29 Would you like some candy?

Time passed, and the red light above the emergency room door finally flickered off.

Jiang Ci stood up and walked toward the entrance, while Zhang Heyu followed closely behind, silently shielding her.

The nurse emerged from the room, removed her mask, and said, "The patient is out of danger now. Don't be too nervous."

The heavy weight on Jiang Ci’s heart finally lifted.

"Thank you," Jiang Ci said.

"Go find Dr. Shi later," the nurse added. "He is the attending physician; he will explain the patient's condition to you."

Jiang Ci nodded, acknowledging the instruction.

Once the nurse left, Jiang Ci looked up at Zhang Heyu, who was standing behind her. The cold, white light cast upon him made him seem as if he were glowing. Wisps of hair across his forehead obscured his sharp, cool brows and eyes, but his dark pupils remained soft, and that characteristic aura of roguish charm still clung to him.

"Zhang Heyu, Grandma is going to be okay." Jiang Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief, her voice heavy with nasal congestion from having cried.

Zhang Heyu hummed in acknowledgment, reached out to touch her cheek, and wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. "Don't cry anymore."

"Okay," Jiang Ci replied, stunned for a moment before obediently agreeing.

After Grandma was transferred to a regular ward, Jiang Ci checked on her briefly before heading to Dr. Shi’s office. Fortunately, Dr. Shi was working the night shift; otherwise, Jiang Ci wouldn't have known what to do.

From Dr. Shi, Jiang Ci learned that her grandmother’s fainting spell had been caused by coronary heart disease leading to arrhythmia and cardiac ischemia. Ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia had caused insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in the collapse.

Dr. Shi looked at the examination reports and frowned. "Has your grandmother been taking her medication these past few days?"

Jiang Ci paused, recalling how her grandmother had intentionally or unintentionally asked her to leave whenever it was time for her medicine. Seeing her silence, Dr. Shi guessed the truth. He sighed, "These medications are meant to manage her condition."

Jiang Ci realized why her grandmother had suddenly stopped taking them. She nodded, "I am sorry for the trouble. It was my oversight."

"It seems your grandmother guessed that her health was deteriorating," Dr. Shi said, recounting how her grandmother had asked about her prognosis during their last visit. He concluded with a reminder, "Regardless, she must receive active treatment."

When Jiang Ci left the office, she didn't see Zhang Heyu. Just as she was about to pull out her phone to message him, the elevator nearby chimed. She looked up.

Zhang Heyu was standing there, holding her grandmother’s medication and several slips of paper. Jiang Ci froze. They locked eyes for a moment.

Seeing Jiang Ci, Zhang Heyu remained calm and walked over. "Why are you just standing there?"

"You..." Jiang Ci clearly saw that he was holding her grandmother's medical records and the receipts for the hospital fees.

Zhang Heyu simply handed her the medical records, keeping the payment receipts. Jiang Ci took them, looking up at his sharp-jawed face, her fingers unconsciously tightening on the corner of the paper. She let out a breath and said softly, "Zhang Heyu, let's talk."

They left the hospital into the dim night, with only a few pedestrians on the street. They found a bench in a small park downstairs and sat down. Jiang Ci remembered the hand warmer in her pocket and tucked her hands inside, glancing at Zhang Heyu, who was wearing the same school uniform jacket as she was.

"Grandma's medical bills..." Jiang Ci asked, "Why did you pay them for me?"

Zhang Heyu thought back to when he first met Jiang Ci; she had been juggling studying with part-time work, and he had guessed she was short on money. "It was just something I did while I was at it," he replied nonchalantly. "This little bit of money is nothing."

Jiang Ci thought about it and still felt it wasn't right. She shook her head. "No, I'll pay you back as soon as I get my tutoring salary." She didn't like the feeling of owing others.

Zhang Heyu didn't argue. "Fine, whatever you say."

The atmosphere turned quiet. They both fell into a comfortable silence. As they sat on the bench, cold gusts of wind blew by, and suddenly, a rustling sound came from nearby. Jiang Ci leaned over and spotted a small orange kitten. The kitten was calmly licking its paws, casting glances at Jiang Ci from time to time, its eyes reflecting the light beautifully.

"Zhang Heyu, there’s a little cat!" Jiang Ci tugged on his uniform sleeve, gesturing for him to look.

Girls liked fluffy things, and Jiang Ci was no exception. Seeing that the kitten wasn't afraid of people, she walked over and crouched down to watch it.

Zhang Heyu was seeing Jiang Ci this excited for the first time. He raised an eyebrow and crouched down beside her. He tilted his head, his gaze falling softly on the girl's face, her hair tousled by the wind.

"You like it?"

Jiang Ci reached out, and the kitten rubbed against her feet quite affectionately. She smiled, "I do."

A strong gust of wind blew, making her nose itch, and Jiang Ci sneezed unexpectedly. She lowered her head, "Sorry."

Zhang Heyu didn't say anything, but seeing the girl's nose turning red, he curled his lips into a smile, a lazy laugh bubbling up from his throat. Hearing his laughter, Jiang Ci couldn't help but blush.

Afraid she would get cold outside, Zhang Heyu told her to go back inside. He stood up, the dim light behind him flickering as he moved, casting a halo around him that would suddenly appear and disappear. Jiang Ci took one last look at the kitten and rose to follow him.

They walked back one after the other.

"Zhang Heyu." Jiang Ci quickened her pace and tugged at his sleeve.

"What is it?"

Jiang Ci looked up and said softly, "Thank you for staying with me."

Zhang Heyu chuckled, "You seem to really like saying thank you to me."

"Because you are really kind." After saying this, Jiang Ci smiled and lowered her head again.

Back at the ward, Jiang Ci stayed with her grandmother, who hadn't woken up yet. She moistened her grandmother’s lips with a bit of water before closing the door.

Zhang Heyu was sitting on a bench in the hallway. Seeing Jiang Ci come out, he beckoned her over. "Come here."

Jiang Ci sat down beside him. She hadn't looked at her phone for nearly two hours. She opened it to find several messages, mostly from Yu Xijin and Huo Chensi. Apart from the messages Yu Xijin had sent later, the others were all asking where she had gone.

Jiang Ci replied to the earlier messages first, then scrolled down to see several photos Yu Xijin had sent. She opened them one by one, discovering that every photo captured her at her most unique moments. It seemed that through Zhang Heyu’s lens, Jiang Ci was the only protagonist.

She tapped the screen, saving every photo until she reached the latest one. It was a candid shot Yu Xijin had taken of her and Zhang Heyu walking side-by-side in their blue-and-white uniforms.

Jiang Ci turned her head to look at Zhang Heyu, and he was looking right back at her with his eyes cast down. She looked at the photo, her fingers stalling.

"Why aren't you saving it? It’s a pretty good shot of us," Zhang Heyu asked, his voice a whisper as he leaned close to her ear. The scent of green tea drifted into her nose, the boy's unique fragrance lingering on her face. It felt like an accidental gesture, yet it made Jiang Ci's heart skip a beat.

She pressed save.

After her grandmother woke up and was taken for tests, Jiang Ci only dared to go home once the results came back showing her condition had stabilized. She showered, changed her clothes, packed some essentials, and locked the door behind her.

Remembering that Zhang Heyu had said he needed to buy some things, she messaged him as soon as she left the building to let him know she was on her way.

As soon as she reached the entrance of the residential complex, she saw his silhouette under the streetlight. She curled her lips into a faint smile and walked toward him quickly. "Zhang Heyu."

Zhang Heyu watched the young girl in a white hoodie and jeans, carrying a backpack, walking toward him with a smile. He tilted his head, "Don't rush, I'm right here."

As she reached him, he noticed her eyes were slightly red and swollen, likely from crying so much that night. His movement of fiddling with his lighter stopped, and he felt a pang of heartache as he looked at her. "Are you feeling any better now?"

"...Yes, much better." Jiang Ci pursed her lips, the feeling of guilt returning as she thought of her grandmother’s pale face in the hospital.

Noticing her mood was still low, Zhang Heyu produced a piece of candy from somewhere, tore the wrapper, and held it out. "Little crybaby." He tilted his chin, his dark eyes reflecting her image. "Want a candy?"

Hearing that, Jiang Ci felt her heart soften. She licked her lips, took the candy from his fingertips, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth.

When they returned to the hospital, Jiang Ci checked the time and remembered she had classes the next day. She spoke softly, "Zhang Heyu, you should go back now. I need to stay here with Grandma tonight."

Zhang Heyu ruffled her hair, his voice low. "Alright. If anything happens, call me."

He watched as she stepped into the elevator and waited until the doors closed completely before turning to leave.

Jiang Ci held the porridge Zhang Heyu had bought, standing in the elevator as she watched her own pale face, now flushed, reflected in the metal walls.

When she arrived at the ward, her grandmother was already awake. Seeing Jiang Ci return, she sighed. "Ah Ci, I've made you worry again, haven't I?"

Jiang Ci set the porridge aside and adjusted the bed to a comfortable position for her grandmother. She paused, "Grandma, let's commit to our treatment, okay?"

Grandma shook her head. "Ah Ci, I know my own body. Those pills don't do much; I feel better if I take fewer of them."

Jiang Ci understood—her grandmother was trying to save money.

"Grandma, we have to follow the doctor's orders. I don't want you to faint again."

Grandma knew this time had been her own fault. She sighed, apologized to her granddaughter, and didn't say anything more.

After Jiang Ci fed her grandmother some light porridge and she fell asleep, she finally had a moment to check her phone. Ten minutes ago, Zhang Heyu had messaged her.

[Zhang Heyu: I'm home. How is Grandma doing?]
[Zhang Heyu: Don't be too tired. Remember to get some rest early.]

Jiang Ci held the phone, stunned for a long time, her fingers subconsciously scratching the metal edge of the device. After a while, she replied.

[Jiang Ci: Grandma just fell asleep. You should rest early too. Goodnight.]

The second she sent the message, he replied instantly.

[Zhang Heyu: Hmm, goodnight.]

The conversation ended. Jiang Ci sat in the ward, staring out the window at the corner of the scenery, lost in thought. Remembering something, she picked up her phone again to ask her homeroom teacher for a leave of absence for the next morning.

Her grandmother had more tests the next morning, and Jiang Ci was woken up by the nurse. After accompanying her through the series of examinations, Dr. Shi said her condition was stable, though he took extra care to remind Jiang Ci about the importance of the medication before they left.

Jiang Ci nodded obediently. "I understand, Dr. Shi."

Back in the ward, she packed their things and took her grandmother home. On the way, they passed Gao Wanqing’s convenience store. Seeing Jiang Ci, Gao Wanqing brought out some fruit for her to take back. Everyone in the neighborhood knew how well-behaved Jiang Ci was, and they had genuinely wanted to help when they heard about the emergency the night before. Jiang Ci didn't refuse their kindness and thanked them warmly.

As she helped her grandmother up the stairs, she said, "Grandma, watch your step."

Just as they reached the corner of the third floor, she spotted a figure standing at their front door. A heavy scent of perfume washed over them, and Jiang Ci frowned in discomfort.

"Mom, Ah Ci."

Hearing the voice, Jiang Ci looked up to see Jiang Nan-yan, dressed in designer clothes and carrying a luxury bag. Her wealthy appearance looked completely out of place in the cramped, narrow hallway.

Seeing the familiar face, Jiang Ci felt a jolt in her heart, a flash of shock crossing her eyes. She pursed her lips and stared at her mother. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back to visit."

Grandma was also stunned to see Jiang Nan-yan. She patted Jiang Ci’s hand and smiled. "It's good that you're back. Come on in and sit down."

Jiang Nan-yan asked, "Did you just take Grandma out?"

Jiang Ci didn't hide it, speaking plainly. "Yes. Grandma fainted yesterday and was rushed to the emergency room. We just got back."

Recalling the last time Jiang Ci had called her, it had been about the old woman being in the hospital as well.

After Grandma entered the house, Jiang Ci told her to rest for a while. When she walked back out, she saw Jiang Nan-yan sitting on the sofa. Jiang Ci walked over and said coldly, "If you have something to say, just say it. You've seen the state Grandma is in."

"I came back this time to tell you that Old Madam Sun has accepted me," Jiang Nan-yan said. "But she has one condition."

Jiang Ci didn't want to hear it. She frowned and interrupted coldly, "She accepted you? Then you must be Madam Sun now. What are you doing here?"