Chapter 16 – Dr. Wen is amazing

It was only a few seconds of hugging, not even half a minute, before Bai Mu Ning’s collar was yanked up, and with that force, he was pulled away from Wen Jing.

Wen Jing frowned at him, the corners of his lips turned down as if disgusted by Bai Mu Ning taking advantage, his voice cold as he ordered, “If you can’t stand, then squat.”

Such a cold man. Where was that gentle demeanor he usually showed others?

Why was he always so cold-hearted to him?

Double standard dog!!!

He ranted about Wen Jing in his heart, but dared not show a hint of dissatisfaction on his face.

“Oh, got it.” Bai Mu Ning obediently squatted down, then tilted his head up to ask Wen Jing, “Dr. Wen, why is Sun Jianguo so afraid of you?”

It was always the same few people trying to mediate, but just with Wen Jing present, Sun Jianguo’s attitude changed completely.

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Wu Xia had lost her phone, and it contained very important photos. The police couldn’t retrieve it, and with no evidence of the stolen goods, they had no way to act, so he stepped in.

So after Wen Jing left, Bai Mu Ning took the subway to the place where Wu Xia had lost her phone and began to squat out for the thief.

Thieves usually had fixed spots, operating like assigned zones shared among a few people.

Train stations, subway stations, shopping mall entrances—anywhere with heavy foot traffic was a high-risk area.

It didn’t take long for Bai Mu Ning to confirm that Sun Jianguo was the thief. Just moments ago, he had personally witnessed someone’s phone being lifted. Sun Jianguo didn’t run but handed the phone off to an accomplice, who then quickly fled with it.

Without catching him red-handed, calling the police would be useless. The guy could just deny it.

Bai Mu Ning identified the locations of the surveillance cameras and came up with a plan.

He just hadn’t expected that his whole caught-in-the-act setup would be ruined by a broken camera.

If the surveillance hadn’t failed, he wouldn’t have ended up being blackmailed.

Thinking about all the troubles he’d gone through today, Bai Mu Ning sighed. “I knew I couldn’t hide anything from you. Yeah, I did it on purpose.”

Bai Mu Ning felt there was no point in lying, Wen Jing was smart and perceptive. He’d already seen through him, just like he had with that confession.

Wen Jing let out a soft, mocking laugh. His tone was a little lazy, but full of sarcasm. “Only met her twice and you’re already charging and breaking through enemy lines for others. A guy like you should be nominated for some ‘most touching person’ award with that saintly heart of yours.”

Why was he even mad?

Bai Mu Ning felt irritated. Wen Jing was clearly mocking him. He gave a cold snort and simply slumped down to sit on the ground. “Yeah, I’m a holy mother. Dr. Wen, please step back. I’m about to start radiating holiness.”

The steps outside the police station were no different from any others, cold as hell and freezing on the ass.

Bai Mu Ning hadn’t been sitting long before he started feeling uncomfortable.

But he couldn’t move. He had to hold the pose, couldn’t let Wen Jing think less of him.

This person really changed faces faster than flipping a page. Why didn’t he scold him back in the police station? As soon as they stepped outside, he started mocking him.

If he didn’t want to come, then he shouldn’t have. It wasn’t like he was the one who made the call.

Bai Mu Ning felt a sour ache in his heart, aggrieved.

He’d clearly been on his side just moments ago, and now he was already distancing himself.

“Stand up. Get in the car.”

Bai Mu Ning pretended not to hear, not even sparing Wen Jing a glance.

Wen Jing’s tone softened a little, but it was still full of threat. “Do you need me to carry you?”

Wen Jing really was the kind of person who’d do something like that, so Bai Mu Ning ended up getting to his feet and followed him into the car.

Once the door was closed, Wen Jing fastened the seatbelt for Bai Mu Ning and asked, “Why did you help Wu Xia?”

“Because I’m the ho—” The “holy” part had barely made it out before he met Wen Jing’s sharp gaze and chickened out.

In a low voice, Bai Mu Ning said, “Because my parents are also deaf and mute. I can’t stand seeing others bully people like them.”

From childhood to now, Bai Mu Ning had always felt the malice from normal people.

When he was little, he didn’t understand, but as he grew older, he realized just how sharp their words really were. Like invisible blades—ones that didn’t leave visible wounds, but could tear gaping holes in the heart.

They would mock his parents, saying things like:

“If they can’t hear and can’t speak, why are they raising a child?”

“Is this kid gonna be a mute too?”

“Enough, it’s 500 this month, what more do you want? If it weren’t for me, who would hire deaf-mutes? Never mind, talking to you is useless, you can’t hear me anyway.”

“My parents said that their whole family is deaf and mute. Don’t play with him or you’ll turn stupid too.”

All those past events felt like they’d happened just yesterday. Thinking of them now still made Bai Mu Ning feel stifled in his chest.

Yet his parents had truly had gentle temperament. Even in the face of injustice, they would only smile indifferently and continue living their lives.

Bai Mu Ning had once asked them, why weren’t they angry?

And back then, his mother would always respond in sign language:

[Life is meant to come with hardship. A happy day is still a day, and an unhappy one is also just a day. Besides, having you is our greatest happiness.]

Thinking of his parents, Bai Mu Ning felt that he hadn’t done anything wrong. He simply wanted to help Wu Xia; he was no so-called holy mother.

Wen Jing said nothing, nor did he start the car. He just stared at Bai Mu Ning with an incredibly complex expression. At first, Bai Mu Ning managed to ignore it, but eventually he couldn’t take it anymore and had to speak up. “Dr. Wen, can you stop looking at me like that? I’m not pitiful, okay?”

Wen Jing looked at him as if he was looking at a homeless stray cat, which was awkward.

Bai Mu Ning truly didn’t think he was pitiful. There were a hundred different paths in life—he just happened to be on one of the bumpiest ones. But at least he was healthy. That didn’t count as pitiful.

After a pause, Wen Jing finally said, “It’s good to have the heart to help others. But it has to be within your limits. You have to take care of your own safety first before thinking of others.”

“…?” Bai Mu Ning didn’t answer right away, taking a moment to digest what Wen Jing had said.

The tone of that sentence kind of sounded like his dad.

“Did you hear me?”

Bai Mu Ning was stunned for a moment before replying, “Got it.”

Only after hearing that did Wen Jing start the car and drive him home.

On the way, Wen Jing stopped the car once to go into a 24-hour convenience store. He came out with some steamed buns and milk for Bai Mu Ning.

The moment Bai Mu Ning saw the buns, he realized he was starving. In truth, he’d been hungry all morning; he’d just been too tense to notice.

Bai Mu Ning gave a word of thanks and started eating the steamed buns to fill his stomach.

Drinking the warm milk, his mood quickly improved. Only then did he remember what he’d originally wanted to ask Wen Jing.

“Right, Dr. Wen, you still haven’t answered me. Why is Sun Jianguo so afraid of you?”

“Did I ever promise you I had to answer?”

“…!”

Bai Mu Ning’s blood pressure shot up on the spot—he silently cursed his own carelessness.

—

Wen Jing was not the kind of person you could easily get gossip out of, so Bai Mu Ning took advantage of the lunch break to go dig for some dirt from Chen Haonan instead.

Chen Haonan was much more approachable than Wen Jing and didn’t give off that same distant vibe. He was easier to talk to and looser with his words.

“Haonan-ge, I’ve got something I want to ask you.” Bai Mu Ning handed over a steaming hot cup of coffee with a fawning smile.

They’d already finished eating by then. Chen Haonan accepted the coffee and said, “Come on, let’s go to my office.”

After closing the door, Chen Haonan asked, “Xiao Ning, what do you want to know?”

Bai Mu Ning sat across from Chen Haonan, resting his chin in both hands, and curiously asked, “Haonan-ge, I wanted to ask about Dr. Wen’s past.”

“What exactly did he use to do? Has he always been a doctor? Is there someone important in his family?”

His big, round almond eyes blinked as he stared at Chen Haonan full of curiosity.

Most of what he knew about Wen Jing came from Zhuang Yumian.

Wen Jing had gone to the Jingnan University’s Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Both his parents were university professors, and he had a younger sister.

No matter how he looked at it, there really wasn’t anything particularly unusual about it.

Chen Haonan sipped his coffee, completely at ease, and said, “You’re asking about what happened last night, right?”

Bai Mu Ning was startled and thought, how did Chen Haonan know what had happened last night?

Did Wen Jing tell him?

“It wasn’t Old Wen who told me, I heard it through someone else’s gossip.”

Chen Haonan put down his coffee and sat up straight, looking serious. “Since Xiao Ning brought it up yourself, as your Haonan-ge, I’ve got to say a few words.”

“…?”

He hadn’t really brought it up though?

“You acted on impulse. How could you go catch a thief by yourself?”

“Thieves work in groups. They’re not lone wolves. You’re just a brat; going after them is like cutting off their livelihood. Do you have a death wish?”

“I’m telling you, if Old Wen hadn’t shown up last night, you wouldn’t have gotten out of there. Even if you had, your legs would’ve been broken.”

Bai Mu Ning looked at Chen Haonan in horror, the fear settling in belatedly.

No wonder Wen Jing had been so angry last night; he had underestimated the danger.

He had thought catching the thief would be enough to solve the issue of the phone, but he’d never considered the possibility of retaliation afterward.

Seeing Bai Mu Ning had finally realized the danger, Chen Haonan softened his tone. “But there’s no need to worry about what comes next. Old Wen already handled it for you. Just don’t be impulsive again. If something happens, come to me. I’ll help you fix it. And if I can’t, there’s always Lao Wen. Just don’t act rashly.”

Bai Mu Ning nodded obediently. “Got it. Thanks, Haonan-ge.”

“Oh, and Wu Xia’s phone has already been recovered. No need to worry.”

“That fast?” Bai Mu Ning asked in surprise.

Only about ten hours had passed since last night, and yet the phone had already been recovered—it was shockingly fast.

Chen Haonan chuckled. “That’s nothing. Back in the day, we…”

“Back in the day what?” Bai Mu Ning perked up, ready for gossip, but Chen Haonan stopped there. “That’s all I can say. If you’re really that curious, go ask Old Wen yourself. I don’t dare gossip about him.”

There was no way Bai Mu Ning would dare gossip with Wen Jing directly.

But he did think he ought to thank Wen Jing for pulling him out of trouble last night.

He glanced over at Wen Jing’s consultation room. The door was open, and Bai Mu Ning saw Wen Jing supporting his lower back, looking like he was in pain.

Bai Mu Ning figured he should do something, so he turned around and went back to find Chen Haonan.

“Haonan-ge, what do you do when a man has back pain?”

“That’s kidney deficiency, just needs a little nourishment.”

“How do you nourish it?”

“Eat more goji berries.”

“Got it.”

Bai Mu Ning left Chen Haonan’s office, went to the pharmacy to buy a bunch of goji berries, then headed to the kitchen to brew them.

He added one handful, felt it wasn’t enough, added another. In the end, the goji berry water was a rich golden hue. Only then did Bai Mu Ning feel satisfied and brought it to Wen Jing.

“Dr. Wen, thank you for helping me last night. I made you a cup of goji berry drink. Drink it while it’s hot, it’s super nourishing.”

Wen Jing frowned at the brimming cup and said bluntly, “Are you sure this is goji berry water and not goji berry porridge?”

“More goji berries are good for your health. You’re exhausted and need to replenish.”

Wen Jing clenched his back teeth and forced a smile. “Thanks for the thought, but I don’t need a replenishment yet.”

“You’re the one with a kidney deficiency, how can you not nourish yourself? Come on, drink it while it’s hot.”

Wen Jing’s expression darkened as he stared silently at Bai Mu Ning. That stare made Bai Mu Ning’s heart skip a beat. He immediately realized he’d said the wrong thing.

How could a man tolerate being told he was weak?

How could he have implied Wen Jing had a kidney deficiency? Wasn’t that just the same as saying Wen Jing wasn’t functional?

Thinking back to their very first meeting, his reaction when Wen Jing said he had a kidney deficiency, he was really furious.

Bai Mu Ning quickly changed his words, “I didn’t mean it that way. Dr. Wen, how could you be weak? You’re amazing. Really strong. Very long-lasting. Incredibly capable.”

“Get out,” Wen Jing shot up from his seat and shoved the annoying pest Bai Mu Ning out the door.

With a loud bang as the door slammed shut behind him, Bai Mu Ning began reflecting on exactly how he had managed to shoot himself in the foot, one step at a time.