Chapter 1
After the earthquake, a few people were lying in twos and threes on the school playground.
Yoda stood up and reached out to touch the forehead of the person next to him; it seemed even hotter than before.
"Ah Xing, are you alright?" She asked anxiously, but everyone else was still asleep; the sudden earthquake had roused them from their slumber. Fortunately, the earthquake wasn't strong, and after the ground calmed down, everyone, exhausted from a night's sleep, was resting.
Not wanting to disturb others, Yoda made up her mind as she looked at Shi Xing, who was delirious with fever.
They gently released their clasped hands, which, due to the fever, were now only weakly clasped together because of the other's weakness.
Yoda covered Shi Xing with the coat she had grabbed as she ran out, gently pressing down the gaps. With a light step, she got up and quietly headed towards the dormitory.
I took my medicine before bed, so I should still be in my dorm.
Looking up at the sky, the bright moonlight illuminated the small building in front of me. The school had allocated one floor of this building as dormitories for teachers who came to teach in rural areas; the male and female students lived in separate rooms next to each other.
Just before stepping into the small building, Yoda glanced at Shi Xing not far away, a blurry figure lying there. Looking around, the rolling green hills were no longer accompanied by the terrifying tremors of before. Everything was quiet.
"It should be fine. I'll just grab the medicine and come out." Yoda thought to himself, continuing his journey towards the room he remembered.
The moonlight was bright, and the journey was smooth. Everyone left in a hurry, leaving the room doors open. Yoda went to Shixing's bedside; thankfully, the medicine he had bought yesterday was still there. He grabbed a cup; although there was only half a cup of water left, it was better than nothing.
Yoda kept walking, thinking about how to leave this place at dawn to go to town for medical treatment. If he wasn't better yet, it would be best to go to the hospital for an IV drip. However, the town would probably be a health center or something similar, so it wouldn't matter.
As I descended to the second floor, I suddenly heard a few soft sounds. They were especially noticeable in the quiet night.
"Who?" Yoda exclaimed instinctively.
After a moment of silence, a little girl walked out of the classroom timidly.
"Teacher You, it's me."
"What are you doing here?" The school was built in a village, and the children from afar had difficulty getting there and back, so they lived in dormitories converted from classrooms. But Yoda remembered that after everyone ran to the playground, they did a headcount, and everyone was there.
It's very dangerous to sneak in in the middle of the night. Yoda subconsciously ignored the fact that he was also one of those who sneaked in.
"I... I still have my living expenses in the classroom. I'm afraid I'll lose them." The little girl lowered her head, not looking at Yoda, and tightly clutched a small roll of money in her hand, some in change and some in coins.
“Come with me. You can’t come here by yourself next time. It’s dangerous.” The two walked outside together, and Yoda instinctively pulled the other person in front of him.
As they approached the first floor, a sudden jolt and clang occurred. By the moonlight, Yoda saw an old-fashioned chandelier roll down beside him, crashing to the ground and scattering rust everywhere.
"Hurry up."
The two of them rushed out of the small building in an instant. Everyone on the playground woke up and instinctively lay down on the ground.
As soon as Yoda let go of the other person's hand, she was pulled away and reprimanded by the local teacher who was not present.
"Teacher You, you..."
Yoda waved her hand, indicating that there was no need to be polite. Shi Xing opened his eyes and found that she was no longer there and was already running towards him.
He still has a fever, how could he run away in such a hurry? Yoda walked towards the other person.
Although it was just an aftershock, Yoda suddenly felt a lingering fear, and a feeling of dizziness and nausea gradually rose up. She gripped the slippery plastic bag tightly, thankfully managing to get her medicine in time.
Yoda watched as Shi Xing rushed over and hugged him tightly. He patted Shi Xing's back with his free hand. "It's okay, Xing, take your medicine."
Yoda wanted to smile at the other person, but he felt a little sleepy. The last thing he saw was the terrified face of the other person.
Yoda groggily opened his eyes, his body feeling exhausted from a long sleep. A small child sat on the edge of the bed, turning a Rubik's Cube in his hand.
Why would a stranger be in my room?
I want to open my mouth to speak, but my mouth feels unfamiliar, like I have dentures in it, and I can't speak as I please.
It must be a nightmare.
A ticking sound came from the right, and with a sudden effort, the head was flung to the other side. Oh, an identical child.
It really was a nightmare.
Yoda was relieved, tilted his head, and followed him again.
"She, she, she, my sister is awake!" The little boy rushed out and ran to his mother, who was talking to someone else, his voice filled with excitement.
He used both hands and feet to describe what had just happened. "I was just about to drink some water when I looked up and saw that her eyes were open. She even glanced at me."
Yoda's mother felt a pang of sadness as she saw off the caregiver who had worked for her for three years but had to leave due to family matters. This was the caregiver who had looked after her daughter for the longest time.
Gently taking her son's excitedly waving hand, she said, "Let's go, call your brother, we're going back."
Seeing that his mother didn't believe him, You Ming pulled her all the way to the ward. Looking at You Li, who hadn't moved an inch, he said loudly, "You Li, she's awake. You saw it, didn't you?"
Yu Li quickly solved the Rubik's Cube in his hand before looking up at the other person. "No."
As she walked toward her mother, she pointed to the water stains on the ground. "Youming just spilled the water."
Compared to her impulsive younger son, the eldest son was more mature. So many years had passed, and he no longer harbored unrealistic expectations. "Youming, you have to mop up the spilled water. And you have to call her 'brother,' that's your sister."
Instead of receiving approval, You Ming was lectured, completely losing his initial excitement. He muttered, "I want to be the older brother," while obediently dragging a mop taller than himself to barely wipe the water stains off the floor.
After checking the medical equipment in the ward one last time and finding everything normal, Mrs. You left with one child in each arm.
Yoda, who was lying unconscious on the hospital bed, frowned slightly. A brief groan escaped his lips, barely audible amidst the ticking of the medical equipment.
Unexpectedly seeing her here, Shi Xing stopped and waited for the girl in front of him to speak first.
The two were strangers yet familiar with each other. Knowing his personality, Zhou Ying didn't waste any words and directly took out an envelope from her pocket and handed it to him.
"What is this?" Shi Xing did not take it, letting the other person's hand remain in the air.
Zhou Ying looked at the man in front of her, who seemed to have lost the ability to communicate. Thinking of the past, she lowered her head and said softly, "All the money, all the money that Teacher You sponsored for us sisters, is here."
Upon hearing Yoda's name, Shi Xing's expressionless face finally showed a slight change. He had no idea that Yoda had secretly sponsored him; at that time, she hadn't graduated yet, and this was probably all she could offer.
Although surprised, it was only for a moment. Shi Xing's expression returned to normal, so quickly that one might think he was no longer able to respond to anything.
That's all in the past, it has no meaning for the present. With a curt "No need," Shi Xing turned and left.
Seeing Shi Xing's attitude, Zhou Ying gritted her teeth, chased after him, stuffed the money into his hand, and turned to leave. Even knowing that Yoda was sleeping just a wall away, she didn't have the courage to go in.
Knowing that this money was a drop in the ocean for a patient in a long-term coma, it was all that Zhou Ying could scrape together after working part-time non-stop since she was admitted to university.
Shi Xing entered the ward. The freshly disinfected room still had a slightly unpleasant dampness, but he was used to it and felt no discomfort. He gently drew back the curtains. It was dawn. He watched as the sunlight gradually shone on Yoda's face, his pale cheeks slowly turning a rosy hue as the temperature rose. He looked like someone who was simply asleep.
The alarm clock rang, and before Shi Xing knew it, several hours had passed as he stared at Yoda.
Silently, she stood up and watched the new caregiver carefully looking after Yoda.
Xie Yiyi walked in, supporting her back. She and Shi Xing arrived one after the other, but she had gone for a prenatal checkup first since Shi Xing was there, so it was just in time for her to come over now. Over time, they had gotten used to taking turns visiting Yoda, and there was no longer any need for them to get together and exchange pleasantries.
Shi Xing nodded to her, picked up his coat, and walked out.
Xie Yiyi recalled the scene she had just witnessed and almost opened her mouth to ask the other person a question, but then remained silent.
Yoda, well cared for by the caregiver, remained unchanged. Xie Yiyi remained silent. Shi Xing was paying for the shift caregiver's salary and long-term medical expenses. Thinking of the scene just now, Xie Yiyi didn't dare to ask. At the same age, she was already considered late to have children, while Shi Xing had remained single. Even if he suddenly said he wanted to get married one day, there was nothing to criticize.
Xie Yiyi thought that as long as Shi Xing didn't say anything, she would pretend she hadn't seen anything. The daily care in this ward required his continuous payment. Yoda needed these payments until she woke up.
Sitting next to Yoda, Xie Yiyi rested her face on her hands, lost in her own thoughts.
Her due date is approaching, and she won't be able to visit Yoda as frequently for a while after giving birth. She's calculated the time and thinks she can come again when Yoda is a month old.
Xie Yiyi knew that it would be pointless for her to come every day, but she couldn't help wanting to sit next to Yoda and quietly daydream.
The same applies to current trends.
Thinking back to the beginning, Shi Xing didn't even rent a place after graduating and starting work. He worked during the day and stayed by Yoda's bedside every night.
It was only after a few friends saw his energy and spirit gradually waning that he was able to have a slightly more normal life after they insisted on renting a house for him near the hospital.
Looking at her own belly, she watched the baby grow day by day. When she was trying to conceive, Xie Yiyi even thought that if Yoda didn't get well, she might be reborn into her belly, and then the sisters would become mother and daughter, and she would protect her well.
When she was pregnant, she thought about how her baby was about to be born. At the time, Yoda, who was only thinking about being a bridesmaid at the wedding, had no idea that she was about to become a mother.
Now that she's close to giving birth, Xie Yiyi has decided to deliver at this hospital. She wants to be close to Yoda during her most dangerous time. So, she's chosen this hospital for every prenatal checkup since she found out she was pregnant, even though it's not the closest in terms of location, it's the safest place for Xie Yiyi.
Upon receiving a text message from her husband urging her to get up, Xie Yiyi stood up and pulled Yoda's hand out of the bed sheet. It was a hot afternoon, and it would be much more comfortable to let it out.
Xie Yiyi, who was slowly walking away, did not see that the hand she had been holding just moments before had its fingers twitch slightly.
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