Chapter 26: Sour and Bitter
Lu Li rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and noticed the little tiger’s thought-provoking expression. He was someone who was more afraid of the cold than the heat. When he was a child, his family was poor, and he had a weak constitution. Especially in winter, the cold wind would make his small hands red and swollen, and sometimes his skin would even crack and bleed. During those times, Sister Yameng would warm his hands by placing them against her stomach. That was also the first time Lu Li learned that a girl’s stomach was one of the softest and most delicate parts of her body.
“Good morning, Chen Jianing.” Lu Li repeated, thinking that she was spacing out.
“Ugh.” Chen Jianing turned her head away, making a reluctant sound.
“I just saw the doctor. He said your fever has subsided, and you can be discharged after two more days of observation.” Lu Li sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Chen Jianing’s profile, his heart filled with joy. “It’s great that it’s not RSA. I was really worried that your illness couldn’t be cured.”
He’s so happy. Chen Jianing finally turned her head and said coldly, “You have the habit of wearing scarves?”
Did she take the wrong medicine? Lu Li was stunned. Why was this girl’s attitude even worse than yesterday? But he didn’t mind and picked up an apple from the table. “Someone gave me this scarf, I just put it on before I left.” It wasn’t exactly “just put it on.” He had run into Silly Goose, who had woken up early, and she specifically reminded him to wear a scarf to stay warm…
“That’s nice, a girl even gave you a scarf.” Chen Jianing immediately stopped talking after saying this, realizing that her words were too laced with jealousy.
“I’ll be going back to Chuanhai after you’re discharged.” Lu Li finished peeling the apple. “Want some?”
“No.”
He took a bite of the apple. It was the familiar sweet and sour taste. Apples were truly the worst fruit. “Contact me if you come to Chuanhai after the outbreak is over. Although I don’t have much money, I know some fun places in Chuanhai City… Chen Jianing, are you unhappy?”
“I’m very happy.” Chen Jianing gritted her teeth. “But I won’t go to Chuanhai to hang out with you. We’re not even close, why would I contact you?”
“You’re my partner.” Lu Li couldn’t help but ruffle the grumpy girl’s head. “Don’t forget what you promised me. You promised to join my development team, right?”
Chen Jianing thought of something and her expression softened. She hummed a couple of times. “I’m hungry, I want to eat an apple.”
“I’ll peel you a new one.”
“No, I want the one in your hand.”
“I already took a bite.”
“I’m starving, I don’t care.” Chen Jianing snatched the apple from Lu Li’s hand and took a big bite. Juice splattered everywhere. She felt that the apple was much more sour and bitter than usual. It must be unripe.
“Don’t always frown, you have such a pretty face. Wouldn’t it be better to smile more?” Lu Li said with a smile.
“Because I always encounter annoying things. If life wasn’t so frustrating, who wouldn’t want to be happy-go-lucky like you every day?” Chen Jianing retorted without holding back. “I’m not like Mr. Lu, who receives several phone calls and WeChat messages every day, with so many people caring about him and pretty girls giving him expensive-looking scarves…”
“Yeah, but this Mr. Lu still has to get up at six every morning to serve Miss Chen, working tirelessly and without complaint. Sigh, I wonder who doesn’t know how good they have it.”
“It’s not forever…”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Chen Jianing ate the apple quickly. She threw the core into the trash can and snuggled under the blanket, pouting at Lu Li. “Why are you still here? Go spend time with the person you like.”
“I’d better stay with a certain sick cat for now, or she’ll give me the cold shoulder again.”
“Who are you calling a sick cat?”
“Whoever reacts to it.”
“Lu Li, are you asking for a bite? I’ll bite you!”
Three short days passed in a blink of an eye. As Zhi Bei You wrote, “Life between heaven and earth is like a fleeting white colt, gone in an instant.” It seemed like just yesterday that Chen Jianing was on the verge of death, but by December 8th, the girl was full of life and vigor, as if reborn. The lockdown in Mulan City was gradually easing. Chu Xiaodong’s arrival seemed to have accelerated the pace of change. The efficiency of the hospitals and government departments skyrocketed. When Lu Li stood in front of the Mulan Fourth Hospital with his suitcase, he could see temporary medical tents being set up on the open space. A large number of patients were transferred to the tents, no longer having to lie on the cold, plastic floor.
Walking past a few sanitation workers clearing snow, Lu Li saw Chen Jianing, wearing a brown plaid coat. She also had a knitted sweater underneath, the sleeves so long that she could hide her small, white fists inside them. She was even blowing air into the sleeves, like a childish kid sneaking out of middle school.
“I’m here!” Lu Li’s shout interrupted the little tiger’s searching gaze.
“Why are you so slow?”
“They were checking temperatures on the bus, it took some time.” Lu Li pushed the silver suitcase towards Chen Jianing. “Check if you’re missing anything.”
Chen Jianing plopped down on the suitcase. “Forget it, I’m not checking. If anything is missing, you’ll pay for it.”
Lu Li held up the fried dough sticks in his hand. “Have some breakfast, I bought them on the way.”
“I’ll eat if you eat.”
“Then I won’t eat.”
“I won’t either.” Chen Jianing hummed.
“Are you a child?” Lu Li handed her the fried dough sticks and checked his phone for the time. It was 7:30 am, half an hour before his appointed time with Chu Jingyi.
Seeing Lu Li checking the time, Chen Jianing clenched her fists, her voice softening. “Are you leaving?”
“Yes, the plane leaves at 8:30.” It was a private plane, belonging to the Chu family. If it weren’t for Chu Xiaodong, it would be quite difficult for him to leave Mulan City.
“You’re going to miss me?” Lu Li teased, seeing the girl’s wistful expression.
“Tch, who would miss you? You’re a bad guy who doxes people.” Chen Jianing was a natural at changing her expression. One second she was acting pitiful, the next she was full of disdain.
“I told you, I didn’t dox you.” This matter was like mud stuck to his pants, impossible to wash off. Chen Jianing was particularly difficult today, always picking on him and never shutting up, as if she would lose money for every word she didn’t say. Lu Li couldn’t bring himself to say “goodbye” under Chen Jianing’s barrage of words.
They walked out of the hospital together. It was finally time to part ways. Turn left to go to the airport, turn right to take the bus back to Mulan University. A simple fork in the road made Chen Jianing feel a sense of finality. She looked at the wide, deserted road, then at Lu Li’s indifferent expression, and finally at the fried dough sticks he bought for her. She finally realized that the dream was over.
“Come visit me in Chuanhai when you have time.” Lu Li waved, smiling brightly, leaving without a trace. Before Chen Jianing could figure out how to respond, her mouth opened on its own. “I won’t visit you, not in this lifetime!”
“Then come find me in the next life!”
Next life… Chen Jianing’s heart ached. I won’t look for you in the next life! After Lu Li’s figure disappeared around the corner, Chen Jianing stood there blankly, frozen in place.
Just like that, they said goodbye, simply and plainly. Just like how he suddenly entered her life and then suddenly left. Chen Jianing took a big bite of the fried dough stick. Why did even the fried dough stick taste sour and bitter…
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