Chapter 09

Du Weiyan, however, seemed not to have heard, merely gazing patiently at the ceiling, as if there were something exceedingly captivating in the realm of illusion. Until the nurse left, the feeling of nausea and discomfort in her chest did not cease.

After a long time ... or perhaps it was just a moment, she seemed to regain her train of thought and slowly said: "Moyan, you must not force me. We ... are truly too different, it is impossible for us to be together."

Perhaps because she was angry, a faint dimple appeared on her cheek. Jiang Luwen brushed his forehead and could only ask, "Are you angry?"

Perhaps this is a kindred spirit? Du Weiyan quickly adjusted the expression on her face and asked with some surprise, "How did you know I was here?"

Du Weiyan suddenly sat up straight, her lips moved slightly, yet she did not utter a single word

Jiang Luwen smiled: "Captain Wang is an old friend of mine. It was I who suggested inviting you to analyze the voice back then"

The nurse skillfully changed the dressing while casually saying, "No, it's at the temple. It was stitched up with several stitches. Oh, don't touch it, don't touch it."

The nurse retracted the intravenous needle, glanced at Yi Zirong, and seemed to be taken aback upon noticing that another person had been changed. Her expression clearly showed some astonishment, and her tone was noticeably filled with dissatisfaction, "With the illness being this severe, what more is there to fuss about"

The nurse quickly came to remove the needle, scolding loudly, "Who adjusted the speed to be this fast?"

She watched as Jiang Luwen's expression gradually became solemn, accentuating the sharp contours of his profile, as if it were a masterpiece crafted by a sculptor

"Where is Zhang Xiaoxiao?" Du Weiyan murmured, "Don't scare him, he is just a child. He didn't think much when he threw stones at me..."

Uncle Zhang's family has been very kind to me. His son resorted to robbery, which was also out of necessity... The family is burdened with a large amount of debt, and Xiaoxiao's mother needs to undergo surgery again...

Yi Ziyong looked at her with a hint of panic, and said lightly: "There is no need to search anymore. It is not worth looking at."

A warm fragrance lingered around Du Weiyan's breath, and she did not understand what he meant. She replied to him somewhat stiffly: "You came to find me."

He scooped a spoonful of plain porridge and brought it to her lips, his expression seemingly unyielding, and he said softly: "Du Weiyan, this time when I return to the country, will you take the initiative to find me, or shall I come to find you?"

How long have you been outside

Jiang Luwen finally smiled, and his gaze softened: "Alright, you don't need to worry about school. A new teacher will come to teach tomorrow. You have a high fever right now, so it's best to get some sleep."

He gently interrupted her: "Wei Yan, no reason can serve as an excuse for a crime. You did nothing wrong; you were, in fact, lenient towards that child. As for his family matters, they are none of your concern..."

His hands are clasped in front of his chest, his thick eyebrows relaxed, yet he remains silent

Are you all out of your minds? Have I provoked you in any way?" With a tight and painful sensation in his scalp, Du Weiyan turned over and tried to sleep, but after a moment of thought, he sat up indignantly: "What are you to me?"

If it is because of this that you have been giving me special attention... I would feel very sorry. I apologize for not being able to give you any response...

Yi Ziyong's expression momentarily froze, and after a while, her voice returned to calmness: "What? The centipede sting hasn't healed yet?"

Jiang Luwen's fingers slowly brushed across her forehead, bringing a sensation akin to the coolness of raindrops. He seemed to guess what she was thinking, and his tone gradually turned colder, "It has been over a month since classes were suspended there. Even if a day of class is missed, it is of no consequence"

Haven't you always said that there is no difference between us

Du Weiyan's face flushed slightly, and she must have looked quite unappealing in her current state, neither fully human nor ghostly. Unconsciously, she reached up to touch the gauze on her head and turned her head to glance at the table beside her: "Is there a mirror?"

Yi Ziyong pressed the cotton on the back of her hand, tucked her disheveled hair behind her ears, and then asked the nurse, "Is she... alright?"

Du Wei's expression stiffened, and he instinctively glanced out the window. A nurse walked gently by in the corridor, her figure clear.

It may be the late hours of the night, or perhaps the moment just before dawn. The light from the lamp behind the hospital bed is quite suitable; she can clearly see Jiang Luwen's face, which is very close to hers. There is a faint stubble on his chin, and he is casually wearing a black suit, with a white shirt that is not paired with a tie, and even two buttons are left undone.

What does it have to do with you

She seemed to regain her composure and softly said, "I am sorry"

He relaxed the strength in his fingertips and slowly stood up straight

"So, I meant to treat you this way. It has nothing to do with you." He brought the spoon to her lips, smiling effortlessly, "Come, take a bite."

Across the ward, against the wall, leaned a young man who was intermittently flicking a lighter in his hand. Presumably due to the hospital's smoking ban, he could only indulge his craving by playing with the lighter in the corridor. Jiang Luwen paid him no mind, merely catching a glimpse of the flickering flame between the man's fingers as he passed by. A driver approached from the end of the corridor: "Mr. Jiang, are you heading to a meeting?"

Du Weiyan did not know whether she had already reached her limit of endurance, but since last night, her tense nerves, which had never relaxed, seemed at this moment to be finally unable to support her in normal communication with others

He smiled gently, reached out to pick up the bowl of white porridge brought by the caregiver, and simply said: "Eat something"

A room of silence

Furthermore, that child's grandfather came by in the morning, but I did not let him in

I have wanted to say these words for a long time. That, Senior Brother, do you still think that I like you?" Du Weiyan frowned, momentarily disregarding the awkwardness, as those words seemed to have been rehearsed for a long time, spilling from her lips, "Actually, it's not as you think; I am not the Du Weiyan I was four years ago. You know... time has passed for so long, and no one will stand still waiting for another person.

After gazing at her for a long time, Yi Zirong's complexion was no less pale than hers, as white as snow. Finally, she gently coughed and spoke in a very calm tone: "So this is how it is"

"Not long ago." The mocking smile grew even more intense, "Just happened to see him feeding you porridge."

"What am I to you? Are you not clear about it?" He leaned down slightly, his long fingers gently brushing against her cheek, soft yet somewhat rough. "Have you forgotten who insisted that I read 'The Book of Wami Jing'? How? Do you think that if you sneak away quietly, I will pretend to have forgotten everything just like you?"

He glanced at her, his expression slightly darkening, and his tone somewhat displeased: "If you are not feeling well, then do not speak."

The young man gazed at her intently, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterflies... Just like butterflies, delicate and light. In that moment of tension, the vial of potion continued to flow rapidly into Du Weiyan's body. By the time Du Weiyan sensed the discomfort, it seemed to be too late. A wave of pain surged in her chest, accompanied by dizziness, and she turned to the side, beginning to retch.

"I will come to see you after the meeting." He no longer pressed her, but simply stood up, his gaze falling on her somewhat flickering eyes, and for some reason, he paused for a moment, "Your colleague will come over to take care of you shortly."

Du Weiyan only felt that her head hurt even more, turning her face away, still remaining silent

Du Weiyan felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze and coughed lightly: "I would like to ask you for a favor. Could you please help me delay my father? Please make sure he doesn't come over these days, alright?"

Jiang Luwen sat down by her bedside, and the nurse quietly closed the door, leaving the room in silence

Du Weiyan wedged her phone between her ear and shoulder, and reached out with her left hand to adjust the speed of the IV drip. No one answered on the other end of the line, and she felt a bit anxious, applying too much pressure with her fingers, causing the medication to drip in a steady stream, almost forming a line.

Jiang Luwen watched her struggle to turn sideways to reach for the phone, and did not stop her, only quietly said: "The old man said when he came that he was grateful to you. He said if it weren't for you, his son would have remained a robber and might have done even worse things in the future. I didn't let him in because the doctor said it was best for you to rest well. As for his family's situation, you should not think about secretly giving them money—I believe this kind of matter should be funded by the government, and the old man would find it easier to accept that." I didn't let him in because the doctor said it was best for you to rest well. As for his family's situation, you should not think about secretly giving them money—I believe this kind of matter should be funded by the government, and the old man would find it easier to accept that.

"The centipede is on the right hand, this was cut by a bowl." She smiled and said, "It’s simply possessed by a spirit."

"Some. " The corners of her lips formed a somewhat faint smile, yet her tone grew intense, "Actually, that night was nothing special. Many girls here are like that. Everyone doesn't place much importance on such relationships. It's you, Mo Yan, who seems to be overthinking it, isn't it?"

As soon as the nurse left, Du Weiyan's anger was instantly extinguished, leaving him weakly leaning against the edge of the bed, turning his face to look at the corridor outside the window, silent.

Jiang Luwen did not take it to heart and sighed softly: "It just so happens that I came here for a meeting yesterday, and I was able to pick you up here."

In fact, Du Weiyan really cannot sleep; so many things have happened all at once, how can she possibly sleep?

As if interrupting her thoughts, Du Weiyan slowly leaned back against the bed, withdrew her hand again, and repeatedly stroked her dry, peeling lips, saying intermittently: "How did you know I was in trouble?"

He did not think of anything else, nor did he consider the consequences; he simply tossed the spoon back into the bowl carelessly and leaned down to kiss.

I have ruined a family... She actually does not know who these words are meant for. She wants to call her father, but she is afraid he will worry. Besides him, who else can she turn to?

Yi Zirong slowly straightened her body, her gaze returning as she glanced at the caller ID. The corners of her mouth curled slightly, yet it was clearly not a smile, carrying a hint of sarcasm as she looked towards the figure reflected in the glass window

How could she forget this matter? Du Weiyan sighed softly, could it really be that she has become muddled?

Du Weiyan spoke calmly, surprisingly, he could even see the faint smile at the corners of her lips, "Mr. Jiang, it would be best if we try to avoid meeting each other in the future"

She wanted to turn her head slightly to see who was talking to the nurse, but even that small movement felt quite difficult. Just that slight motion caused a figure to quickly lean down, pressing on the area of her shoulder, and gently said: "Don't move, your head has just been bandaged."

It was only when changing the dressing that it was discovered the wound was on the top of the head. When the bandage was removed, Du Weiyan seemed to recall something: "That circle of hair won't be shaved off, will it?"

Du Weiyan trembled slightly all over, perhaps because his words had evoked memories, leaving him unable to utter a single sentence. He could only desperately tilt his head back, his lips pressed together like a taut string.

Du Weiyan blinked and continued to look at him

Memories and reality overlap. Now, on the bed, Du Weiyan has a pale complexion, perhaps due to the bandage, which makes her appear somewhat absurdly unbalanced. Yet he gazes at her intently, seemingly unconcerned with these details, his lips, which are quite attractive, pressed together, forming a curve that is neither too deep nor too shallow, gently sliding into the depths of one's heart.

It was just this sentence that suddenly reminded her—calculating, Du Rufe would be coming to Mingwu to meet her in a few days, and then they would go to Hongyu... Should she ask Yi Zirong to delay that matter, at least until her health improved a bit before letting her father come over? Otherwise, if he saw her in this state, his high blood pressure would probably act up again

Du Weiyan's complexion grew even paler as he lowered his head to look at his two hands. His earlier words seemed like a deliberate explanation that had preempted him. Amidst his frustration, he heard Yi Zirong ask once more: "Is he Jiang Luwen?"

"No need to knock, I am here." Accompanied by a constant and clear ringing sound, that familiar male voice echoed at the door, "What do you need from me?"

In that moment, a thought swiftly crossed my mind, and Jiang Luwen's long, thick eyebrows gently furrowed as he smiled and said, "Do you have someone you like?"

Before leaving, the nurse coughed and said, "Well, her fever hasn't subsided yet, so please pay attention."

Jiang Luwen gently closed the door. One wall of the hospital room was made of transparent glass, and at this moment, the blinds were not drawn. He turned his head slightly and saw Du Weiyan reaching for her phone by the bed. She still had an IV drip in her hand, making her movements somewhat inconvenient. Jiang Luwen hesitated, contemplating whether to go back and help her, but then he recalled the young girl's earnest words from earlier and smiled, shaking his head. It felt as if a wave of bitterness brushed against him like a gentle breeze, forcing him to suppress the thought of returning. He continued to walk slowly forward.

Jiang Luwen knew that her heart was far from as calm and composed as her exterior suggested. She seemed to always find ways to challenge her own patience and limits—had she been waiting so passively for her to come to an understanding that perhaps from the very beginning, the approach had been wrong? In a moment of slight distraction, she caught sight of her lips, which were still quite pale, exuding a nearly pure and transparent allure

She let out a hesitant "oh," quickly glanced at Yi Zirong, and randomly picked a topic to discuss: "What a coincidence, I was just about to look for you"

He brought some things over and said he was sorry. Jiang Luwen continued, "Also, I had someone move the items from that school on the mountain. The new teacher has already gone up today"

Yi Ziyong's handsome face did not appear angry; he stepped closer to her side, looking down at her from a height. For a long time, it seemed as if even the air had become heavy and descended.

After the nurse finished changing the dressing, she tossed the scissors onto the tray by the table, producing a crisp sound of "ding"

He did not answer the phone, nor did he hang up, allowing it to ring as he walked step by step towards the hospital room

As soon as I opened my mouth, I realized that my voice was hoarse, akin to decayed wood scraping against the ground, producing a sound that was quite unpleasant.

Jiang Luwen looked at her for a long time, his gaze gradually softening, and he replied softly, "You should sleep, that child will be fine."

He finally sat up calmly, looked up at the bottle of medicine, and turned to the nurse, who had an awkward expression, saying: "Not yet"

She tilted her head slightly, yet her expression was more serious than ever before

Yi Zirong raised her eyebrows slightly, her pure black eyes darkening without a sound, and with a faint smile, she said: "What is different?"

Du Weiyan tilted his head back and accidentally touched the call button. Fortunately, he did touch the call button, and soon someone pushed the door open: "Is one bottle of water finished?"

He did not walk in quickly, but rather leaned casually against the hospital's white wall and said, "I went up the mountain to see you this morning." He lazily raised his eyebrows, looking at her head, which was bandaged and somewhat resembling a potato, and gently smiled, "How did it end up like this?"

He shifted his gaze away from the young man's handsome features, no longer hesitating, and simply nodded, saying: "Let's go"

"Of course you would say that! Have you ever been in a desperate situation? Have you ever been driven to the brink by money?" She gasped sharply, reached for the phone by the bed, and murmured, "I need to ask Teacher Yu."

His tone sounded mature and tolerant, which made Du Weiyan feel increasingly ashamed. She raised her head slightly, pressed her lips together, and her gaze lingered in his slightly bloodshot eyes for a moment before she said: "I am sorry, all along, it has been me causing you trouble"

She could not turn her head forcefully, as it would aggravate the wound on her head, which made her somewhat anxious. She used her empty left hand to push against his shoulder. Jiang Luwen's kissing motion came to a halt, merely pausing there, their cheeks pressed together, creating an indescribable intimacy

How are you here

Due to not having eaten anything, what was vomited was merely some sour liquid, with a few splashes landing on Yi Zirong's gray trousers. He did not flinch or avoid it; instead, he reached out to support her back and pressed the call button again.

Du Weiyan stubbornly shook his head

Yi Ziyong finally straightened up, looked at her with curiosity, and slowly said: "That person is Jiang Luwen?"

Du Weiyan fell silent, and only the sound of breathing gradually calmed down

Yi Zirong's complexion seemed to be frozen, as if covered by a layer of severe frost; the original softness appeared to be but a few strands of warmth swiftly dissipating through her fingers amidst the raging winds

He held it up for such a long time, without a hint of irritation or impatience. Du Weiyan reluctantly lowered his head and opened his mouth to eat that spoonful of plain congee

She shook her head somewhat persistently, her voice very low yet flexible: "It is different."

What happened to her just now? Is she currently in Mingwu's hospital? If she has been hospitalized, what will happen to the classes there?

When Du Weiyan woke up, there were no swaying branches like ghostly shadows in his sight, nor the melancholic chirping of autumn insects at night, only a vast expanse of white, empty and desolate.

The medication in the IV drip dripped down in small droplets, and Du Weiyan felt a tingling sensation on her scalp, not painful, but simply uncomfortable. She closed her eyes, turned to the side, burying half of her face in the blanket. When she opened her eyes again, the midday sunlight had already streamed in through the center of the window. Jiang Luwen was standing next to the little nurse, speaking softly about something. Du Weiyan heard the nurse lower her voice, seemingly a bit aggrieved: "We have to wake her up; we still need to change the dressing." When she opened her eyes again, the midday sunlight had already streamed in through the center of the window. Jiang Luwen was standing next to the little nurse, speaking softly about something. Du Weiyan heard the nurse lower her voice, seemingly a bit aggrieved: "We have to wake her up; we still need to change the dressing."

In fact, he did not need to hold her hand tightly, as Du Weiyan's eyes were filled with frustration and dejection, lacking any strength. After a moment of surprise, Jiang Luwen turned his hand to grasp hers and gently reassured her, "The wound is not deep; it will heal soon"

Du Weiyan frowned slightly and unconsciously reached up to touch the bandage on her head, giving a somewhat self-deprecating smile: "If my dad sees me like this, all covered in injuries, he would probably faint right away." As she spoke, she extended her left hand and waved it, revealing a circle of bandage wrapped around her index finger, looking somewhat clumsy.

She did not respond directly, her voice slightly cold: "Thank you"

Jiang Luwen lowered her hand and pressed it against the edge of the bed, seemingly suppressing a laugh: "It's alright, your hair was never long to begin with, it makes no difference."

In fact, when Yi Zirong saw her the day before yesterday, she was not like this. Her hair was slightly shorter, just reaching her ears, and her pair of eyes was very lively, always reminding him of a day long, long ago—that was her best years, as she slowly walked out of the white, milk-like morning mist, as if she were the green mountains stretching in the spring scenery, as clear as water

Du Weiyan had no time to struggle, her eyes widened as she watched him draw closer, instinctively turning her face away. His lips brushed against her warm cheek, carrying a cool breath.