Chapter Thirty-six: The Hospital

After school, Yusheng went straight to the hospital.

"Hello, miss, may I ask..." Yusheng was just about to ask the receptionist when she saw her father's colleague—the one she had seen yesterday—entering through the front door.

She quietly followed him, all the way to the ward area.

When they reached a certain room, the man nodded at another man standing by the door, then went inside. The man at the door left as well, likely changing shifts.

Yusheng waited until that man was gone, then hurried to the ward's entrance. Sure enough, Gu Yan was inside.

Gu Yan was lying weakly on the hospital bed. Sensing the gaze from the glass at the door, he looked outside.

Yudong's colleague noticed Gu Yan's glance and cautiously approached the door.

"Who's there?"

Yusheng poked her head out from behind the door. "Uncle, it's me."

Wang Qiang glanced at her. "You're Captain Yu's daughter from yesterday, aren't you? What are you doing here?"

Yusheng clutched her backpack straps. "I came to see my classmate. That's him," she said, pointing inside at Gu Yan.

Wang Qiang looked troubled, about to say something, when Gu Yan's voice came from the room.

"Uncle, let her in. She's my classmate."

Since Gu Yan had said so, it would have been unreasonable for Wang Qiang to refuse.

"Alright, you can go in. But he's still very weak, so don't make too much noise."

Yusheng nodded obediently.

"Fine, I'll wait outside. You two go ahead and talk," Wang Qiang said with a cheerful laugh before leaving.

Gu Yan still looked pale, half-reclined in bed, but he managed a smile for her.

Seeing him like this, Yusheng felt a surge of tears and quickly lowered her head.

"I haven't told Lin Ning and the others about your illness yet, so it's just me today," she said.

Gu Yan nodded, smiling at her.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

He shook his head, still smiling.

"Why are you always smiling? Look at you," Yusheng muttered, picking up an apple to peel for him.

"I don't know. I just want to smile when I see you. I almost thought I'd never see you again." Gu Yan gazed at her quietly.

"You liar!" At his words, Yusheng could no longer hold back her tears; they splashed onto her hand before she could stop them.

Seeing her cry so suddenly, Gu Yan fumbled to wipe her tears away. "Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Don't cry, please."

Yusheng pushed his hand aside. "You told me you'd be fine."

"Aren't I fine? See, I'm right here, all good," Gu Yan said, trying to prove his point by picking up an apple. "Look, I can even split an apple with my bare hands!"

But as soon as he exerted force, he pulled at his bandaged wound. "Ow—"

Yusheng snatched the apple from his hand. "Enough, just sit quietly."

"Then don't be sad," Gu Yan said, blinking at her.

She nodded, handing him the apple she had peeled. "Here."

But Gu Yan didn't take it, looking at her pitifully. "My wrist is too weak. It hurts a lot. I think it might've split open again."

Did he want her to feed him? Realizing this, Yusheng blushed.

"Then... then I'll feed you," she said, lowering her head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Gu Yan nodded. "Ah—"

He ate the apple, his eyes full of laughter, watching the blushing Yusheng. For the first time, he truly felt that surviving such a disaster really did bring blessings.

Back in the factory, the person he’d worried about most was Yusheng—the girl he wanted to cherish with all his heart. If I were gone, would you still be happy? Would someone else treat you as well as I do? Would they take good care of you?

"Yusheng," Gu Yan suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Yusheng looked up at him, her eyes bright. A stray lock of hair fell across her forehead as she lifted her head.

Gu Yan gently tucked the strand behind her ear. "This is nice."

Yusheng froze at his touch. "What is?"

Leaning back against the bed, Gu Yan's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Being able to see you again is nice. Eating the apple you feed me is nice."

Realizing he was teasing her, Yusheng placed the apple in his hand. "Eat it yourself!"

"No, don't! I'm still sick. Ouch, it hurts," Gu Yan pretended, clutching his wound.

Just then, the door opened—it was Yudong.

"Shengsheng, what are you doing here?" he asked as he closed the door, though there was no reproach in his tone.

"I wanted to check on Gu Yan," Yusheng said, standing up quickly.

Seeing the apple in her hand, Yudong glared at Gu Yan.

This kid, making my daughter feed him apples?

If Gu Yan weren't still recovering, Yudong might've smacked him right then.

"Alright, after you visit, head home. I need to talk to Gu Yan anyway, and I brought him some food. Did you come straight from school? Have you eaten?"

Yusheng nodded, then shook her head.

"Then stay and eat before you go. Gu Yan can only have congee, but I bought other dishes as well."

Hearing he could only have congee, Gu Yan sighed. "Uncle, is it really just congee?"

Yudong gave him a look. "At least it's better than a nutrient drip."

So, Gu Yan slurped his white congee on the bed, casting longing glances at the meat in Yusheng's bowl.

Unable to stand his gaze, Yusheng turned her back to him as she ate. "Stop looking at me. I won't give you any even if you stare."

"Just one piece," Gu Yan pleaded.

Yudong happened to step out, and with no adult supervision, Gu Yan openly pouted to Yusheng. If Yudong had seen this, even the congee might have been taken away.

"No," Yusheng said firmly.

"Oww, my head feels dizzy. I think I'm malnourished. Oww."

Seeing his pitiful look, Yusheng relented. "Fine, just one piece."

As Gu Yan opened his mouth, Yusheng brought a piece of meat to his lips—then promptly popped it into her own mouth.

"Yusheng, I haven't even tasted it," Gu Yan exclaimed in shock, not expecting her to tease him in turn.

Yusheng winked mischievously. "I know. You can just savor the aroma."

"...Shengsheng, you've changed."

With a sigh, Yusheng patted his head. "Be good, you can't eat this yet. When you recover, I'll treat you to a feast."

The atmosphere in the ward was starting to feel a bit odd.

"Ahem!" No one knew when Yudong had returned, but he was now staring deathly at Yusheng's hand resting on Gu Yan's head.

She quickly withdrew her hand.

"Shengsheng, have you finished eating?" Yudong sat between them, separating the two.

Yusheng nodded sheepishly.

"Then go home. Your mother is waiting for you," he said.

Yusheng glanced at Gu Yan, gave a silent nod.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him," her father added. "And don't come here again. There's nothing for you to do."

Gu Yan looked at Yudong in shock—Uncle, that's just too much!

Yusheng turned away. "No, I still have to bring him his homework! Even in the hospital, he can't fall behind."

Yudong hesitated.

"Alright, Dad, I'm leaving. You two have things to discuss, right? I'm off. Bye!" Yusheng waved at Gu Yan behind her father's back and left without another word to Yudong.

Gu Yan waved back, grinning foolishly.

Watching the two of them perform their silent routine, Yudong could only swallow his frustration.

Ah, daughters really do grow up too fast! Where did that soft, clingy little girl who used to never leave his side go?

After Yusheng left, Gu Yan, not wanting his future father-in-law to vent his frustration on him, lay back and feigned frailty, hoping Yudong would go easy on him.

And Yudong really did. He felt guilty toward Gu Yan, so even though his precious daughter always took Gu Yan's side, Yudong had to bear it in silence.

"Alright, you seem to be recovering well. I need to ask you something," Yudong said.

Gu Yan nodded.

After leaving the ward, Yusheng's heart kept pounding when she thought about what had just happened between her and Gu Yan.

Phew! She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Although Gu Yan never said it, she knew he was enduring his discomfort just to make her smile.

Covered in bandages—how could he not be in pain? Fool.

The ward area was actually quite deserted, especially at night, and the corridor lights were dim.

When Yusheng passed Wang Qiang, she greeted him politely, and he smiled back.

Familiar with the hospital, Yusheng walked out of the ward area and waited in front of the elevator.

The elevator's reflection showed her figure—backpack on her shoulders, school uniform, twin ponytails. She looked the same as always, just taller now.

Lost in thought, she was startled when the elevator doors opened. She was about to step in but froze when she saw the person inside.

The person inside was just as surprised to see her, but quickly recovered. "Yusheng? Why aren't you coming in?"

With an awkward smile, Yusheng stepped inside. For a moment, she wanted to make an excuse and leave.

Inside the elevator, she stayed silent—the awkwardness of seeing an old acquaintance after so many years was palpable.

"How have you been, Yusheng?" the doctor smiled, turning to look at her.

"I'm doing alright," Yusheng replied, glancing up at him.

Though several years had passed, the doctor looked just as he did before—gold-rimmed glasses perched on a straight nose, a lean chin, and faint stubble suggested he had been working overtime for days.

Adjusting his glasses with slender, fair fingers, the doctor asked, "Heading home now?"

She nodded. "Yes, I came to visit a classmate."

"I thought you were here for a follow-up."

Yusheng shook her head, laughing. "No, my classmate is sick."

"Is it serious? Do you need me to help take care of him?" the doctor offered.

She quickly shook her head. "No, no, his parents are with him. Thank you, Doctor Xiao."

The elevator reached the fifth floor. "It feels like only a few years have passed, but seeing you today, I realize you've grown into a young lady," Dr. Xiao said kindly.

Awkward, Yusheng forced a laugh. "But Doctor Xiao, you haven't changed at all—just a bit paler."

"Hahaha, you little rascal, still as sharp-tongued as ever."

Dr. Xiao was naturally fair, and with all the overtime, his face grew even paler, often startling patients during night rounds.

"I'll drive you home. I just finished my shift," he said.

Yusheng wanted to refuse. Having nothing to talk about was agony.

"I—"

Before she could finish, Dr. Xiao gently led her toward the parking lot.

"By the way, your family hasn't moved, right? Still at the old place?"