After everyone had left, only Chu Youhuan and Chu Songqiang remained in the hospital room.
Father and daughter exchanged a glance. Unable to hold back, Chu Songqiang cleared his throat lightly and asked, “Huanhuan, when did your mind become so sharp?”
The words she had taught him to say had left that old fox Zhou Huaiqing utterly bewildered. Not only had he willingly taken out the money, but he had also seemed afraid of being too slow in doing so.
Hearing this, Chu Youhuan’s lips twitched slightly, but she understood why Chu Songqiang was asking. After all, the original host’s lack of brains and naivety were inherited from him—otherwise, she wouldn’t have done so many foolish things.
However, she couldn’t answer this question. She raised her hand and pretended to yawn.
“Tired? Go to sleep quickly. I’ll watch over you.”
Chu Songqiang didn’t press further. He stood up, closed the door to the hospital room, and after making sure she was settled, turned off the light. He then lay down on the empty bed nearby, and before long, the sound of snoring filled the room.
But Chu Youhuan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. One moment she was thinking about what to do in the future, the next she was reminiscing about her past life. It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that she finally drifted off.
Outside the window, the night was as serene as water, with stars scattered across the sky—a sign that the next day would surely be fine weather.
Sure enough, before six o’clock, the morning light crept in, illuminating the room through the glass window and disturbing someone’s peaceful slumber.
Chu Youhuan furrowed her brows, irritably pulling the thin quilt she had kicked aside over her head. But before long, the heat made her break into a sweat. After tossing and turning, she could only shield her eyes with her arm and manage to fall into a fitful sleep.
Yet she hadn’t slept long before she was awakened again.
A little boy with a leg injury was brought into the adjacent empty bed. As soon as he entered, he burst into loud, uncontrollable sobs, rolling and thrashing on the bed until the metal-framed cot nearly fell apart. Several parents gathered around tried to comfort him, but the child was in too much pain, and no amount of soothing seemed to help.
Pitiful as he was, the noise was truly unbearable.
Chu Youhuan lay on her hospital bed, feeling utterly resigned. After a moment’s thought, she simply sat up and decided to go to the washroom to freshen up. She put on her shoes, walked around the curtain drawn between the beds, and nearly collided with a man.
He probably hadn’t expected someone to be in the adjacent bed and was caught off guard. Fortunately, he quickly took a step back, putting some distance between them.
“My apologies.”
Yang Jianfeng knew it was his fault and immediately looked at the person to apologize. But as soon as he did, he found it hard to look away.
The soft morning sunlight spilled over her, as if casting a golden glow. Her jet-black hair, smooth as satin, cascaded down her cheeks, accentuating her delicate and enchanting features—like a stunning model stepping out of a poster.
Even dressed in a simple indigo floral blouse and black cloth pants, with liberation shoes on her feet, her beauty didn’t seem diminished by the plain attire. Instead, it evoked a sense of pity, making one want to offer her the very best.
“It’s fine.”
A soft, slightly drowsy voice broke through Yang Jianfeng’s somewhat intrusive gaze. He quickly averted his eyes, a faint blush rising to his cheeks, leaving him unsure where to look.
Only when she was almost out of the ward did he dare to glance back at her.
At the doorway of the ward, she seemed to have run into an acquaintance. She stopped and greeted him with a smile. Unlike the cold indifference she had shown him earlier, her red lips now curved upward, her eyes sparkling with joy. She even reached out to tuck a few strands of black hair that had fallen around her neck behind her ear, revealing her delicate, glistening earlobe.
Yang Jianfeng couldn’t help but shift his gaze to the man and immediately recognized him as Dr. Xu, who had just examined his younger brother.
Like her, he had a striking face.
No wonder she smiled so happily at him.
Yang Jianfeng pursed his lips and couldn’t help but glance at them again. Unexpectedly, Dr. Xu was so perceptive that he immediately looked over, and their eyes met in mid-air.
Seeing the cold sharpness in the other man’s eyes, Yang Jianfeng’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head.
When he looked over again, Dr. Xu had already walked in, and the graceful figure was no longer at the doorway.
Chu Youhuan hadn’t expected to run into Dr. Xu as soon as she woke up. Out of politeness, she took the initiative to say good morning.
“Morning.”
As always, he was brief and cold. After speaking, he walked past her into the ward, likely to treat the little boy.
As Chu Youhuan continued walking, she quietly mimicked Xu Chenxin’s tone, sarcastically repeating “morning” under her breath. After doing so, she felt goosebumps rising all over her body.
When she reached the corridor, she looked around but still didn’t see Chu Songqiang. She guessed he had gone to buy breakfast or was wandering somewhere, so she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, her attention was drawn to the introductions of several doctors hanging on the wall.
“Xu Chenxin, born in 1952, graduated from Jing Shi Medical University…”
The long list of honors and experiences that followed made Chu Youhuan’s eyes glaze over. She couldn’t help but click her tongue in admiration. No wonder Dr. Xu was so cold and arrogant—he had the talent to back it up.
But he wasn’t as unapproachable as he appeared on the surface. Through their few interactions, it wasn’t hard to see that he was a person with a warm heart beneath his cold exterior, embodying the compassion of a healer.
Still, why would such an accomplished person appear in a county hospital like this? Even if he were participating in some aid program to enrich his resume, he wouldn’t need to come all the way to the distant south.
Well, what did it have to do with her? Instead of overthinking it, she might as well worry about what to eat for breakfast.
The thought that it would likely be plain and simple food again made Chu Youhuan feel a bit deflated. She walked listlessly into the washroom.
Having rushed into town, she hadn’t brought any toiletries. Chu Youhuan could only rinse her mouth several times and wash her face repeatedly with her hands. After tidying up, she carefully applied a thick layer of the ointment Xu Chenxin had given her to the wound on her cheek. Then, she headed back. She hadn’t gone far when she ran into Chu Songqiang at the stairwell, carrying breakfast.
“Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”
He was used to waking up early, so even though he had taken the day off and didn’t need to attend to the brigade’s affairs, he woke up at his usual time. Afraid of disturbing his daughter’s sleep if he stayed in the ward, he simply went out for a stroll nearby and bought breakfast on the way.
Chu Youhuan hadn’t slept well. She yawned before explaining that someone had moved into the neighboring room. Then, she returned to the ward with Chu Songqiang.
The little boy was still crying, but perhaps he was tired from crying, or maybe the snacks his parents had given him were helping—his cries had softened considerably.
Chu Youhuan’s sharp eyes caught sight of the little boy clutching a handful of dried meat, and she couldn’t help but swallow her saliva, instantly feeling that the cowpea bun in her hand was no longer appetizing.
Comparing oneself to others truly makes one feel inferior.
She took an angry bite of the bun, then turned her gaze out the window—out of sight, out of mind.
Not far away, Yang Jianfeng had been secretly watching her since she entered. Seeing this, a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. He wanted to share some of his younger brother’s dried meat with her but didn’t know how to bring it up, leaving him fidgeting uneasily for a moment.
“Jianfeng?”
Wang Shulan had to call her eldest son twice before he responded. Noticing him staring blankly at something, she followed his gaze but only saw the curtain swaying in the breeze.
Yang Jianfeng snapped back to reality and rubbed the tip of his nose. “Mom, what is it?”
“I’ll stay here with Dongdong. You all still have to go to work later, so head back and get ready first.”
Yang Jianfeng nodded in agreement. As he was about to leave, he instinctively glanced toward the window. He didn’t even know her name—maybe he could come back after work to ask around?
After breakfast, Chu Youhuan lay down and slept for a while. Around eleven o’clock, Zhou Huaiqing arrived with Zhou Lifang in tow.
Sitting on the hospital bed, Chu Youhuan watched Zhou Lifang dragging her feet reluctantly at the back, a cold sneer curling at the corner of her lips. Yet, on the surface, she feigned a fragile and pitiable demeanor, coughing several times in a row.
Her coughing caught Chu Songqiang’s attention. After a moment’s delay, he quickly played along, shouting in panic, “Huanhuan, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell again?”
“My chest feels tight, and I’m dizzy.”
Their coordinated act startled Zhou Huaiqing. When he first entered and saw that Chu Youhuan had no major visible injuries on her face or body, he had suspected that Chu Songqiang might have exaggerated the situation yesterday to extort him. But now, his doubts began to fade.
Perhaps she really had internal injuries—otherwise, why would her reaction be so severe?
Moreover, after returning yesterday, he had asked several people who were present, and they all confirmed hearing the doctor say Chu Youhuan had a concussion. Before coming to the hospital today, he had even specifically sought out the doctor to inquire. This illness, he was told, involved brain injury and could be quite serious if not handled properly.
Zhou Huaiqing set aside his suspicions and put on a concerned expression. He stepped forward, placing the bag in his hand on the bedside table, and asked, “Should we call the doctor?”
“No need, I’ll be fine after resting for a bit.” Chu Songqiang shook his head, then shot a sidelong glance at Zhou Lifang.
Zhou Huaiqing immediately understood and called out to Zhou Lifang, “What are you dawdling for at the back? Hurry up and apologize to your Huanhuan sister!”
Zhou Lifang felt resentful and didn’t want to lower her head in front of Chu Youhuan, but she didn’t dare defy her father. Walking up to the hospital bed, she bit her lower lip and held back for a long time. Only when Zhou Huaiqing impatiently urged her again did she reluctantly mutter an apology.
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum.
“Hmm?”
Chu Youhuan deliberately looked at Chu Songqiang with a puzzled expression. The latter was also deeply dissatisfied with Zhou Lifang’s attitude and immediately darkened his face. “If you don’t want to apologize, then get out. You were never welcome here anyway.”
His booming voice, filled with anger, sounded as if he could devour someone. Zhou Lifang had witnessed Chu Songqiang dealing with troublemakers in the village who disobeyed the organization’s arrangements, and she was so frightened that she took two steps back.
Zhou Huaiqing feared that Chu Songqiang might refuse to reconcile in a fit of anger. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Zhou Lifang by the back of her collar, and pushed her in front of Chu Youhuan. Displeased, he said, “What did you promise me before we came here? If you make a mistake, you must face the consequences. If you keep hesitating like this, I’ll act as if I never had a daughter.”
Now Zhou Lifang was truly frightened, but she also felt wronged and resentful. Her face flushed bright red, and when she met Chu Youhuan’s lively, glistening eyes, she couldn’t help but feel that Chu Youhuan was mocking her. She clenched her fists tightly in hatred.
“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have skipped work, and I shouldn’t have hit you. I’ve deeply realized my mistake. Please forgive me.”
After hearing this string of apologies, Chu Youhuan’s expression remained unchanged, without even a flicker of emotion.
Zhou Lifang wasn’t apologizing because she truly regretted her actions—she was apologizing out of fear, forced by circumstances to say these insincere words. In fact, at that moment, she probably wished she could rush forward and kill Chu Youhuan.
The atmosphere grew awkward in the momentary silence. Zhou Huaiqing forced a dry laugh and broke the stalemate. “Huanhuan, this is malted milk powder that Uncle bought for you. Brew it with water and drink it to nourish your body.”
With that, he opened the bag he had brought earlier and took out a red tin can with colorful patterns and printed text—a rare nutritional supplement in those days.
“Take this money as our compensation. There’s also a chicken—I’ve already asked your aunt to take it to your house.”
As he spoke, Zhou Huaiqing pulled an envelope from his inner pocket and stuffed it into Chu Youhuan’s hand.
Although he wore a smile the entire time, the faint hint of gritted teeth in his tone betrayed his insincerity and reluctance.
Chu Youhuan pretended not to notice and didn’t bother with the usual polite refusals. When he handed it over, she simply accepted it.
This scene nearly made Zhou Lifang choke with anger, but everyone else present seemed cheerful, leaving her alone to wallow in bitterness.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhou Huaiqing rolled his eyes, carefully weighing his words. Seizing the moment, he brought up the most important point. “Staying in the hospital isn’t a long-term solution. How can recovering outside compare to the comfort of your own home? Besides, the village can’t do without you, Old Chu. Why don’t I help you support Huanhuan back home later? I’ve borrowed the Gongshe’s tractor, so it’s convenient…”
Before he could finish, a voice from the doorway abruptly cut him off.
————————!!————————
[Good morning, babies! The red envelopes are still being handed out [dog holding a rose in its mouth].]