Chapter 23: Small?
Zhou Tianzui cooked while Yu Qiao sat in the living room and chatted with You Ruxu. They didn’t have much in common, so Yu Qiao asked, “That news story of yours…”
You Ruxu said, “The fireworks factory explosion?”
“Yes.” Yu Qiao said, “I heard that man still hasn’t woken up?”
Sensing that she was trying to make conversation, You Ruxu replied, “Yes, Zhang Xiaojie hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
“His wife gave birth at Xiao Tian’s hospital, right?” Yu Qiao had heard bits and pieces, but didn’t know the details. You Ruxu said, “Yes, at her hospital, she just gave birth.”
“The case hasn’t been solved yet.” Yu Qiao, by nature, was a gentle person. She said, “Then his wife must be having a hard time.”
You Ruxu looked at her, her voice catching in her throat. She lowered her head and said, “Yes.”
Just then, her phone rang. You Ruxu picked it up and heard Chen Xiang’s voice on the other end: “Teacher You, have you seen what’s online?”
You Ruxu asked, “What?”
Chen Xiang said, “The internet’s in an uproar again.”
You Ruxu frowned, hung up, and went online. She saw a post from a marketing account: [Zhang Xiaojie’s wife said, deserve to die?].
The sensational headline was eye-catching. The news was posted half an hour ago, and it was already trending, an orange-colored topic, with countless comments below.
[What’s that supposed to mean? Who does she mean deserves to die? Is she implying something?]
[Just like the woman who married Zhang Xiaojie, a piece of trash!]
[This woman is vicious, didn’t she just give birth to a son? Have some decency!]
[I was there, she really did say deserve to die!]
You Ruxu’s brow furrowed deeply. She messaged Chen Xiang: [What’s going on?]
Chen Xiang: [It’s taken out of context. I asked the nurses. Someone went to argue with her, and Zeng Jing said that if Zhang Xiaojie did it, they deserved to die, that they would pay with their lives.]
The “they” clearly referred to Zhang Xiaojie and herself.
Not the victims of the explosion.
But now, it was taken out of context, making her the “perpetrator.” Zeng Jing was already on edge because of Zhang Xiaojie’s situation. She had finally been transferred to a new ward, hoping for some peace, but her parents’ phones were being bombarded with calls. She had turned off her phone, afraid to turn it on. The moment she did, countless messages filled with insults would flood in. She had never seen so many vicious words in her life, like needles piercing her, making it difficult to breathe. Only when looking at her child could she find some peace.
But now, listening to her parents’ conversation.
She was even more distraught.
“No, my daughter didn’t mean it that way, she was talking about Zhang Xiaojie.”
“It’s really not what you think, we’re sorry, you misunderstood.”
Her parents, over fifty years old, were apologizing everywhere because of her. They had never bowed their heads to anyone in their lives, but now their backs were bent low, groveling in front of others. Zeng Jing held her child, tears streaming down her face.
She hated this world.
Why wouldn’t anyone listen to her?
It clearly wasn’t Zhang Xiaojie, so why did everyone say it was him?!
Why was everyone cursing at her? What had she done wrong? What had her child done wrong? What had her parents done wrong?!
Zeng Jing’s heart was heavy, her tears flowing endlessly. She looked out the window, suddenly finding the sound of the rain incredibly loud. She wanted to smash everything, even jump from the window.
If she jumped.
Would it be quiet then?
Would these people stop cursing at her?
Zeng Jing stared blankly out the window, then at the baby in her arms. The baby didn’t have a name yet. Zhang Xiaojie had come up with a few names, then said, “They don’t sound very nice, let’s ask Chen Mo, he’s the godfather, after all, and a university graduate, he might come up with something better.”
How could they have imagined this back then?
The baby was chewing on its fingers in her arms, its eyes wide open, understanding nothing, so pitiful. It hadn’t even learned to speak yet and already had to bear such a heavy burden. What would it do in the future?
Perhaps—
She should just leave with him.
Go find Zhang Xiaojie.
Go find his father.
“Mr. Zhang’s condition isn’t very good, you should be prepared.”
Prepared for what?
Zeng Jing didn’t dare ask, but now she felt, it was fine.
This way, their family of three could be reunited.
Zeng Jing’s mother, after hanging up the phone, saw Zeng Jing standing by the window. Her eyes widened, and she immediately shouted, “Zeng Jing!”
Zeng Jing’s father was startled, turning around so abruptly that he almost choked, his phone clattering to the floor. He rushed over. Zeng Jing, holding the baby, was pressed against the window. Zeng Jing’s father grabbed her hospital gown and pulled her back. Zeng Jing’s mother felt dizzy for a few seconds, then rushed over: “What are you doing?!”
She cried, “Are you crazy?!”
“Zeng Jing, what are you trying to do?!”
Looking at her crying parents, Zeng Jing whispered, “I’m sorry.”
She seemed incapable of saying anything else, only apologizing, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Zeng Jing’s mother, tears in her eyes, ran out to find the doctor.
Zhou Tianzui didn’t know about Zeng Jing’s situation yet. After He Wei confessed, Zeng Jing’s attending physician was changed from Zhou Tianzui to Fu Shushu. Fu Shushu thought that after giving birth and being transferred to a VIP ward, there wouldn’t be any problems. She hadn’t expected this near-tragedy, which gave her a cold sweat. Looking at Zeng Jing lying on the bed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Having just given birth, both her emotional and physical state were extremely unstable. Even ordinary people couldn’t bear being subjected to such online abuse, let alone Zeng Jing, who had just given birth. She hadn’t been thoughtful enough.
Fu Shushu said, “Stay with her tonight.”
Lin Luo nodded.
Strictly speaking, Zeng Jing was Lin Luo’s first patient, and she had saved both mother and child from death’s door, so Lin Luo didn’t dare to be careless. But every time she saw Zeng Jing, she couldn’t help but think of Zhou Tianzui.
She heard that Zhou Tianzui had given up her chance at the deputy director position to make He Wei tell the truth.
She had seen He Wei these past two days.
She was different from before.
She couldn’t say exactly what was different, just a feeling.
He Wei had even apologized to her.
So—should she thank Zhou Tianzui?
Lin Luo held her phone, looking at Zhou Tianzui’s WeChat contact. She had added her when she first joined the hospital but hadn’t dared to message her. The chat history was blank. After much deliberation, she finally typed: [Dr. Zhou]
Zhou Tianzui was eating dinner. Seeing the screen light up with Lin Luo’s message, she paused and replied: [Is something the matter?]
Lin Luo hadn’t expected such a quick reply. Her heart leaped into her throat, her hands trembling with excitement. She remembered how Zhou Tianzui’s gaze always felt intense whenever they made eye contact.
She didn’t hesitate and replied: [I just wanted to say thank you, Dr. Zhou.]
Zhou Tianzui pursed her lips.
After a moment of thought, she replied: [No need.]
A cold and indifferent response.
Lin Luo’s fingers pressed against the screen.
Zhou Tianzui sent another message: [It wasn’t for you.]
Lin Luo bit her lip.
Of course she knew it wasn’t for her. It was for He Wei. She had heard that Zhou Tianzui even took the disciplinary action for He Wei. Lin Luo suddenly felt a pang of envy, envious that He Wei had Zhou Tianzui as her mentor.
If only Zhou Tianzui had been her mentor.
This thought was absurd, but once it took root, it grew rapidly. She really envied He Wei.
From this moment on.
Zhou Tianzui’s hand was slapped: “What time is it, and you’re still looking at your phone while eating?”
She turned off her phone: “Hospital matters.”
“Hospital matters never end.” Yu Qiao said, “Focus on your food. Look at Xiao Xu, she’s so busy, and she doesn’t do this.”
Her words favored You Ruxu.
But there was much less restraint and distance than before.
You Ruxu said, “She’s very busy.”
“No matter how busy you are, you have to eat.” Yu Qiao said to her with a smile, “Xiao Xu, have some chicken wings, they’re freshly cooked, very tender.”
You Ruxu glanced at Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui, usually sharp-tongued and prickly like a hedgehog, was only obedient and compliant in front of Yu Qiao, doing whatever she was told. When Yu Qiao told her to eat, Zhou Tianzui put her phone aside without another glance.
Yu Qiao was very satisfied and said with a smile, “Eat more.”
Zhou Tianzui lowered her head and ate. You Ruxu found this atmosphere strange.
Even stranger was that she didn’t want to break it.
After dinner, they sat with Yu Qiao and watched TV for a while. Yu Qiao said, “I’ll go wash the clothes, you’ll be wearing them tomorrow, right?”
You Ruxu quickly stood up: “I’ll do it myself.”
She went into the bathroom. Since there were undergarments, Yu Qiao didn’t insist, just saying, “The laundry detergent is in the second cabinet from the bottom.”
You Ruxu nodded and saw Zhou Tianzui also come into the bathroom. She said, “You go keep your mom company.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “You’ll wash them for me?”
Usually, they washed their own clothes, as they would just toss them into the small washing machine for delicates after showering. Of course, there were times when they washed together. You Ruxu said, “Yes, leave them here.”
Zhou Tianzui glanced at the living room. Her mother was watching TV. Yu Qiao hadn’t mentioned anything about what happened today, and neither would Zhou Tianzui ask. Since they came back, Yu Qiao had been keeping herself busy, needing some time to process everything.
She took Zhou Tianzui’s jacket, put it in the washing machine, added detergent, set the timer, and the machine started humming, filling with water. Zhou Tianzui crouched down and watched You Ruxu hand-washing her underwear, a light pink color. Her hands, submerged in the soapy water, made her skin appear even whiter.
You Ruxu looked up: “Aren’t you going out?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “No need.”
You Ruxu gave the underwear a few more rubs and put them in another basin to rinse. Zhou Tianzui looked at the underwear, then at You Ruxu, and suddenly asked, “Is it small?”
You Ruxu looked up: “What?”
Zhou Tianzui asked, “I’m asking you, is it small?”
Her eyes gestured towards the underwear.
You Ruxu suddenly remembered what Zhou Tianzui had said in her room.
Don’t you know whether they’re small or not?
Her face flushed for no reason. To be fair, Zhou Tianzui’s size wasn’t small, especially considering her slender frame. But being asked so directly, You Ruxu found it difficult to answer. Zhou Tianzui’s dark eyes stared at her, seemingly waiting for an answer.
You Ruxu, unable to avoid it any longer, shifted her gaze from Zhou Tianzui’s face to her chest and said, “They’re not small.”
Zhou Tianzui twitched the corner of her mouth and said, “What are you thinking about, Teacher You? I’m asking you if the underwear I gave you are small.”
You Ruxu froze. The awkwardness of misunderstanding her was even more suffocating than wearing underwear that were too small.
She pursed her lips and glared at Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui, however, smiled at her, the corners of her lips lifting, the corners of her eyes crinkling, her features becoming animated. Meeting her gaze, You Ruxu’s heart skipped a beat for no reason.
She lowered her head and continued washing the clothes.
Her hair covered her profile.
Hiding her blush.
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