He caught my hand, his pitch-black eyes sparkling. Time seemed to take us back to three years ago when he was injured—the most satisfying period of my life. I took care of him daily; we washed his hair, kept each other company, chatted, and bickered. Everything was beautiful.
I had wished countless times to relive that period, but now I regretted it. I would rather not have that satisfaction than see him hurt again. As I was moved, someone’s nature remained unchanged. “Sweetie, actually… I haven’t bathed in a long time.”
After all these years, he hadn’t changed at all. I took a deep breath, then another. “Fine, I’ll help you wash tonight!”
“Tonight?” He seemed to like this time slot and nodded satisfactorily. “Hmm, tonight is good. The long night can be…”
I had to interrupt. “Dr. Lin said you can’t do too intense exercise.”
“Is sleeping considered intense exercise?”
That was hard to say. “Sleeping” could have two meanings, and based on my understanding of Ye Zhengchen, the more he seemed like a gentleman, the more perverted his thoughts were.
So I changed the subject. “Dr. Lin said someone hit you with a car.”
Hearing this, Ye Zhengchen leaned back against the headboard, his gaze shifting to the LCD TV opposite him.
“Senior…”
He grabbed the remote and turned the volume up deafeningly loud. He didn’t want to discuss this topic further, but the more he avoided it, the more confused and curious I became.
“Why don’t you want me to know? It’s not a scorned lover you abandoned, is it?”
“I don’t have such a heartless lover…”
I remembered he had someone. “Is it Yu Yin?”
The person staring at the TV news snorted coldly. “She wouldn’t do something so stupid.”
I suddenly moved closer to him, lowering my voice near his ear: “Was it done by the Japanese?”
Ye Zhengchen laughed sarcastically. “Rest assured, they’re not that amateur!”
That was true.
If they really wanted to kill him, they wouldn’t choose broad daylight on a busy street.
“Tell me, who wants to harm you?!”
“Why do you have to know?”
The TV’s echo filled my ears, and I snatched the remote, turning it off. “Someone tried to run you over, and you want me to not care?!”
The midday light was strong, even through the heavy curtains. Ye Zhengchen looked at me, his gaze exceptionally clear.
“Yin Zhongtian.” The words slipped from his mouth clearly.
“Impossible…” I wasn’t questioning his words, but the fact was too shocking. I knew how despicable Ye Zhengchen could be, while Yin Zhongtian had always seemed steady and refined.
“Don’t believe me if you want. You’ve never believed what I say anyway.”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you; I just can’t understand. Zhongtian isn’t impulsive. How could he do something so crazy?”
“I stole his fiancée, and he only broke three of my ribs. When you think about it, I still came out ahead.”
His words struck me painfully, like a blunt object hitting my chest.
My nose and eyes burned as I bit my lip, suppressing the pain and guilt. Ye Zhengchen’s injury affected me deeply, leaving me feeling unworthy of his sacrifices.
Yet, I had forgotten that every cause has its effect. If Yin Zhongtian hadn’t been pushed to the brink, he wouldn’t have tried to hit him.
Noticing I was about to cry, Ye Zhengchen smiled to ease the tension. “Some say God took a rib from a man to create a woman. I broke three ribs for you, so what will you give me in return?”
Afraid I might cry, I forced a smile. “You’re not thinking of giving me three women, are you?”
“That’s not a bad suggestion, but the military is serious about personal life and doesn’t allow polygamy. I can only make do and use one as three,” he said, feigning regret.
“Three?”
“What? You’re not willing?”
I shook my head. “To do justice to your other two ribs, I’ll start exercising tomorrow and take on this glorious mission.”
Ye Zhengchen burst out laughing, pressing his chest. I couldn’t fathom how he found such vulgar implications in my statement.
“Stop laughing, be careful not to strain your wound,” I gently patted his back. “Are you thirsty? Want some water?”
“There’s fruit in the refrigerator,” he pointed to a compartment inside.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Apple, a sweet one.”
I opened the refrigerator and picked the reddest apple, peeled it, cut it into small pieces, and offered him a piece with a toothpick.
“Is it sweet?” he asked.
I tasted a piece; it was crisp and sweet. “Sweet, very sweet.”
“Really? Let me try…” He sat up straight.
Just as I was about to feed him, a soft lip covered mine, and a tongue licked my lips. In that instant, I forgot to breathe, my hand going limp, and the apple slipped from my grasp. Someone caught it and placed it aside. I remained frozen as his tongue skillfully slid between my slightly parted teeth.
A fleeting kiss, brief yet memorable.
I was dizzy, my mind a blur, while he calmly said, “Don’t misunderstand, I was just tasting how sweet the apple is… hmm, very sweet!”
With such a unique tasting method, how could it not be sweet?
“If it’s sweet, have more,” I fed him piece after piece, trying to block that annoying mouth. Yet I didn’t dare meet his lips, afraid of recalling that soft touch. After a few pieces of apple, Ye Zhengchen suddenly pressed his waist, with a particularly pained expression.
I crawled out of bed dejectedly, glaring at Ye Zhengchen, who was barely suppressing laughter. “Get some rest, I’m leaving.”
Ye Zhengchen stopped laughing. “Where are you going? You promised Dr. Lin you would take care of me for 24 hours.”
“If Dr. Lin knew how to take care of you, I wouldn’t need to for even 24 minutes. I’m going home.”
As I turned, Ye Zhengchen grabbed my wrist, holding it tightly. My heart melted softly at his touch. “Rest for a while. I’ll take a few days off from the hospital, go home for clothes, and be back soon.”
He then let go of my hand and picked up the car keys from the table. “Take my car.”
Walking to the door with the keys, I checked the nurse’s badge—special care nurse, no wonder she was so dedicated.
I drove to the hospital to discuss shift changes with colleagues and request leave from the leader.
Unexpectedly, as I approached the doctors’ office, I overheard some gossip.
“How could that be? Secretary Yin is about to marry Dr. Bao, don’t talk nonsense.”
My hand, about to push the door, froze midair.
Another voice, likely not from our department, spoke. “I’m not talking nonsense. My friend works in the government. Secretary Yin indeed has a new love – the granddaughter of a former deputy mayor.”
“Climbing up to high-ranking officials and abandoning Dr. Bao? Isn’t that shameless?”
“Dr. Bao probably doesn’t know yet. She seems quite happy recently,” said a nurse from our department.
Another nurse chimed in: “Have you noticed Dr. Bao’s engagement ring is gone?”
“Yes, I saw that too. Maybe she knows something? She’s been forcing a smile these days.”
“Definitely. Besides comforting dying patients, when have you ever seen Dr. Bao smile? She’s smiling at everyone now, clearly putting on an act.”
“Makes sense. Alas, how could Secretary Yin do this? Men are all heartless.”
“You don’t understand. The deputy mayor has fallen from power, Secretary Yin lost his backer, so he naturally wants to climb onto another…”
I pushed open the door, and the creaking sound startled everyone inside.
I stood in the doorway and smiled. The office was eerily quiet.
Our department’s nurse looked helplessly at Dr. Li, since he had a decent relationship with me.
“Dr. Bao, aren’t you off duty today?” Dr.
Li, I really appreciate your understanding regarding my leave request.”
“Of course,” he replied, nodding. “Take the time you need.”
