Thank you for the compliment." Jiang Li smiled faintly.
Just as she finished speaking, the noodles were brought to the table by the owner.
The two of them ate their noodles quietly.
Though the little restaurant wasn't very big, the food was excellent and the place was clean.
However, Jiang Li didn't have much of an appetite. She barely ate enough to fill herself.
Seeing her put down her chopsticks, Xie Huaichu also stopped eating.
"Are you full?"
"Mm." She nodded and stood up to go pay at the counter.
Xie Huaichu wiped his mouth with a napkin and elegantly stood up to accompany her, walking slowly towards the hospital.
"Though your grandmother had surgery, her current condition is still quite optimistic. You don't need to worry too much," he said as he walked beside her, his gaze fixed on Jiang Li.
Looking at her slender figure, he couldn't help but speak up to comfort her.
Jiang Li raised her head at the sound of his voice and smiled softly.
"Mm, I'll take good care of myself."
"My grandmother still needs me, so I won't fall."
She said slowly and continued walking ahead.
Xie Huaichu gazed at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as the cold white light from the street lamps stretched her shadow long.
He quickened his steps to catch up with her, taking off his coat and draping it over her shoulders.
"About the incident at the club, I apologize."
His cold voice sounded next to her ear. Though it still lacked much emotion, it was the best comfort he could offer.
The coat he had brought with him when he left the duty room.
Jiang Li paused slightly but didn't stop walking.
She glanced at him and then pulled the coat tighter around her, raising a bright smile.
"It's okay. I'll just pretend a mango bit me."
Xie Huaichu: "..."
The little girl was indirectly scolding him.
After walking a few more steps, Jiang Li stopped and turned around to look at him, her lips curling into a light smile.
"Since Dr. Xie took the initiative to offer warmth, I'll stop being polite."
"I'll wash the coat and return it to you later."
"Okay," Xie Huaichu replied.
He didn't even realize that there was a hint of cheer in his tone.
The next morning, Lin Guifang woke up.
At that time, Jiang Li was on her way to bring food from home.
She was worried her grandmother wouldn't be able to eat the hospital food.
So, before the sky had fully brightened, she went back home to cook.
When she arrived at the hospital with the thermos, Xie Huaichu was helping Lin Guifang with a check-up.
"Grandmother." Seeing the elderly woman sitting up in bed, Jiang Li quickly walked over.
She carefully placed the thermos down and joyfully leaned over the bed, softly calling her.
"My little Arli, you were so scared, weren't you?"
Lin Guifang raised her hand to brush away Jiang Li's messy hair, looking at her with concern.
Jiang Li shook her head. "No, I'm not easily scared."
After finishing the check-up, Xie Huaichu looked down at her.
For reasons unknown, he said in a casual tone, "It's true, you weren't scared, just cried a little."
Jiang Li shot him a glare and pretended to act fiercely. "You talk too much."
Then, turning back to Lin Guifang, her face softened into a childlike expression.
"Grandmother, don't listen to him. He's good at lying."
Xie Huaichu: "..."
The little girl was really good at turning things around.
Looking at the interaction between the two, Lin Guifang seemed to notice something unusual and smiled meaningfully.
"My good child, you're so angry. Did Dr. Xie perhaps steal something from you?"
"Not at all," Jiang Li pouted, showing a rare bit of childish mischief.
"He's nice, just his face is a little grumpy."
"..."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
The little girl's mouth was sharp.
Lin Guifang smiled even more, her eyes appraising Xie Huaichu.
For some reason, she felt like she had seen him somewhere before, as though he resembled someone she knew.
Around noon, the door to the hospital room was pushed open, and a figure slowly entered.
When Jiang Li saw the person, she froze for a moment. "Grandfather Xie?"
Xie Zhen国 leaned on a cane, walking hurriedly with an anxious look in his eyes, his gaze filled with expectation.
"Jiang girl, what's the relationship between the patient in this room and you?"
"She's my grandmother, what's wrong, Grandfather Xie?"
"Where is she?" Xie Zhen国 asked again, his eyes reddening slightly.
"Little Arli, who's here?" Lin Guifang called from the bathroom as she walked out.
"Grandmother, it's Grandfather Xie, he—"
"Zhen国? Is it really you?"
Lin Guifang interrupted Jiang Li's words with a surprised inquiry.
Jiang Li stood there, somewhat stunned, unsure of how to react as she looked at the two elderly people before her.
"Xiaofang, I really didn't mistake you."
Xie Zhenguo was also delighted. He happily walked over to Lin Guifang, grabbing her arm and looking her over from left to right, nodding non-stop.
"When I saw your back in the hallway, I thought I must be seeing things."
"So I went over to the nurse's station to inquire."
"Once I learned you were in this room, I hurried over to take a look."
"I never expected that, after all these years, you haven't changed one bit. You're still just as beautiful."
Lin Guifang, flattered by the praise, became a little shy. She quickly pulled him down to sit and joked about it.
"Zhenguo, you really shouldn't say such things. I'm already so old, what's there to look at?"
Xie Zhenguo responded, "Hey, I'm telling the truth. You're beautiful, so you're beautiful."
"Do you two... know each other?" Jiang Li, listening to the conversation between the two elders, couldn't help but interrupt.
At the mention of this, Lin Guifang realized that her granddaughter was still there.
She waved her hand toward Jiang Li, signaling her to come over. "Little Arli, this is Zhenguo, a good friend of your grandmother."
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhenguo pouted in dissatisfaction.
"How can we just be good friends? We were childhood sweethearts."
Just then, Xie Huaichu entered to check on Lin Guifang.
"Grandfather, what are you doing here?" Xie Huaichu frowned instinctively when he saw Xie Zhenguo.
This old man, always causing trouble. He must have snuck out again.
"I'm here to see my good friend."
Fearing that Xie Huaichu would scold him, Xie Zhenguo quickly shifted the conversation back to Lin Guifang.
"You know my grandmother?" Xie Huaichu was also shocked.
Jiang Li quietly walked up to his side, standing on tiptoe to whisper in his ear.
"Not only do they know each other, but they were childhood sweethearts."
Her voice was soft and playful, with a hint of teasing that made Xie Huaichu's ears tingle.
He tried to maintain his composure, glancing sideways at her. "This is quite dramatic?"
"Of course," Jiang Li didn't notice that Xie Huaichu was looking at her.
She leaned slightly toward him, cupping her face in both hands, watching the two elderly people face each other.
As if suddenly thinking of something, the smile on Jiang Li's face faded away in an instant.
She lifted her gaze to Xie Huaichu, her eyes filled with a trace of curiosity.
"Did Grandfather Xie come to see my grandmother? Does Grandma Xie know about this?"
"Grandma Xie passed away," Xie Huaichu said, understanding her concern. He spoke plainly and directly.
"I'm sorry." Jiang Li's face showed a touch of guilt.
"I didn't know about Grandma Xie…"
"It's okay." Xie Huaichu lowered his gaze, staring at her delicate face.
He found himself once again captivated by her lively eyes, and the red tear mole at the corner of her eye.
His heart raced in a way that felt unusual.
He raised his hand, slowly reaching toward the top of her head, about to gently ruffle her hair.
But before he could, Jiang Li's voice broke the delicate silence.