Chapter 55

Mu Chenxing yanked open the balcony door. “My dad passed out, no one’s home with him, I don’t know the address—how do I get the hospital over there to check on him?”

The three who had been chatting and laughing: “!”

Tong Xiao reacted swiftly. “Call emergency services—you were video calling him just now, right? Send over his personal code—don’t bother searching, give me your hand, I’ll do it!”

He grabbed Mu Chenxing’s hand and operated quickly.

The data had just uploaded when a number from Galaxy Star District 372 Emergency Center called right back.

Tong Xiao gripped Mu Chenxing’s hand and rapidly explained the situation. After the other side acknowledged, they asked, “Does the patient have any medical history?”

Tong Xiao looked at Mu Chenxing.

Mu Chenxing frowned. “Sorry, I don’t know. I just know his health hasn’t been great.”

“Got it. Since the patient fainted, we can’t sync his personal info for medical history. If you have any details, contact us ASAP—we’ll send you the emergency responder’s contact shortly. Keep communication open.”

“Okay, thanks.”

The video call ended.

Tong Xiao: “Now we just wait.”

Mu Chenxing thought for a moment, then contacted someone.

“What?” Shen Mingshu answered the video call with an impatient tone.

Mu Chenxing cut straight to it. “Do you know who my dad lives with?”

Shen Mingshu was baffled. “When did Teacher Luo ever live with anyone? He’s always lived alone.”

Mu Chenxing paused for two seconds, then asked, “Do you know if he has any chronic conditions?”

Shen Mingshu glared at him. “What kind of question is that? You seriously asking me this??”

Mu Chenxing: “Yell at me later. He passed out right now, I don’t know where he is or if anyone’s with him. I called emergency services directly—they need his medical history. And someone needs to go check on things.”

Shen Mingshu’s face changed. “How did he—”

“Not chatting. Tell me what you know.”

Shen Mingshu glanced at the other heads peeking by the camera, hesitated, then said, “Teacher Luo… isn’t a natural Beta. He’s a post-op one.”

Mu Chenxing frowned. “What does that mean?”

Tong Xiao and the others gasped, saying in unison, “Gland Removal Surgery?!”

Mu Chenxing, clueless, pressed on. “Anything else??”

“What else is there!” Tong Xiao smacked his head. “This alone is bad enough—hurry and contact the emergency team.”

Shen Mingshu glared too. “I’ll get my dad to check it out—which hospital?”

Tong Xiao: “Don’t know yet. We’ll contact you soon.”

The video call ended. Tong Xiao grabbed Mu Chenxing’s arm and dialed quickly.

Emergency services picked up immediately. Upon hearing about the gland removal, their expression soured. “We’ll handle as we can. If it’s no good, we’ll expedite a transfer.”

Video call ended. Everyone fell silent.

Mu Chenxing frowned, thinking, then asked, “Where can I hire a caregiver?”

Tong Xiao and the others didn’t know either, so they posted in the Association’s main group chat.

Someone actually knew.

Mu Chenxing quickly followed the directions, entering the Galaxy Star District 372 Medical Rescue Center—Luo Chen’s district—and posted a caregiver request, specifying Omega or Beta.

It was snapped up fast. The responder sent their info. Mu Chenxing scanned the profile, saw no red flags, and confirmed, asking them to head to the hospital now.

After that, it was waiting.

No one bothered unpacking luggage anymore. They all crowded around him for updates.

Mu Chenxing didn’t notice, pulling up his holo-screen to search “Gland Removal Surgery.”

…

A laundry list of lingering aftereffects and side effects.

Fatal complications at the drop of a hat, each scarier than the last.

“Xingxing…”

Mu Chenxing looked up.

Tong Xiao and the others watched him, tense and worried.

Mu Chenxing blinked, then said, “Did I scare you guys? Aren’t you heading to the spaceport tonight? Go pack.”

Tong Xiao cautiously: “Your dad…”

Mu Chenxing: “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll come to you.”

Xia Weizhen said tactfully, “Any trouble, hit me up. I can always help somehow.”

Tong Xiao was direct. “Can’t do much, but a few tens of thousands? Yeah.”

Tao Xirui opened his holo-screen right away. “I’ve saved up tons of pocket money. I’ll transfer it now—”

Mu Chenxing stopped him quick, half-laughing, half-crying. “We don’t even know the situation yet. If it’s bad, I won’t tough it out.”

It took some persuading to shoo his three roommates off to pack.

He sat nearby, still researching gland removal surgery.

On his first day in this world, he’d been spooked by Xia Weizhen and the others’ talk of him having kids, even considered gland removal himself.

Now looking into it… it was no different from self-mutilation.

Hormone chaos body-wide, reproductive system disorders causing pain, nervous system mayhem…

In short, post-gland removal meant classification as Level 2 disability.

What did Level 2 disability mean?

Severe disability—loss or partial loss of work capacity, requiring long-term medical care.

Recalling the last frame of that video call, Mu Chenxing’s face darkened.

End of September, he’d taken 1000 Alliance Coins from the man… Attitude had been poor, face sour, but he’d transferred the money right away and told him to speak up if he needed more.

1000 could stretch a month or two at school if frugal, but prices outside wouldn’t be cheaper.

For a Level 2 disabled person, 1000 was no small sum.

His wristband buzzed.

It was the emergency responder from earlier.

Mu Chenxing answered at once.

“We’ve got the patient. Doorbell no answer, but location and address matched, so we removed the door lock. That might—”

“No worries, lock’s minor. How’s he doing?”

“Not great. We administered w#e% temporarily… patient’s vitals aren’t responding well… We’ve requested transfer. En route to the central district now. When can family arrive? He really needs a caregiver.”

The responder rattled off technical terms and drug names. Nursing major Mu Chenxing caught only a few.

He frowned. “I’m in Galaxy Star right now. Caregiver okay?”

“Caregiver’s fine, but his condition requires special approval for meds—needs family signature.”

Mu Chenxing gritted his teeth. “Get him there first. I’ll figure something out.”

“Hurry.”

Video call ended. Mu Chenxing first edited the caregiver order—good thing it was still in range, just change the location.

Then he video-called Shen Mingshu again.

“…I don’t have contact for the Mu family.” Shen Mingshu’s face was grim. “And don’t call the Mu family—they’ve got no guardianship rights. District 372 Central Hospital, right? My dad’s heading over.”

Mu Chenxing: “Can he sign for it?”

Shen Mingshu snapped, “You dumb? Who’s been handling it all these years if not my dad?”

Video call ended.

Mu Chenxing: “…”

He pinched his brow.

Met his roommates’ worried gazes.

He forced a smile. “Looks like I’m pretty char siu.”

“…What’s char siu mean?” Tao Xirui asked carefully.

Mu Chenxing gave a wry smile. “Char siu is a food from my hometown. Calling someone char siu means they’re worthless, not even as good as a piece of meat.”

The three fell silent.

Mu Chenxing: “You guys pack. I’ll go find Shen Mingshu.”

He headed straight for Shen Mingshu’s dorm.

After a few steps, he spotted Shen Mingshu squatting in the hallway corner on a video call.

“…Mu Chenxing hired a caregiver, don’t overdo it.” Shen Mingshu squatted in the corner, soothing softly. “Don’t cry. Teacher Luo’s been fine health-wise for years, he’ll be okay—hey, what?!”

A head popped into the holo-screen suddenly, startling the squatting Shen Mingshu into jumping three feet high.

Mu Chenxing ignored him, shoving his head aside with one hand while grabbing his arm with the other, angling the screen to himself. “Uncle, hi. I’m Mu Chenxing. Sorry to trouble you with my dad for now.”

In the camera, the young man opposite sat by a window, scenery whipping by outside—he was already en route.

Mu Chenxing relaxed a bit, continuing, “Also, I booked my dad a flight five days from now. If he can’t make it, please help reschedule, push it back a few days.”

Struggling Shen Mingshu froze.

The pretty but red-eyed young man opposite paused. “Where’s he going?”

Mu Chenxing: “To pick him up here on Central Star.”

“Also, don’t worry about medical fees. Whatever it costs, bill me.”

Though he only had a few tens of thousands.

The young man wiped his eyes. “Medical fees are fine. A-Chen’s got special insurance—won’t cost much.”

Mu Chenxing: “Mm, but you shouldn’t have to cover it.”

The young man paused again, scrutinizing him. “You… seem different somehow?”

Shen Mingshu shoved him away, snatching back the screen. “Dad, that’s it. Call me with updates~”

Hung up quick, then whirled on Mu Chenxing with a glare. “Rude much? You don’t just grab someone’s wristband like that!”

“Sorry.” Mu Chenxing ruffled his hair. “Thanks.”

Shen Mingshu blanked.

Mu Chenxing: “Can you send me your dad’s contact? I need real-time updates on my dad.”

Shen Mingshu sent it.

Mu Chenxing thanked him again and turned to leave.

A few steps later, Shen Mingshu snapped back, yelling after him. “I warn you! Don’t say weird stuff to my dad!! Don’t take money from my dad!!”

Mu Chenxing waved without looking back. “Got it.”

Shen Mingshu gaped, watching him round the corner.

…

Mu Chenxing packed while monitoring messages.

17 minutes later, caregiver arrived.

Around six, Shen Dad reached the hospital.

Nearing seven, Tong Xiao and the others brought back packed dinner for Mu Chenxing. He ate while waiting for news.

Still nothing after, so he took a shower.

A bit past nine-thirty, after high-dose meds and a mess of instruments, Luo Chen finally woke.

Under Mu Chenxing’s constant follow-ups, the moment Luo Chen stirred, Shen Dad video-called him.

“A-Chen, look who’s this!” The pale young man on the hospital bed appeared in frame. Shen Dad’s voice held relief. “It’s Xingxing. He was so worried—sent me dozens of messages all night, told me to call him the second you woke.”

Mu Chenxing: “Dad—”

“Don’t film.” The lens was pushed away, a weak but firm voice. “Nothing to see.”

Mu Chenxing: “…”

On the other side of the holo-screen filming white sheets, an argument broke out.

Shen Dad sounded dissatisfied. “Xingxing’s coming to get you on Central Star—what’re you still worried about?”

Luo Chen: “Ticket’s from the school. Sell it, transfer the money to him.”

Shen Dad: “There you go again! Who cares where the ticket came from—he wants you there, you go!”

Luo Chen: “He’s just a kid. You enabling his nonsense too?”

Shen Dad: “You called him a kid at three—no helping it. At ten, still a kid—no helping it. Now he’s almost 19—how’s he still ‘nonsense’?”

Luo Chen: “Without independent income, he’s a kid.”

Shen Dad was stumped.

Mu Chenxing narrowed his eyes, cranking up the wristband’s mic sensitivity, and said, “Dad, come to Central Star worry-free. I don’t have much money, but I got a boyfriend this year—37 years old, loaded, loves me to bits. He’ll help take care of you with me.”

Emphasis: 37 years old, loaded.

Perfect—proves the boyfriend exists!

Mu Chenxing eyed the audio bar on the holo-screen, confirming it picked them up, then continued, “No way. You forgot? My boyfriend sent those super expensive fruits last time—you guys said they were too fancy to eat. He’ll definitely give me money!”

The trio’s faces twisted in horror.

Bro, that’s even worse!!

After long quiet, the video call finally stirred.

Luo Chen’s voice was feeble but resolute. “No need to change the flight. I’ll head to Central Star in a few days.”

The roommate trio: “!”

Mu Chenxing’s eyes curved. He mouthed silently: Handled.