About halfway through the journey, Luo Pingjiang discovered that Ruan Qingqing had fallen asleep.
The first ray of sunlight in the morning had come out, shining through the car window onto her, presenting a light golden color.
She leaned her head against the wall, her face looked pale, and there was a dark spot under her eyes. Her lips were slightly pursed, her hands were clenched into fists and placed on her legs, giving off a feeling of loneliness and helplessness.
Luo Pingjiang turned down the volume, drove more steadily, and looked calm.
"Ruan Qingqing! Ruan Qingqing, wake up——"
A vague yet familiar voice cut through the fog in Ruan Qingqing's mind, but she only felt her head was confused and painful. She forced herself to open her eyes and saw Luo Pingjiang's face right in front of her.
He stared at her with concern, his brows slightly furrowed.
Ruan Qingqing didn't know why, maybe because she was feeling too uncomfortable, and seeing this person who had made her feel uneasy these days, she suddenly felt upset. She was so upset that her tone became very bad: "What's wrong! Why did you call me!"
Luo Pingjiang was stunned.
As soon as Ruan Qingqing finished speaking, she looked at his expression and realized that she was confused due to sleepiness and actually took out her anger on him! She quickly sat up straight: "I...I'm sorry..."
A hand suddenly fell on her forehead, suppressing all her words.
"You have a fever." Luo Pingjiang said hurriedly, "You feel hot. I'll take you to the hospital."
Ruan Qingqing: "No, no need!"
She noticed that their car was parked outside the nursing home and said hurriedly, "I caught a cold after being caught in the rain yesterday and I didn't get enough rest. No need to go to the hospital, I'm in good health. I have antipyretic medicine at home. I'll be fine after taking a meal and getting some sleep."
He refused and started the car: "Let's go and take a look."
Ruan Qingqing grabbed his arm and said, "No need. I just want to go back and rest. Going to the hospital will take a long time. I'm so tired. I know what's going on. It's really okay."
Luo Pingjiang paused and Ruan Qingqing immediately let go of his arm.
"Thank you so much this time." Ruan Qingqing unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car. "Then I'll go back. You should also go back and rest early."
Finally he got out of the car and walked over to her again. Ruan Qingqing thought that she might have a really high fever. She had no strength in her body and her feet felt soft and weak on the ground.
She raised a hand to press on her aching forehead, not realizing that her steps were shaky.
Luo Pingjiang reached out and supported her. The hands are steady and powerful.
Ruan Qingqing felt dizzy and just wanted to escape: "No, really no! Don't support me, don't support me! We can't do this." She wanted to push him away, but she was powerless.
"What can't I do?" he asked.
Ruan Qingqing shut up. Although her mind was confused, she was still rational - she said the wrong thing.
"Don't be stubborn. I'll help you in. What if you fall down on the way?"
It was still early and the yard was very quiet. The children should not have woken up yet. Only in the kitchen in one corner, someone was busy. Luo Pingjiang helped Ruan Qingqing to the door of the room, and she took out the key to open the door.
Ruan Qingqing's parents have a house in the city, but it has not been occupied for a long time. She would rather live here, as there are too many memories in that house.
Luo Pingjiang helped Ruan Qingqing sit down, and she started to chase people away again: "Go back."
"Where is the hot water?" He continued to ignore it.
Ruan Qingqing didn't say anything. He had already seen the electric kettle on the table, which was still warm. He picked up a cup, filled it with warm water, handed it to her, and asked, "Do you have a thermometer? Where is the antipyretic medicine?"
Ruan Qingqing pointed to the drawer. He took it out and handed her the thermometer first, saying, "Go lie down on the bed."
Ruan Qingqing didn't move.
Luo Pingjiang said, "Go, cover yourself with the quilt, or I won't leave."
Ruan Qingqing jumped up. Although her legs were still a little weak due to the fever, she walked quickly. She climbed onto the bed, pulled the quilt over herself, put the thermometer under her armpit, and looked at the ground, not at him.
Luo Pingjiang seemed to be unable to see her cold face. He looked around and saw that her room had an independent bathroom. He found a small basin, took one of her small towels, went to the bathroom to get some warm water, wrung the towel dry, and handed it to her.
She grabbed it and placed it on her forehead.
Luo Pingjiang simply sat down next to him, resting his elbows on his thighs, his back hunched forward, his eyes looking at the ground.
After a while, Ruan Qingqing took out the thermometer and looked at it. He looked up: "How many degrees?"
"38.4 degrees."
"Take the medicine." Luo Pingjiang handed her the antipyretic medicine and water. She sat up, took a sip, and lay down again, covering half of her face with the quilt: "I've taken your temperature and taken the medicine. You can really leave now."
He actually stood up, left the room, and closed the door.
Ruan Qingqing closed her eyes. Maybe it was a psychological effect, or the cool towel on her forehead, the soft bed, and the antipyretic medicine worked, but Ruan Qingqing felt a little better, but her head still felt heavy and painful.
But not long after, the door was pushed open again, and Luo Pingjiang walked in holding two bowls.
Ruan Qingqing stared at him in a daze. He brought millet porridge and two steamed buns and said, "Eat something before you go to sleep."
"Where are you from?"
"You made it in the kitchen."
Although Ruan Qingqing had no appetite, she knew that she had to eat something to get better faster. She sat up and took the porridge.
After finishing the drink quickly, Luo Pingjiang handed her the bun again. She shook her head: "I don't want to eat it. I can't eat it."
He didn't force it and put it aside: "Go to sleep."
"Then you can go now?"
There was a hint of smile in his voice: "Well, don't worry about it."
Ruan Qingqing fell asleep and turned over with her back facing him.
For a long while, there was no movement behind him. In a daze, Ruan Qingqing heard the sound of the door opening. Thinking that he had finally left, she slowly exhaled.
When Ruan Qingqing woke up again, the room was dark. The curtains had been drawn at some point, and the door was closed. She couldn't tell the light or time. She turned around and was surprised—there was someone sitting in the chair by the wall!
Luo Pingjiang leaned back in his chair, his head tilted back, against the wall, motionless.
That position looked very uncomfortable for sleeping, but his eyes were closed and his breathing was even.
The room was dark and silent, and she had just woken up from a dream. In this small enclosed space, she looked at the person who had once been nowhere to be found in the whole world, now quietly guarding her side.
After an unknown amount of time, Ruan Qingqing couldn't help coughing twice because of her dry throat. Luo Pingjiang moved, opened his eyes, and sat up straight.
The two looked at each other in silence.
Ruan Qingqing picked up the cup and lowered her head to look into the river.
Luo Pingjiang: "Are you feeling better?"
"Well, I feel much better. The fever should be gone." She touched her forehead.
"Take the temperature."
"Will you leave when the fever is gone?"
The air in the room seemed to freeze because of these words.
He replied, "I will leave when the fever subsides."
Ruan Qingqing picked up the thermometer and measured again.
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