“Jiang Fuyue.”
“What?” The girl looked up in confusion, caught off guard at being called.
Xie Dingyuan looked serious. “I heard people saying I have someone I like.”
“Huh?” Jiang Fuyue blinked in surprise.
“That person is you.”
“…What?” She looked even more bewildered.
Just as Jiang Fuyue was racking her brain trying to recall if she and Xie Dingyuan had done anything in public that might lead to such a misunderstanding, the man spoke again—
“I think it’s necessary to clarify things.”
“Yes, you should clarify. Otherwise, it could give the wrong impression—”
“It’s not a rumor.”
“…Huh?” Jiang Fuyue’s expression was a perfect question mark emoji.
Xie Dingyuan: “I’m clarifying that it’s not a rumor. I do have someone I like—this is what they call a ‘cheesy pickup line,’ right?”
So all that buildup… was just to prove he understood what a cheesy pickup line was?
Jiang Fuyue felt her fists clench.
“Xie. Ding. Yuan!”
The only response she got was his low chuckle.
“You’re so childish!” she scolded.
“Am I? Then I’ll be childish,” he replied.
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
What the h*ll?!
…
11:00 p.m., the nurse came in for the final rounds and reminded, “Try to sleep early.”
Jiang Fuyue put away her laptop and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Because her left foot couldn’t touch the ground, she had to hop on her right.
Seeing this, the man immediately stepped forward and scooped her up in a bridal carry.
The movement was firm and left no room for refusal.
Not that Jiang Fuyue refused—because there was no point.
Besides, having someone carry her was far easier than hopping around.
Xie Dingyuan was clearly pleased with her compliance. The girl in his arms now seemed like a rose that had tucked away its thorns, revealing only its softest, most fragrant side.
Just a light hold, and one could seize a handful of intoxicating bloom.
His heart stirred, like a lamb softly nudging against something warm.
“Sit still.” He set her down on the toilet lid. “Don’t move.”
Then he squeezed toothpaste, adjusted the water temperature, and handed her the brush.
Even the rinsing—he held her in front of the sink while she spat.
It was probably his first time doing something like this. Although he tried to act calm and natural, his movements were still a bit clumsy.
Watching him bustle around, Jiang Fuyue suddenly asked—
“Why are you doing all this?”
He paused mid-pour. “What do you mean, why?” He handed over a wrung-out towel.
As she wiped her face, she said, “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to stay at home? Why come to the hospital and suffer with me? What are you after?”
“You.”
I’m after you.
His gaze burned with certainty. Jiang Fuyue, however, quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.
“Get out. I need to use the bathroom.”
Xie Dingyuan paused, his ears instantly turning red. “Then… call me when you’re done. I’ll carry you back.”
“Mm.”
…
As soon as she opened the bathroom door, he somehow sensed it immediately and came to lift her back to bed and tuck her in.
Only then did he go brush his teeth.
In less than ten minutes, he returned, stood by the bed, and glanced at her. “I’m turning off the lights.”
Jiang Fuyue snuggled into the blankets and nodded lightly. “Okay.”
Click. The room fell into darkness.
Xie Dingyuan lay down.
At nearly 1.9 meters tall, he barely fit on the hospital bed, limbs curled up awkwardly. He turned his head to look at her.
Jiang Fuyue was lying on her side too. Their eyes met, both pupils glimmering in the dark.
He whispered softly, “Yueyue, goodnight.”
Jiang Fuyue paused. “…Goodnight.”
…
In the middle of the night, half-asleep, Jiang Fuyue vaguely saw the man’s face close to hers.
Then the blanket was gently pulled over her again, and her hands were tucked warmly under it.
She turned over and continued sleeping.
He stood behind her quietly, watching for a long time.
Peaceful sleep, until morning.
When Jiang Fuyue woke, the bed beside hers was already empty.
She tried to get up to use the bathroom but—
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
She was startled. Turning around, she saw Xie Dingyuan standing at the door with a bag of breakfast in his hand, eyes dark with disapproval.
He dropped the bag and strode over in two steps. “Didn’t I tell you not to get out of bed?!”
“I…”
“What are you doing?”
Jiang Fuyue rarely looked this meek—because she really had to go. Even geniuses have bodily needs.
“…The toilet.”
His expression darkened as he picked her up and brought her there.
While waiting, he arranged the breakfast. When he heard the toilet flush, he went back and carried her out again.
Full-service care. Not one step on the floor.
Handing her the chopsticks, Xie Dingyuan said, “Eat.”
“…I want water first.”
Without a word, he left the room to fetch it.
When he handed her the cup, the temperature was just right.
“Thanks.”
Surely now she could eat?
But—
“…I haven’t washed my hands.”
Xie Dingyuan got up again to fetch a basin and water.
Jiang Fuyue bit her lip. “Let the nurse do it. Your hands are meant for research and writing papers, not this kind of stuff.”
He only replied, “It’s not about what I should or shouldn’t do. I want to.”
…
Breakfast was light: fish congee with only a sprinkle of scallions. But the fish was tender and the rice perfectly soft. One bite left her mouth full of flavor.
“You bought this?”
Xie Dingyuan shook his head. “No.”
