Chapter 13
Jian Huaiyi slowly put down the cherry tomato in his hand, hesitating, then picked up the plate again.
“Have Sichuan food for lunch?” Liang Xun asked.
“Yes.” Jian Huaiyi’s mind was wandering.
Liang Xun: …
Jian Huaiyi looked up several times, finally unable to help but say, “Liang Xun, don’t carry me like that next time.”
Liang Xun’s heart sank, then he heard Jian Huaiyi continue, “You haven’t fully recovered yet. What if your wound opens up?”
The concern in his tone wasn’t fake.
Liang Xun’s fingertips paused, his heart, which had fallen into the abyss, soared again.
“Mm.”
However, he had almost fully recovered.
On the contrary, Jian Huaiyi… when he had carried him earlier, he found that despite Jian Huaiyi’s height of 1.8 meters, he had a slender build, and he could lift him with one hand.
Although Liang Xun had been working hard in business overseas over the years, he had not neglected his fitness. The muscles in his forearms were firm and well-defined, slightly hard under his sleeves.
Jian Huaiyi’s eyes flickered, and he naturally looked away.
After dinner, Jian Huaiyi claimed that he needed to go back to the company to get something and temporarily separated from Liang Xun.
He couldn’t be in the same space as Liang Xun any longer; he felt like he was deceiving a patient.
He had been careless.
He had always known that Liang Xun, someone who was extremely serious and meticulous in everything he did, was a stickler for rules. Once he set his mind on something, even if it was absurd, he would try his best to complete it.
Like that time, he jokingly mentioned wanting to eat the shaomai from that shop in the south of the city, and Liang Xun actually skipped an entire class to buy it.
The teacher of that class was a professor known for being “unreasonable” in the department. He took attendance in every class; if someone was absent, he would directly report it to the advisor to deduct credits. Students secretly complained about him, but they dared not skip his class.
Jian Huaiyi paced anxiously outside the advisor’s office. Fifteen minutes had passed since Liang Xun was called in by the advisor. Even if credits were being deducted, it should have been finished by now.
“Let’s go, Jian Huaiyi.”
Liang Xun finally came out, carrying a plastic bag.
The shaomai in the plastic bag exuded a fragrant steam.
He casually walked to Jian Huaiyi’s side, even having the leisure to remind Jian Huaiyi that his phone was ringing.
Jian Huaiyi took out his phone. Seeing that it was the driver calling, probably asking why he hadn’t come out yet, he simply turned it off, too lazy to respond.
“Do you know whose class you skipped? Liang Xun, do you want Professor Zhu to call on you to answer questions every class?” Jian Huaiyi was exasperated.
Liang Xun looked unconcerned, throwing the plastic bag into Jian Huaiyi’s arms. “It’s hot.”
The aroma of the shaomai filled his nostrils, fragrant glutinous rice. Only the shop in the south of the city could make this taste.
But is that the point right now?!
“Did the advisor deduct your final grade?”
Liang Xun said faintly, “Mm, not much, just one point.”
“One point?!” Jian Huaiyi was completely exasperated. “Liang Xun, are you deliberately letting me win?”
Q University, as a top-2 national university, had extremely fierce competition for awards every year. One point might represent almost ten people.
But every year, the top two spots in their department were taken by Jian Huaiyi and Liang Xun; it was either Jian Huaiyi first or Liang Xun first.
Jian Huaiyi enjoyed the feeling of having a worthy opponent, but Liang Xun deliberately giving up one point tilted the balance in his favor, making even this year’s win an unfair victory.
Twenty-year-old Jian Huaiyi was emotional, especially in front of people close to him. Whatever he thought was written all over his face.
Liang Xun lifted his thin eyelids, his voice as flat as ever, but it seemed to have a hint of helplessness.
“Jian Huaiyi, you wouldn’t skip Professor Zhu’s class too, would you?”
Jian Huaiyi restrained his expression, his inherent arrogance aroused.
“You’re allowed to skip, but I’m not?”
Liang Xun quickly curled his lips, his dark eyes flickering for a moment. He put his hands in his pockets and walked out first.
Jian Huaiyi followed. The aroma of shaomai was enticing. He put aside his messy thoughts, took one out of the plastic bag, and handed it to Liang Xun first.
After all, he had gone all the way to buy it.
Liang Xun raised an eyebrow. “You eat, I’m not hungry.”
Jian Huaiyi, as if venting his anger, bit into the filling of the shaomai, looking at Liang Xun’s profile, muttering softly, “I forgot my breakfast this morning, and I was so hungry I had hallucinations, and I joked with you, and you actually took it seriously.”
“You take jokes seriously? Are you stupid, Liang Xun?”
A barely perceptible smile appeared in Liang Xun’s eyes. He asked Jian Huaiyi, who was happily eating, “Is it delicious?”
“So-so.”
Then you’re not stupid.
Liang Xun replied in his heart.
As the sun set, the tree-lined path was sparsely populated, and their shadows stretched long.
Jian Huaiyi: “It’s settled then, I’ll deduct one point from my final exam.”
“When did we settle this?”
Jian Huaiyi emphasized his words: “Just now.”
Liang Xun chuckled. “You’re so serious.”
“Otherwise, even winning would be an unfair victory.”
“Suit yourself.”
For many years afterward, when Liang Xun was wandering the streets of a foreign country, the thought that sustained him was the countless scenes of his youth, walking side-by-side with the young man.
Jian Huaiyi drove to Jiang Hua Building, a building with dozens of floors. He swiped his card into the employee access and pressed the button for the 16th floor. A feeling of weightlessness came over him, and ding——the elevator arrived.
The 16th floor was a medium-sized flower shop. At this time, there weren’t many people in the shop. The shopkeeper, wearing an apron, was spraying water on several small chrysanthemum plants.
Looking up and seeing Jian Huaiyi, she immediately straightened up and called, “Boss.”
Jian Huaiyi nodded in response.
Jiang Xiaohui put down the watering can and went to pour water for Jian Huaiyi, surprised, “Boss, why are you free today?”
Bai Hui was a flower shop Jian Huaiyi had invested in a year ago. At that time, the shopkeeper, Jiang Xiaohui, was about to close the shop and return to her hometown. She had come to City A alone to work hard, spending all her savings to open a flower shop. However, business was poor, and she had to close it within a year.
Unexpectedly, she received a stroke of luck. Jian Huaiyi suddenly appeared and bought Bai Hui. He also bought the entire floor as Bai Hui’s storefront, hiring Jiang Xiaohui as the shopkeeper and letting her continue to run the flower shop, with Jian Huaiyi paying her salary.
An annual salary of 500,000 yuan—to Jiang Xiaohui, he was practically her savior.
Jian Huaiyi said, “I was passing by.”
Jiang Xiaohui stood aside, her hands clutching her apron, looking at her boss’s profile, sighing again at his “divine appearance.”
How could there be a man as handsome as her boss!
The intense gaze felt tangible. Jian Huaiyi met Jiang Xiaohui’s gaze and asked, “Is there something on my face?”
Jiang Xiaohui repeatedly waved her hand, flustered. “No, no.”
“Go about your work, I’ll just take a look around.”
Jiang Xiaohui bowed. “Okay! Boss.”
Jian Huaiyi walked around the flower shop, stopping in front of a Eustoma. The Eustoma’s petals were tightly closed, its leaves lush green, its vibrant appearance making one feel comfortable.
Among all the flowers, Jian Huaiyi only loved Eustoma. He picked it up and went to the counter, telling Jiang Xiaohui, “Wrap it up.”
Eustoma again.
The boss had spoken, so Jiang Xiaohui immediately found a bag and packed the potted plant, handing it to Jian Huaiyi. “Here you go, Boss.”
“How much?”
Jiang Xiaohui, of course, couldn’t charge Jian Huaiyi.
She smiled. “No charge, consider it my thanks for the boss’s kindness to Bai Hui.”
“Mm.”
The flower language of Eustoma is sincere and unchanging love.
Jiang Xiaohui stood there watching Jian Huaiyi’s departing back, feeling that her seemingly cold and indifferent boss probably had a story of his own.
After a while, she looked away and saw two large red banknotes left on the counter.
Jiang Xiaohui’s heart throbbed.
Boss, I will follow you for life.
Liang Xun returned home and didn’t see anyone. He went to the balcony and saw Jian Huaiyi tending to the plants.
Jian Huaiyi was wearing a light grey shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms. There were mud stains on his arms, and there was a small red mole on his wrist, like ink splattered on white paper, yet with a different meaning.
He was trimming the dead branches of the Eustoma, cutting off unnecessary branches, so the flower buds could get enough nutrients.
A moment of momentary dizziness. Liang Xun pinched his aching temples, feeling like he had seen this scene before.
“Liang Xun.”
Jian Huaiyi noticed the movement behind him and turned to look at the man who had returned without him knowing.
His head spun, as if being sucked into a vortex. Liang Xun staggered back a step unsteadily.
Jian Huaiyi quickly put down the scissors in his hand and stepped forward to support his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
His tone was extremely concerned.
Liang Xun regained his composure, his face gradually clearing. He brushed Jian Huaiyi’s hand away. “Nothing.”
Jian Huaiyi’s face immediately turned cold, looking at Liang Xun’s slightly pale lips.
“Do you have to faint before it’s considered something?”
A trace of bewilderment flashed in Liang Xun’s eyes, his voice unconsciously softening. “I’ll be fine after resting for a while.”
Jian Huaiyi sneered, silently muttering in his heart: This tendency to endure hardship hasn’t changed at all.
“Put on your shoes, let’s go to the hospital.”
Jian Huaiyi’s tone was unquestionable, Liang Xun explained helplessly, “Really nothing, probably because I haven’t been getting enough rest these days.”
Jian Huaiyi turned back, sincerely asking, “Are you a doctor?”
Liang Xun subconsciously shook his head.
“No, just go see a doctor with me.” Jian Huaiyi muttered. “Don’t do it again like before, almost burning to death and still saying that you just haven’t slept well and have a headache.”
Liang Xun’s expression changed, and he cautiously closed his mouth.
They drove to the city hospital, and coincidentally, the doctor who examined Liang Xun was still Doctor Song.
“Doctor Song, what a coincidence.”
Doctor Song nodded and shook hands with Jian Huaiyi. “Mr. Huiyi.”
Jian Huaiyi: …
“Just call me Mr. Jian.” Jian Huaiyi smiled.
“Okay, Mr. Huiyi.”
Jian Huaiyi: …
“Have you been experiencing these dizziness and headaches frequently recently?” Doctor Song asked.
“It’s alright.”
“Alright means…?”
Liang Xun’s face was stern and hard, especially like a suspect being interrogated by the police.
“Twice.”
Doctor Song continued, “Is it sudden dizziness, or dizziness caused by seeing something?”
“Sudden.”
…
“Okay.” Doctor Song recorded Liang Xun’s condition and closed the folder.
“Let’s do a brain CT scan.”
After waiting for a few minutes, Doctor Song looked at the film and said to Jian Huaiyi, “Mr. Hui…”
Jian Huaiyi’s eyes were cold.
Doctor Song changed his words, “Mr. Jian, based on the current diagnosis, we can conclude that Mr. Liang Xun’s sudden dizziness is due to insufficient sleep and long working hours.”
Jian Huaiyi’s hands were in his pockets, his demeanor aloof and cold.
Working too long… no wonder he came back so late every day these days, sometimes not even returning, so he had been working overtime all night.
Jian Huaiyi glanced at Liang Xun behind him. Liang Xun pursed his lips, standing at the door like a drifting piece of wood.
“When will he recover his memory?” Jian Huaiyi asked.
“This can’t be determined. Current medical technology’s research and development on amnesia symptoms is less than 30%. Some people recover their memory after hitting their heads again, while others may never recover.”
Jian Huaiyi didn’t really understand medical matters. Following Doctor Song’s instructions, he took the prescribed medicine and left with Liang Xun.
“Liang Xun.”
Back home, Liang Xun, about to go to the study, was suddenly called from behind.
Jian Huaiyi’s face was even colder. He folded his arms and looked at Liang Xun. Although he was sitting, his aura was not inferior, even stronger than Liang Xun’s.
“Where are you going?”
Liang Xun moved his lips. The words on his lips became, “Get something.”
Jian Huaiyi mercifully let him go, “Go, one minute. I’ll wait for you in the living room.”
…