Zhong Ziang forcefully shoved open the half-closed door. The impact was so strong it slammed against the wall with a loud bang.
“I’m just checking if she’s—” Eh?!
Zhong Ziang froze.
Not because Jiang Fuyue was there, but because…
“Uncle? Why are you…” also here?
At that moment, Wan Xiutong and Liu Bowen, who were one step behind, realized they’d found the right place. Their faces lit up with joy, and without a second thought, they cheerfully ran toward Jiang Fuyue.
“Jiangjiang! We came to see you!”
Liu Bowen set down the heavy fruit basket and nodded. “Wan Xiutong was so worried when she heard you were in the hospital. She insisted on seeing you in person.”
Jiang Fuyue hadn’t expected her to actually come. “I already said I’m fine. Why did you still…”
Wan Xiutong didn’t reply. She just blinked at her with wide, pitiful eyes, looking sweet and helpless.
What could she say to that?
Naturally, she patted her head. “Thank you.”
Jiang Fuyue’s movements were gentle, and her voice was soft and tender.
Wan Xiutong’s cheeks instantly turned crimson, lips pursing shyly as two adorable dimples bloomed on her face.
Eep! Sister Yue is killing me!
Standing nearby, Xie Dingyuan observed the two girls interact, an odd expression flickering across his face.
But someone else looked even more confused—so puzzled, in fact, that it seemed the bewilderment might burst out of his eyes at any second.
Zhong Ziang looked at Xie Dingyuan, then glanced at Jiang Fuyue, and finally, his eyes landed on the dishes on the small table.
Judging by the presentation and the familiar aroma, he was 99.9% certain—these were made by Aunt Liu.
Which meant the “young lady” that made his uncle personally deliver food to the hospital was—Jiang Fuyue?!
Since when did they become so close?
Wasn’t his uncle always critical of Jiang Fuyue? Even when he, Zhong Ziang, got a bit friendly with her, his uncle would pull a face and nag him not to get involved.
And now…
He got involved himself?!
Zhong Ziang couldn’t figure it out, so he asked directly, “Uncle, what are you doing here?”
“Delivering food.”
“Why are you bringing food to Jiang Fuyue…?” he mumbled. “If anyone’s going to do it, it should be me…”
The last part came out so fast and soft that only he could hear it.
Xie Dingyuan glanced up. “She’s part of the research team.”
“Research team?” Zhong Ziang took a few seconds to process that, then whipped his head toward Jiang Fuyue. “You took a whole month off school just for this?”
“What else?”
Zhong Ziang scratched his head. “You can actually understand the stuff my uncle’s working on?”
Already that capable?
He hadn’t even started catching up yet, and she was already almost done. The feeling was hard to describe… kind of a d*mn moment.
Zhong Ziang fell silent, half-lowering his gaze, lost in thought.
Xie Dingyuan urged, “Eat.”
“…Okay.”
After eating, Xie Dingyuan took the lunchbox and left with Zhong Ziang.
Jiang Fuyue said, “The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow morning. I want to go home for a bit and head to the lab the day after.”
“Okay,” he nodded. “You’re already ahead of the others anyway.”
Only then did Zhong Ziang react. He darted back over to the bedside. “Little Yueyue, are you in pain? Are you sure you’re okay? Want to rest a couple more days?”
Little Yueyue?
Xie Dingyuan’s brow twitched.
Jiang Fuyue was just about to speak when—
“Let’s go, Zhong Ziang!” Xie Dingyuan’s cold voice rang out from a short distance away.
“Wait, Uncle, I haven’t— Hey! Why are you dragging me?! I’m a grown man! Can’t you give me some dignity?”
“You’re still wet behind the ears. What dignity?”
“I’m not! Don’t drag me—I can walk! Just let me say two more words. Just one? Half a sentence! Come on!”
The uncle-nephew duo bickered all the way out of the ward, their voices gradually fading down the hallway.
Wan Xiutong swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a tiny bit sorry for Zhong Ziang.
Liu Bowen shut his gaping mouth and calmly offered, “Sister Yue, want some fruit? I’ll peel it for you.”
….
Meanwhile, Zhong Ziang reluctantly got in the car, sulking as he turned to stare out the window.
His uncle was so annoying!
But no matter how angry he got, Xie Dingyuan ignored him the entire way.
Like looking outside? Fine, then enjoy it.
Puffed-up cheeks? Go ahead. If you want to act like a frog, that’s on you.
Zhong Ziang: “?”
Am I… mad for nothing?
When they got back to the Yutianhua Residence, the two entered one after the other.
Aunt Liu greeted them with a smile but quickly sensed the tense atmosphere and quietly retreated.
She served them tea on the coffee table and tactfully slipped away to her room.
“Uncle, what’s your deal?”
Xie Dingyuan had just put down his coat and was unbuttoning his cuffs. At Zhong Ziang’s question, he paused and slowly looked up. “What are you trying to say?”
“Why didn’t you let me talk to Jiang Fuyue? You know I like her.”
“Like her?”
“Yes!” Zhong Ziang raised his chin, full of confidence.
“With what? Your teenage hormones? Your terrible grades? Or the looming college entrance exam?”
“I…”
Xie Dingyuan continued, “You can’t even manage your own life. How do you expect to be in someone else’s? I don’t think Jiang Fuyue has any intention of getting into a relationship. You’d better give up early. Don’t make a scene you can’t clean up later.”
It was hard to tell whether he was warning Zhong Ziang—or himself.
