Neither too close nor too far, maybe it can last longer
However, very soon, Lu Zizheng’s hazy consciousness was once again engulfed by the pervasive memories of dreams. Vaguely, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but revise her evaluation of Jiang Huaixi. Hmm, actually, later on, it wasn’t that annoying…
Consciousness then returned to the dream…
In the hospital ward, Lu Zizheng’s cellphone, which was originally placed in the coat, was carefully taken out by someone at some unknown time and placed on the table beside her. Just as Jiang Huaixi had left, the phone rang. With her one good hand, Lu Zizheng struggled to reach for the phone. It was Xu Baihan calling.
Upon answering the phone, she heard Xu Baihan’s gentle voice concernedly asking in her ear, “Zizheng, I just heard someone say that you fainted during class. What happened? Are you okay?”
Lu Zizheng softened her voice to comfort her, “Sister, it’s nothing. I just have a fever.”
Xu Baihan was still worried and inquired about the hospital and ward where Lu Zizheng was, insisting on seeing her to feel at ease.
Lu Zizheng had no choice but to continue to gently persuade her, telling her it’s nothing serious and there’s no need to make a special trip. She would go back after finishing her IV drip in the evening.
Xu Baihan had travel difficulties, and how could Lu Zizheng bear to trouble her over such a small matter?
Xu Baihan understood Lu Zizheng’s thoughts, and unable to argue with her stubbornness, she could only give up. After instructing her to find her when she returned to school, she remembered another matter and asked Lu Zizheng, “Do you know Jiang Bao? Are you very familiar with her?”
Lu Zizheng was stunned, not reacting for a moment, “Jiang Bao? Who?”
Xu Baihan said, “Jiang Huaixi. Because the Jiang family treasures her to an unreasonable extent, everyone jokingly calls her Jiang Bao (Jiang Treasure).”
Lu Zizheng was taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but press her lips and smile. She recalled the one brief encounter with Jiang Huaichuan, and indeed, the family did treasure Jiang Huaixi very much. When she thought about Jiang Huaixi’s cold and arrogant face paired with this nickname, it oddly felt humorous.
She replied casually in a calm voice, “Not very familiar, but we’ve met a few times.”
Xu Baihan’s voice carried some confusion, “That’s strange. From what everyone says, she seems to care about you quite a bit. When you fainted, before anyone could react, she was the first to get up from the stands and run over. She was also the one who called for a car, personally held you, and took you to the hospital. In my impression, she isn’t someone who is eager to help others and friendly towards classmates.”
Lu Zizheng didn’t expect the events to unfold this way and was a bit surprised by Jiang Huaixi’s enthusiasm. She thought for a moment and asked Xu Baihan, “In your impression, what kind of person is she?”
Xu Baihan pondered for a while and then replied, “Calm and composed, detached and indifferent, as if she lives only in her own world.”
Lu Zizheng found it amusing and said, “Externally, she seems that way, but in reality, she could be arrogant and self-important, looking down on others.”
Xu Baihan was surprised, “Do you really think so?”
Lu Zizheng smiled, recalling the serious look on Jiang Huaixi’s face when reading a book, then denied it, “No, I was just saying. After all, people have many sides, right? But regardless of which side, she and I are not from the same world. When I return to school, I need to think about how to repay this kindness.”
Xu Baihan sighed. If unfamiliar with Lu Zizheng, one might also think she is distant, cold, and arrogant. If all the efforts and returns between people were equal, and all kindnesses could be mutually resolved, how would there be any bonds and connections between people? Most people cannot become friends with Lu Zizheng because she never gives you the chance to let her owe you.
When the IV was almost finished, the door of the hospital room was pushed open. A calm man dressed in a suit entered, carrying two bags in his hands.
Lu Zizheng looked at him, her face showing obvious confusion.
The man politely smiled at Lu Zizheng, took out the insulated lunch box from the bag, placed it on the table beside her, and said, “Miss Lu, Miss Jiang asked me to bring you dinner. Please eat it while it’s hot.”
Lu Zizheng looked up and saw that the IV was already finished. She pressed the bell by the bed to call the nurse to remove the needle, then said to the man in the suit, “No need, I will leave soon. Please thank Jiang Huaixi for me.”
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The man frowned, looking troubled, and in a low, pleading voice, he said, “Miss Lu, Miss Jiang said you cannot be discharged now. You still have IVs to take tonight. Please don’t make things difficult for us.”
The nurse came in to remove the needle, her movements very gentle. Hearing the man’s words, she also helped press the cotton swab on Lu Zizheng’s arm and persuaded her, “Miss Lu, the doctor has arranged for you to have more IVs tonight. Since you’re already in the hospital, why not stay and get well?”
She glanced at Lu Zizheng, seeing that her expression did not soften at all, and had to feign pity, “Miss Lu, Miss Jiang said that no matter what, we have to make sure you stay in the hospital to finish your IVs and get well. If you leave before she comes back, we might as well not come to work anymore.”
Lu Zizheng was astonished by such an overbearing command. She asked, somewhat displeased, “Does her word carry that much weight? Is this hospital owned by her?”
The young nurse nodded, “Miss Lu, didn’t you know? This hospital is indeed under Miss Jiang’s name.”
Lu Zizheng felt her vision darken. Jiang Huaixi, you win.
Unable to resist the pitiful pleading of the young nurse, and unable to bear the distressed, bitter-melon face (a very sad or distressed expression) of the man in the suit, Lu Zizheng had no choice but to reluctantly stay in the hospital.
Sure enough, around eight o’clock in the evening, the nurse brought in another IV bottle. While the nurse was inserting the needle, Lu Zizheng asked her, “Will there be an IV tomorrow?”
The young nurse smiled and replied, “Miss Lu, don’t worry, there won’t be any tomorrow. You can be discharged tomorrow.” After saying this, the young nurse couldn’t help but gossipingly ask Lu Zizheng, “Miss Lu, are you close with Miss Jiang?”
Lu Zizheng sneered softly and coldly spat out two words, “Not close.”
The young nurse wisely chose not to say more.
When the IV was finished, it was already past nine o’clock. Lu Zizheng was on the phone with her mother, saying, “Mom, don’t worry, I will take good care of myself. Yes, okay, you sleep well, good night.”
Jiang Huaixi pushed the door open, closed it, leaned against it, and watched as Lu Zizheng hung up the phone. With a half-smile, she said, “You lie quite smoothly. Auntie surely doesn’t know that you took care of yourself into the hospital, right?”
Lu Zizheng took off her clothes and lay down, coldly dismissing her, “I didn’t leave, I will stay until tomorrow.” Meaning she could leave now.
With a click, the light was suddenly turned off, and the room instantly plunged into darkness. Unprepared, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but let out a light cry, “Ah…”
In the darkness, a clear, melodious laugh sounded, Jiang Huaixi’s voice carrying a hint of laughter, “So timid, can you sleep alone? I always finish what I start…” As she spoke, Lu Zizheng heard footsteps approaching, and then she saw a dark figure sit on the chair beside her bed.
Jiang Huaixi said, “Since it’s rare for me to play the good person, I’ll help you to the end. Go to sleep quickly; once you’re asleep, I can leave with peace of mind. I’m helping you out of goodwill; you wouldn’t want to break my principles and repay kindness with enmity, would you?”
Lu Zizheng gave a light “heh” through her nose, not saying anything, indicating that she was going to sleep and Jiang Huaixi could leave.
She focused all her attention on trying to fall asleep, but unfortunately, she was accustomed to insomnia. The more she tried to sleep, the more awake she became. She closed her eyes, counting sheep one by one, but the more she counted, the more alert she felt. As the night deepened, the north wind roared, and gusts of wind blew in, bringing waves of chill.
She felt Jiang Huaixi get up lightly, almost without hearing any footsteps, and then she heard the sound of the window being closed. Not long after, the sound of breathing came from beside the chair again.
The north wind could no longer blow in, so it angrily pounded on the window, once, twice, three times…
Her consciousness began to blur, and drowsiness started to overwhelm her. She vaguely heard someone calling her, “Lu Zizheng…”
After a day of fever, Lu Zizheng was already extremely exhausted. Now that sleepiness came over her, she had no strength to respond at all and just wanted to sleep well, thinking of nothing else.
Before she completely lost consciousness, she heard a low, gentle voice whispering in her ear, “Sleep, don’t be afraid, everything will be better tomorrow…”
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When Lu Zizheng woke up, she was momentarily unable to distinguish between dream and reality.
Mother Lu knocked on the door and came in, holding a cup of warm water for her. She touched Lu Zizheng’s face lovingly and said, “Still not fully awake, still dreaming, huh…”
Lu Zizheng took the water, looked at her mother’s face, and smiled. Waking up from sleep, a year has passed; the same thing is, when waking up, the person who spoke gentle words by her ear in the dream is no longer by her side.
At around ten in the morning, Jiang Huaixi, who had said yesterday that she had things to do today, unexpectedly appeared, accompanied by a young woman with long hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a sharply tailored suit, with a cold and indifferent expression.
Lu Zizheng opened the door, looking at them, somewhat surprised.
Jiang Huaixi unceremoniously pushed the door wider, stepped inside, and while taking off her shoes, asked, “Is Auntie at home?”
Lu Zizheng closed the door and replied, “Yes, what’s the matter?” Saying this, she took a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and squatted down to hand them to the young woman. It was only at that moment, when she looked up, that she noticed the medical kit on the woman’s back.
Sure enough, Jiang Huaixi said, “I brought a doctor to do a simple check-up for Auntie.”
Lu Zizheng glanced sideways, quietly looking at Jiang Huaixi. Jiang Huaixi was earnestly changing her shoes. Lu Zizheng smiled silently and said, “I’ll go call her.”
Mother Lu felt they were making a big fuss over a minor issue, but seeing that Jiang Huaixi had already brought someone, she couldn’t refuse and had to cooperate.
The young woman, with a stethoscope around her neck, listened here and there, pressed here and there, and Lu Zizheng’s heart jumped irregularly with her movements.
After a long while, the woman finally withdrew her hand and said in a cold, indifferent voice, “The check-up didn’t reveal any issues. However, this doesn’t mean much; for a definitive result, you should still go to the hospital for further examination.”
But when Lu Zizheng heard “nothing much is wrong,” her heart was more than halfway at ease, and she slowly let out a breath. Mother Lu also smiled and said, “I told you all there’s nothing much wrong. Why go to the hospital? It’s nothing. Huaixi, thank you for your trouble and care for Auntie.”
Mother Lu invited Jiang Huaixi and the female doctor to stay for lunch. The female doctor, with a calm expression, indicated that she had to return to the hospital for work. Not wanting to delay her work, Mother Lu didn’t insist and asked Lu Zizheng to see her downstairs. Jiang Huaixi also followed them down.
At the entrance of the corridor, the female doctor slightly nodded towards Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi, signaling them to go back inside.
Jiang Huaixi, unceremoniously, turned and went back into the building.
Lu Zizheng earnestly thanked her again before following Jiang Huaixi inside.
In the elevator, Jiang Huaixi and Lu Zizheng stood on opposite sides, with some distance between them. Lu Zizheng, looking at the slit of the elevator door as it opened and closed, softly said, “I thank you on behalf of my mother.”
Jiang Huaixi chuckled lightly with displeasure, “Aren’t you going to thank me? I feel like the thank you you just said to the doctor sounded more sincere.”
Lu Zizheng changed the subject, “What is that doctor’s name? She looks a bit familiar.”
Jiang Huaixi knowingly smiled, “Oh, have you taken a fancy to her youth and beauty? Saying ‘she looks a bit familiar’ is such an old-fashioned pickup line. I guess you probably met her in your dreams.”
Lu Zizheng glared sideways at Jiang Huaixi, “I’m serious.”
She really seemed to have seen her somewhere before, but for the moment, she couldn’t remember where.
Jiang Huaixi stopped smiling, “Why do you think I’m not serious? Her name is Jiang Wang. She’s one year younger than you and is currently single. Hmm, you might still have a chance.”
Lu Zizheng retorted sarcastically, “You sure know a lot about her, even her relationship status. Did you put in quite an effort?”
Jiang Huaixi glanced sideways at Lu Zizheng, raised her eyebrows, and smiled, “So now, are you interested in Jiang Wang’s relationship history or mine?”
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Lu Zizheng was startled, then lowered her head, avoiding Jiang Huaixi’s gaze, and replied calmly, “Unfortunately, neither.”
“Ding,” the elevator door opened. Jiang Huaixi took big strides out, and Lu Zizheng followed closely behind. After hesitating for a long time, just as they approached the door, she reached out and tugged on the corner of Jiang Huaixi’s coat.
Jiang Huaixi stopped and turned back to look at Lu Zizheng, only to see her looking up at her with a burning gaze, her face slightly red, but with an extremely serious expression.
Lu Zizheng said, “Huaixi, thank you.”
Jiang Huaixi looked seriously at Lu Zizheng, her eyes curved into a smile, and she pursed her lips in a slight grin. She raised her hand and covered Lu Zizheng’s hand that was holding the corner of her coat, gently holding it, and led Lu Zizheng forward, “Hmm, this time it sounds more genuine. The young can be taught.”
Jiang Huaixi’s hand was a bit cold, the coolness passing from Lu Zizheng’s warm palm to her heart, slowly warming it. Lu Zizheng didn’t dare to hold back Jiang Huaixi’s hand, just let Jiang Huaixi gently hold it, but already felt an incomparable sense of peace.
Sometimes, holding too tightly and with too much force makes it easier to drift apart because eventually, there will be fatigue and slackening; but like this, neither too tight nor too loose, being cautious and careful, maybe it could last longer, don’t you think?
LP: Re-translated on July 17, 2024