"Brother Jian, I’m sleepy," she murmured, drifting off, really wanting to sleep, but she was afraid to fall asleep. She feared that once she did, no one would care for her, and when the IV drip finished, inside it wouldn’t be medicine, but her very own blood.
Jian Zhiqing gently stroked her forehead.
"Then sleep, Brother Jian is here."
Qin Xiangnuan reached out her hand, placed it on top of his, and then tightly grasped one of his fingers.
"Then, Brother Jian, don’t leave, okay?"
"Help me remove the needle."
"You must remember..."
Actually, she couldn’t remember much, but somehow, she really felt at ease and could sleep peacefully because she believed, truly believed, that Jian Zhiqing would stay by her side. He never broke a promise, whatever he agreed to, no matter what happened, he would always see it through.
So when she said he wouldn’t leave, he really wouldn’t leave.
"Don’t worry, little girl," Jian Zhiqing gently caressed her forehead, then moved his hand to her face. His fingers lightly touched Qin Xiangnuan’s somewhat cool skin. The fever had really subsided now.
He took a book from Qin Xiangnuan’s desk and placed it on his lap, flipping through it page by page. It turned out to be Dream of the Red Chamber. This young lady actually enjoyed reading the original work, and this book had been flipped through countless times. Presumably, it was Qin Xiangnuan herself who had read and made annotations on it.
She must really sort of thing.
Jian Zhiqing turned another page, but his eyes kept glancing towards the IV bottle.
Two hours had passed when the IV drip finished.
After removing the needle, the little girl was still sleeping, and her expression had become more relaxed. It seemed she wasn’t in pain anymore, and even her previously tensed eyebrows were now softened.
Jian Zhiqing still hadn’t left and remained seated beside her, flipping through the book to pass the time.
When Qin Xiangnuan awoke, she saw Jian Zhiqing sitting in the chair with his head slightly bowed, as if concentrating on something, while a wisp of elegance fell from his long lashes. The light coming through the window outside fell on his hair, sometimes brightening and dimming, casting a hazy illusion.
Perhaps aware of Qin Xiangnuan’s gaze, he looked up, his eyes meeting Qin Xiangnuan’s clear and limpid ones, a bit bewildered and somewhat hazy.
"Little girl, are you awake?"
Jian Zhiqing put down the book and came over, placing his hand on Qin Xiangnuan’s forehead.
"Yes," Qin Xiangnuan let out a gentle breath, feeling much better and getting more sleep, "Brother Jian, I’m kind of hungry," she touched her own stomach, really starving now. She hadn’t eaten all day; she felt unwell in the morning, had nothing to eat, and now it was nearly dark.
"Your Brother Jian is also hungry," Jian Zhiqing couldn’t help but laugh.
At last, she was better, knowing enough to feel hunger.
"Wait, Brother Jian will cook for you," Jian Zhiqing rolled up his sleeves and was ready to go to the kitchen to prepare some food. He himself actually didn’t want to eat alone, not until Qin Xiangnuan mentioned food did he also start to feel hungry.
"Cooking?" Qin Xiangnuan’s eyes widened, "Can Brother Jian cook?"
"What can’t I do?" Jian Zhiqing laughed, "It won’t be as good as what you make, but it’s not bad. The only issue is that it might spoil your taste, which is why you’re not willing to do it yourself. The men of the Jian family have always been able to do household chores."