Chapter 78.2

The dinner was lively. Jiang Nian ate a little and felt full. Lu Yu saw her put down her chopsticks and frowned slightly, “Have a bit more.”

Jiang Nian shook her head, “I’ve had enough.”

Chen Yao jokes, “Sister-in-law, are you feeding a cat?”

Jiang Zhou laughed, “The amount you’ve eaten wouldn’t even get stuck in my teeth.”

Jiang Nian laughed, “You guys enjoy your meal. I’m already full.”

After saying that, she got up and went to the bathroom. She walked slowly, trying not to show any abnormality. Jiang Nian freshened up and returned to her room. She lay down on the bed and felt sore all over, especially that part which was also hurting. After lying down for a while, she fell asleep in a daze until late at night. Feeling a chill on her body, she squinted her eyes and saw Lu Yu close by.

“I feel really uncomfortable,” she murmured.

Lu Yu furrowed his brows slightly and touched her forehead, “You have a fever.”

After saying this, he helped Jiang Nian get dressed. As soon as he held her waist, she cried out in pain. Lu Yu’s arm stiffened as he watched Jiang Nian with damp, reddened eyes, “Tell me, where does it hurt?”

Jiang Nian was confused from the fever and dizziness.

She mumbled unclearly, “I ache all over, especially there.”

Lu Yu instantly understood and carefully settled Jiang Nian back down. He stood up and pulled the light switch, instantly brightening the dim room.

Jiang Nian squinted uncomfortably, feeling groggy and barely aware that Lu Yu was examining her. After a moment, Lu Yu, usually calm and composed, suddenly changed expression. Quickly dressing Jiang Nian, he carried her to the hospital.

Jiang Nian woke up the next afternoon.

As soon as she opened her eyes, all she saw were bright white walls and an IV drip. She felt dizzy and no part of her body felt comfortable. She hadn’t yet figured out how she ended up in the hospital when she heard Lu Yu’s hoarse voice beside her, “Do you want some water?”

She blinked, looking towards the bedside where Lu Yu sat upright on a stool, wearing just a white shirt with the collar unbuttoned. It wasn’t particularly cold now, but how could he manage with just a shirt in this weather?

Frowning, Jiang Nian started to speak, but her throat felt like it was being scraped by blades, causing her to cough involuntarily. Lu Yu supported her back, offering a cup of warm water to her lips, “Drink some hot water to soothe your throat.”

Illness struck suddenly.

Jiang Nian couldn’t believe that just the day before, she was perfectly fine, yet here she was in the hospital the next day.

After drinking some water, her throat felt a bit better. But not long after, the burning discomfort returned. Jiang Nian pursed her lips and looked at Lu Yu, who seemed unusually troubled. She asked, “How did I end up in the hospital?”

She vaguely remembered Lu Yu entering the room, but after that, everything was a blur.

“You got a cold and fever,” Lu Yu explained, a hint of redness creeping up his ears. 

He recalled the doctor’s reprimand from last night: “Young couples should restrain themselves. Look at how you’ve hurt your wife. Also, her fever was caused by a cold. Once she has a fever, all the problems in her body will be stimulated. It would be strange if she is still fine.

Lu Yu thought about how Jiang Nian was only wearing an apron yesterday, curled up in his arms and complaining about the cold, and he afraid that she had caught a cold at that time.

“Have some porridge.”

It was freshly bought from the state-run restaurant and kept warm in an aluminum container to ensure Jiang Nian wouldn’t miss a meal when she woke up. Lu Yu sat her up and personally fed her. Jiang Nian’s throat hurt, and swallowing was difficult, so she ate slowly.

Next to them, two other beds were occupied by young couples. Seeing Lu Yu’s attentive care for Jiang Nian, they couldn’t help but envy them. The woman in the middle said to Jiang Nian, “Your husband is really good to you. Unlike mine, who’s never home.”

Jiang Nian glanced at Lu Yu, who was focused on feeding her, and smiled, joining in conversation with the two women.

Lu Yu spent the last day of his wedding vacation with Jiang Nian in the hospital. He stayed with her at night, noticing her discomfort as she moved in her sleep. Leaning closer, he asked in a low voice, “Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

Jiang Nian blushed and whispered, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

Lu Yu chuckled, “I’ll carry you.”

“No need.”

Jiang Nian quickly refused.

Though it was dark now, there were still people in the hospital corridors. She felt embarrassed to be seen, but her discomfort wasn’t as bad as last night. So, when Lu Yu led her outside the restroom, she walked in by herself.

“Wait.”

Lu Yu called out to her, took out a tube of ointment from his pocket, and cleared his throat, “Apply this yourself. It’s inconvenient for me in the hospital.”

Jiang Nian hesitated, looking at the ointment in Lu Yu’s hand, and suddenly understood.

Her face turned red, and she quickly took the ointment and went inside.

There was no one else in the restroom, and the lights were on. Jiang Nian wasn’t so afraid with Lu Yu waiting outside.

She endured the pain and went to the toilet, then endured the shame and squeezed out a little ointment to apply on herself. When she heard footsteps outside, she quickly withdrew her hand, washed it in the sink, and then came out with small steps.

Lu Yu stood at the stairs, several steps away from the restroom. Seeing Jiang Nian come out, he immediately walked over and held her slender arm. Seeing no one else in the corridor, he lowered his gaze and asked in a low voice, “Did you apply the ointment?”

Jiang Nian’s face flushed, and her voice was low, “Yes.”

That night, lying in the hospital bed, Jiang Nian felt surprisingly comfortable, perhaps because of the ointment. She also managed to sleep well. Lu Yu sat on a stool beside the bed, occasionally dozing off. He would touch Jiang Nian’s forehead from time to time to check if her fever persisted. It wasn’t until the next morning that Jiang Nian felt her throat was somewhat better. At least swallowing food didn’t feel like swallowing razor blades anymore.

Jiang Nian stayed in the hospital for three days, and Lu Yu took leave to accompany her throughout.

In the afternoon of the third day, He Yue and Tian Mai finally found Jiang Nian’s ward after inquiring around. They were surprised to see Jiang Nian lying in bed, still looking a bit pale. They exclaimed, “How did you catch a cold? You looked so lively just a couple of days ago.”

Jiang Nian replied, “Must have caught a chill.”

She had no idea how she had ended up with a fever and a cold. Lu Yu stood up and said, “You guys chat.”

Then he left.

Jiang Nian was still wearing the high-necked sweater Lu Yu had put on her when he came out. Tian Mai sat beside her and glanced at her, “Do you want to fold down the collar? It might be uncomfortable covering your neck like that.”

Jiang Nian quickly shook her head, “It’s not uncomfortable. I’m cold.”

She was grateful that Lu Yu had put the high-necked sweater on her when he came out. Otherwise, the marks on her neck would have been completely exposed.

He Yue said, “Colds are always afraid of the cold.”

He Yue and Tian Mai sat for a while and left. Shortly after they left, Lan Hui came over, bringing dinner for Jiang Nian and Lu Yu. As she left, she reminded Lu Yu to take good care of Jiang Nian and not let her catch another cold. 

Just married, and on the third day she’s already hospitalized—it wouldn’t sound good if that got out. People might think Commander Lu was mistreating his wife.

Lu Yu remained silent throughout, sitting silently by the bed. After Lan Hui left, he rubbed his face and looked at Jiang Nian, who seemed slightly better than the previous days. He sighed with relief and tucked her in, “Get some sleep. We can go back early tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Hmm.”

She slept quite well and woke up the next morning. Lu Yu had already taken care of her discharge arrangements and brought her to see the doctor—a woman in her fifties with gray hair at her temples and glasses. 

She instructed Lu Yu on how many times Jiang Nian should take her medicine and what foods to avoid: “Avoid spicy food, drink plenty of hot water, and don’t expose yourself to cool drafts right after recovering from a cold.”

Jiang Nian sat quietly on the stool, listening. When the doctor finished speaking, she was about to get up when the doctor added, “Also, you two should restrain yourselves a bit. You can’t let this happen again.” 

Then she turned to Jiang Nian and said, “Keep applying that ointment for a few days.”

Jiang Nian: ?????

She looked up abruptly at Lu Yu. Even Lu Yu’s stern face showed a hint of embarrassment. “Understood,” he responded.

As they left the hospital, Lu Yu’s ears were still slightly red. He said to Jiang Nian, “Let’s have some breakfast first.”

Jiang Nian was discharged today. Gu Shizhou drove over, and the three of them had breakfast at the state-run restaurant before returning. When they got out of the car, they ran into Commander He and Chen Yao. 

Commander He glanced at Jiang Nian’s slender arms and legs and said, “Your constitution is too weak. A little breeze gives you a fever and a cold. I think Lu Yu should train you every day to toughen up your body.”

Jiang Nian: …

At first, she didn’t know how she caught a cold. If the doctor hadn’t mentioned those things today, she wouldn’t have remembered. She could only blame Lu Yu for these few days since they got married. Her body had never been so frail.

Lu Yu cleared his throat and said to Commander He, “We’ll head back first.”

Commander He said, “Alright, remember to come to our house for dinner tonight. Your sister-in-law Lan has made a few dishes.”

Lu Yu: “Okay.”

The news of Commander Lu’s newlywed wife being hospitalized spread almost throughout the entire military district and the residential housing area. Every military wife they met on the way had something to say. 

They all urged Jiang Nian to eat more, gain some weight, and commented that she looked so thin that a gust of wind could knock her down. It would have been strange if she didn’t fall ill.

That was what people were saying outside, but only the two of them knew the origin of this illness.

Lu Yu said to them, “Got it.”

Back at the family apartment, as soon as Jiang Nian stepped in, Lu Yu carried her into the house. Jiang Nian was startled, her body tensed. She lifted her foot to kick him, but Lu Yu caught her ankle. There was no trace of anything but pure concern in his expression. “Let me see and apply some medicine for you.”

Although everything that needed to be done had been done, it was broad daylight, and… Jiang Nian felt embarrassed. However, she couldn’t resist Lu Yu. In the end, she obediently let Lu Yu press on and apply the medicine.

The ointment felt cool. Jiang Nian’s cheeks were warm.

Lu Yu put away the ointment and hugged Jiang Nian along with the blanket, kissing her on the forehead.

“Sorry.”

His voice was low, with a hint of hoarseness and a touch of melancholy.

Jiang Nian remained silent, not moving. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. Lu Yu broke the silence again, “I’ll be more careful in the future.”

It was his impatience that had caused her injury in the end.

The curtain was blown open by the wind outside. Jiang Nian pursed her lips and poked Lu Yu on the body through the blanket. “I’m fine now.”

This was the first time she had seen Lu Yu like this. She was somewhat unaccustomed.

After staying for a while, Lu Yu went back to the regiment. He Yue came over to check on her, asking about her health. Jiang Nian said she was much better. 

At noon, Lu Yu brought lunch from the cafeteria. After Jiang Nian ate, she waited a while before taking her medicine.

In the evening, Lu Yu came back to take Jiang Nian to Commander He’s house for dinner. Sister-in-law Lan cooked three dishes. Looking at Jiang Nian, she asked, “Are you feeling better from the cold?”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Much better. I’ve been taking medicine these past few days.”

Seeing Jiang Nian still wrapped in a scarf, Lan Hui didn’t say much. She probably felt Jiang Nian had just recovered from her cold and was still feeling cold.

 After dinner, the two returned home. Lu Yu prepared a foot bath for Jiang Nian. Her smooth and delicate calves were immersed in warm water, enveloped in warmth. Lu Yu looked at her and asked, “Is the water too hot?”

“Just right.”

Jiang Nian smiled softly.