“Thank you!” she said, her eyes full of gratitude. “I’ve disrupted your work!”
Gu Yanzhhi shook his head, “Girl, you really scared me! You don’t know how you looked then, burning up all over, your face bright red, constantly mumbling nonsense…”
Chu Yue blushed, “I was talking nonsense? What did I say?”
Gu Yanzhhi just smiled and didn’t respond. In fact, when she was delirious with fever, she kept calling for her mom and dad. That helpless and pitiful appearance had touched the deep tenderness in his heart. Perhaps in such a helpless situation, she had seen him as a lifeline.
After the IV, Gu Yanzhhi drove Chu Yue home. She was still very weak. Gu Yanzhhi bought preserved egg and lean meat porridge from a shop in the neighborhood, along with some pickles. “Preserved egg and lean meat porridge with pickles is more appetizing,” he said, ladling the porridge and blowing on it to cool it down before handing it to her. “Are you hungry? You haven’t eaten anything since this morning. Come, eat something and replenish your strength.”
His tone was so gentle, like he was coaxing a disobedient child. In a daze, Chu Yue saw a scene from when she was twelve. After arguing with her mother, she ran out in a fit of anger, got caught in the rain for hours, and came back with a high fever. Two days later, the fever broke, but she had lost weight, making her adoptive mother cry with heartache.
When she woke up, her mother held a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat porridge, gently coaxing her, “Chu Chu, be good, drink this porridge, and you’ll have strength…”
Her tears suddenly fell, dropping into the bowl in front of her. Gu Yunzhi was startled, “What’s wrong, Xiao Yue?”
She raised her tear-stained face and looked at him, then slowly said, “Why didn’t you get more pickles?”
Gu Yunzhi was stunned, taking a moment to react. He couldn’t help but laugh and cry, thinking her thoughts were jumping around too quickly. “Great, you have the energy to joke with me, which means you’re fine, so I should take my leave…” He smiled and said, “Call me if you need anything!”
Chu Yue watched his figure walk towards the door and suddenly called out: “Gu Yunzhi!”
