Chapter 6: In a Dilemma

Forty minutes later, Su Jiayan arrived at the hospital downstairs, carrying a thermos. After hesitating for a long time, she decided to go up. She knocked on the door of the ward, but no one responded from inside. Thinking that perhaps Fu Ningyan had fallen asleep, she opened the door by herself.

Fu Ningyan paused for a moment, her voice becoming somewhat clearer, "Did you call just to say this?"

At the moment the door was pushed open, a cup suddenly flew towards her. At the same time, a cold voice from Fu Ningyan came through: "Zhong Kai, try to fool me again!"

Chen Ziliang sighed, "It is truly a pity; the theater can continue to operate all thanks to Xiao Fu. I have yet to properly invite him to a meal."

Zhong Kai was rather surprised: "San Shao was hospitalized last night, didn't he tell you?"

I see him driving a Mercedes-Benz, and he is quite handsome as well. Sister Jiayan, your taste is truly excellent

Su Jiayan initially thought that it was Fu Ningyan looking for him, so he relaxed and asked, "What is it?"

The two exchanged a few hurried words, then Li Xin went to call Chen Ziliang, while Su Jiayan went to book a hotel for lunch. After making the reservation, she remembered that Fu Ningyan had said he would pick her up today. She hesitated for a moment and pulled out Fu Ningyan's number.

Good words, guess where I am

"Sister Jiayan, you are on the phone with your boyfriend so early?" Just as the conversation was at a standstill, Junjun rubbed her eyes and came out of the bedroom, and at that moment, the call on the other end was disconnected

Su Jiayan felt extremely awkward and could only lie, saying: "He has matters to attend to at his company and cannot spare the time"

On the other end, Zhong Kai's voice sounded extremely hurried, "Miss Su, I have a question for you."

As Su Jiayan just arrived downstairs, he heard a melodious singing voice, like a clear stream in the evening breeze—by the vending machine next to the convenience store downstairs, a girl in a plaid skirt was inserting coins into it

It is almost done, the doctor said that if the wound opens up, it will need to be stitched again

Fu Ningyan noticed Su Jiayan's slight frown and smiled even more deeply: "However, my dear, if you are unwilling to feed me, I will have to do it myself." As he spoke, he pretended to raise his right hand to grab a spoon.

When Su Jiayan came out after taking a shower, Nie Junjun was lying on the bed reading her book. Upon hearing the footsteps, she did not turn around immediately but asked, "A few days ago, I saw a very handsome guy looking at your house window downstairs. Sister Jiayan, are you in a relationship?"

San Shao has been very angry, having smashed several bowls, claiming that the chicken soup bought is not to his liking, insisting that the chef prepare it according to your method. Miss Su, what do you think? I will have the hotel staff prepare it fresh... In the end, he muttered, "He has been on an IV since morning and hasn't eaten anything at all."

It took a long time to answer on that end, and the voice was indistinct: "Hello"

Whether it was Li Xin's instigation or a twist of fate, Fu Ningyan's hospitalization was originally unrelated to her. However, by the time she realized it, she had already entered the hotel kitchen and started preparing soup

Is your father still at the construction site again

Li Xin is the closest senior brother of Su Jiayan. The two joined the opera troupe almost simultaneously, with one performing as a young male role and the other as a young female role. On ordinary days, their fellow apprentices often tease them, referring to them as Zhang Sheng and Ying Ying. After more than a decade of interaction both on and off stage, Li Xin has become, apart from her master and Yi Xing, the family member she values the most.

Su Jiayan did not respond to him, but simply lowered her head to open the thermos box and served a small bowl of chicken soup, handing it to him.

Anyway, there are no classes tomorrow

Su Jiayan was taken aback, and after a moment of hesitation, he vaguely replied with an "mm," placing a clean towel over Nie Junjun's head, saying, "Dry your hair."

Nie Junjun gulped down more than half a can of apple juice, turned her head, and smiled, revealing two little tiger teeth. "I want to go to the province with him to participate in the essay competition." The tone rose at the end, as if one could see a pink heart attached behind her.

Su Jiayan awkwardly bit her lip and ultimately lay down beside Fu Ningyan as instructed. Fu Ningyan wrapped his left arm around her, kissed her forehead, and asked with a smile, "Why don't you ask me how I got injured"

During the intermission, Su Jiayan suddenly received a call from her assistant, Zhong Kai. Li Xin noticed her unusual expression and quickly asked, "What happened? Who is calling?"

Fu Ningyan smiled softly, "What more can I do to you when I am already like this"

How can you say everything is fine when you are hospitalized? You should go and take a look, anyway, you have almost finished your meal

Su Jiayan was taken aback, "Why are you receiving an infusion?"

Su Jiayan fell silent, holding the phone with a sense of being caught in a dilemma

After finishing, Su Jiayan cleaned up the broken glass from the door and tidied up the thermos box. She then stood somewhat awkwardly by the bedside. Fu Ningyan naturally noticed that she wanted to leave and suddenly reached out to hold her soft, fair hand, saying, "Jiayan, stay with me for a while"

Su Jiayan closed his eyes and said in a faint voice, "What does it have to do with me"

Jun Jun, why are you still not asleep

This was the first time he had taken such a name, with a deliberately softened tone, clear yet tinged with a hint of languor, which surprisingly conveyed a sense of pleading

"It's nothing, I'll go out for a moment." Su Jiayan put down the dishes and quickly walked to the bathroom

Nie Junjun got out of bed, wiping her hair as she asked, "When did you get a boyfriend? Sister Jiayan, you didn't even tell me."

Nie Junjun nodded without any concern, stepped forward to link arms with Su Jiayan, and on her upturned face, there was a noticeable pimple on the tip of her nose. "Sister Jiayan, can I sleep at your house tonight?"

"San Shao, I will be hosting a welcome lunch for my senior brother at noon today. Can we postpone it until tomorrow..."

Li Xin also smiled and asked, "Indeed, why haven't I seen Mr. Fu? I would like to meet this true Zhang Sheng."

He is using a number from Chongcheng, so naturally he is no longer in Germany at this moment. Su Jiayan exclaimed in surprise, "You have returned to Chongcheng?"

Su Jiayan was momentarily at a loss for what to do. Looking at Fu Ningyan with earnest eyes, he ultimately could not bring himself to let go and leave. Fu Ningyan was staying in a deluxe hospital room, where the bed was relatively spacious. He shifted to the right, leaving a large portion of the left side empty, saying, "Come over and lie down"

The girl is currently in her second year of high school, living under Su Jiayan's apartment, and her name is Nie Junjun. Nie Junjun turned her head and smiled sweetly, "Sister Jiayan, let me treat you to apple juice!" As she spoke, she raised her hand and pressed two more buttons. She took out two frozen cans from the vending machine, handed one to Su Jiayan, and casually stuffed the change from the coin return into her pink wallet.

Su Jiayan was so frightened that she nearly lost her composure, instinctively taking a step back. The cup barely fell onto the floor in front of her, shattering into a multitude of glass shards. She stood there for a while, and after her emotions settled somewhat, she stepped over the mess and walked to the side of Fu Ningyan's bed, whispering: "Zhong Kai is not here"

Su Jiayan fell silent for a moment. She envied Nie Junjun immensely; at her age, she could still categorize people simply with words like "handsome," "great at basketball," and "good at math," in a naive and unquestionable manner. At sixteen, it is indeed a chaotic yet straightforward age, where love and hate are both perfectly justified.

Returning to her seat, Su Jiayan appeared somewhat dazed. Li Xin, sitting beside her, observed this clearly and asked, "Jiayan, what’s wrong?"

Recently

Fu Ningyan's figure momentarily stiffened, and he immediately turned around, the look of surprise in his eyes fleeting as he said, "What brings you here"

Su Jiayan's finger hooked onto the pull tab of the can, and with a slight exertion, he pulled it open, smiling as he asked: "So you're so happy that you can't sleep all night?"

I apologize

Su Jiayan did not open it immediately. Seeing the joy in Nie Junjun's eyes and brows, he asked, "What good news has happened?"

Su Jiayan tucked her blanket in neatly, turned over, and opened her eyes to gaze at the small patch of night sky visible through the gap in the curtains. The deep blue was interspersed with deep gray, resembling the careless strokes of a painter's dirty paint.

At noon, the theater troupe filled the large private room to capacity. Chen Ziliang arrived a little late and, seeing that almost everyone was present, his spirits immediately lifted. After greeting everyone, he took a seat at the head of the table. He then looked around and asked Su Jiayan, "Jiayan, isn't Xiao Fu here?"

What if I ask you to come over immediately

Su Jiayan stood still

In the next moment, Su Jiayan took the bowl from his hands, picked up the spoon, and sat down by the bed. Su Jiayan was extremely reluctant, while Fu Ningyan became increasingly happy, finishing the soup and then eating another bowl of rice

Early in the morning, Su Jiayan ran two laps and practiced her voice, then carried the steaming breakfast home, while Nie Junjun was still fast asleep. She quietly watched the morning news and ate alone, but halfway through her meal, the phone rang. She initially thought it was Fu Ningyan, but discovered it was a call from a senior brother who was studying abroad.

Su Jiayan was momentarily taken aback, put away his phone, and smiled at Nie Junjun: "Come have breakfast."

His right arm was wrapped in a bandage, his hair was extremely disheveled, his complexion was pale, and there was a layer of dead skin on his lips; however, his gaze remained deep and clear

The "he" referred to by Nie Junjun is the class monitor from the neighboring class. Ever since Su Jiayan rescued Nie Junjun, who had just started her menstrual period, three years ago, the two have become close friends despite their age difference. This child, who lives alone with her father after her parents' divorce, has no reservations towards her and shares various youthful concerns without holding back, treating her as if she were half a family member

Fu Ningyan quietly watched her actions, unable to suppress a smile at the corners of his mouth. He held the bowl in his left hand, glanced at his right hand, and asked with a smile: "How am I supposed to eat?"

Su Jiayan glanced lightly and said, "It's not like there's a fracture."

During the gathering, every time the name Fu Ningyan was mentioned, Su Jiayan knew almost nothing about him. When asked for details, he resembled a thief caught red-handed, revealing inconsistencies during the interrogation. He would fill in one gap only to forget another, and when faced with unfamiliar topics, he could only brush it off by saying that their acquaintance was not deep. The entire process could aptly be described as one filled with trepidation and anxiety.

Su Jiayan shook his head, "It's nothing, Fu Ningyan is hospitalized"

By the time they finished eating, the night had grown deep. Du Yange kept watching Su Jiayan's figure disappear into the dense shadows of the trees, and then hummed a tune while returning to where the car was parked

Su Jiayan did not wish to discuss Fu Ningyan further, and after a few words, he shifted the topic to the boy that Nie Junjun liked. Half an hour later, the very next moment after they had been talking, Nie Junjun suddenly fell silent, and the sound of steady, calm breathing could be heard.