Mad Dog

Chapter 48: Healing – Life needs a sense of ritual.

Later, although Doctor Liu Yong felt a bit confused, he respected his patient’s wishes and helped Jiang Qi ‘cover up’ the lie.

As a result, Zhi Qi felt a bit disappointed.

In the hospital room, the young girl stood by the large bed, looking out at the thin mist of the winter morning, feeling aggrieved and downcast.

Jiang Qi walked over, his long, slender arm wrapping around her thin shoulders from behind as he clumsily comforted her, “Don’t be upset, okay?”

“I’m not upset.” Zhi Qi sighed slightly but muttered in a muffled voice, “I just feel a bit regretful.”

It was hard-won that Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran finally accepted him and allowed her to bring Jiang Qi home—only for the hospital’s regulations to intervene like a sudden obstacle.

Jiang Qi smiled slightly, not speaking. He thought to himself that Zhi Qi was still quite young and hadn’t matured as much as her brother.

However… he hoped she would always remain this innocent, able to be protected and comforted by him.

“I’m sorry, Zhi Qi.” Jiang Qi’s voice was very soft, almost a whisper. After a moment, he spoke more firmly, his cool voice lightly brushing against Zhi Qi’s ear with determination: “Next year, I’ll definitely be there.”

“Alright.” The girl smiled again, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. “Then what about this year?”

If Jiang Qi was alone in the hospital, how pitiful that would be.

To be honest, Zhi Qi felt a little reluctant.

But in reality, Jiang Qi had never really cared about keywords like ‘New Year’ or ‘New Year’s Eve’—he had never celebrated holidays, not even his birthday, let alone the New Year.

However, Jiang Qi didn’t want to dampen the girl’s spirits, so he thought for a moment and came up with a ‘fun’ activity: “Um, let’s watch TV.”

They could stay in the hospital and watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Imagining the young man alone in the hospital room watching television made Zhi Qi feel both heartbroken and amused. Her dark eyes darted around, and a hint of mischief flashed in them.

Perhaps it wasn’t the most clever plan.

But she didn’t want to let the boy spend the entire New Year’s Eve alone.

Before she knew it, half a month had passed, and time flew by like an arrow.

On New Year’s Eve, Zhi Qi obediently had dinner at home, spent some time with her family watching the Spring Festival Gala, and then waited for Zhi Yu to leave. Once her parents couldn’t stay awake any longer, she quietly grabbed the coat draped over the rack, slipped it on, and snuck out.

The girl also grabbed a handful of fireworks from the box by the door.

It was New Year’s, after all; fireworks had to be set off. At that moment, the entire scene seemed to be illuminated by fireworks, lighting up the dark night sky at around eleven o’clock as bright as day.

Wearing a milk tea-colored wool coat and wrapped in a scarf, Zhi Qi felt warm as she stepped outside, her fair face beaming with joy.

She took a taxi to the fifth hospital, constantly urging the driver to hurry, and finally arrived at the rehabilitation center’s entrance before midnight.

—Fortunately, she was already registered as a ‘family member’, and the nurse on duty was familiar with her. Otherwise, they definitely wouldn’t have let her in for a visit at such a late hour.

Zhi Qi beamed her thanks and then quickly ran to Jiang Qi’s room.

At such a late hour, she wondered if Jiang Qi was asleep.

Zhi Qi absentmindedly pushed open the door to the hospital room, and accompanied by the cheerful skits from the Spring Festival Gala, she saw the boy leaning against the head of the bed, somewhat surprised as he turned his head.

The girl clearly saw the initially emotionless light-colored eyes suddenly sparkle with countless stars.

They seemed to shine even brighter than the night sky outside.

“Jiang Qi.” Zhi Qi couldn’t help but smile, her porcelain-white teeth biting her frozen red lips. “Happy New Year.”

In fact, she had already wished him well on WeChat, but she still wanted to come over and say the most ordinary greeting in person on this day, just like everyone else.

Jiang Qi didn’t answer. Instead, he got off the bed and walked toward her step by step.

“Jiang…” Zhi Qi was somewhat surprised to look at him. Before she could finish his name, the door behind her was suddenly slammed shut by a large hand, followed by the overwhelming cold aura radiating from him.

It was like a pine tree in winter, bringing a chilling scent.

However, the girl’s lips were even colder than his body temperature. As Jiang Qi lowered his head to capture Zhi Qi’s soft lips, he couldn’t help but think that the weather had been so cold that it had made the girl feel chilly, and he felt sorry for her.

With that thought in mind, his warm hands cradled her face, as if to warm her up.

Zhi Qi, feeling a little dazed, lifted her head and obediently responded to Jiang Qi’s kiss.

“There are only ten minutes left today.” As the long, lingering kiss ended, Jiang Qi’s breath was slightly uneven, and his usually cool voice was hoarse as he murmured, “Zhi Qi, my New Year’s wish has come true.”

During the day, Zhi Qi had asked him to make a wish, and he wished to… see her.

“Mm.” Zhi Qi’s lips were reddened from his kisses, resembling a red plum in the snow on her fair face, gently parting as she asked, “What did you wish for?”

Jiang Qi smiled but didn’t answer.

Fortunately, Zhi Qi didn’t dwell on this question. Soon, she pulled out a thermal container from her bag and excitedly held it up in front of Jiang Qi, her eyes sparkling as she said, “Let’s eat dumplings.”

Jiang Qi was taken aback.

“I remember you like dumplings with three fresh fillings, so I asked the aunt at home to teach me how to make the filling tonight.” Zhi Qi tugged at the young man to sit down in front of the sofa, placing the container on the coffee table and opening it. A delicious aroma immediately wafted into the air.

The thermal container worked exceptionally well; the dumplings were still warm.

Zhi Qi rested her chin in her hand, looking at him. “You should try some.”

Jiang Qi didn’t say anything at first. After a moment, he picked up a dumpling to taste it. “It’s good.”

“Really?” Zhi Qi’s eyes lit up. “It’s my first time making dumplings; am I not talented?”

Although she hadn’t eaten any herself—she didn’t like chives, so naturally, she didn’t eat any dishes related to chives, which included the three fresh fillings.

Jiang Qi smiled and nodded. “Really.”

In fact, he had never had any special requirements when it came to food, never had particular favorites or dislikes; he had always been in a state of ‘as long as there’s something to eat, that’s fine.’

Zhi Qi thought he liked three fresh dumplings because many years ago, when they were in elementary school, she used to bring him lunch every day.

Back then, Zhi Qi hadn’t shown any particular dislike for chives. One time, their family’s nanny made three fresh dumplings and brought them to school. After the girl took a bite, she frowned slightly and, after reluctantly eating a couple more, pushed her remaining dumplings toward him.

At that time, Jiang Qi was in a growth spurt and was always hungry. Whatever Zhi Qi gave him to eat, he would take. He even felt he could eat a cow.

So, of course, he finished both boxes of dumplings without leaving a crumb.

But it left Zhi Qi stunned.

The girl looked at Jiang Qi, who had an enormous appetite, blinking her big dark eyes in surprise. She thought for a moment and asked, “Do you really like dumplings with this filling?”

Perhaps it was from that moment on that Zhi Qi began to believe he liked the three fresh filling.

And Jiang Qi never corrected her, letting her think he really liked them.

Because what he liked or disliked didn’t matter.

What mattered was that someone remembered his so-called ‘preferences’ and cared about him; that was enough.

Moreover, Zhi Qi had remembered for so many years.

Sometimes, Jiang Qi often thought about a question: Did he really deserve someone as good as her?

But this question might never have an answer, because ‘for a person to drink water, they know if it’s cold or warm themselves’. To others, he might just be Zhi Qi’s ‘cold and warm’, but as long as the little girl liked him, that was enough.

He would always be there for her, trying to make everything about him worth it for her.

On their first New Year after reuniting, the two of them spent it in the hospital room eating dumplings and watching television.

As the clock struck midnight, Jiang Qi was momentarily lost in thought, but when Zhi Qi pulled him to the window to watch the fireworks, he snapped back to reality.

Yes, everything in front of him was real; it wasn’t a dream.

He wouldn’t have to experience the ‘illusion’ that came after the clock struck twelve again.

“Jiang Qi, we have to set off fireworks for the New Year,” Zhi Qi said, suddenly pulling out a few small firecrackers that resembled ‘two kicks’ from the pocket of her coat. She wink

ed at him mischievously. “Let’s sneak out and set them off when the nurse isn’t looking.”

It was rare for the girl to act so mischievous, and Jiang Qi, always the rebel, naturally agreed to go along with her.

So, when the nurse on duty went to the restroom, the two of them seized the opportunity to quickly head downstairs, slipping into the garden outside the hospital.

Due to the New Year’s celebration, the hospital wasn’t monitoring things too strictly, and surprisingly, there were quite a few patients in the garden at such a late hour, gathered in small groups looking up at the fireworks.

Jiang Qi was a smoker, and since he had a lighter, he took it out and lit the two firecrackers Zhi Qi had brought.

With the sound of popping, the girl burrowed into his arms and covered her ears.

“Are you afraid of the noise?” Jiang Qi couldn’t help but chuckle, his large hand helping to cover Zhi Qi’s ears as he leaned in to ask her, “Then why do you want to set these off?”

“What do you know?” Zhi Qi laughed, her bright eyes shining as she shouted at him, “Life should have a sense of ritual!”

For example, during the New Year, one should hang couplets, paste good luck characters, eat dumplings, watch the Spring Festival Gala, and set off fireworks; one shouldn’t be alone… all these were part of the legendary sense of ritual. That was why Zhi Qi wanted to help the boy fulfill this ‘sense of ritual’.

As the smile on Jiang Qi’s lips slowly faded, when the last of the sparkling fireworks faded in the sky, he gently asked her, “What else?”

Zhi Qi replied, “Hmm?”

“The sense of ritual for the New Year.” Jiang Qi asked softly, “What else should there be?”

“Um, set a goal for yourself,” Zhi Qi looked up at the countless stars in the sky and murmured, “Set a goal that you can achieve.”

Jiang Qi thought for a moment and replied with an “Mm.”

He promised Zhi Qi that he would set the so-called New Year’s goal and would definitely accomplish it.

Jiang Qi also wanted to be like her, a person filled with a sense of ritual, enthusiastic about society, and even loving life.

Because Zhi Qi had been tirelessly changing him, and the sense of ‘nihilism’ that lingered around him a few months ago had nearly vanished.

Jiang Qi felt that, at the very least, he had a direction to strive toward.

One need not fear being lost; one should only fear losing their way and being unable to find direction afterward.

Fortunately, Zhi Qi helped him find it.