He Juan could only gape at him. He had no idea which one surprised him more – Mu Yuze insisting on asking Jia Molei a question or the fact that he was the very reason behind this act. As far as he remembered, this ought to be the first time Mu Yuze actively sought to know him better... right?

It’s just that... why Jia Molei, of all people? He Juan could already imagine what kind of atrocity the doctor was going to blacken him with.

"Wait a moment..." he suddenly recalled something and asked tentatively. "Did you ask Chen Youzhi too?"

Much to his horror, Mu Yuze nodded. "I did."

He Juan let out a pained groan and palmed his forehead. He would really like to remain clueless about what they had talked behind his back, but... but he also wanted to know the answer! In the end, he bit the bullet and forced himself to ask, "What... did he say?"

He could feel dread pooling in his stomach with each passing second Mu Yuze hesitated to answer. What? What had Chen Youzhi said to make him put on such a look? He Juan could not even begin to guess the answer. But more than that, he had no idea why he was so nervous to hear it either! His palms got clammy with sweat, and just as he almost could not take it anymore, Mu Yuze finally gave a tentative reply,

"I believe that... he is quite biased when it comes to you."

"Biased?" He Juan barked out an abrupt laugh, relief flooding him like a tidal wave. "So it means that he only said good things about me?"

Mu Yuze stared at him for one long moment and nodded minutely.

He Juan pressed further, not quite satisfied with the simple gesture. "And you don’t believe him? That’s why you tried to seek Doctor Jia’s opinion as well?"

Mu Yuze fixed him with a deadpan stare. "One set of data will not make a valid conclusion."

A mirthful laugh escaped He Juan’s throat when he heard this scientific reply. Bright little guy, he thought, how adorable. "Fine, what you said makes perfect sense." He couldn’t help but reach out to ruffle the boy’s hair, earning him a grumpy glare. "But let me warn you firsthand that Doctor Jia tends to exaggerate and make things more horrible than what they truly are. So if he says bad things about me, eighty percent – no, ninety percent of them must be a lie." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Jia Molei finally could not take it anymore and interjected from the side, "Hello? Do you think I have all the fucking time in the world to hear you two chatting back and forth?! If you want to get examined, then hurry and get your ass moving! The audacity you have to accuse me..." he sneered at He Juan. "Aren’t you afraid that I will give you extra bitter pills?"

Oh that’s right. He Juan gulped nervously. He forgot that he had always put in a special request for Jia Molei to reduce the level of bitterness in his medicine to the absolute maximum, regardless of price or resources he had to compensate the doctor with. This was why a wise person said to never offend your doctor, otherwise they would have 1001 ways to make your life miserable.

Alas, it was already too late. How was He Juan supposed to take back his words in front of Mu Yuze? Over his dead body!

As such, he lifted his chin and replied with a calm and confident smile, "Afraid? Why would I be afraid of some pills?"

"Mark your words, XIU..." Jia Molei laughed ominously, and in that moment, He Juan could vividly envision what his bleak future would be like. Nonetheless, he still gritted his teeth and told himself not to falter. For the sake of his pride and dignity, and also for Mu Yuze’s perfect impression of him!

Alas, He Juan’s effort was soon proven to be for naught.

When they exited the office and headed to the examination room, He Juan felt Mu Yuze tugging on his sleeve, forcing him to slow his footsteps so that a considerable distance was formed between them and the doctor. Once again, he bent down to offer his ear to the boy. "What’s wrong, Xiao Ze?" he asked in a hushed voice. "Are you nervous about the check-up?"

Mu Yuze shook his head, went on his tippy toes and whispered into He Juan’s ear, "But you’re afraid."

He Juan blinked, still oblivious of the doom that was coming for him. "Hmm?"

"You’re afraid of bitter pills, aren’t you?" He Juan’s heart gave a lurch and he snapped his gaze toward Mu Yuze, flustered. In such proximity, he could catch a fleeting smile within the depth of Mu Yuze’s dark eyes.

"I saw it," the boy added, almost in a glee. "You ate those sugar cubes after coffee."

"...!" He Juan was frozen on the spot, it was as if a thunder had struck him right on the head. He finally figured out what Mu Yuze was talking about. Indeed, Mu Yuze had caught him munching on his beloved sugar cubes early in the morning, but He Juan had no idea that Mu Yuze knew he ate them after a cup of bitter coffee! He could almost hear the sound of something fragile shattering into pieces – that’s right, it was his cool and suave image in Mu Yuze’s eyes that was barely holding onto a thread...

As if he still couldn’t get enough, Mu Yuze continued to say, "I still don’t really understand what kind of person you are, but now... I think I have discovered one thing." He showed a smile – a vivid, genuine smile that curved his eyes into a beautiful arc. "Surprisingly, you have a very strong sweet tooth, huh..."

After leaving that cruel sentence, Mu Yuze turned away and caught up with Jia Molei who had walked quite a far distance away. He was subtly skipping in his steps, just like a smug cat who had just gotten the cream.

Behind him, He Juan was left utterly speechless. Did Mu Yuze just... tease him? Again??