Chapter 22: Even a Mother Can Disdain Her Own Son

How refreshing—an experience like this is probably rare for anyone in a lifetime. No wonder novels never describe the protagonists’ bathroom moments; it must be so damaging to their image.

In the bathroom, Ji Han was nearly exhausted, having struggled with all his might just to clean himself up. He didn’t dare call his family doctor, nor dial emergency services—this was about maintaining his reputation in the outside world. If word got out carelessly, who knew what kind of gossip might spread.

So he had no choice but to rely on these two unreliable friends; at least sometimes they could be trusted. At worst, they would mock him in private but wouldn’t tell others.

When the bathroom door opened, Su Zhihan and Song Yu almost had tears stinging their eyes from the overwhelming stench.

“Ugh!”

“Ugh! Oh my god! I feel like I’m dying!”

Both held their breath, faces red, each grabbing one of Ji Han’s arms to help him out. Song Miaoke busied herself gathering Ji Han’s belongings; going to the hospital was certain, and with his condition so severe, he might even need to be admitted.

The servants watched in confusion as Su Zhihan and Song Yu carefully helped Ji Han downstairs.

“Hold it in! Please, just hold it in!” Su Zhihan urged desperately. “Whatever you do, don’t let it come out now!”

Ji Han’s face was ghastly pale. His stomach was already emptied; there was nothing left to expel.

On the way to the hospital, Su Zhihan and Song Yu chattered nonstop, worried he might soil the car.

Su Zhihan couldn’t understand why he would have such a severe bout of diarrhea in the middle of the night.

“What on earth were you two up to? Diarrhea at midnight—did you eat something bad or party too hard?”

“Party too hard?” Ji Han shot her a blank stare. What kind of game could wear a person down like this? What was going on inside her head?

Blushing, Song Miaoke explained, “We ate something wrong. We were hungry after exercising, and Ji Han said he’d cook something for me. There was seafood delivered to the kitchen, so he wanted to make me a seafood dish.”

Su Zhihan was incredulous. “He got himself into this mess over seafood? Isn’t the simplest way just to steam it?”

She cast a disdainful glance at Ji Han. No wonder his cooking skills were so terrible.

Ji Han looked at her like that and didn’t want to meet her gaze, but he couldn’t avoid it either, so he just closed his eyes.

Song Miaoke added, “Maybe it wasn’t cooked thoroughly. I was still showering and hadn’t eaten yet, but Ji Han had a bit first, then this happened.”

She had doubted his cooking ability before but was reassured by his confidence. She never expected things to turn out like this.

Once they arrived at the Song family’s hospital, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Song Yu anxiously helped Ji Han out of the car. Seeing him so panicked, Ji Han felt a flicker of gratitude—it was clear he was a true friend, genuinely worried.

But the next moment, Song Yu started inspecting the seat cushion beneath Ji Han’s bottom, sighing with relief, “Good thing you didn’t soil my car. I just bought it; haven’t even enjoyed driving it yet.”

Su Zhihan burst out laughing.

Ji Han was nearly furious. He was in this state, and this guy was still worried about the car seat?

Was their brotherhood all a lie? Could his new car mean more to him than their friendship?

Ji Han’s condition was serious enough that the doctor recommended he be hospitalized for a few days.

This was a private hospital where all the doctors and nurses had signed confidentiality agreements, so many celebrities and important figures frequented it.

After a night of chaos, Su Zhihan was feeling a bit dazed.

Did Ji Han ever see her as a woman? To call her over for something like this—did he not care about his image in front of her at all?

If she hadn’t transmigrated and was still the old Su Zhihan, would she have liked him if he acted like this in front of her?

She doubted it. Childhood sweethearts often have a rosy filter over each other, but that filter would shatter the moment he behaved like a complete mess.

So she blamed Ji Han’s previous preoccupation with his image. If he hadn’t cared so much about appearances, been a bit more authentic, perhaps that Su Zhihan would never have fallen for him.

Ji Han: ...

The fact that Ji Han was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night was impossible to hide from his parents.

Mrs. Ji came early in the morning to see her son.

Seeing Ji Han lying so weakly in the hospital bed, her heart ached. Though she often scolded him, he was her only son, and she cared deeply.

She tenderly stroked Ji Han’s head. “Oh, my poor son. How did it get so serious? What’s wrong with you?”

Song Miaoke was about to answer, but Ji Han gave her a warning look.

This matter must never reach his parents. If they found out, how could he save face? He had always maintained a mature, steady image before them—he couldn’t let that be shattered.

Though Song Miaoke was silenced, there were still Su Zhihan and Song Yu nearby, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Su Zhihan quickly answered, “Auntie, it’s nothing serious. He just had diarrhea in the middle of the night.”

Mr. Ji and Mrs. Ji, worried moments ago, were momentarily stunned.

What? Diarrhea in the middle of the night and ended up in the hospital?

Ji Han tried his best to guard himself but couldn’t stop Su Zhihan. He didn’t know whether to be angry or exasperated; his face reddened as he coughed.

“Cough, cough, cough, Su Zhihan, shut up!”

He should have sent her away this morning; all she did was make him look ridiculous.

Song Yu chimed in, “Auntie, last night Ji Han cooked for himself but didn’t do it right. After eating, he had an explosive bout of diarrhea in the bathroom. When we arrived—whew! The smell was something else, could marinate a person!”

Song Yu narrated the scene like a comic sketch, vividly painting the picture with his words.

Mrs. Ji quietly withdrew her hand from Ji Han’s face and even discreetly sniffed near her nose.

Hmm… there did seem to be a faint odor.

She tried hard to suppress a look of disgust, but her acting wasn’t quite convincing.

Ji Han looked at his mother, utterly speechless. Without expression, he said, “Mom, you just touched my head, not my bottom. Diarrhea isn’t done with the mouth, so please don’t be so disgusted. Thank you.”

Mrs. Ji laughed awkwardly and hid her right hand behind her back. “Haha, I wasn’t disgusted. You’re my son; how could I be?”

Su Zhihan and Song Yu almost burst into laughter at her personality—it was simply too amusing.