Chapter 53: Ruxu
You Ruxu hadn’t had a single day of proper rest during her leave, only managing to sleep soundly on the way back. Wu Xiulian stood at the boarding gate and said, “Come back during your next vacation.”
You Ruxu nodded: “I know.”
Wu Xiulian paused. She felt she had learned more about You Ruxu during this period than in the past few years. She sighed softly. You Ruxu pursed her lips, looked at her, and then suddenly reached out and hugged Wu Xiulian.
She was usually reserved in public, not openly displaying her affections. After becoming an adult, her emotions had become even more subdued. So, Wu Xiulian was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled, “Just like when you were young.”
You Ruxu had been very clingy to Wu Xiulian as a child.
You Ruxu released her, wanting to say something, but the years of suppressed emotions made it difficult to express herself. In the end, she just called out, “Mom.”
Although it wasn’t explicitly stated, Wu Xiulian understood. She patted You Ruxu’s head and watched her go through security.
Wu Xiulian said, “It’s nice having a daughter, Sis, should I adopt one too?”
Wu Xiulian’s mother gave a strained smile, “Are you going to get married?”
Wu Xiulian said, “On second thought, maybe not.”
Wu Xiulian’s mother’s lips twitched. She had given up on persuading Wu Xiulian to get married. When they were younger, she would constantly urge her to get married and have children, but Wu Xiulian seemed to ignore her, although she did date a few people. She had heard that some of those relationships ended before they even held hands. At first, she was angry, but later, she became resigned, even grateful to Wu Xiulian for making her view on marriage less rigid, otherwise she would have been pressuring You Ruxu to find a boyfriend after graduation.
You Ruxu sat beside Zhou Tianzui. Her mood on this return trip was different from before. She turned to look at Zhou Tianzui, who was busy with her phone, and asked, “What are you looking at?”
“Asking Dr. Zhao about my mom’s condition.” Zhou Tianzui said, “My mom’s stubborn, refusing to admit anything.”
She would only say she was fine, even when she couldn’t get out of bed, refusing to hire a caregiver, insisting she could manage on her own. Last night, the head nurse on duty, knowing it was Zhou Tianzui’s mother, checked on her, and it was a good thing she did. Yu Qiao couldn’t even go to the bathroom herself, holding it in. If it weren’t for the head nurse’s help, she would have just endured it.
Honestly.
Zhou Tianzui was exasperated.
You Ruxu said, “Has Auntie always been this stubborn?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Not really.”
Yu Qiao hadn’t been stubborn before, she had been a gentle person, but life had sharpened her edges, protective edges, making her increasingly stubborn and unyielding.
Zhou Tianzui didn’t elaborate. Soon, the plane took off. As the feeling of weightlessness hit, You Ruxu’s hand brushed against Zhou Tianzui’s and was held. She was startled, turned to look at Zhou Tianzui, and saw her pull her coat over their joined hands, hidden from view, their fingers interlaced.
You Ruxu lowered her head and smiled.
They arrived in Jindu in the afternoon. You Ruxu, as usual, messaged her parents and Wu Xiulian to let them know she had arrived safely, while getting into a taxi with Zhou Tianzui. She asked, “Going straight to the hospital?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Let’s drop off our luggage first.”
You Ruxu nodded slightly. They returned to the apartment. Zhou Tianzui then drove You Ruxu to the hospital. They ran into a familiar face at the entrance. He Wei greeted them, “Dr. Zhou.” Then her eyes lit up, “Teacher You!”
Zhou Tianzui glanced at her and walked ahead. You Ruxu smiled at He Wei and followed.
He Wei said, “Teacher You, are you here to visit someone?”
You Ruxu was carrying flowers and fruit, clearly a visitor. You Ruxu nodded. He Wei, ever the social butterfly, followed her. It had only been a few days, yet You Ruxu looked slightly thinner, although her aura hadn’t changed, still aloof and distant, like the bright moon in the sky, unattainable.
He Wei was called away after a few steps, her gaze lingering on You Ruxu reluctantly, as if she wanted to cling to her. Before entering the elevator, Zhou Tianzui, standing beside You Ruxu, seeing He Wei’s expression, chuckled softly.
You Ruxu, worried Zhou Tianzui might be jealous, had deliberately maintained a professional demeanor, just smiling politely. But hearing Zhou Tianzui’s soft laughter now, it felt like a feather brushing against her heart, a ticklish sensation. She turned to look at Zhou Tianzui, “What are you laughing at?”
They were alone in the elevator. Zhou Tianzui turned to her, a teasing glint in her eyes, “Teacher You is so charming.”
You Ruxu wanted to cover her mouth again.
The familiar urge returned. She couldn’t help but chuckle, and Zhou Tianzui asked, “What are you laughing at?”
You Ruxu, unable to resist, retorted, “None of your business.”
As she spoke, the elevator arrived. She stepped out and turned around. Zhou Tianzui, hearing her words for the first time, was slightly taken aback, standing there, frozen. You Ruxu said, “Coming?”
Zhou Tianzui followed her, a smile playing on her lips.
The slightly grumpy You Ruxu was quite cute.
After exiting the elevator, several doctors and nurses greeted her. You Ruxu composed herself, resuming her usual calm demeanor, just fidgeting with the fruit basket slightly, betraying her nervousness.
Zhou Tianzui watched as she opened the ward door.
There were voices inside, familiar voices. Zhou Tianzui saw Lin Luo standing by Yu Qiao’s bed. Hearing the noise at the door, Lin Luo paused mid-peel, holding a piece of fruit, and greeted them with a smile, “Dr. Zhou, you’re back.”
Yu Qiao also saw Zhou Tianzui, pausing in surprise, “Why are you back? When did you get back? Weren’t you in Yuhai…?”
She then saw You Ruxu as well.
You Ruxu walked in, holding the fruit basket: “Auntie, how are you feeling?”
Yu Qiao tried to get out of bed, “Xiao Xu is here too.” You Ruxu put down the fruit basket and walked over to her, “Auntie, please stay seated.”
“I’m so sorry to trouble you.” Yu Qiao was a little flustered. She said, “When did you two get back? Xiao Tian is in Yuhai, did she cause you any trouble?”
You Ruxu said, “No, Zhou—” She corrected herself, “Zhou Tianzui didn’t trouble me at all.” She looked at Yu Qiao and asked with concern, “How’s your leg?”
Yu Qiao said, “It’s nothing serious, just a fall, the roads were icy after the snow a couple of days ago. You two be careful on your way to work.” She looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Did this disrupt your work?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Not at all.” She looked at Lin Luo, “Dr. Lin, why are you here?”
Lin Luo explained nervously, “I heard from Sister Bao that Auntie was hospitalized, so I came to visit during my lunch break.”
Zhou Tianzui: “Thank you.”
Lin Luo quickly waved her hand: “Then Dr. Zhou, I’ll get back to work.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded indifferently. After Lin Luo left, Yu Qiao said, “You should smile more, you’re scaring your colleagues.”
Several of Zhou Tianzui’s colleagues had come to visit, from last night until today. Even her director came this morning. Yu Qiao felt both grateful and proud.
Zhou Tianzui said, “I smile plenty.” She smiled at Yu Qiao. “How are you feeling today, Beautiful Yu?”
She really was good at putting on a cheerful facade. Yu Qiao said, “I’m fine.”
She gestured towards You Ruxu, “Xiao Xu, have a seat, there’s some fruit here, what would you like? Some tangerines?”
You Ruxu took a tangerine, peeled it, and offered it to Yu Qiao.
Yu Qiao chuckled, slightly embarrassed, and said, “You eat, you eat.”
Zhou Tianzui took the tangerine from You Ruxu, broke it in half, and handed one half to You Ruxu, the other to Yu Qiao, “Here.”
Yu Qiao glared at Zhou Tianzui, as if scolding her for being impolite.
Zhou Tianzui’s expression remained unchanged, “You need to stay another day, you can be discharged tomorrow afternoon.”
Yu Qiao nodded, “It’s nothing serious anyway.”
“Yes, nothing serious, just almost couldn’t get up.” Zhou Tianzui’s tone was light and casual. Yu Qiao pouted and ate a segment of the tangerine, holding the other half in her hand. You Ruxu, seeing this, also peeled a segment and ate it.
It was very sweet.
A pleasant sweetness.
Yu Qiao said, “Didn’t you say you would be gone for a week? Your boss didn’t give you any trouble for coming back early, did she?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s fine, the director asked me to come back.”
Yu Qiao was relieved, her expression easing considerably. You Ruxu sat with them for a while, then received a call from Shi Qi, who wasn’t surprised that she was back early. After all, You Ruxu rarely took time off, often working even during her scheduled breaks, a typical workaholic. Shi Qi asked, “Should I cancel your leave then?”
You Ruxu said, “Don’t cancel it.”
Shi Qi was puzzled, “Is something the matter?”
You Ruxu said, “I want to rest.”
Shi Qi chuckled, “Alright, I understand.”
You Ruxu hung up. Zhou Tianzui came out of the ward. She asked, “Is Auntie resting?”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, “She said she wanted to take a nap.”
You Ruxu walked over to Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui said, “Wait for me here, I’m going to see the director.”
You Ruxu sat on a bench, watching the people coming and going. She looked towards Yu Qiao’s ward, at the woman who had just smiled at her so gently. In her memories, that same woman had once screamed at her hysterically, “You’re lying, aren’t you? You must be lying, you’re lying!”
She had been terrified by the woman’s furious outburst, frozen in place.
You Ruxu’s palms were sweating. She clenched her hands, lost in thought, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up; Zhou Tianzui stood in front of her, holding a bag of medicine.
Zhou Tianzui, seeing You Ruxu’s slightly pale face and red eyes, paused for two seconds and said, “Let’s go.”
You Ruxu stood up, looking at the bag in her hand, “What’s this?”
“Cold medicine.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Your cold hasn’t completely gone away yet.”
You Ruxu’s cold came and went quickly. She was supposed to have two more days of IV drips, but after returning, her cold symptoms had subsided, so she hadn’t paid much attention to it. She hadn’t expected Zhou Tianzui to get her medicine.
In the car, Zhou Tianzui handed her the medicine and asked, “Are you going to the TV station?”
You Ruxu shook her head: “No, let’s go home.”
Zhou Tianzui drove her back, stopping at the supermarket to buy some pork bones. Arriving home, she said to You Ruxu, “I’ll go to the hospital after the soup is ready, I won’t be back tonight, I’m staying with my mom.”
You Ruxu sat on the sofa and asked, “Do you need anything?”
“Need anything? I practically live at the hospital.” Zhou Tianzui chuckled. You Ruxu suddenly remembered that Zhou Tianzui stayed at the hospital during her shifts, so there was indeed nothing she needed. She pursed her lips and sat on the sofa. The apartment felt a little cold after being empty for a few days. Zhou Tianzui turned on the heater. The temperature hadn’t risen yet. You Ruxu’s face was slightly pale. Zhou Tianzui sat beside her.
You Ruxu said, “I’ll go unpack.”
Just as she stood up, Zhou Tianzui grabbed her wrist, pulling her back onto the sofa, then turned and said, “Give me your hand.”
You Ruxu, puzzled, extended her hand.
Zhou Tianzui looked down, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, casting shadows on You Ruxu’s hand. She lowered her head and slowly wrote a character on You Ruxu’s palm with her fingertip.
It was the character “You.”
From You Ruxu’s name.
You Ruxu looked at her.
Zhou Tianzui looked up and said, “From now on, in front of my mother, you are You Ruxu.”
Letting go of the past, she could be You Ruxu, without the burden of guilt.
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