Chapter 3 Old-Time Brothers

Song Jingmo finished seeing his last patient and left work without a hint of hesitation.

Lu Er, drenched in sweat and clutching his payment slip, staggered toward the cashier.

The long line moved forward slowly, each step amplifying the heat and discomfort in his body.

The cries of children and the anxious shouts of their family members made his head throb.

“You’re so young, why are you so clumsy? What are you dawdling for?”

A middle-aged woman behind him complained and shoved him hard.

Stumbling, Lu Er nearly fell flat on his face.

To avoid being photographed and ending up trending online in embarrassment, he forced himself to suppress his temper and muttered an apology: “Sorry…”

Finally, it was his turn.

The night-shift staff seemed to carry the resentment of eighteen layers of hell, not even lifting their heads, their attitude atrocious: “Scan or cash?”

Lu Er instinctively patted his suit pocket. Empty.

Before the banquet, he had habitually given his phone and wallet to his assistant, Bai Zhi.

“I don’t have my phone or any cash…” His voice was dry and trembling, his cheeks burning fiercely.

Today was truly unlucky—he would have to go to the temple and pray when he had the chance.

The staff finally looked up, glancing impatiently: “Next!”

“Looking all put together… must be a fool.”

“Look at him, dirty and all covered up, probably hiding some shady deed.”

Whispers and pointing fingers surrounded him, wrapping Lu Er in a wave of helplessness and shame.

Under the spotlight, fans would cheer and throw money at him—luxury gifts, even sports cars. But right now, his superstar aura was useless.

Lu Er slunk into a corner of the fire escape, utterly drained, collapsing to the ground.

For a bit of relief, he even pressed his burning forehead against the cold wall.

When people are in despair, they instinctively recall past warmth.

……

The first time he stayed overnight at his high school dorm, he had a high fever in the middle of the night.

Song Jingmo, then a senior, had climbed over the wall to buy medicine, worried. He was caught by the patrolling security and publicly reprimanded the next day.

During the morning assembly, the principal’s face turned green when he realized it was Song Jingmo who had broken the rules, repeatedly asking if there was some difficult situation he couldn’t speak about.

Years later, Lu Er still remembered the tall, lean young man at the podium, reciting his self-critique with no explanation.

He hadn’t blamed him at all afterward, even concerned whether he had a fever.

But now…

Lu Er only felt his nose sting with an intense ache.

Suddenly, the fire escape door made a soft sound.

Familiar footsteps approached.

Lu Er froze, his heart clenching.

He hesitated to look up, but a small hope flickered.

Could it be that Song Jingmo had come back because he was worried about him?

The cold scent of cedar grew stronger.

His heartbeat raced, yet Song Jingmo’s gaze barely lingered on him.

Without hesitation, he walked past Lu Er.

No pause at all.

Lu Er, dazed, somehow found the courage to speak hoarsely: “I don’t have my phone or money, and there are paparazzi outside… could you…”

Song Jingmo stopped, turning his head slightly.

The light reflected coldly off his gold-rimmed glasses, obscuring his expression.

“No.”

Two words, decisive and final.

Five minutes later, Song Jingmo passed by again, this time carrying a pink heart-shaped gift bag.

Lu Er froze, his blood running cold—he had been imagining things.

Song Jingmo had just forgotten to bring a gift for his date.

His heart felt squeezed by an icy hand, sour, sharp, aching and itching all at once.

Had Song Jingmo really hated him so much? Not even a trace of sympathy.

Just cold eyes watching him, helplessly curling up in a corner like a stray dog.

There was no one crueler or colder than Song Jingmo.

Lu Er bit his lip hard; the taste of iron filled his mouth. His eyes burned like fire, yet no tears fell.

Outside the hospital, Song Jingmo paused, silently staring at the distant neon lights.

It’s none of his business.

There should be no more entanglement between them.

That man was now the center of public attention, commanding influence wherever he went.

There were plenty of people eager to fawn over him. Why should an “old brother bitten by a dog” interfere?

He didn’t want to be made a joke again, mocked like a clown.

Yet the reddened eyes, the fragile attempt to hold back tears, and the faint trembling…

Song Jingmo felt a sudden irritation he hadn’t experienced in years.

He hated being so easily affected by his emotions.

He tried to deceive himself—this had nothing to do with old feelings. He was a doctor. It was merely basic professional duty to help a patient in distress.

Besides, it was Lu Er, one of his patients. If anything happened at the hospital, he would be responsible.

To avoid unnecessary medical disputes, he had to handle it properly.

Thinking of the junior nurse, Liu Yuan, who seemed to be a devoted fan of Lu Er—always shouting “husband!” at his videos, her desk full of merchandise—Song Jingmo’s eyes darkened as he dialed the nurse station.

At the nurse station, Liu Yuan was organizing documents when the internal phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Xiao Yuan,” the voice on the other end was flat, emotionless, “I heard you’re a fan of Lu Er?”

Xiao Yuan froze, then excitedly whispered, her face flushed:

“Doctor Song, how did you know?”

“I really like him! You have tickets to his concert?”

Song Jingmo was silent for half a second: “I just saw someone in the fire escape with a mask… looked a bit like him.”

Before Liu Yuan could respond, he hung up decisively.

Song Jingmo pocketed his phone, inhaled the cool night air, and forced down his restless emotions.

There would truly be no further contact between them.

Liu Yuan held the receiver for two seconds, stunned.

Lu Er? Still at their hospital?

Heavens!

What incredible luck!

If she got to meet Lu Er on night shift, she’d volunteer for night duty every day!

Excited, she adjusted her hair and nurse cap in the glass reflection, confirming everything was in place. Then she took a deep breath, tamped down her joy, and walked toward the fire escape as if nothing had happened.

Sure enough, even from a distance, she instantly recognized him by his shape and aura.

Her heart tightened. The protective instincts of a fan surged. She hurried forward, her voice filled with genuine concern and excitement: “Are you okay? I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

Lu Er looked up in bewilderment, his bloodshot eyes still reflecting the shards of despair and confusion.

Faced with the suddenly appearing, caring nurse, he froze.

Without a word, Liu Yuan supported him into her office and frantically made calls for help.

Lu Er’s eyes reddened.

He hadn’t expected that at his lowest point, it would be a fan saving him.

More attentive and warm than the cold-hearted bastard, the fan’s devoted care slowly thawed Lu Er’s frozen heart.