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Xu Zhiqiao took the bus to the hospital.
On both sides of the hospital, there were fruit stands with beautifully arranged fruit baskets, and the gift boxes of nutritional products were displayed outside the counters.
Xu Zhiqiao went to the flower shop.
When she came out, she had a carnation in her hand.
She decided to just get one.
It was really hard to go empty-handed.
She asked a passing nurse for directions and smoothly found Zhou Cong’s hospital room.
Peering through the transparent glass on the door, Xu Zhiqiao saw Zhou Cong lying on the bed in a striped hospital gown, barely alive, his pale lips blending with the bedding.
There was no one else in the room, and the smell of medicine was unpleasant.
Xu Zhiqiao stepped softly and got a little closer. “Big Brother Zhou Cong…”
The man’s eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Zhou Cong’s lashes were long and dense, not curly, but straight, giving him a stubborn and indifferent demeanor.
Xu Zhiqiao, embarrassed, handed him the carnation. “This is for you.”
“…”
Perhaps because he wasn’t feeling well, the light in Zhou Cong’s eyes dimmed, but the pink carnation reflected a hint of color on his face. “Do you know the meaning of this flower?”
His voice was hoarse.
Xu Zhiqiao pressed her lips together, replying obediently, “It’s a symbol of respect and care for elders.”
“…”
Xu Zhiqiao added, “Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Zhou Cong wasn’t just suffering from stomach pain.
His head also hurt.
And his heart.
She—he was only four years older than her! He should just be a peer, right?
The girl stood awkwardly, likely understanding that it was the two bowls of hotpot that caused it. The mistake-prone child, feeling guilty and anxious.
Suddenly, Zhou Cong exhaled and extended his hand. “Help me sit up.”
Xu Zhiqiao didn’t dare say much and acted as a human crutch, helping him sit up.
She did indeed smell nice, just as he had imagined, with a faintly sweet scent. Her hair brushed against his skin as it hung loosely.
Zhou Cong’s throat moved.
Once he was seated, Xu Zhiqiao quickly stepped back, and the sweet fragrance seemed to vanish with her distance.
Zhou Cong almost reflexively reached out to pull her back.
Fortunately, he stopped himself.
There was silence for a moment.
Zhou Cong tilted his chin to the left. “Candy, fruit, take it yourself.”
“No, no,” Xu Zhiqiao was very reserved. “I just came to see you. If you’re fine, I’ll leave.”
Zhou Cong replied, “You’d better keep that ‘you’ in your stomach. If one’s not enough, I can get you a spot for an organ transplant.”
“…”
Zhou Cong stared at her. “Do you even have a heart?”
Xu Zhiqiao fiddled with the stem of the carnation. “Sorry, I didn’t know the seafood…”
“Xu Zhiqiao.” Zhou Cong furrowed his brows.
“…”
Zhou Cong ordered, “Look at me.”
The girl clearly tensed up.
Zhou Cong clicked his tongue, softening his tone. “The flower you gave me, are you going to take it back or not?”
“…” Xu Zhiqiao, nervously reacting, quickly handed the flower to him. “Thank you.”
Zhou Cong’s shoulder twitched. “So, I should apologize to you?”
His hospital gown was soft, his shoulders broad but slim, with prominent shoulder blades, and his arms were muscular without being exaggerated.
He was the type of guy girls find irresistible.
“You and your brother can shout at each other,” Zhou Cong was dissatisfied. “Why are you so cautious with me, your Big Brother Zhou Cong?”
Xu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and answered honestly, “He’s actually all talk.”
“…”
That felt a little weird, and Zhou Cong’s eyelids drooped. “Oh, so not only am I all talk, but I’m also vicious?”
Xu Zhiqiao peeked at him. “No, I mean, you’re more… consistent in your words and actions.”
For example, when he threatened to flatten the milk tea shop, Xu Zhiqiao believed he would do it.
“…”
Isn’t that essentially the same thing?
Xu Zhiqiao decided to leave. It was hard to breathe in here.
After sitting awkwardly for a few seconds, she opened her backpack, pulled out a wad of cash, and gently placed it on the side table. “I found the money. Since you didn’t accept the transfer, here’s cash. Thank you, big brother.”
“…” Zhou Cong felt like he might as well have stayed in the hospital.
At least he wouldn’t have to endure this series of soul-crushing blows.
“Big brother,” Xu Zhiqiao hesitated before seriously saying, “I’ll reimburse you for the medical expenses.”
“…” Zhou Cong clenched his jaw, his facial muscles tight with frustration, not knowing what to do with her. “Sure, you know my lifestyle. Everything I have is top-notch, so you probably won’t be able to afford it.”
Xu Zhiqiao looked nervous.
Zhou Cong’s cold gaze grew even colder.
She treated him and Ji Huailuo so differently.
“How… much is it?” Xu Zhiqiao asked timidly. “If it’s too much, I can ask my mother…”
Zhou Cong’s face went wooden. “And then your mother will ask why you owe money, and you’ll say I’m in the hospital. Your mother will ask why I’m in the hospital, and you’ll say because you took me for hotpot. Then your mother will ask…”
“Okay, okay, I won’t say anything,” Xu Zhiqiao’s scalp tingled. “I’ll go borrow it from my brother.”
“…”
You might as well ask your mom for it.
This made Ji Huailuo’s status clear.
Zhou Cong’s gaze turned icy. “Kiss me, and this matter is settled…”
Before he could finish, the chair suddenly screeched loudly, and Xu Zhiqiao, blushing from her cheeks to the roots of her ears, clutched her backpack tightly and bumped into the trash can, quickly retreating to the door.
Zhou Cong frowned. “Did that hurt…”
“I’ve left the money there,” Xu Zhiqiao felt like she was being played. “For the medical expenses, take a photo of the bill for me. No matter how much it is, I’ll pay you back every penny.”
She swallowed her anger. “You go have fun with someone else. My health is bad, my personality is horrible, and I’m useless. Go find someone else to play with.”
Zhou Cong’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and an unprecedented sense of absurdity swept over him.
He didn’t know he was so bad.
So bad that the other person would rather degrade herself than be around him.
“Xu Zhiqiao,” Zhou Cong’s voice was filled with coldness, “I have plenty of ways to make you come over obediently…”
Xu Zhiqiao’s nose turned pink. “Then I could easily die. A cat, a dog, a bit of pollen, or some willow catkins…”
Before she could finish, Zhou Cong’s deep pupils suddenly contracted, and his tone sharply rose. “Xu. Zhi. Qiao!”
The girl’s shoulder trembled, and she shrank into a ball.
Zhou Cong closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.
The room was deathly silent, and Zhou Cong could hear his own blood flow and his labored breaths, desperately trying to control his anger.
It felt like an eternity.
“Do you want to be beaten?” Zhou Cong’s voice was low, hoarse. “All you had to do was act cute with me.”
Grandpa Zhou always said his personality was tough and domineering, that he needed a girl who could soften him with gentleness.
Zhou Cong thought Xu Zhiqiao was soft and the type to act cute, but he didn’t expect her to be as stiff as a nail when she was firm. Wherever he was soft, she would poke.
The girl in the corner was like a startled bird, and Zhou Cong felt as if she had hollowed out his heart. “I’ll have someone send you back to school…”
“No need,” Xu Zhiqiao quickly replied. “I’ll go back myself. Thank you, Young Master Zhou.”
“…”
She ran off so quickly, disappearing in a second.
Not even calling him “big brother” anymore.
The ice that had been broken by Hua Niuniu was frozen once more, and thicker than before.