Ghost Bride 2

Chapter 48

"Look at you, looking at me with such adoration again. Hey! Honestly, I wish you admired me more than you admired Di Luo."

He saw right through my little scheme, and I immediately lowered my head in embarrassment.

"Sigh, it's rare to see you with such a relaxed smile! It's unbelievable that you came back to China this time and were having a romantic chat with me late at night in a mental hospital. I think I should take you on a trip! Beautiful scenery and lots of fun things to do, it'll help you forget all your troubles."

“No,” I said, “I still have to go to school, and besides…” Apple’s body hadn’t recovered; she started having a fever last night.

“Little crow, the apple will be alright,” he comforted me.

A soft murmur came from the hospital bed. I leaned down to listen; it was probably Apple's delirium due to a low-grade fever, but I couldn't make it out. I tucked her exposed arm under the covers, looking at her pale face with heartache. In truth, she, too, was a child who lacked love.

The door to the ward was gently pushed open.

"Who's outside?" I asked, but no one answered.

I went over to take a look and saw a fruit basket placed on the ground outside the door.

Who is it? The Jeep, or Mo Yan?

I don't know. There were no familiar faces in the corridor.

I carried the fruit inside and placed it on the table.

Mingyang noticed something on my face and said worriedly, "Take these out! If Apple wakes up and finds out that they were sent by the person she hates, she'll definitely be furious."

"But..." What if one of them has a change of heart?

“Apple was humiliated in front of Jeep, and he didn’t even stand up for her, let alone protect her. What’s the use of such a conscience? If it were me, I would definitely throw him out and not see it to avoid getting annoyed.”

Heh. I gave a wry smile.

Mingyang and Apple are very similar in temperament; both hate evil as if it were their enemy.

I did as he suggested and put the fruit basket in the hallway outside. Maybe someone will see it and pick it up and eat it, so the apples won't be bothered.

At noon, I went out to get hot water, leaving Mingyang to watch over her. I noticed the ground outside was empty; it seemed the fruit basket had already been taken. Oh well.

When I came out of the boiler room, I saw a group of nurses running around in a hurry, almost tripping in their haste.

"What's wrong?" I stopped a nurse and asked.

"This morning, someone tried to get something for nothing by picking up a fruit basket outside someone's hospital room, ate it, and got poisoned. He's unconscious now and needs emergency treatment..."

Watching them run at lightning speed, my heart was suddenly jolted with pain.

Poisoning? Could the tragedy that happened to Xiao Yuan and Ouyang really be repeated on Apple?

"Clatter—" The thermos fell to the ground, and boiling water splashed carelessly onto my feet, but I didn't even feel any pain...

"Little crow!!"

Someone rushed over, quickly picked me up, and tossed me onto the bench outside the ward like a cotton pillow: "Let me see! Where are you burned?"

It hurt me when I fell. But what hurt him was his heartache and anxiety.

Mingyang, exasperated, pressed me down into a chair to apply the medicine. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

Section 126: Love and Friendship (5)

"It's alright! I'll blow a breath of magic air, and you'll stop hurting right away." He coaxed her like a little child.

"You idiot!" I bit my lip and threw myself onto his shoulder. "I'm not crying for myself, I'm crying for Apple. That basket of fruit that was taken was poisoned, and someone got poisoned after eating it. That's... someone trying to kill Apple!"

Mingyang's hand, holding the cotton swab, froze in mid-air, like a piece of performance art.

I looked into his fixed gaze, turned around, and was startled.

Apple? When did you get out of bed? Did you hear everything I just said?

"I need to use the restroom." She handed me the IV bag as if nothing was wrong.

Mingyang took the initiative and said, "Shall I go with you? Ruoxi's foot got scalded by boiling water."

"Huh?" Apple's high-pitched voice instantly echoed throughout the corridor. "Where is it? Let me see."

"It's okay." I brushed her hand away, forcing a smile. "I'll go with you!"

"How can you walk if you're burned?"

“You can still manage with one foot on the ground!” I stood up to demonstrate, but she pressed me down. She commanded Mingyang like a boss: “You! Come with me to the toilet.”

"He's a man!" I said, afraid she would feel embarrassed.

Apple didn't care at all: "He's standing outside the door, and I won't let him help me take off my pants, don't be nervous."

Her composure and openness made me feel embarrassed: "Oh! Okay."

Mingyang held the IV bottle high above his head. Stubborn Apple refused his help, walking slowly and unsteadily. Looking at her small, frail figure, my heart ached unbearably.

I learned in the afternoon that the patient who was accidentally poisoned had been saved, which made me feel a little better, but I'm still easily anxious. Sometimes, even seeing a nurse run past the door makes my heart clench. I also worry that someone might have poisoned the water dispensers in the boiler room. Mingyang knows what I'm worried about and always reassures me: "No way! Even if someone wanted to poison someone, they wouldn't kill everyone in the building, would they? That's too big a target."

Only Apple seemed completely unfazed. She asked me to go back to the dorm to get my Walkman, and spent her days with her eyes closed, listening to music with her headphones on. She seemed nonchalant, as if nothing mattered. But I didn't dare let my guard down, staying close to her every step of the way, even following her to the bathroom. I was afraid that in the blink of an eye, something unexpected would happen, just like when I lost Hai-gege, leaving me with lifelong regret when I was caught off guard.

But Mingyang can't be with me. He received a call from his father and has to rush to New Jersey to sign a contract; the Di family's business can't do without him. Apple was granted permission to be discharged in three days, but Mingyang's schedule is this afternoon. Should I go see him off? I'm torn.

[JP3] Apple, with her round eyes wide open, asked me, "Ruoxi, have you missed the great forest during this time?" [JP]

I counted on my fingers, and realized it had been quite a while since I'd thought of him.

So... I really can let him go. The human heart is a wondrous thing. You think it's full, that no matter how much time passes, you'll never forget a love, even if it was unrequited. But when you look back one day, you realize that nothing is truly impossible. Time can change everything, turning the fairy tale in your heart into a sense of peace.

"Mm." Apple nodded, a rare smile of relief on her face. "I'm relieved. This way you'll live a long life. I hope you're happy."

But why can't you let go?

Stubborn child! Everyone thinks their choices and persistence are their due, but who knows how many people this stubbornness will ruin?

Mingyang came in from outside. He had already completed all the formalities and was ready to go.

〖JP3〗“Apple, take good care of yourself. Listen to Ruoxi. I’ll bring a gift next time I visit.” He said goodbye to Apple. 〖JP〗

"Really?" She blinked.

"Really." Mingyang made a pinky promise with her.

"Go see him off!" She waved me off and pushed me out.

"and you……"

〖JP3〗“I promise!” She smiled sweetly, her dimples deep, seemingly concealing the hidden pain. 〖JP〗

"Wait for me to come back! Don't go anywhere!"

"Yes, sir!" She saluted earnestly like a dutiful little soldier.

Mingyang had already dashed off, and I hurried to catch up with him.

Apple shouted from behind, "Di Mingyang! Don't forget you promised me you'd bring me a big gift next time you visit Ruoxi!" The volume was loud enough to be memorable.

I believe she will listen to me.

But this is the first time Apple has broken its promise to me.

If I had understood the indignation hidden beneath her calm gaze, I would never have left her side. But fate always plays such cruel jokes, tossing away countless sorrows and regrets in the blink of an eye, only to bring them crashing down upon us, leaving us utterly shattered without warning, with all our hopes and memories vanished.

Section 127: Love and Friendship (6)

It's late autumn, and I don't know why it rains so much this season. It makes my mood damp, as if the sorrow of parting is truly impossible to shake off. I rolled up my trouser legs high, like an Alibaba man diving into a water ring. Mingyang didn't care at all, striding confidently through the rain.

"Why didn't you bring an umbrella?" I clearly brought one with me.

He came over, closed the umbrella, and then, holding up his overcoat, sheltered me inside like he was incubating chicks: "When I was little, my favorite thing to do was wade in puddles. I would get especially excited on rainy days. My mom would prepare a pair of rubber shoes and a cool raincoat for me so I could play to my heart's content. I still do now; this habit has continued for over twenty years without changing at all."

"You're just like a little kid."

〖JP3〗“I know you like adults, like Di Luo. He's already very mature, a grown man.” He was sulking. 〖JP〗

I chuckled mischievously: "So you're quite petty, huh!"

"That was because you forced me to."

"Yes! I do like Di Luo." I grinned at him arrogantly.

"Try saying it again?"

Just as the raindrops dampened my eyelashes, forcing me to close my eyes, a kiss landed on my face, seemingly unexpected yet premeditated. There was no time to dodge; his strong arms gripped my neck tightly. I could clearly hear his heartbeat, pounding louder than the thunderclaps in a vast forest.

What is wrong with me?

A kiss can make someone dizzy and shamelessly forget to run away?

Love can make people charge into battle. If lovers are struck by a sweet stray bullet, they will also rush headlong, forgetting whether they live or die.

When I opened my eyes, I saw his handsome face, dripping wet, grinning smugly. I really wanted to bite him, but seeing his silly grin, I finally gave up. He had slowly made his way into my heart, and the trident-wielding gatekeeper had long since vanished. I felt a little dejected, realizing I had surrendered somewhat willingly. Oh! Such a shameful defeat.

But in the face of love, there are no giants or victors; we are all children.

"Little crow! I love you!" His bold words were so powerful that I didn't even have time to dodge before I was shot and forced to crawl.

What a loud noise! Even the Thunder God and Rain God probably heard it.

There are no fancy words, just this one sentence, and it all counts.

I'm doomed. I'm afraid I'll have to pay for this with my whole life.

Grandma, is this really fate?!

Looking back around, all I could see was a hazy, misty rain. The sky was dim due to the overcast weather. There were few pedestrians on the road; it was a small path leading to the airport.

"Why don't you take a car?" I asked him.

"I don't want to walk too fast." He took my hand and we walked slowly in the rain, which reminded me of the movie "Love in the Rain." I shook off that silly thought and urged him, "You have to catch a ride, otherwise the plane definitely won't wait for you."

"Mm." This time he learned his lesson.

I waved and stopped a taxi, then shoved him inside, saying, "Thank you, driver, he needs to catch a flight."

The car sped off, and he leaned out the window and shouted, "Little Crow, take care of yourself! We'll see each other again soon! I promise! Soon!"

I stood there dumbfounded, head bowed, pondering the world amidst the swaying water and sky, my autumn thoughts drifting. Suddenly, I realized that he had already draped his coat over my shoulders.

I pulled up my long sleeves and held them under my nose; I could still smell his body temperature and scent, a faint aroma of tobacco.

apple.

An apple that told a lie.

An apple that makes one anxious and heartbroken.