YJDNY - 24

Zhou Xingyan turned around, his eyes lowered, but he didn’t move.

Xiang Ge still held onto the cuff of his sleeve, tightening her grip slightly. Her thumb pressed inward, gripping the fabric tightly.

Five seconds passed.

Xiang Ge let go and lightly licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, smiling carelessly as she raised her head, “Fine, if you don’t want to hug me, then forget it. Senior really is heartless.”

Zhou Xingyan said nothing, his expression unreadable as he looked at her.

The woman was still wearing the same clothes she had on earlier, without changing. Her hair was a bit messy, her complexion poor, and the fine strands of hair at her temples were slightly dampened by cold sweat.

Her eyelashes trembled, her dark eyes unfocused and distant.

Something was off.

This gaze—Zhou Xingyan was familiar with it.

Many years ago, on a night, the young girl had crouched under a streetlamp with this exact look in her eyes as she stared at him.

Xiang Ge’s fingers felt stiff. She raised her hand slightly, tilted her head, and looked down, her gaze falling on the bag in his hand as she asked lightly, “What did you buy?”

Zhou Xingyan still didn’t answer.

Xiang Ge pouted, raising her head, about to say something.

Before she could open her mouth, her arm was suddenly pulled.

With one hand holding the bag, Zhou Xingyan used his free hand to pull her arm toward him, taking a step forward and pulling her entire body into his embrace.

His scent overwhelmed her senses—unfamiliar yet familiar.

Xiang Ge froze.

Zhou Xingyan naturally raised his hand, placing his large palm on the back of her soft head, gently applying pressure to press her small head into the crook of his neck.

A faint vibration traveled up from his chest, sliding past his Adam’s apple, “Is one hug enough?”

No.

How could it be?

If it was him, no amount would ever feel like enough.

Xiang Ge raised her hand to grip the edge of his coat, burying her head in the crook of his neck. Her nose wrinkled slightly, her voice muffled, “Hold me for a little longer.”

Zhou Xingyan tightened his arms around her, his voice softening slightly above her head. Close enough to feel his breath, his tone calm and amused, “Are you flirting with your attending physician?”

Xiang Ge nuzzled her head against his neck, “I thought you left.”

He paused, his hand resting on the back of her head, gently stroking it twice in a comforting manner, “I didn’t leave.”

He spoke softly.

“I’m back.”

Zhou Xingyan had bought a whole bunch of things.

Xiang Ge had thrown on a thick bathrobe and was forced to change into pajama pants to cover her bare long legs before she lazily leaned on the kitchen counter, watching Zhou Xingyan take items out of the bags one by one.

Traditional brown sugar, ginger, and a variety of ingredients like carrots and spinach.

He took them out like a magician performing tricks. Xiang Ge rested her head on her hand, looking listless, “I already have brown sugar and ginger at home.”

Zhou Xingyan rummaged through the bag and pulled out a large pack of heat pads, tearing one open and handing it to her, “I bought these along the way.”

Xiang Ge took it, tore it open, and made a motion as if she was about to lift her shirt.

Zhou Xingyan hissed.

She pursed her lips, looking up at him with a deeply meaningful smile.

He narrowed his eyes warningly, “Go inside and stick it on.”

Xiang Ge’s arm went limp, and she collapsed directly onto the counter, her voice sounding weak, “Xingyan, can you help me inside?”

What did it mean to give someone an inch and they take a mile?

Zhou Xingyan chuckled coldly, “You want me to help you stick it on?”

Xiang Ge straightened up, blinking her eyes and staring intently at him, “Can you?”

Zhou Xingyan didn’t respond. He simply lowered his head, took out another heat pad, tore it open, and slapped it onto her forehead with a “smack.”

As the heat pad started to warm up, Xiang Ge let out a small “Ah” and quickly tried to peel it off while it wasn’t too hot. Though he hadn’t pressed hard when applying it, it stuck firmly, causing her to wince in pain as she tugged at her forehead.

She pouted, rubbing her slightly red forehead, and looked up with a hint of dissatisfaction, “Is this how doctors treat their patients now?”

Zhou Xingyan curved his lips slightly, not responding, and took out the ginger, washing it and placing it on the cutting board to slice.

His knife skills were surprisingly adept.

Xiang Ge remembered that in high school, the boy couldn’t even cut cucumbers or potatoes evenly—they came out all crooked and uneven.

He had always been a slow and deliberate person, never in a rush. When slicing potatoes into thin strips, he’d cut them one by one. The young girl, like a hungry little chick, circled around the house, peeking into the kitchen every so often, “Isn’t it ready yet?”

The boy held a slice of potato in his hand, his expression serious, seeming to think for half a second before each cut, “It’ll be ready soon.”

“…”

Did this look like it was almost ready?

Thinking about it, she suddenly burst out laughing.

Zhou Xingyan glanced up at her.

Xiang Ge held a heat pad against her abdomen with one hand, her head tilted and half-leaning, “Dr. Zhou, have you ever considered switching careers to become a chef?”

“Can slicing two pieces of ginger make you switch careers?” His hands continued to move. After slicing the ginger, he placed it in the pot and added two bowls of cold water.

Xiang Ge frowned, “Hey, put less ginger in.”

Zhou Xingyan ignored her and turned on the stove.

Xiang Ge didn’t have the energy to insist. She slumped back down, watching him cut a piece of brown sugar and add it to the pot to boil together.

He had taken off his coat, revealing his shirt underneath. The sleeves were rolled up one by one, exposing the subtle lines of muscle on his forearms.

His head was lowered, and under the bright white light of the kitchen, the skin exposed on his neck appeared excessively pale.

She propped her head up, watching him. The heat source on her lower abdomen continuously warmed her, significantly reducing the pain. She felt cozy and warm all over, and a bit of drowsiness crept in.

Xiang Ge curled her toes and quietly yawned.

As if he had eyes on the back of his head, Zhou Xingyan suddenly spoke, “If you’re sleepy, go lie down.”

“No.” Xiang Ge lazily replied, “Haven’t you heard the saying that men in the kitchen are the most attractive? I definitely can’t miss this.”

Zhou Xingyan turned off the heat, grabbed a cup from the side, filled it, and turned to place it in front of Xiang Ge, “Drink it and then go to sleep.”

Xiang Ge touched the cup with her fingertips and quickly withdrew her hand, “It’s hot.”

Zhou Xingyan remained unmoved, “Even if it’s hot, you still have to drink it.”

Xiang Ge spoke earnestly, “Dr. Zhou, don’t you know that consuming things that are too hot can harm the esophagus and stomach?”

Zhou Xingyan nodded.

Now she was lecturing him with a full set of reasoning.

He compromised, “Alright, then wait a bit before drinking.”

“Then take the ginger slices out,” Xiang Ge observed the ginger slices in the glass cup, “If they keep soaking, they’ll get spicier.”

This time, Zhou Xingyan didn’t speak for a while. He rested his hand on the edge of the counter, leaning his body slightly.

Xiang Ge lifted her eyelashes, looking up at him through the top of the glass cup. Her complexion looked much better than before, her eyes sparkling like those of a small animal, “Okay?”

What could he say but agree?

Zhou Xingyan resignedly straightened up, turned back to grab a long-handled ladle, walked over, and scooped out the ginger slices from the cup, tossing them into the nearby trash bin.

By this time, Xiang Ge’s stomach felt much more comfortable. Although it still hurt, the pain was now within tolerable limits, making her incredibly reluctant to drink this brown sugar water, which was much stronger in ginger flavor than what Xia Wei had made for her.

She really didn’t want to drink it.

But she had no other excuses.

She waited a bit longer before slowly picking up the cup, cradling it in her hands to warm it for a moment. Then she gulped it down like swallowing medicine.

After finishing, she grimaced and put the cup down.

Zhou Xingyan couldn’t help but laugh.

Xiang Ge stuck out her tongue, feeling the spiciness, and glared at him.

Zhou Xingyan smiled, “Didn’t you say you were sleepy? Go rest for a bit.”

Xiang Ge grumbled, “Spicy awake, not sleepy anymore.”

“Then go lie down.”

Xiang Ge didn’t move.

After a while, she suddenly asked, “If I sleep, will you leave?”

Zhou Xingyan’s expression shifted slightly, pausing for a moment.

The kitchen lights were glaringly bright. Her hair was a bit messy, looking soft and limp, with one side tucked behind her ear, revealing her round, white earlobe and plump ear.

Her lips still had traces of brown sugar water, full and glistening.

Her small, red tongue flicked out, circling once and licking it off.

Sometimes Zhou Xingyan felt that this woman was really too much.

Yet, he just couldn’t help himself.

Zhou Xingyan sighed, “Go to sleep, I won’t leave.”

Xiang Ge tilted her head up, looking at him from below, blinking, “But you have work tomorrow.”

He had worked a full day today and must already be very tired, yet she had kept him here until so late.

Thinking about this, Xiang Ge pursed her lips again, “Go home.”

Zhou Xingyan said, “Tomorrow is my day off.” He paused for a moment and asked her, “Are your feet cold?”

Xiang Ge’s ears suspiciously, inexplicably reddened. The tips of her feet in the wool slippers retreated slightly.

She slowly slid off the chair, mumbling softly, “You go ahead, I’m going to sleep.”

Zhou Xingyan straightened his body, leaning against the tile next to the counter, watching her.

Xiang Ge took a couple of steps toward the bedroom, then turned her head and suddenly blurted out, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Zhou Xingyan raised an eyebrow.

Xiang Ge thought of Song Zhi’s image, covered head to toe in signs of extreme wealth, and added, “Nor do I have any sugar daddy or anything.”

“…”

Zhou Xingyan laughed, rubbing his temple.

Xiang Ge was confused.

Zhou Xingyan chuckled softly, raising his head and licking his lips, “Alright, I understand. Go ahead.”

The brown sugar ginger water worked well. Not long after Xiang Ge crawled into bed, she began to sweat.

With the heat pad on her lower abdomen, her entire body felt warm and cozy. Sleepiness crept in, but she couldn’t quite fall asleep.

Her door was slightly ajar, and Zhou Xingyan hadn’t left. Light filtered in through the one-third open door crack, accompanied by faint sounds that unsettled her mind, making her want to go out and see what he was doing.

After some thought, Xiang Ge grabbed her phone from the bedside table and called him.

After a few rings, Zhou Xingyan picked up.

Xiang Ge, curled up in her blanket, instinctively lowered her voice a bit, “What are you doing?”

Zhou Xingyan didn’t speak.

After about ten seconds, her room door was pushed open.

Zhou Xingyan stood there, holding his phone, leaning against the doorframe. His voice traveled to her through both the phone and the air, “So you’re not sleeping, huh?”