Chapter 37: Information

The doctor in the medical room said that Ruan Xi had a mild sprain. After applying an ice pack, he wrapped her ankle with an elastic bandage.

Pushing up his glasses, the doctor looked at Cheng Daichuan. “Even a mild sprain shouldn’t be taken lightly. She should walk less from now on, and apply ice every two hours.”

Cheng Daichuan nodded. “Understood.”

The doctor continued, “Find a mat for your girlfriend to lie down and elevate her foot to improve blood circulation…”

He also mentioned that elevating the foot above the heart level helps reduce swelling…

Ruan Xi stopped listening carefully, her attention caught by the three words “your girlfriend.”

Behind the doctor was a dark glass partition, behind which several beds were arranged.

Ruan Xi sneaked a glance at Cheng Daichuan through her reflection on the glass.

Cheng Daichuan ignored the term “girlfriend” completely, resting his hands on his knees and calmly, seriously listening to the doctor’s advice.

Ruan Xi wasn’t as straightforward as Cheng Daichuan; her guilty conscience made her restless, and a flood of chaotic thoughts surged—

If she silently accepted that label, would Cheng Daichuan become suspicious?

What would other girls who didn’t secretly like their close friends do in this situation?

Would they feel embarrassed?

Probably they’d tease or explain it casually, right?

The doctor asked again, “Do you have any anti-swelling analgesic spray?”

Cheng Daichuan replied, “Yes.”

He had once suffered a more serious ankle sprain and had some experience. He named the spray’s manufacturer and asked the doctor if a new prescription was needed.

The doctor said it wasn’t necessary and kindly informed them that wheelchairs could be rented in the opposite room.

It cost about ten yuan a day—not expensive—and could be rented by scanning a QR code.

The doctor removed the ice pack from Ruan Xi’s foot and said to Cheng Daichuan, “Look, it’s still somewhat swollen here. If you want to stroll around, I suggest renting a wheelchair for your girlfriend.”

Ruan Xi’s mind raced in an instant, but she calmly took a deep breath.

Trying to sound natural, she said, “We’re just friends, you know.”

The doctor laughed, “Oh, sorry. I saw how nervous your friend was carrying you in and thought you two were a couple.”

Ruan Xi smiled and shook her head. “No, no, we’re just really, really good friends.”

Cheng Daichuan glanced at Ruan Xi.

She smiled and met his gaze. “Right?”

Cheng Daichuan stared at her silently, without answering.

Under the gaze of both the doctor and Cheng Daichuan, Ruan Xi’s smile almost faltered.

Outside, the golden dusk bathed everything in warm light.

After leaving the medical room, she stood in the glow, gritting her teeth as she muttered, “Cheng Daichuan, why didn’t you say anything just now…?”

His tone was low. “What did you want me to say?”

“Well… our relationship might be misunderstood by others, so we should at least explain, right?”

“Does it matter that much what others think?”

Is that so? Is it really like that…

Since she was the one secretly in love, Ruan Xi didn’t understand how to behave toward a close friend with such indifference.

Maybe she should be like Cheng Daichuan, ignoring other people’s opinions?

Had she been overthinking?

The sky after the rain was especially clear; the sunset looked like the blood orange-flavored bursting candy Ruan Xi liked so much.

Supporting Cheng Daichuan’s arm, she limped along the passenger walkway on the deck, head lowered and deep in thought, silent for a long while.

Cheng Daichuan’s tone earlier…

Had he noticed something?

The arm Ruan Xi was clinging to moved slightly, turned over, and gently squeezed her fingertips.

Ruan Xi looked up in confusion.

Cheng Daichuan asked, “It’s only six o’clock. Do you still want to keep walking?”

Ruan Xi felt like a failed actor, deflated by her unnecessary worries. “The doctor said to keep icing it, and it’s inconvenient to do that outside. I think I won’t walk anymore.”

“So, do you want to walk or not?”

“I do, but this leg…”

Cheng Daichuan lifted his chin toward the lounge chair near the floor-to-ceiling window. “Sit here and wait for me. I’ll rent a wheelchair.”

“But I still need to ice it after two hours…”

“You can do a lot of things in two hours.”

“Cheng Daichuan…”

Ruan Xi didn’t know why she suddenly called him like that, pursing her lips without saying anything else.

Cheng Daichuan smiled. “What’s wrong? Don’t want me to leave?”

His smile made Ruan Xi’s low mood lift somewhat.

She denied it fiercely, “No!”

He ruffled her hair. “I’ll be back soon.”

After basking in the sunset for ten minutes, Cheng Daichuan helped Ruan Xi into the rented wheelchair.

Leaning her head back, she stared at Cheng Daichuan’s jawline. “Do you think Shi Chao knows I’d laugh if he found out?”

“Why don’t you try?”

“I’m not trying!”

“Cheng Daichuan?”

“I want to go to the bar!”

“You can’t drink.”

Ruan Xi said, “You helped me before.”

Cheng Daichuan leisurely responded with an “ah,” as if he wanted to see the handsome waiters.

Ruan Xi hadn’t meant it that way, but she thought hiding behind that excuse felt safe.

That way, he wouldn’t discover her secret crush, right?

So she raised both arms excitedly, “Yay!”

Cheng Daichuan rested his arms on the wheelchair’s armrests, then suddenly lifted a hand and flicked the back of Ruan Xi’s head.

Ruan Xi covered the back of her head, looking incredulous. “Cheng Daichuan, you’re abusing your patient! Hey… the bar is downstairs, right? I think we went the wrong way.”

“Who said I was taking you there?”

“But I want to go.”

“I’m not taking you.”

Ruan Xi was very adaptable. “Please, big brother, I want to go to the bar!”

Another flick on the back of her head followed.

Still, Cheng Daichuan accompanied Ruan Xi to the bar.

The cruise ship’s entertainment was very rich, and the bar wasn’t too crowded.

The waiter remembered Ruan Xi and smiled, asking if she was going to perform on stage today.

Ruan Xi sat in the wheelchair, lifting her ankle wrapped tightly in elastic bandages.

She smiled and tilted her head, chatting with the waiter, “No way, handsome. I’m a patient today. I just want to drink something delicious.”

Cheng Daichuan tapped the drink menu on the table with his index finger. “This lady patient, bring your delicious drink over.”

Ruan Xi made an “oh” sound, ending her conversation with the waiter, and chose the light pink creamy cocktail she had the last time.

To her surprise, Cheng Daichuan ordered the same drink.

“You’re not injured, and you’re already drunk. Aren’t you going to have a beer?”

“Nope.”

Maybe Cheng Daichuan really just wanted to accompany her.

Worried he’d be bored sitting there, Ruan Xi sipped her sweet cocktail and racked her brain until she came up with an idea.

“Cheng Daichuan, I heard from Shi Chao that you learned to play the guitar. Will you play for me now?”

Cheng Daichuan asked, “You want to hear?”

Ruan Xi bit her straw, propping her face with both hands. “Yes, I’ve never heard you play before.”

He really went over to the stage, greeted the waiter, picked up a guitar, sat on a single chair, and began singing the French song she had performed before, Je Veux.

Cheng Daichuan softly sang “Papalapapala,” never breaking eye contact with Ruan Xi.

Similar dusk, similar scene.

The same song.

Ruan Xi’s cheeks burned under Cheng Daichuan’s gaze, and she recalled a conversation with Shi Chao during their Jiangnan trip, when they stayed in the ancient town courtyard.

Shi Chao was brushing his teeth and gossiping, saying two friends who always hung out together had a falling out.

Ruan Xi was surprised. How could that be? Those two were inseparable!

Shi Chao spat out the toothpaste foam. “Well, one of them liked the other and confessed suddenly. The other got scared and immediately blocked him on WeChat!”

The minty toothpaste had been especially strong and sharp that day, stabbing Ruan Xi’s chest and stirring a faint sadness.

She didn’t know what she was hiding and spoke rapidly, “Who would like their good friend? That’s just perverted!”

Now, she had become the pervert she condemned.

The longer they looked at each other, the harder it was to suppress her desire for Cheng Daichuan.

Luckily, she was drinking creamy cocktails.

After being stared at for a few minutes, she could still chat casually once Cheng Daichuan looked away.

She took a sip and asked, “Didn’t you say before you didn’t like playing instruments?”

Cheng Daichuan said, “That summer when we traveled Jiangnan, remember?”

“I sprained my ankle, not lost my memory.”

His reminder made Ruan Xi recall that in the ancient town where they stayed, a man with a guitar often played and sang in an alley.

She liked movement over stillness, so she didn’t stick with learning guitar herself but enjoyed watching others play, often sneaking out of the courtyard to squat under the shade and watch that man play.

Cheng Daichuan found her in that alley several times, placing her fisherman’s hat on her head. “Aren’t you afraid of the heat?”

Her legs had gone numb from squatting. Standing up unsteadily, she leaned on Cheng Daichuan. “No.”

He held her forearm, waiting for the numbness to ease. “Time to eat.”

“Oh, let’s go.”

Ruan Xi looked back three times. “Cheng Daichuan, that guy plays really well, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And sings well too, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Music really has a charm, huh?”

Cheng Daichuan just responded with “yeah” or “uh-huh.”

Now he told Ruan Xi he had started learning guitar because of her words, which had suddenly sparked his interest.

Time flew by between the two.

Cheng Daichuan soon wheeled Ruan Xi back to their cabin.

Ruan Xi kept bringing up the topic. “So you learned guitar because of me?”

“More or less.”

In high spirits, Ruan Xi hummed Je Veux as they ate dinner in the room.

The doctor had advised less activity, so after dinner, they didn’t go out again, chatting a little about the past until night had fallen.

Ruan Xi wanted to call Nuan Grandma but couldn’t find her phone anywhere on the bed.

Thinking carefully, she realized she hadn’t seen her phone in a long time.

Remembering she had lost her Bluetooth Earphone, she felt as if struck by lightning.

Her eyes darted to Cheng Daichuan. She whispered, “I think I lost my phone too…”

“I thought you wouldn’t come back,” Cheng Daichuan said, pulling her phone from his pocket.

He tapped her nose with the corner of the phone. “So forgetful.”

“How did it end up in your pocket…?”

“You left it at the coffee shop.”

Ruan Xi lit up the phone screen and saw several missed calls from Cheng Daichuan.

She asked, “You were looking for me?”

He walked toward the bathroom holding his pajamas. “Could I not? You suddenly disappeared without your phone. Made me worry.”

Was Cheng Daichuan worried?

Ruan Xi’s heart warmed as she pursed her lips and said, “I’ll be more careful next time.”

She called Nuan Grandma and reported every detail of her cruise trip and all the delicious food she’d eaten.

The old lady yawned repeatedly before hanging up.

Before sleep, Cheng Daichuan placed a glass of water on Ruan Xi’s bedside and said goodnight.

Ruan Xi pressed her pounding chest, performed a small ritual, and politely typed on her phone: Cheng Daichuan, thank you for taking care of me today.

After sending, she closed her eyes.

Her phone vibrated once on Cheng Daichuan’s side, then twice seconds later on hers.

She opened her eyes and glanced at the empty single bed next door.

Cheng Daichuan shielded his eyes with the back of his hand, only his unreadable mouth and jaw visible.

Ruan Xi opened those two unread messages—

“[😛]”

“You’re welcome, good friend.”