Chapter 26: I Don’t Want to Repeat Myself

When they arrived at the hospital basement, Xiao Zheng was already waiting at the door. Seeing Ji Xue Li, he hurried over. “Miss, this is the soup Madam asked you to bring to Mr. Ji.”

Ji Xue Li took the soup, fully disguised with a mask and a hat.

“Alright, you can go back and report to my mom. I’ll definitely visit him,” she waved him off.

Xiao Zheng smiled awkwardly. “Madam asked me to see you into the ward.”

She had expected this…

“Fine, let’s go.” Ji Xue Li motioned for him to follow. Normally, she would have run off in such a situation, but since the person was sick, running away would be unreasonable.

Once they got off the elevator, Xiao Zheng led her through the hospital with ease, occasionally looking back as if he was afraid Ji Xue Li would run off.

“Mr. Ji, I made some porridge for you, you should drink some,” Xie Yujun said, looking at Ji Yan Zhou’s pale face with concern.

Ji Yan Zhou opened his eyes and looked at her. Though he had no appetite, seeing her carefully prepared porridge, he nodded. “Hmm.”

“You shouldn’t have had those drinks with Mr. Duan. If you hadn’t, your condition wouldn’t have flared up again…” Xie Yujun remembered the last time and couldn’t help but get a little angry, expressing some of her frustration.

Ji Yan Zhou’s brows softened as he shook his head. “It’s fine.”

“Mr. Duan knew you had a stomach condition and still let you drink…” Xie Yujun was about to continue, but the sound of a knock interrupted.

“Come in.”

“Hey.” Ji Xue Li peeked her head in, noticing the porridge in Xie Yujun’s hands, then quickly withdrew. “I knew it, there’s porridge…”

She realized she might have made a misstep, and if they misunderstood, she would end up being the villain.

Xiao Zheng stood straight at the door with a smile. “Miss, please go in.”

“…” Ji Xue Li took a deep breath and stepped inside with the soup. “I heard you were sick, so my mom asked me to come check on you.”

Xie Yujun glanced at the thermos in her hand and quickly understood what was going on.

When Ji Yan Zhou saw her, his brows furrowed. “Did your mother ask you to bring this?”

He repeated himself.

“Yes, she even made porridge for you. Why don’t you try both?” Ji Xue Li suggested, hoping to smooth things over for herself.

Seeing her push everything onto Ji Xue Li’s mom, Ji Yan Zhou’s expression tightened even more. “Put the porridge down. You can leave now.”

That was exactly what Ji Xue Li wanted. She quickly set the porridge on the table but didn’t forget to add, “With Assistant Xie here, my mom can rest easy.”

Although it was the opposite—if her mom knew Xie Yujun was here, she’d probably storm over.

Ji Yan Zhou tightened his fists, his voice cold. “Stop right there.”

Xie Yujun stirred the porridge with a spoon, her emotions unclear.

“Is there something else?” Ji Xue Li turned around, confused.

Ji Yan Zhou stared at her. Her eyes were clear, showing no sign of emotion, as though he were a stranger to her. He suppressed his anger. “Take your porridge and leave.”

What was going on? Why was he acting like this again? Ji Xue Li laughed bitterly, not understanding why he was always so confrontational with her.

Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn’t want to say anything more, fearing she’d make things worse. She picked up the porridge and left without looking back.

Before she figured anything out, silence seemed like the best way to handle it.

Xie Yujun watched his attitude toward her, her tightly clenched nails loosening a bit. She spoke softly, “Don’t be mad…”

The atmosphere around Ji Yan Zhou became heavier, an overwhelming sense of pressure filling the air.

“It’s late. You should go back now,” Ji Yan Zhou pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice low and hoarse.

It was clear that he was exhausted. Xie Yujun, sensing the situation, stood up. “Don’t forget to eat the porridge. I’ll leave now.”

Soon, the hospital room returned to silence. Ji Yan Zhou tossed his phone aside. The screen lit up with a message from Ji Xue Li’s mother, sent a few minutes ago: “Yan Zhou, Li Li heard you’re sick and was worried, so she brought you some porridge.”

She had silently abandoned him and gone abroad, choosing her career over him without hesitation.

Even after coming back, it was the same… For her career, she was even willing to get involved with Duan Qingyu.

He should have understood by now. This was Ji Xue Li—he shouldn’t have had any illusions. He shouldn’t have hoped.