The Stranger’s Homeward Journey

In the room–

As Shen Mucheng skimmed through his recent emails, he ordered, “Send someone to keep an eye on the cross hauling, notably their connection with the He family.”

“No problem,” Shen Yun nodded in response as he reported another matter, “After our people sent Shen Rongchang over to the Wu family the day before yesterday, they sent him back that afternoon.”

“En, how was it?” Shen Mucheng replied as he remained imperturbable about his cousin brother’s affairs.

“One of his legs was wounded in the same spot as the Wu family’s young master.” 

Shen Mucheng was unsurprised by this result. “What did Fourth Uncle say?”

“I heard Uncle Zhao say that Fourth Master was really distressed. He even gave up on his business and rushed to the hospital. It is said that Shen Rongchang’s leg has been permanently disfigured. Fourth master was so angry that he smashed things around in his study room after returning.” Shen Yun said, in a somewhat gloating tone, happy to see Shen Rongchang’s downfall.

“I didn’t expect him to refrain.” Shen Yu said.

Shen Rongchang’s fate was expected by Shen Mucheng, but he didn’t expect that two days after the incident, Shen Qiuxiong also hadn’t contacted him. Shen Qiuxiong had Shen Rongchang at an old age, so he spoiled him as if Shen Rongchang was the source of his life. Shen Mucheng thought that even if Shen Qiuxiong wouldn’t fall out with him for this, based on his nature, he would still make a phone call to scold or ask about it. However, he was able to endure it, how surprising. 

“I think he can only vent out behind our backs now. He doesn’t dare to publicly offend Boss.” Shen Yun said.

“True, at least he’s still clear who is in charge of our Shen family.”

Shen Yu nodded, and asked Shen Mucheng, “Boss, about the stock of the cross hauling, do we need to…”

“Don’t bother.” Shen Mucheng interrupted him, closed the computer in his hand and lifted his head to look at the clock on the wall.

Shen Yu followed his gaze and found that it was already eleven o’clock in the morning. He had instantly come over with Shen Yun after receiving an urgent message from his subordinates to report to Boss, not expecting that they would talk up to three hours. At this time, they had all neglected their breakfast . 

“It’s my fault for overlooking. I’ll have someone send it up right away.” Shen Yu said as he stood up.

“We’ll just go down.” 

Shen Mucheng stopped him, put the computer aside and got up to prepare to change his clothes. Just after walking two steps, he stopped again, turned back and asked, “Where is he?”

“… Who?” Shen Yun asked with uncertainty.

Shen Mucheng frowned, while Shen Yu speedily replied, “Mr. Luo should still be in the room, I’ll go and call him to join us.”

Based on Luo Shaoheng’s shamelessness yesterday, Shen Mucheng thought he would come over early in the morning to look for him. So he should have appeared by now.

Thinking of this, he said to Shen Yu, “Go over and take a look.”

Shen Yu obeyed in response. Shen Yun stood at the same place to sort out the current relationship between his Boss and Mr. Luo, thinking that this situation was too strange.

“What are you standing there for?” Shen Mucheng asked out loud when he saw him standing still.

Shen Yun returned to his senses and hurriedly chased out.

Shen Yu reached out at Luo Shaoheng’s door and knocked. “Mr. Luo, are you inside?” No one answered. He knocked again. Still no one came to open the door.

Shen Yun followed him. When he saw that no one answered, he said, “Could it be that he hasn’t gotten up yet? Maybe he was too excited last night?”

“Don’t spout nonsense.” Shen Yu reprimanded in a low voice and raised his hand to knock again, but Shen Mucheng, who was supposed to be in the room, also came over, and the two of them hurriedly gave way to him.

“What’s going on?” Shen Mucheng asked, looking at the closed door.

“Nobody answered.” Shen Yu said.

Shen Mucheng raised his hand and knocked on the door, but again no one responded. He only pondered for two seconds before saying, “Ask someone to come up and open the door.”

“Yes.” Shen Yun nodded and left.

Shen Yun called the hotel staff to open the door. After entering the room, they found out that Luo Shaoheng was indeed still sleeping. An arc could be seen bulging up on the bed with the blanket covering his head. He didn’t respond even after they came in. 

Shen Mucheng felt that the situation wasn’t quite right. He walked over to lift the blanket and saw Luo Shaoheng shrinking himself inside the blanket. His eyes were tightly closed, and his face was flushed. He didn’t know if it was because he was covered by the blanket. His face was sweaty, even his hair was wet. However, it was still winter, so it was unlikely for him to sweat excessively just because of a blanket. 

Shen Mucheng reached out and touched his forehead and found that it was really hot, he then said to the person next to him, “Go call a doctor.”

“Yes.” Shen Yu also noticed Luo Shaoheng’s strange appearance. Without saying a word, he immediately went out and called the doctor.

Shen Mucheng noticed that his hand was coated with sweat just by touching Luo Shaoheng. He inclined his head and said to Shen Yun, “Tissue.”

Shen Yun took the tissue box placed beside him, “Boss I’ll do it.”

Shen Mucheng didn’t answer. He directly pulled out a few tissues and wiped the sweat on Luo Shaoheng’s face. Because of his touch, Luo Shaoheng lightly grunted and dwindled his body, with his face almost buried in his chest.

This was a self-defensive posture. People who were insecure would act like this. 

Shen Mucheng reached out and held his shoulders to turn him over. He then noticed that Luo Shaoheng was sweating profusely unaware of when he was down with a fever. 

He was obviously still fine last night, why did he suddenly get a fever? Shen Mucheng frowned and threw the sweat-soaked tissues in his hand to the side. He then drew a few clean ones for Luo Shaoheng to wipe the sweat on the other side of his face and neck. Due to his action, Luo Shaoheng murmured incoherently. He again curled up into a ball before Shen Mucheng finished wiping his sweat. 

Seeing his mouth move slightly, Shen Mucheng paused and bent down to listen.

“…” Luo Shaoheng murmured silently, Shen Mucheng came closer, but still couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“Boss,” Shen Yun called out to him and said hesitantly, “He… seems to be calling you.”

Shen Mucheng raised his eyes to look at him, straightened up and looked at Luo Shaoheng, and sensed that he was silently reciting something. After listening to it carefully, it was just as Shen Yun said, he was saying – Shen Mucheng.

Why would Luo Shaoheng call his name in his dream? Shen Mucheng’s hand, which was wiping his sweat, paused, as he looked at him thoughtfully.

Because of the fever, Luo Shaoheng’s face was flushed, the lips were also a few shades redder than before. He was already very good-looking, but now he looked unusually attractive with a sense of fragile beauty added to him.

He slept restlessly. His eyebrows frowned tightly, and he looked very uncomfortable. Shen Mucheng silently looked for a while, reaching his hand out to brush up the soft, wet hair, revealing a clean forehead. Then, he caressed his forehead with his thumb as if he was comforting him.

Because of the fever, tiny drops of sweat could be seen emerging from Luo Shaoheng’s forehead once again, but Shen Mucheng stood unruffled and soothed him with a gentle force as he ordered Shen Yun, “Go wash a towel and give it to me.”

Although his expression was cold, Shen Yun noticed the flash of warmth in his eyes and hurriedly answered as he went to wash a towel and bring water.

Shen Mucheng didn’t leave it to others and personally helped Luo Shaoheng to wipe off his sweat. He then washed the towel and placed it on his forehead to cool his temperature down.

When he was doing these things, he had a sense of familiarity, as if he had done this before and this scene had occurred before. After thinking about it for a while, he couldn’t remember, so he could only give up. He freed one hand and soothingly touched Luo Shaoheng’s hair.

Probably due to this soothing effect, or the cooling effect from the cold towel, Luo Shaoheng’s distressed expression loosened after a while. His eyebrows, which were frowning tightly, also gradually relaxed. His eyelashes twitched slightly, as he opened his eyes.

“You’re awake?” Shen Mucheng stroked his head and paused for a moment.

Luo Shaoheng froze for a moment after seeing the person beside his bed. “Shen Mucheng, you’re back?”

Shen Mucheng raised his eyebrows slightly at his words, not understanding what he meant by this.

“Why don’t you say anything? Am I dreaming again?” When Luo Shaoheng saw that he didn’t answer, he blinked his eyes and found that he didn’t disappear like before, so he reached out to hold his hand that was on his forehead and squeezed it. He then said to himself, “The dream is so real this time. I can still touch you?!”

Shen Mucheng was a little puzzled by his words, but after a closer look, he realized that he was still not fully awake. His eyes were still blurry. Shen Mucheng asked back impulsively , “Why, couldn’t you touch me before?”

His question made Luo Shaoheng pursed his lips as looked up at him and reproachfully whined, “En, I couldn’t touch. You disappeared before I could touch you. I searched for you for a long time, but I couldn’t find you no matter how.”

When he reached the end of his sentence, his voice was filled with tears and the corners of his eyes were slightly red. Like a child who couldn’t find his beloved toy, he grabbed Shen Mucheng’s hand tightly, as if he was afraid of him leaving, then, he asked anxiously, “Are you still going to leave this time?”

The aggrievance and pain in his eyes made Shen Mucheng’s heart pound viciously, unexpectedly producing a painful sensation like a pinprick, making him subconsciously coax him back, “No I won’t, don’t worry.”

“Really?” Probably because he was tormented by the dream too many times, Luo Shaoheng couldn’t believe it. “If you go, can you take me with you? I’m not afraid to go anywhere.”

Shen Mucheng couldn’t help but remember the scene yesterday when Luo Shaoheng asked him where he was going and if he could come along. Why would this person want to follow him even when he was so sick to the point of obliviousness?