With Zhou Jinbei deliberately creating opportunities, Jiang Nan Fang spent the afternoon accompanying Zhan Bei Jue at the hospital.
After eating their fill, neither of them spoke. Zhan Bei Jue lay on the bed pretending to sleep, while Jiang Nan Fang sat by the window looking at her phone.
He would occasionally lift his eyelids to glance at her. Seeing her staring intently at the phone screen, not playing games or watching videos, he was curious about what she was doing.
Zhan Bei Jue looked at her many times, but Jiang Nan Fang didn't look back once. After enduring for over an hour, he finally couldn't help but ask.
"When did you start liking to look at your phone so much?"
Jiang Nan Fang glanced at him and turned the screen so he could see.
"I'm reading a biography of someone, and it's quite interesting. How else am I supposed to pass the time if not by looking at my phone?"
So that's how it was.
"Whose biography are you reading?"
It had been a long time since they had sat together and chatted so peacefully. Jiang Nan Fang shouldn't have given him this opportunity, nor should she have answered his question.
But it was too boring in the hospital, and the ward was quiet. She didn't want to argue with him or spoil her mood.
"It's about Chanel. You must have heard of her since you were young, but this is the first time I'm reading about her seriously."
Zhan Bei Jue had heard her name mentioned frequently, but he had never really studied it. He wasn't interested in such things.
He closed his eyes, giving her a look that said "continue," and slept for a while. A nurse came in to take his temperature and administer his daily IV drip.
Before starting the IV, she asked him if he needed to use the restroom, as it would be inconvenient later.
He did.
In fact, Zhan Bei Jue had already thought of it, but he didn't want to move because he saw Jiang Nan Fang was engrossed.
The bathroom was within the suite. Using it would definitely make noise, and he would feel awkward.
So, after Zhan Bei Jue said he needed to go, Jiang Nan Fang instinctively told the nurse.
"Please wait outside. I'll call you when he's done."
It wasn't until the nurse walked out that she realized how deeply she had been influenced by him.
Even though they were divorced, his various living habits were already deeply ingrained in her DNA.
You're really pathetic, Jiang Nan Fang.
Inside the bathroom, Zhan Bei Jue's heart secretly felt a surge of sweetness because of her instinctive words.
After hanging the IV drip and the nurse left, he asked Jiang Nan Fang to stop looking at her phone.
"Let's talk."
Jiang Nan Fang reluctantly put away her phone. "Talk about what? What is there to talk about with you?"
"Let's not talk about ourselves, let's talk about the children. How have the children been recently?"
"A Cheng and A Biao are guarding them every day. If you want to know how they are, just ask them."
"What A Cheng and A Biao say can't be the same as what you say," Zhan Bei Jue insisted that she speak.
After all, he was the children's biological father.
His concern for the children would only be beneficial to them.
This was also the biggest reason why she hadn't completely fallen out with him.
Jiang Nan Fang then told him about how the children often missed him and some of their cute daily interactions.
When she recounted funny and nonsensical moments, Zhan Bei Jue couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"This child is unusually mischievous. I was never like this growing up. He must take after you."
Jiang Nan Fang pouted.
"Right. The good traits all come from you, and the bad ones all come from me. You're amazing, aren't you?"
The two of them managed to get along relatively peacefully until dinner time when A Cheng delivered the food.
Jiang Nan Fang ate a little. While her mood was still quite good, Zhan Bei Jue discussed with her.
"I still have to stay in the hospital for two more days. If it's convenient, could you make this soup for me again tomorrow? It's really quite good."
Considering that he had helped her a little two days ago, and out of pity for him, Jiang Nan Fang agreed.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Zhou Jinbei came to take over.
After Jiang Nan Fang left, seeing that Zhan Bei Jue's mood was not only good but his complexion had also improved, Zhou Jinbei teased him.
"What did my sister-in-law do to you today that you look so good? You look like you're in love."
Zhan Bei Jue refused to reveal the details, only stating with displeasure, "You come later tomorrow. Just say you overslept, and let her stay longer."
"I've never seen you so punctual before. And you even know to come an hour early for important matters. Look at you."
Zhou Jinbei: "..."
It really felt like his good intentions were unrewarded.
Zhan Bei Jue seamlessly shifted the topic to work, asking who had visited the company that day and if there were any problems.
Zhou Jinbei reported a few minor issues, and the night passed peacefully.
At eight o'clock the next morning, acting on Zhan Bei Jue's orders, Zhou Jinbei called Jiang Nan Fang again, asking her to come earlier.
Unexpectedly, she had already arrived at the hospital room door carrying a thermal container.
"Do I need you to tell me?"
Compared to yesterday, she had brought another thermal container today.
As if she had already anticipated that Lu Mingzhe would wake up today, she had prepared a portion for him as well.
Lu Mingzhe's fever had subsided, and his wound didn't hurt as much. His condition was indeed much better today than yesterday.
However, he was in low spirits and lay on the bed blankly, not wanting to say a word.
Zhan Bei Jue was not good at initiating conversations, so they sat in silence, keeping each other company.
If it weren't for the occasional sounds made by the two women in the ward, one might have thought they didn't know each other.
When the food was delivered, Zhan Bei Jue ate his own, while Zhou Jinbei went to rouse Lu Mingzhe and persuade him to eat something.
Lu Mingzhe had a sullen expression and remained silent. Zhou Jinbei made many jokes and tried to liven up the atmosphere for a long time. Jiang Nan Fang cooperated with him, which finally made him open his mouth.
However, before he could even take a few sips of the soup, Lu Mingzhe's mother arrived.
Not only did she come, but she also brought two uninvited guests.
Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Gao, whom they had met at Kangqiao Villa before.
Upon entering and seeing the two patients eating, Lu Mingzhe's mother smiled at Mrs. Gao and Mrs. Wang.
"I told you it wasn't a big deal, just a common cold. See, he's already better. These two insisted on coming along to see, they're really too kind."
"Mingzhe, A Jue, I ran into two aunties at the hospital early this morning, and they heard you were sick, so they insisted on coming to see you. Quickly thank the aunties."
Lu Mingzhe didn't understand why he was being looked at by two aunties he didn't know at all, but Zhan Bei Jue understood.
He suspected that some people had ulterior motives and that it wasn't simply about checking if he was sick.
Jiang Nan Fang was standing beside him, watching him eat. Given their divorce and past disagreements, standing like this now was quite considerate.
Therefore, to maintain his scumbag persona, after Lu Mingzhe's mother finished speaking, Zhan Bei Jue "clanged" the soup bowl back onto the bedside table.
He turned and looked at Jiang Nan Fang with displeasure.
"It's disgusting, and you're trying to appease me with this?"
"You swore you just learned to cook? I think you're intentionally here to annoy me."
"You don't need to send me any more random things in the future, don't bother."
"There will never be any possibility between us. Have some self-respect."