The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie

Chapter 128: 128: Loving and sweet
 

The next morning at seven o’clock, Luo Changde was rushed into the ICU.

When Luo Qinghe arrived, Luo Changde had not yet regained consciousness. At this time, her voice was the only sound that could be heard in the entire hospital corridor, “What exactly happened?”

“We haven’t found out yet.”

The man named Shen Yue was her new secretary, in his thirties, with a square face and crew cut, appearing stiff and serious.

“What about the surveillance?”

Shen Yue said, “The surveillance along that route is all malfunctioning.”

All the surveillance malfunctioning meant that someone had done it on purpose.

At that moment, the door to the ward opened, and a nurse came out, “The patient is awake.”

Luo Qinghe asked if she could visit.

The nurse said it was possible and led her to change into a sterile isolation gown.

Luo Changde had suffered a head injury and undergone a craniotomy. He had just woken up and was still wearing an oxygen mask, lying there with labored breaths.

Luo Qinghe glanced at the tubes covering his body, expressionless, “Who did this?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονǥ0.ƈο

Luo Changde couldn’t move his body, only his fingers twitched. His face was ashen, his lips pallid, faltering as he exhaled the words, “Jiang, Zhi.”

At the mention of Jiang Zhi, Luo Qinghe’s face turned cold.

“Did you provoke him again? How many times have I told you not to mess with him?”

Luo Changde, still under the effect of the anesthetic, couldn’t move his head, his lips trembling, “You—”

His eyes blazed with fury as he ground his teeth, “You—”

His speech was intermittent, and he couldn’t get the words out; the line on the heart monitor surged dramatically.

Luo Qinghe couldn’t clearly hear what he was saying, leaning in closer, “What are you saying?”

Luo Changde bit his teeth, enunciating each word deliberately, “You, hired, someone.”

Hearing the muffled words, Luo Qinghe stood upright, arms folded, looking down at him, “What are you talking about exactly?”

Shivering, Luo Changde removed his oxygen mask, his lips quivering palely, squeezing out each word from his throat, “Professional, errand, Z.”

Upon hearing the final word, Luo Qinghe frowned slightly, “Professional errand runner Z?”

His eyelids suddenly propped open as he stared at her accusingly, “It was you!”

Only then did she understand the whole story.

What a hefty load of slander.

Yet her demeanor remained unchanged, her smirk like a non-smirk, she calmly corrected, “Not me.”

Luo Changde clearly didn’t believe her, eyes burning with rage, again removing his oxygen mask, his face turning blue with suffocation, his eyes rolling back—he was about to faint.

Luo Qinghe stepped forward, fitting the oxygen mask back onto him without immediately moving her hand away, trailing it along the oxygen supply tube to the ventilator, “I didn’t hire anyone. This matter has nothing to do with me.” She leaned in, her neatly trimmed nails tapping lightly on the ventilator, her eyes narrow, sharp like the edge of a knife, “Don’t you believe me?”

Believe?

The Luo Family only trusts themselves.

“If I wanted to go against you…”

She left her statement hanging, with an implicit threat, and removed her hand from the ventilator. Rising to her feet, she examined her own hand in the light, half her face shrouded in the dim light, flickering on and off, “Was it Z who said, I hired her?”

The man on the bed was infuriated to the point of rupturing, opening his mouth but producing no sound, his breathing growing heavier.

“Beep—Beep—Beep—”

The heart monitor suddenly sounded an alarm.

Luo Changde was once again rushed into the emergency room.

Zhou Xufang awoke at ten o’clock in the morning. It had rained last night, but today the weather was not bad, with thin sunlight seeping through the cracks of the window.

She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before rubbing her eyes.

“Awake?”

Jiang Zhi was standing at the door, it was uncertain how long he had been there.

Stretching her arms, Zhou Xufang felt around and grabbed a handful of candy. She pulled out two pieces and blinked sleepily, “Why is there candy under the pillow?”

“It’s Christmas today.” He sat on the bed and wrapped her along with the blanket in a hug, smoothing the hair that had been bent during her sleep, “Whatever you want, I’ll grant it.”

He bowed his head, wanting to give her a kiss.

Zhou Xufang dodged, “Need to brush teeth first.”

“…”

Can’t she get a little romantic?!

He fished her out from under the covers, picked up her slippers, and put them on for her, “Go brush your teeth first.”

She yawned and headed for the bathroom; he followed and went in too. As she brushed her teeth, he stood by the sink watching her.

After brushing her teeth, she asked, “No need to go to the set today?” Turning on the tap, she cupped some cold water and splashed it on her face.

Jiang Zhi caught her hand, shook off the water in it, and adjusted the cold to warm, “I’m off today, we’re going out on a date.”

She stopped washing her face and asked with high spirits, “Where are we going?”

“Amusement park.” He grabbed a towel, soaked it, and started to wipe her face for her, “Have you been before?”

“No.”

Things she hadn’t played with, things she hadn’t eaten, he wanted to provide them all for her.

After wetting her face, Jiang Zhi squeezed a bit of facial cleanser and scrubbed it haphazardly before spreading it over her face. He had never helped anyone wash their face, and it got everywhere, but he was having so much fun. He caught her and rubbed a face full of bubbles on her.

“I’ll take you on the merry-go-round.”

Bubbles smeared all over Zhou Xufang’s face, she laughed with her eyes shut, her eyelashes fluttering, “Okay.”

Jiang Zhi leaned in to kiss her; she dodged backward, smearing a mouthful of foam on him.

They had takeout for breakfast. Jiang Zhi had a bowl of porridge, a crystal bun, and a dumpling, while Zhou Xufang had three bowls of porridge, a plate of crystal buns, and a plate of dumplings.

The clothes they went out in were chosen by Jiang Zhi, and Zhou Xufang surprisingly discovered, “Jiang Zhi, we’re dressed the same.”

He handed her a fluffy pink hat, “It’s not the same, this is a couple’s outfit.”

She ran to the mirror, twirled around, and sincerely admired, “It’s really pretty.”

Jiang Zhi squatting in front of the cabinet, searching for shoes to match for her, suddenly remembered something, “Zhou Xufang, are you wearing long johns?”

She ran over to him clattering, “No.”

He looked up at her legs.

So straight, so slender…

“Cough cough,” He diverted his gaze, his ears warming, “Go put them on.”

Zhou Xufang didn’t want to wear them, “I’m not cold.”

He insisted, “It’s four degrees below zero outside.” He rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out the thickest pair of long johns, stuffing them into her hands, “Go put them on.”

Fine, she put on the thick, elderly-style long johns.

Because it was Christmas, the amusement park was having activities; it was packed with people, especially lively. The streets outside were okay, but the atmosphere inside the park was rich with holiday cheer; everywhere, you could see staff wearing Christmas hats and Christmas trees hung with bells and string lights.

Zhou Xufang looked around curiously and found it novel. She just didn’t dare to step in too far, taking small, tentative steps and following behind Jiang Zhi, peeking around.

“There are so many people.”

She was used to hiding and a bit scared of strangers.

Jiang Zhi held her hand, fitting her mask snugly, “Don’t be scared, hold on tight to me.”

She said she would, obediently snuggling into his embrace, only to sneak out after a while, tugging at Jiang Zhi’s clothes, “I want a super-sized ice cream.”

A young couple walking in front of them were eating ice cream. Zhou Xufang’s nose was incredibly sharp; she could smell it—it was strawberry flavored.

She also wanted some!

Jiang Zhi looked at the size of the ice cream box, “It’s too cold, would cotton candy be okay?”

Oh right, there’s also cotton candy.

She honestly expressed her desire, “I want both.”

Having no choice, Jiang Zhi had to take her to buy some; they queued for over ten minutes.

Zhou Xufang asked for two boxes.

Jiang Zhi only bought one.

She held the strawberry-flavored ice cream, “Aren’t you going to have any?”

Jiang Zhi embraced her, “I’ll eat what’s left over from yours.”

She scratched at the ice cream’s cardboard carton, a bit embarrassed, but she still told the truth, “But I can’t leave any leftovers; I can eat it all myself.” She could finish both cartons.

“…”

In other people’s relationships, boyfriends are always eating their girlfriend’s food, sweetly taking turns bite by bite, all lovey-dovey. But in his case, there’s nothing left to eat.

Jiang Zhi pulled her forward, “I won’t eat.” He wore a mask, and his slight irritation was evident through his peach blossom eyes.

“Oh.”

Since Jiang Zhi didn’t like ice cream, she might as well enjoy it by herself.

She scooped a big spoonful into her hand and licked it happily, taking small bites. She was so delighted that little stars seemed to burst from her heart.

Jiang Zhi: “…”

The girlfriend he picked out, no matter how tough, had to be spoiled.

The amusement park was crowded everywhere, and there was a line for every ride. Jiang Zhi wasn’t in a hurry; he first took Zhou Xufang to buy cotton candy.

She didn’t like the amusement park’s cotton candy much, it was all artificial sweetener, too sweet, and after one bite, she didn’t want it anymore. Jiang Zhi didn’t eat it either, finding it too cloying, but the cotton candy was too pretty to throw away, so she had Jiang Zhi hold it.

Ice cream was still the tastiest.

Zhou Xufang loved it beyond words, “Jiang Zhi.”

“Hmm?”

She scooped a spoonful, “Open up.”

Jiang Zhi hesitated for a while, then took off his mask and opened his mouth.

Zhou Xufang fed him a bite and asked with a smile, “Is it sweet?”

To be honest, he didn’t taste much but for the sight of his girl, smiling so brightly it dazzled him. If they weren’t out in public, he’d have grabbed her and showered her with kisses.

He licked his lips, “Sweet.” Bite by bite, how could it not be sweet? His girlfriend was the sweetest.

“Do you want more?”

The Mr. Jiang who had just said he didn’t want any, now smiled like an obedient, clingy cat, “Yes.”

See?

He found it delicious after trying it.

Zhou Xufang turned the ice cream carton upside down, revealing its empty insides, “All finished.” She looked at him sincerely, “Jiang Zhi, shall we go buy two more cartons? One for you and one for me.”

“…”

One carton for you and one for me, rather than taking turns one bite at a time.

Jiang Zhi put his mask back on and let go of her hand, “It’s too cold; you can’t eat too much.”

Elsewhere, another boyfriend said the same thing, “It’s too cold, you shouldn’t eat too much ice cream.”

The other girlfriend coquettishly pleaded, “Dear, I want some, come on, pleaseeee.” With shy, small fists, she punched her boyfriend’s chest and stomped her feet, her sweet voice laced with a loli tone cooing persuasively, “Mmmm—Mmm—”

And then, the other girlfriend’s boyfriend showed a face filled with doting yet helpless laughter, “Alright, alright, you’re irresistible.”

In the end, the other girl’s boyfriend took his girlfriend to buy ice cream.

Oh.

Zhou Xufang suddenly got it. She was a quick learner and immediately imitated the other girl, clutching Jiang Zhi’s sleeve and, in a pinched voice, said, “Dear.”

She mimicked with earnest devotion, anxious not to misspeak, so her expression was grave.

“I want some.” She echoed flawlessly.

“Please.” She recited meticulously.

“Please.” She was precise and uncompromising.

Next, she paused to recall, then held up a single fist. Careful not to hurt him, she gently tapped Jiang Zhi’s chest, a light pat, “Mmm—” The key was to draw out the sound.

She tapped again, “Mmm—” continuing to elongate it.

Oh, one more, “Mmm—” Lastly, she stomped her foot, perfectly concluding the act.

Jiang Zhi, utterly overwhelmed by the sudden cuteness, “…How many cartons you want?”

Buy, buy, buy, buy them all! He’d even get the stars from the sky for her.

Cold yet endearingly unaware, the old cadre Zhou Xufang held up two fingers.

While queueing for ice cream, Zhou Xufang kept looking at others, seven or eight times, and on her last look, she maintained it for seven or eight seconds. Jiang Zhi tugged at the pompom on her hat and called her by her full name, “Zhou Xufang.”

“Mm.” She still didn’t turn back.

Jiang Zhi was about to get angry and gave a hard tug, skewing her hat: “Why do you keep looking at someone else?” And at a man, no less!

Zhou Xufang turned to look at Jiang Zhi, straightened her hat, then looked away again: “That guy in the yellow down jacket, his headband is really cute.”

Jiang Zhi thought that yellow down jacket was hideously ugly, like a lump of shit: “It’s not cute, it’s silly.” He turned Zhou Xufang’s head back, “Stop looking.”

“Oh.”

Before long…

Zhou Xufang sneakily glanced over again.

Jiang Zhi poked her palm, fueled by a gulp of vinegar-laced rage: “Zhou Xufang!”

She giggled from being tickled, rubbing her hands on her clothes. Survival instinct? Not a chance, she would never have that in this lifetime: “Jiang Zhi, you should go ask him where he bought that headband.”

Jiang Zhi tossed his head: “I’m not going.”

“Alright then.” She wasn’t going to press him. “I’ll go myself.”

She had barely walked two steps toward that ‘lump of shit’ when Jiang Zhi pulled her back, grinding his teeth, only holding out for a few seconds: “…I’ll go.”

“Good.”

He had found himself a real master: “Where’s the mask?”

Zhou Xufang fished it out of her pocket.

Jiang Zhi fitted his little master with it: “Don’t run off, wait for me here.”

Zhou Xuzong Xufang: “Mm.”

It wasn’t long before Jiang Zhi returned.

“Did you find out?”

“Mm.” Jiang Zhi took the freshly made ice cream, paid for it, and took her to buy the headband.

The headband was a pair, a couple’s set, with one large and one small pink hoop and springs attached beneath, bobbing with every movement when worn on the head.

Jiang Zhi felt that having hoops on top of his head was utterly foolish.

Zhou Xufang put the small hoop on herself and handed the large hoop to Jiang Zhi: “You wear this one.”

He didn’t want to, it was too silly.

Zhou Xufang, with her hoop bobbing with every move, tilted her head to look at Jiang Zhi, causing the hoop to swing from side to side: “Don’t you like it?” But she really liked couple’s items.

Jiang Zhi grunted in a subdued voice.

Zhou Xufang showed a look of great disappointment: “Then I’ll wear it alone.”

Her head drooped, and the spring-loaded pink hoop bounced even more joyfully.

To be honest, it really was silly.

But what could he do? She liked it, so Jiang Zhi still lowered his head: “You put it on me.” He was clearly acting coy, obviously needing coddling, yet he still caved first, letting her mess with him. Jiang Zhi admitted that in front of Zhou Xufang, he had thrown all his pride to the dogs.

Zhou Xufang became happy, cheerfully placing the headband on him. Then, standing on tiptoe, she touched his hoop and then her own, giving two thumbs up: “Jiang Zhi, you’re the most handsome in the world.”

She beamed with a smile.

Jiang Zhi felt as if he’d been coaxed, and even the headband didn’t seem so silly anymore. With one hand, he held a box of ice cream for her, and with the other, he held her hand: “Do you only like my face?” He wore a mask, exposing only a pair of peach blossom eyes that still managed to catch the passing girls’ frequent glances.

“Not just that,” Zhou Xufang pondered, “I also like the back of your head and your skull.”

He didn’t watch the road, just gazed at her like a wolf cub coaxing a little rabbit: “Would you like someone else if they were better-looking than me, and had a better-looking back of the head and skull?”

“There won’t be anyone.” She was sure of this, squeezing the ice cream between her elbows, and raising both thumbs: “You’re the most handsome in the world.”

If Jiang Zhi had a tail, it would surely be wagging now, just like the springy pink hoop on his head, flaunting left and right. After swinging it, he’d roll on the ground, showing his tender belly to his little girl, and in the end, still wanting her to touch his belly.

His mood was excellent, and through the mask, he pecked her on the lips. Fearing others might see, she grabbed him and ran.

After finishing the ice cream and the cotton candy, Jiang Zhi asked Zhou Xufang, “Do you want to ride the roller coaster?”

She thought for a moment: “No.”

“The bungee drop?”

“No.”

“What about that one?” Jiang Zhi indicated the pendulum ride.

Zhou Xufang shook her head: “Jiang Zhi, let’s ride the carousel.”

He complied with her every wish: “Okay.”