Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 92

Inside the private hospital ward, Fu Qiao wrung out a towel and gently wiped the face and neck of He Qiao, who lay motionless on the bed.

Due to multiple fractures throughout her body, the only part of her that He Qiao could move was her right hand. Unable to sit up, she had to manage meals and all other daily needs in bed, which was clearly an arduous ordeal.

Fortunately, she was recovering well. The self-healing capacity of a young body was strong; after only a month, she was finally starting to look like her old self again.

“The skin here has already scabbed over.” Fu Qiao gently wiped the side of He Qiao’s face. Looking at the marks, she smiled and said, “It should be fully restored in a while, and then you’ll look just like you did before.”

Although the fall had caused facial injuries, Fu Qiao felt that as long as the person survived, everything else was manageable. Scars on the side of the face could be treated with recovery and cosmetic procedures to return to their original state. The scars on her body might not vanish so easily, but since they would be hidden under clothes, they wouldn’t normally be seen.

He Qiao gazed up at Fu Qiao and offered her a small smile.

Once she finished cleaning He Qiao’s face and neck, Fu Qiao wiped her mobile right hand, chatting as she worked: “I’ve gone back to my original school now. I’m living in our old family apartment—the street where you, I, Xu Yingran, and Yao Jin had wontons last time. There’s a residential complex further in; that’s where I live.”

He Qiao looked at Fu Qiao and whispered, “I’ve never been to your house.”

Fu Qiao’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “When you’ve recovered, I’ll take you there. Don’t mind that our complex is old and worn out; plenty of people live there. The street is right outside, so it’s convenient to go anywhere.”

After tidying up the towel and hanging it in the ensuite bathroom, Fu Qiao returned to sit by the bed.

He Qiao turned her head toward her and said, “Tell me about your school.”

“Sure.” Fu Qiao paused for a moment, musing, “Let me think where to start…”

Fu Qiao recounted everything about her school to He Qiao—she talked about their balding principal, the old desks and chairs, the endless mobilization meetings, and the boys and girls hanging out and causing a ruckus in the hallways.

He Qiao lay on the bed and listened intently. It was as if she were listening to Fu Qiao describe a fairy-tale world where everyone could live lightheartedly without worrying about studies every single day.

After talking for over twenty minutes, Fu Qiao’s throat felt dry. She twisted open a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and asked He Qiao, “Are you eating on your own now, or are you still on a liquid diet?”

“I can eat on my own now,” He Qiao told her. “The bed can be raised slightly, and then I can eat.”

“That’s wonderful!” Fu Qiao said with a beaming smile. “In that case, next time I come, I can bring you something delicious. What do you feel like eating? Do you still have to stick to bland foods for now?”

He Qiao nodded and smiled back. “The doctor said light food is best, but if I’m really craving something, I can have a little bit of spice—just not too much.”

“How about I bring you steamed spareribs with glutinous rice next time? My mom’s recipe is delicious; I can finish a whole plate by myself.”

“That sounds great. Thank you, and please thank your mother for me.”

“It’s no trouble at all; my mom calls and asks about you all the time,” Fu Qiao said cheerfully. “When you’re better, she’ll make as much as you want.”

Just then, there was a light knock on the door. Xu Yingran opened it from the outside and looked at the two of them chatting.

“You’re here,” Fu Qiao greeted her. “Come sit.”

Xu Yingran smiled, walked over to check on He Qiao, and said, “Your complexion looks much better than before. How are you feeling?”

“Quite well,” He Qiao replied indifferently.

Xu Yingran knew He Qiao didn’t particularly want to see her—after all, who wants to see their love rival? In truth, she hadn’t been overly keen on coming either. On one hand, she was genuinely worried about He Qiao; regardless of their rivalry, they were acquaintances, and it was only right to visit. On the other hand, her wife was here, and no matter how relaxed she felt, she still had to come and keep an eye out.

Seeing that He Qiao was in a stable state, Xu Yingran turned to Fu Qiao and said, “It’s about time; we should head back. My mom just called saying lunch is ready and told us to hurry home.”

He Qiao looked up at Xu Yingran. She reasonably suspected that those words were intended specifically for her ears. She knew they were neighbors and that Fu Qiao lived alone in the old apartment now, meaning she naturally ate at Xu Yingran’s house. Having this pointed out in front of her made He Qiao feel extremely unpleasant.

Hearing this, Fu Qiao reflexively checked the time and realized it was indeed close to lunch. She stood up and said to the person on the bed, “Qiaoqiao, Xu Yingran and I are heading back now. Take good care of yourself; I’ll come see you again next Saturday.”

He Qiao didn’t show any displeasure. Instead, she smiled at Fu Qiao and said, “You don’t need to visit every week. You need to focus on your studies, too.”

“It won’t interfere,” Fu Qiao picked up her bag and waved. “We’re off then.”

Once the two left side-by-side, the smile on He Qiao’s face gradually vanished. She stared at the sterile white ceiling, lost in thought.

Before long, Mother He entered with food. She sat in the spot Fu Qiao had just occupied, set up the small over-bed table, and arranged the warm dishes. She said to He Qiao, “Qiaoqiao, time to eat. Mom made you braised pork with kelp and radish meatball soup today; you need the nutrition.”

When Mother He raised the head of the bed, He Qiao glanced at the food and immediately knit her brows.

“I don’t want to eat this,” He Qiao said.

“Why not?” Mother He asked in surprise. “This is all for your recovery. Mom worked so hard to make this for you; why won’t you eat it?”

He Qiao looked at her and said, “I don’t like kelp or radishes. I told you this morning; why did you still make these two dishes?”

“How can you not like them? They’re very nutritious, and you usually eat them.”

“I’ve told you many times before that I don’t like them, but you never listen. Since you don’t listen, why do you bother asking me?”

Mother He looked awkwardly at the food and said with difficulty, “Qiaoqiao, Mom is doing this for your own good. How can you heal if you don’t eat?”

The phrase “doing this for your own good” was the one thing He Qiao hated hearing most; she had heard it far too many times.

“If you’re doing this for my own good, why didn’t you let me die?” He Qiao said in a calm tone. “If I were dead, you wouldn’t have to cook for me. Wouldn’t that be better?”

“Qiaoqiao, why are you saying such things again? Stop being difficult, alright? Just eat your lunch.”

“I’m not eating it!”

Using her only mobile hand, He Qiao swept the food onto the floor. she shouted at the woman, “I told you I don’t like these things! They make me feel sick! Do you not understand human speech?”

Mother He froze. She had never seen her daughter speak like this; she was utterly stunned. In her eyes, He Qiao had always been a target child—she did whatever she was told, never opposing or talking back. The only two instances of rebellion had been locking her mother out of her room and going to Fu Qiao’s family restaurant opening.

But now, He Qiao was no longer listening to her. She had even overturned the food her mother had cooked.

Hearing the commotion, Father He rushed in. He saw his daughter lying on the bed with an expression of complete despair, while his wife stood there wailing amidst the mess on the floor. He felt a massive headache coming on.

“What’s happened now? Why are you arguing again?” Father He looked at the mess and said angrily, “Can you two just stop for a moment? Stop fighting!”

He Qiao closed her eyes. The woman stood beside her crying, making her feel restless and annoyed. Eventually, Father He led his wife out, leaving He Qiao in peace.

Outside the door, Father He wiped his wife’s tears. Listening to her recount what had happened, he let out a long sigh.

“You pushed her too hard in the past,” Father He said.

“But I did it all for her own good! How can she speak to me like that…” By the end, Mother He looked as though she was about to cry again. The man glanced at the ward and held his wife, saying, “This situation with Qiaoqiao can’t continue like this. She harbors hatred toward us; it won’t dissipate anytime soon.”

“Then what do we do? She’s our only child,” Mother He sobbed.

The man was silent for a long while before holding his wife’s hand and saying, “Listen to me. If we really have to… let’s just have another child. Qiaoqiao isn’t going to amount to much anymore.”

After the Spring Festival, although the weather remained freezing, there were always a few days when the midday sun felt warm.

Xu Yingran and Yao Jin sat together on the iron bleachers of the school playground. While basking in the sun, they listened to Fu Qiao’s familiar, clear voice on the school radio, reading an English script with perfect pronunciation.

Although she didn’t fully understand the text, Xu Yingran knew it was an English version of a family letter. The refreshing voice echoed through the campus. Basking in the warmth, Xu Yingran squinted her eyes comfortably, looking like a cat that had just woken up.

Yao Jin looked up at her and said, “So, Fu Qiao didn’t end up rejecting Zhou Wan’s invitation and joined the radio station after all?”

“Yeah,” Xu Yingran smiled. “When she hesitated, I knew she wanted to go. Since she wants to, let her go; it’s rare for her to find something she likes.”

“You really spoil her.” Yao Jin rested her hands on the frame behind her and said to Xu Yingran, “She only reads on Thursday afternoons now, right? She doesn’t participate in other activities?”

“Mhm,” Xu Yingran said. “It’s senior year, after all; she knows her limits. She broadcasts for about half an hour every Thursday noon, and the rest of the time she studies and reviews with us.”

“Does it interfere with her schoolwork?”

“With Fu Qiao’s grades, she could leave a whole subject blank and still get into the Communication University. Why worry about her?”

Yao Jin drawled, “True enough.”

Fu Qiao was basically pre-admitted to the Communication University. Why were they—two people who didn’t even know where they’d end up—worrying about her?

The two chatted on the playground until 12:30 PM. Xu Yingran then jumped down from the bleachers and dragged Yao Jin along to the radio station to deliver a warm lunch to her “dear wife!”