Who is sick?
Sleepiness was irresistible. Jiang Quqi leaned back in her chair, holding Qin Jiao’s hand in one of hers while the other rested on her stomach. Her head tilted to the side, she was so tired that stars were dancing before her eyes, barely able to stay awake.
Gradually, her eyelids finally drooped shut, and her breathing became steady. She had a dream. In the dream, she lived in a magical castle and wore a long, luxurious gown.
She was in an exceptionally good mood today, skipping and running down the stairs.
On the table in the living room sat a huge teddy bear. She trotted over and hugged it, when suddenly, the bear opened its jaws wide like a giant maw.
“Ah!!!”
“Ah—!”
Two screams mixed together. Jiang Quqi and Qin Jiao woke up at the same time, staring blankly at each other, momentarily forgetting to be afraid.
Qin Jiao raised his hand and waved it in front of his eyes—he could see again.
Jiang Quqi brushed her messy hair back and sat up straight. “What happened?”
Qin Jiao looked at her. “Did Sister have a nightmare?”
“Mhm. What about Jiaojiao?”
Qin Jiao let out a soft “Mhm” and said, “I don’t want to sleep anymore.”
“Then we won’t sleep,” she patted his head. “Is there anything you want to do?”
Qin Jiao shook his head.
“Then… shall we chat?” As soon as she said it, she yawned.
Seeing this, Qin Jiao was just about to nod, but suddenly turned his head and shook it instead.
“Sister, go to sleep quickly.”
Jiang Quqi waved her hand. “It’s fine, I’m not tired.”
Qin Jiao suddenly smiled. “Sister is lying.” Her eyes were almost closing shut yet she said she wasn’t tired.
Qin Jiao struggled to get up. Jiang Quqi was so startled that half her sleepiness vanished instantly. “No no no, what are you doing!”
“I’m not sleepy. Sister, come sleep on the bed.”
How could she take the bed from a patient? “No way.” She refused immediately.
She wasn’t that shameless.
“Then Sister go home and sleep.”
“Also no.” She couldn’t rest easy leaving him here alone.
Qin Jiao stopped talking and just looked straight at Jiang Quqi. Those eyes were so expressive they made her heart tremble, feeling a little complicated.
“How about this, we’ll meet halfway. I’ll chat with you, and when I get sleepy, I’ll sleep right here.”
Qin Jiao made a request. “Then you have to close your eyes.”
“Okay.” Jiang Quqi didn’t think much of it, held his hand, and started chatting aimlessly.
“Is there anything in particular you want to talk about?”
“Umm… I’ve always been curious, why is my sister’s martial skill so amazing?”
“Oh that,” Jiang Quqi said, rocking back and forth in the chair until it creaked. “When I was little, there was an uncle living nearby. He was a retired soldier and knew some martial arts. Back then I used to fight with other kids every day, but I always lost. When I found out he knew kung fu, I went to his house to ask to be his student.”
Speaking of this, she couldn’t help but laugh. “At first the uncle didn’t want to teach me, so I waited outside his gate every day. As soon as I saw him, I’d yell ‘Master——!’ He couldn’t take it anymore, felt it was too embarrassing, so he reluctantly took me in.”
“Later on, he realized I was actually a prodigy, so he taught me all sorts of things. Combined with the experience I got from fighting with local hooligans all year round, I just got stronger and stronger, hahaha.”
Qin Jiao smiled along with her and changed the subject. “Can Sister tell stories?”
“Huh?” Not really.
“When I was little, I always envied other kids who got bedtime stories from their moms. But my mom only told them to Qin Bao…”
“I can! Of course I can!”
Jiang Quqi closed her eyes and made things up as she went along. “Legend says, long long ago, there was a temple on a mountain. Inside the temple lived a little monk called… uh, Ikkyu-san. Why was he called Ikkyu-san? Why? Because he liked people calling him ‘brother’, so he named himself Ikkyu-san.”
Jiang Quqi had no idea what she was saying anymore. Her voice got lower and softer. “Then later, another little monk came to the temple… called Fuxiu-san. Sigh, sounds a bit like ‘stainless steel’, hahaha… and then…”
There was no ‘and then’. Jiang Quqi successfully talked herself to sleep. Qin Jiao called her twice but got no response. He got out of bed, carefully moved her onto the mattress, and sat down on the chair himself.
In the morning, Jiang Quqi was woken up by someone shaking her. The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself face-to-face with a group of doctors in white coats. Her mind was still foggy, and she rubbed her eyes, wanting to close them again.
The lead doctor asked, “Family member, where is the patient assigned to this bed?”
How should I know—wait, no, where am I lying right now???
Jiang Quqi’s eyes flew open. Underneath her were white sheets. She turned to look for her small chair, which was sitting alone and abandoned in the corner.
If she remembered correctly, she fell asleep on the chair last night. How did she end up on the bed?
And where was Qin Jiao?
“I…” She really didn’t know, she had just woken up.
Just then, the door opened. Jiang Quqi poked her head out and called excitedly, “Jiao—Xiao Yu?”
The second male lead? Why is he here?
Xiao Yu nodded politely to the other doctors, smiled, and placed a bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. “I heard Miss Jiang was hospitalized, so I came to visit. Not welcome?”
This isn’t about welcome or not, I’m not actually sick! Jiang Quqi tried to explain. “Welcome, but I’m not sick.”
Xiao Yu looked disapproving. “Miss Jiang, we shouldn’t hide from our ailments.”
I really am not sick! She was about to continue explaining when the door opened again. She swallowed her words. “Here comes the patient.” She peeked out—it was Dr. Wang.
??? Is it a party today or what???
Jiang Quqi’s face went blank, and so did the other doctors’. Seeing his teacher arrive, Xiao Yu greeted him first, then whispered to Jiang Quqi, “Teacher isn’t sick.” He said it so sincerely and firmly that Jiang Quqi almost wanted to kneel.
Damn mouth, why do you have to talk nonsense.
Dr. Wang had brought some fruit. He walked in and shook hands with the lead doctor. “Director Xu.”
The other man smiled politely. “Director Wang.” He then asked, “An acquaintance?”
Dr. Wang nodded and asked, “How is Miss Jiang’s condition?” Looking at her rosy cheeks, he said approvingly, “Looks like she’s recovered very well.”
……
Jiang Quqi was truly speechless. She tried one last time. “I’m not the one who is sick!” It really wasn’t her!
Heaven above, tell the truth!
Director Xu also seemed rather exasperated. He sighed. “It really isn’t her.”
Dr. Wang was shocked. “Then who is?” He had known Jiang Yan for years. Aside from her grandmother, he hadn’t seen her close to anyone else. Oh right, there was that tall, rich young man, but he hadn’t seen him around lately.
“A young boy,” said Director Xu.
A young boy? Dr. Wang wondered. Did Jiang Yan marry that guy and have a child already? Ah, what a shame. He thought they had broken up and was even planning to play matchmaker between her and his apprentice.
The door opened again. Jiang Quqi lay there in despair, wondering who else could possibly come. Anyone was fine, as long as it wasn’t those annoying people.
“Sister?”
“Jiao—” Remembering what she promised Qin Jiao, she quickly corrected herself. “Qin Jiao!”
“You rascal, where did you run off to! You’re still injured, do you understand!” She took the bag from his hands and helped him back to bed. Opening it, she saw it was filled with hot porridge.
Qin Jiao: “I had nothing to do, so I went down to buy some porridge.”
Jiang Quqi pursed her lips and blinked. She felt a deep sense of failure as a responsible, healthy adult guardian. After a moment of reflection, she immediately threw the blame to the System.
“Why didn’t you keep an eye on him?” What if something happened again!
The System knew this was just Jiang Quqi being irrational, so it ignored her. It grumbled internally—none of its business.
During the morning rounds, Jiang Quqi took the chance to go wash up. When she came back, only Qin Jiao and Xiao Yu were left in the room.
Neither of them was talkative, creating a rather awkward atmosphere. As soon as she entered, she felt the unnatural silence. She looked left and right, hesitated, and asked, “Did I interrupt you two?”
They both shook their heads in unison.
Qin Jiao spoke first. “Sister, who is he?”
“Uh,” Jiang Quqi pointed at Xiao Yu. “This is Xiao Yu.”
She felt the introduction was too short, but she really didn’t know what else to say. She barely knew the guy.
Finding it strange that he was lingering, she asked, “Is there something you need?”
Xiao Yu sat up straight, his eyes determined, his face bright red. “Miss Jiang, may I add you on WeChat?”
“Huh? Sure.” She pulled up her QR code. “You scan me?”
“Okay!” Having successfully added her, Xiao Yu left happily.
Dear, I think something is off about him.
Jiang Quqi felt it too. She had a vague guess, but it seemed impossible so she quickly dismissed it.
“We’ve only met once. It can’t be.”
The System spoke wisely. Dear, don’t you believe in love at first sight?
Jiang Quqi was speechless. “…Do you know what else people call that?”
Curious, the System asked. What?
“Lust at first sight.”
…… That made perfect sense. No way to argue.
Just after chatting with the System, she looked down and saw Qin Jiao staring at her intently. She scratched the back of her head, thought for two seconds but came up with nothing, so she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qin Jiao asked directly. “Does that man like Sister?”
It was so straightforward that Jiang Quqi felt a little embarrassed. “Probably not. We’ve only met once.”
Qin Jiao ignored the first part and commented. “A guy who judges by looks.”
Jiang Quqi laughed helplessly and poked his forehead. “Rest well. What are you thinking? I’m not some rare treasure that everyone falls in love with at first glance.”
Qin Jiao pouted.
That’s not true! That man’s eyes were practically glued to Sister!
He didn’t like him at all. No looks, no money. Sister deserves someone a thousand, ten thousand times better!
Originally, they planned to stay a few more days for observation, but once the doctor gave permission, Jiang Quqi decided to pack up and take Qin Jiao home. If they stayed any longer, Qin Jiao’s face would turn as black as a pot bottom.
Word spread fast. Everyone knew there was a beauty in Room 402. People kept popping in just to take a look. They didn’t stay long, but there were just too many of them.
The young man in the next ward came over on crutches, holding his phone. “Beauty, can I add you on WeChat?”
Jiang Quqi politely declined.
Even more ridiculous was the aunt from the other side. She took a liking to Qin Jiao immediately and asked, “Is this your brother? He’s about the same age as my daughter. How about we become in-laws?”
Do you even hear yourself?! Jiang Quqi forced a smile and refused.
Qin Jiao couldn’t take it anymore, and neither could she.
It was just too much to handle.
Since her grandmother’s hospital wasn’t far away and she hadn’t visited in a while, Jiang Quqi asked Qin Jiao if he wanted to go along.
Qin Jiao: “Sister’s grandmother?”
Jiang Quqi: “Yes.”
Qin Jiao: “Then I want to go.”
Jiang Quqi nodded. “Let’s buy some things first then go see her.”
When they arrived at the ward, Grandma was reading the newspaper, wearing reading glasses, reading each word carefully.
Not many people read newspapers nowadays, but Grandma loved it. Back when Jiang Quqi was in university, they would often chat, and Grandma would always talk about her youth.
When she was young, Grandma was beautiful and smart. Her family was willing to pay for her education, but later on, her spot was taken by a child from a rich and powerful family. She never got to go to school and stayed in the mountains.
She always said that studying was a good thing, that people should read more. But then she would regret it, saying how she gave birth to a beast like Jiang Peng, and how it made her Yan Bao suffer—so smart and hardworking, yet never got to go to university.
At times like that, Jiang Quqi didn’t know what to say. Words sometimes felt too weak to wash away past suffering. She could only hold her and tell her over and over, “I never regretted it.” Even though the family dragged her down, Jiang Yan never blamed Grandma. All the happiness in her childhood came from her, who taught her how to be a good person and kept her from falling into the mud.
Seeing Jiang Quqi enter, Grandma put down the newspaper and waved cheerfully. “Come here quickly, Grandma’s good girl.”
Then she saw Qin Jiao standing behind her, and her face lit up with surprise. “Oh my! The child is already this big!”
⊙.☉? Huh?