I Will Fall Madly In Love With - Chapter 3

Just then, the somewhat aged door of the hospital room was pushed open slowly, emitting a faint creaking sound.

I turned my head instinctively, my gaze locking right onto a nurse pushing a small utility cart inside. Could it be time to change my dressings already? Ah, how time flies.

The nurse walked with a light step straight to the side of my hospital bed, skillfully preparing the medical supplies as she did every other day.

While organizing the items at hand, she gently verified my details: “Name?”

“Yan Moyi,” I replied, keeping my voice as clear as possible.

Hearing my response, the nurse nodded in confirmation.

Then, with a smile, she said to me, “Xiao Yan, it’s time to change your dressings. How has your physical condition felt during the day? Is anything uncomfortable?”

As she spoke, she swiftly completed the preparations before the dressing change and casually drew the privacy curtains closed around the hospital bed.

“Mm, it’s alright, nothing feels uncomfortable,” I murmured softly, my voice dropping so low that only I could hear it.

Afterward, I turned my head back silently, my gaze landing on Mimi. Her beautiful, clear eyes were watching me with deep concern.

I parted my lips, wanting to say something to Mimi, but hesitation gripped me right as the words reached my tip. “Mimi… um… you…” I stammered, internally scolding myself for being so flustered.

After all, according to Mimi, we had spent over twenty years together, but for the present me, this was our very first encounter.

The thought of the upcoming dressing change made me feel somewhat awkward and shy. Deep inside, a voice told me I should ask her to leave the room temporarily to give each other some space.

For a moment, I didn’t know what to do; I could only stare blankly at her, filled with internal conflict.

Mimi seemed to sense my inner turmoil and hesitation. She cut me off, saying, “It’s getting late today, so I’ll head back first. I’ll come see you again tomorrow!”

Right after, she turned to the nurse nearby and instructed softly, “Please be a bit gentle later on Big Sis is really terrified of pain. Also, I’d like to know if there are any specific foods she needs to avoid? Could you please let me know… and are there any other resting precautions?”

The nurse smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Xiao Yan. As for those precautions, you can head over to the nurses’ station later; there’s a detailed list in the system, and you can ask them to print a copy for you.”

“Thank you so much!” Mimi flashed a brilliant, sun-like smile that warmed the heart, conveying her deepest gratitude.

Following that, she meticulously tucked in the corners of my blanket and said softly, “Big Sis, be a good girl and listen to the doctor, rest peacefully, and I’ll come see you first thing tomorrow morning~”

“Mhm, okay, be careful on your way home!” I nodded vigorously in response.

Mimi turned around and slowly walked out of the room. Her light footsteps seemed to step right across my heart, instantly filling me with an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Throughout this lengthy hospitalization, all sorts of people had come to visit me friends, classmates, colleagues, and relatives yet I felt utterly alienated by every single one of them.

And yet, the attachment and reluctance intertwined within me when facing Xi Yumi were so novel and unique. What on earth did this signify? Just how much of a forgotten past existed between us?

Watching Mimi leave the room, my gaze drifted to Mom’s slightly reddened eyes. The misfortune I had suffered must have dealt a heavy blow to her as well.

The nurse had mentioned that while I was unconscious, Mother had guarded my bedside through the night without rest. Without a doubt, she must have been terribly worried about my condition.

“Mom,” I called out softly, my voice rich with affection, as I forced a resolute yet gentle smile. This smile wasn’t just to comfort my mother, but to let her know how deeply I loved her.

With the nurse’s patient and professional assistance, I slowly stripped off the oversized hospital gown on my body. As the fabric slipped away, the various large and small wounds scattered across my body were laid bare without reservation, some still oozing blood a truly shocking and heartbreaking sight.

The nurse first pulled a few cotton swabs and gauze pads from the medical pack at her side, then gently anchored my body with one hand while cautiously peeling away the old dressings covering my wounds with the other.

Every movement she made was feather-light and meticulous, as though she feared inflicting even the tiniest speck of pain upon me.

Yet in that exact fraction of a second, the moment the fresh medication made contact with my skin, a piercing, bone-deep agony surged violently forward! It felt as though thousands of fine needles were piercing my body simultaneously, or as if a searing electrical current flashed through every single cell in my frame in an instant. The burning throbbing was so intense that I could barely endure it.

My body trembled beyond my control, my muscles spasming relentlessly as though bound tightly by an invisible force. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down continuously from my forehead, soaking my hair and cheeks.

Mom stood close by, clutching my hand tightly. Her eyes brimmed with infinite heartache and anxiety, as if she wished to transmit strength to me through the warmth of her palm.

Looking at Mom’s haggard face and bloodshot eyes, I knew her inner suffering far surpassed my own. Yet she fought back her tears, murmuring constant reassurances: “Don’t be afraid, it’ll be over soon…”

I clenched my teeth, doing my absolute best to keep from crying out. The nurse grew even gentler, meticulously cleansing each wound while checking in on my state from time to time. I squeezed a few words out from between my teeth: “I’m… fine…”

Time seemed to freeze; every second dragged on with excruciating slowness.

Finally, the dressing change concluded. I drew a long, ragged breath, though my body still shivered slightly. The nurse helped me tidy my clothes and instructed me to rest well.

Right at that moment, the vibration of a phone shattered the surrounding stillness. Reaching for the phone resting beside me, I saw Mimi’s cute avatar flashing across the screen. Tapping the notification, a line of text leapt into view: “Big Sis, I’ve made it home. Have you finished changing your dressings? Make sure to get some rest early after you’re done, goodnight.”

Seeing the message, the corners of my mouth tilted upward into a warm smile. My finger brushed lightly against the keypad as I replied: “Okay, goodnight.”

Putting down my phone, I closed my eyes gently, allowing my body to gradually relax as I reminisced about this dream-like day.

Easter Egg

(Xi Yumi’s Bedroom)

Xi Yumi lay facedown on her bed, clutching her phone and staring at the reply on the screen while rolling back and forth across the mattress in a frenzy.

Internal Monologue:

“Big Sis being all hesitant and stammering when she wanted me to go back today was just too cute! ‘Ahhhhh!! (Groundhog screech!)'”