Chapter 88: However You Rejected Me, That’s How I’ll Reject You!

“Jiang Zhou… Jiang Zhou?

“Are you… asleep?”

It was already deep into the night by the time the IV drip was hooked up.

Jiang Zhou had been running around all day, and he was utterly exhausted.

Eventually, he couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep, slumped over the hospital bed.

Chu Yuwei, however, was still awake, kept up by the persistent pain.

She lay on her side, using her own arm as a pillow, quietly watching his face.

As she stared, she couldn’t help but reach out and gently stroke his cheek.

Before high school, Chu Yuwei had never understood what it meant to like someone.

Lots of boys had chased after her, trying desperately to confess, but she’d never felt a thing for any of them.

Even when Jiang Zhou confessed back then, she had just found it boring.

She was a proud girl, with ambition.

To her, love wasn’t something worth considering at that point.

Her only goals were to get into a good university and meet her parents’ expectations.

But ever since that summer, her mind had been filled with nothing but Jiang Zhou.

She wanted to know what he was doing, what he was thinking. He’d become a mysterious figure she couldn’t stop thinking about.

But what upset her… was that Jiang Zhou no longer had a head full of her anymore.

He had his own business.

He was always busy, barely visible.

He’d even told her he liked someone and didn’t want her interfering.

On top of that, he constantly complained about her, saying she was immature, saying she was a burden.

But tonight, she realized… he wasn’t really the cold person he pretended to be.

His words might be distant and biting, But in the moments that mattered, he always showed a warm and protective side.

“It’s not because I’m lonely that I miss you, it’s because you’re the kind of person that makes people lonely…

“When the tears fall, even the most beautiful scenery goes silent…”

Just then, Chu Yuwei’s phone rang.

The caller ID showed it was Chen Wanying, her mother.

“Hello, Mom?”

“I called you earlier. Why didn’t you pick up?”

Chu Yuwei hesitated. “I had acute appendicitis. The pain was too much, I couldn’t answer.”

Her mom’s voice grew instantly anxious. “That serious? Why didn’t you go to the hospital?!”

“I thought I could tough it out… but it just kept getting worse until I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“You crazy girl! Appendicitis and you wanted to just power through?!”

“Jiang Zhou already scolded me, so can you not pile on too?”

There was a pause. “Jiang Zhou went to see you?”

Chu Yuwei smiled sweetly. “He came to pick me up in the middle of the night, took me to the ER, got me checked in. Now I’m on a drip.”

“Oh good, thank goodness Jiang Zhou was there. Otherwise, if you passed out, no one would’ve known! Looks like your dad’s decision back then was the right one.”

“Mm… It’s just, I was too proud back then. I insisted on going to a different school, didn’t want to be in the same one as him.”

After another pause, her mom asked, “Has he gone home now? Are you alone at the hospital?”

Chu Yuwei glanced at Jiang Zhou, sleeping soundly beside her. “He stayed. He’s right here, just passed out from exhaustion.”

“Jiang Zhou… he really is a considerate kid.”

“…Mom.”

“What is it?”

Chu Yuwei bit her lip. “Can I take back what I promised you before? I… I think I want to be in a relationship now.”

Another long silence.

“No,” her mom said firmly. “But… if it’s with Jiang Zhou, I can turn a blind eye.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. But only on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“I absolutely will not accept you getting pregnant in college.”

Chu Yuwei’s face flushed bright red. “Mom! What are you even saying?!”

“You know exactly what I mean. You’re a grown woman now. Take care of yourself!”

And with that, the call ended.

Even though the line went dead, her mother’s concerned voice still echoed in her ears.

After raising her for nearly twenty years, it must’ve hurt to know her daughter had suddenly fallen for a boy like this.

And her father, Chu Xiong, didn’t even know yet.

When he found out, who knew how heartbroken he’d be?

Still smiling, Chu Yuwei turned off her phone.

Then she snuggled a little closer to Jiang Zhou and gently pulled the blanket over the both of them.

—

As night faded, dawn quietly arrived.

Golden light crept across the asphalt outside the hospital.

Chu Yuwei stirred awake, only to find Jiang Zhou was gone.

Panic set in as she started getting out of bed to look for him, but before her feet touched the floor, the door creaked open.

Jiang Zhou walked in with breakfast, his hair a complete mess like a bird’s nest.

He brightened when he saw her. “Yo, you’re awake?”

Chu Yuwei let out a breath of relief. “You went to get breakfast?”

He nodded and set the food on the table. “Eat up. Eat more. You need to grow properly.”

“Hmph, then let’s eat together!”

“I bought enough for two.”

Jiang Zhou picked up a steamed dumpling and fed it to her.

Chu Yuwei sat on the bed with her legs hugged to her chest, acting sweet and obedient.

Then Jiang Zhou got serious.

“Chu Yuwei, I need to talk to you about something. Please listen carefully.”

“W-what is it?”

The tone of his voice made her nervous.

She was afraid he’d say something like he used to, that she was a bother, too much trouble.

If he said that again… she’d cry for real this time.

She wasn’t proud anymore. She just didn’t want him to leave her.

Jiang Zhou ate a bun, then spoke slowly.

“I have a sharp tongue, but a soft heart. I never meant to ignore or abandon you.

“When I said ‘don’t bother me,’ I didn’t mean you are a bother. Got it?”

Chu Yuwei nodded. “I understand.”

He cleared his throat. “But if something like last night happens again… you know what the consequences will be.”

“There won’t be a next time! I promise!”

“One more thing: I’m going to be even busier from now on.”

Chu Yuwei lowered her head. “I know. I’ll try not to contact you…”

Jiang Zhou shook his head. “No. What I mean is, I might not have time to reach out, so you have to check in with me, morning, noon, and night.”

“Check in?”

“Yeah. Just let me know you’re okay.”

Chu Yuwei bit her lip. “Every day?”

Jiang Zhou thought for a second. “Well, I’m gonna go flirt with girls later today, so maybe skip today.”

“…Oh.”

“You done eating?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. I’ll take you back to school.”

Chu Yuwei obediently followed behind him. “Don’t wear that belt I gave you to go flirting!”

“I got it, geez. Do you ever stop talking?”

“If I didn’t talk, I’d be a monster!”

“Less talking, more walking. Get in the car.”

Jiang Zhou rapped her on the head, opened the car door, and stuffed her inside.

Outside, the early morning light gilded the streets.

There weren’t many cars, but quite a few students were already out with their backpacks.

As Jiang Zhou drove past a familiar intersection, he remembered blowing past all those red lights last night.

Pedal to the metal, 120 km/h… the thought of it now still made him nervous.

He’d probably get fined or lose points on his license, hopefully not lose the license.

But thinking about last night’s reckless speed…

He realized that deep inside this youthful body of his, he still felt a faint thrill whenever Chu Yuwei was involved.

It wasn’t intense, but it was sweet and unmistakable.

“Jiang Zhou.”

“What now?”

“My mom called last night. I told her you took me to the hospital.”

“Mhm. Let me guess, she praised me, didn’t she?”

“How’d you know?”

“I took such good care of her daughter, so she should praise me!”

Chu Yuwei blushed. “Yeah… and she also said I’m allowed to date while in university.”

…Huh?

Wait, is this girl trying to become his girlfriend?

My main girl hadn’t even been dealt with yet!

Jiang Zhou quickly put on a serious face.

“That’s not something to joke about. No way your mom’s that open-minded.”

“It’s true. She said if I like you, she’d turn a blind eye.”

“Nope. I’m not that kind of person. Ask her to open both eyes and keep them wide open!”

“…Why?”

With a gleaming smile, Jiang Zhou replied, “I’m not allowed to date in college. My mom said so.”

…

Chu Yuwei turned her head away and ignored him.

Ah, karma.

All those rejections she gave him back then…

Now he was throwing them right back in her face.