When she opened her eyes again, she was in a room that was all too familiar from her memory.
White ceiling, the sky outside the window dim and hazy, the shadows of buildings blurred and indistinct, like a fairyland hidden in the clouds.
It seemed like a foggy day today.
The furnishings were still the same. She knew she was back in the "home" she shared with Yi Zhuo.
But soon it wouldn't be...
Chang Xuyu's throat felt dry. She tried to swallow, but it hurt terribly.
Looking around, she was about to get up when she noticed the needle in the back of her hand. Looking up, she saw a bottle of clear liquid dripping slowly, drop by drop. It dawned on her that she must be sick.
What happened yesterday... she had no memory of it.
She tried to think deeper, but her head throbbed and ached, the pain spreading from her temples through her entire body. She gasped and gave up.
Footsteps, not too heavy, approached from not far away. Yi Zhuo pushed the door open and came in, holding a plate of fruit.
Chang Xuyu looked up.
Seeing her sitting there in a daze, the man was momentarily at a loss, but quickly calmed down, a softness appearing in his eyes.
"You're awake."
It sounded like both a question and a statement.
He walked slowly to her side, sat on a low stool, his long legs bent, and his big hand gently rubbed the top of her head.
His palm was broad and warm. When it touched her skin, she trembled slightly.
She seemed to have forgotten something again.
"Yi Zhuo."
Chang Xuyu suddenly called his name softly, blinking. Her clear, bright eyes stared at him without moving, full of confusion and unease.
"Mm."
The man responded calmly, as if expecting it. He handed her a cut orange, his voice low and gentle: "I'm here."
She took it. The slightly sour orange stimulated her bland taste buds, and even her nerves seemed to quiver slightly—a very stimulating sensation.
Her eyelids involuntarily lifted. She chewed quickly a few times, swallowed, and pursed her lips in supplication: "I don't want to eat anymore."
He always liked to supplement her vitamins.
But vitamin-rich fruits were really sour and not tasty.
She didn't really like eating fruit.
Because she was allergic to many fruits, like mangoes and kiwis.
Although Yi Zhuo never cut fruits she was allergic to, she still didn't like eating them.
Yi Zhuo glanced at her, composed himself, put the fork back, and checked his watch.
"You had a fever last night. You caught some wind, so I called Xiao Song over to check on you. He gave you an IV drip," he paused, then suddenly leaned closer to her. "It's 8:30 now. You've slept. Are you still feeling unwell?"
"Xiao Song" was a doctor friend of his; she remembered.
His breath carried a faint minty scent. Chang Xuyu instinctively leaned back.
"My head hurts a little..."
Her voice was very soft.
The man's eyes darkened, and he was about to call Dr. Song.
Suddenly, someone's phone rang first. It was Chang Shengnan.
He handed the phone to Chang Xuyu.
"Your aunt is very worried about you. Talk to her."
Chang Xuyu was startled, remembering that her phone had died last night. Her aunt must not have been able to reach her, so she called Yi Zhuo.
She quickly pressed the answer button: "Aunt..."
Hearing her voice, the woman on the other end of the line felt her heart clench—
"Oh my dear, you finally answered your aunt's call!"
Chang Shengnan scolded with concern, but couldn't bear to be harsh, so she softened her voice: "Are you okay now?"
Chang Xuyu didn't want her aunt to worry, so she smiled faintly: "I'm fine, Aunt."
Chang Shengnan hesitated, sighed slightly, and asked to speak to Yi Zhuo.
Yi Zhuo took the phone and left the room.
Chang Xuyu couldn't find her phone anywhere, so she lay back down to wait for Yi Zhuo to return and ask him.
She stared at the empty wall opposite her, pursing her lips.
Usually, married couples would hang wedding photos on the wall, right?
In recent years, she often saw old classmates getting married on social media, each wearing a beautiful white wedding gown.