Chapter 79: You Could Do It Yourself, Yet Insist on Me Feeding You!
“Cao Shuang, after graduation, my uncle might not be able to arrange a job for you.” Lu Yuanqiu said to the young man sitting across from him on the bed.
Cao Shuang was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at Lu Yuanqiu. He chewed slowly on the apple in his mouth, nodded a little gloomily, “Ah… it’s fine… Hey, I always thought, someone like me, all I know is how to fight, how could I ever work a proper job? Even I worry about myself.”
“What I mean is, after graduation, my second uncle will hand over a branch company to me. You just have to follow me and work there.” Lu Yuanqiu finished, smiling as he patted Cao Shuang’s shoulder. “What are you thinking? What do you mean, someone like you? You’re not lacking in anything.”
Cao Shuang sat there, dumbfounded as Lu Yuanqiu patted his shoulder, momentarily at a loss for words. Suddenly, he slapped his thigh in excitement, apple crumbs spraying from his mouth as he laughed.
“Brother Qiu! You scared me! I thought you didn’t want me anymore!”
Cao Shuang stomped his right foot in excitement, then hurried forward to wipe the apple crumbs off Lu Yuanqiu’s clothes.
Lu Yuanqiu was amused by him, “Relax, as long as I have food to eat, you’ll never go hungry.”
“No, no, no! Half a bite is enough for me! Just a little bit, a tiny bit! My appetite is small!”
The buzz-cut boy looked at Lu Yuanqiu with excitement, grabbed a few fruits, and rushed into the bathroom to wash them, having already eaten the apple he’d washed for Lu Yuanqiu.
Cao Shuang was a good guy, just lacking someone to guide him.
He’d only taken those jobs at school to save up for his mother’s medical bills; Lu Yuanqiu had known this since high school.
But the old Lu Yuanqiu never noticed such details, impulsive and slow-witted, like a simple paramecium.
Perhaps someone like him deserved another chance at life.
Sitting on the hospital bed, Lu Yuanqiu seemed lost in thought, letting out a silent sigh.
…
October 1st, the first day of the National Day holiday.
Around seven or eight in the morning, Lu Yuanqiu woke up in his hospital bed to the sound of “scritch-scratch.” Groggily opening his eyes, he saw Bai Qingxia, dressed in blue and white school uniform, mopping the floor in the hospital room.
Lu Yuanqiu was startled, “Bai Qingxia?”
The girl quickly straightened up, clutching the mop handle to her chest, her eyes fixed on him.
She explained softly, “Uncle Lu said my work location for these days has temporarily changed from the supermarket to the hospital, so I’m to take care of you all day… and he’ll provide meals.”
When she mentioned “providing meals,” her voice became even softer, as if she were a little embarrassed.
Lu Yuanqiu heard other sounds and glanced aside, seeing Uncle Bai sitting at the table, enjoying breakfast buns. He was so happy eating that he’d even stomp his feet; faint bloodstains could be seen on his blue overalls, already washed but not quite clean.
Bai Qingxia hurriedly explained, “My dad is eating my portion.”
Lu Yuanqiu looked at her; their gazes met, and she quietly lowered her head, not daring to look at him.
Since Lu Yuanqiu had “gotten angry” two nights ago, she hadn’t come to the hospital, going to school by day, working at the supermarket at night. Today, because of the holiday, Lu’s father had arranged for her to come to the hospital.
Bai Qingxia thought Lu Yuanqiu might still be angry, so she didn’t dare look directly at him.
Lu Yuanqiu took a deep breath, exasperated, “First of all, why are you mopping the floor? That’s the cleaner’s job. The floor you’re mopping has already been cleaned.”
After being scolded, Bai Qingxia silently put the mop back where it belonged, returned to her spot, and bowed her head, waiting for more admonishment.
Her task today was to serve Lu Yuanqiu, and Lu’s father had already advanced her salary for the month.
Lu Yuanqiu sat up, and Bai Qingxia hurried to the foot of the bed, about to raise it, only to find that he sat up faster than the bed could be raised.
“I’m fine now, why are you raising the bed?”
He threw off the covers and got down from the bed.
Bai Qingxia, her face flushed, quickly retreated to her original spot. She suddenly felt that taking care of Lu Yuanqiu was harder than looking after her father. Lu Yuanqiu, heading for the bathroom, called out, “Second, since meals are provided, they’ll cover you both. No need to share one portion.”
He entered the bathroom, about to undo his pants, only to realize he’d forgotten to close the door. Turning around, he shut it. Outside, the girl was startled and quickly averted her gaze.
“Why are you peeking?”
“I wasn’t!”
…
After washing up, Lu Yuanqiu came to the table, shook his legs, and looked at the breakfast buns and porridge. He grabbed a bun and took a bite.
Bai Qingxia glanced at him, “Ah—” Beside her, Bai Songzhe opened his mouth. The girl turned her head back, picked up a spoon, and began feeding porridge to her father.
Lu Yuanqiu paused mid-chew, suddenly finding the bun tasteless.
He looked down at the breakfast, opened a portion of porridge, and slid it forward, then opened his mouth wide, “Ah—”
Hearing this, Bai Qingxia looked over again.
“What…?”
She asked quietly, already knowing the answer.
Lu Yuanqiu opened his mouth wide, imitating a drake’s voice, “Aren’t you here to take care of me? Or do you just want to collect your wages for nothing?”
The girl’s earlobes flushed red. She put down her father’s meal, picked up Lu Yuanqiu’s spoon, and fed him porridge.
Lu Yuanqiu deliberately made exaggerated smacking noises, as if savoring some delicacy.
Bai Songzhe watched the scene in a daze.
He quickly looked at his daughter, opening his mouth for attention, “Ah—”
Bai Qingxia swiftly set down Lu Yuanqiu’s porridge, picked up her father’s, and fed him.
Lu Yuanqiu: “Ah—”
Bai Qingxia turned, her delicate face slightly furrowed, swallowing her frustration as she repeated her earlier actions, spooning porridge into Lu Yuanqiu’s mouth.
Bai Songzhe: “Ah—”
Lu Yuanqiu: “Ah—”
Bai Songzhe: “Ah—”
Lu Yuanqiu: “Ah—”
…
Lu Yuanqiu: “Ah—”
“Bang!” Bai Qingxia finally couldn’t stand it anymore. Blushing with annoyance, she lightly knocked Lu Yuanqiu’s porridge against the table, raised her beautiful eyes with barely suppressed strength, and scolded him, “You… you can feed yourself! I need to feed my dad now. I won’t bother with you. You can do it yourself, but you insist on making me feed you—on purpose!”
What? The working girl is standing up for herself? But you’re working for me… Lu Yuanqiu pursed his lips, but inside he was laughing fiendishly.
Since he’d had his fun, he decided not to tease her anymore.
As the morning went on, Bai Qingxia sat at the table, her left hand resting on the first volume of required biology, quickly copying notes into her notebook and carefully marking them with pens of different colors.
The girl looked up just then, watching as Lu Yuanqiu, with bandages still wrapped around his head, and Bai Songzhe, marched around the room, imitating the formations on TV.
Lu Yuanqiu chanted in a strong voice, “One, two, one! One, two, one!”
Bai Songzhe, “Five, six, seven! Seventy-one!”
Father and son marched solemnly back and forth in the hospital room, acting a little crazy.
Watching this scene, the girl at the table tilted her head slightly, a look of happiness and contentment blooming on her face.
(End of chapter)