They looked into each other’s eyes and both were utterly embarrassed…
“Ahem…” He Jiayu was the first to react. “I’ll get the doctor for you.”
Su Xiaomo made wailed, then buried herself under her blanket.
The doctor soon arrived, and smiled kindly at her. “Young lady, I hear you have flatulence.”
Su Xiaomo nibbled on her blanket and wouldn’t say a word.
“Most people would need at least a day before that happens. That was very fast of you. It’s a good thing. Having flatulence means that your intestines are working properly and you’ll be able to eat normally. Start with light food like rice porridge. It’ll be good for your recovery…” The doctor gave her quite a few instructions, which He Jiayu listened to attentively. He looked like he was going to write it all down in a notebook.
Ashamed and resentful, Su Xiaomo hid even deeper under her blanket.
He Jiayu tugged at her blanket after the doctor was gone. “You can come out now.”
Su Xiaomo’s muffled bellow came from underneath. “Go away!”
She had farted in front of him! Oh, no! That was too humiliating…
“That was a normal physiological reaction and you really shouldn’t think it a big deal.” He Jiayu tried to console her. Vexed, Su Xiaomo stuck her head out and shouted, “I’m a fairy! Fairies don’t fart!”
He Jiayu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Fine, you don’t. It was me, happy?”
Su Xiaomo jumped at the opportunity. “Yes! It was you!”
“You’re absolutely right.” He Jiayu caressed her hair. “Now, are you ready for something to eat?”
Su Xiaomo hesitated, but eventually nodded.
He Jiayu helped Su Xiaomo sit up, blew on the porridge until it cooled down a little, then carefully fed it to Su Xiaomo with a spoon.
Su Xiaomo had never been treated this way before and she was almost moved to tears.
He Jiayu rose to his feet after the porridge was finished, but Su Xiaomo grabbed the lower hem of his clothes.
“Where are you going?”
“Are you scared?” asked He Jiayu.
“Of course not!” Su Xiaomo said in exasperation. “I’m just asking!”
He Jiayu smiled gently. “I see. Well, I’m not going anywhere.”
That’s more like it, Su Xiaomo said in her head. Something warm then landed on her forehead, which turned out to be He Jiayu’s long fingers. He brushed the loose hair off her face and tucked it behind her ears.
She felt a tickling sensation in her chest, as if something was ready to surface.
“Go to sleep. You can use some rest,” said He Jiayu quietly.
Su Xiaomo pursed her lips. “I can’t sleep. Tell me a story.”
He Jiayu sat there dazed for a minute before saying apologetically, “I don’t know how to tell stories…” Seeing the disappointed look on Su Xiaomo’s face, he felt sorry and said, “Let me sing you a song, ok?”
“Alright.”
He Jiayu cleared his throat and sang her a love song. There was something therapeutic about his voice, which sounded penetrating on a silent night like this.
However, Su Xiaomo was bored and said in despair, “I want something more fun!”
He Jiayu asked in resignation, “What do you have in mind?”
“‘Toxic’! ‘Wrecking Ball’! What else… I remember this song that goes something like ‘Le ro lo le lo le, Le ro lo le lo le…’” Su Xiaomo recalled, pulling random songs from memory.
He Jiayu was obviously conflicted. After much hesitation, he sighed. “Can we maybe have something a little calmer?”
“Sing ‘We Will Rock You,’ then!”
“…”
A moment later, He Jiayu saw that it was her final verdict, and he had no choice but to sing, “Buddy, you’re a boy, make a big noise…”
