YJDNY - 23

When Zhou Xingyan drove his car to the building where Xiang Ge lived, her complexion seemed even paler than before.

In their interactions, it was usually Xiang Ge who initiated the conversation. Her sudden silence made him feel a bit uneasy.

After the car came to a stop, Xiang Ge weakly raised her eyelids and looked out of the window.

Zhou Xingyan glanced at her, paused for a moment, and then said, “Stop drinking that medicine for a few days.”

Xiang Ge lifted her eyes slightly, thinking to herself that she hadn’t been drinking it anyway.

She considered that he probably already knew that, so she didn’t say anything and just nodded obediently.

“Is there any brown sugar at home?”

She nodded again.

“Make some ginger water.”

Nod, nod, nod.

Zhou Xingyan fell silent and stared at her.

Too obedient.

Too compliant.

He didn’t believe her one bit.

Xiang Ge doesn’t eat ginger. During the days she stayed at his place, they once had a small argument over a cup of ginger tea.

The mature young man, Zhou Xingyan, insisted on trying to convince Xiang Ge to consume ginger, talking endlessly about its benefits like a nagging housewife. His smooth, calm voice made Xiang Ge’s eyebrows twitch with annoyance.

The unruly girl sat slouched on the sofa, hugging a cushion in her arms and resting her head on it. After listening to him finish, she nodded thoughtfully, then arrogantly tilted her eye, replying slowly and deliberately, “I won’t.”

At that moment, Zhou Xingyan wanted to grab her by the collar and throw her out.

In the end, both compromised—Zhou Xingyan proposed that Xiang Ge try a sip first. If she found it too unpleasant, they wouldn’t bring it up again.

The little girl reluctantly picked up the teacup, extending her tongue hesitantly, cautiously taking a small lick. Instantly, the spiciness distorted her features, and she quickly shoved the cup back into Zhou Xingyan’s hands.

With an incredulous look, she stared at him, wondering why a blossoming youth would drink such a thing.

Zhou Xingyan doubted that after eight years, she would willingly drink it now.

Actually, Xiang Ge would drink it.

Because during these days every month, she suffered terribly from pain. Under the torment, her stubborn soul eventually surrendered. However, this was only because Xia Wei had cooked the brown sugar ginger water very sweetly, with very little ginger.

If Xia Wei hadn’t forced her to drink it, she definitely wouldn’t have prepared it herself.

Zhou Xingyan watched as the woman’s pale face turned around, gave him a nod, opened the door, and got out of the car.

He recalled the last time he visited her home, seeing that pitiful medicine box filled with half a box of painkillers.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, the man had already unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the driver’s side door, locked the car, and walked forward a couple of steps.

Xiang Ge was slightly startled, raising her head.

Night had fallen, and the streetlights in the neighborhood were lit, casting a dim yellow glow. The man pressed his lips together and calmly looked at her: “Let’s go.”

Xiang Ge hadn’t reacted yet.

Zhou Xingyan shook his head, “Open the door.”

She responded with an “Oh,” lifted her hand, and entered the door lock code.

Zhou Xingyan glanced, pulled open the door, stepped aside, waited for her to enter, and followed her in.

Once inside the elevator, Xiang Ge realized what was happening.

This was his second visit to her home.

From her perspective, the memory of the first visit was almost hazy.

She licked the corner of her lips, leaned against the inner corner of the elevator, and supported herself with one hand on the metal handrail. “Senior Zhou, it’s not appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in a room together.”

Zhou Xingyan looked at her.

Xiang Ge softly smiled, “Or maybe Senior can give me a title? Otherwise, I can’t let you in.”

Zhou Xingyan chuckled, going along with it, “Alright, then I’ll leave.”

Just as the elevator reached her floor, Xiang Ge stepped out, but Zhou Xingyan didn’t move.

Standing at the elevator entrance, she turned around and saw the elevator doors slowly closing.

The man stood inside with a bland expression, pressing the close button with his eyes lowered.

Xiang Ge stood rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded.

He really left.

She originally thought there would be some progress tonight.

For several seconds, she stood there in disbelief and frustration, sighed, and slowly turned to go home.

As soon as Xiang Ge entered, she collapsed lifelessly onto the bed and randomly grabbed the tablet from the bedside to check her emails.

Today, she had managed to find some time to visit Zhou Xingyan, hoping to catch a glimpse of the handsome and serious man at work. However, the consultation room door kept opening and closing, barely giving her a glimpse of his white coat. Then, dinner brought up another issue—it wasn’t exactly a beautiful day.

She curled up at the foot of the bed, wanting to get up to take a painkiller and pour herself some hot water but couldn’t muster the energy. Just as she was agonizing over it, Song Zhi called.

Xiang Ge rested her head on the edge of the bed, her hair messily scattered down, and answered lazily with a “Hello.”

On the other end, Song Zhi’s pen clicked against the desk, leisurely saying, “You’re something else.”

“President Song, is there anything?” Xiang Ge asked listlessly.

“How did you manage to secure Bai Yuandao? The lead actress? Didn’t you audition for the supporting role?”

Xiang Ge was taken aback, “What?”

“The lead role in ‘Cocoon.’ Yesterday, Bai Yuandao contacted your agent, wanting you to take on the lead role in ‘Cocoon.’”

So the agent you assigned me is just for show? Why do you always tell me everything?

Xiang Ge gave a flat “Ah,” her voice monotone, “Boss, did you pull strings for me?”

An unknown model with fewer named shows under her belt than fingers on one hand, yet within a year, she landed a magazine cover for SINGO, an endorsement for Z’s fall-winter collection, and the lead role in a major film.

This was beyond sheer luck.

It was news that should make anyone jump for joy.

Song Zhi was even prepared to hear Xiang Ge’s excitement, though the possibility was slim.

However, after a while, her unusually calm and somewhat blank voice finally came through, “President Song, I don’t want to take this role.”

Song Zhi didn’t react, thinking he had misheard, “What?”

“I don’t want to act in this.” Xiang Ge repeated calmly.

Song Zhi was dumbfounded for a long time, blurting out, “Are you still asleep?”

Xiang Ge remained silent.

“Do you know what you’re saying?”

Xiang Ge still said nothing.

“Are you serious?” His voice started to break.

Xiang Ge closed her eyes briefly, her voice a bit hoarse, “I don’t know.”

Only the bedside lamp was on in the bedroom, the light dim. The script lay on her bedside table, flipped to a certain page and held down by an alarm clock.

The dense black text made her eyes sore, and something inside her mind seemed restless, wriggling to break free.

‘Cocoon’ was a movie about domestic violence.

The protagonist, Shen Jing, came from a wealthy family and lost her mother at a young age. Her father appeared to be an elegant high school teacher but had violent tendencies.

The girl had sought help from neighbors, hospital nurses, and even called the police, to no avail.

The police generally treated such matters lightly—family disputes, parents educating their children. At most, they got angry and used excessive means, issuing a warning and considering it resolved.

Moreover, the father was a highly educated teacher with a good reputation.

Xiang Ge found some things quite miraculous.

The more you wanted to avoid them, the more they pursued you, like soft quicksand, starting from the soles of your feet, climbing up to your calves, knees, waist, abdomen, neck, until it completely submerged your head.

Xiang Ge lowered her eyes and spoke slowly, “President Song, let me think about it some more.”

“What else is there to consider?” Song Zhi continued, “Xiang Ge, are you—”

Xiang Ge hung up.

Spring had begun to warm up, but Xiang Ge inexplicably felt the room was cold. A sharp pain weighed down her lower abdomen. She sat up, lowering her lashes, and reached for the script on the bedside table.

Just as she grasped it, the doorbell rang.

Xiang Ge jolted, instinctively shrinking her shoulders.

The doorbell rang twice and then fell silent.

Xiang Ge remained sitting on the bed, unmoving.

A minute later, her phone rang again.

Xiang Ge answered.

Zhou Xingyan called her name, “Xiang Ge.”

“Open the door.”

Xiang Ge blinked slowly, crawled off the bed, barefoot, and went to the door to let him in.

The man was still wearing the same clothes, carrying a hint of nighttime chill. In his hands were two bags—one full of the feminine products he had previously bought for her, which he now handed to her.

Xiang Ge took it and stepped back.

Zhou Xingyan didn’t speak, his eyes lowering to her bare feet on the cold floor. He frowned slightly, holding a bag full of something with one hand, and skillfully pulling out a pair of wool slippers from her shoe cabinet with the other, tossing them by her feet, “Put them on.”

Xiang Ge didn’t move, still staring at him, her eyes unblinking.

“Wear them,” he repeated.

Xiang Ge finally bent down, slowly slipping her feet into the slippers, putting one on, then looked up, “Why are you back?”

Zhou Xingyan changed into a pair of shoes and entered the house, answering evasively, “I’m a doctor.”

Xiang Ge raised her head, her gaze vacant, “Huh?”

“I can’t abandon my patients.”

Xiang Ge stared at him blankly.

The man’s expression was indifferent, his brows slightly furrowed, appearing even a bit fierce.

His voice was cool, his eyes lowered, looking at her one foot still on the floor, reminding her, “Shoe.”

Xiang Ge put on the other slipper.

The floor was icy cold, but she hadn’t felt it earlier. Now, stepping into the soft, warm wool slippers, warmth traveled up her nerves and blood vessels from the soles of her feet.

Along with it, her emotions calmed down.

Xiang Ge remembered the supporting role she initially planned to audition for in the script.

They were like people standing at opposite extremes. She possessed all the warmth that Shen Jing lacked and had always yearned for.

She was her first savior.

That soft, warm light that saved her.

Zhou Xingyan watched her finish putting on her shoes, then carried the bag into the kitchen. Taking two steps, he was stopped by someone.

Behind him, Xiang Ge lowered her head, not looking at him. Her arm slightly raised, her fingers gripping the cuff of his sleeve, tugging at it.

Her grip was tight, her knuckles slightly whitening, her voice nearly a whisper, “Xingyan.”

Zhou Xingyan paused.

Xiang Ge lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting dense shadows over her eyelids, “Can you hold me for a moment, please?”