Chapter 4

He seemed to be addicted to kissing, leaning in again, pecking her continuously: "I want to drink tomorrow! The day after tomorrow I want to drink! The day after the day after tomorrow I want to drink! The day after the day after the day after tomorrow I want to drink!" She couldn't help but laugh, scolding, "That's it, you've jumped into the fire pit. Who is this greedy!" He leaned close to her ear and said softly, "I am that greedy!" It sounded like a vow, carrying a sense of determination.

His phone rang, and the ringtone was particularly strange; it was the first time she had heard it after being with him for so long. He glanced at her before answering: "Mom, what’s the matter?" The other party seemed to say something unclear, and he replied: "Don’t listen to the hospital director’s nonsense. You should come and see their food; it’s ridiculous. Tomorrow I will give the director some feedback; it’s really inedible. Didn’t you say I looked thin when you visited yesterday?" He continued, "Don’t listen to the hospital director’s nonsense. You should come and see their food; it’s ridiculous. Tomorrow I will give the director some feedback; it’s really inedible. Didn’t you say I looked thin when you visited yesterday? Are you trying to fool me?" After a while, he responded again: "I know, I’m eating right now. You don’t believe me? If you don’t believe me, come and see for yourself." The other end continued talking for a while, and he said: "You’re really coming? If you’re coming, then come. Didn’t Secretary Liu say you have some external affairs to attend to these days?"

He seemed increasingly aggrieved, pouting slightly as he said, "Why don't you ask yourself? You just leave me here to fend for myself!" How could he fend for himself, surrounded by so many who supported and surrounded him? Yet, she felt a softness in her heart, as if a child's hand was playfully touching her, and she whispered, "Then I will go make you some soup"

I had thought it would take a while, but to my surprise, in less than half an hour, the restaurant had already sent someone over. It turned out to be a delivery from a restaurant in Shanghai, a full half city away. I truly admire their speed

She struggled to get up, but he refused to let her. After hesitating for a while, he finally turned on the light. She looked down and saw that her shirt was in a complete mess, with the two buttons at the front already undone, faintly revealing the lace inside. Her face flushed, and she said, "A true rogue!" He merely smiled with ill intent, not bothering to refute her.

Unexpectedly, Pingting called and immediately asked, "What exactly is going on between you and Young Master Jiang?" She stammered for a long time but couldn't find the right adjectives. Pingting sighed and said, "You should go to the hospital and see for yourself!" She was truly not in the mood to work and hurriedly rushed out. Once in the taxi, she realized that she hadn't even taken a leave, and although it was almost time to get off work, it still felt inappropriate. So she made a call to inform Xiao Wang. Once in the taxi, she realized that she hadn't even taken a leave, and although it was almost time to get off work, it still felt inappropriate. So she made a call to inform Xiao Wang.

After a long while, he finally released her slightly, holding her as she gasped for breath. She leaned against him, only breathing softly. He glared at her fiercely, then leaned down and lightly pecked her: "You little thing!" His tone was as if it were soaked in honey, sweet and refreshing.

She did not make a sound, merely gazing at him and nodding slightly. However, he became enraged and coldly said, "Go on, go on, hurry and leave me!" She turned around with her bag and walked out. The corridor was silent, with only the faint sound of something being thrown in a nearby ward. She felt a slight sting in her heart, unable to articulate what it was, her breathing becoming somewhat erratic as she ran out of the hospital

He followed the gaze and looked over, seeing the wilted lilies. Although there was a faint scent lingering, they were ultimately withered. His heart had calmed somewhat, yet he could not help but bite her earlobe lightly, saying, "You stingy little thing!" She felt a slight pain, but only sensed a tingling sensation around her neck and ear. Upon hearing his words, she suddenly realized that it was the lilies she had sent through the flower shop that day.

He pleaded, "Alright, alright, alright. Then let's have a meal, what do you want to eat?" She was so hungry that she didn't care what it was, and considering that he had been injured, she said, "I would like something light." He was simply unwilling to turn on the light, and after groping around for a while, he made a call.

The phone rang incessantly, and the screen faintly displayed "Incoming call from Xing Lifeng, do you want to answer?" She felt dazed and did not press any buttons. After ringing for a while, it stopped. After some time, it rang again. She felt a splitting headache and randomly pressed a button: "Hello, hi!"

She laughed out loud, feeling that discussing this topic in the hospital was inauspicious, and quickly changed the subject: "Pour it into the bowl and drink!" He obediently handed her the thermos. She poured it into a bowl and then handed it back to him. The flowers in the ward had all been replaced, leaving only the freshest ones. A bouquet of flowers was placed on the bedside closest to him, slightly wilted, exuding a faint fragrance, appearing somewhat beautifully blurred. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a bouquet of lilies. A bouquet of flowers was placed on the bedside closest to him, slightly wilted, exuding a faint fragrance, appearing somewhat beautifully blurred. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a bouquet of lilies.

It seemed as if he could not help himself, and kissed her again. In the entanglement of their lips and teeth, it felt as if it were eternity. He held her so tightly that it was as if he wanted to embed her into his very being. She could only feel his strength, as if he were trying to squeeze everything out of her, to swallow it all whole. Breathless, she pushed him away, and he appeared equally flustered, yet he smiled, as if a joy that surged from the depths of his heart was rolling in waves, overwhelming happiness, endlessly flowing!

He ate with great enjoyment, and after a while, as if recalling something, he said, "The dishes at this restaurant are quite good, aren't they?" She noticed the odd tone in his voice and looked up, asking, "What’s wrong?" He seemed to have something to say but held back, replying, "It's nothing!" He then lowered his head and vigorously took a few bites of rice. She paid him no mind and continued eating. The food at that restaurant was actually just average, but eating with him made her feel sweet and fragrant, as if butterflies were fluttering among the flowers, with a gentle breeze and white clouds in the distance, creating a scene of tranquility.

The room had already darkened, with only a faint light filtering through the glass window from afar. Because the distance was indeed great, it only cast a slight yellowish line, rendering everything else invisible. She curled up in his embrace, listening to his heartbeat, in sync with her own, as if this was how it was meant to be. On the cabinet by the window, a bouquet of flowers remained, and she felt as if they were withered, yet it seemed impossible. After squinting for a long time, she finally saw clearly; indeed, they were truly withered. On the cabinet by the window, a bouquet of flowers remained, and she felt as if they were withered, yet it seemed impossible. After squinting for a long time, she finally saw clearly; indeed, they were truly withered.

Only his voice came over: "I said not to eat, don't bother me! If you bother me again, I'll have the dean dismiss you." It turned out he was threatening the little nurse like this. She wanted to laugh, but felt a sourness welling up in her eyes, and said nothing, just quietly stood by the bedside. After a while, he seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around.

Inside the room, it was quiet, without a sound. She walked past the small hall and then saw him lying on the bed. The floor was covered with a thick carpet; as her high heels stepped on it, she felt only a soft mass beneath her feet, as if she were treading on clouds, so unreal.

He gently pushed the door open and saw her, exclaiming, "Finally here. Don't you check the time? I thought you had gone missing." He was becoming more and more like a child, far from the calm and composed person he had been when they first met. She glanced at the ceiling, shot him a look, and shoved the thermos into his hands, saying, "If you starve to death, so be it. Anyway, with so many people in China, losing one more doesn't matter!" As he twisted the lid open, a fragrant aroma wafted out, making his mouth water. He shot her a glance and said, "You really don't like me, do you? You'd be glad if I died!" While speaking, he held the thermos and took a few sips, then said, "Rest assured. The more troublesome a person is, the longer they can live."

Upon returning home, the air was still thick with the aroma of fish, reminiscent of the fragrance from many years ago when my father cooked. Despite the passage of so many years, I can still feel my father's love. Suddenly, an indescribable longing for home and for my mother surged within me. I yearn to nestle in my mother's embrace, to draw a bit of warmth. I only felt my face was damp, and when I touched it, I realized it was tears

Looking at that door, an inexplicable sense of unease arose, as if stepping into a primeval forest, an unknown journey, not knowing what awaited. She took several deep breaths before she had the courage to push the door open. The air was filled with a pungent smell of medicine, which, although masked by the fragrance of flowers throughout the room, could not be completely concealed, rushing straight into her lungs. It was as if many years ago, the same medicinal scent lingered in her father's hospital room. She visited every day, becoming familiar with it, and perhaps combined with her father's scent, she no longer found it unpleasant. Such a moment of daze, and yet more than ten years had already passed.

He laughed for a long time before finally stopping. After a while, he looked at her seriously and said, "I want to tell you something?" Together with her, he was becoming increasingly carefree, and it had been a long time since she had seen him look so serious. She glanced at him, merely playing with his fingers, which were slender and delicate, undeniably beautiful. He said earnestly, "I am hungry!" She had thought he was going to say something serious, but it turned out to be this. Slowly, she grabbed his hand, opened her mouth, and bit him. Hearing his pained cry, she finally let go and said, "You deserve it!"

After hanging up the phone, he saw her with her head lowered, gazing at the flowers, lost in thought. Her hand, seemingly unconsciously, began to pluck the petals of a champagne rose one by one. He picked up a bowl and started to drink, laughing as he said, "When did you become a flower thief?" She glanced at him, hesitated to speak, and after a moment said, "Drink up quickly, I need to go back." His expression changed slightly, and he became serious: "Is that all you want, to go back?" She looked out the window; the night was vast and seemingly endless. He continued to drink from the bowl, laughing again, "When did you become a flower thief?" She glanced at him, hesitated again, and after a moment said, "Drink up quickly, I need to go back." His expression changed again, and he became serious: "Is that all you want, to go back?" She looked out the window; the night was vast and seemingly endless. A few streetlights faintly emitted a yellowish glow; although there was a bit of light, it was still far away, separated by glass.

She pushed him away with force and sat up: "This young lady has never been jealous, she only drinks vinegar!" He laughed out loud, holding her in his arms, becoming increasingly uncontrollable, first silently, then gradually letting out sounds, which grew louder and louder. She tugged at his face and said: "If you laugh again, I might just leave!"

Time seemed to come to a standstill. She felt a great force pulling her towards him, his face was already within reach, and in a second, perhaps only a fraction of a second, they kissed. It was as if the world was about to end, and everything would cease to exist. In this world, there was only him and her. Flowers bloom and wither, winds rise and clouds surge, but it all turned out to be just a fleeting moment, unable to compare to this moment.

He awkwardly said from the other end: "I was planning to invite you to dinner tomorrow. Why is it that even the heavens are not helping me?" She responded with an "oh" and after a moment, she finally made up her mind and said: "It should be fine. You can tell me where we are going to eat." Xing Lifeng smiled and said: "Then it's settled. I will call you again tomorrow, so get some rest early." Once again, the room fell into silence

He smiled, glancing at her sideways: "Are you jealous?" She was taken aback, slightly raising her chin: "You go on!" He snorted and said: "I've never seen such a petty person! You think just a bunch of lilies can dismiss me? Look at how many roses there are here!"

He stroked her hair, which was neither long nor short, slightly past her shoulders, and its texture was still as smooth as he remembered, silky to the touch. With a hint of anger, he said: "Why not take a look at others? Every day, a bouquet, reporting in the morning and afternoon!" She pushed him playfully: "Then why don't you go find them?" Knowing that he was quite charming, today he was either stunningly beautiful or gracefully alluring, capable of making several laps around the outer ring.

Xing Lifeng's cheerful laughter came over: "I didn't disturb your sleep, did I?" She sniffed: "No!" He paused for a moment and said: "What's wrong, are you catching a cold?" She didn't expect him to be so considerate, and she smiled to cover it up: "It seems like my nose is a little blocked." Xing Lifeng said: "Then you should take some medicine." She replied with a sound of agreement: "I've already taken some. Thank you."

Having finished work early, I bought various ingredients and washed the fish repeatedly until I could find no trace of dissatisfaction, before stir-frying it in oil. After simmering on low heat, I carefully cleaned the ham and mushrooms. By the time the great task was completed, it was already evening. I looked up at the clock to check the time and hurriedly left the house.

He looked at her with grievance and shouted, "Are you committing murder!" She chuckled and replied, "Who was just threatening the nurse? Who said that if she urged you to eat again, you would make her lose her job?" He felt a bit embarrassed, as she was someone he had never seen before. He explained, somewhat dull and aggrieved, "You don't know, is the food in this hospital meant for humans? It's so terrible—" She snorted coldly, "What about the others in the hospital? You just want to be spoiled!"

She nudged him and said, "I'm hungry too! Let's find a way to eat!" The lights were off, and they didn't check the time, but it felt quite late. He mumbled, "Why is the atmosphere so dull?" She hit him a few times with her hand and replied, "Atmosphere, can atmosphere be eaten? Tomorrow you can eat atmosphere!"

Another week has passed in the blink of an eye. I went out for two meals with Xing Lifeng, and listening to his ramblings was quite a good way to pass the time. On that day, Shen Xiaojia looked at the white roses sent by Xing Lifeng and said, "These flowers are nice, they seem more suitable than tulips. Who would have thought, the peach blossoms are blooming recently!" She smiled and habitually took out her phone to check. There were no missed calls! On that day, Shen Xiaojia looked at the white roses sent by Xing Lifeng and said, "These flowers are nice, they seem more suitable than tulips. Who would have thought, the peach blossoms are blooming recently!" She smiled and habitually took out her phone to check. There were no missed calls! He hadn't called!