Xiao Qiqi looked at the stack of tickets one by one, and stammered, "How many do you want? But I don't have the money to pay you back right now."
Chen Yuanxing said sternly, "I don't care. Paying back debts is a matter of course."
"...Can I return it to you in a few days?" Xiao Qiqi pulled out a plane ticket. "What's this? Why do I have to return it to you?"
Chen Yuanxing gave a roguish laugh: "Senior sister, that's lost wages! I missed my flight because of you, and I can't get a refund, so of course you have to bear this! Besides, I haven't even calculated the opportunity cost for you yet. You know, I was originally going to take a flight back to BeiX on the 2nd to go on vacation with my childhood sweetheart in Beidaihe. Now, the vacation is ruined, and my dream of meeting my sweetheart is over. This is a loss that money can't even calculate!"
Although Xiao Qiqi knew he was lying, it was true that he had missed his flight to save her, so she gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, this is on me too. How about this, I only have a few hundred yuan on me right now, so I can't pay you back. I'll give you an IOU, and we'll calculate the interest at the market rate, okay?"
Chen Yuanxing sat up. "That's great! Write it down quickly! You have to pay back what you owe me, hehe. Don't forget to write down the amount of compensation for lost youth and the cost of unrequited love."
Xiao Qiqi took out a pen and paper, rolled her eyes at him, and said, "Enough with the nonsense. Do you even have the money for all this?"
"No, no, you have to write it down. This is a real opportunity loss! You guys at A University are all economics majors, don't try to fool us science and engineering blockheads into thinking we know nothing but the lab!"
Xiao Qiqi sighed helplessly, "You're so smart, I don't think anyone can fool you!" So she wrote an IOU, but hesitated when she got to the number: "Are you sure you've got it right?"
Chen Yuanxing leaned over Xiao Qiqi, propped his chin on his hand, and looked at her handwriting. He clicked his tongue and said, "No wonder Senior Sister is so violent. People say that handwriting reflects one's personality. Your handwriting looks like a fox painting."
Xiao Qiqi ignored his nonsensical ramblings, turned the paper over, and began calculating the tickets one by one. Chen Yuanxing watched her calculate but kept shaking his head. After a long string of calculations, the result was indeed 10378.53. Chen Yuanxing then began to mock, "You economics students are all cunning, aren't you? You won't admit it! I, Chen Yuanxing, haven't written any equations since first grade. How could I possibly make a mistake with such a small decimal?" His words were full of smugness and exaggeration. Xiao Qiqi inwardly despised him and could only write a receipt and throw it at him. Chen Yuanxing then returned it, "No, no, I didn't write down opportunity loss."
Left with no other option, Xiao Qiqi wrote down her demands for compensation for lost youth and unrequited love on the back of the receipt. Chen Yuanxing, clutching the receipt, beamed with smug satisfaction. Looking at his radiant face, Xiao Qiqi felt an urge to slap him again; this boy naturally inspired violent impulses. Watching him lie down on the bed with satisfaction, Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but say, "You climb on top."
Chen Yuanxing simply took off his shoes and swung his long legs wildly, asking, "Why am I on top?"
Xiao Qiqi was annoyed by his receipt, but seeing his smug peach blossom eyes shining, she was even more annoyed. She casually pinched his swaying long leg and said, "You're a man, of course you should be on top!"
"Ouch." Chen Yuanxing pulled his leg back and sat up abruptly, rubbing his leg. "A man should be on top, right? Why do men have to do all the physical work? I won't do it! You violent woman, climb on top yourself!"
"Get out! Just go upstairs when I tell you to!" Xiao Qiqi said coldly.
"I'm not going to be on top, I'm going to be on the bottom, what can you do about it?"
The two were still arguing, one above the other, when a middle-aged couple sitting opposite them couldn't help but laugh. The woman burst out laughing, and once she started, she couldn't stop laughing. The man couldn't help but chuckle too, and even a young woman sitting next to them reading a newspaper blushed and chuckled to herself. Xiao Qiqi and Chen Yuanxing exchanged a glance, their faces turning bright red, spreading like a fiery sunset. Ignoring Chen Yuanxing, she took off her shoes and climbed onto the middle bunk.
Chen Yuanxing scratched his head in confusion, looking at everyone and then at Xiao Qiqi. "What are they laughing at?" Xiao Qiqi was annoyed and embarrassed. She held her breath and climbed up, but her body was weak and the sleeper compartment was narrow. She slipped and almost fell over. Chen Yuanxing was looking at her in confusion when he saw her swaying. He jumped down and hugged her. "Alright, alright, I'm scared of you. I'm up there, so what? Is it worth being so cold to me?" Everyone had just stopped laughing when they heard him say "up there" again, and they burst into laughter again.
Xiao Qiqi was extremely embarrassed and pushed him away, saying, "Let go, I don't need your help!"
"I'm used to nagging you!" Chen Yuanxing carried Xiao Qiqi to the lower bunk, turned around to see everyone's smiling faces, and grinned back, "What are you laughing at? Haven't you ever seen Pigsy carrying his wife?" Xiao Qiqi was furious at his nonsense and whispered, "What nonsense are you talking about!" Chen Yuanxing pulled back the blanket, smiled, and pushed Xiao Qiqi to lie down, "Go to sleep." After all that commotion, Xiao Qiqi's limbs were too weak to argue with Chen Yuanxing anymore, and she soon drifted off to sleep to the rhythm of the train starting up.
Chen Yuanxing gazed at Xiao Qiqi's gaunt face, pale and frail like a pure white lily, both pitiful and untouchable. His playful expression vanished. Seeing the others still secretly observing them, he smiled bitterly. He wasn't a child; he understood why they were laughing. He had only pretended to be oblivious to avoid embarrassing Xiao Qiqi. She must be suffering terribly. She spends her days either lost in thought or dozing off. If he hadn't deliberately provoked her, she might have truly become a lifeless doll. Poor senior sister, Chen Yuanxing shook his head.
When Xiao Qiqi woke up, it was already dark outside, with a few lights flashing by occasionally. The car was filled with the aromas of various dishes and instant noodles. Chen Yuanxing had bought two boxes of train fast food and said to her when he saw that she was awake, "Get up quickly and eat something."
Xiao Qiqi sat up, looking at the boxed lunch with no appetite, but for the sake of her recovery, she forced herself to eat. She took the chopsticks Chen Yuanxing handed her, opened the lunchbox, and found only one set of vegetables, one set of braised eggplant, and one set of meat—cauliflower and pork belly—which looked even less appetizing. Chen Yuanxing, meanwhile, exclaimed, "What? Terrible vegetables! They're awful!" Turning to Xiao Qiqi, he said, "Senior sister, how about I eat the meat instead of the vegetables?"
Xiao Qiqi rolled her eyes at him. "No way!" Chen Yuanxing muttered, "What's wrong with you? You clearly don't like meat, but you won't give me any!" Xiao Qiqi watched as he picked all the greens aside. "You don't eat greens?" Chen Yuanxing nodded. "I hate leafy vegetables the most!"
Some people say, "You can't be a picky eater, it's bad for your health." A gentle yet undeniable voice rang in Xiao Qiqi's ears, and her heart tightened. She picked up a slice of eggplant; it was soft, slightly sweet, and actually, it wasn't that bad.
She picked up all the pork belly and gave it to Chen Yuanxing, then picked up the vegetables he had thrown aside. "I'll trade with you." Chen Yuanxing immediately beamed. "I knew Senior Sister wasn't so cold-blooded." At this moment, Xiao Qiqi's heart clenched into a ball of sadness, her fingers trembling slightly. How could she dare to speak? She just lowered her head and ate the eggplant she never liked, bite by bite. Some things, after trying them, aren't actually that sad, are they?
9. Finding a house
Although Xiao Qiqi was extremely reluctant to accept any more favors from Chen Yuanxing, and Chen Yuanxing was also full of complaints, the two still bumped into each other as they got off the train. Chen Yuanxing then took Xiao Qiqi to Ruan Mei's small dormitory. Walking down the apartment corridor, which reeked of garbage and cooking pots, Chen Yuanxing covered his nose and kept muttering, "Senior sister, you live here? Can anyone live in this awful place?" He had just stopped talking when he jumped up again, "Ugh, cockroaches! It's filthy."
Xiao Qiqi ignored him and led him toward Ruan Mei's house at the far end. She had no choice; Ruan Mei was her only friend there, so she had to stay with her for two days before looking for a place to live.
Knocking on the door, Xiao Qiqi froze. Ruan Mei? The change was drastic. She wore a loose-fitting dress, her belly bulging like a large ball, her long hair cut short and messily plastered to her head, as if she hadn't washed it for days. Ruan Mei seemed happy to see Xiao Qiqi, pulling her inside. "Didn't you say you'd arrive on the morning of the 2nd? Why are you only arriving today? Your phone wasn't working, I was so worried." Xiao Qiqi didn't go inside, just stared blankly at Ruan Mei's protruding belly, a sharp pain welling up in her chest. Chen Yuanxing, who had been curiously peeking into Xiao Qiqi's friend's room, noticed her pale face and followed her gaze, understanding immediately. He said, "Senior, this is your friend Ruan Mei? Hello, I'm Chen Yuanxing." He greeted Ruan Mei cheerfully. Ruan Mei had already seen the handsome boy behind Xiao Qiqi, a knowing glint in her eyes. She quickly said, "Hello, hello, Qiqi, what's wrong? Come in!"
Xiao Qiqi seemed to snap out of her daze and went inside. Ruan Mei gestured for her to sit down, but Xiao Qiqi watched her heavy body move with difficulty, and another wave of heartache washed over her. Suppressing her grief, she pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Ruan Mei, don't bother me. I'm not coming to get the postal slips for the things I sent. I'm leaving soon." Ruan Mei asked curiously, "Leaving? Where to? Didn't we agree to stay here for a few days before finding a place to stay?" Xiao Qiqi forced a smile and said, "No, I've already found a place to stay. It's not comfortable for me to stay here with Da Gang."
Ruan Mei glanced at Chen Yuanxing behind Xiao Qiqi and nodded knowingly, "Looks like I don't need to worry about you anymore. Then I won't bother with you. But let's eat before you leave. You must be exhausted after getting off the train." Xiao Qiqi shook her head, "No, I have to rush to the company to report for duty, so I won't stay any longer. I'll come see you later."
Ruan Mei thought for a moment and didn't try to stop her, smiling as she said, "Alright, actually I was just about to tell you. I'm about to give birth, and I'll be going back to Da Gang's house in Inner Mongolia in a few days to prepare for childbirth. Only Da Gang is here, so it's not good to keep you here any longer. Now that you've made arrangements, I feel much more at ease. I was even asking Da Gang to find you a place to stay these past few days, but you didn't listen and didn't dare to look anymore. I don't know what your plans are." Seeing Ruan Mei's sincere smile, Xiao Qiqi was moved, but she still couldn't shake off her inner demons. She didn't dare to look at Ruan Mei's protruding belly any longer, afraid that she would burst into tears if she stayed any longer. She quickly squeezed Ruan Mei's hand and said, "Ruan Mei, thank you. Take good care of the baby. I... I'll see you later." Ruan Mei thought that Xiao Qiqi was just reluctant to part with her and didn't mind. She found Xiao Qiqi's luggage tracking number and gave it to her, "It was delivered yesterday. Da Gang hasn't had time to pick it up yet, so you can take it with you."
Xiao Qiqi smiled and nodded, then hesitated before reaching out to touch Ruan Mei's round belly. "...The baby is so good." Ruan Mei also touched her belly, her face full of happiness: "You're praising him, but he kicks me all the time!" Xiao Qiqi couldn't bear to look at Ruan Mei's face, which was radiating maternal glow, so she quickly turned her head away and pushed open the door as if escaping. "Ruan Mei, I'm leaving."
Seeing Xiao Qiqi flee as if running away, Chen Yuanxing could only smile at Ruan Mei and quickly follow her out. Ruan Mei then realized that something was wrong with Xiao Qiqi, but she was clumsy and by the time she reached the door, Xiao Qiqi had already disappeared through the corridor.
Xiao Qiqi walked all the way to the street before collapsing, exhausted, and sat down under an ancient locust tree. A gust of wind blew a tear from the corner of her eye. Chen Yuanxing sat down beside her, turned his head to look at her face, and saw a single, glistening tear stubbornly clinging to her long eyelashes, refusing to fall. He couldn't help but reach out and pull her into his arms. "...If you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold it in."
Xiao Qiqi clenched her fingers again, nestled in Chen Yuanxing's arms, and smelled the slightly sweaty, sun-kissed scent on him. It was so different from the fresh scent of that other person, yet it hurt her so much. Tears streamed down her face, slowly wetting Chen Yuanxing's shoulder. Chen Yuanxing reached out and hesitated for a moment before gently touching Xiao Qiqi's soft hair.
Xiao Qiqi sat quietly, while Chen Yuanxing paced impatiently, yelling into his phone, "Old Zhou, if you don't find me a room today, I'm not done with you!" After a few more words, he hung up and smiled smugly at Xiao Qiqi, "Come on, I found you a room near your company." Seeing that Xiao Qiqi finally moved her eyes, he quickly added, "It's an old house, the kind you share with others, not expensive, it's at a friend's company, it's fine for a few days."
Xiao Qiqi knew his good intentions, and besides, she really had no relatives or friends to rely on at the moment. Feeling grateful, she said to Chen Yuanxing, "Chen Yuanxing, thank you." Chen Yuanxing slung his bag over his shoulder and laughed exaggeratedly, "Haha, we're like brother and sister, helping each other out!"
The phone rang again. Chen Yuanxing answered it, said a few words, told his current location, looked around, and then said, "We're waiting for you at the coffee shop at the intersection. Hurry up!" He then beckoned Xiao Qiqi to walk towards the coffee shop across the street: "My friend said he's coming to pick us up and take us to our accommodation. Shall we wait for him at the coffee shop?" Although Xiao Qiqi felt it was too much trouble for him, she had no other choice but to nod.
The café was filled with well-dressed men and women, some politely discussing business, others engaging in gentle conversations, and still others having heartwarming family gatherings. Students like Xiao Qiqi and Chen Yuanxing, who were simply seeking respite from the summer heat, were few and far between. Xiao Qiqi lowered her head somewhat uncomfortably, while Chen Yuanxing seemed completely unconcerned, treating the café as if it were his own home. He ordered coffee but only asked Xiao Qiqi for a glass of warm water.
"I want ice water." Xiao Qiqi wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with a tissue. It was so hot in July, and after crying, she felt weak all over.
"No." Chen Yuanxing refused decisively, then asked the waiter, "Would you like some snacks?" The waiter nodded hurriedly, and Chen Yuanxing ordered a plate of pine nut pastries for Xiao Qiqi, saying, "You must be hungry too, have something to eat."
Xiao Qiqi bit her lip. "I'm not hungry. I want some ice water or strawberry ice cream." Chen Yuanxing frowned. "Sigh, why is your senior sister always going against me? She can't eat cold food because of her health. What will happen later? Won't that old doctor scold me to death?" Xiao Qiqi knew he was right, but she refused to admit it. "Dr. Yu isn't here. How could he be talking to you?"
"If we don't have Dr. Yu, we still have Dr. Zhang, Dr. Li, and Dr. Chen!" Chen Yuanxing said irritably. "Senior sister, can't you be a little gentler and more obedient?"
Xiao Qiqi's expression darkened upon hearing this, "If you want to be gentle and obedient, go find your girlfriend!"
Chen Yuanxing was about to retort, but seeing that she was angry and considering that she was still heartbroken, he said, "I'm scared of you, okay?"
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Xiao Qiqi drank warm water and ate some snacks, while Chen Yuanxing fiddled with his phone, calling his friends to let them know he was back. About an hour later, a young man in a suit and tie walked over. Chen Yuanxing stood up from a distance, and the two bumped fists. Chen Yuanxing then shook his head dramatically: "Dressed like that, are you showing off or going on a blind date?"
Zhou Zijian was used to his sarcasm, but when he looked at Xiao Qiqi, he secretly kicked Chen Yuanxing with his foot: "Who is this?"
"Xiao Qiqi." Xiao Qiqi smiled politely; the young man in front of her looked somewhat familiar.
Zhou Zijian continued kicking Chen Yuanxing: "The house is a bit simple. It was originally intended for one of the company's employees, but I sent him to another city today, so it's no longer needed."
Xiao Qiqi quickly said, "Thank you, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Zhou Zijian gave Chen Yuanxing a forced smile. "No trouble at all. Young Master's business is my business." He winked at Chen Yuanxing. "Shall we leave now?"
Chen Yuanxing, having been kicked a few times by Zhou Zijian and feeling resentful, grabbed Xiao Qiqi's large bag and shoved it into Zhou Zijian's hands. "Stop talking nonsense, let's go." Zhou Zijian took the bag, surprised. "Why am I giving you my bag?"
Chen Yuanxing had already grabbed another bag and pulled Xiao Qiqi away, saying, "Who told you to wear that dog skin? I just want to trample on it."
Zhou Zijian, feeling wronged, carried his large bag and followed him out of the coffee shop. "Young Master, that's not fair. I was in a meeting, and you dragged me out with just one phone call."
A silver Porsche was parked on the side of the road. Chen Yuanxing walked over and kicked it, impatiently urging, "Old Zhou, hurry up, I'm dying of heat." Zhou Zijian, dragging a large bag, panted all the way, "Young Master, will you die if you wait a little longer?" Xiao Qiqi felt a little guilty and waited for Zhou Zijian to say, "Thank you, my bag is very heavy."
Zhou Zijian was very polite to Xiao Qiqi. In his mind, beautiful women should be pampered. Although the girl in front of him wasn't a stunning beauty—aside from her slightly pale appearance—she was still a tall and pretty woman who was pleasing to the eye. He quickly said, "It's alright, it's alright, I'm just doing my duty for a beautiful woman!" Chen Yuanxing turned around and looked at Zhou Zijian's smiling eyes. His impatience immediately turned into displeasure. He slowly called out, "Old Zhou!" and glared at Zhou Zijian. Zhou Zijian and Chen Yuanxing were childhood friends who had grown up together, so how could he not understand what he meant? He quickly chuckled and stuffed the luggage into the trunk. He deliberately walked to Xiao Qiqi's side and whispered in a feignedly intimate tone, "Qiqi, let me tell you, the young master is a womanizer. If he bullies you in the future, just call me, and I'll tell you all about how he grew up with nothing." After saying that, he gave Chen Yuanxing a provocative look, then took out his business card and respectfully handed it to Xiao Qiqi. Although Xiao Qiqi was somewhat embarrassed by his misunderstanding, she couldn't disregard etiquette and quickly accepted the business card. The card was simple, only stating "Zhou Zijian of Langya Network." Xiao Qiqi looked at Zhou Zijian in shock. Was this the Zhou Zijian who had recently caused such a stir as the internet celebrity who built a website during his university years? No wonder he looked familiar.
Before Xiao Qiqi could find a suitable word, she was suddenly pulled into the car by Chen Yuanxing. "What are you daydreaming about? In this blazing sun, you'll be roasted like a sweet potato!"
Xiao Qiqi settled into the soft, comfortable car, her eyes still following Zhou Zijian. She watched him skillfully start the engine, his features gentle, his eyes narrow, his lips thin, his smile handsome. Occasionally, he would furrow his brow, an expression reminiscent of Xia Xuan, and she was momentarily stunned again. Chen Yuanxing, seeing her staring blankly at Zhou Zijian's back, felt a surge of inexplicable anger. He snorted and mocked Zhou Zijian, "Old Zhou, you're getting more and more impressive! Another new car? Did you change your woman too?" Zhou Zijian turned to look at Chen Yuanxing, understanding dawned on him, and chuckled, but said earnestly, "I was just planning to change, but I don't have a target yet. How about I introduce you to a beauty from H City?" Chen Yuanxing saw Zhou Zijian's smug smile in the rearview mirror, shrugged as if realizing something, and cursed, "Get lost!" The two exchanged a glance in the rearview mirror before laughing it off and starting to talk about the past six months—classmates, girlfriends, games, and fun.
Xiao Qiqi realized her rudeness and quickly looked away, no longer participating in their conversation. She just looked out the window at the rolling traffic and hurried people, wondering if she would also join this busy world in the future.
The car finally managed to squeeze into a narrow, bumpy alley and stop. Chen Yuanxing got out, looked at the dilapidated red-brick building in front of him, and pointed at Zhou Zijian, cursing, "Zhou Zijian, you really are a wicked capitalist! This is the kind of dormitory you provide for your employees?" Zhou Zijian didn't seem to care. "I'm still doing well. Go ask around yourself, which company provides accommodation for its employees? And one room per person!" Chen Yuanxing kept shaking his head and sighing, his disdainful gaze seeming to pierce through Zhou Zijian. Xiao Qiqi, however, felt embarrassed and quickly said, "I think it's fine. It doesn't matter if the building is old, as long as it's clean inside."
Zhou Zijian said, "Look at Chen Yuanxing, you're so rude. Qiqi is much more understanding and considerate." After saying that, he smiled at Xiao Qiqi with narrowed eyes. The smile was so warm that Xiao Qiqi was momentarily dazed. She caught a strange look in Chen Yuanxing's eyes and quickly looked away, then lowered her head to get her small bag.
Zhou Zijian looked at Chen Yuanxing and handed him a key. "Third floor. I'm not going to do your chores. Carry it up yourself, put your things away, and come find me when you get back." Chen Yuanxing glared at him, but Zhou Zijian quickly said, "Hey, don't glare at me, okay? I said it's for employees. It's a two-bedroom apartment. I've already kicked one out to make room. I can't kick the other one out too, can I? So, it's inconvenient for me to go up." Hearing him say this, Xiao Qiqi pulled Chen Yuanxing, "I'll carry it myself." Chen Yuanxing ignored her, picked up his bag, and left. Xiao Qiqi had no choice but to follow.
Upon entering the house, it was fairly clean. One room had a bare bed, suggesting it had been hastily vacated. Chen Yuanxing tossed his bag onto the bed and sat down on a blue sofa, catching his breath. Xiao Qiqi surveyed the room; though small, it was fully furnished, even including air conditioning and a television, only lacking bedding. Scattered trash lay on the floor, indicating it hadn't been cleaned up in a rush. Xiao Qiqi intended to tidy up, but felt a rush of heat in her head, weakness in her limbs, and even heavy eyes. After such a long journey by train from yesterday, her body couldn't take it anymore, so she collapsed listlessly onto the bare bed, too exhausted to even move a finger.
Chen Yuanxing took a few breaths and was about to tell Xiao Qiqi he was leaving when he saw her slumped on the bed, her face flushed. He asked, "Xiao Qiqi, what's wrong?" Xiao Qiqi was still groggy and wanted to answer, but she was too weak to do so, only letting out a soft groan. Chen Yuanxing reached out and touched her forehead. "Ah, you have a fever again? No, we should go to the hospital." Xiao Qiqi shook her head weakly. "No!"
Chen Yuanxing touched her forehead again, frowning. "It's alright, the fever isn't too high. Here, I'll go buy you some fever reducer. By the way, you haven't taken your medicine for lunch yet, have you?" Xiao Qiqi felt weak and uncomfortable, so she just hummed in response, then heard Chen Yuanxing open the door and go downstairs.
Seeing that Chen Yuanxing had been gone for so long and looked unhappy, Zhou Zijian joked, "What's wrong? You didn't start a fight just because your girlfriend glanced at me a couple of times?" Chen Yuanxing then pretended to kick Zhou Zijian, "What nonsense are you talking about? She's not my girlfriend!"
Zhou Zijian squinted: "Not your girlfriend? That's great, introduce her to me as my girlfriend!" Chen Yuanxing was a little anxious at this moment and didn't want to talk nonsense with him. He said: "Alright, hurry up and drive. I'll go to the pharmacy to buy her some fever reducers."
Zhou Zijian then chuckled slyly: "You still say you're not my girlfriend, yet you're looking for a place, getting jealous, worrying, and buying me medicine. Who do you think I am?"
Chen Yuanxing looked at Zhou Zijian, intending to explain his subtle relationship with Xiao Qiqi, but when he thought of the way Xiao Qiqi looked at him, he didn't want to say anything, so he didn't explain: "Aren't you very busy? Why don't you get lost?" Zhou Zijian drove, "I'm leaving now, but why are you still stuck in my car?" Chen Yuanxing didn't move but comfortably leaned back in his seat, "Stop talking nonsense, take me to the pharmacy, and then you can get lost."
10. Alone
When Xiao Qiqi woke up, it was a bit dark outside. He initially thought it was night, but upon closer inspection, it looked more like it was about to rain. Touching his still heavy and throbbing forehead, Xiao Qiqi groaned. Glancing at his side, he saw Chen Yuanxing sleeping soundly, cuddling the large teddy bear. He couldn't help but frown, vaguely remembering that Chen had fed him medicine and water, but then he couldn't remember anything else. Xiao Qiqi watched as Chen Yuanxing's head was mostly buried in the teddy bear's furry arm, and couldn't help but tug at the teddy bear. When did his things become Chen Yuanxing's exclusive property? He was already monopolizing what was rightfully his in the hospital, and now he was doing this!
Chen Yuanxing was fast asleep when he suddenly felt his arms go empty. Reaching out, he grasped nothing but air, muttering in his sleep, "Big bear, stop fooling around." Xiao Qiqi saw him smacking his lips like a child, his mouth slightly upturned, his peaceful state completely devoid of his usual playful demeanor. She couldn't help but smile. Had she owed him too much? But then she felt the stiffness of hard linen. Looking down, she saw it was a new, fine linen sheet, large camellia blossoms blooming amidst the lush greenery. He could be so thoughtful sometimes. Actually, Xiao Qiqi had misunderstood Chen Yuanxing.
Chen Yuanxing bought fever-reducing medicine and haphazardly fed it to Xiao Qiqi according to the prescription. However, Xiao Qiqi, with a low-grade fever, was completely uncooperative. After feeding her for a while, she vomited water all over him and the bed. Chen Yuanxing cursed his bad luck and shoved Xiao Qiqi onto the bed, intending to abandon her and go home. But seeing her lying pitifully and timidly on the bare Simmons bed, he couldn't bear it. In the end, he came up with a way to feed Xiao Qiqi the medicine. As for what that method was, he dared not say now, and Xiao Qiqi wouldn't remember anyway.
After feeding him the medicine, Chen Yuanxing was exceptionally smug, pinching Xiao Qiqi's pink and slightly flushed face. "Violent sister, let's see how arrogant you are now!" His wicked smile was particularly cunning; if Zhou Zijian had seen it, he would have been terrified and run far away. Seeing that Xiao Qiqi was still soundly asleep, he yawned as well, since sleeping soundly on a train was never a good idea. Feeling sleepy, he nudged Xiao Qiqi and lay down himself, deciding to get some sleep first, regardless of the world. He had barely lain down when he jumped up with a scream. It turned out that Xiao Qiqi had vomited all over his clothes. Chen Yuanxing rubbed his soaked clothes with a disgruntled expression, then felt hungry, grabbed his keys, and went downstairs to the nearby supermarket. He bought a bunch of food, and then, seeing a promotion on bedding, he casually bought two sets. Given his personality, he certainly wouldn't buy these kinds of flowers and plants, but thinking that girls seem to like flowers and plants, he had no choice but to resist and buy a set of large camellia green ones, and finally chose a light yellow plaid one for the other set.
When he got back, he wanted to eat instant noodles, but found there was no hot water. Frustrated, he ate a piece of bread, carried Xiao Qiqi to the sofa to lie down, casually spread out a sheet, and then carried Xiao Qiqi to the bed. He hugged Xiao Qiqi's big teddy bear and lay down next to her.
Xiao Qiqi pulled the big teddy bear from Chen Yuanxing's arms, patted it, and then tried to climb over Chen Yuanxing's blocking body. Chen Yuanxing had gotten used to sleeping with the soft teddy bear these past few days, and suddenly having his hands free felt very strange. He struggled for a while before finally feeling the furry texture, and quickly grabbed it and pulled it into his arms. Xiao Qiqi, who was holding the teddy bear and had one leg straddling his body, was suddenly pulled by him. Her arched body was weak and powerless, and she couldn't stop herself and sat down on him.
"Ah!" "Hmm!" Two simultaneous screams rang out as Chen Yuanxing abruptly opened his eyes. Xiao Qiqi was also looking over at that moment, their four eyes dark and clashing like stars colliding with the earth. Just as if on cue, a sudden clap of thunder sounded outside. Xiao Qiqi's heart skipped a beat, and she pounced on the big bear, letting out a shriek. Chen Yuanxing grunted again, closed his eyes, and gritted his teeth. Damn woman, doesn't she know how heavy she is? Is it comfortable lying on someone else? With a flick of his long legs, he straightened up and sat up. Xiao Qiqi was jolted by his upright body and raised legs, and fell back onto the bed, her head hitting the wall with a "thud." This time, she didn't scream, but instead vented a burning anger on the guy who was now happily lying down with the big bear.
Chen Yuanxing closed his eyes, but after only a second of sleep, he felt as if a fire was burning his face. He tried to endure the burning sensation for a while, but it only intensified. He quickly opened his eyes and stared into Xiao Qiqi's eyes, which were like transparent flames. He felt instantly burned and jumped up from the bed, hiding far away. "You...you, what do you want to do?"
Xiao Qiqi suppressed her anger, rubbed her sore forehead, and looked out the window. The torrential rain had begun to fall wildly, accompanied by booming thunder. Flashes of lightning streaked across the sky. A sharp wind rushed in through the open window. She turned to look at Chen Yuanxing, "Shouldn't you be home by now?"
Chen Yuanxing scratched his head and asked curiously, "Why are you angry again?" Xiao Qiqi sighed helplessly, pondering how to respond, when a louder clap of thunder suddenly exploded. Sitting against the wall, Xiao Qiqi heard it clearly. Startled, she instinctively jumped off the bed and ran towards Chen Yuanxing. But after only a few steps, the thunder subsided, leaving only the pounding of wind and rain against the window. Xiao Qiqi smiled sadly. The wind, the thunder—from now on, she would have to endure it all alone. Seeing Xiao Qiqi running towards him, Chen Yuanxing was frightened and ran towards the door. After a few steps, the footsteps behind him disappeared. He turned back and secretly looked at Xiao Qiqi, barefoot on the cold floor tiles, gazing sadly out the window.
"Hey, senior sister, what are you doing?" Chen Yuanxing asked tentatively, seemingly unconcerned. He boldly walked over and shoved the teddy bear into her arms. "Are you scared of me? Why are you angry? Here's the teddy bear back." Xiao Qiqi neither took the teddy bear nor paid him any attention. Chen Yuanxing grew anxious and carefully observed Xiao Qiqi's face, which showed the most common signs of despair and heartbreak. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wondering when this woman would ever be happy again.
"Senior sister? Xiao Qiqi? Qiqi? Sister?" Chen Yuanxing waved his hand in front of Xiao Qiqi's eyes. "Never mind, I'll hug you, don't hit me! The doctor said you can't catch a cold, and you were walking barefoot on the ground, you're clearly making things difficult for me." As he spoke, he actually put his arm around Xiao Qiqi's waist, gently picked her up and put her on the bed, then climbed onto the bed and closed the window. "Why did you open the window? Your fever just went down a little, and you want to take medicine again?" Turning his head, he saw Xiao Qiqi lower her eyes and bite her lip, her originally pale lips now showing a bit of red color. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and quickly climbed off the bed and moved far away from Xiao Qiqi. "Senior sister, are you hungry? I'll make you some instant noodles?"
Xiao Qiqi shook her head, looking out the window at the rain, which was just a common summer thunderstorm. The clouds would soon clear and the sun would peek out from the gaps in the clouds again. Only then did she force herself to suppress her sorrow and say, "No need, thank you, Chen Yuanxing. I'm fine now, and you've helped me enough. I'll be reporting to work at the company tomorrow, so you don't need to worry about me. The rain outside has stopped, you should go home."
Chen Yuanxing hesitated for a moment, "If I leave, what will happen to you? The doctor said you can't overwork yourself, you can't be exposed to cold water, and you can't eat spicy, cold, or hard foods. Can you handle all of that?"
Xiao Qiqi smiled and nodded, "Okay, anyway, the hardest time is over, so don't worry about me." Actually, she didn't say that. Can any taboo now make up for what's been lost?
"Okay, I'll get you something to eat and then I'll be going." Chen Yuanxing suppressed his unnecessary worries, walked out of the room, slapped his forehead, and muttered to himself, "Am I stupid? Didn't I say I wouldn't care about her after getting off the train? Since she doesn't care about me anymore, I'd better hurry up and leave." When he got to the kitchen, he saw that there were pots, pans, and utensils everywhere, but although they were all familiar, he had no idea how to use them. Frustrated, he touched his nose and wondered, "How do I boil water?"
"Senior sister, how do I boil water?" Chen Yuanxing looked around the kitchen for a long time but couldn't figure out which tool was correct. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and go back to his room to ask Xiao Qiqi. Xiao Qiqi was rummaging through her bag looking for slippers but couldn't find them. She realized that Chen Yuanxing had lost them and couldn't help but sigh. How could this guy be so careless with his things? Before she could finish her sigh, she heard Chen Yuanxing ask solicitously, "How do I boil water?" She was speechless.
Xiao Qiqi got up, went into the kitchen, skillfully found the kettle, filled it with water, and lit it on the gas stove. Chen Yuanxing watched her every move, frowning: "So troublesome? And the water is unsanitary. Go buy a water dispenser tomorrow." Xiao Qiqi stood at the kitchen door, the light and shadow intertwined, making her figure appear even more slender and frail. Chen Yuanxing looked at her with a somewhat dazed expression.
"Chen Yuanxing, go home now, I'm really fine." Xiao Qiqi looked up at Chen Yuanxing, surprised at his height, seemingly even taller than Xia Xuan. "Thank you for these past few days. Also, I'll pay back the rent to Mr. Zhou, please tell him for me."
The soft, gentle voice stirred something in Chen Yuanxing's heart, and he almost blurted out, "I'm not leaving." But remembering Zhou Zijian's words about going out tonight, he quickly held back and said, "Alright then, I'm leaving. But you must remember everything Dr. Yu said. I see there's a washing machine here, so don't hand wash your clothes. Don't cook, just buy something to eat at a restaurant outside. Also, call your company, or you can report for duty in a few days. Don't be sad, especially don't cry, it's too bad for your eyes. And..." Chen Yuanxing had become so talkative without even realizing it.
Xiao Qiqi interrupted him with a smile: "I know, I'm not a child. But you, be careful on the road."
Chen Yuanxing chuckled awkwardly, went inside to get his bag, and as he left, he said with unease as he closed the door, "Remember my phone number, right? Call me if you need anything. I live in Xicheng, which is fairly close to here."
Xiao Qiqi smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, goodbye." The door closed, and Xiao Qiqi's smile faded. Actually, this boy was quite likable, but his occasional pranks and glib tongue were what made him annoying.