STT – Chapter 12
by Little PandaNeither Too Close nor Too Far, Perhaps We Can Last Longer
Her consciousness drifted back into the dream…
In the hospital room, the phone that Lu Zizheng had left in her coat pocket had been carefully pulled out at some point and placed on the bedside table. No sooner had Jiang Huaixi stepped out than the phone began to ring. Using her one good hand, Lu Zizheng struggled to reach it. The call was from Xu Bohan.
Answering it, she heard Xu Bohan’s gentle, concerned voice in her ear. “Zizheng, I just heard you fainted during class. What happened? Are you alright?”
Lu Zizheng softened her voice to reassure her. “Jie, it’s nothing. It’s just a fever.”
Xu Bohan was still uneasy, asking for the hospital and room number, insisting that she had to see her in person to be at peace.
Lu Zizheng could only keep gently coaxing her, saying that she was fine and there was no need to make a special trip—she would head back to school that evening once her IV drip was finished.
Xu Bohan had difficulty moving around, so how could Lu Zizheng bear to trouble her over such a minor matter?
Knowing Lu Zizheng’s temperament, Xu Bohan couldn’t win the argument and had to let it drop. After reminding Lu Zizheng to visit her once she returned to school, she remembered something else and asked, “Do you know Jiang Bao1? Are you close with her?”
Lu Zizheng was taken aback, unable to register the name for a moment. “Jiang Bao? Who’s that?”
“Jiang Huaixi,” Xu Bohan said. “Because the Jiang family treasures her beyond belief, everyone jokingly calls her Jiang Bao.”
Lu Zizheng was dazed for a moment, then couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile. She recalled her single brief meeting with Jiang Huaichuan; indeed, his family doted on Jiang Huaixi fiercely. When she pictured Jiang Huaixi’s cool, aloof, and arrogant face paired with such a cutesy nickname, it was inexplicably amusing.
“We’re not very close,” she replied casually in a quiet voice. “We’ve only crossed paths a few times.”
Xu Bohan’s voice carried a hint of confusion. “That’s strange. I heard from others that she seemed to care about you quite a bit. The moment you fainted, before anyone else could react, she was the first to stand up from the bleachers and run over. Then she called for a car, personally carrying you into the vehicle to take you to the hospital. In my impression, she isn’t exactly the helpful, classmate-loving type.”
Lu Zizheng hadn’t expected that to be how it happened, and she was also a little surprised by Jiang Huaixi’s helpfulness. After a brief pause, she asked Xu Bohan, “What kind of person is she in your impression?”
Xu Bohan pondered for a long moment before replying, “Composed, calm, distant, and cold. It’s as if she only lives in her own world.”
Amused, Lu Zizheng said, “She might look like that on the outside, but she might just be arrogant, supercilious, and full of herself.”
Xu Bohan was surprised. “Do you think she’s like that?”
Lu Zizheng smiled. Recalling the sight of Jiang Huaixi reading so seriously earlier, she walked back her comment. “No, I’m just speaking casually. After all, people always have many sides. But regardless of which side she shows, she and I don’t belong to the same world. Once I’m back at school, I’ll have to figure out how to repay this favor.”
Xu Bohan sighed. If someone weren’t familiar with Lu Zizheng, they’d probably only find her distant, cold, and proud too. If all giving and receiving between people were equal, and every favor could be completely cleared, then where would there be any bonds or connections between people? Most people couldn’t become friends with Lu Zizheng because she never gave anyone a chance to let her owe them.
As the IV drip was nearing its end, the ward door was pushed open. A composed man in a suit entered, carrying two bags in his hands.
Lu Zizheng looked at him, her face showing obvious confusion.
The man smiled politely at Lu Zizheng, took an insulated lunchbox out of one of the bags, and placed it on the table. “Miss Lu, this is the dinner Miss Jiang had me bring you. Please eat it while it’s hot.”
Lu Zizheng looked up and saw that the IV drip was finished. She pressed the call button by the head of the bed to summon the nurse to remove the needle, then turned to the man in the suit. “No need. I’m leaving in a moment. Please thank Jiang Huaixi for me.”
The man frowned with a troubled expression. In a low, pleading tone, he said, “Miss Lu, Miss Jiang said you can’t be discharged yet. You still have another IV drip tonight. Please don’t make things difficult for us.”
A nurse came in to remove the needle. Her movements were exceptionally gentle. Overhearing the man, she held a cotton swab over Lu Zizheng’s arm while chiming in to persuade her. “Miss Lu, the doctor has scheduled another IV drip for you tonight. Since you’re already at the hospital, shouldn’t you make sure you recover fully before leaving?”
Seeing that Lu Zizheng’s expression showed no signs of softening, she resorted to playing the pity card. “Miss Lu, Miss Jiang said that we must get you to stay in the hospital and finish your IV drip, no matter what it takes. She said if you’ve already left by the time she gets back, we don’t have to show up for work anymore.”
Lu Zizheng was astounded. What kind of overbearing command was that? Slightly annoyed, she countered, “Are her words really that powerful? Is this hospital owned by her family or something?”
The young nurse nodded. “Miss Lu, you didn’t know? This hospital is indeed registered under Miss Jiang’s name.”
Lu Zizheng’s vision went dark. Jiang Huaixi, you win.
Unable to withstand the young nurse’s pitiful pleading or look at the suit-wearing man’s tragic, miserable face, Lu Zizheng was forced to stay in the hospital, however reluctantly.
Around eight o’clock in the evening, as expected, the nurse returned carrying another IV bottle. While the nurse was prepping the needle, Lu Zizheng asked, “Do I have any more drips tomorrow?”
The young nurse smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, Miss Lu. There are none tomorrow. You can be discharged tomorrow.” Once she finished speaking, she couldn’t resist asking gossipingly, “Miss Lu, are you and Miss Jiang very close?”
Lu Zizheng let out a quiet scoff and flatly uttered two words: “Not close.”
The young nurse tactfully stopped talking.
By the time the drip was finished, it was already past nine. Lu Zizheng was on the phone with her mother, reassuring her. “Mom, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself. Yes, alright. Go to sleep. Goodnight.”
Jiang Huaixi pushed the door open, shut it, and leaned against it. Watching Lu Zizheng hang up, she spoke with a half-smile, “You certainly lie with ease. I’m sure Auntie doesn’t know you managed to ‘take care’ of yourself right into a hospital bed.”
Lu Zizheng slipped off her outer clothes, lay back down, and coldly dismissed her guest. “I didn’t leave. I’m staying until tomorrow.” Her meaning was clear: she could leave now.
With a sudden click, the lights were switched off, plunging the room into absolute darkness. Caught off guard, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp. “Ah…”
A clear, melodious laugh sounded in the darkness, and Jiang Huaixi’s voice carried a distinct amusement. “With courage so small, do you even dare to sleep alone? I’ve always been one to see things through to the end…” As she spoke, Lu Zizheng heard footsteps approaching, and then she saw a dark figure sit down on the chair beside her bed.
“It’s a rare occasion for me to play the good Samaritan,” Jiang Huaixi said, “so I might as well see it through to the end. Hurry up and sleep. Once you do, I can leave with peace of mind. Since I’m helping you out of the goodness of my heart, you wouldn’t make me break my principles and repay my kindness with enmity, would you?”
Lu Zizheng let out a soft scoff through her nose and said nothing.
She focused all her attention on trying to fall asleep, but unfortunately she was prone to insomnia—the more she wanted to sleep, the less she could. Closing her eyes, she counted sheep one by one, only to grow more awake the more she counted. As the night deepened, a fierce northern wind began to howl, blowing in and bringing waves of chill with it.
She felt Jiang Huaixi gently get up. Hearing almost no footsteps, she only heard the sound of the window being closed. Shortly afterward, the sound of breathing came from beside the chair once more.
Barred from entering, the northern wind rattled the windowpanes in frustration—once, twice, thrice…
Her consciousness began to blur as sleepiness heavily washed over her, and she vaguely heard someone calling her: “Lu Zizheng…”
Having run a fever all day, Lu Zizheng was utterly exhausted. Now that sleepiness was washing over her, she didn’t have the slightest strength to answer. She only wanted to have a good sleep, thinking of nothing else.
Just before she lost consciousness completely, she heard a low, gentle voice murmuring beside her ear, “Sleep now. Don’t be afraid. Everything will be fine tomorrow…”
When Lu Zizheng woke up, she couldn’t tell dream from reality for a moment.
Mother Lu knocked and came in, holding a cup of warm water for Lu Zizheng. She touched her daughter’s cheek and said lovingly, “Still not fully awake yet? Are you still dreaming…”
Lu Zizheng took the water and smiled at her mother’s face. She was awake now. A single sleep, and years had already slipped by. The only thing that remained the same was that upon waking, the person who had whispered those gentle words by her ear in her dream was not by her side.
Around ten in the morning, Jiang Huaixi—who had claimed just yesterday that she would be busy today—unexpectedly appeared. Beside her was a young woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a sharp, well-tailored suit. Her expression was neutral, radiating an icy, imposing aura.
Lu Zizheng opened the door and looked at them, quite surprised.
Jiang Huaixi unceremoniously pushed the door wider and stepped inside. Slipping off her shoes, she asked, “Is Auntie home?”
Lu Zizheng closed the door and replied, “Yes, she is. What’s wrong?” As she spoke, she took a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet, bent down to hand them to the young woman, and only upon looking up did she notice the medical kit slung over her shoulder.
Sure enough, Jiang Huaixi said, “I’ve brought a doctor to give Auntie a quick checkup.”
Lu Zizheng looked sideways, quietly observing Jiang Huaixi, who was focused on changing her shoes. Lu Zizheng let out a silent smile and said, “I’ll go get her.”
Mother Lu thought they were making a mountain out of a molehill, but seeing that Jiang Huaixi had already brought someone over, she couldn’t very well refuse. She had no choice but to cooperate.
The young woman put on a stethoscope, listening here and there, pressing here and there. Lu Zizheng’s heart leaped erratically with her every movement.
After a long while, the woman finally withdrew her hands, her voice detached and cool. “The examination didn’t turn up any issues. Still, that doesn’t prove everything. If you want definitive peace of mind, you should still go to the hospital for a more thorough checkup.”
But the moment Lu Zizheng heard “no issues,” her heart settled significantly, and she exhaled a slow sigh of relief. Mother Lu also smiled and said, “See, I told you there was nothing wrong! Why bother going to the hospital? I’m perfectly fine. Huaixi, thank you so much for going to all this trouble for me.”
Mother Lu invited Jiang Huaixi and the female doctor to stay for lunch, but the doctor coolly declined, stating she had to head back to the hospital for work. Not wanting to keep her from her duties, Mother Lu didn’t press the issue. She asked Lu Zizheng to see them downstairs, and Jiang Huaixi followed them down too.
Once they reached the building entrance, the doctor gave Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi a slight nod, gesturing for them to head back inside.
Jiang Huaixi didn’t stand on ceremony either, turning around to head back into the building.
Lu Zizheng thanked the doctor once more in earnest before following Jiang Huaixi inside.
In the elevator, Jiang Huaixi and Lu Zizheng stood on opposite sides, leaving a noticeable distance between them. Gazing at the narrow seam where the elevator doors met, Lu Zizheng spoke softly, “I want to thank you on behalf of my mother.”
Jiang Huaixi let out a dissatisfied chuckle. “Aren’t you going to thank me yourself? Why do I feel like the thank-you you just gave the doctor sounded a lot more sincere?”
Lu Zizheng changed the subject. “What is that doctor’s name? She looks a bit familiar.”
Jiang Huaixi smiled knowingly. “My, did you take a liking to her youth and beauty? Whipping out an old-fashioned pickup line like ‘she looks familiar’… I’m guessing you probably saw her in a dream.”
Lu Zizheng glared sideways at Jiang Huaixi. “I’m serious.”
She really did feel like she had seen the woman somewhere before. It was just that she couldn’t recall it for the life of her.
Jiang Huaixi tucked her smile away. “What makes you think I wasn’t being serious? Her name is Jiang Wang. She’s a year younger than you and currently single. Hmm, so there’s still hope for you.”
Lu Zizheng retorted, “You certainly know her well. To even have her relationship status down so clearly, did you put quite a bit of effort into researching her?”
Jiang Huaixi glanced sideways at Lu Zizheng, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. “Now then, are you interested in Jiang Wang’s romantic history, or are you interested in mine?”
Lu Zizheng caught her breath. Then, lowering her head to avoid Jiang Huaixi’s gaze, she replied flatly, “As it happens, I’m not interested in either.”
With a soft ding, the elevator doors slid open. Jiang Huaixi strode out with long steps, with Lu Zizheng following closely behind. After hesitating for what felt like an eternity, as they neared the apartment door, Lu Zizheng reached out and caught the hem of Jiang Huaixi’s coat.
Jiang Huaixi stopped and turned back to look at her. She saw Lu Zizheng looking up with burning intensity, her face slightly flushed, but her expression intensely serious.
“Huaixi,” Lu Zizheng said, “thank you.”
Jiang Huaixi gazed back at her, her eyes curving as she pressed her lips into a smile. She raised her hand, placing it over the hand Lu Zizheng was using to hold her coat, and gently clasped it, leading her forward. “Mm, now that sounded genuine. Teachable indeed2.”
Jiang Huaixi’s hand was somewhat cool. Although the chill traveled from Lu Zizheng’s warm palm all the way to her heart, it gradually began to warm her. Lu Zizheng didn’t dare squeeze back, simply letting Jiang Huaixi hold her hand with a light grip, yet she already felt an immense sense of peace.
Sometimes, holding on too tightly with too much strength only makes it easier to drift apart, for weariness will eventually set in and loosen the grip. Just like this, neither too tight nor too loose—because of careful caution, perhaps it could actually last for a long time, wouldn’t it?
Footnotes
- The nickname 'Jiang Bao' (江宝) combines the Jiang surname with 'bǎo', meaning treasure or baby, highlighting how much her family dotes on her.
- Derived from the Chinese idiom rúzǐ kě jiào (孺子可教), meaning 'the child is worth teaching' or 'showing great promise'. It originates from the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (Shiji).
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