After Time Traveling, I was Forced to Marry a Wealthy Family

Mu Ci’s condition was dire, and driven by a cruel purpose, Gu Huai allowed only the most basic conservative treatment for him, denying even painkilling injections.

During those days, Mu Ci’s legs throbbed with intense pain, and he felt a sense of despair. He seemed to have abandoned the hard-earned dignity he once held onto. Curled up in a corner of the bed, he cried day and night, resembling a child unafraid of judgment or ridicule. Yes, he felt pain and cried when he felt pain.

Gu Huai should have noticed something was amiss at this point. Mu Ci, known for his strength, couldn’t cry like this every day—displaying a complete surrender, losing his dignity, life, and hope. It seemed as if every part of him was disintegrating from the inside out.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, Gu Huai could still hear the muffled sobs and frightened muttering as Mu Ci slept. Holding him close, Gu Huai comforted him softly, caressing his back as one would soothe a baby. Still, he provided no painkillers.

“You have to remember this kind of pain. Whatever you do, you have to pay a price,” Gu Huai repeated to him.

Locked in the bedroom, Mu Ci couldn’t go out, partly due to his inability to walk and partly as part of his punishment.

Due to inflammation from the wound, Mu Ci frequently suffered from a low fever, lying on the bed drowsily looking out the window. Sometimes the sun dazzled, sometimes it rained, but mostly it was cloudy, reflecting the ongoing rainy season. The air hung heavy with moisture.

Bai Ling occasionally visited Mu Ci while the maid tended to the house, but Mu Ci paid little attention. Only when he mentioned Zheng Xuran did he show any reaction.

He learned Zheng Xuran had healed and could leave his bed. Although unaware of the punishment inflicted, knowing he could get out of bed suggested the injury wasn’t severe.

This dealt another blow to Mu Ci’s heart, deepening his depression. Eventually, even Bai Ling ceased to pay him much attention.

Despite Bai Ling’s few attempts to talk with him, he gradually stopped visiting.

.

For unknown reasons, Mu Ci lost his appetite. While fevers often took away his hunger, now he couldn’t even bear to look at food without feeling nauseous.

One evening, when Gu Huai returned from work, he found the maid coming out of the bedroom with an untouched dinner plate. Furious, he called the maid, demanding an explanation. She stammered, “Young Master Mu said he had no appetite and asked me to take it out.”

“He asked you to take it out, and you took it out? Bring it back in; I’ll watch him eat.” Gu Huai pushed open the door, instructing the maid to place the dinner plate by the bedside. Addressing Mu Ci, he said, “Get up and eat. Look how thin you are. If you don’t eat anymore…”

Gu Huai’s arrogant words trailed off as he observed Mu Ci’s shockingly exposed collarbone, revealing the toll on his once robust frame.

Mu Ci was asleep, his breathing faint, and he appeared incredibly thin. Gu Huai recalled that when he first captured him, despite being slender, Mu Ci still had some flesh on his body. Now, it seemed as if only a handful of bones remained, on the verge of disappearing in the next second.

A bad premonition struck Gu Huai as he turned to the maid. His gaze sharpened, “How many days has he not eaten?”

The maid nervously wrung her fingers, “Well… Including today, it’s almost three days…”

“It’s been three days, and you didn’t tell me?!” Gu Huai’s voice rose sharply, causing the maid to tremble. “I, I, Young Master Gu, you never asked, so I, I didn’t dare to bother you…”

Gu Huai had been treating Mu Ci poorly, leading everyone in the Gu family, except for Jiang Wenjing and Bai Ling, to believe that Mu Ci had fallen out of favor. It was common for people to attach themselves to power, causing the servants to be less attentive than before.

“Get out!” Gu Huai’s face turned ugly, and he roared angrily. The little maid hastily ran out, forgetting to close the door.

Mu Ci was awakened by the shouting, glanced at Gu Huai tiredly, then closed his eyes and fell asleep again. He seemed too exhausted to express any fear.

Gu Huai knew it was more than just fatigue. Barely eating for three days, Mu Ci’s body was nearing its limit.

Suddenly, panic overcame Gu Huai as if he were watching life slipped away before him, like grains of sand slipping through his fingers. The tighter he grasped, the faster it disappeared.

.

His throat felt dry, so he sat down slowly, gently touched Mu Ci’s bandaged calf, and whispered, “Does your leg hurt? Eat the food, and I’ll give you something for the pain, okay?”

It was the first time Gu Huai had made a concession since Mu Ci was captured.

However, the painkillers that Mu Ci had once longed for held no allure anymore. Mu Ci was simply very sleepy, unable to muster the energy to engage. He wanted complete isolation, unwilling to talk to anyone.

Gu Huai extended his hand to lift Mu Ci. The sensation in his hands was more telling than the sight – he almost felt like he held just bones, weightless and frail. When had this body weakened to this extent? Gu Huai wondered with fear; this man seemed on the brink of death.

Regret suddenly washed over him, a deep sense of remorse.

Throughout most of his life, Gu Huai had been decisive, acting on his instincts and never regretting his choices. But this time, he truly despised himself.

Mu Ci, a delicate and uncomplicated person, couldn’t endure such cruelty. Why had he scared him so mercilessly, inflicted beatings, denied painkillers, and only provided the most basic treatment? Gu Huai had been driven by ambition but failed to consider whether Mu Ci’s body could bear it, never anticipating such severe consequences.

If this person were to die like this… Gu Huai couldn’t bear to contemplate it.

He spooned a bit of porridge and offered it to Mu Ci, coaxing softly, “Eat something. I’ll take you out for a walk later?”

Mu Ci simply shook his head, avoiding the incoming spoon.

Gu Huai persisted, “Don’t you like it? What would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it.”

Mu Ci remained silent, eyes lowered, staring into empty space. Just when everyone expected Gu Huai to take care of him, Mu Ci unexpectedly said, “Leave me alone, Gu Huai.”

Gu Huai’s fingers tightened, nearly breaking the sterling silver spoon. After a moment, he controlled his inner turmoil. Despite the looming emotional storm, he spoke in a calm tone, “If I don’t care about you. Who will care about you? When you were outside, no one took care of you, and you became so thin.”

“What if…” Gu Huai gritted his teeth, “What if you get seriously ill or injured where I can’t see you?”

Mu Ci spoke softly, “I’ll die if I get sick, and if I get injured, I’ll die. So what?”

“So what?” Gu Huai was about to explode, but seeing Mu Ci’s pale face, he managed to hold back.

Only now did he realize that Mu Ci’s thoughts seemed different from those of ordinary people. Mu Ci’s desire to survive didn’t appear particularly strong.

It was as if, if the world suited him, he could live a good life. However, if the world made him sad and uncomfortable, Mu Ci wasn’t willing to struggle hard. He preferred to go with the flow and decided whether to live or die.

Could it be that he…

.

Mu Ci didn’t take a bite until the end, just drank some water.

When Gu Huai tried to force-feed him, Mu Ci couldn’t help but vomit until he was dizzy and his whole body shook. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to eat; his body could no longer accept food.

Gu Huai had no choice but to have someone give him a nutritional injection. After calming down, he took him to the hospital for a full-body and neurological examination, met with a psychiatrist, and even underwent some laboratory tests.

Both laboratory tests were used to detect depression. The diagnosis column on the report sheet clearly stated: Psychogenic Depression.

“This type of depression is usually caused by long-term mental stimulation, stress, and other stress factors…” Jiang Wenjing rolled her eyes at Gu Huai and poked at his sore spots mercilessly, “Yes, I guess it is. Because of you.”

Gu Huai gritted his teeth irritably and punched the hospital wall, “How could I know he was so fragile? I’m just so angry, I…”

“You’re still shirking responsibility until now?” Jiang Wenjing no longer cared about politeness and said straightforwardly, “Any normal person treated like this by you would be affected. Do you still think Mu Ci is… fragile?!”

The doctor’s words carried a kind of self-evident authority. Gu Huai was stunned for a moment, then slumped down on the chair and sighed, “I know, it’s all because of me. I’m sorry for him.”

Jiang Wenjing looked at him coldly.

Gu Huai still asked, “He still can’t eat. What’s going on?”

“It’s mild anorexia nervosa caused by depression. I’ll give him a nutrient solution in the next few days,” Jiang Wenjing said after examining the report. “I’ve contacted a highly regarded psychiatrist, and we’ll start with several hypnotherapy sessions. As he improves, we can gradually reintroduce eating.”

Gu Huai nodded, “I understand.”

He felt no better than Mu Ci; his heart seemed tied up with a wire, making it hard to breathe. If Mu Ci truly left this world without regrets, the pain Gu Huai endured wouldn’t be any less than his.

All of Gu Huai’s love, attachment, and yearning were just heavy shackles for Mu Ci, trapping them both in a vicious cycle from which they could not escape, causing mutual bloody wounds.

Gu Huai suddenly wanted to talk, but with only Jiang Wenjing in front of him, he said, “Tell me, if I get rid of this bad temper, treat him well, and take care of him, will he be willing to forgive me?”

“It’s easy to change a country’s nature, but it’s hard to change a person’s, Young Master Gu.” Jiang Wenjing adjusted her glasses and looked at him meaningfully, “If you loved him enough, you would have changed it long ago. Why wait until now?”

“I…” Gu Huai closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, “I really love him. Believe it or not, it’s true.”

In this moment, he appeared different from the usually perfect and decisive head of the Gu family. Jiang Wenjing looked at him and saw a poor infatuated person who couldn’t attain what he desired.