Chapter 215: Rookie

This was the first time Yu Xiangyang was taking care of a sick girl, and he didn’t have much experience.

He had eaten with Xia Qingyun four or five times before and noticed that she wasn’t picky about food and seemed to eat everything.

When he went to the state-run cafeteria earlier to buy food, he got a little bit of everything.

He poured a bowl of fish soup from the lunchbox and placed it in front of Xia Qingyun.

“Drink some fish soup; it’ll help you recover faster,” he said.

Xia Qingyun smiled, picked up the bowl, and took a small sip.

She didn’t like fish, especially fish soup, as she always found it to have a fishy taste.

Yu Xiangyang then took out another bowl and scooped some rice into it for her.

He explained, “This is saltwater shrimp, this is braised tofu, and this is garlic cucumber.”

Xia Qingyun looked at him with a sweet smile. “Yu Xiangyang, how did you know I wanted to eat shrimp and tofu?”

In truth, she didn’t want to eat any of those dishes.

Yu Xiangyang, feeling a bit embarrassed under her gaze, looked away awkwardly. “I just bought them randomly.”

He really did buy them randomly, though subconsciously, he had chosen dishes that suited Yu Xiangnian’s tastes.

Perhaps because the family had always revolved around Yu Xiangnian, her preferences had subtly influenced him over the years.

Xia Qingyun said, “Peel a few shrimp for me.”

Yu Xiangyang obediently started peeling shrimp. “Drink the fish soup before it gets cold and fishy.”

Xia Qingyun furrowed her brow slightly, then picked up the bowl and drank the fish soup in one gulp.

Seeing how much Xia Qingyun seemed to enjoy the fish soup, Yu Xiangyang was delighted and wanted to pour her another bowl.

But Xia Qingyun quickly reached out to stop him, pressing down on the lunchbox with the fish soup. “That’s enough. If I drink another bowl, I’ll be full, and I still want to eat other things.”

Their hands unexpectedly met, with Yu Xiangyang’s hand resting on the back of Xia Qingyun’s.

Xia Qingyun didn’t pull away; instead, she looked at him with affectionate eyes.

Yu Xiangyang stared at her, dazed, still holding onto her hand foolishly.

The door to the ward suddenly opened, and both of them quickly pulled their hands back in a panic.

Doctor Xiong walked in and asked Xia Qingyun how she was feeling that day.

After Xia Qingyun answered, Doctor Xiong nodded and said, “You’re recovering well. I’m finishing my shift now, so if you feel unwell, you can call the doctor on duty.”

Xia Qingyun replied, “Okay, thank you, doctor.”

Before leaving, Doctor Xiong glanced at the food on the table. “Wow, the food is quite a spread. This young man is really generous!”

Fish and shrimp were quite rare in those days; not many people were willing to spend on such food.

Both Yu Xiangyang and Xia Qingyun simultaneously offered, “Doctor Xiong, why don’t you join us?”

“No, thanks. I’ll eat at home. My wife has already prepared dinner.”

Soon, they were alone in the ward again.

Yu Xiangyang kept his head down, peeling shrimp and placing them in Xia Qingyun’s bowl.

Xia Qingyun ate one shrimp; it was tender and sweet, but she didn’t have much of an appetite.

For some reason, her mind drifted back to that lunchbox with the pickled cabbage and pork. Its sour and spicy flavor would surely stimulate her appetite.

Then she reminded herself that shrimp was nutritious and expensive, much better than that pickled cabbage and pork.

Conflicted, she unknowingly ate five or six shrimp.

Seeing how much Xia Qingyun seemed to enjoy the food he bought, Yu Xiangyang peeled even more enthusiastically.

They finished the meal together in the ward.

Yu Xiangyang went outside to wash the lunchboxes, including the two brought by Bai Dewen.

Xia Qingyun sat on the edge of the bed and let out a mocking smile.

Does it even matter if you like the food or not?

If you imagine it as something you like, you’ll still eat it with relish.

Food is like that, and so are people!

When Yu Xiangyang returned from washing the dishes, he began taking out the items he had bought, one by one.

The bedside table was already full of things. Yu Xiangyang asked, “Were all of these brought by Bai Dewen?”

Xia Qingyun dodged the question by saying, “These were brought by Nian Nian today.”

In reality, Yu Xiangnian had only brought two cans of food; the pumpkin seeds, crispy candies, and malted milk were all from Bai Dewen. Especially the malted milk, which was expensive—something only someone with a close relationship would be willing to give.

Yu Xiangyang, who had also bought canned goods, candy, and pastries, asked, “I’ll open a can for you. Do you want pineapple or mandarin oranges?”

Xia Qingyun asked back, “Which one do you like?”

Without thinking, Yu Xiangyang replied, “Pineapple!”

Xia Qingyun smiled, “Then let’s open the pineapple one.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yu Xiangyang scratched his head. “I don’t want to eat it. I wanted you to have it.”

Xia Qingyun laughed even more happily. “I want pineapple too!”

Yu Xiangyang thought to himself, how could Xia Qingyun be so understanding?

He opened the can, but Xia Qingyun only ate one piece of pineapple before stopping.

She playfully complained, “You bought so many delicious dishes that I’m too full to eat any more!”

Yu Xiangyang thought she was right because Yu Xiangnian was the same way—tasting a little bit of everything but never eating much of any one thing.

“You should finish it; it’ll spoil by tomorrow,” Xia Qingyun said.

Since Yu Xiangyang loved pineapple, he quickly finished the whole can.

Xia Qingyun just watched him, smiling gently.

“Yu Xiangyang, you come to see me every day—won’t Auntie be upset?” she asked.

Yu Xiangyang raised his eyebrows and said, “She won’t.”

They both knew that Zhao Ruoju would definitely be upset—one asked a question she already knew the answer to, and the other pretended not to see the truth.

Xia Qingyun continued, “Yu Xiangyang, this is my first time dating someone, so I don’t know if I’m doing things right or wrong. If I do something wrong, you have to tell me.”

Yu Xiangyang genuinely thought there was nothing to criticize about Xia Qingyun. “You’re doing great.”

Feeling a bit dejected, Xia Qingyun said, “Don’t lie to me. If I’m really that good, why don’t your parents like me?”

Yu Xiangyang knew that Zhao Ruozhu thought Xia Qingyun was fake and insincere, but he couldn’t see any of that in her. Xia Qingyun was beautiful, understanding, and a hundred times better than Yu Xiangnian!

Of course, Yu Xiangyang couldn’t tell Xia Qingyun the real reasons his mother didn’t like her.

“Give me some time; they’ll come around,” he said.

Xia Qingyun nodded obediently. “Yu Xiangyang, I’ll wait for you.”

Yu Xiangyang felt a pang of guilt, thinking he was somehow failing Xia Qingyun.

After leaving the hospital, Yu Xiangyang went to the residential compound to find Cheng Jingmo. He didn’t know who else he could talk to about these feelings.

When he knocked on the door, it was opened by Yu Xiangnian.

“Where’s Cheng Jingmo?” Yu Xiangyang asked.

“He’s out and hasn’t come back yet.”

Cheng Jingmo had gone to learn about radio technology from Zhang Guoping after dinner.

Yu Xiangyang looked visibly disappointed.

Yu Xiangnian said, “Come on in. What’s there that you can’t tell me?”

Although he stepped inside, Yu Xiangyang just wandered around without saying anything.

Talking about his love life with his little sister? He couldn’t bring himself to do it!

Yu Xiangnian found his behavior amusing.

“Yu Xiangyang, are you really going to discuss your love life with Cheng Jingmo? Isn’t that a bit ridiculous?” she asked.

Yu Xiangyang replied, “What’s so ridiculous about it?”

Yu Xiangnian couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Two clueless rookies—what kind of useful conclusions do you think you’ll come up with?”