Chapter 44: A Change in Attitude?
When Lu Zhiyin regained consciousness, a nurse in slightly revealing attire was standing by the bed, replacing the drip bag on the stand.
“…Mmm… Haa… Haa…”
As soon as she woke up, before she could think of anything else, intense, bone-shattering pain surged through her from all over her body – her hands, her legs, and her side.
The unbearable pain made Lu Zhiyin cry out.
The nurse, having finished replacing the drip bag, glanced at her, did nothing else, and left on her own.
This was a terrible world, and the hospital was also terrible; the medical staff here were not dedicated.
Lu Zhiyin didn’t know why the nurse ignored her pain. She tried to move her body to alleviate the pain, but even moving a finger brought on more intense pain, making her wish she were dead.
Fine beads of sweat constantly seeped from her forehead.
Soon, the girl’s cries of pain successfully woke Leng Qing Qiu.
Leng Qing Qiu, who had been lying by Lu Zhiyin’s bedside, slept very lightly; the slightest disturbance could wake her, and Lu Zhiyin’s cries of pain certainly did.
She sat up straight, looking at Lu Zhiyin, who had finally woken up. A weight lifted from her heart, but she quickly became flustered.
“What’s wrong? Zhiyin?”
She tentatively touched Lu Zhiyin’s face. The girl’s face was cold, causing Leng Qing Qiu’s hand to instinctively pull back slightly.
“…It hurts… It hurts so much… Hek… Hah…”
A dull ache spread through her chest, as if someone was pounding her chest with a hammer. Lu Zhiyin no longer cared who was beside her and had no energy to concern herself with others’ emotions for the moment.
She just wanted to alleviate the pain; she was truly a person who feared pain.
“Does it hurt? I’ll go get you some painkillers.”
Having calmed down, Leng Qing Qiu used the back of her hand to wipe the sweat from Lu Zhiyin’s forehead. She left the ward and hurried to the pharmacy. After paying for a bottle of strong painkillers herself, Leng Qing Qiu quickly returned to the ward.
She unscrewed the cap, took out a round pill from the bottle, and held Lu Zhiyin’s jaw, stilling her head.
Then, she placed the pill under Lu Zhiyin’s tongue.
“Umm…”
Bitterness spread in Lu Zhiyin’s mouth, and she frowned, whimpering twice.
After about a minute, the pill dissolved, the pain in her body slowly subsided, and Lu Zhiyin became quiet.
The lingering bitterness in her mouth made her still feel apprehensive about the recent pain.
She tried to move her hands. It was only then that she discovered both her legs and her right hand were in casts; the only thing she could move was her left hand.
Her body was weak; even lifting a hand was extremely difficult. Lu Zhiyin used her hand to prop herself up on the bed, wanting to sit up as usual, but after trying, she quickly gave up.
Well… she could only lie down now.
“…”
Leng Qing Qiu watched silently. She didn’t know how to talk to Lu Zhiyin. Should she apologize? Logically, she should apologize to Lu Zhiyin, but Leng Qing Qiu couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“…Leng… Leng Qing Qiu…”
While Leng Qing Qiu was in a dilemma, Lu Zhiyin called her name.
The girl’s voice was very soft and weak, like a candle flame about to be extinguished by the wind. Leng Qing Qiu felt as if the girl before her might die at any moment.
“I’m here.”
Leng Qing Qiu put her hands behind her back and sat down on the stool again.
“…Yesterday… I’m sorry, I really didn’t have the strength to climb down…”
Lowering her eyes, Lu Zhiyin apologized somewhat reluctantly.
In fact, she wanted to scold Leng Qing Qiu soundly, but considering the consequences, she could only think about it.
Her ability to lie was becoming more skillful, and the number of things she did against her will was increasing; Lu Zhiyin had a headache.
“…”
Without a word, listening to Lu Zhiyin’s apology, Leng Qing Qiu suddenly clenched her fist.
It shouldn’t be like this; it shouldn’t be Lu Zhiyin apologizing to her.
She shook her head to herself.
“…Really, I’m so sorry…”
Seeing Leng Qing Qiu shaking her head repeatedly, Lu Zhiyin thought this person was still displeased, so she apologized again, her voice even lower.
Leng Qing Qiu was almost driven mad by the subtle emotions in her heart. She simply left the ward, sat on a bench in the corridor, and ran her hands through her hair haphazardly.
She appeared agitated and anxious.
She had become somewhat strange recently, completely unlike her usual calm self; all of this was caused by Lu Zhiyin.
The ups and downs of her interactions with Lu Zhiyin replayed in her mind.
One could ask how many people in this world were fortunate enough to meet a childhood friend who would indulge them infinitely?
“…I think…”
She opened her mouth, but swallowed the words halfway.
She wouldn’t like a toy, absolutely not…
After sitting in the corridor for a long time, when Leng Qing Qiu returned to the ward, Lu Zhiyin was staring intently at the door.
“…Leng Qing Qiu, if you’re not satisfied, when I’m discharged, I can climb again?”
Her brows were filled with worry, and the girl’s words made Leng Qing Qiu’s heart skip a beat.
“No, there’s no need.”
Shaking her head, Leng Qing Qiu walked to Lu Zhiyin’s bedside. She looked at the girl’s pale face and dry lips.
“…It’s my fault. I caused your car accident. I will pay for your medical expenses. For a period of time, I will stay with you in the hospital.”
She reached out, her index finger gently touching the girl’s lips. Leng Qing Qiu hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
For the first time, she bowed her head in front of Lu Zhiyin.
“…It’s, it’s alright.”
Lu Zhiyin forced a smile and tried to lift her left hand slightly. Leng Qing Qiu took the girl’s hand, placing it back where it was.
Leng Qing Qiu pondered whether she should say something caring.
“It’s okay, don’t worry about me… I said it myself, as long as you’re not happy, you can vent on me.”
Her red eyes were filled with fatigue and boundless tenderness.
Lu Zhiyin’s ability to deceive had become increasingly better, to the point where Leng Qing Qiu could not distinguish the truthfulness of the tenderness in the girl’s eyes.
Leng Qing Qiu pursed her lips. She thought that the girl before her was indeed very gentle, trying to warm her? Perhaps.
Looking at the girl’s eyes, full of tenderness, Leng Qing Qiu inexplicably remembered what the girl looked like when she had been drugged before.
Leng Qing Qiu reached out and touched Lu Zhiyin’s neck.
It seemed that the girl in front of her was still her nominal girlfriend, right? Leng Qing Qiu’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“This won’t happen again. As for Long Qinxin… I won’t actively bother her anymore.”
Well… just not actively. If that guy ungratefully comes looking for her again…
Leng Qing Qiu’s eyes were inscrutable. She would not give Long Qinxin a second chance to live.
“…Mmm, thank you… thank you…”
Thanking Leng Qing Qiu on behalf of Long Qinxin, Lu Zhiyin smiled again.
Looking at the girl’s smile, Leng Qing Qiu was lost in thought. It seemed that smiling was not necessarily uglier than crying.
“I’ll go get you something to eat. You should rest first.”
Snapping back to reality, Leng Qing Qiu remembered that Lu Zhiyin had not eaten or drunk anything for a long time.
