About an hour later, Lin Jiayu’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was filled with a snow-white ceiling, the scent of disinfectant hung in the air, and a cold IV needle was stuck in her arm.
"Is this... a hospital?" she murmured softly, her voice horribly hoarse.
Lu Huai'an had been staying right by her side. Hearing her voice, he immediately leaned in. "You're awake? How are you feeling? Is anything uncomfortable?"
Lin Jiayu turned her head and saw an unfamiliar face. She froze for a moment, then suddenly remembered what had happened before she lost consciousness, and struggled to sit up. "Why am "I in the hospital?"
"Don't move!" Lu Huai'an quickly steadied her. "You had a flare-up of gastroenteritis and passed out downstairs at the apartment building. I brought you to the hospital."
"Thank you," she said softly, a trace of weakness in her voice.
"It's nothing, just a small favor." Lu Huai'an smiled. "How are you feeling now? The doctor said you're fine, and you can be discharged as soon as the IV finishes."
Lin Jiayu nodded, only then noticing that she was still lying in a hospital bed, covered by a thin blanket, with a cup of warm water on the bedside table.
"Um... how much was the medical bill? I'll transfer it to you," she asked, looking a bit embarrassed.
"No rush, we can talk about it after you're better." Lu Huai'an waved his hand. "Get some good rest first, I'll go pour you a glass of water."
He picked up the cup, walked over to the water dispenser, filled a cup of warm water, and handed it to Lin Jiayu.
Lin Jiayu took the cup and drank in small sips. The warm water slid down her throat, making her feel much more comfortable.
"You... do you get like this often?" he couldn't help asking.
Lin Jiayu paused for a second, then realized he meant the gastroenteritis, and nodded. "It's an old issue, I'm used to it."
"Since you're awake, I'll head back first." Lu Huai'an yawned. He had been running around all night, and it was now nearly 3 a.m. He was exhausted and sleepy.
"Wait a minute, how much was the medical bill, I'll transfer it to you."
"No rush, it wasn't much. Get some rest first. You must be a student at Jiangda University too, right? I'm in apartment 302. You can give it to me when you have time," Lu Huai'an said, waving his hand as he walked out of the ward.
Lin Jiayu watched Lu Huai'an's retreating figure and nodded, saying nothing more.
The ward fell silent, save for the sound of liquid dripping in the IV tube.
Lin Jiayu didn't speak; she simply turned her head toward the window, her gaze somewhat vacant.
...
By the time Huai'an returned to the apartment, it was well past 3 a.m.
Lu Huai'an walked into the apartment on tiptoe, terrified of waking Jiang Chen and Hu Yishu.
To his surprise, the living room light was still on, and Jiang Chuan and Hu Yishu were sitting on the sofa, staring right at him.
Six eyes locked in a rather awkward silence.
"Uh, you guys aren't asleep yet?" Lu Huai'an offered an awkward smile.
"Of course not, we were waiting for you to come back. I thought you weren't coming back tonight," Jiang Chuan said with a shrug.
"Good brothers, then since you're not sleeping, I'm going to bed," Lu Huai'an said, attempting to slip away.
"Don't be in such a rush. Tell your brothers what went down tonight."
Hu Yishu threw an arm around Lu Huai'an's shoulder, pulling him close with a wretched grin.
"Old Hu, since when did you become so gossipy?" Lu Huai'an said helplessly.
"There's really nothing to tell. I just took her to the hospital and waited for her to wake up." Lu Huai'an rubbed his temples, looking exhausted.
"That's it? Who are you trying to fool!" Jiang Chuan obviously didn't believe it. "A single man and a single woman, alone in the same room, dry tinder and a blazing fire..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Lu Huai'an quickly interrupted him. "If you keep spouting nonsense, I'm really going to sleep!"
"Don't be like that!" Jiang Chuan hurriedly pulled him back. "Tell us, who exactly is that girl? Is she super pretty?"
"She is quite pretty, but..." Lu Huai'an paused. "You guys have probably heard of her anyway. Lin Jiayu."
"Holy shit!" Jiang Chuan and Hu Yishu gasped in unison.
"Lin Jiayu?!" Jiang Chuan’s eyes widened. "You bastard, your luck is insane!"
"What good luck? She was sick and in the hospital," Lu Huai'an retorted speechlessly.
"You don't get it, do you?" Jiang Chuan wore the expression of an experienced veteran. "Rescuing a damsel in distress is the easiest way to capture a maiden's heart!"
"Exactly, Old Lu, such a great opportunity, you've gotta seize it!" Hu Yishu chimed in.
"What are you even talking about? Besides, I already have someone I like." Lu Huai'an waved a hand. "I'm genuinely sleepy, I'm going to bed."
With that, he practically bolted into his bedroom, slamming the door shut to cut off his roommates' gossip.
His head was filled entirely with what Jiang Chuan and Hu Yishu had just said.
"Ugh, stop thinking about it, time for bed!" Lu Huai'an rolled over and forced his eyes shut.
The next morning, Lu Huai'an was woken up by a knock on the door.
"Who is it... knocking this early in the morning, can't a guy get some sleep..."
He groggily opened his eyes, yawned, climbed out of bed, walked to the door, and pulled it open.
Standing outside was Lin Jiayu.
She had changed out of her hospital gown and was wearing a simple white T-shirt paired with light blue jeans. Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, making her look even more pure and ethereal. The morning light washed over her, as if coating her in a faint halo.
Only her complexion remained somewhat pale, and her lips lacked a bit of color, but her spirit looked much better than the night before.
She was holding a breakfast bag stamped with the word "Morning," and a faint aroma drifted from it.
Lu Huai'an stared blankly at her, his brain short-circuiting for a second.
He hadn't expected Lin Jiayu to show up, and certainly not this early...
"Morning, Huai'an. I bought breakfast on my way back from the hospital, do you want to eat some together?" Lin Jiayu's voice was very soft, yet it felt like a morning breeze.
Lu Huai'an blinked, thinking he was still dreaming, and instinctively slammed the door shut with a loud *bang*.
Outside, Lin Jiayu was startled by the sudden closure, and the breakfast bag in her hand almost dropped to the floor.
"Hey! Open the door, Huai'an, is that how you treat a patient?" Lin Jiayu's voice rose a notch, tinged with a hint of grievance.
She had come out of the goodness of her heart to deliver breakfast, only to be shut out—what was that about?
Inside the room, Lu Huai'an leaned against the door, his heart pounding wildly.
His brain must have shorted out just now; he actually slammed the door on her!
"Old Lu, who is it? Early in the morning, making a racket," Jiang Chuan rubbed his sleepy eyes as he walked out of his room.
Hu Yishu followed right behind him, looking at Lu Huai'an with a puzzled expression. "Yeah, Old Lu, who's knocking?"
Lu Huai'an twitched the corners of his mouth, trying hard to look calm. "No... nobody. You guys go back to sleep."
He definitely didn't want these two guys to know Lin Jiayu was here. Knowing Jiang Chuan and Hu Yishu's personalities, there was no telling what kind of gossip they'd cook up...
Lu Huai'an took a deep breath, yanked the door open, and before Lin Jiayu could react, grabbed her wrist, pulled her outside, and slammed the door shut with a resounding *bang*.