Chapter 15

Lu Jingzhe didn’t know that Xia Qingning worked at a state-owned factory. Hearing this, he realized that her weak body was due to the fact that she didn’t have enough money to eat properly and was often hungry.

Realizing this, Lu Jingzhe suddenly felt a pang of guilt. All these years, he had never cared for her because he was angry, and he had never sent her any money. She was often bullied, and she had no money. How did she live?

Last night, when he carried her to the hospital, she was nestled in his arms, light as a cat. She looked truly pitiful.

Although he didn’t like her, she was married to him after all. He had a responsibility to her.

“Yeah, you don’t have to save money anymore.” Lu Jingzhe said earnestly, as if making a promise.

Xia Qingning didn’t expect Lu Jingzhe to be so cooperative. A smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

Pu Yue originally wanted to embarrass her by saying that, but she ended up eating a mouthful of dog food. She didn’t want to hear them say any more sweet nothings, so she said:

“If you don’t have a fever again in the afternoon, you can go home.” After thinking for a moment, she continued, “If you’re not sure, you can get another two days of IV fluids.”

“Yeah, we’ll get it.” Lu Jingzhe answered without hesitation.

Seeing Lu Jingzhe care for Xia Qingning so much, Pu Yue felt very uncomfortable. She didn’t want to stay there any longer, so she said, “Okay, I’ll go write you a prescription,” and walked out of the ward.

Watching Pu Yue leave resentfully, Xia Qingning felt much more relieved. Then she looked at Lu Jingzhe and began to apologize:

“I’m sorry about that.”

“What?” Lu Jingzhe was puzzled.

“I took the liberty of helping you refuse Dr. Pu’s invitation.” Xia Qingning said, then quickly explained, “I saw that you didn’t want to go with her, but you were afraid to refuse her directly, so I said that.”

“It’s fine.” Lu Jingzhe said. He was going to refuse anyway.

“It’s good that you’re not angry.” Xia Qingning felt relieved when she saw that he didn’t take it to heart.

Lu Jingzhe was her protective charm now. She didn’t want to upset him.

They didn’t speak anymore. Lu Jingzhe washed the lunch box and went downstairs to eat.

Xia Qingning received two more days of IV fluids and her body was much better. She was ready to go home. Wang Mingfang came twice in the meantime, bringing stewed chicken. She was always good at maintaining appearances.

Xia Qingning didn’t refuse. She drank the chicken soup and ate the chicken. Her body needed to be replenished. It was a good thing to eat it.

In the afternoon, they packed up, paid their bills, and left the hospital. Xia Qingning thought they were going straight home, but Lu Jingzhe took her to the department store and bought two 800-gram cans of malt extract.

Although he didn’t say it explicitly, Xia Qingning knew he bought it specifically for her to replenish her body.

Malt extract was a top luxury food in this era. One can cost ten yuan. Lu Jingzhe didn’t even blink when he paid for it, and he bought it for her, someone he didn’t like very much. It seemed he was really rich.

Well, not only was he rich, but he was also generous.

Because Lu Jingzhe had something else to do, he took the things home and put them on the table in the living room before going out.

Xia Qingning went to her room first to tidy up.

Just then, He Shanshan, who had just finished work, returned home. As soon as she entered the house, she saw the malt extract on the table. Her eyes lit up instantly.

She couldn’t wait to run into the kitchen, grab her exclusive white porcelain bowl, pour a bowl of hot water into it, and then walk to the table and open the lid of the malt extract.

As soon as the lid was lifted, a rich aroma of malt, cream, and milk filled the air, making her mouth water.

She worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. Every day at noon, she saw their leader make a small cup of malt extract and drink it. The enticing aroma filled the air, making all the clerks swallow their saliva.

When she got home, she begged Wang Mingfang to buy some too, but one can cost more than ten yuan, which was too expensive.

Apart from Xia Qingning, who looked frail, the others were all healthy and strong. They didn’t need to supplement their diet.

So for so long, they had never bought any.

Now, seeing two large cans on the table, how could she not be excited?

She didn’t even wash her hands. Just as she was about to pick up the spoon and scoop it into the bowl, she heard a dissatisfied voice behind her:

“What are you doing?”

Hearing the voice, He Shanshan turned her head and saw Xia Qingning looking at her with narrowed eyes.

Xia Qingning didn’t expect that while she was tidying her bedsheets, He Shanshan was about to eat her malt extract.

Although she wasn’t a stingy person, she wasn’t a saint either. She wouldn’t be generous enough to let someone like He Shanshan eat such an expensive thing.

“What’s it to you?” He Shanshan didn’t take her seriously at all. She picked up the spoon and was about to continue scooping. “Are you blind? Can’t you see?”

Seeing her so arrogant, Xia Qingning didn’t indulge her. She walked over, snatched the can away, and said:

“This wasn’t bought for you. If you want to eat it, buy your own.”

The malt extract that was about to be eaten was snatched away. He Shanshan instantly got angry. She didn’t care whose it was. Since it was brought back, and since she saw it, it was hers.

She glared fiercely at Xia Qingning, put her hands on her hips, and shouted loudly:

“What’s yours and mine? Yours is mine too, you stinky girl, give it back to me.” She reached out to grab it directly.

Xia Qingning’s small frame was no match for He Shanshan, who was full of brute strength. The can was snatched away from her. She hugged the can with a smug look on her face and said shamelessly:

“What’s wrong with eating some of your stuff?” She wasn’t satisfied and raised her hand to push Xia Qingning hard.

She was strong as an ox. Xia Qingning was pushed back by this push and was about to fall. Lu Jingzhe, who had just walked into the house, quickly caught her shoulder with his agile movements.

After Xia Qingning stood firm, Lu Jingzhe’s face darkened, and his cold eyes swept over He Shanshan’s face.

He Shanshan was a little nervous when she met his eyes. She didn’t know why, but every time she met Lu Jingzhe’s eyes, she felt a little scared. It wasn’t because he looked scary, but because the serious aura he exuded was too strong, making it impossible to ignore.

“I… I didn’t mean to.” He Shanshan said nervously, stammering. After she finished speaking, she unconsciously put the malt extract on the table.

“If you dare touch her again next time,” Lu Jingzhe said coldly, suppressing his anger, “I won’t mind making your arm unable to lift again.”

After hearing these words, He Shanshan’s face turned white instantly. She was obviously intimidated. Lu Jingzhe didn’t say anything else and went straight back to his room.

After Lu Jingzhe left, Xia Qingning walked to the table, put the lid on the malt extract in front of He Shanshan, and hugged both cans away.

Watching Xia Qingning hug the two cans of malt extract into her room, and then looking at the pitiful amount of malt extract stuck to the spoon in her hand, He Shanshan felt ashamed, wronged, and jealous, but she didn’t dare say anything.

Xia Qingning returned to her room, put the two cans of malt extract on the table, and still felt a little apprehensive. Even though she wasn’t as weak-minded as the original body, in the face of absolute physical strength, she still couldn’t protect herself with this frail body.

Fortunately, Lu Jingzhe came back, and they dared not be so arrogant. She secretly made up her mind: She must hold onto this big leg!

She went to the kitchen and brought two bowls in. She scooped two large spoonfuls into each bowl. The malt extract melted instantly when it met the water. Then she stirred it with a spoon, and the rich and thick aroma instantly filled the air.

She placed one bowl in front of Lu Jingzhe. Lu Jingzhe didn’t drink it. Instead, he said to her:

“No need, you drink it yourself.”

He was healthy and didn’t need to supplement his diet. It was only someone like her, who was malnourished and had to get IV fluids for a small cold, who needed to supplement their diet.

At first, seeing her so frail, he suspected that she was too picky about her food. But after hearing her say that it was because she was saving money, and seeing He Shanshan’s domineering behavior just now, he finally understood the real reason.

“It’s already brewed. You have some too.” Xia Qingning said, then picked up her bowl and slowly drank it.

She held the bowl, and her small face was almost completely covered by the bowl.

She always ate gracefully, and now she was taking small sips.

But this action, in Lu Jingzhe’s eyes, looked like she was reluctant to drink it. He placed the bowl in front of him in front of her and said in a deep voice:

“Don’t save it. Buy more after you finish it.”

Xia Qingning responded, “Okay,” then poked her head out of the large bowl. Some milk stains were on the corner of her lips. Her small face looked delicate and cute.

Lu Jingzhe didn’t even realize that the corners of his lips curved down when he looked at Xia Qingning.