Chapter 26 – Gastroscopy

When everything finally felt quiet, Xu Shiqi truly woke up. She stretched lazily, feeling unusually refreshed.

“Hey!”

The voice beside her startled her, causing her to stop mid-stretch. She turned around and saw the dim light in the car, softening the girl’s face.

“Are we there?” Xu Shiqi glanced outside, noticing they were parked not far from her old home.

“Yeah,” Wen Jialuo responded with a yawn before driving them the rest of the way home.

Xu Shiqi felt uneasy. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You were sleeping so soundly; how could I bear to wake you?” Wen Jialuo replied coolly.

Hearing this, Xu Shiqi couldn’t help but worry if she had done anything embarrassing while sleeping, like drooling or picking her nose. And did the girl really just watch her sleep?

This thought sent a shiver down her spine.

The next day, Wen Jialuo indeed took her to the shop, going from occasional rides to practically being a dedicated driver. Every time they got in the car, Xu Shiqi didn’t need to open the door herself; Wen Jialuo was always one step ahead. This small gesture made her heart flutter.

With Wen Jialuo’s natural closeness, Xu Shiqi gradually forgot her initial hesitation.

Just like that, Xu Shiqi moved into the Wen family’s old house.

The grandmother really liked Xu Shiqi’s voice. She somehow found an old phonograph and loved having Xu Shiqi sing along. The vinyl records seemed precious, and even Xu Shiqi couldn’t resist them. When the needle touched down and the record spun like a rotating stage, the sound, despite its slight raspiness, enchanted both the old and the young.

Though they were strangers, they quickly formed a bond, something even Wen Jialuo’s mother, Luo Linyi, found surprising. But seeing the grandmother in better spirits put her mind at ease, allowing her to focus on her daughter.

She originally wanted to take her daughter to the hospital, but Wen Jialuo refused. Wen Jialuo argued that she hadn’t vomited from eating recently and even showed she had gained two pounds. Seeing the scale’s needle move was a surprise and relief for Luo Linyi. Since her daughter refused to go, she called a familiar doctor who said Wen Jialuo’s eating disorder was primarily psychological. Now that she was better, it was likely due to psychological reasons as well. The right “medicine” had appeared, making her normal again.

Despite the doctor’s reassurances, Luo Linyi was still worried. She noticed that Wen Jialuo listened to Xu Shiqi, especially during meals. If Xu Shiqi said not to eat something, Wen Jialuo obeyed. Luo Linyi thought Xu Shiqi was a blessing to their family, helping not only the grandmother but also her daughter. Whenever she saw Xu Shiqi, she couldn’t help but smile. Xu Shiqi was indeed gentle and kind, making everyone feel comfortable.

Luo Linyi naturally sought Xu Shiqi’s help with her rebellious daughter.

Xu Shiqi was surprised but handled it gracefully.

She had spent a lot of time with Wen Jialuo and knew her well. Although Wen Jialuo only needed to drop her off at the shop in the morning and pick her up in the evening, she often lingered around. Sometimes she would stay in the shop, claiming she was experiencing life. If there wasn’t much business in the morning, she would hand Xu Shiqi a newspaper, warning her not to read the medical ads. If she stayed late, she would join them for lunch. Initially, Wang Yuan and the others would ask her, but later they just set an extra place for her.

Sometimes Wen Jialuo left after dropping her off but would call in the afternoon, either to buy books or CDs, often without any specific purpose, just to make plans. She would remind Xu Shiqi she would pick her up, leaving her no chance to refuse. Xu Shiqi wondered if Wen Jialuo had no other friends, to which Wen Jialuo would reply, “Do you find me that annoying?”

It wasn’t that Xu Shiqi found her annoying, but she couldn’t resist her calls, feeling disappointed in herself. Eventually, she got used to waiting for Wen Jialuo, whether it was getting off the car together or waiting for her calls. It became a habit, slowly blending into her life.

Luo Linyi said, “Even though Jialuo is eating normally now, I still want to take her to the hospital, but she refuses.”

Parents always feel helpless when their children rebel. Hearing Luo Linyi’s sigh, Xu Shiqi thought for a moment and smiled, “Her body is her own. I’m sure Jialuo wouldn’t harm herself. She’s eating well now.”

“You didn’t see her anorexia before,” Luo Linyi complained, still resenting the vague figure that had caused her daughter so much pain. “I worry her changes are related to that senior brother of hers, but I can’t find any evidence she’s with any man. Isn’t that strange?”

Xu Shiqi was stunned, wondering if that man even existed. Naturally, there would be no evidence. “How about this, if you’re really worried, I’ll try to persuade her.”

“Yes, please,” Luo Linyi smiled. “Young people might be more receptive. I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

When Wen Jialuo heard Xu Shiqi’s suggestion, she just glared at her, “Don’t butt into this.”

“We’re all worried about you,” Xu Shiqi smiled. “Your mom is afraid your change is due to that senior brother and worries you might relapse.”

They were talking after spending time with the grandmother. Xu Shiqi had read a piece of prose with a classic rhythm but not too archaic. She had mastered the art of reading it smoothly and deeply, like the sound of a cello.

After the grandmother fell asleep, they returned to Xu Shiqi’s room. She had a few teacups now and poured warm water to soothe her throat, with Jialuo usually following suit.

Wen Jialuo, sitting on the single sofa, looked up from her cup. She narrowed her eyes at Xu Shiqi, “Why are you so stupid?”

Being called stupid for no reason wasn’t pleasant, but since Xu Shiqi felt a bit guilty, she didn’t argue. She had deliberately mentioned the senior brother. She hadn’t forgotten the “lie theory” Wen Jialuo proposed that night, always wondering about her suspicions. She feared that being too direct would lead to irreversible consequences.

She didn’t want to ignore it, but the girl had become too close to her, beyond what she could handle, especially since the girl knew she liked women.

Afraid to ask but wanting to know, this simple question made her increasingly anxious. Borrowing Luo Linyi’s words, she asked, but the result was being called stupid. She was speechless, especially when the girl suddenly turned cold, put down her cup, and walked away. At the door, she turned and said, “Fine, come with me to the hospital tomorrow.”

The next day, they indeed drove to the hospital. Wen Jialuo told the doctor she wanted a gastroscopy and asked for the form directly. The doctor, adjusting his glasses, asked if she wanted a painless or a regular one. Xu Shiqi, standing nearby, felt a bit anxious. She had heard that gastroscopies were quite painful, so she quickly suggested the painless option. However, Wen Jialuo stopped her and calmly said that the regular one would be fine.

When they went to pay, Xu Shiqi chased after her in high heels, asking, “Why not choose the painless one? It would definitely be less painful.”

The hospital corridor was crowded, and many turned to look at Wen Jialuo’s stomach with sympathetic and curious expressions.

Wen Jialuo gritted her teeth. “Can you shout any louder?”

Xu Shiqi blushed deeply, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Isn’t there any other way to check?”

“What does it matter if it hurts or not?” Wen Jialuo walked quickly. “Aren’t you the one who insisted I get checked?”

Xu Shiqi almost twisted her ankle. She had woken up late that day, and when she saw Wen Jialuo, it was already in the car. Wen Jialuo always drove quietly and carefully, so she hadn’t noticed anything wrong. It was only now that she realized Wen Jialuo seemed angry.

But whatever she was angry about, she shouldn’t take it out on her own body. Watching Wen Jialuo lying on the bed with a tube inserted down her throat, Xu Shiqi felt a deep pain in her heart.

During the gastroscopy, since Wen Jialuo couldn’t close her mouth, the doctor repeatedly inserted and pulled out the tube, causing her great discomfort. Xu Shiqi hurriedly held her hand and softly asked the doctor to be gentler and slower. The doctor gave her a curious look and said he wasn’t doing anything harsh, then told Wen Jialuo to open her mouth wider as he inserted the tube further.

Seeing Wen Jialuo struggling with tears in her eyes and drool at the corners of her mouth, Xu Shiqi felt as if her own stomach was being twisted in knots. She wiped the corners of Wen Jialuo’s mouth with a tissue, soothing her by saying it would be over soon.

It seemed Wen Jialuo heard her continuous comforting words and opened her eyes to see Xu Shiqi’s anxious face, which somehow had a healing effect. She uttered a syllable from her throat and held Xu Shiqi’s hand tightly, continuing to endure the gastroscopy.

After the procedure, both Wen Jialuo and Xu Shiqi felt as if they had fought a hard battle, still feeling the lingering fear.

Holding the test results, Xu Shiqi didn’t even bother reading the diagnosis of moderate gastric mucosal damage. She was more worried about Wen Jialuo’s increasingly dispirited expression.

“What are you looking at?” Wen Jialuo asked, resting with her eyes closed in the driver’s seat. “Did I look awful just now?”

It was impressive that she knew Xu Shiqi was looking at her even with her eyes closed. Xu Shiqi smiled, “No, you didn’t look awful. You’re not Guan Yu; that was a saint.”

Wen Jialuo’s lips curled up, “Are you feeling sorry for me?”

“Absolutely not!” Xu Shiqi answered firmly, feeling increasingly worried about Wen Jialuo’s strange questions. “Are you… feeling alright?”

Wen Jialuo gently nodded, “I’m okay.” Then she turned to look at Xu Shiqi, “What about you?”

“Me?” Xu Shiqi touched her face, “What about me?”

“You looked more pained than I did,” Wen Jialuo said quietly, observing her with deep, unreadable eyes that still seemed to reflect the ordeal she had just gone through.

Xu Shiqi felt a chill. Her neck stiffened as she sat there, her mind in turmoil. Could her feelings have been that obvious? Why did it sound like Wen Jialuo had discovered something?

The hospital parking lot was usually very quiet. But now, an ambulance was approaching with its siren blaring, like a grim reminder of mortality.

“I just haven’t seen anyone undergo a gastroscopy before. It made me uncomfortable just watching it,” Xu Shiqi said, trying to stay calm.

“But having you by my side makes everything seem bearable, like there’s nothing to fear,” Wen Jialuo continued to watch her intently. “Whoever you fall in love with would be incredibly fortunate. Shiqi,” her voice lowered, “Do you have someone you want to love?”

This was certainly not the place to discuss such matters. But precisely because of that, Xu Shiqi remained highly vigilant. Almost instinctively, she defensively replied as soon as Wen Jialuo finished her sentence, “No!”

Wen Jialuo fell silent.

Xu Shiqi took a deep breath, forcing herself to avoid Wen Jialuo’s captivating, colorful eyes. She added with a determined tone, “I won’t fall in love with anyone. There’s no one who can make me give up everything. I’m willing to live alone for the rest of my life.”

Her tone was so sincere, it was almost like an oath.

“I see…” Wen Jialuo said softly, almost sighing. Then she smiled slightly and started the car.

Xu Shiqi slumped into her seat, her mind blank. She couldn’t even remember what she had just said. All she felt was self-hatred, mixed with a tiny bit of relief.