Although Zhan Jingrui hadn't figured out how to handle the complex relationship between himself, He Yao, and Chu Xi, he absolutely could not agree to what He Yao had said.
In the past, when they had misunderstandings, he felt he had no right to be jealous, so he didn't interfere with her interactions with other men. But now, he was certain He Yao was his woman and couldn't stand by and watch her be taken away by someone else.
"Impossible. I can't accept you being with anyone else. You have no idea how much it hurt me to see you with Tang Gong and that guy Liang Bo recently."
"I swear, from now on, you are not allowed to be with any other man besides me."
He Yao thought he was just a bit controlling. Besides, she didn't like Tang Gong or Liang Bo at all, so there was no need for him to be like this.
"I won't be with any man, you can rest assured about that. I don't plan on getting married in this lifetime."
"That's even more impossible. If it's because of me that you've become disillusioned with love and marriage and want to be alone for the rest of your life, then I have even more reason to be responsible for you."
Although his words were rather unreasonable, truthfully, He Yao quite liked hearing them. Who didn't like hearing their beloved confess their feelings?
It was just that she couldn't be so selfish: "What about Chu Xi then?"
When Chu Xi was mentioned, Zhan Jingrui clearly lost some of his earlier confidence.
"There will be a way. I'll definitely think of a solution that benefits both of us, one that doesn't hurt you or her. Don't worry about it for now."
He Yao also said it was impossible.
"How can I not worry about it? If I didn't know Chu Xi, if I had no understanding of her, I wouldn't feel so guilty about snatching her man, but now I know her."
"Not only do I know her, but I also know she's a pure and beautiful girl. Such a good girl followed you for seven years, and you were engaged. Breaking up just like that, what's the difference between that and killing her?"
"People can't be so selfish, Zhan Jingrui. I'm fine like this. Don't be foolish, or I won't talk to you anymore."
Saying this, He Yao pulled her hand back and closed her eyes, no longer looking at Zhan Jingrui.
Zhan Jingrui, afraid of angering her and hurting her wound, could only try to appease her.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this now. You just had your wound stitched up; you can't get excited. Your task is to rest well. Don't be angry; I promise I won't do anything rash, okay?"
As he spoke, he took her hand again and placed it on his face. He asked if she was thirsty or hungry, offering to buy her something to eat late at night.
On one hand, He Yao enjoyed his gentle care, but on the other hand, she felt guilty.
"You should go back. The wound doesn't hurt anymore. It's just a small injury, not like I'm paralyzed. I can take care of myself."
Even if she could take care of herself, Zhan Jingrui was reluctant to leave her again. To avoid upsetting He Yao, he could only agree verbally.
"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say. Then close your eyes and sleep. I'll leave when you're asleep."
"Really, you promise me?"
"I promise you."
Due to the medication, He Yao soon fell asleep again. Looking at her peaceful and sweet face, Zhan Jingrui gently kissed her lips, then got up and left the ward.
The next morning, when He Yao opened her eyes, she was indeed alone in the ward. The nurse had come at some point and given her an anti-inflammatory shot. Lying there with her eyes open, she felt a sense of loss and lay there for a while. Just as she was about to reach for her phone to order takeout, a group of medical staff entered.
"The beds are tight. We're transferring you to the affiliated hospital. Just lie there; you don't need to move. We'll take you downstairs."
He Yao believed them and allowed these people to push her downstairs and onto an ambulance. After driving for a long time on the streets, they stopped and pushed her into a place that looked remarkably like a residential complex. He Yao felt that this place looked like a residential complex, not an affiliated hospital, but when she asked them, no one answered her. She was put into an elevator and taken upstairs. It wasn't until the elevator doors opened and she saw Zhan Jingrui waiting outside with that familiar door that she suddenly remembered.
This was the house they had lived in together seven years ago. The complex had been renovated and beautified beyond recognition, but the door remained unchanged. He Yao was very surprised, thinking the house wasn't...
Zhan Jingrui took her from the group and pushed her through the door. He Yao noticed that the overall layout hadn't changed much from seven years ago, only the hardware facilities had been upgraded. The sofa, coffee table, and television were all replaced with more high-end models. It was clear Zhan Jingrui hadn't been here for the first time. "How did you..."
Zhan Jingrui said, "You left without a word back then, and even your teacher couldn't find you. I was afraid you'd have nowhere to go, and might come back to me someday, so I found someone to buy this place back... Unfortunately, you're quite stubborn."
Although they were young back then, it was their first love, and everything happened here for the first time, making it feel like a marital home. Returning here brought only endless emotions. He Yao was afraid of falling back into those feelings.
She asked Zhan Jingrui to help her get off the bed.
"I can take care of myself. You should go back to work. Don't forget what you promised me yesterday, or I won't talk to you."
Zhan Jingrui was very accommodating: "Understood, I'll leave now. You stay here and rest well. I've already spoken to Xu Zheng and requested a week's leave for you."
"You didn't eat last night, and you haven't eaten this morning. You must be starving. Let me make you some breakfast first."
He Yao refused his kindness: "You don't need to make it; I can order takeout myself. Don't treat me like this."
"Yaoyao." Zhan Jingrui's tone was humble.
"Just let me compensate you in my own way, to ease my conscience a little. Just for these few days, I promise not to bother you. Just give me a few days, okay?"
Looking at Zhan Jingrui, handsome, gentle, and infinitely patient, squatting in front of her, He Yao's heart softened again. Although she said she didn't want to marry any other man in this lifetime, who wouldn't want a loving companion by their side? Even if she didn't compete with Chu Xi, it would be good to have him by her side for a few days.
"Let's pinky swear. Just for this week."
Zhan Jingrui obediently linked his pinky with hers, then handed her a bowl of warm water and went to the kitchen. He used to be a young master who couldn't even touch a drop of water and didn't know his grains. He never expected to be trained to come out with a plate of food in just a few minutes.
They sat opposite each other, each with a plate of fried eggs, a banana, and a glass of milk. He Yao couldn't help but ask him when he learned to cook.
"Would you believe me if I said I just asked the cleaning lady to teach me this morning?"
See, that's human nature. He Yao thought he had learned to cook because he had spent time with Chu Xi while studying abroad and was used to their life together. But when she truly heard that he had learned it from the cleaning lady just for her, she felt a little secret joy.