse studied them carefully; her eyes widened. “You’re Lu Er! Oh my god, can I take a photo with you?”

Lu Er forced a smile. “Sorry, not convenient.”

Honestly, he was just annoyed at her infatuated expression.

Clearly, she liked Song Jingmo, but she came over asking to take a photo with him.

What kind of logic is that? Wanting both? So greedy.

The nurse seemed a bit disappointed but quickly shifted her attention back to Song Jingmo. “Dr. Song, maybe next week we can have a meal together?”

“Depends on my schedule.”

Considering Lu Er was present, a blunt refusal would hurt her pride, so Song Jingmo’s reply was tactful.

The nurse lingered, chatting with him a few more words before finally leaving reluctantly.

Lu Er thought that was the only little incident, but in the next half hour, several female staff came by to flirt.

Some pretended to bump into him by chance, some used work as an excuse—but all their gazes toward Song Jingmo were full of desire.

Lu Er’s expression grew darker and darker.

Song Jingmo was clearly there to accompany him on a walk, yet he kept chatting with different female staff, occasionally offering warm smiles—completely treating Lu Er as a decoration.

It was obvious he was flaunting how desirable he was.

Song Jingmo naturally noticed Lu Er’s rising irritation but didn’t immediately try to soothe him.

Earlier that afternoon, Lu Er’s words about keeping distance had annoyed him. Now, letting Lu Er get a little upset was a fair balance.

Finally, after seeing off one female doctor, Song Jingmo walked over to the silently sulking Lu Er. “Let’s continue our walk.”

Lu Er shot him a cold glance. “I’m tired. Going to sleep.”

With that, he turned and strode toward the ward building, his pace hardly befitting someone who had been injured.

Song Jingmo watched his retreating back, sighed softly, and followed.

After escorting Lu Er back to his room, Song Jingmo hesitated at the door.

Usually, even without a night shift, he would stay in the room with Lu Er.

But tonight, he felt he shouldn’t continue doing this.

“Rest well. I’m leaving.”

Lu Er lay on the bed, back to him, without responding.

Song Jingmo gently closed the door and left the hospital.

He had been living at the hospital for over a week, rarely going home, so walking home now felt oddly unfamiliar.

Back in the ward, Lu Er immediately sat up when he heard the door close, hardly believing Song Jingmo had really left.

Half an hour later, he picked up his phone and dialed: “Dr. Shen, come to the hospital. I’m checking out.”

The next morning, Song Jingmo arrived at the hospital as usual and habitually headed to the VIP ward.

He pushed open the door, only to see a neatly made empty bed.

The head nurse approached. “Dr. Song, Mr. Lu checked out early this morning.”

Song Jingmo frowned but said nothing, handing her the matcha cake he was carrying.

“Oh, it’s not easy to get in line at this bakery. Thank you, Dr. Song.”

Even knowing the cake wasn’t specifically for her, it didn’t dampen her happiness. Who could resist such a beautiful dessert?

After discharge, Lu Er rested at home for a few days before flying to H City for filming.

The filming schedule was tight. He spent a month and a half on set and finally wrapped before the Lunar New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, Lu Er flew overnight back to A City, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows watching the fireworks.

His phone kept pinging with New Year greetings—from family, friends, colleagues—but none from Song Jingmo.

At that moment, a message popped up in his university alumni group:

“Tomorrow at 5 PM, Jiahuang Entertainment. Let’s gather! Reply in the group if you’re coming!”

The chat immediately buzzed with responses.

Yin Siyao jumped in:

“Song Jingmo is back in town. I’ll invite him tomorrow too. Single ladies, make your move—send me a red envelope if it works out.”

Lu Er’s heart skipped a beat.

The next afternoon, Yin Siyao called Song Jingmo:

“Dr. Song, are you coming to the alumni gathering today?”

Song Jingmo’s voice was indifferent. “No. I like peace and quiet.”

“Come on!”

Yin Siyao had a sudden idea. “I just saw on Weibo that Lu Er finished his new drama yesterday and returned to A City. Chu Mian and Jiang Sheng will also be there. Aren’t you worried he’ll pick up bad habits from them?”

A brief pause, then Song Jingmo’s calm voice: “Address.”

At the same time, Lu Er received a call from Chu Mian and Jiang Sheng:

“Lu Superstar, you must come tonight. Stop acting like a celebrity, or we’ll stop being your friends.”

Lu Er thought it better to go out than rot at home.

At five in the evening, Song Jingmo arrived at the Jiahuang Entertainment VIP room, immediately causing a stir.

Not long after he sat down, the door opened again.

Chu Mian, Jiang Sheng, and Lu Er walked in, arm in arm, laughing loudly.

Seeing Song Jingmo in the center, Chu Mian and Jiang Sheng reflexively withdrew their hands from Lu Er’s shoulders and quickly found an empty corner to sit.

Lu Er rolled his eyes at these two unloyal friends. Truly, one dies, the other survives.

But really, it wasn’t their fault.

Back in school, the three rich kids often skipped class and got into fights together, always getting caught by Song Jingmo.

Later, Song Jingmo forbade Lu Er from hanging out with them.

But whenever Lu Er quarreled with Song Jingmo, he would play with them, only ending with a scolding from Song Jingmo.

Over the years, that instinctive fear of Song Jingmo had been ingrained.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Er deliberately acted calm and chose a seat far from Song Jingmo.

Song Jingmo glanced at him—two months apart, and he looked thinner.

When his gaze landed on Jiang Sheng and Chu Mian, his expression darkened.