They're not much different from couples.
He knew that Xie Wang hadn't been in a good mood these past two days, but Xie Wang was still able to manage his relationship with his mother and make her happy. He, on the other hand, seemed to do worse than Xie Wang, except for getting angry with him.
Xie was wrong to feign illness, but he also began to reflect on his actions.
He was also at fault for the arranged marriage.
He had known for a long time that Xie Wang was his childhood sweetheart. If Xie Wang hadn't been romantically inclined before, that would have been one thing, but what he and Xie Lin did a few days ago was indeed inappropriate.
Honestly, although Xie Wang was arrogant and had some ulterior motives towards him at the time, Xie Wang was still quite adorable, and he liked him a lot, didn't he?
Ling Shuangjiang's feelings were complicated, and she couldn't figure out what she wanted to say.
But Xie Wang didn't wait for him to speak, and stood up and said, "I'm leaving first, you should rest."
The tone of his voice was unsteady, even carrying a hint of resignation and helplessness.
A sudden gust of cold air rushed in.
Ling Shuangjiang sat alone on the bed, gazing out the window in a daze.
"Frost's Descent." Lin Yinci stood at the door for a while, then came in and sat down beside him. "Did you and Xiao Xie have a fight?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "It wasn't an argument."
Lin Yinci found it strange. When Xie Wang chased Ling Shuangjiang into the house, she and Aunt Fang thought that the two would naturally get together. But for some reason, Xie Wang suddenly spoke very strongly in the house.
The two hesitated for a long time before deciding not to go in and disturb them.
"Can you tell Mom what happened?"
Lin Yinci took Ling Shuangjiang's hand, her eyes gentle.
Ling Shuangjiang had a headache and whispered, "He was very upset because of what happened at the hospital. I was cold to him."
Lin Yinci patted Ling Shuangjiang's hair and smiled, "It seems our A-Jiang is quite sensible."
After a moment, she tentatively asked, "Why can't you get over the thing about faking illness at the hospital?"
Ling Shuangjiang didn't want to bring up this issue in front of Lin Yinci, because he was afraid of triggering painful memories for her.
He kept his head down and didn't speak for a long time.
Is it because of your father?
Unexpectedly, Lin Yinci brought up this sad matter, and a hint of panic flashed in Ling Shuangjiang's eyes, as if she did not want to keep bringing up this painful thing in this family.
“I know you’ve never liked going to the hospital since you were little, and I understand your anxiety and fear. Xiaolin told me about how you refused to go to the hospital even when you had a high fever while studying abroad. But Shuangjiang, I hope that Xiaoxie’s incident won’t become an outlet for your fear of hospitals. Actually, it’s not that serious, right?”
Lin Yinci hugged Ling Shuangjiang, letting him lean against her chest.
Ling Shuangjiang glanced at Lin Yinci gently, then rested her head on Lin Yinci's lap.
"Actually, Xie Wang's acting skills are not good. I can tell every time he acts with me to ask for candy. I can also tell when he keeps crying out in pain in the ambulance. But at the time, I thought that Xie Wang would not joke about this with me, so I chose to trust him unconditionally. It was because of this trust that I felt very sorry for him and was also very scared. The heart is such an important organ. When he was wheeled into the operating room, I was especially afraid that he would end up like my dad."
As she finished speaking, Ling Shuangjiang's voice grew increasingly hoarse.
Lin Yinci's pants were soaked with tears.
Lin Yinci gently stroked his hair. "I know you're upset, but Dad has gone to heaven. He certainly wouldn't want his son to constantly recall sad things and struggle with that pain. Xiao Xie has realized his mistake; he's a good boy. Mom just hopes that you two will be well and have no regrets."
"Yes. I know."
The scent emanating from Lin Yinci was the same as when Ling Shuangjiang was a child—a faint sweetness that could soothe his emotions without him even realizing it.
Gradually, he fell asleep.
When she woke up again, Ling Shuangjiang was lying in her own bed, covered with a thick quilt.
The surrounding light was very dim, and I couldn't see anything clearly.
He turned on the light and found that it was already six o'clock in the afternoon.
After taking an afternoon nap, Ling Shuangjiang felt dizzy and had a sore throat.
I put on my coat and went into the restaurant, where the other three people were busy preparing hot pot.
Xie Wang was the first to notice Ling Shuangjiang standing at the door. He only glanced at her for two seconds before quickly looking away.
"On the day of Frost's Descent, let's have lamb chop hot pot to ward off the cold."
Ling Shuangjiang nodded, smelling the aroma, and joined them in their work. Aunt Fang had family matters to attend to today and didn't join them for dinner. The three of them alone seemed a little lonely.
Lin Yinci asked Xie Wang with a smile, "In your northern region, do you dip hot pot in sesame sauce?"
Xie Wang: "Yes, we'll also add some fermented bean curd."
Lin Yinci: "Ajiang likes to eat with oil and spicy food. When he was around me, I often kept an eye on him and told him to eat less spicy food."
"Hmm, the spiciness is irritating to the stomach." Xie Wang handed Lin Yinci a cooked lamb chop. "Please have some."
Lin Yinci said thank you.
The hot pot steams in the winter, raising the temperature in the room and making it cozy.
"I'm going back tomorrow night."
At this moment, Xie Wang looked at Lin Yinci and Ling Shuangjiang and told them, "Take good care of yourselves."
Ling Shuangjiang moved her chopsticks slightly and turned her head to look at Xie Wang.
"Didn't you say you could stay here for a few more days? Why are you going home so soon?" Lin Yinci asked.
"Something came up at the company that I need to go back to handle," Xie Wang said in a deep voice. "I'll come see you again when I have time."
Lin Yinci nodded: "Okay, be careful. Call Shuangjiang back after you arrive in Bintan."
Ling Shuangjiang gripped her chopsticks tightly, took a small bite of mutton, but felt as if something was blocking her throat, making it impossible to swallow.
Winter came early this year, and now we have to wear light down jackets to keep warm.
Ling Shuangjiang felt a sharp pain in her forehead.
After eating for a while, Lin Yinci noticed that Ling Shuangjiang was in a bad mood tonight, and her spirits were particularly low, with a slight redness on both sides of her cheeks.
She frowned: "Shuangjiang, do you have a fever?"
Ling Shuangjiang shook her head: "No, I guess I slept too much."
"Let's check their temperatures. Everyone will be at ease if they don't have a fever," Xie Wang said at this moment.
Lin Yinci had already brought the thermometer.
After measuring the temperature on Ling Shuangjiang's neck, the reading was 38.2°C.
"You really have a fever." Lin Yinci's tone suddenly became urgent. She lowered her head and used the back of her hand to feel Ling Shuangjiang's forehead. "Ajiang, where does it hurt?"
Ling Shuangjiang shook her head: "I don't feel uncomfortable."
Lin Yinci: "I'll go find you some medicine."
After Lin Yinci left, only Ling Shuangjiang and Xie Wang remained in the room.
Xie Wang got up and served himself a bowl of millet and sea cucumber porridge cooked by Lin Yinci. He stood in front of Ling Shuangjiang and looked at him quietly.
"Eat more food so you can take your medicine, and drink some porridge to warm your stomach."
Ling Shuangjiang nodded silently and took two bites with a spoon.
The courtyards of the Ling family are not connected; the dining room is in a separate small courtyard.
Seeing that Ling Shuangjiang's neck was burning red, Xie Wang took his coat off the hanger and draped it over her shoulders.
"Thank you," Ling Shuangjiang said weakly.
Xie Wang sat opposite Ling Shuangjiang, took a sip of wine, and they remained silent.
"You're leaving tomorrow."
"Um."
"How do I get there?"
"Xiao Jin will pick me up and then take me to the nearest helipad."
"Okay, let me know you got home safely."
"good."
After a few words, the atmosphere fell silent once more.
Ling Shuangjiang coughed twice and drank another half bowl of porridge.
"How did you suddenly catch a cold?"
In fact, Xie Wang began to regret his decision to leave the next day as soon as he learned that Ling Shuangjiang had a fever.
Ling Shuangjiang is sick. Although Lin Yinci will definitely take good care of her, he is still a little worried.
He hesitated, wondering whether he should wait until Ling Shuangjiang recovered before leaving.
But if he just finished speaking and then suddenly stops leaving, it will be very awkward between the two of them.
After a moment, Lin Yinci came in with warm water and cold medicine. "Eat your food and take your medicine. Go back and get some rest. You have to record a variety show tomorrow. I don't know if you'll be able to handle it."
"I'm fine, I feel okay." After quickly eating a couple of bites of food, Ling Shuangjiang finished her medicine and went back to her room to rest.
Xie Wang followed his gaze: "Should I take you back?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "No need, it's just a few meters."
In the end, only Lin Yinci and Xie Wang remained to eat the lively winter hot pot meal.
Lin Yin resigned from her post and jokingly asked, "I'm leaving tomorrow, when will you come back?"
Xie Wang pursed his lips, clearly distracted, still thinking about Ling Shuangjiang: "Come when you have time."
Lin Yinci served Xie Wang some food: "At first, when Ajiang told me that he had fallen for a male guest named Xie Wang on a dating reality show, I was a little worried. After all, there are a lot of bad people in relationships these days. Although Ajiang is more mature than other guys his age, he's only 22. But after seeing you, I felt relieved."
Xie Wang was somewhat surprised: "He mentioned me to you so early?"
“Yes, it was around the time you guys first started recording.” Lin Yinci smiled. “This is the first time in all these years that he’s told me he has someone he likes.”
When you first started recording, was it love at first sight?
Xie Wang unconsciously smiled, but then the smile faded slowly.
"Frost's Descent is good; it's just that I keep making him angry."