Chapter 126: Yours
You Ruxu had been bedridden for over a week. When she was finally discharged, the doctor advised her to eat bland food and return to the hospital immediately if she felt any discomfort. Her fever had subsided two days prior, but they kept her for observation for two more days. Wu Xiulian’s mother was worried about her health and told her to stay home and rest after returning. Wu Xiulian said, “How is that possible? Do you even know why her fever finally broke?”
Wu Xiulian’s mother asked, “Why?”
“The City TV station offered her a job,” Wu Xiulian said. “She starts next Monday.”
It was strange, the day You Ruxu received the job offer, her fever broke, and after two days of observation, she made a full recovery, the doctor finally discharging her. Wu Xiulian’s mother shook her head, “This child…”
“Give her time,” Wu Xiulian said. “It’s a sickness of the heart, it won’t heal so quickly, especially after breaking up with Dr. Zhou.”
She didn’t elaborate. Wu Xiulian’s mother knew about their breakup, it had happened in Jindu. She wanted to go to the Zhou family and apologize, but You Ruxu and Wu Xiulian stopped her, Yu Qiao’s mental state still fragile, they didn’t want to upset her further.
So, they brought You Ruxu back to Yuhai.
Zhou Tianzui hadn’t contacted her at all since, and You Ruxu, stubborn as ever, refused to talk about her, bottling up her emotions, the guilt over Zhou Qiming’s case, the pain of their separation, a double burden that had made her sick for over half a month. Wu Xiulian’s mother asked, “She’s starting work next Monday?”
Wu Xiulian nodded: “I overheard her talking about it the other day, you can ask her yourself later.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother: “Okay.”
Wu Xiulian looked at her, “Sis, I thought you would be angry.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother frowned: “Angry?”
Wu Xiulian said, “Yes, didn’t you always dislike her being a reporter?”
Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “Disliking it doesn’t change anything, I also don’t like your brother-in-law working at the court.”
She paused, “I used to worry about her, about her being so far away, alone, I couldn’t take care of her.”
Wu Xiulian said, “Now she’s closer, you can take care of her. She asked me the other day why we chose her, out of all those children.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother looked at Wu Xiulian.
Wu Xiulian continued, “There’s no ‘why,’ it’s just fate, I liked her the moment I saw her. Sis, I know you still haven’t let go of that child, but Ruxu isn’t that child.”
“I know.” Wu Xiulian’s mother said.
Wu Xiulian looked at her, slightly surprised.
Wu Xiulian’s mother looked down.
The last time You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui came to Yuhai, she had thrown away that teddy bear, and You Ruxu had gone out in the middle of the night to search for it. Seeing her at the garbage disposal station, she had known, she wasn’t that child.
For the first time, she clearly understood, they were different.
Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “Don’t worry, I won’t interfere with her choices anymore, she can do what she wants.”
You Ruxu stood at the doorway, listening. After coming home, she had been constantly tired, needing two or three hours of naps every afternoon. The doctor said it was part of the recovery process. She had slept until past two o’clock, and waking up, heard them talking.
She held the doorknob, opened the door. Wu Xiulian’s mother, seeing her, said, “You’re awake?”
You Ruxu nodded and called out, “Mom.”
Her eyes were slightly red. Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “Don’t just stand there, come sit down, your aunt said you’re starting work at the TV station next Monday? Which department?”
You Ruxu said, “Social Investigations Department, I start on Monday.”
Although it was still a reporting job, it was different from her previous position in Jindu, not a field reporter this time. Wu Xiulian’s mother was slightly relieved, although claiming not to care, she still worried about You Ruxu’s safety.
Wu Xiulian, seeing this, suggested celebrating with a nice dinner. You Ruxu said, “Sounds good, what do you want to eat, Aunt?”
“Hotpot?” Wu Xiulian asked, “Any objections?”
You Ruxu said, “Anything is fine.”
Wu Xiulian said, “Then I’ll make a reservation.”
You Ruxu nodded.
Wu Xiulian’s mother also agreed. She turned on the TV, and flipping through channels, landed on Jindu’s local station, a news replay, a new field reporter holding a microphone, her expression serious and composed. Wu Xiulian’s mother looked at You Ruxu.
You Ruxu’s gaze was distant.
She looked at the new reporter on screen and pursed her lips.
Zhou Tianzui was also watching TV. The TV in her office was rarely tuned to anything other than medical programs, but today, it was showing the news. She heard He Wei say, “Speaking of which, is that reporter out of the hospital yet?”
“Chen Xiang? She was discharged this morning.” Zhao Mingqi said, “And that man is behind bars now.”
“Serves him right!” He Wei said angrily, then chuckled, “I mean, the man, he’s a murderer!”
Zhao Mingqi said, “Seriously, I heard he was planning to sue the TV station, now he can sue them from prison…”
Their voices were low, probably afraid of Zhou Tianzui hearing, their gossip hushed. He Wei took a sip of water, “Don’t you think Dr. Zhou seems to be in a better mood lately?”
Lin Luo asked, “How can you tell?”
He Wei said, “She’s started scolding people again.”
Lin Luo: …
Zhao Mingqi: …
The other doctors: …
Zhou Tianzui looked down, “Keep your voices down when gossiping about others.”
He Wei flinched, and everyone quickly dispersed. Zhou Tianzui, carrying a patient’s file, left the office. It was Saturday, her day off, but she still came to the hospital to work for half a day. Yu Qiao was having lunch with friends, and she had planned to grab something quick at a restaurant near the hospital, but standing there, she changed her mind, and went to their old apartment instead.
She had given the key to You Ruxu, so she couldn’t get in. She called the landlady.
“Xiao Tian, I have the key, Xiao Xu said I should give it to you if you came back.” The landlady was very welcoming, and seeing Zhou Tianzui, she said, “Didn’t Xiao Xu move out? Are you still renting this place? Will you be living here?”
Zhou Tianzui paused, “How long has she rented it for?”
“She paid three years’ rent upfront.” The landlady said, “I heard she resigned, but she said it was fine if I wanted to rent it out to someone else.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t rent it out yet.”
“Of course not.” The landlady said, “I wouldn’t rent it out after receiving the payment. It’s just been empty…”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll be living here.”
The landlady was delighted, “Okay then.”
She liked Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu, they were clean and tidy, always polite. Zhou Tianzui took the key, opened the door, and went inside.
The windows were closed, the apartment had never been empty since they rented it. You Ruxu often traveled for work, and Zhou Tianzui would occasionally spend the night at the hospital, so she had spent more time here. When You Ruxu first moved in, she had wanted to give her the master bedroom, but after they started living together, there was no need. Zhou Tianzui walked inside. The air was stale and dusty after being empty for over a month. She opened the windows, the kitchen was spotless, the magazines and remote control neatly arranged on the coffee table, clearly You Ruxu had tidied up before leaving.
She smiled faintly, went to the bedroom, everything was as she remembered, her clothes still hanging in the closet, You Ruxu’s also there, beside hers. She opened a drawer, even the socks were neatly folded and arranged, You Ruxu’s habit. She touched the socks, imagining You Ruxu carefully folding them, a warmth spreading through her.
The bedding was new, Zhou Tianzui hadn’t seen it before, a soft, fluffy flannel set. She sat on the bed, leaned against the headboard, and noticed a magazine on the bedside table, probably You Ruxu’s.
They rarely had time to read magazines, occasionally buying one from a small shop to pass the time on weekends, and You Ruxu didn’t usually read them, so what was she thinking when she bought this?
Zhou Tianzui picked up the magazine and flipped through a few pages, nothing special, she placed it back on the bedside table, stood up, and went to You Ruxu’s room.
She opened the door, everything was the same, the clothes rack, the gray hat, the red scarf, a desk, but the books on the desk were gone, she must have taken them with her when she left.
Zhou Tianzui looked around the room, remembering something else she took.
That teddy bear.
The teddy bear that always lay on her bed, was also gone. The bedding was also a new flannel set, the same as in the master bedroom. Zhou Tianzui walked over, sat on the bed, and lay down, looking up at the crystal chandelier.
The air was still and quiet.
She could hear her own heartbeat.
Each beat a silent cry, a longing, a whisper, I miss You Ruxu.
Zhou Tianzui took out her phone, opened WeChat, hesitated for a long time, then messaged You Ruxu.
[Looks like we had a burglar.]
You Ruxu sat by the window, looking down. The weather in Yuhai was warmer than in Jindu. She was wearing a warm yellow spring dress, her profile delicate like a doll, her milky skin almost translucent in the sunlight. Her phone vibrated. She looked over and, seeing the notification from Zhou Tianzui, her heart skipped a beat, suddenly afraid to open it, her hand trembling slightly. After a moment, she pursed her lips and opened the message.
She saw Zhou Tianzui’s message: [Looks like we had a burglar.]
She paused for a few seconds, then replied: [What?]
Zhou Tianzui: [We had a burglar, something’s missing.]
You Ruxu: [What’s missing?]
Zhou Tianzui sent two photos, one of her bed, the other of Zhou Tianzui, You Ruxu didn’t notice anything missing, her gaze fixed on Zhou Tianzui.
You Ruxu, slightly dazed, replied: [Why are you at the apartment?]
Before Zhou Tianzui could reply, she sent another message: [Does Auntie know?]
[She’ll be angry.]
[Don’t make her angry again.]
Zhou Tianzui, seeing her cautious words, her heart clenching, her face paling slightly, she gripped the phone tightly, waiting for the pain to subside before replying: [She hasn’t been angry recently.]
You Ruxu relaxed, seeing her reply, wanting to respond, but the words wouldn’t come, she typed and deleted several times. Zhou Tianzui, seeing the “typing” indicator, after a long while, couldn’t help but ask: [Are you feeling better?]
At the same time.
You Ruxu: [What’s missing?]
She sent: [Your teddy bear.]
You Ruxu: [Much better.]
Their messages crossed paths. Zhou Tianzui replied: [Good to hear.]
You Ruxu: [I took the teddy bear home with me.]
You Ruxu: [You gave it to me, it’s mine.]
A stubbornness that transcended the screen. Zhou Tianzui replied: [It’s yours.]
You Ruxu held her phone tightly.
Zhou Tianzui sent another message: [Everything is yours.]
And I’m yours too.
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