Chapter 17

Xitang stumbled out of the hospital room, her body rigid. As she reached the lobby, she felt a sudden spasm in her stomach and ran towards the restroom at the end of the corridor. She leaned over the sink, retching.

When Zhongqiao passed away, Xitang wasn’t by her side. She only learned about it a month later. Liao Shuru, Zhongqiao’s first boyfriend in college, had contacted Ni Kailun’s company and given her a ring, saying it was the only thing left in Zhongqiao’s will and that she wanted Xitang to have it as a remembrance.

It was a very ordinary silver ring. Xitang had one too, bought at a small shop near their college during their sophomore year Christmas. When she received the ring, Xitang lay in her bed and cried all night.

Zhongqiao always liked to hold her hand, her fingers soft and warm. Her hand had held hers as they went to class, ate meals, and shopped together. Those hands had touched her face, her shoulders, and her body.

Now, that full body, that bright hair, and those warm fingers had all turned to cold ashes.

Zhongqiao was from Beijing, but her parents had divorced many years ago. Her elder brother and sister-in-law, along with two friends, had taken care of her funeral arrangements. One of the friends was Liao Shuru, and the other, whose appearance was described by Liao Shuru, was definitely not Gao Jiyi.

The last time Xitang saw her was in the hospital. During that time, she was hospitalized, and Zhongqiao stopped taking on any acting jobs. She went to the market every day to buy groceries and cook soup for her. At night, she would stay in the ward and chat with her. During that period, Xitang cried so much that her eyes were swollen and inflamed. Zhongqiao would use cotton swabs to apply anti-inflammatory medicine to her eyes, and while doing so, she would start cursing Zhao Pingjin until the nurse knocked on the door to stop her.

They were like real sisters.

One night, Zhongqiao said to her, “Gao Jiyi said he wants to take me to Europe.”

The next day, she came very early, bringing a large bowl of pork bone soup and a big bag of fruit. After seeing her, she suddenly disappeared from that day on.

Xitang had survived the most difficult period of recovery after the surgery and was able to walk around. Ni Kailun hired a caregiver for her.

Later, Xitang heard that Gao Jiyi was going through a divorce. Zhongqiao, whether out of infatuation or something else, followed him. After she went abroad, their contact became less frequent. Zhongqiao called her a few times, and her voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement. She said that Gao Jiyi had divorced and promised to be with her.

In the end, she could only become a lonely ghost, jumping from the rooftop of a suburban villa in the dead of night.

She gasped for breath, and the cold water on her face couldn’t stop her from retching. A nurse pushed open the door, “Are you alright?”

Xitang shook her head and washed her face before going out.

Zhao Pingjin looked at her and returned to the ward without saying anything. He even washed the dishes on the table himself.

She was very good at taking care of people now, even more attentive than before. Zhao Pingjin’s immunity was low, and his wound healed very slowly. At night, the pain in his chest often woke him up. He tossed and turned, and every time he woke up, Xitang was by his side, giving him warm water and talking to him, trying her best to make him feel better.

Zhao Pingjin looked at her standing by his bed, “I know you don’t like Lao Gao. I won’t let you see him anymore.”

Xitang checked the dosage of the medicine while flipping through the medical instructions, replying indifferently, “No.”

At that moment, Zhao Pingjin, for some reason, said, “It’s not entirely his fault about Zhongqiao.”

Xitang suddenly stood up and gently placed the medicine bottle on the cabinet.

Zhao Pingjin was now very familiar with her expression. He could see that there was almost no change in her expression, but the light in her eyes was slightly trembling. But he knew she was about to leave, “Huang Xitang—”

She had already walked outside and picked up her bag from the sofa, ready to leave.

Zhao Pingjin propped himself up on the bed, “Hey!”

Unfortunately, there was no one else in the corridor, and Huang Xitang went straight out.

Zhao Pingjin felt a sudden panic. Without thinking, he pulled out his IV drip and got out of bed, only to feel dizzy. He steadied himself against the cabinet, gritted his teeth, and chased after her.

He caught her in the corridor.

Xitang stopped and didn’t dare to move. She just endured and said, “Let go.”

Zhao Pingjin felt the pain in his chest wound, but he still said, “Who gave you permission to leave?”

Xitang looked at his pale face. He was holding her, but Xitang felt his weight pressing down on her arm.

“Hey, why did the patient get up?” A voice came from the corridor. It was the doctor who was on duty. Shen Min was behind him.

After the doctor left, the ward was quiet again.

“What did Lao Gao say to her?” Zhao Pingjin lay on the bed, his face pale and his body weak from the painkillers.

Shen Min said in a low voice, “I couldn’t hear clearly.”

“Then what?”

“She went to the bathroom, and I asked a nurse to check on her. She was vomiting.”

Zhao Pingjin pressed his brow helplessly and his vision blurred. He vaguely saw a small figure on the sofa, lying quietly.

Xitang was lying on the sofa, writing a menu. Shen Min had sent someone to buy the groceries. In the past few days, Zhao Pingjin had been in a car accident, and Shen Min had handled everything. He didn’t want his family to know, so he chose a private hospital. His parents were on an inspection trip in Jiangxi, and his grandparents were resting in their villa in the suburbs of Beijing. He didn’t want to cause any trouble, so he planned to deal with it himself.

Around eleven o’clock, Shen Min came in with Li Ming, followed by two men in suits carrying briefcases. One of them was Gong Qi, whom Xitang had met before.

Li Ming was the same as always, carefree and smiling. As soon as he saw her, he opened his arms, “Tangtang?”

Xitang was marinating fish and waved her hand, indicating that her hands were dirty. “Mr. Li,” she said politely.

Li Ming put on a serious face. “We haven’t seen each other in so long, why are you so formal? Call me Mingming Ge (big brother).”

Xitang’s expression remained indifferent, and she insisted, “Mr. Li.”

The atmosphere was a bit awkward with the subordinates watching.

Zhao Pingjin broke the ice, shouting from the bedroom, “Stop wasting time and come help.”

A table had been temporarily moved into the room, and four computers were spread out. Even from the bed, Zhao Pingjin could have a two-hour meeting.

At two o’clock, Dr. Zhou came. Zhao Pingjin had just finished working and looked tired. He closed his eyes and rested on the bed.

Dr. Zhou flipped through the medical records, “I heard you almost had to be rushed to the emergency room this morning?”

Zhao Pingjin replied lazily with his eyes closed, “It wasn’t that serious.”

Dr. Zhou put away the medical records, “If your health deteriorates further, I won’t be able to cover for you anymore, Zhao. You’re the only one in the Zhao family. Everyone knows how precious you are. You should transfer to the Army General Hospital.”

Several men were chatting and eating lunch in the living room. Xitang brought a bowl of bone broth for Zhao Pingjin. He took a few sips but had no appetite. He said, “Go eat with them.”

Xitang went out and sat next to Shen Min, as if nothing had changed. In the past, they often worked late at the company, and Xitang, as a young girl, would follow Zhao Pingjin and cook instant noodles for them to eat as a late-night snack.

Zhao Pingjin heard Zhou Ziyu say, “Xitang, why don’t you use chopsticks to eat fish?”

Huang Xitang replied casually, “Oh, it’s okay. I prefer spoons.”

She had trained her left hand very well and could do many things proficiently, but it wasn’t natural. Sometimes, she would subconsciously use her right hand first, like when picking up a cup of water, and then realize it.

That night, Zhao Pingjin woke up. He had fallen asleep in the late afternoon and woke up around ten at night. Xitang said, “Do you want some pear water?”

Zhao Pingjin shook his head and then said, “Since you’re here, let Shen Min arrange a check-up for you.”

Xitang was stunned for a moment before understanding what he meant. “No need.”

Zhao Pingjin frowned, “Don’t be stubborn.”

Xitang said, “Kailun has found a very good doctor, and I’ve already been diagnosed.”

Zhao Pingjin said disdainfully, “What does Ni Kailun’s doctor know? Get a more thorough examination. Do you want to spend the rest of your life eating with a spoon? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Xitang suddenly smiled, a calm and somewhat frightening smile, “Do you think I can spend the rest of my life with you?”

Early in the morning, Zhao Pingjin felt like having congee, so he got up early. His driver hadn’t arrived yet, so Xitang went out to buy it for him.

He specifically ordered abalone congee from Bofufang, “Take a taxi. It’s easy to get a taxi at the hospital entrance. Buy it and have the driver wait for you.”

Xitang rolled her eyes at him, “You’re so demanding. I’ll just buy it from the hospital cafeteria. Eat it or not.”

She was gone for a short while, and the door to the ward was pushed open. The nurse usually knocked before entering. Did Huang Xitang really go to the cafeteria for him?

Zhao Pingjin was looking at an important document on his computer and didn’t look up. He said, “So fast?”

“Zhou’er,” a stern and elderly voice called out.

Zhao Pingjin immediately looked up. An elderly man in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, with snow-white hair, a cane, and a straight back, stood at the door with piercing eyes.

“Grandpa, why are you here?”

An elderly woman in a silk gown had already rushed to his side, “This child, you’re sick and you’re still working. Why didn’t you tell us?”

Zhao Pingjin closed his computer, “Grandma, are you in Beijing?”

His parents stood at the door, glaring at him.

The nanny and driver were guarding the living room, and there were also several doctors and nurses in white coats. The spacious ward was suddenly filled with people.

His grandmother stroked his face lovingly, “How could I not be in Beijing? Such a big thing happened to you, and you didn’t tell your family. Your mother is really something...”

Zhou Shi, his mother, was a domineering woman who had been spoiled since childhood. She dared to say to her mother, “Mom, you know that my son is grown up and doesn’t listen to us anymore.”

The old lady turned around and said sternly, “As a mother, you don’t know anything about your son’s illness. What right do I have to criticize you?”

Zhou Shi didn’t dare to retort.

Zhao Shouzhang, his grandfather, had a commanding presence. His voice was loud and不容抗拒的命令, “Your discipline is becoming more and more lax. You can even have a car accident. From now on, you must have a driver and are strictly forbidden from driving yourself.”

Zhao Pingjin couldn’t say anything.

His grandfather turned to the side, and a doctor came in, “This is Professor Lei. He’s here to look at your X-rays.”

His father followed the medical team to look at the results, “How bad is the injury? How long have you been treated?”

His grandmother took a towel and wiped his hands, touching his face with concern, “Look at you, you’ve lost weight.”

After a while, the nanny came in and said, “Zhou’er, have you had breakfast? What would you like for lunch? I’ll send it over from home.”

He looked out the door again, but there was no one there.

Huang Xitang didn’t come back.

Around eleven o’clock, Shen Min came in and quietly took away the black backpack she had brought. He leaned into his ear and said in a low voice, “Your flight is at twelve noon.”

He nodded calmly, his heart sinking.