【14.】

  The next morning, I was woken up by the dazzling sunlight. It wasn't until then that I realized I had fallen asleep on the table. The leftover cold dishes in front of me reminded me of everything that happened yesterday.

  I took a deep breath, glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only 5 o'clock in the morning, and Jiang's mother must not have gotten up yet. I quietly cleaned up the things on the table, throwing away one dish after another, and that bit of expectation for certain things finally turned to dust, no longer daring to hope.

  Isn't this life?

  Isn't this Shen Duan?

  This is what I'm facing, the one I love, isn't it?

  I dare not say that he has changed in the slightest for me, but he is still Shen Zhong, a young master known to all the upper-class people in Beijing, with an illustrious family background and a proud appearance.

  What is love?

  Love is something that makes you smile when you're tired.

  Love is when I tell Shen Zhao that one of his shirts looks good on him and he wears it all day.

  Love is when we understand each other clearly, yet still don't leave each other's side.

  Love is...

  Love is even though we are like this now, I still can't resent it.

  After putting everything in order, I went upstairs to take a bath. I was really exhausted and didn't want to think about those things anymore. Lying on the bed, I just wanted to sleep without waking up, from then on living a peaceful and worry-free life.

  I was woken up by the very loud noise, it seemed like many people were walking around in the house, occasionally accompanied by someone's angry roar. My head was splitting, I really couldn't bear such a noise. Wanting to make a sound, but feeling that my throat hurt too much. Opening my eyes and seeing a cup of water on the bedside table, I waved my hand and knocked it to the ground.

  It's finally quiet now...

  Shen Dang walked over, his eyes were red, and he looked pitiful: "You finally woke up."

  I frowned at him, unsure what was wrong.

  He stroked my forehead: "You have a high fever, it scared me to death."

  I looked at the man who appeared to be a family doctor standing behind him, as well as several nurses in the room. Thinking about the commotion earlier, it seemed like this young master had lost his temper again. At that moment, I felt heartbroken and tears kept falling down.

  He saw me crying and hurriedly stretched out his hand to wipe away my tears, speaking incoherently: "What's wrong? Are you in a lot of pain? Should I give you an injection now?"

  I nodded and didn't want to say another word.

  Because of the fever, the blood vessels were not easy to find, and the young nurse patted several times on my hand but still couldn't find a suitable blood vessel.

  "Easy does it!"

  The little nurse said timidly: "The patient has a fever and his veins are hard to find. If not, it's impossible to give an injection."

  "Shen Duan furrowed his brow: 'If you can't beat him, then switch with someone else.'"

  That little nurse bit her lip, looking very wronged, obviously Shen Zhong was bullying people.

  His hand was still tightly grasping mine, I shook his hand and indicated it's okay.

  Seeing Shen Duan no longer throwing a tantrum, the little nurse let out a sigh of relief and looked at me with gratitude. I smiled and couldn't say anything.

  The moment the needle came in was still a bit painful, I let out a hiss, Shen Dong's tense grip on my hand tightened: "Very painful?"

  I shook my head.

  The doctor and nurse were invited downstairs by Jiang's mother, leaving only the two of us in the room. I don't like to talk, so I simply closed my eyes.

  "I..." His voice betrayed his unease at this moment "I don't know yesterday..."

  "Never mind."

  As soon as he opened his mouth, he found that his throat was completely hoarse, and his voice was not like usual, it was hoarse and unpleasant to hear.

  "There are many things you don't know about, and there are also many things I don't know about. But none of these matter... Shendong, stop making a fuss."

  After saying that, I looked at him, and his eyes gradually accumulated mist, looking blurry.

  "Good..." His tears accompanied these words, heavily striking my heart.

  "Let's just forget what happened before." I said weakly. "Just consider it my fault and let's not make a fuss about it anymore."

  He kissed my hand: "It's my fault... If you really don't want to live here... Liu Jia, as long as you're happy."

  I turned my face sideways, and tears fell on the pillow, unable to see clearly.

  Ginger mother knocked on the door and came in, saying: "Young master, the doctor said he wants to discuss Miss Liu's medication with you."

  "Uh-huh, tell him I'll be right down." He said, turning his head back to look at me "I'm going down."

  I nodded.

  Mother Jiang watched Shen Dang leave, then came in. With red-rimmed eyes, she scolded me: "You say you don't know how to take care of yourself... I'm also to blame, I should have called you back to the house to sleep earlier."

  I smiled and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Jiang. I'm still young, this little illness doesn't matter."

  "Ah..." She sat beside my bed, tidying up my hair. "You don't know, when the young master returned and saw you lying in bed like that, with a scorching forehead, he was frightened out of his wits. I've been serving him for so long, but I've never seen him lose his composure like that."

  I don't know what to say, whether it's gratitude or being moved.

  No matter which one, it is too much of a coincidence for people who love each other.

  "Don't blame the young master... I think he's genuinely kind to you. It's rare...” Jiang Ma looked at me “Jia Jia, you should learn to cherish your blessings. Don't let others or other things take away your good fortune. Do you understand?"

  I nodded: "I know..."

  He did so much for me, and I have always been at peace with myself enjoying it. This time, I changed for him, and for him, I abandoned some of my dignity.

  Can't it be...?

  The medicine in the IV dripped down drop by drop, and I listlessly watched it, Shen Zhuo was still downstairs, but I suddenly missed him terribly.

  Missing that handsome young man, the first encounter in the teaching building, missing that tall and upright figure under the streetlight's silent sorrow, missing him holding my hand, speaking his vows, missing him tightly pursing his lips, unwilling to speak out his thoughts.

  Missing the Shen Zong who was just anxious for me, heartache for me, and had red eyes because of my illness.

  I will spend the whole night with eyes wide open, repaying in this life for the eyebrows that have never been relaxed.

  ——————————————————

  When illness strikes, it's like a mountain collapsing.

  Indeed, it's true.

  I'm usually full of energy, but the persistent high fever has tortured me to the point of unbearable pain. My throat hurts as if there are small knives scraping it, and I've been getting 3-4 IV drips every day, yet I still don't see any improvement. As soon as night falls, the fever comes back again.

  Shen Duan hasn't been doing well either, and for the past few days, he's been inseparable from me, personally cooking porridge for me. His hands even got scalded with small blisters, but he was still in high spirits, saying: "Last time you cooked for me and your arm got scalded with small blisters, this time I'm cooking porridge for you and my hands got scalded too. It's fate!"

  "What kind of fate is this!"

  "Not everyone can cook well every time."

  How boring!

  He ignored my cold shoulder, put down the porridge in his hand, helped me up, and stuffed many pillows behind me.

  "What porridge is it?"

  "Swiftlet Porridge."

  "Really?" I touched my face "Will eating it make my skin very good?"

  Shen Dang cried and laughed: "Haha, rejuvenation is no problem, let you be ten years younger."

  What's wrong with you, old monster?

  After drinking a bowl of porridge, I felt something in my stomach and suddenly felt much better. I smiled with satisfaction. When I looked up at Shen Zhuo, I didn't expect him to be staring blankly at me, his eyes slightly red. My hand was still bandaged, so I couldn't move violently, and could only use the other free hand to hastily wipe away his tears: "What's wrong? Shen Zhuo?"

  He suddenly hugged me tightly and made me breathless.

  My hand patted his back, I didn't know what else to say besides this.

  "You don't know how scared I was..." His voice trembled, just like his body at this moment. "I came home and saw you lying in bed, I called out to you several times but you didn't respond. Your forehead was so hot... I put a wet towel on your forehead, you woke up, saw me... You asked if I had eaten yet. Liu Jia... I'm really stupid! It's all my fault."

  "It's all over... Don't be like that, it's weird... I muttered to myself "What's wrong with you, suddenly like this. You scared me to death!"

  He turned his head and kissed my cheek: "Get well soon, I'm heartbroken every time I see you getting injections."

  I giggled: "Then give me more bird's nest congee!"

  Shen Diao's hand was on my head, gradually approaching to kiss my mouth. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it, but he suddenly withdrew... with a look of unbearable bitterness.

  "What's wrong?"

  He was so angry that he couldn't help laughing: "Your mouth is full of medicine smell."

  He made me laugh so hard I fell onto the bed holding my belly in laughter.

  Shen Duan looked at me, his previously furrowed brow slowly relaxing. It was as if just seeing me made everything all right again.

  It's been a week since I recovered, and my hands are full of needle eyes. Every day, I just stretch them out and feel sorry for myself. It seems that Shen Dong is being cautious about my body, and he has been very well-behaved since I got sick.

  But after I recovered from my illness... he finally couldn't hold back his beastly nature anymore.

  I was already asleep, but I felt someone constantly kissing my ear behind me. Without thinking, I knew who it was. I nudged him with my elbow: "Stop messing around, I'm sleepy..."

  "Hmm..." He responded vaguely "I want to check if you're fully recovered."

  Is there really such a person?!

  Shen Diao hugged me contentedly and muttered to himself, "Hmmm... the body is probably fully recovered."