Chapter 6, Part 6: On the way home, I tapped his waterlogged head...
Neither of them gave in, and they each closed their doors and went to sleep.
Xu Aida still had a headache that night, so he asked the hotel reception for painkillers. When he woke up, he found that he was an hour later than planned, so he hurriedly packed his luggage.
She was too scared to fly, and train tickets were sold out, so she had to rent a car to go home.
Driving south from Seattle along I-5 to San Jose takes about fifteen hours, which, given her stamina, would be just right over three days.
She had already checked the route, looked at the weather forecast, and booked her accommodation for tonight.
Once she leaves Seattle, she will send Liang Siyu a text message saying that she is going home first and that he should hurry back to New York to avoid further entanglement.
As soon as she stepped off the elevator into the lobby, she saw that persistent figure—his eyes were red, his gaze was intense, and he was staring straight at her, which made her feel a little scared.
Xu Aida cheered himself up, straightening his back. She hadn't done anything wrong, so why did he look so bitter and resentful?
Liang Siyu was already sitting in the front desk sofa area at five o'clock in the morning. This is the hotel entrance and exit, where you can see guests checking out at a glance.
He waited for three whole hours, and was almost convinced he was overthinking things, but she still showed up.
Her worst premonition actually came true—disregarding her physical condition, road conditions, and driving experience, she didn't care about her safety at all in order to avoid him.
In the past, he would have already dragged her back to her room, but now, he told himself to stay calm, not to lose his temper, and not to scare her.
“Ada, let’s have a good talk.” He stopped a step away from her, keeping a safe distance so as not to upset her.
He thought he was being considerate enough, but even with normal social distancing, their significant size difference still made Xu Aida feel obviously pressured.
When things were sweet before, I didn't feel this strongly. Now, the moment he turns cold and blocks my way, it's like a wall.
She could only look at his shoulder level, and had to strain to look up to see his expression, so she simply stared at her toes: "I want to go home. There's nothing more to talk about. Let's talk about it after the holiday."
He bent down to hear her clearly, then sighed deeply: "How are you going to get home? Driving yourself? Do you know how unsafe that is?"
He spent a lot of time researching last night, and the theory that he had immune encephalitis was probably just over-speculation.
However, if we exclude fever as a distracting factor and only consider headache and delusions, there are too many possibilities. For example, during the manic active phase of bipolar disorder, she could have an attack at any time and would not be able to drive at all.
Xu Aida took a step back, making some distance to make herself more comfortable, and looked up at him: "Don't exaggerate, I just have a headache, a box of painkillers can solve the problem."
He raised his voice and habitually put his hand on her shoulder: "Am I exaggerating? Ada, you're being too willful."
She backed away several times, and he realized he had lost his composure again. He immediately let go and raised his hands to indicate, "Sorry, sorry, I won't touch you. Don't worry, okay? Let's talk, just for five minutes."
He felt a pang of regret. He had clearly decided last night that he couldn't cross social distancing lines and that he had to make her feel safe.
"There's nothing to talk about. I'm going to get my car. Don't follow me!" She walked around him and headed outside.
He was extremely anxious, but he dared not reveal that he suspected she had a mental disorder, because that would be disastrous and would make her distrust him even more.
He followed, saying, "There's a sleet warning for the Shasta mountain roads these past two days, which is very dangerous. You've never driven on icy or snowy roads before."
This is indeed one of the main reasons why he is worried about getting stuck in traffic early in the morning.
Ada grew up in the Bay Area; how could she possibly have any experience dealing with icy and snowy roads? She probably didn't even know she needed to install snow chains.
She chuckled softly. Ah, so that's what it was about? She had lived in Baltimore for four and a half years, driven on snowy roads, and had to change to snow tires every winter.
"Who do you think you are? Who said I didn't..."
No, she immediately bit her lip. These were things that Xu Aida hadn't yet experienced.
“Ada, I’m so worried I can’t sleep. If something happens to you while you’re driving alone, I’ll regret it so much. Let’s take turns driving. I just want to make sure you get home safely, okay?” He bent down and looked into her eyes.
Looking into his eyes, she suddenly felt a pang of sadness. In her previous life, even when Liang Siyu was sad, he would never have said such things so bluntly; and now Ned was so happy that he had never felt so humble.
Another sharp headache struck, and she instantly broke out in a cold sweat, almost losing her balance and falling into his arms—why wasn't this damn "post-time travel syndrome" over yet?
"Ada!" He picked her up and carried her back to the sofa in the lobby, letting her rest her head in his arms.
"Do you have a headache? Do you feel nauseous?" he asked worriedly, touching her forehead. He was also worried that it might be another viral infection.
“Just a headache,” she replied quickly.
"How about you go eat breakfast first? Have a couple of bites of cereal before taking your medicine, so you don't have a stomachache."
He touched her face, then took out a box of ibuprofen from his pocket. It was a fast-acting soft capsule, more effective for headaches, not the sustained-release tablets he always kept in his emergency medicine kit.
He specifically bought this when he went out to buy dinner last night, but we got into an argument and he forgot to give it to her.
"Take your medicine first," she said weakly, her head aching much more than last night.
Why did her headaches come and go? She was a little confused. If this was a "aftereffect of time travel," shouldn't it get better over time? Was she really sick? She was a bit flustered.
It took her about half an hour to recover after taking the medicine before she went to eat breakfast.
"Ada, I'm not trying to force you to accept me. We're still in the cooling-off period. But, for your safety, I'll go with you this time, okay?"
He knew he was close enough that she wouldn't lose her mind, and sure enough, she nodded.
When they arrived at the car rental company and picked up the car, Xu Aida was still somewhat dazed. In such a bad state, she could only accept his help; she wouldn't risk her life just to avoid him.
Liang Siyu gripped the steering wheel, glancing occasionally at her nestled in the passenger seat.
They traveled south, and she remained quietly curled up, eyes closed, head bowed, occasionally shifting her position.
He chose to rest at the Pearl District in Portland at noon.
There are many restaurants here, and the French country cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine are both healthy, which suits her current condition.
He stopped at the entrance of a French country restaurant. This restaurant had a high rating on Yelp, and the bouillabaisse and potato soup looked pretty good.
"Ada, wake up."
Xu Aida's head was still throbbing, and she just wanted to eat something quick and continue on her way to the hotel to rest as soon as possible, but he took her arm and led her into a French restaurant.
Looking at the red brick walls and cast iron chandeliers in the corridor, she was slightly speechless. Was it really necessary to be like this while traveling? Did she have to sit up straight and eat slowly?
In her past life, when she dined with Liang Siyu, she mostly followed his tastes.
She's not picky about food; as long as it's not too weird, she'll eat anything. Growing up in a family of software engineers in the Bay Area, she's always prioritized practicality and didn't care much about such things.
Liang Siyu is different; his eating habits are quite contradictory. When he's busy with experiments, he's just like her, grabbing a slice of pizza or a sandwich without much thought; but when he's on vacation, he becomes a completely different person, with many demands regarding food and hotels.
A few months after their marriage, she learned that he was a rich young man who didn't have to worry about making a living.
His family wasn't wealthy, but for generations they had worked in very respectable professions.
His grandfather founded a small, upscale rehabilitation hospital, which his father continued to expand. His mother tastefully decorated their Upper West Side home and their Long Island villa.
He is low-key and reserved, very well-mannered, and easygoing with his friends. However, it is only when he is completely relaxed in front of his closest people that his meticulous attention to detail becomes apparent.
Xu Aida's head ached even more as she looked at the menu, which was half in French.
"You can recommend something," she said, closing the menu immediately.
Liang Siyu had already noticed last night that she had a poor appetite and preferred hot food when she was not feeling well, so she took the initiative to choose a warm bouillabaisse and a warm roasted beet salad.
He then asked gently, "Would you like to eat the main course? You can skip it if you don't have an appetite."
She nodded in agreement; no problem—so she really couldn't understand why she had come here.
She's not without a sense of fun; she's certainly willing to enjoy better food and atmosphere on dates, but today?
"Then we definitely need some dessert, crème brûlée? Or baked apple?"
She replied simply, "Either is fine."
He quickly decided, "I'll take both. How about I choose lamb chops for my main course? If you suddenly feel like eating, you can have a bite too."
She nodded, but in her heart she was thinking that if she had to force herself to sit with him in this quiet restaurant where you could hardly hear a pin drop, and even have to smile kindly at the waiters, she would rather go to McDonald's for a hot chocolate and take a nap in the car.
However, the food was indeed impeccable. The fish soup was very delicious and soothed her stomach, and the baked apples were amazing; she actually ate them all.
When he paid the bill, she took out her own credit card and handed it to him as well. He was a little surprised and shook his head unhappily.
The waiter met his gaze and instantly understood, so he only took his card.
She insisted on putting the card into the bill holder, saying, "Splitted, please."
His manners wouldn't allow Liang Siyu to say anything more, as that would be too unseemly, so he could only nod to the waiter.
But he decided that when he rested that night, he would have a serious talk with her and tell her that she shouldn't have acted that way when he paid the bill.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the waiter left, she added, "By the way, what about the cancellation fees for the Vegas flight and hotel? I'll transfer the money to you."
He wanted to say, "Why do you have to be so distant with me? Why are you so eager to sever ties with the past?"
But he suppressed his anger and decided to discuss it in his hotel room that evening. It was a small matter, and he didn't want to ruin things with her in a public place. In any case, he wouldn't let her pay for it.
He awkwardly changed the subject: "Didn't you book a hotel for tonight? Send me the address."
"Answer my question first." She frowned—how come she hadn't noticed before how stubborn he was?
“That’s not something a lady should worry about.” He said in a slightly somber tone, not understanding why she was acting this way.
Back in his adolescence, his father had specifically spoken to him about love and manners. A gentleman, of course, doesn't need to use money to please others, but he should always arrange everything to put a girl at ease.
Subsequently, his father increased his living expenses and the credit limit of his supplementary card—although he didn't use them at the time.
“You’re teaching a girl what she ‘should’ focus on?” Her tone changed—she was being so clear, yet he just wouldn’t listen.
The way she said it made it sound like he was being sexist, but he absolutely didn't mean it that way.
He rubbed his temples. "Ada, let me put it another way. I'd like to do something for you, is that alright?"
“Ned, we’re in a cooling-off period.” She could certainly accept a meal, a movie, or a small gift, but a vacation trip was no small expense.
"I invited you here for a vacation, so you should do as I say." He didn't understand; hadn't they reached an agreement before?
“Ned, stop beating around the bush. I’ve said before that I would share the costs with you, but you’ve been dragging your feet.”
“I thought…you would understand my subtext.” He frowned. He hadn’t answered yet, even after hinting so many times; he thought she understood.
Xu Aida suddenly remembered that she hadn't solved this problem in her previous life either, but he had proposed to her in Seattle, so the matter was naturally left unresolved.
She didn't even realize that they had disagreements at that time, but getting married wiped them all away.
She quickly moved into his apartment and started using a joint account. Later, after learning about his family situation, she got used to his arrangements when on vacation, and there was no longer any issue of splitting the bill.
She sat up straight immediately, and a host of red flags flashed before her eyes regarding money concepts, communication styles, and boundaries.
“Ned, you can’t be so… self-righteous.”
She was about to explode with anger, but she suppressed it. It would probably take a while to sort this out.
She managed to control her tone, "Let's get going, but we need to have a serious talk tonight."
"Okay, let's talk tonight. Show me your hotel reservation." — That's exactly what he was thinking too.
Liang Siyu stared at the reservation form, frowning slightly. Why did they choose Albany? Such a boring place, what are they going to eat for dinner?
The best choice is Eugene, a town 40 minutes away by car. It's an artsy and historic town with more restaurants and hotels to choose from.
He wanted to discuss it with her, but fearing she would insist on splitting the cost with him, he simply made an excuse to go to the restroom, canceled her reservation, and rebooked a hotel in Eugene.
No one could dislike this vintage hotel; its elegant decor, relaxed resort atmosphere, and comfortable rooms allow her to get a good rest.
Xu Aida had no idea what was happening until the afternoon, when they passed through the town of Amboni and continued on their way.
“Ned, did we miss the exit?” she asked him, puzzled.
“Let’s drive a little further and then we’ll rest in Eugene.” He said this as if he were commenting on the nice weather, rather than telling her that the itinerary had changed.
“But I booked a hotel in Amboni.” Her voice unconsciously rose a little.
“It’s already cancelled. Don’t worry, Eugene has many good options. I’ve picked one first, and you can change it if you don’t like it.” He smiled and spoke in a light tone.
Is this a problem of needing to be replaced? She was so angry she was speechless, and she almost wanted to hit him on the head to see where the water had gotten in.
She wanted to yell, "Don't you even know the most basic respect?!"—but she couldn't argue with the driver in the car.
For safety's sake, she forced herself to swallow it. She gasped for breath, feeling a tightness in her chest.
A note from the author:
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Don't rush, everyone, we'll start yelling as soon as we get to the hotel!
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