DXXZL - 58

The entrance to Xingyuan Villa was strictly controlled. After Lao Liu informed the security guard, Jiang Tu’s car drove directly into the Zhu family’s courtyard. He stepped out of the car and greeted Lao Liu, who was standing at the door: “Uncle Liu.”

More than half an hour earlier, Xiao Kui had rushed downstairs to say that someone was coming to visit the sick. Lao Liu had assumed it was Li Xixi.

Lao Liu wasn’t sure whether Jiang Tu and Zhu Xingyao were officially dating, so his expression was a bit complicated. “Come in. Mr. Zhu and Mrs. Ding aren’t home.”

Jiang Tu paused for a moment, said nothing more, and followed him inside.

Xiao Kui ran to the door, her round face peeking out from behind it. She smiled awkwardly: “Mr. Jiang, you’re here.” Xiao Kui thought the “on-demand assistant” function was exclusive to Zhu Xingyao. Accidentally triggering it made her feel like she had intruded on the aloof Jiang Tu.

But Jiang Tu didn’t blame her; instead, he thanked her.

It was Jiang Tu’s first time visiting Zhu Xingyao’s house. He changed into slippers at the door and went upstairs with Xiao Kui. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and Xiao Kui whispered, “Stars is still sleeping. Be careful—she might have another fever tonight.”

“I’ll go check on her,” Jiang Tu said, looking down at Xiao Kui. “You go rest for a bit.”

Xiao Kui hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”

Jiang Tu pushed the door open gently. He had seen Zhu Xingyao’s room many times through video calls, so he felt strangely familiar with it. His gaze fell on the pink princess bed. Walking over, he noticed the long, white fur carpet beside the bed. He took off his shoes before approaching her.

Zhu Xingyao wasn’t resting peacefully. Her eyes were tightly shut, a cooling patch on her forehead, and her complexion looked pale. Jiang Tu stood by the bed, gazing down at her. He leaned over to tuck the blanket around her more securely, then sat down on the carpet.

Jiang Tu couldn’t help but feel that Zhu Xingyao’s sudden illness was somehow his fault.

He lowered his head guiltily and sighed softly.

In the living room, Xiao Kui and Lao Liu were watching TV. Lao Liu glanced upstairs with concern, then asked, “Is Miss Zhu dating Jiang Tu now?”

“Ah?” Xiao Kui hesitated before answering, “I’m not sure if they’re officially together yet, but Stars treats Mr. Jiang differently. When she was in Las Vegas, she video-called him almost every night. Even during band practice, she livestreamed for him. And when we returned, it was Mr. Jiang who picked us up. No other man has ever been like that before, so I think they must be dating.”

Xiao Kui recalled the online posts about Zhu Xingyao’s high school romance and the forum discussions. Perhaps their current conflict stemmed from those revelations?

Lao Liu didn’t use the internet much and wasn’t aware of what was being said online. He muttered quietly, “So they really got back together.”

Before ten o’clock, Lao Liu grew too tired and decided to go to bed. He told Xiao Kui, “Call me if anything happens.”

At eleven, Zhu Xingyao turned over restlessly in her sleep, reaching out to grab the cooling patch off her forehead. It had lost its effectiveness. Jiang Tu threw it away, then went downstairs to fetch a glass of water.

Xiao Kui was dozing off on the sofa and didn’t even notice Jiang Tu coming downstairs.

Jiang Tu approached her. Xiao Kui woke with a start and looked up at him. “Ah?”

“You go rest. I’ll take care of her,” Jiang Tu said.

Back in the room, Jiang Tu carefully lifted Zhu Xingyao and propped her up against his arm to give her some water. He had little experience caring for others. Both he and his brother, Jiang Lu, had always been healthy, rarely falling ill. Even when Shu Xian was sick, she didn’t need much assistance. He cautiously helped her drink the water, worried that she might suddenly wake up and get angry at seeing him.

After gently laying her back down, Jiang Tu sat beside her, leaning against the headboard. He held her hand, which rested outside the blanket.

Her hand was bruised from the IV needle.

Jiang Tu gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingers, lightly intertwining his pinky with hers, and closed his eyes.

After a while, Zhu Xingyao’s delicate fingers twitched. Jiang Tu opened his eyes immediately and looked down at her.

A moment later, Zhu Xingyao shifted her head slightly. In her drowsy state, she felt someone holding her hand, reminiscent of the hospital days years ago. Her slender fingers instinctively curled around his, moving faintly.

Jiang Tu straightened up, his fingers subtly responding.

Zhu Xingyao thought she was dreaming—dreaming of the hospital ward where an eighteen-year-old boy had held her hand, cupped her face, and placed an uncontrollable kiss on her lips. She waited for a long time but didn’t feel the warmth of his touch.

She abruptly opened her eyes and saw Jiang Tu looking down at her.

It was the twenty-eight-year-old Jiang Tu.

For a moment, Zhu Xingyao thought she was still dreaming. She looked around blankly. This was indeed her room—but why was Jiang Tu here?

She turned back to meet his deep, dark eyes.

Jiang Tu swallowed audibly—it was clear in the quiet room. He asked softly, “Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Or are you hungry?” Xiao Kui had mentioned she hadn’t eaten much.

Zhu Xingyao’s head felt heavy as she stared at Jiang Tu uncertainly. “Jiang Tu?”

Jiang Tu nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”

Her voice was weak. “Why are you here?”

Jiang Tu replied, “Xiao Kui told me.”

Zhu Xingyao fell silent for a moment, then struggled to sit up. Jiang Tu supported her back and placed a pillow behind her so she could lean against it. Turning to look at him, she was full of questions. “But how did Xiao Kui tell you? She doesn’t have your contact information.”

“She accidentally activated Xiao Jiang’s ‘on-demand assistant’ feature, and I came over,” Jiang Tu explained. He stood up and looked down at her. “Do you want something to eat?”

Zhu Xingyao shook her head silently, pulling back the blanket to get up. “I need to use the restroom.”

Jiang Tu placed her slippers by the bed. Zhu Xingyao looked at the man bending down, her lips pressed tightly together. As she slipped her feet into the slippers and tried to stand, her strength gave out. Jiang Tu quickly caught her and asked softly, “Stars?”

Zhu Xingyao had been running a recurring fever these past two days and hadn’t eaten much, leaving her completely drained.

Leaning against Jiang Tu’s warm, broad chest, she took a deep breath and murmured, “I feel a bit weak.”

Jiang Tu paused for a moment, then suddenly lifted her entirely into his arms. Zhu Xingyao, feeling dizzy, turned her head to look at him. Jiang Tu kept his eyes lowered as he said softly, “I’ll carry you there.” He walked toward the bathroom, and Zhu Xingyao realized how effortlessly he carried her, recalling how strong he had always been—even able to lift her over walls back in high school.

Jiang Tu set Zhu Xingyao down on the toilet seat. Worried she might pass out, he leaned down to look at her. “I’ll wait outside.”

Zhu Xingyao stopped him and whispered, “I’d like to eat something afterward.”

Jiang Tu exhaled in relief. “What would you like to eat?”

Zhu Xingyao wasn’t sure what they had at home, so she simply said, “Anything is fine.”

At twelve-thirty in the morning, Jiang Tu entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

The fridge was well-stocked with vegetables, meat, eggs—everything they needed.

Zhu Xingyao took a shower and changed into clean clothes before going downstairs. Jiang Tu was in the kitchen cooking porridge. Steam rose from the pot as he added minced meat and stirred with chopsticks.

The aroma wafted through the air, making Zhu Xingyao genuinely hungry. She walked up behind him.

Jiang Tu turned to look at her. “It’ll be ready soon.”

Zhu Xingyao said, “It smells so good. I didn’t expect you to know how to cook porridge.”

“It’s simple,” Jiang Tu replied. After a pause, he added, “I often cooked for myself abroad. I can make other dishes too—I’ll cook them for you next time.”

Zhu Xingyao glanced up at him, then turned to take two bowls from the sterilizer.

They sat across from each other at the dining table, eating. In fact, Jiang Tu hadn’t even had dinner before rushing over. Zhu Xingyao finished her bowl of porridge, set it down, and checked the time—it was already past one in the morning.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “You should go home now. I’m feeling better.”

Jiang Tu stood up and retrieved a thermometer, placing it in her ear.

Beep—

Zhu Xingyao suddenly felt an unbearable itch in her ear. Her face flushed slightly as Jiang Tu glanced at the reading and murmured, “37.8°C—you’re still running a fever.”

Jiang Tu didn’t leave.

Zhu Xingyao lay back in bed, a fresh cooling patch on her forehead. She turned her head to look at the man sitting on the carpet and protested softly, “If you keep staring at me like this, I won’t be able to sleep. You should go rest too.”

“I’ll step out for a bit,” Jiang Tu said, standing up.

Zhu Xingyao quickly interjected, “You have work tomorrow. You should go home.”

Jiang Tu looked down at her. “I’ll just step out for a cigarette.”

Before she could respond, he had already turned and walked out.

Jiang Tu went to the balcony outside the living room, where many small potted plants and succulents were kept. He hadn’t rested well these past few days and was craving a cigarette. However, he resisted smoking and returned to the living room, leaning against the sofa to rest.

At three in the morning, he went back to check on Zhu Xingyao.

By five-thirty, Zhu Xingyao’s fever had spiked again. It took two hours of fussing before her temperature gradually subsided.

Jiang Tu dozed off beside her bed. At eight in the morning, he called in sick to work—his first-ever absence. Coming downstairs, Lao Liu saw him and widened his eyes in shock, stuttering, “Y-you’re still here?”

Jiang Tu felt uncomfortable under Lao Liu’s perpetually surprised or conflicted gaze. He nodded slightly. “I’ll leave after Stars wakes up.”

Lao Liu had traditional values and wanted to object, but he didn’t have the authority to do so—not when the young mistress hadn’t said anything. Xiao Kui overheard and entered from outside, smiling brightly at Lao Liu. “Uncle Liu, I’m going out to buy some things for Stars. Can you hand me the car keys?”

“I’ll drive you there.”

Lao Liu glanced at Jiang Tu and decided it was best not to dwell on the matter.

Zhu Xingyao continued to sleep. Her phone, set to silent mode, lay on the carpet. At ten o’clock, it rang once—it was Lin Jiayu calling.

Jiang Tu picked up her phone and hung up. Then he went to the balcony in her room and dialed Lin Jiayu using his own phone. “Why are you calling Zhu Xingyao? She has a fever and is still asleep.”

Lin Jiayu gasped, then exclaimed excitedly, “Are you two okay now?”

Jiang Tu paused for a moment. “No, she might still be mad.”

“Oh…” Lin Jiayu sounded disappointed. “Then where are you? Aren’t you working?”

Jiang Tu replied, “At her house.”

Lin Jiayu: “… “

Even after barging into her home, he hadn’t managed to reconcile with her? Lin Jiayu felt a mix of frustration and exasperation. People’s sympathies often leaned toward one side. While Li Xixi pitied Zhu Xingyao for being kept in the dark for so many years, Lin Jiayu also understood and empathized with her pain. But having grown up alongside Jiang Tu and witnessed his toughest days, her heart naturally leaned more toward him.

Besides, Lu Ji and Zhu Xingyao were no longer a possibility.

Privately, Lin Jiayu naturally hoped Zhu Xingyao would end up with Jiang Tu.

At ten-thirty, Zhu Xingyao’s phone rang again. The caller ID read: Dad.

Jiang Tu looked at the screen, hesitated, and decided not to wake Zhu Xingyao.

He took the phone out of the room, gently closing the door behind him, and answered the call in the hallway.

“Stars, Lao Liu said you’re sick,” Zhu Yunping’s voice was gentle. “Dad will be back tomorrow evening. If you’re feeling unwell, let us know right away. Don’t push yourself.”

Jiang Tu paused for a moment and spoke softly. “Uncle.”

There was silence on the other end.

“Not sure if you remember me—I’m Jiang Tu, the boy who used to sit next to Stars in school.” Jiang Tu felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn’t sought permission to come to their house, so he lowered his head and explained, “She’s already cooled down and is still sleeping. She should be fine. If her fever returns, I’ll take her to the hospital this afternoon.”