Chen Ji felt a sense of foreboding.
He moved his lips, but before he could speak, Xu Ruantang interrupted him with a smile, "After you went upstairs that day, you fell asleep without saying a word, and I couldn't wake you up no matter how I called you. How could anything have happened?"
After saying that, fearing that Chen Ji might still be uneasy, he added, "Really, I'm not lying to you."
The gentle smile on Chen Ji's face faded slightly.
Xu Ruantang is lying. He clearly spoke that day, and she clearly heard it. Why won't she admit it?
"Then what you just did..."
"Just now... just now my arm was hurting so much, I was just trying to distract myself." Xu Ruantang's eyes were flustered. "Don't overthink it, we're even now anyway."
Chen Ji has someone else in his heart, so her feelings for him are destined to be shrouded in darkness.
It was as if her dark thoughts had almost been discovered, and Xu Ruantang's first reaction was to hide them.
Do I have to be exposed and embarrass myself?
How will she get along with Chen Ji then? Just like Chen Ji said, will she choose to desert again?
Xu Ruantang felt a mix of bitterness and sorrow, so she simply stood by the window and looked at the scenery.
Since she'd already kissed him, she wasn't at a disadvantage; she kissed someone she liked!
Chen Ji's heart sank to the bottom.
When she said "we're even," did she mean she initiated a kiss? Why could she say it so casually?
"Xu Ruantang, is this how you always settled things with others?" Chen Ji's voice was cold.
Xu Ruantang didn't pay attention to what he was saying at all, and casually replied, "Yes."
Her mind was a complete mess, and she couldn't think straight at all.
Xu Ruantang's indifferent attitude successfully made Chen Ji walk away in a huff.
After Chen Ji left, a doctor came in and instructed Xu Ruantang: "Comrade, you are somewhat malnourished. You should pay attention to your nutritional intake, otherwise you are prone to hypoglycemia."
Xu Ruantang had guessed it when she almost fainted earlier.
After the doctor left, another young soldier arrived and stood outside the ward, looking around curiously.
"Comrade, is there something you need?" Xu Ruantang asked him.
The young soldier blushed when he saw Xu Ruantang. "Sister-in-law, I've come to deliver something to you and the regimental commander."
He was carrying a large bag, along with a lunchbox and fruit.
Xu Ruantang invited him in, but he was probably embarrassed and left after putting down his things.
The items were packed by the old lady and godmother for her and Chen Ji, including changes of clothes and toiletries.
They even brought dinner and fruit.
Xu Ruantang picked up an apple, which still had water droplets on it, indicating that it had been washed.
She opened her mouth to take a bite, but a large hand snatched it away.
Chen Ji's expression remained cold and stern. He took out a small knife he carried with him and began peeling the skin without saying a word to her.
Xu Ruantang didn't even hear the footsteps and didn't know when he came in.
She didn't say anything, just watched him peel the skin quietly.
Soon, the apple peel grew longer and longer, showing no sign of breaking.
Xu Ruantang was holding her breath, silently cheering Chen Ji on, chanting, "Don't let it break! Don't let it break! Keep going!"
Her bright, doe-like eyes were fixed on the apple, and Chen Ji couldn't possibly miss it.
As the last bit of apple peel fell, Xu Ruantang hurriedly reached out to catch it, then stood up and gestured with it.
Very long! Very complete!
It's simply a work of art.
She closed her eyes, then opened them a few seconds later, and took the fruit peel to throw it away.
It's said that you can make a wish if you peel a whole apple. Xu Ruantang just made a wish, and after thinking for a long time, she finally wished for "everyone to be safe and healthy."
She originally wanted to wish for wealth, but after thinking about it, she felt that such a wish was too extravagant and that it was more reliable to achieve it herself.
Chen Ji suddenly became taciturn again. He peeled an apple, shoved it into her hand, and sat down to read a book without saying a word.
Apart from the sound of Chen Ji turning pages in his book, the only other sound in the ward was the crunching of Xu Ruantang munching on an apple.
As she ate the apple, she thought of Xiaobao, and couldn't help but laugh at the image of him eating the apple like a gopher.
Her carefree attitude only made Chen Ji angrier. If it weren't for her injured arm, he would have loved to carry her away.
After dinner, Xu Ruantang went to wash up and realized the disadvantage of having only one hand: she couldn't even squeeze toothpaste.
The wards in the military hospital did not have toilets; the toilets were all public, consisting of a row of sinks outside and the toilets inside.
She hesitated for a long time, holding the toothbrush, thinking that she would ask for help when someone came.
Instead of waiting for anyone else, Chen Ji arrived. He silently took the toothbrush, squeezed the toothpaste for her, and handed it to her, even getting her some water.
After Xu Ruantang finished brushing her teeth, she realized that Chen Ji was still standing to the side.
She ignored it and washed her face on her own.
Unable to tie her hair with one hand, she casually tossed her hair back and bent down to wash it.
As her hair was gently lifted, Xu Ruantang knew who it was without even looking up.
Just then, two middle-aged women walked in, their eyes occasionally glancing at the two women. After she finished washing her face, Chen Ji wrung out a towel for her and handed it to her.
After she finished using it, Chen Ji took the basin and toiletries and left.
Xu Ruantang helplessly waved her fist at his retreating figure, then kicked the air a few times.
Annoying central air conditioning!
"Girl, did you have a fight with your man?"
Everyone was bored at the hospital, and just now two middle-aged women started gossiping.
Xu Ruantang's smile was fake. "No way, he's my uncle."
The middle-aged woman looked incredulous. "Oh, girl, your man is so handsome, don't throw a tantrum."
Another middle-aged woman chimed in, "That's right. Look how good he is to you. Even when you argue, he knows your hand is not convenient, so he takes care of you until you finish washing before leaving. You don't even have to carry the basin."
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