by Spring Trees
As Nan Ge Er usually holed himself up in the government office without going out, thus it indirectly led to Mo Shu obediently staying home and stopping his request of going out as well. Of course, there was still some negative effects caused by that.
For example, Mo Shu-xiansheng had to catch of glimpse of Nan Ge Er every single moment – looking at what he was doing, observing if he was cold, seeing if he took good care of himself…
An array of things to take note of, such and such.
Both Nan Ge Er and Zhu Xi were absolutely stressed out by it.
Zhu Xi was awfully gloomy. Last time, although Mo Shu liked slacking off, his efficiency still wasn’t quite bad.
However now, even though he stayed in the office earnestly, he still slacked off. Not only that, his slacking got worse. Working had become a part-time for him; the main job he had at present was to have his eyes on Nan Ge Er…
Nan Ge Er was even gloomier than Zhu Xi.
Whenever he met someone familiar, he would stop them and complain, “I’m so miserable…”
Who could do anything normally when being observed twenty-four hours all day? Who could tolerate being grabbed away every quarter of an hour to have temperature measured via the touching of hands and forehead? Who could stomach someone sitting beside him during mealtimes going “ah…” when feeding with a spoon, while also being surrounded by a bunch of others, almost unsuccessfully, holding their laughter?
He was almost going mad!
Why ‘almost’? Because he was in the state of ‘almost’ doing so.
He was in a tragic state recently. Lately, he had found out that he couldn’t do anything with Mo Shu, and noticed a change in Mo Shu’s interests…
Sweet snacks were currently in third place of the things Mo Shu liked. The first place went to gazing at Nan Ge Er in a daze, before smiling as gently as water. The second was grabbing Nan Ge Er over occasionally to show concern for him, while rubbing and hugging him…
It was easy to handle a moron; dealing with a nutjob wasn’t hard either. The problem was, would you be able to slap someone when that person treated you with sincere compassion?
At the very least, Nan Ge Er wasn’t able to do that.
It would be easier if Mo Shu was trying to get fresh with him. However, he did so out of affection and with courtesy. The various concerns showed was as common as it got; his behaviour was as disciplined as it got; the bodily contact was as decent as it got…
Nan Ge Er realised, he could consider himself to be entirely at his wit’s end currently.
Moreover, such a distressing state would probably last for a good amount of time…
…Actually, I’m wrong. I’m really wrong! Why did I assume that fellow was a moron?
Nan Ge Er begrudged once again
He isn’t an idiot; he isn’t one at all! Actually, this person is a love-struck fool!
Zhu Xi had a sincere and solemn chat with Nan Ge Er regarding Mo Shu’s severely infatuated state currently—Of course, the love-struck alien, who wouldn’t be in the mood to do work if he didn’t have his eyes on Nan Ge Er at every moment, was listening by the side too.
By the way, so long as Nan Ge Er was in an area, any other being, conversation, or sound made would be completely by ignored Mo Shu…
Without even blinking once, his eyes gazed longingly at Nan Ge Er, as gentle as water…
The specific contents of the conversation Zhu Xi had with Nan Ge Er was concerning the issue of Mo Shu-xiansheng’s work during spring and summer.
Currently, the infatuated alien couldn’t leave Nan Ge Er for fifteen minutes. It was fine if Mo Shu just patrolled around the district during spring and summer; he could simply bring Nan Ge Er along. But what if he had to visit a village much further away? What if the roads were bumpy?
Judging from Nan Ge Er’s body condition, he definitely couldn’t withstand that. With that, Mo Shu definitely wouldn’t be able to go as well.
As such, the advisor would become the unlucky and busy one in the situation.
After solemnly analysing the severity of it in the future to Nan Ge Er, Zhu Xi addressed seriously, “Xiao Nan, I think stopping Mo Shu from his foolishness should be of your top priority.”
Nan Ge Er blacklined, “Even if you said that, I still don’t have any idea what to do.” I’m able to stop a certain someone’s moronic actions, but unable control his infatuations.
“What can we do if even you don’t have any idea?” Zhu Xi fretted even more, “I can’t even sleep when thinking about the days in the upcoming spring and summer now.” He pointed at the bottom of his eyes, distressed, “See that, know what that is?” Both of my eyes have dark circles beneath them!
Nan Ge Er moved closer.
Before he had the chance to take a better look, Mo Shu pulled Zhu Xi backwards with a swoop, preventing the two of them from reaching a meter close.
…You only come back to your senses during such a moment?
Both Zhu Xi and Nan Ge Er shot him a disdainful glance at the same time.
Of course, Mo Shu chose to ignore Zhu Xi’s existence and the scorn in Nan Ge Er’s eyes. He smiled, “Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?”
“We’ve just eaten snacks two hours ago.” Nan Ge Er blacklined as he reminded Mo Shu.
“Oh right, Xian Nan’s memory is awesome.” Mo Shu rubbed Nan Ge Er’s head with a smile, “Are you cold?”
Nan Ge Er was rendered completely speechless at that point in time. To be exact, he didn’t even have the energy to diss. He glanced at Zhu Xi, who was a meter away.
Great, he’s more speechless than me. Thank the gods and earth; you finally understand my powerlessness of changing the present situation, since my life is much more oppressing…
Both Nan Ge Er and Zhu Xi went silent for a long while.
Having the best mental state, the advisor still ended up being the one who came back to himself first in the helpless atmosphere. He coughed lightly, “Well, Mo Shu, you still remember you have to fetch someone a few days later, right?”
Mo Shu was still in his normal self when getting down to business. He nodded, before glancing at Nan Ge Er again.
Zhu Xi looked at Mo Shu’s expression. He frowned slightly, but uttered no words.
Noticing the two’s subtle reactions, Nan Ge Er looked at them, baffled.
“I’ll take my leave now.” Zhu Xi seemed to mutter a bit, before cupping his hands in obeisance and left.
Nan Ge Er got even more confused.
Mo Shu seemingly paused for a bit too. He called, “Xiao Nan,” and patted the area beside him, “Come over and have a seat.”
Nan Ge Er noticed that Mo Shu’s expression seemed to be suggesting he had something to talk about. He pondered a bit, before going over and sitting down.
“I probably have to go outside in the first few months of the year.” After deliberating over, Mo Shu ended up deciding to spill it out truthfully. Mo Shu occasional trips outside weren’t something new; Nan Ge Er didn’t know why Mo Shu decided to speak to him about this particular trip. Hence, he looked at Mo Shu in confusion.
“The location is Bei Jun. The time spent there might be longer. The New Year might be spent outside…” Mo Shu surveyed Nan Ge Er’s expression carefully, while telling him everything he wanted to say at one go, “Although the journey is bumpy, I hope you can come along.”
Usually, Mo Shu never requested anything from Nan Ge Er, nor did he said anything along the lines of ‘I hope’. He indeed acted just as what he said to Zhu Xi that day; never once forcing him, letting him do everything as he liked.
However, he had such a request now.
“Actually, it isn’t really necessary for me to handle this issue personally. But, I hope you can come along with me.” Mo Shu continued again. “Which is why I told Zhu Xi I would personally fetch the ones outside back.”
Nan Ge Er was in turmoil inside. Hearing the words being said in such a way by Mo Shu, he could only raise his head instinctively b
efore asking, “Why?”
“Although you look like you’re handling yourself well, I know the knots in your mind still aren’t untangled,” Mo Shu rubbed on Nan Ge Er’s head, “That’s why, I wish for you to come along.”
Nan Ge Er hadn’t ever revealed his identity, but he reckoned the people in Guang Tian knew about it more or less. Moreover, every country had its unique accent, and he hadn’t hidden anything purposefully since he arrived there.
Thus, he wasn’t really surprised or shocked at how naturally Mo Shu said that.
He just didn’t quite want to go.
Noticing Nan Ge Er’s hesitation and the unwillingness shown in his face, Mo Shu chuckled, “Actually, I won’t force you if you truly don’t want to go. Just that, is the status quo really good this way?”
Nan Ge Er lifted his eyes up and looked at him.
“You have already decided to stay in Guang Tian, and at my side, haven’t you?” Mo Shu smiled, “If that’s so, it is better if you cut any loose ends of your past, right?”
“Melancholy will lead to an earlier death, you know? I don’t want you to die before me. Besides, I will be accompanying you; there’s nothing to be scared of. It’s just a final parting. There would be no change anymore. We will go together, coming back together after that.”
“So?” Nan Ge Er finally raised his head, curling his lips into a smile, “How thick skinned, when have I said I would stay by your side?”
Noting Nan Ge Er had smiled, Mo Shu blossomed out a beautiful smile too. He reached his finger out, pressing it on Nan Ge Er’s chest, before poking gently, “Here. It told me that, through your smile.”
Chapter 36
* * *
Since Nan Ge Er had decided to visit Bei Jun, he started getting ready at once; preparing this and that. That night, while washing his face, he hesitated a little as he suddenly looked at the love-struck Mo Shu, who was beneath the lights, “Erm, my face.”
“Hm?” After that slight moment of decent-mindedness, Mo Shu continued his infatuation; he asked Nan Ge Er with a smile when noticing he was addressing him.
Alright, alright. I know you are a cultured person; you can see my soul through this terrifying outer appearance of mine…
Ugh, but, I don’t think my soul can really be considered pretty, ok?! Wait, my train of thoughts have gone haywire…
Nan Ge Er pulled his diverging thoughts back immediately, “Erm, well Mo Shu, to the outside world, my face is probably quite…frightening, right?” He didn’t look at mirrors often, but he did talk to others frequently after all. Even if it was just a reflection from others’ eyes, he still could discern that the appearance of ugly fellow reflected was a major disappointment to the audience.
Moreover, he could even feel exceptionally deep crevices when washing his face. It would be weirder if he had no idea how horrifying his appearance was.
Mo Shu took a look at Nan Ge Er’s face, completely unconcerned, “Hm, it isn’t scary at all.”
I know it can’t scare you, the problem is, someone normal will probably be afraid of it. Besides…
Nan Ge Er shot a glance at the face with a jade-like beautiful complexion below the lights.
Da Ye, if I go out together with you, how do you expect a passersby to suppress the disparity of their feelings when seeing that face of yours matched with mine?
“Is there any way for me to change the appearance of my face?” Nan Ge Er asked straightaway, unwilling to discuss issues like inner qualities or outer appearances with Mo Shu.
“There is.” Sure enough, when the question was asked directly, Mo Shu would give a straightforward answer instead of being long-winded. “What kind of face do you wish to change into?”
Huh? The type of face can be changed as well? Nan Ge Er widened his eyes. “Erm, there is still freedom to choose?”
Mo Shu glanced at Nan Ge Er, as though Nan Ge Er just answered something strange, “Of course, do you want Zhu Xi’s type of appearance or Xiao Xia’s? Mine is fine too.” After some pondering, he continued again, “Chun Jiao’s type is doable too, just that some time is needed, and it might not be in time for the trip. Besides, although it doesn’t matter for Ah Fang or me, if both of you look too similar, it might pose some problems for others.”
“Who wants Chun Jiao’s looks?!” Black lines finally returned onto Nan Ge Er’s forehead again after a long time. He interrupted Mo Shu’s diverged train of thoughts, “I just want something normal.” Finally, he realised who was the influence that made his thoughts grow increasingly haywire.
“Normal?” Mo Shu took a look at Nan Ge Er’s face, “You look normal now though.”
“How is it normal?!” Nan Ge Er blacklined, “I totally look like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, alright?!” Exactly how distorted your taste in aesthetics is?
“Hunchback of Notre Dame?” Mo Shu was puzzled by the term, “Someone from the night patrol?”
Nan Ge Er shook his head weakly, “Erm, don’t tell me you are the one who’s helping to change my appearance?” If you’re the one operating, it will be better for me to just give up instead. Who knows what appearance you will make me turn into. “I just want to polish the old wounds on my face. Making my scars slightly indistinguishable will be good enough.”
“So that’s what you meant.” Mo Shu finally understood, “This is simple, it will probably just take a week. I’ll call the doctor over tomorrow, alright?”
…Simple…Just take a week… This disfigured face has been with me for five years, you know?!
…This place of yours is even more ridiculous than the plastic surgery centers in some certain country!
That only doctor in Guang Tian handles all injuries, whether inner or outer ones, and even deals with cosmetic surgery at the side?!
He truly can be referred as leading figure in the medicine field, and a highly advanced genius!
The doctor in Guang Tian can even save someone, who had been submerged in a water prison for three years, determined dead by imperial physicians, and flowed along the sea for an unknowingly long period of time. Moreover, that someone is currently lively, and growing healthier by the day…
Plastic surgery is nothing at all! Removal of scars is nothing at all!
Nan Ge Er was already numbed at the various unfathomableness of Guang Tian. After dissing harshly in his heart, he replied weakly, “Alright…”
The proud doctor came over the next day, asking Nan Ge Er, “What appearance do you want to change into?”
Uncle, if you ended up transmigrating to the twenty-first century, you will definitely be a target of pursuit by countless females, if nothing else.
Nan Ge Er dissed silently in his heart, before replying dryly, “…Normal, a normal look is fine.”
The love-struck alien provided supplementary comments by the side, “What Xiao Nan meant is polishing the scars will be good enough.” While doing so, he murmured, “Actually, I think his current looks are great already. If he ends up looking good after that, what would happen when he goes out…” A slight concerning tone started arising, “Will he be targeted by malicious people…”
Frustrated and dispirited, Nan Ge Er shot Mo Shu a glance.
Da Ye, you should worry about yourself instead, ok? My looks are just normal. Yours, on the other hand, have a high rate of passersby giving you another glance when you get out.
Nan Ge Er noticed the black lines forming on the doctor’s forehead when he turned his head back—I got it. Except for Zhu Xi and me, you are the only person in Guang Tian who is clear-headed about him.
After exchanging a resigned glance with the doctor, Nan Ge Er spoke, “Is it possible to have a slight change as well? It will be fine if I’m unrecognisable from the face I had before being scarred.”
The doctor nodded his head, “It isn’t difficult. When specific regions of people’s faces are slightly altered, their original appearance will be unrecognisable. Just that…” The doctor paused and looked at Mo Shu. He took a brush and paper bef
ore writing: [If Mo Shu-xiansheng has any overly heated feelings during the journey, I beseech Nan Ge Er to apply constraints to him.]
“Huh?” Nan Ge Er looked at the doctor, a little confused. He didn’t understand what the doctor meant.
[Mo Shu-xiansheng, well…] The doctor looked quite unsettled. After a long pause, he lifted the brush: [He’s slightly… bloodthirsty.]
“Hah?” Nan Ge Er turned his head involuntarily, glancing at Mo Shu, who was frowning and mumbling something.
Mo Shu = bloodthirsty? He seriously had no way of linking the two together. Before, he felt that… Mo Shu = moron. Presently, he felt that…Mo Shu = love-struck fool.
However, no matter what he did, he still didn’t know how ‘bloodthirsty’ and ‘Mo Shu’ could be linked. As there weren’t any indications at all. Every bloodthirsty person either looked somewhat crazy, or mentally disturbed. However, Mo Shu had an impeccably clean aura surrounding him. He didn’t look like one at all, or should it be said that, him being one was unimaginable.
Noticing the flabbergasted expression on Nan Ge Er, the doctor let out a bitter laugh as he wrote: [Although everyone wishes both of you have a fruitful end together, in truth, they aren’t quite willing to have you go along with him.]
“Why?” No wonder Zhu Xi had such a strange reaction then.
[Because you will end up seeing the other side of Mo Shu-xiansheng.] The doctor continued writing, [And so, you might fear and avoid him due to that.]
“But…” Nan Ge Er became a little nervous by it too. After a glance at Mo Shu, he whispered, “He seems to be totally unaware.”
[Because he doesn’t find anything wrong with being bloodthirsty.]
Nan Ge Er looked at Mo Shu, remaining silent without anything uttered out.
[Don’t worry, if you can’t take it, I have a medicine that can dispel any memories you had of him. Just that you can’t leave Guang Tian from then on.] Assuming that Nan Ge Er was hesitating, the doctor wrote again: [Such is the case of Mo Shu-xiansheng’s biological mother. In fact, she married another and had a child after that; living a peaceful life.]