The bedroom was pitch black, occasionally punctuated by the little nanny’s sleep-talking, followed by the sound of her smacking her lips before she drifted back to sleep.
Now she had truly become a little sun her entire body burned like a ball of fire, her face pressed against Ji Nanchan’s waist, radiating waves of scorching heat.
Her slender fingers tightly clutched the hem of Ji Nanchan’s clothes, refusing to let go even in her sleep, a clear sign of how inseparable she was from her girlfriend.
Reaching out to touch the still-swollen bump on her forehead, Ji Nanchan found it even hotter than before.
First, bring down the fever with a physical method, then carry her to the clinic, Ji Nanchan thought. Gently moving the nanny’s hand aside, she got out of bed to fetch a bottle of medical alcohol and some cotton swabs.
Burning with fever and half-conscious, the nanny mumbled incoherently as the cool, refreshing sensation spread across her palms, though it was unclear what she was trying to say.
After applying the alcohol, Ji Nanchan busied herself applying lard to the swollen bump. It was then she finally realized how inept she was at taking care of others.
Otherwise, how could this delicate flower, who had only been with her for a few days, already be injured and sick? If things continued like this, she’d surely wither away in her pot sooner or later.
“Qin Qin, wake up. I’m taking you to the hospital,” Ji Nanchan said, scooping Leng Bingqin into her arms. Limp and weak, the nanny curled up in her embrace, murmuring, “I don’t want a shot in the butt.Cen Cen, why is it so cold?”
“No shots, we’re going for an IV drip,” Ji Nanchan reassured her, helping her into a padded jacket and wrapping a scarf around her. “Still cold?”
“Cold…” Leng Bingqin mumbled, burrowing deeper into Ji Nanchan’s arms.
“Once you get the IV, you’ll be fine. I’ll carry you on my back.”
With great effort, Leng Bingqin climbed onto Ji Nanchan’s back, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck. “Cen Cen, am I going to die?”
Ji Nanchan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she stood up and headed out the door with the nanny on her back. “You just have a common cold and fever. What nonsense are you talking?”
But Ji Nanchan’s mind was racing: Fever combined with amnesia, what if her brain really gets damaged?
“Cen Cen, when will you marry me?”
“Cen Cen, I want to eat cotton candy.”
“Cen Cen, it’s so cold.”
It seemed the fever had really addled her mind. Along the way, Leng Bingqin chattered nonstop in a tearful voice, turning into a little chatterbox.
Ji Nanchan paid no attention, thinking to herself, Once she recovers from this cold, I’ll send her to the police station.
At worst, she’ll be charged with fraud and serve a few years in prison. She’ll come out fine afterward! So, what’s the minimum sentence again?
But then it occurred to her: I haven’t gained anything from this woman. On the contrary, I’ve been spending money on her every day. No, no, I can’t send her to the police station, it’s just not worth it.
Lost in her tangled thoughts, she finally arrived at a private clinic not far from the alley entrance.
Ji Nanchan helped Leng Bingqin onto a sickbed and called out, “Dr. Xue, she needs an IV drip.”
As longtime neighbors in the alley, Dr. Xue knew Ji Nanchan well. He glanced at her, then scrutinized the unfamiliar face on the bed. “What’s wrong with this girl?”
“She has a cold and fever.”
“Let me take a look.” Dr. Xue began his examination.
With nothing else to do, Ji Nanchan sat to the side, watching Leng Bingqin drift in and out of sleep. She leaned in and whispered, “Old Xue, I’m going to buy something. Can you keep an eye on her for me?”
“Go ahead, go ahead. She’s a grown girl, are you afraid she’ll get lost?” Old Xue waved her off impatiently as he prepared the medication.
After taking a few steps, Ji Nanchan turned back. “Your medicine is pretty strong, and it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. If she complains about discomfort, give her a few extra candies.”
“Alright, alright, I know. Since when did you become so fussy?”
“I’m leaving her in your care, alright?” Ji Nanchan repeated the instruction before returning to the bedside to tuck Leng Bingqin’s blanket snugly. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly, she leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’m going to buy you a big, fancy smartphone. Be good, okay.”
Of course, Ji Nanchan had no intention of spending thousands on a new phone for Leng Bingqin.
After crossing two streets, she finally arrived at the secondhand market. As a familiar face here, she exchanged greetings and small talk with vendors along the way.
Strolling confidently into a shop specializing in used phones, Ji Nanchan kept her hands tucked in her pockets, casually browsing left and right.
The shop owner, who had been soldering a motherboard, looked up and recognized her. Putting down his tools, he greeted her with a smile. “Well, look who the wind blew in! Picked up any good finds lately?”
Ji Nanchan occasionally came across valuable digital gadgets at job sites. Since she had little use for them, she often sold them here for cash. The owner was an easygoing guy, and over time, they had become quite acquainted.
“Where would I find so many treasures to sell you? I’m here to buy a phone today.”
“No way, someone as well-off as you buying secondhand?”
Ji Nanchan eyed the phone models displayed under the glass counter and made small talk. “It’s for someone else. Got any recommendations?”
The owner stepped behind the counter and pointed at a few devices. “Here, take a look at these. They’re this year’s models, practically like new 99% condition.”
Ji Nanchan could tell they were quality items, but her concern was the price. “How much?”
“Friendship discount, 4,800. If anything goes wrong, just bring it back for an exchange.”
“I think our friendship is a bit too expensive,” Ji Nanchan haggled.
“Really can’t go any lower. I’m only making 50 off this.”
“Anything cheaper? Around 2,000, not a cent more.”
“What can you even get for 2,000 these days? If it’s just for calls, you might as well buy a senior-friendly phone for a few hundred, loud sound, long battery life, and it doubles as a brick in emergencies.” The owner made a convincing case, almost swaying Ji Nanchan.
“A young person using a senior phone? That’s just wrong! I don’t care wrap up a branded one for 2,000.”
“Fine, how about this one?” The owner pulled out a phone and handed it to Ji Nanchan. “Fruit Brand 8 Plus, 32GB storage, runs smoothly, 85% new.”
“Fruit Brand is already up to the 15th generation, and you’re trying to pawn off an 8 Plus on me?” Ji Nanchan slapped the owner’s shoulder firmly but not hard enough to hurt and eyed the 11th generation model nearby. “2,000, and I’ll take this one.”
The owner sucked in a sharp breath. “Tsk. How is this any different from robbery?”
“It is robbery. So, selling or not?” Ji Nanchan put on a roguish act and added, “When I get my hands on some good stuff, I’ll bring it to you. You can resell it for more than what you’d make on this phone, right?”
“Alright, alright, consider it a favor.” Gritting his teeth, the owner took her at her word and retrieved the phone from the counter.
Ji Nanchan fiddled with it for a moment, skeptical. “It’s not going to break down after a few days, is it?”
Having taken a loss on the deal, the owner accepted the payment and wrote out a receipt, grumbling impatiently, “Tch, as if I’d dare cheat you.”
“Hey, throw in a SIM card, will you?”
“Get out of here! SIM cards cost 100.”
“50, and consider the favor complete!”
“……”
After leaving the secondhand market, Ji Nanchan deliberately took a detour through the food street.
She stopped by a familiar snack shop and bought a box of glutinous rice balls, thinking that most girls liked chewy treats, and her little foodie should be no exception.
Then she picked up some light lean pork congee and soup dumplings to go, figuring this would do for their lunch.
Spending money on Leng Bingqin every day had somehow become a habit, another day of draining her wallet. Fortunately, Ji Nanchan didn’t mind too much.
Back at the clinic.
As soon as Ji Nanchan appeared, Dr. Xue looked at her like a savior. “You’re finally back.”
Thinking something serious had happened, she hurried toward the bed. “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
Leng Bingqin was sitting on the bed, sobbing pitifully. The IV bag was barely emptier than when she’d left, the needle was dangling to the side, and a few drops of blood stained the sheets.
“Where did you go?” As soon as Leng Bingqin saw Ji Nanchan, she burst into heart-wrenching sobs, like a baby finding its mother, and clung tightly to her waist, refusing to let go.
“Did you pull out the needle yourself? Let me see your hand.” Ji Nanchan didn’t get angry. Instead, she took Leng Bingqin’s hand to check, the back of her hand was bruised and stained with blood.
Great. The bump on her head hadn’t even gone down yet, and now her hand was swollen too.
Dr. Xue prepared a new IV tube and grumbled, “When she woke up and didn’t see you, she cried as if someone had died, insisting you’d abandoned her. She pulled out the needle and kept saying she had to find you.”
“She’s delirious from the fever. Cut her some slack.” Ji Nanchan didn’t like others criticizing Leng Bingqin, it seemed only she was allowed to scold her little nanny.
Once the needle was reinserted, Ji Nanchan pulled up a tall stool and laid out the snacks she’d bought. Smiling, she coaxed Leng Bingqin, “Which one do you want to try first?”
Leng Bingqin, already burning up with fever and having cried her heart out, was now completely drained, leaning weakly against the headboard.
Normally, she’d be excited at the sight of food, but now she had no appetite at all. She shook her head like a rattle drum. “I don’t want to eat.”
“You have to eat, or you won’t get better.” Ji Nanchan scooped up a spoonful of congee, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to her lips. “I just went to buy the new Da Tiancai phone. Finish this bowl of congee, and I’ll show it to you.”
Hearing that the phone had been bought, Leng Bingqin listlessly opened her mouth. “Ah!”
Ji Nanchan fed her a spoonful of congee and reached up to feel her forehead, still burning hot.
Poor thing, Ji Nanchan thought to herself. She’s already silly enough. If her brain gets fried from the fever, she’ll be a complete fool.
After a long afternoon, the IV finally finished, and thankfully, her fever had subsided.
Dr. Xue prepared a three-day supply of medicine and reminded Leng Bingqin not to miss a single dose.
Seeing her unsteady on her feet, Ji Nanchan patted her own shoulder. “I’ll carry you back.”
“No, I can walk myself.” The little nanny refused firmly, putting on a show of self-reliance.
Ji Nanchan, for the first time, wrapped an arm around Leng Bingqin’s shoulder and teased, “Oh? Is our little patient feeling spirited now?”
“You’ve been taking care of me all day.” Leng Bingqin held onto Ji Nanchan’s arm, resting her head against it. “I can’t tire out Cen Cen.”
Ji Nanchan noticed something bulky tucked inside Leng Bingqin’s loose jacket and leaned in for a closer look. “What are you holding in your jacket?”
Caught! Leng Bingqin shyly pulled out a plastic water bottle, then another, and another, three in total!
“I saw empty bottles on the counter, so I took them.”
Ji Nanchan pulled out a tissue and, with delicate fingers, wrapped the bottle before placing it in a plastic bag. “From now on, don’t just take things from hospitals or clinics, okay?”
“Oh.” Not receiving the praise, she had hoped for, Leng Bingqin pouted and nodded.
Ji Nanchan quickly added, “But you’re very well-behaved and becoming more and more responsible.”
Leng Bingqin blushed and buried herself in Ji Nanchan’s arms again. “Because I want to be the best girlfriend for Cen Cen.”