After Awakening, The Vicious Male Supporting Character Refuses the 'Bad Ending' Script - Chapter 3

At the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

“It’s nothing major. His blood pressure is a bit high. As a junior, you shouldn’t provoke your elders to anger like that,” the nurse said while hanging the IV drip. “She should wake up in a while. Press this bell when the drip is finished.”

“Alright. Thank you very much.”

Pei Weixue sat by the bed, looking at the unconscious Su Qingyue. He covered his face with his hands as Su Yin’s cold, heart-stabbing insults echoed in his ears.

Before meeting He Nan, Su Yin had simply been indifferent to him.

Back then, Su Qingyue wanted them to get married. Su Yin didn’t object, but he didn’t show any emotion either; he was always silent. After the wedding, Su Yin insisted on sleeping in separate rooms. Pei Weixue thought he had done something wrong and racked his brain trying to make Su Yin happy, but Su Yin acted as if he couldn’t hear him. He never paid attention to him and often hid in his own room, rarely going out.

Later, Su Yin claimed he was “saving himself for his true love.” At the time, Pei Weixue wondered: Saving yourself for true love? Then what are we?

Su Qingyue thought her son had developed some kind of psychological illness and took him to many doctors, but there was no improvement. Pei Weixue privatey speculated that his own past “ugly” behavior during his mental episodes had affected Su Yin. Consumed by guilt, he treated Su Yin even better, remaining unbothered no matter how much Su Yin ignored him.

Everything changed six months ago when Jiang Zhi returned to the country and brought his boyfriend, He Nan, to meet Su Yin. Jiang Zhi was Su Yin’s childhood friend; they were thick as thieves. Even though they went to university in different cities, they kept in constant contact and hung out every weekend.

Jiang Zhi had been studying abroad for the past few years and wasn’t aware of the changes in Su Yin. When the handsome He Nan appeared wearing a brown vest, it was as if something had suddenly clicked in Su Yin. His eyes became glued to He Nan.

Even though he knew He Nan was his best friend’s partner, Su Yin intervened whenever they had an argument, making their relationship even worse.

Jiang Zhi, confused by the situation, would ask Su Yin for advice. Su Yin would repeatedly urge him to give He Nan the “cold shoulder,” saying He Nan would come around eventually. Since Jiang Zhi was already annoyed by He Nan’s inexplicable outbursts, he followed Su Yin’s advice, leading to a cold war.

During this cold war, Su Yin used the excuse of “helping He Nan win Jiang Zhi back” to constantly seek He Nan out. He even took an unpaid job at He Nan’s fashion company. Jiang Zhi finally realized something was wrong during a banquet.

He Nan had brought Su Yin along, claiming he wanted to introduce him to some international designers. Jiang Zhi happened to be on the guest list. He tried to corner Su Yin near the restroom to ask what was going on, but Su Yin suddenly punched him and declared he was going to steal He Nan away. Enraged, the two fought, and Su Yin later twisted the facts to He Nan.

Ignorant of the truth, He Nan believed Jiang Zhi had hit Su Yin first and demanded that Jiang Zhi apologize and stop appearing in front of them.

The two friends had a complete falling out, and Jiang Zhi beat Su Yin senseless at the entrance.

That day, Su Yin came home bruised and swollen. Pei Weixue was rushing a project deadline, but the moment Su Yin entered, he slammed the door shut. It took a long time for Pei Weixue to convince him to open the door with a first-aid kit. To his shock, the moment the door opened, Su Yin accused him of being a snitch.

“You just can’t stand me being with He Nan, can you? If he gets back with Jiang Zhi, I’ll kill you! Do you really think you’re my husband? Have I ever slept with you? Have I ever touched you? What is a ‘psycho’ like you even worth?”

Pei Weixue couldn’t believe Su Yin would call him a “psycho.” Su Yin knew about his past mental health struggles. In the past, Su Yin had treated those words as a taboo; if he heard people gossiping and using that term on the street, he would tightly cover Pei Weixue’s ears for fear he would be upset.

In the end, the one who stabbed him was Su Yin.

Su Yin didn’t just throw the first-aid kit; he trampled all the kiwis Su Qingyue had just sent over and threw them away, calling Pei Weixue “disgusting” with every breath.

As he pulled himself out of the memory, tears soaked his palms.

In the private ward, sob after sob broke out, sounding like the wailing of the hopeless.

A long time later, after all the tissues by the bed were gone, Pei Weixue walked into the bathroom to wash his face, his bangs covering his eyes. He buried his face in the water. Once he calmed down, he looked up, water droplets flying back with his movement.

A face with soaking wet bangs appeared in the mirror.

When he stepped out again, his eyes were only slightly swollen, though his voice was heavy. He went to find the nurse to change the IV. Half an hour later, Su Qingyue finally woke up. He poured her a glass of water. “Mom, are you okay?”

Su Qingyue sat up with his help, took the cup, and looked toward the door. “Where is that brat? He didn’t come?”

Pei Weixue shook his head. He had called many times, but no one answered. Facing this inhuman version of Su Yin, he seemed to have finally made a decision. “I’m sorry, Mom. I might have to break the vow I made to you. I…” Before he could finish, his folded hands were clasped by her palms. “Mom.”

“Get a divorce,” Su Qingyue said, setting down the cup. She reached out to wipe his tears. “It’s Mom’s fault. I didn’t raise him right, and I let him hurt you like this.”

“I’m sorry…” Pei Weixue’s tears fell like broken strings of pearls.

Su Qingyue hugged him tightly, heartbroken. “You still have Mom. You will always be my son.” She patted his back, letting him cry his heart out on her shoulder.

She had watched them every step of the way. Su Yin had never been a cause for worry. Though his grades weren’t elite, he knew what he liked from a young age—painting and design. He had been specially admitted to Dongcheng University because of his competition wins. He was filial and sensible; though his personality was a bit bold, it wasn’t a bad thing. He was extroverted, well-liked, and the neighbors always praised him.

Before bringing Pei Weixue home for the first time, Su Yin had told her that Pei Weixue was his “future husband,” praising him to the heavens. Though she had doubts, she trusted Su Yin’s choice. The two were indeed very close; Su Yin was wonderful to Pei Weixue, always clinging to him, and he had helped Pei Weixue recover from his mental illness and colorblindness.

When buying those corrective contact lenses, Su Yin had done so much research and visited countless hospitals. He spent every cent of his prize money to get the best ones for Pei Weixue.

Graduation, confession, marriage—everything had been a natural progression.

Who knew it would turn into this? She wished she could go back and strangle Su Yin at birth. If he was emotionally unfaithful now, he would be physically unfaithful tomorrow. At this rate, he’d end up on a true-crime show.

Furthermore, she couldn’t stand by and watch Pei Weixue be hurt like this. She had actually tried to advise him when Su Yin first began his emotional affair, but Pei Weixue had insisted on staying, saying he had sworn to her that he would never abandon Su Yin.

But now, Su Yin had turned his back on everyone. There was no longer any point in holding on.

After leaving the hospital, Pei Weixue didn’t go to the company. He called a friend who worked at a law firm, and a divorce agreement was quickly drafted. His friend reminded him that since Su Yin was the at-fault party, he could demand more assets, but Pei Weixue insisted on a 50/50 split.

In truth, since the day they married, Su Yin hadn’t contributed a single cent to the household. Pei Weixue covered all expenses, but he never told Su Qingyue.

He would consider it… a final bit of dignity for both of them.

When he signed his name on the divorce agreement, his hand was shaking.

If someone gave him a chance to go back eight years, he would still choose to sit in that library doing web design, waiting for Su Yin to appear and guide him on color palettes. The old Su Yin was the warm beam of light that led him out of the ice and snow. Even if it was destined to vanish in the end, he still wanted to possess it for a brief moment.

“Su Yin! You bastard!”

Outside the coffee shop.

This was the place where He Nan came to sit for a while every afternoon. Su Yin straightened his clothes and was about to walk in when a shout came from the side. Immediately after, he was knocked down by a punch. Stumbling a few steps, he managed to steady himself. Su Yin touched his face and turned around.

“Su Yin! I really misjudged you!” Jiang Zhi’s eyes were full of fury, and he was holding a bouquet of blue roses. Since the conflict with He Nan, he had thought a lot; their relationship wasn’t beyond repair, which is why he came here today.

He didn’t expect Su Yin to show up here too.

Su Yin kicked out directly. Jiang Zhi was sent flying, the blue roses falling to the ground, petals scattering everywhere. Su Yin didn’t give him a chance to get up; he pinned him down and started hitting him. A crowd gathered quickly. Su Yin cursed while he fought: “What business is it of yours?! You guys broke up, I can’t chase him now?!”

Jiang Zhi refused to back down, and the two grappled on the ground. “The biggest mistake I ever made in this life was eating that piece of fried dough you gave me when we were kids!” He got on top of Su Yin and landed a heavy blow. “You animal!”

Su Yin kneed him hard in the stomach. In the blink of an eye, the positions reversed, and Jiang Zhi was pinned down. Seeing a powerful punch about to fall, Jiang Zhi looked at Su Yin with resentment. “If this punch lands, all our ties are severed.”

Their twenty-year friendship had made Jiang Zhi endure again and again. He didn’t know why Su Yin had become like this after he went abroad. Feelings can’t be faked, but he couldn’t take it anymore. He waited quietly for the punch to land while the onlookers chattered around them.

Hit me then. I’ll never acknowledge you as a brother again.

After a long wait, the punch near his nose moved away. He looked at Su Yin. “Hit me!” Su Yin suddenly showed a look of struggle, as if he were being consumed by something painful. He watched Su Yin withdraw his hand, shove him aside, and rub his own face. Looking down at the stunned man sitting on the ground, Su Yin said nothing. Jiang Zhi eventually spoke: “Su Yin, don’t contact me again.”

He didn’t know if Su Yin stopped because of what he said, but he would take it as the period at the end of their friendship—a way to leave with some dignity.

Su Yin stood up, his gaze dull. His mind had gone blank for a moment, and now he felt dizzy.

Jiang Zhi’s voice rang out with accusation: “Su Yin, you stole your brother’s partner—disloyal; you defied your mother—unfilial; you cheated in your marriage—unfaithful.” He tore a piece of his sleeve off. “I no longer have a brother like you!” Having said his piece, he picked up the mess of flowers and left.

In the hospital room, the sound of a slap echoed. Su Yin, who had been dragged to the ward by Pei Weixue, was kneeling before his mother’s bed with his head bowed. His cheek was red and swollen. He slowly looked up into his mother’s disappointed eyes.

“Xiao Yin, from the time you were small until now, Mom has never hit you. Now, you won’t even acknowledge me. Fine. From today on, I no longer have a son.” Su Qingyue’s fingers were trembling with rage. She and Jiang Zhi’s mother were lifelong friends, yet her own son had stolen her friend’s son’s boyfriend. She truly didn’t know how to face her old friend anymore. “Go and divorce Weixue tomorrow. Get out of the house. Go wherever you want.”

Su Yin’s eyes moved sluggishly to Pei Weixue standing nearby. He raised his hand, wanting so badly to hug his family, his lover… but after raising his hand, he used it to shove Pei Weixue away. “Have you no shame? You don’t want a divorce so you snitch to the parents! Is that all you know how to do?!”

“You! You still dare to push Xue-xue!” Su Qingyue couldn’t catch her breath and fainted again. Pei Weixue screamed: “Mom! Nurse! Nurse!” He didn’t care about anything else; he only said three words to Su Yin—”I hate you”—before rushing out to find a nurse.

—I no longer have a son.

—I hate you.

—I don’t have a brother like you.

The three different voices echoed repeatedly in Su Yin’s ears, getting louder and louder. Unable to bear the throbbing pain inside his skull, he also collapsed.

“Weixue, I like you.”

“I like you too.”

Su Yin was holding Pei Weixue like a precious treasure for a photo. “Xue’er, smile for me.”

Pei Weixue laughed at the camera.

“I, Su Yin, will love Pei Weixue forever. We will never be apart!” Su Yin shouted loudly toward the sky.

“What if there’s an ‘if’?” Pei Weixue nudged his shoulder, his eyes and brow full of laughter.

While editing the photo for his Moments on his phone, Su Yin said with absolute certainty, “There are no ‘ifs’.” After posting, he put his phone and the other’s in his bag, taking Pei Weixue’s hand and kissing it. “Even as a ghost, I’d haunt you.” His other hand touched Pei Weixue’s slightly pale face. “Did the wind get to you?”

Pei Weixue moved his hand away. “I’m not that fragile. My lips are just a bit dry.”

“Dry lips, huh?” Su Yin looked around, then led Pei Weixue into a small side path. Once they were sure no one was around, he stared at Pei Weixue’s lips and said, “I want to kiss you.”

Pei Weixue turned his face away shyly and nodded gently. His face was then cupped, and a cherished kiss fell quietly upon his lips.

Ring ring ring!

The alarm clock blared. A hand shot out from the bed and slammed down on the clock. Then, a muffled voice came from under the covers. “I was just about to kiss Xue’er, and you, you dead alarm clock, had to wake me up.”

After cursing a few times, Su Yin threw back the covers. The sunlight hitting his face was blinding. he shielded his eyes and went to the bathroom. Only after using the toilet and washing his face did he feel fully awake. Once his mind cleared, he stared at the unfamiliar toothbrush and cup on the counter with a look of confusion.

“Eh? When did I change my cup? Did Xue’er change it?” Su Yin picked it up and realized it wasn’t the one he used to use. But why was there only one?

Suddenly, he noticed something was wrong. The “him” in the mirror had aged. Although his skin was still quite tight, there were obvious changes in his features. There were also clear bruises around his eyes and mouth, as if he had been badly beaten.