Friend(GL) 153

Chapter 153: As You Command (Extra)

After You Ruxu was admitted to the hospital, Zhou Tianzui forbade her from getting out of bed. You Ruxu protested, “But I need to use the bathroom.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “I’ll carry you.”

You Ruxu said, “No.”

Zhou Tianzui was about to put on her stern face when You Ruxu added, “You’re still recovering.”

Zhou Tianzui’s own injuries weren’t minor either. She hadn’t rested properly, her condition probably not much better than You Ruxu’s. But since learning about You Ruxu’s survival, she had listened to Yu Qiao, eating and sleeping regularly, taking all her supplements, she wanted to be strong when she saw You Ruxu again, to be able to protect her, to hold her, not a useless invalid who couldn’t even take care of herself.

Although she had been like a useless invalid for a while.

Thinking back to those days, a coldness settled over Zhou Tianzui. She still couldn’t bear to think about those first two days after waking up, the pain so intense it woke her up every time, the constant fear that one day she would wake up, and Yu Qiao would tell her, Xiao Tian, You Ruxu is gone.

She didn’t dare think about it, she couldn’t, she numbed herself, with food, with anything she could find.

Thankfully.

Her A Ran was still here.

Zhou Tianzui got up, walked over to You Ruxu’s bed, sat down, and pulled her into an embrace. You Ruxu, who was drinking water, looked at her, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t answer, just held her close.

It had only been half a day since You Ruxu woke up, yet she was already used to Zhou Tianzui’s constant hugs, whenever she spoke, Zhou Tianzui would hug her, whenever she tried to get up, Zhou Tianzui would hug her, even after the doctor’s checkups, Zhou Tianzui would still hug her, it was illogical, a sudden urge, she thought it was because of the trauma, that it would pass after a few days, but it didn’t pass, it only intensified, now, whenever she was awake, Zhou Tianzui would be holding her.

Zhou Tianzui refused all visitors, except for the police and family, You Shu and Wu Xiulian’s mother were visiting Jindu for the first time. You Ruxu couldn’t go out, so Zhou Tianzui took care of all the arrangements, Yu Qiao even offered, “Why don’t they stay at our place?” She looked at You Ruxu, “If your parents don’t mind, of course.”

Of course they didn’t mind.

You Ruxu’s eyes instantly filled with tears, looking at Yu Qiao, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Yu Qiao looked at her and smiled, “I should be the one thanking you.”

She looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Thank you for being alive.”

You Ruxu also looked at Zhou Tianzui, she hadn’t even noticed when Yu Qiao left, she had been visiting frequently, sometimes with Zhou Tianzui, sometimes alone, still not very talkative, but her kindness towards You Ruxu, a kindness she hadn’t dared imagine before.

Unlike before, when they had to hide their relationship from Yu Qiao, now, there were no secrets between them, she had once overheard Zhou Tianzui say to Yu Qiao, “Mom, if you don’t want…”

And Yu Qiao had replied, “Xiao Tian, I mean it, I truly want You Ruxu to be happy, I want you two to be happy together.”

And Zhou Tianzui had hugged Yu Qiao.

Zhou Tianzui seemed so fragile recently, so different from the person she knew years ago, this vulnerability made You Ruxu’s heart ache, and she let Zhou Tianzui do as she pleased, indulging her.

When You Shu and Wu Xiulian’s mother were leaving on the weekend, You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui went to the airport to see them off, “Your aunt will come visit again later,” Wu Xiulian’s mother said.

Wu Xiulian had been on a business trip, passing through Jindu, she had stayed for two days, then left, You Ruxu knew, and she nodded.

Wu Xiulian’s mother continued, “Ruxu, I know I was very strict with you before, but just one more word of advice, be careful with your work.”

It wasn’t control, but genuine concern, You Ruxu smiled at her, “Mom, I know.”

Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “I still don’t like you being a reporter.”

You Ruxu held her arm, her expression soft.

You Shu, ever since learning about You Ruxu’s accident, had been worried sick, only relaxing after hearing the surgery was successful, he had immediately come to Jindu with Wu Xiulian’s mother, in You Ruxu’s memory, You Shu wasn’t a man of many words, and he wasn’t now either, all he said to You Ruxu was, “Your mother’s right.”

He had always disagreed with Wu Xiulian’s mother’s parenting style, but he hadn’t said anything because of her past trauma, this time, however, he firmly sided with her, he must have been truly frightened.

You Ruxu nodded.

After her parents boarded the plane, You Ruxu turned and got into the car. Zhou Tianzui was driving. She looked at the lucky charm swaying gently from the rearview mirror, “Going home?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “The hospital…”

“I’ve already talked to the hospital.” You Ruxu said, “I want to go home.”

She looked at Zhou Tianzui.

They had secretly gone home a few times during her hospitalization, either caught by Yu Qiao or Wu Xiulian’s mother, who would immediately drag them back to the hospital. You Ruxu needed to rest and recover, and they decided Zhou Tianzui should too. Zhou Tianzui had even pinched her own cheeks the previous night, “I’ve gained weight,” she had complained.

It had made You Ruxu want to laugh,

Zhou Tianzui, looking at You Ruxu, nodded: “Okay, let’s go home.”

Zhou Tianzui kept the apartment clean. Wu Xiulian and You Shu had also stayed for a couple of days during their visit, using the guest room, Zhou Tianzui had moved all of You Ruxu’s belongings into her room, Wu Xiulian’s mother hadn’t commented, just stared at the teddy bear on Zhou Tianzui’s bed for a moment, then smiled faintly, Zhou Tianzui had wanted to bring the teddy bear to the hospital, but You Ruxu had said there was no need, snuggling closer to Zhou Tianzui, “You’ll be with me tonight.”

And Zhou Tianzui would tease her, “How will I be with you?”

You Ruxu would just look at her,

And Zhou Tianzui would pull up the covers, kissing You Ruxu until she was speechless, only then would she be satisfied.

You Ruxu, back in the familiar apartment, looked around, the day she had rushed back, looking for Zhou Tianzui, she hadn’t had time to take in the surroundings, now, everything seemed the same, yet also different, Zhou Tianzui pulled her into the bedroom, unlike before, when their clothes were separated in the closet, now they were mixed together, a strange harmony, You Ruxu felt a little sentimental, even a closet seemed beautiful now.

She looked down, smiling.

Zhou Tianzui asked, “What’s so funny? Is this bad?”

You Ruxu shook her head, “It’s good.”

She sat on the bed, the teddy bear resting against the pillows, she picked it up and hugged it, then said to Zhou Tianzui, “I had a dream while I was unconscious.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “What did you dream about?”

“I dreamt that you took the teddy bear away,” You Ruxu said, chuckling softly, “And then I woke up.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “So it’s more important than me?”

You Ruxu shook her head, looking at Zhou Tianzui, the teddy bear symbolized their connection, the only link between them, when they broke up, Zhou Tianzui had only taken the teddy bear, although You Ruxu hadn’t known if they would ever get back together, she knew it wasn’t truly over between them,

The teddy bear was their last remaining connection.

She had left with that connection, and perhaps one day, she would return with it.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Why are you shaking your head? You dreamt I wasn’t there, and then you woke up when you dreamt about the teddy bear?”

A hint of jealousy in her voice.

You Ruxu wanted to laugh.

She buried her face in the teddy bear’s soft fur, the faint lemon scent of laundry detergent, mixed with the smell of sunshine, incredibly comforting, she didn’t even want to open her eyes, Zhou Tianzui tried to pull her up, but for once, she refused to move. Zhou Tianzui sighed, “I’ll go cut some fruit for you.”

You Ruxu said, “Okay.”

Zhou Tianzui thought, perhaps because she was holding the teddy bear, but You Ruxu’s voice sounded strangely clingy.

Her heart fluttered, and before leaving, she couldn’t resist kissing You Ruxu, You Ruxu’s left cheek against the soft fur of the teddy bear, her right cheek touched by Zhou Tianzui’s lips, a light, fleeting kiss, yet it sent ripples through You Ruxu, a warm, spreading sensation, she watched as Zhou Tianzui left, her lips curving into a smile.

Zhou Tianzui cut some fruit and then called the director, informing her about her work arrangements, that she would be working in the outpatient clinic for a while, no night shifts, a chance for her to rest and recover. She agreed, then after chatting for a bit, she hung up and returned to the bedroom, You Ruxu was asleep, leaning against the headboard, holding the teddy bear, Zhou Tianzui quietly approached, her footsteps light, and the first thing she did was take the teddy bear away,

Even poking its head playfully.

Then she put it away in the closet and sat beside You Ruxu, whose sleeping face was peaceful and serene. Zhou Tianzui was worried about her posture, wanting to help her lie down properly, but just as she reached out, You Ruxu woke up, opening her eyes.

Zhou Tianzui looked down at her, You Ruxu’s eyes slightly unfocused, not as clear and bright as usual, she remembered the soft “okay” earlier, and her heart skipped a beat.

You Ruxu looked up at her from this awkward position and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Helping you sleep.” Zhou Tianzui said seriously, and You Ruxu said, “I was just taking a nap.”

“You should still lie down properly.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Get some rest, it’s still early, we’ll go out for dinner later, at my mom’s, she bought a lot of groceries today.”

You Ruxu obediently replied, “Okay,” lying down, she remembered Zhou Tianzui going to cut some fruit, she turned and saw a plate of sliced oranges, Zhou Tianzui handed her a segment, the sweet and sour taste filling her mouth, You Ruxu lay there, looked around, then asked, “Where’s the teddy bear?”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “What teddy bear?”

You Ruxu said, “The one I was holding just now.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “You weren’t holding a teddy bear.”

You Ruxu sat up, “How could I not, I was just…” Zhou Tianzui said, “You were holding me.”

You Ruxu was speechless, staring at Zhou Tianzui.

She suddenly realized and chuckled, Zhou Tianzui was becoming increasingly childish, not only jealous of Chen Xiang, but now even a teddy bear, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Where did you put it?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I don’t know.”

You Ruxu tilted her head, looking at Zhou Tianzui for a few seconds, Zhou Tianzui took another orange segment and offered it to You Ruxu, who reached for it, “Open your mouth,” Zhou Tianzui said, a familiar request, You Ruxu instinctively opened her mouth, and Zhou Tianzui placed the orange segment inside, her fingertip brushing against You Ruxu’s tongue, making her earlobe turn slightly red, she looked away, about to get out of bed, when Zhou Tianzui grabbed her wrist, pulling her gently onto the bed beside her, “Hug me,” Zhou Tianzui said.

You Ruxu reached out and hugged Zhou Tianzui tightly.

Zhou Tianzui’s warm breath tickled You Ruxu’s neck, and just as she was about to speak, You Ruxu released her, cupped Zhou Tianzui’s face in her hands, looked into her eyes, and before Zhou Tianzui could say anything, “I know what you’re going to say,” You Ruxu said.

Zhou Tianzui was lost in her beautiful eyes, her soul captivated, her blood burning, her voice barely a whisper, “What?”

You Ruxu’s clear voice, slightly unsteady, “Kiss me.”

Zhou Tianzui smiled softly.

Her lips gently brushed against You Ruxu’s ear, “As you command.”