Chapter 11 Bitterness
Chapter 11
The consequences of buying a bicycle in the rain came quickly and violently.
Shen Yanzhou laid the person who had cried herself to sleep flat on the bed, turned around to wash up, and after hanging up the clothes, she came back and just sat down on the edge of the bed when she sensed that something was wrong with Yu Pan.
Yu Pan's face was an unnatural red, and even her breath felt scorching hot.
Shen Yanzhou quickly went to get the fever reducer, poured a glass of warm water, and placed it on the chair next to the bed.
"Panpan, wake up." Shen Yanzhou gently shook the person on the bed.
Yu Pan opened her eyes a crack and looked at Shen Yanzhou's anxious face, her eyes filled with confusion.
Shen Yanzhou sat on the edge of the bed, helped him sit up, let him lean on his shoulder, pinched some fever reducer and held it to his mouth, "Open your mouth."
Yu Pan obediently opened his mouth, and the pill was inserted. Shen Yanzhou picked up a water glass and brought it to his lips, saying, "Drink some water."
Yu Pan was delirious with fever. She took a sip of water and slowly swallowed it. She drank two sips in a row, but the pill was still stuck to the tip of her tongue.
The sugar coating on the pills had long since dissolved, and a bitter taste spread in her mouth. Yu Pan frowned at the bitterness and subconsciously tried to spit out the pills.
"Swallow it." Shen Yanzhou's voice deepened, and he reached out to support his chin, preventing him from opening his mouth.
It's too bitter.
That's too fierce.
Shen Yanzhou went too far.
"I'm already feeling terrible, and you're still yelling at me." Yu Pan gestured weakly, trying to sniff but unable to breathe. She was already feeling awful, and now she felt even more wronged.
As tears streamed down her face, her temper flared up. With a mouthful of bitter medicine in her mouth, she refused to swallow, staring at Chen Yanzhou with her wet eyes.
"I wasn't being mean to you," Shen Yanzhou softened his tone, turning his head to kiss Yu Pan's cheek. "Panpan, be good, drink some more water, swallow the medicine and you won't feel uncomfortable anymore, okay?"
Yu Pan was still struggling internally, but the bitter taste on her tongue grew stronger and stronger. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally opened her mouth, drank half a cup of warm water, and swallowed the pill.
The medicine took effect quickly, or perhaps because she was feeling too uncomfortable, Yu Pan lay down on her pillow and soon drifted off to sleep.
It's that recurring dream again.
In his dream, he was still a beggar, squatting in a garbage dump every day rummaging through trash, his stomach growling with hunger.
Later, Uncle Shen took him home, Aunt Shen gave him a bath, and Shen Yanzhou gave him his old clothes, which were a bit big but smelled nice.
Suddenly the scene shifts, and he is sitting on a small stool in the yard, Uncle Shen is carrying a basket on his back, and Aunt Shen is waving a straw hat in her hand, about to go out.
"Panpan, your uncle and I are going to town to buy spices," Aunt Chen asked him with a smile. "What do you want to eat? We'll bring it back for you."
In his dream, he laughed happily, stretched out his finger, and made several circles.
Uncle Shen came over and teased him: "Want some pebbles? Sure, I'll pick up a bagful for you on the way."
Yu Pan's eyes widened in anxiety, and he almost jumped up from the low stool. He gestured vigorously as if he were frying dough cakes, and even pretended to eat them in big bites. Finally, he picked up a stone at his feet, threw it aside, and waved his hand.
"Alright, stop teasing the child." Aunt Chen patted Uncle Chen's shoulder. "I'll remember, I'll bring you fried dough sticks when I come back."
In his dream, he happily jumped around Aunt Chen twice, watching their figures disappear at the alley entrance.
At this point, Yu Pan's heart clenched; he knew what was about to happen.
He ran as fast as he could, trying to catch up with them and tell them not to go to town, but his legs felt like they were tied to stones, and he couldn't move no matter what he did. He could only watch helplessly as they walked further and further away.
"Bang bang bang!"
A loud knocking sound shattered the dream.
Yu Pan was breathless. She knew it was a dream, but she couldn't wake up.
He saw Zhang Mazi burst into the courtyard, shouting something he couldn't hear, but he felt dizzy.
Later, he saw straw mats.
Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen lay on the straw mat in the yard, their faces and bodies covered in yellow mud, their eyes closed, and they did not move no matter how he shook them.
He forgot to cry, only feeling a chill run through his body, as if he had died once more.
Until he was pulled into her arms, his body warm and familiar.
It is Chen Yanzhou.
Shen Yanzhou had just rushed back from school. Without saying a word, she simply hugged him tightly.
The rain stopped on the day Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen were buried.
At night, Yu Pan huddled under the covers. Although it was summer, he felt as cold as if he had fallen into a pond.
Shen Yanzhou pulled him out of bed and said, word by word, "Panpan, don't be afraid. From now on, wherever I go, you'll go too."
The moment those words were spoken, the scene changed again. Shen Yanzhou said he was going on a business trip for half a month.
Yu Pan suddenly opened her eyes, her chest heaving violently. She subconsciously reached out to touch the side, but found nothing.
Shen Yanzhou is gone?
The moment the thought crossed Yu Pan's mind, his hands and feet began to feel cold. He didn't even have time to put on his shoes and ran barefoot to the living room.
He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the figure in the kitchen with its back to him.
Hearing the noise, Shen Yanzhou turned around and saw Yu Pan wearing only a thin autumn coat. His brows immediately furrowed: "Why aren't you wearing a coat?"
Yu Pan stood there, her feet on the cold cement ground, blinked her still watery eyes, and gestured, "I thought you left."
"Where am I going?" Shen Yanzhou turned off the stove, walked over, and carried Yu Pan into the bedroom in his arms. "You're not even wearing shoes? Do you want to get a fever again?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot." Yu Pan wrote on Shen Yanzhou's arm, then buried her face in his neck.
Shen Yanzhou helped Yu Pan sit up on the bed, took out the sweater and trousers that were warmed in the quilt, and said while putting on the sleeves for him, "You're not leaving today, you're going on Monday."
Their conversation was disjointed and rambling, but they both knew what the other was saying, and that was enough.
Yu Pan sat obediently while Shen Yanzhou dressed. Once he was dressed, he realized what had happened and returned to his pitiful state from last night, his lips pursed.
Shen Yanzhou touched Yu Pan's forehead; it wasn't as hot as last night. He simply lifted her onto his lap and sat her down, then picked up a book from the side and started flipping through it.
Yu Pan looked up and saw faint dark marks under Shen Yanzhou's eyes.
He had a fever last night, and I guess Shen Yanzhou didn't sleep much again. Now that he's awake, Shen Yanzhou still has to worry about this and that.
The book Shen Yanzhou was holding was a story collection he had bought before. Yu Pan had already read it to pieces. It was the first time he had read a book like this, and he liked it. He had read it over and over again at least ten times.
Shen Yanzhou looked very serious while reading, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was pondering something.
Yu Pan stared at him for a long time without Shen Yanzhou noticing.
Suddenly, Yu Pan reached out and touched the newly sprouted stubble on Chen Yanzhou's chin.
Shen Yanzhou grabbed his hand, kissed it, and looked down at him: "Hungry?"
Yu Pan shook her head and slowly gestured with her hand: "Do you think I'm very immature?"
Shen Yanzhou was going to Jiang City so that he could learn more skills and so that they could live a better life.
But all he did was hold Shen Yanzhou and shed tears, worried about being abandoned, like a stumbling block.
"What nonsense are you thinking about?" Shen Yanzhou rubbed Yu Pan's head. "You're very sensible and well-behaved."
“No, I was so immature.” Yu Pan’s eyes reddened again, but she looked at Shen Yanzhou earnestly and gestured, “I’m sorry.”
"Don't apologize," Shen Yanzhou lowered his head and kissed the corner of his eye, which was still a little wet. "You did nothing wrong. I like you like this."
He was speaking from the heart. With him, Yu Pan didn't need to be sensible. She could throw tantrums whenever she wanted and act spoiled whenever she wanted. That was the best way to treat her.
Yu Pan sniffed and gestured slowly: "Go."
Shen Yanzhou was stunned for a moment.
"I'll wait for you at home. I'll eat on time, but not too much, until you come back."
He didn't want to hold Shen Yanzhou back.
Shen Yanzhou couldn't stand the way he was trying to make promises even though he was about to cry; his heart melted completely.
Last night, I saw him delirious with fever, even crying in his sleep. He had actually already made up his mind.
I'll go find Li Baoshan this afternoon and give up my spot.
There are far more applicants than available spots; if he doesn't go, plenty of others will.
The opportunity was good, but nothing was more important than Yu Pan.
"Yes, I believe you," Shen Yanzhou said in a low voice, his voice a little hoarse. "I'll be back soon."
Yu Pan leaned against Shen Yanzhou's chest and nodded, then took his hand and slowly wrote in Shen Yanzhou's palm with her fingertips, "When you come back, take me for a ride on your bicycle."
"good."
"Yesterday's medicine was too bitter."
Shen Yanzhou patted his back and gently patted it down, "I'll make you some sweet egg soup later, with two spoonfuls of sugar."
Yu Pan nodded, then shook her head, grabbed Shen Yanzhou's arm and shook it, looking at him with bright eyes.
Shen Yanzhou understood immediately. She lowered her head and gently kissed his lips. They were soft and didn't smell of medicine.
As they parted, Yu Pan suddenly leaned in and quickly touched Shen Yanzhou's lips, then shrank back into his arms.
Shen Yanzhou looked at his reddened ear tips without saying a word.
The two sat embracing for a while, then continued reading the storybook.
Yu Pan knew this book so well he could recite it from memory, and he was always hoping that Shen Yanzhou would ask him about any parts he didn't understand.
Shen Yanzhou, naturally aware of his little scheme, happened to be reading a suspense story. When he reached the end, he deliberately frowned and asked, "Why is the murderer the man in the hat? I didn't see it coming."
Yu Pan's eyes lit up, and she immediately took out her notebook, explaining to him with a combination of writing and gesturing where the foreshadowing and clues were.
Shen Yanzhou listened attentively, nodding occasionally. When he finished speaking, he said in a tone of sudden realization, "So that's how it is."
Yu Pan crossed her arms in front of her chest and nodded. Yes, that's it.
A note from the author:
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