Gold Cage - Chapter 7

When Mu Yu awoke, the last face he expected greeted him.

Lan Mo—dressed in nurse's attire had just finished hanging an IV bag. Turning, she nearly shrieked at seeing his open eyes: "Brother! You're awake!"

On the nearby couch, dozing figures Huo Shiyin and Lu Hao startled awake, rushing over. Lan Mo dashed out to fetch doctors while Shiyin checked his condition, her red-rimmed eyes and exhausted expression betraying sleepless nights.

"How do you feel?" Shiyin asked.

Still groggy, Mu Yu responded sluggishly: "Not... terrible. Why is Lan Mo here?"

"She's a nurse at the hospital who came to see you after learning you were admitted here." Huo Shiyin suppressed her anger. "You were unconscious for three days! Lu Hao told me everything—was it really Zhao Mengling who beat you up like this?!"

Mu Yu winced at her loud voice, hoarsely whispering, "Keep it down."

At that moment, Lan Mo entered with the doctor. Huo Shiyin stepped aside with a dark expression, crossing her arms in silence. Lu Hao also said nothing, spinning a cigarette between his fingers before stepping out to smoke.

The doctor examined Mu Yu's condition. When he was first brought in, he had cracked ribs, extensive internal bleeding, and symptoms like stomach spasms. During his semi-conscious state, he'd vomited repeatedly—stomach acid streaked with blood—scaring Mu Zeju, who'd brought him in, so badly that he refused to leave until the doctors confirmed Mu Yu was out of danger.

Lan Mo was meticulous, quietly hanging his IV drip, changing his dressings, and carefully instructing him on medication and diet before leaving.

Lu Hao returned after his smoke, scowling at Mu Yu with visible irritation.

"That brother of yours—the second one—left before dawn after dropping you here. It was Li Bing who called me. Shiyin and I were in the middle of a company meeting and rushed over immediately." Lu Hao kept his voice low. "I thought you were fucking dying! Your face was covered in blood—nearly gave me a heart attack! Is this how your stepmother treats you? Does no one in the Mu family dare to rein her in?"

Mu Yu sighed weakly. "Can you at least be gentler with a patient?"

Lu Hao and Huo Shiyin glared at him. Mu Yu's body still ached faintly—Zhao Mengling had held nothing back. Clearly, she'd wanted him dead for a long time. The thought amused him. Maybe he was a masochist at heart, always enjoying how easily he could rattle those who pretended to be refined and superior—like Madam Zhao, or his eldest brother.

He yawned and asked for water. Huo Shiyin, though exasperated, patiently held the cup for him.

Mu Yu suddenly remembered something. "How did my second brother know I was being beaten?"

Lu Hao looked ready to drag him out of bed for round two. "That's what you're focused on? Mu Yu, I've told you before—don't provoke Mu Zhiye. That Zhao woman is out of your league, out of all of ours! The Zhao family controls everything, and the Mu family won't lift a finger for you. Let me be blunt—if she really had killed you, where the hell could Shiyin and I even go for justice?"

Mu Yu smirked. "You could've danced on my grave."

Lu Hao rolled up his sleeves. Huo Shiyin, exasperated, pushed him aside. "Enough. And don't say things like that. No matter what, your well-being comes first. Why do you always throw yourself into the line of fire? Even if you don't care, Lu Hao, Fan En, and I still worry about you."

Mu Yu nodded obediently. "Got it. Don't be mad, Shiyin."

She exhaled heavily.

Mu Yu's energy was spent, and he soon fell back into a deep sleep. Huo Shiyin and Lu Hao waited until his personal physician, Li Bing, arrived before leaving.

Mu Yu stayed in the hospital for half a month. His constitution was poor, and recovery was slow. He spent his days lounging in bed, scrolling through his phone or watching TV, occasionally shuffling around the spacious room in his pajamas to bask in the sunlight.

Lan Mo visited him daily. As an intern at the private hospital, her workload wasn't heavy, so she specifically requested to care for Mu Yu. She chatted with him, brought him novels to read, and even sneaked him snacks—nearly getting caught by Li Bing once.

"Brother Yu!"

Lan Mo peeked her head in from outside the hospital room, slipping in quietly before pulling out a small carton of strawberry milk from her coat and handing it to Mu Yu. "This is so good! I bought it at the convenience store today—try it!"

The two had grown close over the past few days. Mu Yu lay sprawled on the bed, drinking the milk without a care, while Lan Mo asked curiously, "Brother Yu, when are you planning to be discharged?"

"Never. If I leave, I'll have to work."

"Sister A-Yin will beat you up if she hears that."

"Aren't you slacking off too?"

"I'm currently caring for a patient!"

Lan Mo spoke like a child, and Mu Yu mimicked her tone just to tease her. The two huddled together, sneaking snacks while watching a variety show, laughing like fools—until Lan Mo glanced at the wall clock without thinking.

"It's almost noon. Is Brother Phil coming to bring you lunch?"

His personal chef, Phil, delivered meals to the hospital on schedule every day. Mu Yu checked the clock but suddenly noticed the date displayed.

He sat up in bed and began rummaging for his clothes. Lan Mo stared at him, baffled. "Where are you going?"

"My brother's getting married today," Mu Yu declared with exaggerated seriousness. "If I don't hurry, I'll miss it."

He shooed Lan Mo out, changed out of his pajamas into a shirt and slacks, and nearly twisted his ankle when he stood to put on his shoes. Rubbing his sore back, he washed his pale face in the bathroom, ran a hand through his hair, grabbed his coat, and headed out the door.

He wasn't fully recovered yet—his steps were unsteady. Lan Mo hurried after him, but Mu Yu waved her off. Worried he might collapse, she followed him all the way to the car.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Mu Yu asked.

Lan Mo fretted, "Brother, you need rest! You haven't even eaten how can you just run off like this?"

Mu Yu grinned brightly. "I'm going to crash my brother's wedding banquet."

Today was the joyous occasion of his elder brother Mu Hanxiao's marriage to Liu Shuyan. The ceremony was held at a grand estate on a mountainside in the suburbs. The entire mansion had been lavishly decorated—crimson silk tassels fluttered in the wind, silver bells and floral garlands adorned the eaves, and massive stone lions stood guard at the gates. The estate sprawled across most of the mountainside, enveloped in lush greenery, while the air resonated with the elegant melodies of traditional instruments.

The security recognized Mu Yu and didn't stop him. He and Lan Mo stepped through the gates, walking down a long path lined with flowers blazing like a sea of fire, their red hues dazzlingly intense. Layers of steps led upward, where scarlet silk tangled with wind-scattered petals. Amid a jubilant crowd, Mu Hanxiao and Liu Shuyan stood at the center, dressed in traditional wedding attire. Liu Shuyan's fair skin and deep red lips contrasted with her gold-embroidered crimson bridal robes, the flowing train like a phoenix in flight, rendering her breathtakingly radiant and regal.

The woman leaned gracefully against the tall man. Mu Hanxiao stood in his coldly elegant black-and-gold wedding attire, turning his head slightly as his gaze traversed the seemingly endless staircase to land upon Mu Yu.

The world was awash in clamorous red that seeped into Mu Yu's vision. His eyes always held an unusual emerald glow deep within—that speck of green clashing violently with the overwhelming crimson around him, marking him as an outsider, declaring he would never be permitted to set foot on this claimed land.

Pain flared along Mu Yu's spine again. He felt suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere. The sight of Mu Hanxiao and the woman standing together receiving blessings struck him as profoundly ironic, laughable, and utterly nauseating. His stomach churned with disgust as he ascended the steps, spotting Mu Yunting, Zhao Mengling, Mu Zeju, and Mu Zhiye gathered around the newlywed couple like some picture-perfect harmonious family. Mu Yu nearly laughed aloud, wondering what amusing expressions might appear if he tore open this carefully staged farce.

Lan Mo called after Mu Yu, urging him to slow down, but Mu Yu heard nothing. Mu Hanxiao wasn't looking at him anymore—the man had long withdrawn his gaze. His presence meant nothing to Mu Hanxiao. Whether Zhao Mengling nearly beat him to death, whether he fooled around with men and women, or whether he'd stayed abroad for six years without returning—none of it mattered.

Why did Mu Hanxiao deserve blessings?

What right did he have to marry!

Mu Yunting and Zhao Mengling occupied the seats of honor, the latter's gaze like a poison-drenched blade when it fell upon him. Mu Zeju and Mu Zhiye watched Mu Yu ascend the steps as the emcee continued delivering congratulations. Mu Zhiye's face twisted in anger while Mu Zeju hesitated only briefly before Mu Yu had already reached the podium.

"And this is...?" The emcee paused uncertainly as Mu Yu approached. With a polite smile, Mu Yu took the microphone from his hand.

"Good evening everyone. What a joyous occasion—my apologies for arriving late."

Mu Yu bowed gracefully to the assembled guests, ignoring all stares as he moved effortlessly to stand beside Mu Hanxiao and Liu Shuyan. "I'm sure my family has already offered their congratulations, so I'll be brief. To the lovely Sister Liu who's joining our household, and to our nearly-forty-year-old eldest brother who's finally managed to sprout new shoots from old wood and bring home a virtuous wife—my sincerest blessings."

Nearby, Mu Zeju took a deep breath, restraining the furious Mu Zhiye from charging forward. Lan Mo covered her mouth watching Mu Yu, Zhao Mengling's expression turned stormy, while Mu Yunting remained silent as a stone statue.

"Mu Yu." Mu Hanxiao's cold voice held warning.

Mu Yu pretended not to hear. "Ah, this moment suddenly reminds me of a poem. How does it go? 'A century of love knots two hearts as one, a thousand-mile marriage tied by red string.' They say spouses in this life are fated from past incarnations—no wonder eldest brother spent half his life waiting for his destined one, only marrying when he's practically ancient, right Sister Liu?"

Liu Shuyan's exquisitely powdered face and rouged lips now bore an uncomfortable expression as she forced a smile. "Little Yu, always so mischievous."

"I'm not joking at all. Why don't you ask eldest brother—what made him decide to marry when he met you?"

Mu Yu extended the microphone toward Mu Hanxiao, grinning at the man. "Eldest brother, tell us —why are you marrying Sister Liu?"

Seeing Zhao Mengling's breathing grow heavy, her expression clearly filled with deep regret for not having her bodyguards beat Mu Yu to death in the study earlier. The guests were all baffled, some laughing along, thinking Mu Yu was just there to liven up the atmosphere.

Mu Zeju patiently stepped forward to pull Mu Yu away, trying to appear natural: "Of course it's because they fell in love at first sight. Why else would they get married? What a pointless question."

But Mu Yu shook off his hand.

"Brother."

Mu Yu's gaze had turned icy at some point, with sharp black flames burning beneath the frost.

The fire scorched his heart, driving him to madness—sometimes plunging him into searing turmoil, other times jolting him awake with unbearable pain.

He asked Mu Hanxiao softly, "Why get married?"

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