Chapter 39: Blazing hot

Gu Ge’s expression shifted unpredictably.

As she watched Jiang Ran curled in the corner in resistance, something soft in her heart was touched.

She felt as if she were seeing her younger self — a child who had also rebelled against adults and doctors in the same way.

Simply because some of her behaviors were different from others, her parents had tried to lock her up.

They had even punished her by hitting her hands because she did not meet their expectations.

They even wanted to lock her in a Psychiatric Hospital…

“Heh…”

Gu Ge pressed her hand against Xiao Ran’s face.

“I apologize, Xiao Ran. I’m sorry. How is that? Are you satisfied?”

Her expression remained clouded, without the slightest hint of a real apology.

Jiang Ran swallowed hard, struggling to get up.

“Sister Gu Ge, I’m very grateful that you helped me so much before and even paid for my medical expenses. But I don’t want to be forced like this. If you feel like I’ve spent too much of your money, I can give you all the money I’ve earned.”

Jiang Ran took out her phone and transferred 5,000 yuan to Gu Ge.

“This is all I have. I don’t have any more.”

Gu Ge looked at her phone in shock.

“Xiao Ran, why are you transferring all this money to me?”

“Because I don’t want to owe anyone favors. I… I’m sorry, Sister Gu Ge. I can’t be the good child you want.”

Jiang Ran stood up and picked up her bag, her movements a bit unsteady.

Gu Ge bit her lip and whispered, “I didn’t want it to be like this. Perhaps I really just wanted you to spend more time with me. Do you really have to go? Are you moving to a place where I can’t find you?”

As if her thoughts had been pierced, Jiang Ran did not deny it, nor did she directly admit it.

“I’m not moving because of you, Sister Gu Ge. I really am grateful that you paid my medical expenses. But have you ever thought about it? What if my illness can’t be cured? Wouldn’t the money you spent be wasted?”

Jiang Ran looked at the grayish-white wall, her expression sinking into a dreamlike despondency.

“I will find a way to cure your illness, Xiao Ran. If I actually cure your illness, would you be willing to move to another city with me? It would be just the two of us, and no one would disturb us. Xiao Ran, you could do whatever you wanted. You wouldn’t have to live in fear like you do now.”

“I’m not willing.”

Jiang Ran shook her head.

“Sister Gu Ge, in the end… I just want to be alone. Truly, I am grateful to you, but… could you please give me a little more freedom? I feel like you’re making me suffocate.”

Jiang Ran held her bag, her breathing becoming heavier, masking the sound of her gradually racing heartbeat.

Gu Ge gripped the bedsheets, her gaze sharp as a scorpion’s, as if she wanted to tear through Jiang Ran’s disguise.

Her consciousness slowly drifted, and she thought of herself standing at the door of her home, looking back at her family and saying those words:

“I don’t want to stay in the Family anymore. Please, just give me a way out…”

‘Heh… those old memories have grown a bit rusty.’

Gu Ge straightened her body.

“I don’t want to force you. But Xiao Ran, I’ve realized that I really want to see you. If you were willing to sincerely keep me company, maybe I wouldn’t want to trouble you so much.”

Jiang Ran’s body froze.

She turned her head and noticed Gu Ge limping toward her.

When she reached the door, Gu Ge hugged Jiang Ran from behind.

“Shh. It won’t be too late to say your words of rejection later.”

Gu Ge’s heartbeat was clearly audible.

Jiang Ran held her bag and tried to push Gu Ge’s hand off her shoulder, but Gu Ge swatted her hand away.

“Not right now. Xiao Ran, do you really not have any feelings for me at all?”

Jiang Ran turned her head numbly.

“I’m a patient. My biggest feeling is…”

“I don’t want to feel anything.”

“Is… is that so? Xiao Ran, you really gave me a unique answer. It’s just a pity that I… I’m not good at listening. In all my years, I haven’t been very willing to accept the answers other people give me. Once I set my sights on something, I’ll find a way to get it. So, Xiao Ran, how do you plan to resist?”

Jiang Ran bit her lip.

“I hope Sister Gu Ge can step out of the shadows, rather than pinning her faith for change on a sickly person like me. Sister Gu Ge, if I really collapse one day, you might truly never see me again.”

Gu Ge’s eyes widened uncontrollably, but she suppressed her emotions well.

“Then can Xiao Ran promise me to get proper treatment?”

“I want to get treatment, but the care you give me is too heavy. I can’t accept it.”

“Is that so? Then can Xiao Ran think of a way to help me? Just as you said, if that day comes and I’m sick too, I won’t be able to control myself either — “

“That’s easy to handle. Didn’t you want to eat earlier? I’ll go make something for you.”

“All right.”

Gu Ge released Jiang Ran’s hand and followed her as she limped into the living room.

She watched from a distance as Jiang Ran busied herself in the kitchen.

15 minutes later, Jiang Ran placed a bowl of noodles topped with egg drops and scallions on the living room table.

“The noodles are ready. Eat while they’re hot.”

Jiang Ran also took a pair of chopsticks and sat on a small stool across from the dining table.

She lowered her head and slurped her noodles, never looking up during the process.

Gu Ge picked up her chopsticks and handed several tissues to Jiang Ran.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

Jiang Ran looked up and noticed that the soup noodles in Gu Ge’s bowl hadn’t been touched at all.

“I prefer watching you eat.”

“What’s so good about watching someone eat?”

Jiang Ran didn’t quite understand.

Her chopsticks picked up the poached egg from the center of the bowl, and the golden yolk flowed into the noodles.

“Actually, I’ve always wanted a younger sister, or a family of my own.”

Gu Ge opened a bottle of red wine from the table and handed it to Xiao Ran.

“Thank you… I don’t drink.”

Gu Ge pulled the wine glass back, pressed her lips to the glass rim, and took a small sip.

“I still have juice. Do you want some?”

Jiang Ran looked up and saw Gu Ge pushing a bottle of a drink toward her.

After thinking it over, Jiang Ran unscrewed the cap and took a very small sip.

“I’m full. I’ll go wash the dishes.”

Jiang Ran put on an apron, went to the sink, and began washing.

Once she was sure everything was clean, Jiang Ran bent over to put the bowls back into the cabinet.

She took out a rag and carefully wiped down the table.

Gu Ge watched Jiang Ran working in the kitchen.

She imagined that one day, Jiang Ran would wear the clothes she bought for her, do the housework, and wait obediently for her to get home from work every day.

She would accompany her to see doctors, heal her body, and become a healthy person.

She might even… call her “Sister” again…

Or become her daughter.

The fire in her heart burned continuously, and Gu Ge’s breathing became heavier.

Like a container filled with water, the last bit of air was being squeezed out.

Her body grew increasingly heavy.

She felt as if she were seeing those scalpels cutting into her skin again.

Memories rushed in like a tide, and Gu Ge’s body jolted.

“Xiao Ran, leave quickly…”

Gu Ge bit her red lip.

“Go back to your own home.”

“Sister Gu Ge, what’s wrong?”

After finishing the housework, Jiang Ran noticed Gu Ge clutching her stomach, her expression pained.

“I… I’m fine. You go back first. Thank you for today.”

“Oh, okay. If you’re uncomfortable, do you have any medicine? I’ll find it for you.”

“Medicine… in the drawer, third one from the left.”

“Okay, hang in there. I’ll find it for you.”

Jiang Ran rummaged through the cabinet and indeed found a white medicine bottle.

“Is it this one?”

“Yes, give it to me.”

“Take it slow. I’ll get you some water. Wait, you just drank wine. Can you take medicine?”

“I almost forgot about that. Then Xiao Ran, you should head back first.”

“But this… this could be fatal, couldn’t it?”

Gu Ge gave a stiff smile.

“Wouldn’t you be happy if I died? No one would bother you anymore.”

“I don’t want you to die. I’d have nightmares if that happened. Hang in there. I’ll take you to the Hospital. Just wait for me.”

***

Jiang Ran dialed 120.

When the doctor arrived, Jiang Ran followed them to the Hospital.

Gu Ge was pushed into the Diagnosis Room by the doctors, and Jiang Ran paid the fees at the window.

She then arrived at the door of the Emergency Office.

The doctor looked up at Jiang Ran and asked, “You’re the patient’s family member, right?”

“That’s me. What illness does my friend have? Why did it look so serious?”

“Her illness…”

The doctor looked clearly at Jiang Ran’s face.

“Wait, aren’t you that Miss Jiang Ran who used to be hospitalized every day?”

“Ah, yes, that’s me. Why?”

“Then you should be familiar with her illness. Like you, she has Congenital Heart Disease.”