Chapter 125: Care
It had been a long time since You Ruxu had been sick for so long. Usually, a cold would only last two days at most, rarely developing into a fever. She exercised regularly at the station and had a good constitution. But this time, her fever persisted for almost a week, subsiding in the morning, then returning at night. She was initially treated in Jindu, then Wu Xiulian brought her back to Yuhai.
Wu Xiulian thought her condition was similar to that time during her school years.
“Sis, I think it’s a sickness of the heart, not easily cured,” Wu Xiulian said, looking at the sleeping You Ruxu. She had been back for half a month, and most of that time was spent in the hospital. She had lost a lot of weight, her chin sharp, her face flushed unnaturally from the fever, her forehead covered in sweat. The fever kept coming and going, if it weren’t for the daily checkups by the doctor, Wu Xiulian’s mother would have been even more worried.
Wu Xiulian’s mother sighed, “This child, always tormenting herself.”
Wu Xiulian said, “She’s been carrying that guilt for so many years, I guess she can’t bear it any longer.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother looked down at You Ruxu, her heart aching. She gently wiped You Ruxu’s face and forehead with a damp cloth, and just as she reached for her neck, You Ruxu’s eyes fluttered open, her voice hoarse as she called out, “Mom, Aunt.”
Wu Xiulian quickly sat beside her: “Xu Xu, you’re awake.”
You Ruxu said, “I fell asleep again?”
Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “Just for a little while.” She touched You Ruxu’s forehead, the fever had subsided, “What do you want to eat tonight? I’ll make it for you.”
You Ruxu said, “Mom, anything is fine.”
Wu Xiulian said, “Our Xu Xu is not a picky eater.”
“You Ruxu is also not a picky eater.” A voice, Zhou Tianzui’s voice, echoed in her ears. You Ruxu was dazed for a moment, then said, “Yes, I’m not picky.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother nodded, “Then your aunt will stay with you, your father’s working late tonight.”
“Mom,” You Ruxu said, “Tell Dad not to come, I’m fine.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother’s eyes teared up slightly.
They were all worried about her, at a loss for what to do, even the doctors had no solution. You Ruxu, knowing her mother’s worry, said, “Mom, I’ll be fine soon.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother nodded, smiling reassuringly.
After Wu Xiulian’s mother left, Wu Xiulian sat by her bedside, “Xu Xu, want some fruit?”
You Ruxu said, “Aunt, I want an apple.”
“Okay, I’ll peel one for you.” Wu Xiulian said, “Apples are good for you, rich in vitamins…”
You Ruxu smiled.
She was still weak, this illness had drained her, a pale and fragile smile, unlike her usual sharp and capable demeanor. Wu Xiulian peeled the apple, “Several TV stations contacted me, asking about your job prospects, now that you’ve resigned.”
You Ruxu had completed the handover procedures before coming to Yuhai, and after Wu Xiulian’s mother arrived, she officially resigned. It had been almost half a month since she returned to Yuhai, and knowing she was currently unemployed, many TV stations had contacted her, and unable to reach her, asked Wu Xiulian instead, “Are you still planning to be a reporter?”
You Ruxu’s eyes lit up, a rare display of emotion, hearing Wu Xiulian’s question, she nodded, “Yes, which stations?”
“Just the local ones, Huizhen, and a few others.” Wu Xiulian said, “Oh, and Chaohuang, remember Han Shuang? Your classmate, she also asked if you would be interested in joining them. Your mother was worried you wouldn’t find a job here.”
It was a lighthearted tease, although You Ruxu had been working in Jindu, many of her interviews were directly with national television, so her reputation preceded her, hence the numerous job offers upon her return.
You Ruxu said, “I remember her.”
“I think Chaohuang would be a good choice.” Chaohuang focused on social news, different from the city TV station, their work relatively safer. You Ruxu, her mind still slightly hazy, didn’t commit, “I’ll consider it.”
Wu Xiulian looked at her.
You Ruxu seemed like a wilted flower. Wu Xiulian said, “Here’s your apple, eat it.”
You Ruxu took the apple, thanked her, and took a bite, the coldness and sweetness mixing on her tongue. She chewed slowly and heard Wu Xiulian say, “Xu Xu, if you really can’t let go, I’ll go back to Jindu with you, okay? I’ll talk to the Zhou family again…”
“Aunt,” You Ruxu said, “Maybe later.”
Too much had happened recently, from the Fengyuan incident to everything else, they had been constantly busy, including Yu Qiao, first finding out about her relationship with Zhou Tianzui, then finally starting to accept it, only to learn about her true identity, Yu Qiao’s reaction was understandable. You Ruxu thought she also needed time, even if it was to hate her, it would take time.
Wu Xiulian nodded, “I’ll listen to you.”
She looked down, wanting to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Xu Xu, do you hate me?”
You Ruxu said, “Aunt, I don’t hate you.”
“But I hate myself.” Wu Xiulian said, “Actually, I went to see Zhou Tianzui’s mother that day.”
You Ruxu looked at Wu Xiulian.
Wu Xiulian continued, “She said I was protecting you, protecting the You family, then what about them? Did they deserve to be wronged, to be judged and ridiculed? ” Wu Xiulian wiped her eyes, “Her words stunned me, and I realized how selfish I had been.”
“If it wasn’t for me, they would have had the respect they deserved years ago, they suffered for over a decade because of me.” Wu Xiulian said, “Xu Xu, it was my fault, don’t blame yourself, I’ll find a way to make amends, please stop torturing yourself, okay?”
You Ruxu put down the apple, hearing her words.
Torturing herself?
She wasn’t torturing herself, she just, thinking of Zhou Tianzui, thinking of Yu Qiao, it hurt, these past two weeks, she had been in a daze, her dreams filled with memories of Jindu, of meeting Zhou Tianzui, of her smile, of their unspoken understanding, of the jealousy she felt when Zhou Tianzui was close to others, she dreamt of the day she realized who Zhou Tianzui was, her anxiety, the nightmares, she dreamt of Yu Qiao, of her kindness, a kindness she didn’t deserve.
You Ruxu leaned back against the pillows, her hand resting on the bedside table, her phone ringing. Wu Xiulian handed her the phone, “Chen Xiang, your colleague, right?”
“Yes.” You Ruxu’s palms were sweating, anyone or anything related to Jindu made her heart race. Wu Xiulian asked, “Are you going to answer?”
You Ruxu took the phone.
“Teacher You!” Chen Xiang’s cheerful voice on the other end, as if carrying the air of Jindu with it, of a place where Zhou Tianzui existed. You Ruxu’s throat tightened slightly, her voice hoarse as she replied, “Yes.”
“What’s wrong with your voice?” Chen Xiang asked, “Is your cold still bothering you?”
You Ruxu said, “It hasn’t completely gone away yet.”
“You’ve been sick for so long.” Chen Xiang said worriedly, “Are you sure there’s nothing else wrong?”
You Ruxu said, “No, I’m just recovering slowly.”
“You must have been overworking yourself, pushing yourself too hard, you need to rest properly.” Chen Xiang said, “Being sick is awful, Teacher You, take care of yourself.”
You Ruxu smiled faintly, her lips pressed together, she wanted to ask about Zhou Tianzui, but would Chen Xiang know?
How could she know?
But logic was one thing, and emotions, they often trampled over logic, overriding her self-control, a self-control that vanished whenever she was around Zhou Tianzui.
You Ruxu couldn’t help but ask, “Is Dr. Zhou, still going on blind dates?”
“Huh?” Chen Xiang was puzzled, “Dr. Zhou? No, I don’t think so, I heard she went on blind dates for a week, then stopped. Oh, and this is funny, a few guys from Team 1 wanted to go, but they were turned away before they even met her.” She chuckled, a lighthearted tone, but You Ruxu’s emotions were a rollercoaster.
Zhou Tianzui.
Had stopped going on blind dates?
Then Yu Qiao, must be furious.
You Ruxu said, “Really?”
“Seriously!” Chen Xiang chuckled, “You should have seen their faces, so regretful, they said they should have asked someone to set them up earlier. Dr. Zhou doesn’t seem to have a partner, I did hear she was in a relationship before…”
You Ruxu’s heart skipped a beat: “A relationship?”
Then she asked, “Why are you at the hospital?”
Chen Xiang covered her mouth, Teacher You was truly sharp, always catching the important details, “I’ve been covering a story lately, the person involved is in the hospital, so I’ve been here often.”
She chuckled awkwardly, “So I see Dr. Zhou quite often.”
You Ruxu paused, “How is she doing lately?”
“She seems fine.” Chen Xiang said, then realizing something was off, Zhou Tianzui had asked her about You Ruxu, and now You Ruxu was asking about Zhou Tianzui, weren’t they in contact?
Was it because of, the Zhou Qiming incident?
Chen Xiang understood, feeling a pang of sympathy, Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu had been so close before, she couldn’t help but say, “Actually, Dr. Zhou is also very concerned about you.”
You Ruxu paused, “About me?”
Chen Xiang said, “Yes, she’s been asking about you these past few days.”
It was an exaggeration, but Zhou Tianzui had asked about her twice. You Ruxu gripped her phone tightly, her body still weak from the fever, a sudden surge of energy, listening attentively to Chen Xiang, her body tense, any movement causing pain.
Chen Xiang said, “Why don’t you try contacting her?”
“I…” You Ruxu was speechless. Zhou Tianzui had asked about her, but hadn’t contacted her, was it because of Yu Qiao? The thought of her, a sharp stab in her heart, drained her of all her newfound energy. She held her phone and said, “I see, thank you.”
Chen Xiang was slightly embarrassed, “Teacher You, you’re too polite, I’ll come visit you in Yuhai next time!” Then she asked, “But Teacher You, are you really not coming back?”
A sliver of hope in her voice.
You Ruxu thought for a long moment, her phone silent, Chen Xiang almost thought the call had been disconnected, when You Ruxu finally said, “Yes, I’m not coming back.”
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