OFBL Chapter 24

T.N: sorry for the delayed update, i was out of town yesterday. Happy reading, it’s a short, little chapter!

 

 

Before Zhang Yuze could respond, Xu Li blurted out: “No!”

 

Shen Mo’s eyes locked onto Xu Li, silently asking, What’s it to you?

 

Xu Li sneered, stepping forward. “I just spoke with Ah Huo. You ran off with Lao Bi’s money, and now he’s hunting you down all over Yanjing! Are you planning to drag Zhang Yuze into this mess by hiding at his place?”

 

Zhang Yuze’s gaze shifted to Shen Mo, suspicion evident. He already suspected Shen Mo’s sudden appearance wasn’t for anything good, but he hadn’t expected it to be this serious.

 

However, Shen Mo didn’t panic despite Xu Li’s revelation. Seemingly confident in Zhang Yuze’s temper, he remained silent for a moment, then conjured up a pitiful expression. With tears brimming all over his face, he began his plea. “Brother Yuze, I didn’t have the money to leave. That money was mine anyway! I just couldn’t stand it anymore and didn’t want to stay with him. Please, let me stay—just for one night. Once I find a job and settle down, I’ll move out immediately.”

 

The intensity of his tears made Zhang Yuze frown. He didn’t want trouble. It was enough handling Xu Li living in his home—adding his ex-boyfriend into the mix would be chaos. But Shen Mo’s current situation wasn’t ordinary. It left him caught in a moral dilemma.

 

Instinctively, he looked to Xu Li for guidance.

 

Xu Li noticed the glance, extended his hand, and whispered: “Come with me.” The two left Shen Mo in the living room and headed to the kitchen. Once there, Zhang Yuze asked: “What do you think?”

 

Xu Li looked at him directly, their expressions mirroring a shared helplessness. But underneath the despair, there was mutual understanding… It also didn’t help that Xu Li was still only wearing a small bath towel, exposing his toned chest and defined abs. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the sight was unintentionally comedic…

 

… In fact, it was hard to get serious!

 

Zhang Yuze couldn’t contain the inexplicable laughter bubbling within him any longer. He grabbed Xu Li’s arm, shaking with silent mirth. His shoulders trembled as he tried not to let Shen Mo overhear.

 

Xu Li, initially annoyed, eventually joined in, thinking that following Zhang Yuze always made him feel happy. “What’s so funny?”

 

“Your towel…” Zhang Yuze choked out between laughs.

 

“Dr. Zhang, where’s your cold, stoic persona? Keep this up, and you’ll break your character.” Xu Li teased him while smirking.

 

“And you? What are you laughing at?”

 

“This absurd life.” Xu Li replied, chuckling.

 

When the laughter subsided, Zhang Yuze’s stomach ached, though the situation remained unresolved. “What do we do about Shen Mo?”

 

Xu Li leaned against the counter, shrugging. “I can’t give you any sincere advice. This is your home, your ex-boyfriend, and your call. I can only remind you— Old Bi is a dangerous man. Don’t drag yourself into unnecessary trouble.”

 

He hesitated, then added with a bitter smile: “But… if we kick Shen Mo out now, he’ll have no choice but to return to Old Bi. Who knows what kind of tragedy might happen to him then? Can we really just sit back and watch?”

 

“You’ve gotten to know me too well…” Zhang Yuze muttered, stretching to relieve the ache in his abdominal muscles.

 

“We’re the same.” Xu Li said simply, quoting a famous saying: “No one studies medicine without having a compassionate heart.”

 

Zhang Yuze sighed. He’d made up his mind. Returning to the living room, he addressed Shen Mo, who was still slumped dramatically on the sofa. “I’ll let you stay for a short while, but only briefly. You must move out within a week, and you’ll have to follow some ground rules.”

 

Xu Li leaned back on the couch, enjoying the moment. Last time, he’d been the one to endure the probationary period. Now… Look how the tables had turned!

 

“First,” Zhang Yuze continued, “my home is not a bar. You’re not allowed to bring back any of your gang. Handle your issues with Old Bi yourself. Don’t involve me.” He then glanced at Xu Li and added: “Or Xu Li.”

 

Xu Li smirked, his eyes gleaming with approval. While Zhang Yuze’s rules were self-serving, it was clear his boyfriend always kept him at the top of his mind.

 

Shen Mo nodded quickly, not daring to argue.

 

Watching his ex’s submissive demeanor, Zhang Yuze’s temples throbbed. He couldn’t help but wonder what he’d seen in Shen Mo all those years ago. How had he fallen for such a manipulative, fragile act?! Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xu Li happily munching on grapes from the coffee table. The carefree sight only made his headache worse… His second boyfriend was normal, but a fool nonetheless!

 

“And one last thing,” Zhang Yuze continued, his tone more serious. “I have a new life now, Shen Mo. Whatever we had is over. Don’t bring up the past again.”

 

Shen Mo’s eyes shimmered with hurt, but Zhang Yuze ignored him. Instead, he went to the bedroom and returned moments later with a quilt and pillow, tossing them onto the sofa. “Use these for now. And don’t lie on the couch in your coat or pants.”

 

Shen Mo’s expression crumbled. Whatever hope he’d clung to was gone, shattered by Zhang Yuze’s indifference. He finally realized the rumors that Zhang Yuze had been pining for him for years were nothing but lies.

 

“Let’s go. How long are you planning to watch the show?” Zhang Yuze said, rubbing his temples. He grabbed Xu Li’s arm and led him toward the bedroom.

 

Xu Li, acting very much like a spoiled concubine, strutted in behind him, glancing back at Shen Mo. The look in his eyes seemed to say: Eat your heart out! This is my boyfriend~

 

For the first time, Shen Mo’s carefully crafted pitiful demeanor gave way to fiery resentment.

 

…………

 

Zhang Yuze flopped onto the bed, exhausted. Xu Li stood at the foot of the bed, casually changing out of his bath towel. He made no effort to hide his movements, completely unabashed.

 

Zhang Yuze turned his back.

 

“Why so shy, boyfriend?” Xu Li teased as he pulled on his pajamas. “Let’s be honest, my figure’s not bad. Aren’t you at least a little curious?”

 

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Zhang Yuze replied, pulling the quilt over himself. “I’m homophobic.”

 

“Oh, really? The boyfriend I’ve been dating all this time is suddenly homophobic?” Xu Li quipped, switching off the light and climbing into bed. He reached out and poked Zhang Yuze’s back. “When did this happen, boyfriend?”

 

“Get lost. You’re annoying.” Zhang Yuze grumbled, swatting his hand away. “I think your arm’s healed completely. I miss the days when you were half dead and bedridden with an injury.”

 

“Wow, talk about gratitude…” Xu Li joked, settling down. “It’s fine. If you don’t look now, there’ll be plenty of chances in the future.”

 

Silence fell between them, save for the faint sounds of Shen Mo moving around outside.

 

Breaking the silence, Zhang Yuze asked: “What about Old Bi?”

 

After a pause, Xu Li replied: “I don’t know. Let’s just pray Shen Mo moves out before Old Bi finds him.”

 

Zhang Yuze hummed in agreement, ready to sleep. But unease lingered in his chest. “Hey, stupid!” He muttered.

 

“What now?” Xu Li replied automatically, seemingly used to being called like that.

 

“Be careful during the day.” Zhang Yuze said.

 

Xu Li’s laughter was soft but clear in the darkness. “Got it, boyfriend. Don’t worry about me.”

 

…………

 

The next day, Zhang Yuze woke up early for his shift, only to find that Xu Li, sprawled out in bed, had stolen most of the quilt. Dr. Zhang resisted the urge to kick him awake.

 

As for Shen Mo, he was still asleep on the couch, curled pitifully under his little blanket. The marks and bruises on his arms and neck stood out starkly… Pitiful, yes, but also damn infuriating!

 

Zhang Yuze sighed. The medical field demanded sweat and tears, but eventually, hard work paid off. Those who relied on shortcuts, like Shen Mo, would inevitably be exposed.

 

Shaking off his thoughts, Zhang Yuze drove to the hospital. Later that morning, Zhao Xiaole intercepted him, announcing: “Dr. Zhang, there’s a departmental meeting this afternoon.”

 

“A meeting? What’s it about? If it’s an employee commendation meeting, the construction of the Party League, or a group of old people sitting and shaking their heads while reciting scriptures, I won’t go. Just let me attent to my patients in the afternoon.” Zhang Yuze answered.

 

“Apparently, it’s serious. We’re taking in a pediatric patient transferred from another province.”

 

“Got it.” Zhang Yuze replied, heading to his office. His consultations that morning dealt mostly with cases of arrhythmia caused by long nights and heavy drinking. As he worked, he couldn’t help but think of Xu Li. If the man had continued his wild lifestyle, how long would he have lasted? Fortunately, Xu Li’s habits had shifted, and he now spent most nights at home, resting.

 

After finishing a consultation, he heard Zhao Xiaole shouting a patient’s name for the third time, without recieving any sort of answer. However, the little girl persisted in her job, very close to shouting: “Patient No. 42, Bi Long?!”

 

When no one responded, she called again.

 

Just as she was about to finally move on, a rough voice came from the doorway. “Here, here! I’m here!”

 

Zhang Yuze looked up sharply, his stomach sinking as he recognized the face at the door.

 

It was Old Bi, grinning from ear to ear, looking like nothing was wrong.