His tone was so harsh, it was almost as if he was begging her.
Gu Heping rushed downstairs, his forehead covered in sweat. Zhao Xiyin handed him his things, saying, "Then I'm leaving."
"Xiao Xi," Gu Heping stopped her, looking troubled, "why don't you go up and check on him?"
“Zhou Ge’er is having a migraine attack, and the doctor is giving him nerve-soothing medications. It’s not a serious illness, but as you know, it’s very stressful.” Gu Heping truly treated him like a brother. After thinking for a moment, he told the truth: “He’s relying on sleeping pills, and he can only sleep three to five hours a day. When the doctor asks about the situation, you know Zhou Ge’er’s temperament; he gets annoyed by these things, so he doesn’t cooperate.”
Zhao Xiyin paused for a moment, then said, "I'll tell the doctor what he wants to know."
Leaving the doctor's office, Gu Heping still felt a chill. Zhou Qishen's insomnia was related to his childhood experiences, leaving a psychological scar. Zhao Xiyin looked young and petite, but she was truly caring, and Zhou Qishen hadn't had a good night's sleep for two years. The doctor had asked about his condition earlier, and the timing matched up, saying that Mr. Zhou had started taking sleeping pills again two years ago.
Two years ago, after the divorce.
The ward was the quietest one. Zhou Qishen was asleep, an acupuncture needle embedded in his left hand, a stack of documents and reports beside him on his right. His laptop was open, stuck on the page where the video conference had ended. His face was slightly turned into the blanket, partially covering his nose and lips; his nose was high and straight, and his eyes were very deep-set.
Gu Heping let Zhao Xiyin in, indicating that he had a phone call, and then closed the door behind him with a legitimate excuse.
Zhao Xiyin was caught in a dilemma. She had only taken two steps when Zhou Qishen woke up.
Their eyes met; he was clearly surprised.
Zhao Xiyin suddenly didn't want to explain why she had come. She walked over, sat down on a stool, and calmly asked, "Are you feeling better?"
Zhou Qishen knew how to save face for the girl, his anger barely concealed: "When will Gu Heping be able to sew his mouth shut?"
Zhao Xiyin lowered her head, her smile faint.
Zhou Qishen looked at her for a while, then said in a hoarse voice, "You've lost weight."
Zhao Xiyin nodded, "Teacher Dai told me to lose another five pounds, so I haven't dared to eat too much lately."
Zhou Qishen immediately frowned. "What kind of crazy idea is she giving?"
Feeling the same way, Zhao Xiyin sighed helplessly, "Yeah, I'm starving. My dad made sweet and sour pork ribs yesterday, but I didn't touch a single bite."
Zhou Qishen's expression became even more displeased. "Your teacher is just a nitpicker, and he has the arrogance of an artist. Don't learn from him."
Zhao Xiyin: "Aren't you afraid I'll tell on you if you talk about her like that?"
Zhou Qishen choked for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Then you're just heartless."
Zhao Xiyin smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell."
Both of them were at ease, the air conditioning was set at a constant temperature, the window was slightly ajar, and the curtains swayed like ripples on water, casting shifting shadows on the wall. Zhou Qishen's gaze hardened as he stared at Zhao Xiyin, who remained motionless.
Zhao Xiyin conceded defeat in her eyes.
Zhou Qishen moved his right hand, and his palm gently covered the back of her hand. It was so hot it felt like hot oil had been poured on it, and it boiled over in an instant.
He said, "Don't get any thinner, it'll make you look weak."
After saying that, she let go. Zhao Xiyin calmed her heartbeat, stood up and hurriedly said goodbye, "You should rest well, don't take sleeping pills anymore, if it really doesn't work, go see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor for treatment."
She quickly shut her mouth again, belatedly realizing that the words were so natural and intimate, and not something she should worry about. Zhao Xiyin left, but she could feel the gaze following her relentlessly, burning as if trying to see through her every thought.
Half an hour later, Gu Heping and the attending physician came in.
Dr. Qin is young and promising, with a gentle personality, and is one of the few people Zhou Qishen likes.
"Mr. Zhou, you're better now, please take a rest."
Zhou Qishen closed the document, leaned against the pillow, and closed his eyes to rest.
Gu Heping smiled mischievously, "I called a car for Xiaoxi and personally saw her into the car."
Zhou Qishen opened his eyes. "You'd better shut up from now on."
Gu Heping was truly wronged. "Don't tell me you don't want to see Xiao Xi."
Zhou Qishen shut his mouth.
Dr. Qin, who was reviewing the test results, turned her head and asked, "Is his surname Zhao?"
"How did you know?" Gu Heping asked in surprise.
"She just asked me about the department, surgery."
Zhou Qishen sat up straight, unusually sensitive. "Ask on behalf of someone else?"
"It must have been her own doing." Dr. Qin remembered clearly and didn't pay much attention. "She said the surgical wound was a little red and itchy."
Gu Heping asked in surprise, "Surgery?"
The atmosphere cooled down, and the dust particles in the air fell down. A tightly sealed net covered everyone, making it hard to breathe.
Zhou Qishen remained silent for a long time before asking in a tight voice, "Where was her surgery?"
Dr. Qin said, "Lower abdomen."
Zhou Qishen's body stiffened like a stone drum, his face gradually turning white, then blue, and then slowly returning to white, as thin as a sheet of paper. Seeing his reaction, Gu Heping instantly guessed what Zhou Qishen was thinking.
“Zhou Ge’er, don’t scare yourself. Calm down. Although Xiao west has been away from Beijing for more than two years, you know she’s been traveling and having fun. The timing doesn’t match up, it’s impossible.”
Zhou Qishen suddenly raised his hand, loosely clenched it into a fist, and rubbed it hard against his brow. When he looked up again, his gaze was unfocused.
Two months before the divorce, she went to the United States for a period of time.
"She's with her aunt."