Jiang Mocheng could only feel powerless in this situation. He wasn’t good at apologizing or comforting others, but even though he was slow to perceive emotions, he could sense her sadness and distress at this moment.

The strange atmosphere was broken by the doctor coming in for rounds.

The helpless woman on the bed was crying, while the man beside her remained silent. It was an intriguing scene.

The doctor and nurse exchanged glances, their eyes intentionally or unintentionally shifting toward Jiang Mocheng.

The nurse approached him with a professional tone, “Family member of the patient, please step aside.”

Jiang Mocheng adjusted his position but didn’t move away. Instead, he stood where he could still observe the doctor’s examination without disturbing them.

Taking advantage of his height, he clearly saw Bai Ying turn over, her tear-streaked black hair clinging to her pale cheeks.

Her eyes were swollen, and she continued to sob subconsciously. She looked pitiful beyond measure.

The doctor focused on his task, checking her blood pressure. Rolling up her sleeve, he lowered his gaze, scanning her arm for any marks.

Satisfied that there were none, he subtly sighed in relief.

“Family member, step out for a moment,” the doctor said without looking up.

Jiang Mocheng hesitated but didn’t say anything. Before leaving, he leaned down and whispered to Bai Ying, “I’ll step out briefly. If you need anything, just call me.”

After she nodded slightly, he left, closing the door behind him. His stern expression made other patients and their families glance curiously at him, quickly avoiding his path.

Once outside, the doctor instructed the nurse to draw the curtain.

While continuing the routine examination, he casually asked, “Do you mind if I perform additional checks?”

Bai Ying, her emotions finally settling, responded in a slightly hoarse voice, “What kind of checks?”

“Checking your body for any…” The doctor stopped there, then added seriously, “Don’t be afraid. You’re in the hospital now; no one can harm you.”

The nurse also looked at her with concern.

Both seemed to suspect that Bai Ying had been mistreated by Jiang Mocheng.

After a moment, Bai Ying finally realized and hurriedly waved her hand. “No, no. He didn’t hurt me or mistreat me.”

“We just had an argument. He’s particularly annoying…”

Bai Ying felt a little embarrassed, trying her best to explain. “Really, everything is fine. Thank you, Doctor.”

The doctor locked eyes with her, confirming that she wasn’t defending the man. He then smiled and said, “Good to hear.”

…

After the routine check, the doctor and nurse left the room. Jiang Mocheng quickly entered, coming to her bedside.

“How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”

Having cried earlier, Bai Ying’s mood had improved. “I’m fine.”

As she sat up to get out of bed, Jiang Mocheng treated her like a patient needing careful attention. He reached out to support her, and she leaned her entire weight on the hand he had around her waist.

“I need to freshen up.”

“Okay.”

He assisted her into the bathroom.

Seeing the unopened toothbrush and toothpaste on the sink, Bai Ying’s residual irritation vanished.

In moments of guilt, a man could indeed go above and beyond to make amends.

—

Not needing Bai Ying to speak, Jiang Mocheng had already opened the toothpaste. After cleaning the toothbrush head, he patiently and carefully squeezed out the toothpaste and poured water before handing it to her.

After brushing her teeth, he pulled a towel from the clothes rack on the side. The towel had also been rinsed, but it was still damp in his hands.

“Did you buy the electric kettle and basin?”

Bai Ying was genuinely surprised.

“I asked the family members of the patient next door. The convenience store on the first floor of the hospital building sells them.”

He paused and added, “We have limited resources here, so you’ll have to make do.”

He poured hot water into the basin and then mixed it with cold water from the tap.

“You can wash your face now.”

After coming out of the bathroom, Bai Ying felt refreshed.

Jiang Mocheng went out for a while and returned with a thermos in his hand. When he opened it, a fragrant aroma filled the air. Bai Ying’s appetite was piqued, and she leaned over to take a look.

To her surprise, it was chicken soup.

He ladled a small bowl for her, and just as she was about to take it, he subtly avoided her and whispered, “It’s hot, let me help.”

Bai Ying rarely enjoyed such treatment.

She sat on the bed, leaning against the pillow. Jiang Mocheng pulled over a chair and sat by the bedside, feeding her spoonfuls of chicken soup. His hands were steady, not spilling a drop.

During their interactions, they had seldom been this silent. Jiang Mocheng noticed that her complexion was no longer as pale as the previous night.

He spoke softly, “I’ll try not to come back smelling of alcohol in the future.”

“Huh?”

Bai Ying found the chicken soup delicious and urged him with her eyes when he slowed down the feeding pace.

“There are many occasions where I can’t avoid drinking,” he explained. “But I’ll try to drink less. Before coming back to see you, I’ll take a shower.”

Bai Ying replied, “…That’s not related.”

“I know.”

After fainting in front of him and crying so heartbreakingly, she seemed much smaller now. Jiang Mocheng reflected on his poor performance last night.

Why did he bother arguing with his girlfriend? If she wanted to throw a tantrum, she could. Why didn’t she do it in front of others?

He still remembered how she looked when they first met. Now that she considered him a reliable boyfriend, why did he blame her for being immature?

Jiang Mocheng put down the bowl and held her hands. “There won’t be a second time.”

He hadn’t considered her feelings. She was so timid. Yesterday, he brought her from the Shen family to this unfamiliar city, leaving her alone in the hotel for official business. She must have been anxious.

Returning with alcohol on his breath, he knew her mood wasn’t good, yet he didn’t console her immediately and even told her not to get angry with him.

Bai Ying’s gaze shifted to the porcelain bowl on the bedside table.

Dissatisfied, she said, “I’m still hungry.”

Jiang Mocheng chuckled. “Alright, what else do you want to eat? I’ll have someone get it for you.”

“But I don’t like chicken skin. What should I do?”

“Hmm?”

A few minutes later, Jiang Mocheng washed his hands thoroughly. Bai Ying inspected them carefully and finally nodded in approval.

He used a ladle to scoop out a chicken leg from the thermos. Suppressing the greasy feeling on his fingers, he meticulously removed the chicken skin. Perhaps even he couldn’t believe that one day he would willingly do this for someone.

After Bai Ying finished the chicken leg, her stomach finally felt satisfied.

As for Jiang Mocheng, he hid in the bathroom, wishing he could scrub his hands off with soap…

Jiang Mocheng regained his calm demeanor, his gaze quickly scanning the thermos. Nonchalantly, he came over to her, completed the discharge procedures, and the two of them returned to the hotel.

Bai Ying had had enough. After entering the room, she broke free from his embrace, grabbed fresh clothes, and rushed into the bathroom for a hot shower.

When she emerged, she found him sitting obediently on the couch, not attempting to touch the large bed she intended to sleep in. She was very satisfied.

Bai Ying blow-dried her hair and approached the couch. Before she could even settle down, he pulled her onto his lap.

The weather was beautiful today, with warm sunlight streaming in through the window.

She absentmindedly glanced at the newspaper in his hands. “Do you play the stock market too?”

Jiang Mocheng shook his head. “I used to. Back when my grandfather was still alive, he gave me a stern warning.”

At that time, he dabbled in stocks and futures while abroad.

Feeling accomplished and confident, he received call after call from overseas, thinking something significant had happened back home.

But before he could even retrieve his luggage from the car, he was dragged in front of his grandfather, who sternly administered family discipline.

“Why?” Bai Ying asked, surprised.

Jiang Mocheng chuckled. “He thought it was an unproductive pursuit, akin to gambling. He forbade me from getting involved.”

“I didn’t take it lying down. We argued and fought, and he nearly had a stroke from anger.”

His tone grew somber. “Little did I know that the next year, he would truly be gone.”

“Perhaps it’s better that he’s not around to be annoyed by me even in the afterlife. I’ve lost interest in it anyways.”

Bai Ying responded with a soft “Hmm,” pulling the newspaper from his hands and reading it line by line.

Sure enough, the stock Shen Jin had purchased was plummeting.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Finally, she looked at the man holding her. They were still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship.

Their prolonged gaze lasted more than two seconds, and Jiang Mocheng leaned in as if drawn by some invisible force. His hand cradled the back of her head, and he kissed her.

They had kissed countless times, lips pressed together. She couldn’t help but part her lips, allowing him to deepen the kiss.

After a lingering kiss, Bai Ying’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes glistened. In this increasingly intimate moment, she softly asked him, “Do you like me?”

If not for last night’s incident, Jiang Mocheng might not have answered this question so candidly. His eyes met hers; he had cried earlier, and his eyelids were still slightly swollen.

He nodded.

“Really?” Bai Ying’s eyes held a playful glint as she leaned closer. “And do you love me? The kind of love that would make you die for me.”

Jiang Mocheng looked surprised, meeting her gaze. It seemed that if he said “no,” she would burst into tears.