Zhan Bei Jue lay on the hospital bed with a pale face, waiting. He had even prepared a speech, figuring out how to appear pitiful when Jiang Nan Fang came in.
However, an hour passed, and she didn't arrive.
An hour and a half passed, and there was still no sign of her.
As the saying goes, no expectation means no disappointment. He had held such high hopes, and her prolonged absence made him agitated.
"Is she coming or not? What did she tell you?"
Zhou Jin Bei was truly exasperated with him.
It had only been a little over an hour, big brother. From her place to the hospital, even without cooking, the journey alone would take an hour, not to mention the time needed to prepare the soup.
But she dared not argue with him.
He was unreasonable to begin with, and even more so when he was sick. Arguing with him was futile.
"She should be here soon. Shall I ask for you?"
Zhou Jin Bei put her phone on speaker and called Jiang Nan Fang.
Jiang Nan Fang had taken leave and rushed from work to the supermarket. After buying the ingredients, she had just returned home in a hurry.
She didn't know why she was taking it so seriously. It was November, and she felt a sense of urgency, causing a fine sweat to break out on her forehead.
"I just got home. What's up?"
Zhou Jin Bei chirped, "Nothing much, just asking if you're back."
"My second brother didn't eat breakfast this morning and is a bit hungry now. He's in a really bad mood, and I'm afraid he'll pick a fight with me. You said you'd come, so you will come, right?"
Jiang Nan Fang put the groceries away in the kitchen, her phone wedged between her cheek and shoulder, and retorted at Zhou Jin Bei impatiently.
"You're usually so eloquent, but why are you so timid at crucial moments? If he scolds you, you just listen. Can't you dodge? Can't you run away?"
"When you were rumored to be involved with others, you hid it from me as if it were a secret. But now that he's sick in the hospital, you're expected to be at his beck and call, catering to his moods. Why?"
"What about that woman? When things were fine, she was all romantic and mysterious, appearing and disappearing. Why can't she be seen at a critical moment?"
Damn it, she didn't want to mention that woman; it made her angry.
Jiang Nan Fang slammed the ingredients down with a clatter.
"It would be great if he starved to death. Just ignore him. If he has the guts, let that woman bring him food!"
Zhan Bei Jue, lying in bed: "..."
Zhou Jin Bei, listening to her complaints, which were filled with jealousy, couldn't stop laughing.
She covered her mouth tightly, took several deep breaths after Jiang Nan Fang finished speaking, and calmed herself down.
"You make a lot of sense, and I should listen to you. But the problem is, this isn't the time to argue with him."
"I don't know what's going on between him and that woman. In any case, I'm his sister, and I'm the only one here. I can't just watch him starve to death, right?"
"After all, he pays my salary. Just pity me, so I can continue to make a living under him. Can you hurry a little?"
Jiang Nan Fang was so angry she wanted to poke her head with her finger. "You just know how to guilt-trip me."
"Alright, alright. If you want me to hurry, hang up the phone quickly. If you keep babbling to me, how can I hurry?"
Zhou Jin Bei was about to hang up, but Zhan Bei Jue couldn't bear it.
He gestured with his eyes, signaling her not to hang up and to continue talking.
Even hearing her voice was a beautiful thing in this world. Zhou Jin Bei was speechless.
"I'm just bored. Lu Ming Zhe wakes up, sleeps, then wakes up again, and is too groggy to speak. As for him, I don't dare to talk to him."
"I haven't slept since yesterday morning. I'm so tired, so just keep me company."
Jiang Nan Fang said, "But I'm in the kitchen and about to wash the vegetables. Why don't you ask Chen Jiao Jiao to keep you company?"
"Chen Jiao Jiao is busy making money... It's not that I mean you're not busy making money, but I just like chatting with you. So, please, keep me company for a while~"
Jiang Nan Fang, worn down by her persistence, had no choice.
She turned on the speakerphone and placed it on the cutting board.
"Alright, tell me what you want to say."
Zhou Jin Bei tried to find a topic. "What delicious food are you making?"
"I'm making soup. It's too late for breakfast, so let him wait for lunch."
"Soup? Can you make a little extra? The takeout near the hospital isn't good, and I'm actually quite hungry too."
Jiang Nan Fang said, "This is a special soup I'm making for someone with pneumonia. It doesn't taste very good. Are you sure you want some?"
Upon hearing that it didn't taste very good, Zhou Jin Bei's spirits lifted.
"You can make special soup for a patient's condition? Are you perhaps using some medicinal herbs to stew it?"
"Something like that. When the children were young and easily fell ill, with fevers and mycoplasma infections, I always made it for them like this."
"This is called Honeysuckle and Reed Root Soup. The main ingredients include honeysuckle, mint, forsythia, apricot kernels, and reed root. It's a common traditional Chinese medicinal soup that can clear heat, detoxify, and moisten the lungs."
"I've also specifically added some balloon flower root and dried tangerine peel to help dilute phlegm."
Zhou Jin Bei couldn't help but admire her sincerely. "You're amazing. I find there's nothing in this world you can't do."
Jiang Nan Fang said, "Stop flattering me. There are plenty of things I can't do. I'm just experienced from long illness. It's best if you never need this skill."
Experienced from long illness?
It was evident that she had suffered a lot while living abroad with her children. Zhan Bei Jue felt uncomfortable again.
Seeing that he had been smiling just moments ago, but now had a cold expression, Zhou Jin Bei knew this topic was sensitive, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Um, I'm the only one in the ward, and there's no one to replace me, so it's inconvenient to go out and buy fruit. Could you also buy some fruit for me when you come later?"
Jiang Nan Fang understood that for someone like Zhan Bei Jue, his illness would generally not be publicly disclosed.
On one hand, it prevented subordinates from visiting in droves and disturbing his rest. On the other hand, it prevented rumors from spreading and exaggerating the illness.
She also didn't dare to let her family know, so she could only trouble Zhou Jin Bei, who didn't even have a replacement.
"But I seem to remember he doesn't like fruit. Did the doctor specifically instruct him to eat it?"
Zhou Jin Bei fabricated, "Yes, the doctor said he needs to supplement with vitamins."
"Oranges are popular recently. Could you buy me some Gannan Ugly Oranges? They're so sweet."
"Are you eating them, or is he eating them? Oranges are very heating and not suitable for pneumonia patients!"
"Oh... then don't buy them. Buy what you think is suitable."
Zhou Jin Bei winked at Zhan Bei Jue, mouthing to him.
She still cares about you.
Jiang Nan Fang, on the other end, skillfully placed the ingredients into a clay pot.
"To supplement vitamins, I'll stew some rock sugar pear for him. It clears heat and moistens the lungs. Can you ask him if moderately sweet is okay?"
Zhou Jin Bei quickly and feignedly asked Zhan Bei Jue.
"I'm stewing a portion of rock sugar pear for you. Is moderately sweet okay?"
Being cared for by Jiang Nan Fang, Zhan Bei Jue was so happy he felt like he was going to faint. He nodded with a smile.
"He says it's okay. Could you also stew a portion for me? I've never had rock sugar pear before. Please add more sugar for me, thank you."