Chapter 214: All Understood

In the hospital room

Xia Qingyun was lazily leaning against the headboard, watching as Bai Dewen took out various items from his bag one by one.

As he pulled out each item, Bai Dewen introduced them:

“These are pumpkin seeds my mother just sent me. You can snack on a few when you’re bored.”

“This is malted milk. You don’t have much color in your face, so drink a cup every morning and evening.”

“And these are crispy candies. Eat more of them to nourish your body.”

Finally, he took out two lunch boxes from the bottom of the bag. “This box has pickled cabbage stewed with pork, and this one has rice along with your favorite pickled cucumbers. I only brought one cucumber for you, though, because too many might upset your stomach.”

“Whenever I’m sick, I crave food from home. I figured you must be feeling the same way.”

Bai Dewen continued to chat on and on.

Xia Qingyun was clearly more relaxed in front of Bai Dewen than she was with others, simply listening lazily.

After placing all the items neatly, Bai Dewen poured a cup of water and handed it to Xia Qingyun.

As Xia Qingyun took the cup, she glanced at the food on the nightstand. “Did you trouble your sister-in-law again?”

Pickled cabbage stewed with pork was a dish from their hometown, not something commonly eaten in Nancheng. Besides, the methods and flavors for pickling cabbage differed between the two places.

There was a married fellow townsman in the army, and sometimes when Bai Dewen and the others missed the taste of home, they would buy some ingredients and have his wife cook a meal for them.

Bai Dewen replied, “It wasn’t any trouble. We’re all from the same hometown.”

“You didn’t tell them I was hospitalized, did you?” Xia Qingyun asked after taking a few sips of water.

“No, I know you don’t like to trouble others.”

Xia Qingyun said, “If you know I don’t like to trouble people, why did you come? It’s work hours, did you take leave again?”

Bai Dewen replied, “It doesn’t interfere with work. I’ll leave after checking on you.”

Xia Qingyun, in a flat tone, said, “Don’t waste your time and effort on me.”

“How could it be a waste?” Bai Dewen forced a smile. “You’re injured and in the hospital. If I didn’t visit, could I still call myself your friend?”

Xia Qingyun set down her cup, turned her face away, and stared out the window.

Bai Dewen said, “You should eat before the food gets cold. It won’t taste as good then.”

Still gazing out the window, Xia Qingyun quietly said, “Bai Dewen, you’re about the right age. If someone introduces you to a match, you should go meet them.”

Bai Dewen’s face stiffened for a moment before he managed a smile. “I know. My mother is urging me too. Once you and Yu Xiangyang are settled, you can help introduce me to someone reliable.”

His tone was light, but the smile on his face was clearly tinged with bitterness.

He knew that what Xia Qingyun wanted was something he couldn’t give her.

Xia Qingyun didn’t respond, lost in thought as she stared out the window.

Bai Dewen followed her gaze. Outside the window was a large tree, its branches lush with leaves.

On one of the branches was a bird’s nest, and two birds were hopping around on the branch, occasionally pecking at each other playfully.

Xia Qingyun said softly, “Even birds know to build their nests in a big tree. How much more should people.”

Bai Dewen’s smile didn’t fade, and he responded quietly, “I understand everything.”

It was at this moment that Yu Xiangyang walked in.

As he entered, he saw Xia Qingyun and Bai Dewen—one leaning against the headboard, the other standing by the bedside—both with a faint sadness on their faces, looking out the window.

Hearing the noise, they both turned their heads at the same time, their faces lighting up with smiles.

Xia Qingyun, surprised, asked, “Yu Xiangyang, why are you here so early?”

Yu Xiangyang had taken half a day off. He went to the department store to buy canned goods, candies, and pastries, and then stopped by the state-run cafeteria to buy some meals. He had come specifically to have dinner with Xia Qingyun.

When Yu Xiangyang walked in, he said, “I took half a day off to spend time with you.”

He then noticed Bai Dewen and added, “Oh, Comrade Bai, you’re here too.”

Bai Dewen explained, “I had a headache today, so I came to the hospital to see a doctor and took the opportunity to visit Comrade Xia Qingyun.”

Yu Xiangyang knew that Bai Dewen and Xia Qingyun were from the same hometown, so it made sense for him to visit.

Yu Xiangyang offered, “I brought some food. Why don’t you eat with us before heading back?”

Bai Dewen waved his hand, “No, no, you two enjoy your meal. I should be going.”

He then turned to Xia Qingyun and said, “Comrade Xia Qingyun, take good care of yourself. I’ll visit you again next time.”

Xia Qingyun nodded, “Take care on your way back.”

“Goodbye, Comrade Yu Xiangyang. Goodbye.”

Bai Dewen slowly closed the door, and Xia Qingyun’s figure gradually disappeared from his sight.

His gaze lingered on the two lunch boxes he had brought as a sense of sadness washed over him.

Yu Xiangyang also noticed the two lunch boxes. “Did Bai Dewen bring you this food?”

“Huh?” A flash of panic crossed Xia Qingyun’s eyes. “No, a nurse helped me buy this in the morning. It wasn’t very good.”

“Oh.” Yu Xiangyang was just asking casually as he placed the items he brought on the bedside table.

Seeing Yu Xiangyang about to touch the lunch boxes, Xia Qingyun quickly said, “Yu Xiangyang, I… I need to use the restroom.”

Hearing the urgency in her voice, Yu Xiangyang thought she must have been holding it in all day and became concerned.

With a smile, Yu Xiangyang helped Xia Qingyun down from the bed. “Did you really hold it in all day?” he asked.

Xia Qingyun playfully pouted, “Of course! I didn’t even dare drink a sip of water all day.”

“I’ve already spoken to the nurses. If you need anything, just ask them.”

Xia Qingyun pouted again, “I was waiting for you!”

Her stubbornness made Yu Xiangyang laugh, “Alright, alright. I’ll come earlier tomorrow.”

“No!” Xia Qingyun said, feeling guilty, “You shouldn’t keep taking time off. It’s not good for you. I can wait until you finish work.”

Yu Xiangyang was touched by how considerate Xia Qingyun was.

He supported her as they slowly made their way to the end of the hallway.

A nurse at the station saw them and rolled her eyes disdainfully.

“This woman, earlier she could go to the restroom by herself, and now she acts like she can barely walk!”

An older nurse chuckled, “You’ll understand when you have a significant other.”

“Even if I had someone, I wouldn’t act so fake!”

After using the restroom, Xia Qingyun asked Yu Xiangyang to fetch a basin of water so she could wash her face.

Yu Xiangyang happily went to get the water. Meanwhile, Xia Qingyun picked up the two lunch boxes and walked to the trash bin outside the ward.

She opened the lunch boxes. Inside was tenderly stewed pork mixed with finely sliced yellow pickled cabbage—a familiar dish she hadn’t had in a long time.

The sour, tangy aroma she had longed for filled her nostrils, and her mouth began to water involuntarily.

After a moment of hesitation, she resolutely dumped the food into the trash bin without a second thought.

She then returned to the ward, closed the lids on the empty lunch boxes, and put them back in their original place.

Yu Xiangyang returned with the basin of water, poured some hot water from the kettle, and soaked a towel in the water before wringing it out and handing it to Xia Qingyun.

After Xia Qingyun cleaned her face and hands, the two of them began their meal.