Chapter 23: A Hasty Ending
Chen Jianing hated those TV series with dozens of seasons. All the essence was usually squeezed out in the first few seasons, leaving only family dramas and ethical conflicts that the writers racked their brains to come up with. She didn’t want to watch who cheated on whom and who slept with whom within a small group. She just wanted to see the main characters smashing monsters. These garbage series, kept alive by capital, would often be canceled due to declining ratings, leaving the writers with no choice but to give the once-glorious protagonists a hasty ending.
It was quite similar to her and Lu Li.
Chen Jianing changed into a hospital gown. The nurse said she needed to stay in the hospital for three more days of observation and could be discharged if there were no problems. She also reminded her to wear a mask, wash her hands frequently, avoid crowded places, and not catch RSA after just recovering from the flu. Chen Jianing waited for several hours, her stomach growling, but Lu Li still hadn’t returned. Usually at this time, Lu Li would knock on the door and cheerfully ask her if she was hungry, but today he was late.
She didn’t want to imagine what he was doing, but even the thought of it caused a slight stomachache. The image of the couple holding hands uncontrollably appeared in her mind. Eventually, the nurse brought her a nutritious meal. The food was exquisite, but Chen Jianing didn’t eat much. She didn’t have much of an appetite. The IV drips were changed one after another. It wasn’t until nightfall that Lu Li finally returned to the ward.
Where did you go? She wanted to ask, but Chen Jianing forced herself to clench her jaw, refusing to ask with the last bit of her pride.
Lu Li didn’t seem to care at all. He casually asked her what the doctor said, as if he had been too busy all day to pay attention to her. He could have easily asked the nurse and learned that she only had the flu, not RSA, but he didn’t. Chen Jianing told him coldly that it was the flu, not RSA. Lu Li’s face lit up with relief, which gave the girl a little comfort. At least Lu Li genuinely cared about her well-being.
Lu Li happily peeled three apples for her and told her to eat more apples, saying it was good for her health. Until the very end, Lu Li didn’t mention anything about being boyfriend and girlfriend, as if their relationship had never existed.
This was the most hasty ending, like a cancelled TV series. Chen Jianing thought to herself.
“Where are you going?” Chen Jianing finally couldn’t hold back and asked her first question of the night.
“Going back to rest, I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”
Going back? The hotel was more than half an hour’s drive away, and he had to pass through two checkpoints along the way.
“Back to the hotel?” Her luggage was still at the hotel, and the clothes she had changed out of this morning were still on the bedsheet.
“The hotel is too far, I’m going to stay at my friend’s house for a few days.”
This answer made Chen Jianing’s heart clench as if someone was squeezing it tightly, not only squeezing it but also twisting it, as if trying to wring out every last drop of blood. It was so painful, so uncomfortable. The considerate Lu Li from before suddenly felt distant, as if he had never existed. Friend? Was it the girl from earlier today?
Her eyes reddened. “…Don’t go…” Her voice was too soft, and Lu Li didn’t hear her.
“I didn’t hear you, what did you say?”
Chen Jianing didn’t speak. She would never repeat those words again. A song popped into her head: Bye bye, the next one will be better.
Lu Li looked at the little tiger, who was pouting and glaring at him, not understanding what he had done to offend her. Wasn’t it a good thing that she didn’t have RSA? Why wasn’t she happy? He had noticed it from the moment he entered the room that evening. Chen Jianing’s attitude towards him was hostile. Did the doctor prescribe the wrong medicine? Did the IV drip mess up her hormones?
He ruffled the little tiger’s head. “Come on, don’t be angry. If I did something to upset you, can you tell me? I’m a bit slow, sometimes I might offend you without realizing it. Please forgive me, okay?”
“Who was that girl?” After asking this question, Chen Jianing felt half the weight lifted from her heart. She had been holding this question in all day, trying to convince herself that the girl was just Lu Li’s relative.
That girl? Lu Li didn’t understand for a moment.
“You saw Jing… you saw my friend?”
“Yes.”
She remembered the scumbag quotes she had seen online: “Oh, I just treat her like a little sister, don’t overthink it. Why are you so suspicious? Can’t you trust me a little?” Would Lu Li use the same words to deceive her? Chen Jianing decided that if Lu Li tried to fool her like that, she would rather stay single for the rest of her life than ask for even a shred of his affection.
“She’s the person I like.”
This answer was too straightforward. After being accustomed to all the push and pull in online love stories, Lu Li’s answer was like a sharp sword cutting through all the drama.
Chen Jianing froze.
Lu Li belatedly frowned. Could Chen Jianing be jealous? Did she invest too much in their makeshift relationship? It seemed like Chen Jianing had a similar reaction in his past life. It shouldn’t be jealousy, right? After all, Chen Jianing had said many times that he wasn’t her type, that she didn’t have any romantic feelings for him. She said it in his past life, and she said it in this life.
Chen Jianing’s lips twitched slightly, all words stuck in her throat.
“Are… are you jealous?” Lu Li was a very straightforward person when it came to relationships. If he could reduce misunderstandings, he would rather ask ten more redundant questions.
“I’m not jealous. Lu Li, you didn’t actually take our boyfriend-girlfriend thing seriously, did you?” Chen Jianing finally spoke. “I only asked you because I thought I was dying. Although I’m very grateful for your care, I don’t actually like you at all, completely, utterly, 100% don’t like you. I’m only angry because you didn’t come to see me this afternoon. I was poked four times by the nurse, and you weren’t even there!”
Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief. “I was worried you were too invested.”
Chen Jianing’s eyes reddened. We even kissed, what are you talking about? Lu Li, do you really think my first kiss is worthless?
“Don’t worry, I’m always clear-headed.” She said stubbornly, trying to save face. “I was worried that you were younger than me and would be heartbroken because of me. Now that I see you… see you so calm, I’m… I’m… I’m relieved.” She choked up at the end. Lu Li quickly went over to check on her, but she pushed him away.
“I just ate too much at dinner and choked.” Her toes curled tightly as she spoke.
Was that sarcasm or not? Lu Li was confused again. He really couldn’t tell what Chen Jianing was truly thinking, only with her.
But seeing the little tiger puffing out her chest as if everyone owed her eight million yuan, Lu Li decided not to overthink it. Being self-conscious wasn’t a good habit. In elementary school, he had a crush on a girl simply because he had a bite of her spicy snack, thinking that she was giving him special treatment. He only learned in middle school that she was just being generous.
The first step for a boy to become a man was to learn not to be self-conscious.
Lu Li chose to believe Chen Jianing’s words and turned to leave. After he left, Chen Jianing sadly lay down on the hospital bed, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. The young nurse, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, tried to comfort her by playing the song “Bye bye, the next one will be better…”
“There won’t be a next one… There’s only one Lu Li…” she cried.
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