Chapter 127: Let’s Make Peace

In the afternoon, Cheng Jingmo arrived at the hospital after work and was greeted by the aroma of food as he pushed open the ward door.

Yu Xiangnian was sitting by the bed, feeding Xiao Jie.

When Xiao Jie heard the door open, he turned his head and said, “Uncle, you’re here.”

Yu Xiangnian didn’t even glance at him.

Over the past few days, Yu Xiangnian had not looked at him directly, and he felt helpless.

Cheng Jingmo walked in and saw that Xiao Jie was eating boiled fish, with a thin layer of oil floating on the milk-white fish soup.

On a small table next to the bed, there were two food containers: one with boiled fish, and the other with green pepper beef and braised green beans.

No wonder it smelled so good; it was clear this wasn’t food from the hospital cafeteria.

Although Yu Xiangnian was ignoring him, Cheng Jingmo still walked over and extended his hand, “I’ll feed him. You eat first.”

Yu Xiangnian handed him the bowl and went to the side to eat.

“Uncle, have you eaten?” Xiao Jie asked.

Cheng Jingmo paused for a moment, “Not yet.”

He had rushed over right after work, planning to grab some food from the hospital cafeteria for the three of them to eat together.

But it seemed Yu Xiangnian had already bought food, and he wasn’t sure if she had bought any for him.

Yu Xiangnian pretended not to hear and continued eating from the food container. She had intentionally not bought any food for Cheng Jingmo.

However, the hospital cafeteria’s portions were quite large, and even though she had only bought enough for herself and Xiao Jie, they couldn’t finish it all.

She was eating from the food container now, so even if she couldn’t finish, Cheng Jingmo wouldn’t get any.

Xiao Jie glanced between Yu Xiangnian and Cheng Jingmo, sensing that there might have been an argument between them.

Before his hospitalization, they had seemed fine, but things had changed once he woke up.

He worried that the argument might have been about him.

After Xiao Jie finished eating, Yu Xiangnian was also done.

She hadn’t eaten much, just one-third of the large food container.

She started tidying up and preparing to wash the dishes.

Cheng Jingmo walked over with a slightly downturned expression, “Yu Xiangnian, I haven’t eaten yet.”

Yu Xiangnian really didn’t plan to give him any food.

Without lifting her head, she replied with two words, “Cafeteria.”

“There’s still a lot left. I’ll eat this.”

“This is what I left over.”

“Don’t waste it,” Cheng Jingmo insisted, not minding that it was leftover.

Yu Xiangnian stopped her actions and walked past Cheng Jingmo to Xiao Jie, “I’m leaving. If you need anything, ask the doctor.”

Although she didn’t speak to Cheng Jingmo, they had an unspoken agreement: Yu Xiangnian would take care of Xiao Jie during the day, and Cheng Jingmo would handle things at night.

“Aunt, be careful on the way.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

As Yu Xiangnian was leaving, Cheng Jingmo followed her.

In the hallway, Cheng Jingmo grabbed Yu Xiangnian’s wrist, “Yu Xiangnian, I apologize for my tone that day. Let’s talk.”

Yu Xiangnian looked at him for the first time, “We’re in the hospital. Let’s discuss things when Xiao Jie is discharged and we’re home.”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “Okay,” but he didn’t let go of her hand.

After a while, he awkwardly spoke up, “Yu Xiangnian, let’s make up.”

These past few days with Yu Xiangnian had felt like a return to the past for Cheng Jingmo.

But having experienced Yu Xiangnian’s warmth and affection, the past few days had been incredibly torturous for him.

Yu Xiangnian said calmly, “During this time, we should both take some time to think things over. Consider what you want to say, what you want to ask, and how you plan to handle our relationship. We’ll discuss it all when the time comes.”

Yu Xiangnian paused and then said, “Also, you’re responsible for Xiao Jie’s breakfast. I’ll take care of lunch and dinner. You can come back to take over after dinner.”

Cheng Jingmo understood the underlying meaning of Yu Xiangnian’s words: they would each handle their own meals and stay out of each other’s way.

He felt a mix of emotions—sour, bitter, and disappointed.

In their relationship, Yu Xiangnian always held the initiative.

She could be warm and gentle, making him mistakenly believe that she truly cared about him.

But she could also withdraw at any time, leaving him alone in this emotional entanglement.

Cheng Jingmo released her hand and said, “Alright, be careful on your way.”

Yu Xiangnian turned and left.

In fact, her mind was also in turmoil, and she needed to think things over carefully.

Although she had taken the initiative in their relationship, she couldn’t tolerate Cheng Jingmo doubting or questioning her!

At the same time, she understood Cheng Jingmo’s doubts and questions.

Anyone in such a situation would find it difficult to accept initially, and for someone with Cheng Jingmo’s profession, his suspicion was not entirely unexpected.

Even her brother, Yu Xiangyang, had questioned her.

Perhaps Cheng Jingmo was special to her, which made her more upset when he doubted her.

Moreover, she couldn’t guarantee that this matter wouldn’t be discovered by others in the future. If someone with ulterior motives exploited it, Cheng Jingmo would definitely be affected.

She gave Cheng Jingmo time to think things through and decide whether to continue the relationship or cut his losses.

Cheng Jingmo returned to the ward, finished off most of Yu Xiangnian’s leftover food, and ate the rest of Xiao Jie’s fish and soup.

After washing up at night, he wiped Xiao Jie’s body and turned off the lights, preparing to sleep.

Xiao Jie, lying in bed, asked, “Uncle, did you argue with my aunt because of me?”

Cheng Jingmo was sleeping on the folding steel bed he had brought from home, “It’s not because of you. It’s just that your aunt and I had some disagreements.”

“You used to tell me that men should be accommodating to women and not hold grudges against them,” Xiao Jie said.

Previously, when his aunt would argue with his uncle, his uncle would always tolerate her and teach him this lesson.

Cheng Jingmo replied, “I didn’t manage my emotions well and ended up upsetting her.”

He had been reflecting over the past few days, realizing that even if he doubted Yu Xiangnian, he shouldn’t have spoken to her in an interrogative tone.

Xiao Jie said, “Then you should apologize to her, and she won’t be angry anymore.”

That was how he was taught to handle his own mistakes.

Cheng Jingmo replied, “I have apologized. She said she would forgive me in a few days.”

Xiao Jie felt relieved and spoke more casually, “Actually, my aunt has a bad memory. In a few days, she will forget about it.”

Cheng Jingmo asked, “Forget what?”

Xiao Jie explained, “She recently told me the story of the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains, saying that if you keep digging, the mountains will eventually be moved. But today she said the mountains can’t be moved.”

Cheng Jingmo asked, “Why can’t they be moved?”

Xiao Jie answered, “She said if he’s always busy digging mountains, he wouldn’t have time for relationships.”

Cheng Jingmo thought, “… Yu Xiangnian should stop telling stories!”

Although it never snowed in Nancheng, each morning the roadside was covered with a thick layer of white frost.

Yu Xiangnian wrapped herself warmly every morning and arrived at the hospital, then hurried home before dark.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Jie was discharged and recovering well, and it was already mid-December.

Yu Xiangnian and Cheng Jingmo only saw each other briefly in the morning and evening, exchanging a few trivial words, with no further communication.

The moments of embracing each other and kissing passionately seemed like a distant dream.