You Must Be Good 78p2

Chapter 78 p2

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Chu Xinrou was quite sick this time. On the third day of her persistent high fever, Yang Feitang finally couldn’t take it anymore and dragged her to the hospital.

Hearing the news of CEO Chu’s hospitalization, Sophia had specially come to check on her. She had carefully looked at the lab report and had let out a sigh of relief. “It’s fine. It’s just some inflammation. The fever will go down after a few days of IV drips.”

Chu Xinrou had nodded gently, her gaze falling on Yang Feitang, who was clumsily peeling an apple. This young lady, who had been spoiled by Xue Youyou, had almost peeled away all the flesh of the apple, leaving only a pitiful core.

The originally peaceful atmosphere in the hospital room was broken by Sophia’s casual question. “Where’s Xiaoxiao? Why hasn’t she come to see her Auntie Suo?”

The moment her voice fell, Chu Xinrou’s eyes had instantly dimmed. The fruit knife in Yang Feitang’s hand had fallen onto the plate with a clang, and she had glared at Sophia fiercely.

Sophia: …

Did she say something wrong?

Chu Xinrou, who was lying in the hospital bed, had a dim gaze and was looking out the window, as still as a corpse.

“Want an apple?”

…

“Don’t like it? Then want an orange?”

…

“Don’t like oranges either? How about I go and buy some food? What do you want to eat? Sweet or salty?”

…

Chu Xinrou had no reaction at all.

Yang Feitang couldn’t stand it anymore. She hadn’t wanted to show her, but she was afraid that if Chu Xinrou continued to be like this, she would really get depressed.

“Here, look. The little brat went out to play. She’s so happy.”

Chu Xinrou finally had a reaction. She slowly turned her head and looked at the screen.

They were all photos of Qiao Xiaoxiao taken by Bai Qi and forwarded by Wang Ning.

Yang Feitang’s eyes were fixed on Chu Xinrou. She saw that when she saw the picture of Qiao Xiaoxiao driving in the sunset, her brows had gently relaxed. But when she saw Qiao Xiaoxiao’s shrunken back, they had furrowed again…

After coming out of the hospital room, Yang Feitang had gone to the door to smoke a cigarette. She had quit smoking for a long time. This was really too much for her.

But before she could take two puffs, with the “clatter” of high heels, the cigarette in her hand had been snatched away. Xue Youyou, who had just arrived, hadn’t had time to change her clothes. She was in a suit, her long hair tied up, her aura full. “Who let you smoke?”

Yang Feitang had looked out the window and had sighed. “It’s not… I’m just sad to see Xinrou.”

Xue Youyou had looked at the hospital room through the glass window, her red lips parting slightly. “Didn’t you feel sorry for your brat before? Why have you changed the object now?”

Yang Feitang had said in a daze, “Perhaps, this is love.”

Xue Youyou had turned to look at her. “What?”

She had rarely heard Yang Feitang have such an insight.

Yang Feitang had looked at the curled-up Chu Xinrou on the hospital bed and had said slowly, “To be honest, at the beginning, when Xiaoxiao left, although I was angry, I was also a little happy in my heart. I thought that if she gave Xinrou the cold shoulder like this, she might come to her senses. But now that I look at it…”

“Some people, perhaps, have long since fallen in love without knowing it.”

On the day she was discharged from the hospital, to thank Sophia, Yang Feitang had said casually, “Thanks. You’ve worked hard, old Suo. I’ll treat you to a meal.”

She had originally been being polite, but she had never expected that Sophia would take it seriously and had come knocking on her door that night.

Yang Feitang had stood at the door and had stared at her for a long time, her eyes wide. “You really came?”

Sophia had smiled shyly and had looked inside. “Is Xiaoxiao here?”

Yang Feitang: …

She really has a persistent heart.

Xiaoxiao was not here, but the noodles Xiaoxiao loved to eat could be.

Yang Feitang had thought that it would be good to have someone to provoke Chu Xinrou, so she had let Sophia in and had called out to Chu Xinrou, “Dr. Suo came to see you on an empty stomach. Make her a bowl of noodles.”

These past few days, Chu Xinrou had been like a walking corpse, her eyes dull. She had looked at Sophia, and Sophia had nodded. “Noodles? Noodles are good. I love noodles the most.”

A few minutes later, Sophia had regretted her own words.

She had looked at the white noodles before her, had been stunned for a long time, and had given Yang Feitang an awkward but polite smile.

Excuse me… is this pig food?

Yang Feitang had winked at her. “Eat it. This is what your beloved Xiaoxiao loves to eat the most.”

After saying this, she had realized she had misspoken and had immediately covered her mouth with her hand.

But it was already too late.

Hearing the two words “Xiaoxiao,” Chu Xinrou had slowly turned her head and had stared at Sophia for a long time. Suddenly, her eyes had turned red. “Xiaoxiao, she likes to eat…”

She’s eaten it for three years…

Tears had suddenly fallen.

Yang Feitang and Sophia had fled in a panic.

…

On the tenth day at dusk, Qiao Xiaoxiao was pulled by Bai Qi to participate in the village’s bonfire party.

In the open space in the center of the village, a bonfire was burning fiercely, illuminating everyone’s smiling faces. The old and young were sitting in a circle, and the wooden tables were filled with mountain delicacies and homemade rice wine. Amidst the cheerful sound of the lusheng, people would get up from time to time to dance the ancient dances.

The crackling sparks flew, illuminating Bai Qi’s flushed cheeks. Perhaps it was because the journey of being together day and night these past few days had made her let down her guard, or perhaps it was because the warm rice wine had given her courage, but she had finally asked the question that had been hidden in her heart for a long time. “Jiejie… why are you so sad?”

The dancing bonfire melted Qiao Xiaoxiao’s frozen heart. In this mountain village, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, in this simple and warm atmosphere, she had finally let down all her pretense.

Leaning against the sturdy ancient tree, looking at the sparks flying in the night sky, Qiao Xiaoxiao’s voice was as soft as a sigh. “I’ve fallen in love with someone… I shouldn’t have.”

The firelight flickered in her eyes, and tears gradually welled up.

Bai Qi did not yet understand love.

She only remembered the love stories the old people in the village had told.

A young girl’s heart is always full of longing for love.

She had tilted her head and had thought for a moment, then had asked innocently, “Jiejie, what is love? Is it possession?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao had been stunned for a moment, the firelight condensing in her eyes.

She had gently shaken her head.

“Of course it’s not possession.”

Bai Qi had blinked her eyes, her voice soft but firm. “Then since love is not possession, if you like someone, you like them. What does it matter if the other person likes you back or not?”

The words of a child are without malice, but they are the most transparent.

Bai Qi’s words were more heart-trembling than the strong wine in the cup.

The little girl didn’t know what a shock she had brought to Qiao Xiaoxiao. She had turned and had jumped into the dancing crowd. Her light figure had spun in the firelight, like a free butterfly.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had stared at that cheerful figure in a daze, her vision gradually blurring.

The defenses she had built up with fatigue and running around these past few days had collapsed at this moment.

She had curled up in the shadow of the tree, letting the tide of longing drown her. Her heart was squeezed with pain, and every breath was a dull ache.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had finally taken out her phone. Her trembling fingers had swiped open the screen. The vibration of unread messages had lasted for a long, long time.

In the noisy crowd, she had ignored everyone’s messages and had only opened the pinned conversation.

She had originally thought she would see a resolute block, or a cold question. She had even been prepared to face an empty chat interface.

But there was none.

Chu Xinrou had only sent one WeChat message, but it was enough to make Qiao Xiaoxiao burst into tears.

—Come home, Xiaoxiao.