Melody keenly caught her gaze.
"Do you like this bracelet of mine?"
Knowing her unusual background, everything she wore was designer, so the bracelet was naturally not cheap. The nurse smiled.
"I just think it's very pretty."
"It really is. But it's quite inexpensive. Would you like to try it on?"
Material possessions, you can't take them with you when you die. Melody had long since detached herself from them.
If she met someone fated, someone who liked it and would cherish it, Melody was very willing to share it.
The nurse was surprised by her generosity and quickly waved her hands.
"No, no. I was just looking."
"Don't feel burdened. It's really not expensive, not a designer brand. I bought it casually at a, er, small shop when I was traveling."
As she spoke, she took off the bracelet and walked over to the nurse, taking her hand and putting it on.
"You're very beautiful, and I can tell you have a great personality. Why are you so unconfident? If you like something, you should say it boldly."
Being praised by a beautiful woman, and having her hand touched by one, the nurse was overjoyed. A current of electricity surged through her.
"Thank you. You're so kind. Your boyfriend said your Chinese isn't good, and I was worried..."
"He's not my boyfriend."
The nurse looked at her in astonishment, and Melody looked back at her seriously.
"Really, he's not my boyfriend. And he's not young anymore. He should be looking for a girlfriend. If you like him, you can try."
Lu Qingxu hadn't expected Melody to set him up with the nurse while he was out buying dinner.
Ever since they went to America, he had been taking care of Melody's daily needs. They had become accustomed to eating together. Furthermore, being in the hospital room made conversation inconvenient, so they were quieter than usual.
After dinner, Lu Qingxu asked if she was tired. If she was, he suggested she rest in bed while he urged his brother to return quickly.
Melody intended to create an opportunity for them and wasn't in a hurry to leave.
"I'm not tired, and there's no rush. Didn't you say your brother's story with his ex-girlfriend was very exciting? Tell me about it."
It was rare for her to be interested in gossip with him, and Lu Qingxu was delighted.
He moved a stool to sit beside her and quietly, vividly recounted everything he knew.
However, halfway through the story, the child in the bed, Nian Nian, started crying.
Melody, as if equipped with exceptionally sharp hearing, caught the faint cry and instantly reacted.
She immediately stood up and rushed to the small bed.
Before Nian Nian could cry a second time, she gently held her small hand and patted her shoulder with one hand.
Nian Nian seemed to have had a nightmare. Receiving comfort, she stopped crying and fell back asleep peacefully.
Melody looked down at her face and couldn't help but sigh again.
"She truly looks like an angel. To have such a beautiful child, her mother must be incredibly charming."
"Indeed. Otherwise, my brother wouldn't have been so distraught over her... Do you quite like her?"
As if her secret had been discovered, Melody instantly let go of Nian Nian's hand and returned with a cold expression.
"I just pity her for having no one to care for her now, and you're useless. Do I look like someone who likes children?"
Judging by her appearance and her usual world-weary expression, she didn't.
But Lu Qingxu knew her too well.
She was just like Zhan Bei Jue, outwardly cold but inwardly warm, a master of sharp tongues.
Due to a lack of family warmth in her childhood, she had strong insecurities.
When interacting with others, she tended to isolate herself.
When unfamiliar with someone, she was wary of them, but once someone entered her heart, it was for a lifetime.
Lu Qingxu understood her completely, which was why he was determined that she was the one for him.
Seeing Melody's embarrassment, he reached out to stroke her hair, intending to comfort her.
However, Nian Nian started crying again.
This time, the cry was much louder. As she cried, her eyes opened, and she called out "Abba" and "Mama."
Lu Qingxu hurried to pick her up. Using the method Lu Mingzhe had taught him, he held her by both arms, placing Nian Nian flat on them and rocking her.
Nian Nian looked like an overturned turtle, her face towards the ceiling, her limbs flailing in the air, as if she might fall at any moment, which was terrifying to watch.
Who held a baby like that?
Melody couldn't stand it and took the child back.
Nian Nian rested on Melody's shoulder, gently swayed by her.
Lu Qingxu, from behind, wiped Nian Nian's tears with a tissue and remarked,
"She's so young and already cries. It's amazing. When she cries, she's so much like my brother. We have a photo of him as a child that looks just like this."
"Could she be hungry? Or perhaps she's wet or soiled? What should we do next?"
Melody naturally instructed him.
"Go and ask the nurse when she last ate. I'll check if she's wet."
Soon, the nurse entered with Lu Qingxu.
She hadn't soiled herself, nor was she wet. She probably wasn't hungry either.
Upon touching her, she felt a little warm. Using an ear thermometer, they measured her temperature at 37.6 degrees Celsius. She had a fever.
Normally, a fever at this temperature could be managed with some fever-reducing medication and observation.
However, Lu Qingxu, who was caring for a child for the first time, appeared very nervous.
"She has a fever? What should we do? Does your hospital have a pediatrics department?"
The nurse was about to suggest giving her some fever-reducing medicine, but seeing his nervousness, she didn't dare to offer casual advice.
"Yes, we do. But it's so late, I'm afraid only the emergency room is open."
For Lu Qingxu, his niece having a fever was an emergency!
"Then please take care of this patient here. We'll take her to see someone."
Melody wanted to create an opportunity for the two of them and said to Lu Qingxu deliberately.
"I'm a bit tired and don't want to go. I'll stay here and watch. She's more familiar with the hospital, let her take you."
The nurse happily turned back and winked at her.
She had expected Lu Qingxu to accept naturally, allowing the two of them to develop feelings through subsequent interactions.
To her surprise, he refused without a second thought.
"No. I can't rest assured leaving you here alone. You must come with me."
"If you're tired, we'll walk slowly. Or, we can call the doctor over. In any case, you're not to stay here alone."
Melody, "...Are you sick? I'm a grown adult, is this necessary? Will I die if you don't look after me for a while?"
Lu Qingxu: "Yes, it's necessary. If you could take care of yourself, you wouldn't have gotten into this state. I can't stop worrying about you for even a second."
"In my eyes, you're no different from this little one."
Seeing him like this, the nurse looked confused.
"What exactly are you two..."
Lu Qingxu stated decisively: "She's my girlfriend."
Melody immediately rejected it: "That joke isn't funny."
"Then she's my wife."
"..."
"Anyway, Auntie has already agreed and said I'll be taking care of you from now on. If you dare to disobey, call her, or have your brother deal with you."
"The Zhan family has already given you to me, so you can't deny it."