Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
An Xiaoning stood outside the bathroom and asked, “Are you okay?”
“…”
There was no response.
“Qingyan?”
“…”
He still did not answer.
Did he faint from getting the runs?
She pushed the door of the bathroom open and made eye contact with Jin Qingyan, who was sitting on the toilet bowl.
“Why didn’t you answer me?”
“I’m dying.”
Smiling wryly, An Xiaoning said, “Continue with your business…”
She swiftly exited and waited outside the door.
Jin Qingyan came out of the bathroom a few minutes later. An Xiaoning pointed at the porridge and said, “Auntie Chen made that. Rest assured and eat it.”
His stomach was empty and uncomfortable.
He felt much better after taking a few mouthfuls of the porridge. He guffawed and said, “You almost killed me with your cooking. I was in so much pain and discomfort.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, lie down here,” said Jin Qingyan, patting the spot beside him.
“I haven’t removed my makeup or taken a shower yet,” said An Xiaoning, who then poured some makeup remover solution on a cotton pad and began cleaning the makeup off her face. Afterward, she picked up her pajamas and headed to the bathroom.
He lay in bed and closed his eyes.
Knock, knock, knock. “Young Sir, it’s me,” said Fan Shixin.
Jin Qingyan got out of bed slowly and opened the door, after which Fan Shixin handed him a paper bag. “Here, Young Sir.”
Jin Qingyan took the bag from him and closed the door. He peeked inside the bag and placed it onto the table before lying back down in bed.
An Xiaoning came out of the shower and dried her hair with a hairdryer. Noticing the paper bag on the table, she asked, “Masks?”
“I got Shixin to buy it for you specially.”
“I haven’t finished using the ones you got me previously…” She hurriedly paused in her speech.
Jin Qingyan smirked and stared at her. “Didn’t you say that you had already thrown them away?”
“I didn’t, actually. It’s such a waste to throw them away. I decided to just use them instead,” said An Xiaoning, pretending to maintain her composure.
“Try this, it’s from a newly-launched brand. See if you like it.”
An Xiaoning stepped forward and took out the box of serum facial masks from the laced packaging. It was from a prestigious brand. She then took out a sheet and laid it across her face.
“Give me one too.”
He had rarely asked for a facial mask.
Thus, she took another one out and spread it across his face.
While lying beside him, An Xiaoning glanced at him and said, “This reminds me of when we first got married. We used to lie in bed beside each other and apply facial masks together, just like what we’re doing now.”
“So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. It feels as if it just happened yesterday.”
“I was too careless in my decision to marry you. If I could turn back time, I definitely wouldn’t have married you so soon.”
“If I could turn back time… I would still marry you,” he said, beaming with joy.
“Why?”
“It may have been a careless and impulsive decision to marry you back then, but I’ve never once regretted it. In fact, when I turn old and gray, I’d even feel thankful and lucky to have had the honor of being in love with you. That’s a privilege that other men will never get to enjoy.”
“Who said so? I’ll still continue to look for a boyfriend in the future,” she said on purpose.
“I won’t allow you that chance.”
“Who are you to tell me what to do…?”
“You’re the mother of my child, of course I’d have to keep you in check.”
“…”
After switching off the lights, both of them soon dozed off.
In the middle of the night, An Xiaoning was jolted awake by the sudden shriek of agony that came from Jin Qingyan.
“Qingyan… Jin Qingyan…” She pushed him forcefully in a bid to wake him up but to no avail. She flipped him over to the side and switched on the bedside lamp, which was rather glaring.
She finally had a clearer view of him. He was trembling uncontrollably from head to toe with his body curled into a ball. Is he having a nightmare? An Xiaoning wondered.
“It hurts…”
An Xiaoning was filled with panic as soon as she heard his murmur. She hurriedly leaned closer toward him and asked, “Where? What hurts?”
“It hurts everywhere.”
An Xiaoning immediately thought of the dinner she had prepared and thought of it as the cause of his pain. She blamed herself for preparing such horrendous food.
She was instantly filled with guilt and regret.
“Does your stomach hurt?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll help you rub your tummy, alright?” she said in a gentle and mellow voice, as if she were coaxing a child.
“Alright.”
An Xiaoning lay back down beside him and began massaging his stomach slowly.
Gradually, the frown on his forehead began to ease up. He stared at her with squinted eyes and muttered, “Xiaoning…”
“Yes?”
He hugged her tightly in his arms. Overwhelmed with a mix of emotions as her heart began to flutter, An Xiaoning laid her head against his chest and said, “Jin Qingyan…”
“I love you.”
“Qingyan…”
“I love you very much.”
“…”
An Xiaoning remained quiet and took a whiff of his unique scent, which was all too familiar to her.
She did not struggle to break free from his embrace.
He continued to hold her in his arms and slept peacefully for the rest of the night.
To An Xiaoning’s surprise, Jin Qingyan’s condition became a recurring problem.
After spending a few days with him, she discovered that he had trouble sleeping on three separate nights. She insisted that he go to the hospital for a physical examination, in order to find out if there was something wrong with his health. However, he vehemently refused to go.
An Xiaoning had no choice but to ask Fan Shixin about it in private.
“What’s wrong with your Young Sir’s health?” she questioned.
“What… what do you mean?”
“He complained of experiencing acute pain all over his body. It has already happened more than once. I initially thought that it was because of the food I cooked for him, but it’s happened thrice so far. I doubt it’s because of the food. Has something gone wrong with his health? Why doesn’t he want to visit the hospital for a checkup?”
Fan Shixin immediately understood what she was referring to. “Young Sir has already gone to the hospital and gotten some checkups done.”
“What… did the doctor say?”
“The doctor said that he’s suffering from a psychological disorder. The pain didn’t stem from his nervous system, but rather, the onset of pain is a result of his psychological issues. He’s imagining the pain. His condition…” After much thought, Fan Shixin decided to tell her the truth. He continued, “Is caused by the impact left on him after your divorce with him. Young Sir has consistently been experiencing trouble with sleeping and would have to rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep almost every night. The doctor also said that he’s experiencing the precursor symptoms of depression. Young Madam, Young Sir flew all the way to R Nation to rescue you all because he had a dream about you. Doesn’t that show how much he loves you? Is it not enough? He was so mad previously, precisely because he loves you too much. That’s why he can’t stand the thought of you being unfaithful toward him and having another man touch you. After inquiring about aphrodisiacs from the psychiatrist, he was relieved yet regretful at the same time. Well, what he did really wasn’t unforgivable. I know you have your own set of principles, Young Madam. Consider my words carefully.”
An Xiaoning could tell from Fan Shixin’s tone that he was upset at her for causing Jin Qingyan to end up that way.
“Thank you, Chief Fan. Thank you for telling me the things I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”
“Don’t say that, Young Madam… I only said it for Young Sir’s sake…” said Fan Shixin, scratching his head.
“Got it. Okay, you may go out first.”
“Alright.” Fan Shixin exited the living room.
She picked up her mobile phone and sent Jin Qingyan a text message, which read: “I’d like to drink some tea. Could you come over in the afternoon to make me some?”
Jin Qingyan was in the midst of a meeting when he saw the message. Beaming with joy, he broke the rules and openly replied to An Xiaoning’s message while he was still in the meeting room.
