Chapter 17: The Vicious Female Supporting Character in the 1980s (17)

Su Qin was groggy from the fever. At first, her head just felt heavy, but later her forehead throbbed with pain like being stabbed with a needle. Her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to catch fire.

She struggled to get out of bed, wanting to pour herself some water. Because of the dizziness and weakness all over her body, she accidentally bumped into the corner of the cabinet. The pain made her squat down with tears gushing from her eyes.

The intense pain combined with her physical discomfort made Su Qin feel helpless and panicked. Looking at the empty room, she even began to wonder if she might die here and no one would know.

She didn’t manage to drink any water and weakly crawled back to bed, covering herself with the blanket again. Her body temperature continued to rise and her stomach twisted in pain. Su Qin held her abdomen and curled up into a ball.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard someone calling out, “Xiao Qin? Xiao Qin, are you home?”

It was Liu Xiaoyan’s voice.

Su Qin forced herself to sit up, trying to respond, but her voice was so hoarse it was unrecognizable. She grew anxious and cold sweat kept breaking out on her forehead.

The next second, before losing consciousness, she only remembered her body falling forward.

Outside the front door.

Liu Xiaoyan raised her hand and knocked again. “Xiao Qin, are you not home? I brought you some cured meat.”

When Cheng Wenfeng returned home, he bumped into Liu Xiaoyan just as she was about to leave. She casually asked him, “Is Xiao Qin not home?”

“Maybe she went to the bookstore,” Cheng Wenfeng replied.

Liu Xiaoyan said, “We were supposed to meet at the bookstore, but I just came back from there. She wasn’t there. The shop clerk said she hadn’t shown up at all today.”

It was already afternoon.

Cheng Wenfeng’s expression didn’t look good as he looked again at the tightly closed door.

Su Qin didn’t have many places she could go. Other than the bookstore and home, where else could she be? And her trips to the bookstore were on a fixed schedule. If she said she was going, she definitely would.

“Maybe she went to the magazine agency?” Liu Xiaoyan guessed.

“She just went there the day before yesterday,” Cheng Wenfeng replied.

Su Qin only went at most twice a month. She had just submitted something recently. There was no way she’d go again.

“Then how come she’s not home? I’ve already waited a long time,” Liu Xiaoyan said, then her imagination ran wild, “Could something have happened to her?”

As soon as she said that, Cheng Wenfeng also stepped up to the door and knocked. “Su Qin?”

There was no response.

He walked over to the wall, looked around, then climbed over it with a few swift movements.

Liu Xiaoyan gasped and froze in place.

After climbing over, Cheng Wenfeng immediately went to open the door for Liu Xiaoyan.

The two of them walked toward the main door. Naturally, it was locked. Cheng Wenfeng scanned the yard, then looked into the kitchen. Clearly, no food had been made and there weren’t any clothes hanging to dry.

His gaze darkened and he found a piece of wire to start picking the lock.

“Hey—what are you doing?” Liu Xiaoyan panicked and tried to stop him.

Cheng Wenfeng picked the lock in just a few swift moves and quickly walked inside.

“You can’t just barge into someone’s house like that. That’s not right—you—Xiao Qin!” Liu Xiaoyan hadn’t even finished her sentence when she saw Su Qin lying beside the bed. Her voice trembled in shock.

Cheng Wenfeng scooped Su Qin up and ran out the door. Liu Xiaoyan followed behind, eyes red and choked up, saying, “What happened to her? What’s wrong with her?”

As soon as they got to the hospital, Su Qin was taken into the emergency room.

Her fever had reached forty degrees. The doctor instructed them to quickly pay the medical fees and scolded them harshly, “She’s burning up like this and you only now bring her in. If a high fever leads to coma, it could cause brain damage!”

Liu Xiaoyan didn’t have any money and paced around anxiously. It was Cheng Wenfeng who paid immediately.

“What do we do? What should we do?” Liu Xiaoyan stood outside the emergency room. Thinking of the doctor’s angry warning, she was terrified. She looked at Cheng Wenfeng and cried, “Will she really suffer brain damage? What do we do?”

“She’ll be fine,” Cheng Wenfeng leaned against the wall, eyes fixed on the emergency room, his vacant and lost gaze revealing the heaviness in his heart.

He remained standing like that, maintaining the same posture, completely still.

Once Liu Xiaoyan calmed down, she also looked at him.

Not long ago, He Peng had excitedly shared some big news with her. He said Cheng Wenfeng liked Su Qin and that the two had even gone on a blind date before.

Liu Xiaoyan asked which Su Qin he meant.

He Peng said it was the one working as a temporary worker at the canning factory who had also published drawings and articles in magazines.

They immediately realized they were talking about the same person. He Peng was surprised that the Su Qin Liu Xiaoyan often mentioned as her good friend was actually that same Su Qin.

Liu Xiaoyan had come over this time intending to talk to Su Qin about it and gossip a little. She also wanted to know what Su Qin thought about it.

She didn’t expect something like this to happen.

Liu Xiaoyan stayed until nightfall. She had to go back or else her mother would be out searching for her.

As she got up, her foot had gone numb and she stumbled forward a couple of steps. Cheng Wenfeng still hadn’t moved.

“I’m heading back. I’ll come again in a bit.”

After she said that, Cheng Wenfeng still didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the emergency room.

Liu Xiaoyan walked a few steps, then turned back to look at him. He was still in the same posture, as if he hadn’t heard a word she said.

*

Su Qin only remembered dreaming for a long time.

In the dream, she kept struggling and acting out, only to be abandoned again and again by the people around her. She became a notorious vicious supporting character. Everyone despised and looked down on her.

In the end, she couldn’t even keep her job, ended up wandering the streets, and eventually died a miserable death.

She wanted to fight back, to explain, but it was like she was being held down. She didn’t even have the strength to raise her hand. She struggled with all her might, but it was useless.

When Su Qin opened her eyes again, the smell of disinfectant filled her nose. Seeing the white bedsheet, she thought she was dead.

Who had taken care of her body?

Su Qin saw Cheng Wenfeng walk up to her. Her eyes immediately felt sore, and tears streamed down her face. She opened her mouth and choked out, “It’s you taking care of my body again.”

When Cheng Wenfeng saw that she was awake, he immediately shouted toward the door, “Doctor!”

Several doctors in white coats rushed in and examined Su Qin thoroughly. Cheng Wenfeng stood anxiously to the side, his eyes never leaving her for even a second.

Su Qin gradually accepted the fact that she was still alive and just in the hospital.

After the doctors left, only Su Qin and Cheng Wenfeng were left in the ward. He came over and asked gently, “Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Su Qin said, “Just a bit sleepy, very tired and drowsy.”

“Why don’t you get some sleep?” Cheng Wenfeng said and then asked again while watching her, “How long will you sleep?”

“How long have I been sleeping?”

“Two days.”

Su Qin pulled the corners of her mouth and half-jokingly said, “I thought I was dead.”

“That’s not true.” Cheng Wenfeng didn’t want to hear such unlucky words. He picked up the cup from the bedside table, scooped a spoonful of water, and brought it to her lips. “Your lips are cracked. Drink some water to moisten them.”

Now that they were close, Su Qin finally noticed the dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his chin, and how haggard he looked.

Su Qin felt a twinge in her heart. A layer of mist rose in her eyes. Her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and she couldn’t speak. She opened her mouth and drank the water.

Cheng Wenfeng fed her a few spoonfuls. She gently shook her head. “No more.”

He didn’t force her and placed the water to the side.

“These past two days, you were the one taking care of me?” Su Qin asked.

She had no family and lived alone. If anything happened to her, no one would even know.

“Liu Xiaoyan also came over.”

Just as Cheng Wenfeng finished speaking, Liu Xiaoyan appeared at the door. When she saw Su Qin awake, she immediately got emotional. “You’re finally awake!”

Before she could finish her sentence, she burst into tears again. “I thought you wouldn’t wake up. The doctor said your brain was almost damaged by the fever. Wuwuwu—”

“Aren’t I fine now? I’ll be completely better soon.” Su Qin comforted her and said, “I promised you I’d cook a big meal for you at my place.”

“You scared me to death.” Liu Xiaoyan sat by the hospital bed, sobbing. “If Cheng Wenfeng hadn’t noticed something was wrong and insisted on going in, no one would have found out you fainted at home.”

Su Qin looked at Cheng Wenfeng.

Oh right. She had fainted at home, and both the front door and room door were locked. How did he get in?

Liu Xiaoyan explained, “He jumped over the wall and used an iron wire to open your room door. I even scolded him, but then I saw you lying on the ground.”

After Liu Xiaoyan left, Cheng Wenfeng explained, “I didn’t see any clothes washed and hung out, and the kitchen hadn’t been used, which meant you hadn’t gotten up. Something must have happened.”

He hadn’t opened her door without reason.

Su Qin didn’t blame him for prying open the door. “I don’t even remember how I fell out of bed.” As she spoke, she sighed and looked at her arm with furrowed brows.

“Does it hurt a little?” Cheng Wenfeng noticed and asked.

She lightly nodded.

He came over, sat by the bed, and lifted her sleeve. There was a clear abrasion at her elbow, the skin broken and red.

“Does your leg hurt?” he asked again.

As soon as he mentioned it, Su Qin realized there was also a dull pain in her leg. She nodded again.

“Your leg was bruised from a hit. There’s a large patch of bruising.” Cheng Wenfeng looked at her lying weak and helpless on the bed, thought for a moment, then asked gently, “Shall I help you apply medicine? The nurses are busy right now and don’t have time to look after you.”

Su Qin said, “Okay.”

She was very obedient. At this moment, she looked like a fragile doll, quietly lying on the bed, her face pale and weak.

Cheng Wenfeng took out the antiseptic and cotton swabs and carefully applied the medicine for her. He glanced at her face from the corner of his eye. When he saw her frown, he slowed his movements as much as possible.

The antiseptic stung when it touched the wound. Her body was weak, and even a slight movement was exhausting. She stared at the ceiling, countless emotions swirling inside her.

Whenever she got sick, Su Qin became especially sensitive and fragile. Back in college, her three other roommates were all only children. Not to mention when they were sick, even every few days their parents would fly in to visit, sometimes even flying home once a week.

But no matter how serious her illness was, she had to endure it alone.

She was an orphan. She had been one, and she still was.

“It hurts—” Su Qin’s voice carried a sob. With that emotion, at first only her eyes grew wet and her voice became nasal. Then tears streamed down recklessly, soaking into the pillow.

Her shoulders trembled slightly. From suppressed choking, she began to cry aloud.

She thought she had died.

If an orphan dies, no one knows, and no one will be sad.

Cheng Wenfeng held the bottle of antiseptic in place, keeping the same posture. His deep, wise eyes were full of pain. He didn’t know what to do and apologized in regret, “Did I hurt you?”

Su Qin shook her head, tears blurring her vision.

Not long after fully regaining consciousness, Su Qin was already exhausted. Crying and crying, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Only then did Cheng Wenfeng dare to continue applying the medicine. He gently pulled down her rolled-up sleeve and placed her hand back under the blanket.

Her hands were so delicate and soft. He didn’t even dare to use a bit of force.

Cheng Wenfeng tucked her in and used tissues to wipe her tears. Seeing her red eyes and nose and her occasional sobs even in sleep, his heart ached as if stabbed again and again, filled with endless tenderness.

He gently wiped away her tears, then sat down and looked at her. After hesitating for a long time, he slowly raised his hand and reached toward the top of her head.

Just before touching it, he paused.

In the end, Cheng Wenfeng’s hand still landed on her head. His touch was extremely gentle, softly ruffling her smooth and silky hair, as if comforting an injured kitten.

In her sleep, Su Qin seemed to sense something, her tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxing quite a bit.

*

After several consecutive days in the hospital, Su Qin finally showed some improvement.

Even though she was conscious, she kept having low fevers on and off, feeling hot and cold all over.

Upon learning that she was staying up late to study for the college entrance exam and then going to work at the factory the next day, the doctors concluded it was due to excessive stress combined with her body not being able to handle it.

During her hospital stay, Su Qin was weak and needed someone to help her even when going to the bathroom. She looked listless and exhausted.

Liu Xiaoyan came every day, but she had to work and could not stay long. She had once offered to keep watch overnight. That night, she did not sleep at all and went to work the next day with panda eyes. According to He Peng, she walked in a daze and almost got hit by a car.

Su Qin was scared and felt very guilty. She did not let Liu Xiaoyan stay overnight again.

Although Liu Xiaoyan treated her as her best friend, Su Qin felt awkward troubling her so much. It was actually easier to be around Cheng Wenfeng.

Because she was weak, she could only eat light foods. Although Cheng Wenfeng kept making different dishes, Su Qin was a bit tired of them.

However, Su Qin never complained. She would thank him and then quietly eat.

Today he made radish pork rib soup, with vegetable porridge as the main dish, which was easy to digest.

He ate the same.

While eating, Cheng Wenfeng noticed her expression. “Are you tired of it?”

Su Qin did not deny it and forced a smile. “It’s okay.”

“When you get better, I will cook other dishes for you. Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, I can also make Cantonese food.”

“Really? Then I want to get well quickly,” Su Qin’s eyes brightened with hope. “Did the doctor say when I can be discharged?”

“If nothing goes wrong, you can be discharged tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Su Qin nodded, picked up a piece of rib, and offered it to him. “Here, have some.”

In this era, ribs were a rare delicacy. During her hospital stay, Cheng Wenfeng had bought ribs and meat for her every day. Although he said he ate the same as her, no one had seen him eat much meat.

“I don’t want it.” Cheng Wenfeng refused.

“Come on.” Su Qin insisted.

Her eyes kept watching him, her chin slightly raised, signaling him to come.

After resisting for a moment, Cheng Wenfeng slowly walked over, still saying, “I recently partnered with friends to open a wood panel store. I do the business, he manages the store. The business is doing well.”

What he wanted to say was, he was not that poor.

“That’s great.” Su Qin did not think much and put the rib into his bowl. Then she quickly picked up another piece and put it in too, smiling as she said, “I can’t finish it.”

Cheng Wenfeng looked at the two ribs in the bowl. “What do you want to eat tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.”

“How about chicken soup?”

“Soup again?” Su Qin lowered her head silently drinking the rib soup, pouted slightly. “Alright then—”

Hearing her soft and delicate voice, Cheng Wenfeng’s heart melted completely, his gaze warm as water.

After discharge, Su Qin rested at home for a few days before starting work again.

Cheng Wenfeng, worried, waited at her door early every day. Only after seeing her did his tightly wound nerves relax.

Afraid she would feel uncomfortable, he did not walk with her but followed behind at a distance, neither too far nor too close.

Su Qin walked ahead for a while, then deliberately stopped.

The person behind did not catch up immediately. She frowned and looked back. Cheng Wenfeng had stopped walking.

Su Qin smiled at the corner of her mouth, blinked, and said, “Why haven’t you caught up yet?”

Cheng Wenfeng realized and hurried forward, afraid she would change her mind, and walked up beside her.

The two walked side by side. Su Qin looked natural and chatted casually with him.

Cheng Wenfeng rarely started conversations but listened carefully and responded to every word she said.

Because she was just recovering from illness, Su Qin looked much thinner and somewhat weak.

When Cheng Lan saw Su Qin, she looked heartbroken. “You said it was just a fever? Why did you end up in the hospital? And you lost so much weight.”

Su Qin joked, “Isn’t it because of the college entrance exam? Studying is really hard.”

Cheng Wenfeng once asked if she wanted to tell the factory she was in the hospital. Su Qin refused and said she was sick at home, otherwise Cheng Lan and the workshop supervisor might come to visit.

She disliked such “lively” scenes and could not handle them.

Being sick was not a good thing. She was tired of entertaining visitors.

“Yes, the college entrance exam is coming soon. It’s really pitiful,” Cheng Lan said again, mentioning the tense atmosphere at her own daughter’s home before exams. Thinking of Su Qin’s situation, she said, “After your exam, I’ll get you an old hen to nourish you.”

“Okay.”

Su Qin went to the workshop. Everyone was surprised to see her because she looked much thinner.

From their expressions, Su Qin sensed something was wrong. During lunch break, she asked Chen Feng. Chen Feng hesitated but eventually revealed some news that made Su Qin’s face darken.

Because she had been away for so long, Zhou Xiufang had spread some rumors again. The final gossip said Su Qin probably went to the hospital for an abortion and was now resting at home after a “little confinement.”

At work, Zhou Xiufang looked at Su Qin pointedly and said, “You are too weak, no color, lost so much weight. Why rush to come back to work? You need to rest more.”

Sitting the month after childbirth took a whole month, and the “little confinement” was about the same.

“It’s just a fever and illness. I’ll recover slowly. No rush,” Su Qin said calmly.

Zhou Xiufang smiled but then oddly worried, “You’ve been sick so long and still have to prepare for the college entrance exam. That’s hard. But if it’s like this, it’s okay if you don’t pass.”

She thought Su Qin was playing a smart game.

Now she was “sick” and on leave. If she failed, she could say it was because of illness.

Zhou Xiufang said this to block Su Qin’s way. If she had no ability, then she had no ability. She should not blame the illness for failing.

Su Qin: “It’s okay, it doesn’t matter.”

“Judging by your tone, you really think you can get into university?” Zhou Xiufang helped her up first, then put a hat on her.

“It’s not the college entrance exam now, so it doesn’t affect anything.” Su Qin was tired of her nagging and changed the subject. “By the way, how is your Zhuzhu doing with her college preparation?”

“Of course very well. After all, Su Yue tutored her for the entire summer.” Zhou Xiufang started again. “Every mock exam was good. She will definitely get into university. She studies at home every day. It makes me worry so much. I even want her to go out more, but she refuses.”

“She stays home all the time? Then I must have misjudged her.”

The moment Su Qin said this, everyone unconsciously looked at her, sensing some gossip.

Zhou Xiufang was completely unaware: “What do you mean?”

“Oh, I just happened to see someone who looks a lot like Zhuzhu going to the third house on the inner side of Beinan Alley these past few months. I thought she was visiting a classmate.” Su Qin said casually.

Zhou Xiufang’s face changed slightly, and she quickly refuted, “Don’t say nonsense. Our Zhuzhu didn’t go anywhere! She studies hard every day! She definitely hasn’t done any messy things.”

Because her reaction was so strong, everyone found it strange. But Su Qin didn’t respond and continued with her own business.

After work, Su Qin went home.

Cheng Wenfeng was already waiting for her in the alley. When she saw him, Su Qin greeted him with a smile: “Why did you come back so quickly?”

“Just arrived,” he said.

“I came back right after getting off work—none of them were as fast as me. You’re really quick.”

Cheng Wenfeng smiled and handed her an apple. “It’s good to eat apples, it helps your body recover.”

“Thank you.”

Cheng Wenfeng added, “I bought sausages. Tonight I can make you a stir-fry and seaweed soup.”

“Really?” Su Qin’s eyes lit up.

“You can’t eat spicy food for now, so I will make braised tofu.”

Su Qin looked eager and full of anticipation.

Cheng Wenfeng’s lips curved with a full smile. He turned and went back to his small courtyard. “I will come find you when it’s ready. You go read.”

During her illness, she missed a lot of lessons. When she was in the hospital, she asked him to bring her books, but her condition was too serious, so he didn’t agree.

“Thank you.”

Before entering the small courtyard, Su Qin poked her head out and sweetly said this to him.

Cheng Wenfeng’s eyes showed a smile, and his tone softened without realizing it: “Go read.”

Their relationship was much more harmonious than before. Su Qin no longer dodged the kindness he showed, but accepted it openly.

She was naturally thin and weak. The factory assembly line work made her tired, and on top of that, she still had to study at home. Time was never enough.

After returning from the hospital, she had a slight fever again. Cheng Wenfeng suggested she stop staying up late studying. He would cook for her, so she could save time and read.

Another week passed.

Su Qin was almost fully recovered. Cheng Wenfeng promised to buy her beef pancakes and dumplings for breakfast this weekend. For lunch, they would have spicy chicken, spicy tofu, and boiled fish slices.

She started looking forward to it from the night before.

When she woke up in the morning, Cheng Wenfeng knocked on the door. Su Qin smiled brightly and jumped happily to open it. The aroma hit her immediately. “Smells so good.”

Cheng Wenfeng handed her the beef pancakes and dumplings, also giving her a bottle. “This is soy milk.”

“Soy milk too?” Su Qin reached out to take it, then noticed the grass carp and half a chicken in his hands. “Did you really buy these?”

“I saw fishermen selling shrimp by the river, so I bought some.” Cheng Wenfeng showed her half a bag of river shrimp that were still jumping.

“Isn’t that too much?” Su Qin said so, but the excitement on her face couldn’t hide. “How do you have so many delicious things?”

“Two meals are not too much. I will go back and prepare them.” Cheng Wenfeng looked at her, feeling very happy, his smiling mouth couldn’t hide.

“I will come over later.”

“No need. I can handle it alone. Go read.”

Right now, he looked exactly like a parent who wanted the child to study hard without wasting any time.

Su Qin: “I woke up early today and almost finished two test papers. Once I finish this question, I will come over. I won’t help. I will just watch.”

“Okay.” Cheng Wenfeng nodded gently and went back to his home.

Su Qin ate breakfast, then quickly finished her test paper. After taking care of her own things, she was happily about to go out.

She had just opened the door when the next-door courtyard was suddenly hit hard, followed by a familiar angry shout: “Wang Zhuzhu, get out here!”