IDWTWMA 13

Chapter 13: You Say You Like Goodbyes Just to Say Hello Again

He changed into his pajamas, gray wide-leg pants, and a pure white cotton top.

The distance between them was a bit close, and Zhao Yinqing could clearly smell the fresh scent of shower gel on his body.

She took a step back and said, “No thanks, the space is so small, it’s easy to catch a cold.”

“This is the second time you’re afraid of being infected by me. Why? Am I, this giant virus, so annoying to you?”

Sun Lu rarely spoke such a long string of words. His gaze was bright but with a hint of depth, as if he was dissatisfied with what Zhao Yinqing said, but at the same time, he didn’t care.

Without waiting for Zhao Yinqing to say anything, he turned sideways again, roughly pulled out his test papers, and handed them to Zhao Yinqing. The black pen rolled a few times and dropped to the side.

“Take a look, ask me if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

Zhao Yinqing took it from his hand, glanced at the thermometer on the table, and asked, “How high is your fever?”

“Forgot.”

He bypassed Zhao Yinqing and laid back down on the bean bag, looking exhausted, as if all his bones were gone.

Zhao Yinqing picked up the thermometer and looked at it, surprised, “38.6? It’s quite high.”

Sun Lu’s mouth twitched, and he said, “That’s why I just want to lie here.”

“Did the medicine this afternoon not work?”

“I didn’t take it.”

Zhao Yinqing raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t take it? Why didn’t you take it?”

“Why should I take it?” Sun Lu, rested both of his hands under his head, looking at her carelessly, “You didn’t get it for me.”

“Somebody already gave it to you, do I still need to get it?”

“Yeah.” He responded matter-of-factly.

Zhao Yinqing pursed her lips and didn’t say anything.

Finally, she pointed to the two boxes on the table and said, “You better take these two pills first.”

Sun Lu had already closed his eyes and gave another perfunctory “Mm.”

His appearance didn’t look like someone who would obediently take the medicine.

This was completely different from the Sun Lu in Zhao Yinqing’s memory. In her impression, he was organized, stable, and meticulous in everything he did, whether for others or himself, excluding her.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Yinqing opened the two medicine boxes, took out the pills, and then turned around to get him a cup of warm water.

“I’ve put it here for you, so remember to take it.”

Sun Lu lifted his eyelids and quickly closed them again, saying, “Got it.”

Zhao Yinqing backed out, closed the door again, and the room became quiet.

The air conditioner occasionally blew “whoosh,” and Sun Lu seemed to be sleepy, but the throbbing headache pulled him back from drowsiness.

He opened his eyes with difficulty, and stared at the ceiling above for a while. Then turned his gaze to the cup on the table and the faint shadows beside it.

The silhouette of the girl seemed to be still standing there, the care on her face was so light that it was almost nonexistent, as if she was just giving instructions to complete a task.

He was used to people catering to him, so being treated like this was a first.

Really refreshing!

Three hours later, almost 11:05.

Zhao Yinqing rubbed her neck and lifted her head from the test papers.

Sun Lu’s problem-solving process was neat and clean, without any unnecessary burdens. The paper was clean without any traces of erasures, obviously done in one go.

His handwriting is beautiful, penetrating through the paper with sharp strokes, much like his persona, carrying a hint of indifference.

Zhao Yinqing folded the papers, picked them up, took two quick sips from her cup, and left the room.

Returning to the third floor, the attic door remained slightly ajar.

Zhao Yinqing entered quietly. Sun Lu still lay sprawled on the sofa, with his head tilted to one side and his long legs casually placed on the ground, deeply immersed in sleep.

She placed the test papers back onto the table, coincidentally glancing at the cup of water and the pills on the side.

“Sun Lu!” Zhao Yinqing hurried over, reaching out to give him a push on his head.

Sun Lu’s head tilted to the other side, showing no intention of waking up.

Zhao Yinqing kneeled, squatting beside him, examining his condition carefully.

That fair and exquisite face seemed to be emitting smoke from the fever.

“Sun Lu!” Zhao Yinqing slapped his face. “Wake up! Don’t sleep!”

Her hand was suddenly grabbed. Sun Lu opened his eyes slightly, his gaze confused, unsure if he was truly awake.

“Don’t sleep!” Zhao Yinqing reached to pull him up.

Sun Lu felt weak all over, sitting was even challenging. After being pulled, he ended up collapsing onto Zhao Yinqing.

The scorching body temperature transmitted through his thin clothes.

Zhao Yinqing was momentarily stunned, then, the next second, she flipped him over to the ground with a “thud.” Sun Lu finally woke up, propped himself up from the floor, looked up at her.

Zhao Yinqing turned around, took a few steps forward, picked up the phone on the wall, pressed a few buttons, and called someone for help.

“Put on clothes, let’s go to the hospital.” She hung up the phone.

Sun Lu supported his forehead, saying, “I don’t want to.”

Zhao Yinqing frowned. “Do you want to burn to death?”

Sun Lu turned his head, showing a hint of stubbornness.

“Which one? I’ll get it for you.”

“I won’t go.” Sun Lu remained firm.

Zhao Yinqing glanced at him in disbelief, went straight to his closet, and pulled out a long black down jacket.

“Are you trying to suffocate me?” Sun Lu remarked.

“At this time, it’s suitable to wear.”

The housekeeper and driver had come upstairs. Zhao Yinqing wrapped the coat around him, stepped aside, and stood up.

Tang Anfu dragged him up, and the group awkwardly went downstairs.

The front gate opened, and a cold wind rushed in. Zhao Yinqing shivered, lowered her head, and followed suit.

Tang Anfu quickly stuffed him into the back seat, and turned to look at Zhao Yinqing.

Her steps unconsciously hesitated, then she bent down and got in.

The car door closed, quickly leaving the residential area.

The bustling main road was still brilliantly lit. The traffic was less dense compared to the daytime but not sparse.

Sun Lu closed his eyes, leaning on the back seat, breathing heavily.

At the hospital, Tang Anfu helped with registration, payment, and then dragged him for examinations. The whole process took about half an hour, and finally, he was hooked up to the IV in the infusion room.

“Uncle Tang, you can go rest in the car. I’ll stay here.” Zhao Yinqing suggested.

In addition to picking up Zhao Yinqing during the day, Tang Anfu would also go to the company to help deliver documents, so he was not an idle person.

The intravenous drip requires three bottles, two large and one small, and it takes about two hours.

Tang Anfu hesitated.

“Don’t you still have to work in the morning? Go sleep in the car; I’ll call you if I need something.”

In the hall, a few patients were scattered. The nurse had entered the office and hadn’t come out.

Sun Lu couldn’t sit still due to the fever, so she deliberately asked for a hospital bed to lie on.

Zhao Yinqing sat beside him, playing with her phone, and the small IV bag finished in about ten minutes.

She pressed the call button, waiting for the nurse to come and replace it.

“What is the patient’s name?” The nurse took the pen and made some marks on the bottle.

Zhao Yinqing: “Sun Lu.”

“This bottle will hurt if it drips quickly, so the speed will be slow. Don’t adjust it yourself.”

“Okay.”

The nurse pushed the cart to the other side to remove the needle.

Zhao Yinqing looked up at the pale brown medicine above, and the small bubbles slowly rose, like a shy girl.

She leaned back, took out her earphones, plugged them into her ears, and closed her eyes to rest.

In the lobby, people walked by from time to time, making fragmented conversations. Occasionally, there were people seeking urgent help, while some came for medical treatment after drinking alcohol.

Zhao Yinqing would open her eyes whenever she heard a sound, but had grown accustomed to the noise as time went on.

When more than half of the medicine was gone, Sun Lu, who had been asleep, slowly woke up. He looked around, his gaze settling on Zhao Yinqing.

Perhaps she was too tired that she fell asleep with her head against the infusion stand. Her eyelashes were long and dense, and her mouth was slightly open, adding a touch of innocence and cuteness. One earphone fell out of her ear and was hanging in the air.

Sun Lu picked it up and put it into his ear. A slightly hoarse female voice was slowly singing:

You always can’t see,

the longing I left behind.

You say you like goodbyes just to say hello again.

I silently pledge to love you forever…

……

It was a love song, with a melodious and profound rhythm. It was unexpectedly pleasant.

He left the earphones on and continued to close his eyes.

***

Zhao Yinqing was finally awoken by someone.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Liu Siqi’s worried face, which looked even more tired under the cold white light.

“Tired, huh? Let Uncle Tang take you back to rest.” She touched Zhao Yinqing’s head and said softly.

“What about you guys?”

“Don’t worry about us; we can take a taxi later.”

Zhao Yinqing sat up straight, and her other earphones fell off. She belatedly noticed that another one was pressed under Sun Lu’s ear. She didn’t know when he had taken it. She also noticed that his head was resting on the edge of the bed which was a little close to her.

At such a close distance, she could even smell the shampoo on Sun Lu’s hair. Suddenly feeling awkward, she glanced at Liu Siqi quickly, not wanting to cause any misunderstandings.

Fortunately, Liu Siqi had no reaction at all, as if she hadn’t seen it. Or maybe she didn’t care at all.

Zhao Yinqing unplugged the earphones off of her phone, placed them down next to Sun Lu’s pillow, and stood up.

Liu Siqi reached for her arm and said, “Go home, okay? And be careful on the way. You’ve been a great help today.”

Zhao Yinqing asked, “Is Aunt Qi still going to work tomorrow?”

Liu Siqi looked at Sun Lu and shook her head. “I took a day off. With Ah Lu in this condition, he won’t be able to go to school tomorrow, so I’ll stay to take care of him.”

Zhao Yinqing didn’t say anything more, and left the infusion hall. She walked through the corridor, glancing at the people settling their bill at the emergency registration desk. Two people were sitting on the resting chairs, and the security guard was seen dozing off at the door.

She walked out of the gate, and saw that the car was parked nearby. Tang Anfu, who hadn’t slept well, saw her coming out and immediately got out of the car.

“Are you going home now?”

Zhao Yinqing shook her head. “Uncle Tang, you should stay and wait for them. I’ll take a taxi.”

“No, how can I let you do that?”

“I don’t mind, it’s just in case they need help here!”

“I’ll come back after I drop you off.”

“That’s too much trouble.” Zhao Yinqing lowered her head to call a cab, but the dispatch system indicated that there were no vehicles available at this time.

Tang Anfu said, “Don’t argue with me, I’ll take you home and come back. I’m worried about a little girl going home by herself at this time.”

“But…”

“Just get in the car!” He directly opened the car door and pushed her in.

***

In the infusion room on the other side, Sun Lu opened his eyes as soon as Zhao Yinqing left.

His gaze was clear, not at all like someone who had just woken up.

Liu Siqi exclaimed, “You didn’t sleep?”

“No, I was.” He straightened his head, took off the earphones from his ears, wrapped them around a few times, and stuffed them into his jacket pocket.

Liu Siqi helped him tuck in the coat and said apologetically, “I’ve been too busy lately, and I haven’t had time to take care of you. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay. I got sick from getting caught in the rain today.”

“If you feel uncomfortable next time, call me.”

“I will.” Sun Lu turned over to the side, closed his eyes again.