Chapter 57 Cooperation

Because Jiang Jizhou and Yu Bai were both hospitalized, the filming work came to a halt. Wenqin and several new colleagues took over the remaining wrap-up work. Yue Ming had been searching for Jiang Jizhou on the mountain during his disappearance and hadn't slept much. Jiang Jizhou gave him a bonus and a vacation.

Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou spent a seemingly peaceful time, but their hearts were not truly calm when facing each other, and there was an undercurrent of turmoil within them.

Yu Bai was simply weak from lack of rest and recovered completely after a few days of recuperation. Jiang Jizhou's subsequent examination revealed that Yu Bai had developed a serious stomach ailment due to his relentless work over the years. His absence for several days without food had further weakened his body, and he also had multiple abrasions, requiring him to stay in the hospital for some time.

On sunny days, Yu Bai would push Jiang Jizhou to the lawn outside the hospital to bask in the sun. The sunlight was so bright that Yu Bai could barely open her eyes, so she would push Jiang Jizhou to a shady spot.

Many patients in white hospital gowns had smiles on their faces that they hadn't seen in a long time, chatting and laughing with their visiting family members on the lawn.

Yu Bai also felt a long-lasting sense of peace. These past few days, her mood had been like a rollercoaster, with her heart pounding up and down.

Jiang Jizhou felt the same way. He and Yu Bai were enjoying the rare gentle sunlight. Although they didn't have a thousand words to say, he was already content.

An old man pushed an old woman in a wheelchair to the place. The old woman had a red flower pinned to her hair, and her expression was not at all old and frail, but rather childlike innocence.

"You guys are so kind."

When she saw Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou, she seemed to be reminded of her and her husband when they were young, and her tone revealed a sincere blessing and envy.

Yu Bai immediately understood what she meant. Perhaps her face had just been exposed to the sun and was flushed, so she lowered her head.

Jiang Jizhou took the opportunity to take advantage of her, smiling happily at the old lady, "You're the one who's good. I hope we can be like you."

They will grow old together.

Hearing Jiang Jizhou's words, Yu Bai bit her lip and glared at him.

The old lady smiled and blessed Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou, saying, "They definitely will. You're a good young man; treat the girl well."

Jiang Jizhou nodded, "Of course, I definitely will."

Their conversation left Yu Bai feeling somewhat at a loss. She should have firmly stated that she and Jiang Jizhou were not in that kind of relationship, but perhaps because of the nice weather, or perhaps because Jiang Jizhou was injured, Yu Bai ultimately remained silent, keeping her head down without uttering a word.

The old lady thought Yu Bai was shy, so she stopped teasing the two of them and let the old man push her around.

After they left, Yu Bai said to Jiang Jizhou in a slightly angry tone, "Jiang Jizhou, don't be like that."

"What do you not want?"

He resumed his glib and slick manner, and Yu Bai glared at him again, but reluctantly let it go because he was a patient.

In short, we have no relationship whatsoever.

Jiang Jizhou's tone was somewhat disappointed, "Not even my brother anymore?"

Yu Bai bit her lip. "Yes."

Jiang Jizhou grinned mischievously, "Then call me 'brother' and let me hear it. It's been a long time since I've heard you call me 'brother'."

Yu Bai looked away and muttered under her breath, "Bastard."

The weather was perfect, the sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Jiang Jizhou leaned back in his chair and looked up at Yu Bai, who was looking down. Their eyes met suddenly, and Yu Bai almost drowned in his affectionate eyes, which made her feel heavy-hearted.

Jiang Jizhou smiled slightly, staring into Yu Bai's clear eyes. Yu Bai looked at him directly without flinching despite his panic. Jiang Jizhou suddenly thought that if he were to die at this moment, it would be worth it.

Yu Bai's heart was in turmoil. It had been as hard as cold iron before, but now it seemed to be melting away as the weather warmed up.

She didn't trust the food outside, so she cooked for Jiang Jizhou herself.

Because Jiang Jizhou had a bad stomach, she only learned about his serious stomach problems over the years when he was hospitalized. Her feelings were mixed, but she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

In order to find a suitable reason for her actions and thoughts, she could only tell herself again and again that it was because Jiang Jizhou saved her that she should take care of him.

Yu Bai prepared pork ribs, yams, corn, and carrots to make pork rib soup for Jiang Jizhou.

Jiang Jizhou hated carrots, but under Yu Bai's orders, he ate them with a forced smile. Yu Bai was secretly pleased to see his discomfiture.

Jiang Jizhou begged Yu Bai to stop adding carrots, but Yu Bai just snorted. Who told him to take advantage of her? She'd just get her little revenge.

Yu Bai finished cooking dinner and rushed to the hospital.

"There are carrots again." Jiang Jizhou said with a long face, looking aggrieved.

Yu Bai threatened him, "Oh, then if you're not going to eat it, I'll eat it all by myself."

Jiang Jizhou immediately pouted and said, "I'll eat it."

"Here you go." Yu Bai handed the food box to Jiang Jizhou with a touch of arrogance.

Upon opening it, Jiang Jizhou discovered that there were no carrots inside; instead, it contained all the vegetables he loved, which, though light in flavor, were quite delicious.

Jiang Jizhou's heart softened, and he lowered his eyes, a bittersweet joy in his expression.

"You've grown up."

He had said something similar before, and Yu Bai was taken aback.

"People will grow up."

Jiang Jizhou smiled and said, "That's true."

Jiang Jizhou wanted to protect Yu Bai forever, letting her stay in a greenhouse for her entire life, like a delicate flower. But Yu Bai no longer needed such protection. A seedling will grow up and face wind and rain in order to become a more beautiful flower.

Are you interested in participating in a project?

Jiang Jizhou suddenly started talking to Yu Bai about work.

"What project?" Yu Bai became interested and pressed for details.

Hearing aids.

Upon hearing Jiang Jizhou's name, Yu Bai was taken aback, his palms gradually clenching as a guess began to form in his mind.

"Have you been researching hearing aids all these years because of me?"

Yu Bai's voice trembled slightly.

Jiang Jizhou stared intently at Yu Bai, "For you, for countless people like you."

Yu Bai's eyes immediately reddened.

The sun was setting outside the window, the afterglow dyeing half the sky red, while the other half quietly crept into a deep blue, half radiant, half serene.

Inside the room, Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou remained silent for a long time.

Yu Bai didn't know what to say. Her purest love had turned into a mixture of love and hate because of Jiang Jizhou. She was in pain from loving him, and she was in pain from hating him, but she had never forgotten him for a single day.

"Jiang Jizhou, I really hate you."

Yu Bai remained expressionless, seemingly unmoved.

"It's okay, I love you."

Jiang Jizhou spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial.

One was truly calm, while the other was truly shaken.

"Bai Bai, everything I do is voluntary. I started developing hearing aids for you. I admit that loving you is selfish. I've seen many children like you with hearing problems, and I thought of you. When they were that young, were they also helpless? I've also seen many elderly people who face various inconveniences in life because they don't have good hearing aids. I thought of you, and I'm afraid that one day you will fall into such a situation."

"But later, I really wanted to help each and every one of them."

"I should also thank you. You gave me the motivation to embark on this path, a cause that I will love and dedicate my life to."

Jiang Jizhou spoke sincerely and eloquently. Yu Bai listened quietly. She didn't say anything, but silently stepped forward and took the initiative to hug Jiang Jizhou, feeling the warmth of his body.

Jiang Jizhou was immediately flattered. His hands trembled slightly, and he didn't know where to put them. In the end, he gently put his arm around Yu Bai's waist.

Jiang Jizhou said softly, "Bai Bai, I know you're a soft-hearted girl. You were moved by my rescue and the story I told you. My intention really wasn't to do anything with you right away. Saving you was instinct. I'm telling you this to open my heart and show you that I genuinely want to complete this great mission with you. You're stronger than me. I'm too fragile. In the years we've been apart, I haven't been able to take care of myself. I always forget to eat. But you take good care of yourself. You're much better than me."

His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, until finally he stopped talking altogether.

Jiang Jizhou is usually very quiet, but he becomes more talkative when he is with Yu Bai. Even when they were young and in love, he was someone Yu Bai looked up to.

Having gone through some things and over the years, he sees Yu Bai more clearly than before, and is able to stand by her side as an equal, and communicate with her more sincerely, rather than just protecting her.

After a while, the two remained silent, listening quietly to their own heartbeats.

Jiang Jizhou swallowed hard and asked Yu Bai cautiously, "Don't you have anything to say?"

“I agree to participate in this project.” Yu Bai paused. “We’ll talk about the rest later.”

Yu Bai released Jiang Jizhou's embrace and extended his hand, saying, "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Jiang Jizhou looked up and saw a faint smile on Yu Bai's face. She seemed calm, but the moisture in her eyes betrayed her.

"The faster the cooperation."

Jiang Jizhou smiled.

After several intermittent heart-to-heart talks, Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou were no longer at odds. Jiang Jizhou was quite satisfied with the current situation. He knew that truly winning back Yu Bai's heart would require a long and steady approach. He wasn't in a hurry; he had a very, very long time to work on it.

As for that Chi Qinghe, I heard that Yu Bai has broken up with him. During Yu Bai's hospitalization, Chi Qinghe contacted Yu Bai, but Yu Bai did not choose Chi Qinghe.

Although she didn't choose Jiang Jizhou, Jiang Jizhou was very happy. Yu Bai had already seen the error of her ways, and that Chi Qinghe was just a passerby in her life. No, he wasn't even a passerby. Jiang Jizhou believed that he was hundreds of times better than him, and his feelings for Yu Bai were much deeper than Yu Bai's feelings for him. He had known all along that Yu Bai would dump Chi Qinghe and come back to his side.

That's enough for him; how could he possibly hope for anything else now?