The Sickly Double Doesn't Want to Be Spoiled - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The hospital room was very quiet.

The monitor beeped rhythmically and steadily.

After the meeting ended, Lu Cong went to see Meng Yuan again.

Meng Yuan still hadn’t woken up. He lay on the bed with his eyes closed, tubes inserted into his body and needles in his hands. His lips were dry and cracked, devoid of any color.

Lu Cong stood still by the bed, looking at that face.

Though he still looked terrible, he at least looked a bit more human than he did during the night.

He sat down by the bedside. After watching for an unknown amount of time, as if possessed, he reached out and gently touched Meng Yuan’s face.

It was cool.

No longer burning hot.

Inevitably, he recalled the previous night when Meng Yuan was burning with fever.

It was as if the temperature from back then had crossed time and was only now being transmitted to Lu Cong’s hand.

He only felt a sharp pain in his fingertips, then suddenly snapped awake and withdrew his hand as if he had been burned.

Even if he was unwilling to admit it, Lu Cong understood perfectly that his concern for Meng Yuan was nearly exceeding the range he could bear.

This feeling was like being bound by something, unable to move freely; it easily gave rise to thoughts of self-abandonment.

Meanwhile, straight ahead was like a piece of honey that could be reached by standing on tiptoe, emitting an alluring fragrance. The more he craned his neck to taste it, the tighter the restraints on his body became.

The feeling of being controlled by someone one cares about is truly both sweet and sickening.

Lu Cong’s hand clenched into a fist and dropped to his side, the warmth of Meng Yuan’s cheek still lingering on his fingertips.

After a moment, he moved his gaze away. As if making some sort of decision, he turned and walked out the door.

He bumped into Qin Qing in the hallway.

Qin Qing was carrying a thermos. “Are you leaving already?”

She remembered that Lu Cong had only just arrived and hadn’t stayed for even an hour.

“Yeah,” Lu Cong responded casually, his gaze moving to what was in Qin Qing’s hand. “What did you make?”

“I stewed some bone soup,” Qin Qing said. “I thought Xiao Yuan hadn’t eaten for a while. When he wakes up, he’ll definitely need to eat something liquid and easy to digest. Chicken soup is too greasy; I’m afraid he’ll vomit if he eats it.”

Lu Cong nodded.

Qin Qing was indeed very meticulous. For some reason, he felt slightly more at ease.

“I have to go abroad on a business trip for the next month,” Lu Cong said. “I’ll trouble you to take more care of him.”

“Of course,” Qin Qing said immediately.

Taking care of Meng Yuan was her job to begin with, and besides, she truly cared for this child from the bottom of her heart. It’s just…

“You’re going for a month? Why so long?”

A worried expression appeared on her face, fearing that some conflict had arisen between the two of them.

Lu Cong saw through her thoughts but did not wish to explain further. “Don’t overthink it. It’s truly for work. Just take good care of him.”

“Alright then…” Qin Qing could only agree, then asked: “Will you still make it back for the New Year? Xiao Yuan is really looking forward to it.”

The implication was that this was the first New Year they would spend together after getting married; it wouldn’t be appropriate if he didn’t come back to accompany him.

“Of course,” Lu Cong smiled. “It’s New Year; the whole family definitely has to be together.”

Hearing him say this, Qin Qing felt a bit more relieved. “Then stay safe.”

She thought for a moment and said tentatively, “You can also make video calls to Xiao Yuan occasionally.”

“I know.”

Lu Cong said no more, waved his hand to tell Qin Qing to go in quickly, and entered the elevator himself.

…

Meng Yuan was woken up by the sunlight.

He opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling, white lights, and white walls.

It was the hospital room he was very familiar with, renovated to look like a hotel suite. He had spent many times lying here lately.

He turned his face to the side. Qin Qing was sitting by the bed with her head down, dozing off slightly.

As if sensing something, she opened her eyes, and then joy erupted in them. “You’re awake, Xiao Yuan! How do you feel? Are you in pain? Is there any discomfort?”

Meng Yuan shook his head with a smile. As soon as he opened his mouth, his throat felt as dry as sandpaper.

He frowned in discomfort.

Qin Qing quickly poured him a cup of water and helped him drink it.

The warm water slid down his throat, and Meng Yuan was finally able to make a sound.

“Sister Qin Qing, what time is it?”

“It’s already 1:00 PM on the second day,” Qin Qing said.

Meng Yuan froze for a moment, not expecting that he had slept for so long. He felt a bit apologetic. “It’s been hard on you to stay with me all this time. You must be very tired?”

“Not at all,” Qin Qing smiled gently. “President Lu stayed with you the entire night. I only came in the morning, and he just left. How was it hard for me?”

Meng Yuan’s brow twitched, and the room fell quiet.

After a long time, he spoke softly: “He stayed with me…”

“Yes.”

“Then… where is he?”

Qin Qing’s expression stiffened for a split second, then she widened her smile. “He has work and went on a business trip.”

“How long will he be gone?”

“…A month.”

Seeing Meng Yuan’s sudden silent expression, Qin Qing felt a bit of pity. “It’s truly for work. To be able to have a good New Year, there are many things to handle during this period.”

Meng Yuan nodded. “I understand.”

He just felt that the misunderstanding with Lu Cong hadn’t been explained clearly yet. There was something blocked in his heart, which always felt a bit uncomfortable.

Qin Qing thought he was disappointed and tried every possible way to make him happy.

“Then for the next month, I’ll be the one accompanying you. I’ll make you delicious food and can even take you out to play. Is Xiao Yuan unhappy?”

The nursery school teacher’s bloodline was acting up again. Qin Qing’s tone was like coaxing a child. Meng Yuan laughed: “I’m happy!”

“Good boy!”

Qin Qing praised him and picked up the thermos next to her. “Then let’s eat something. This is bone soup specifically stewed for you after I went back. It smells so good!”

While she poured it into a bowl, she mumbled incessantly: “Do you know, you nearly scared us to death last night.”

“You were burning with fever, and we couldn’t wake you no matter how we called. When President Lu was taking off your clothes and pants, you didn’t react at all—”

She suddenly stopped.

Looking up at Meng Yuan again, he had his eyes wide open, and the spoon in his hand had dropped in shock.

Qin Qing: “…”

…

A business trip for one month.

Lu Cong took out his phone; Meng Yuan hadn’t contacted him once.

Daily, there were only occasional snippets of life posted by Qin Qing in her “Moments,” such as where they went to play today, what delicious food they ate, or what fun things they bought.

Lu Cong could only catch glimpses of Meng Yuan’s figure through Qin Qing’s Moments, and there weren’t even any clear shots of his face.

This wasn’t necessarily bad.

After all, distance and time can make a person clear-headed. Some illusions that easily arise when being too close can be understood after being apart for a while.

Lu Cong just felt that something was wrong. Meng Yuan actually hadn’t contacted him even once.

How could he not contact him?

This wasn’t right.

On a certain night during the final week, Lu Cong returned to the hotel after finishing his work. He took out his phone; there were no messages.

He put the phone down, went to shower, change clothes, and dry his hair. When he lay on the bed and picked up the phone again, there were still no messages.

Lu Cong stared at the quiet phone for a long time.

Finally, he seemed forced to admit that whether he was there or not, Meng Yuan’s life would not experience much difference.

As if triggered by some sort of rebellious emotion, Lu Cong sat up, tidied his hair and collar, and dialed a video call.

The other side connected quickly.

Meng Yuan’s face appeared on the phone screen.

That face was even paler than it had been a month ago, there were faint dark circles under his eyes, and his lips had no color.

Meng Yuan was somewhat surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to receive this call. “How did you suddenly think of calling me?”

His voice was soft, with a hint of hoarseness.

Holding the phone, Lu Cong suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“You…” He tried to make himself look as casual as possible. “Haven’t you also not looked for me this whole time? I thought I’d see how you’ve been lately.”

“I’m fine,” Meng Yuan said. “I just got back.”

“Where did you go?”

“The hospital.” Meng Yuan paused. “Had a blood transfusion, the routine kind. It’s nothing.”

Lu Cong’s brow furrowed.

He saw the person on the screen leaning back on the sofa, wearing loungewear with the collar open, revealing a section of his collarbone. Below the collarbone, a piece of gauze could be faintly seen.

“What’s that?” Lu Cong was a bit anxious.

“Hmm?”

“Below the collarbone,” Lu Cong raised his finger and pointed. “The gauze.”

Meng Yuan looked down, appearing to have just remembered. “Oh, it’s just where the IV was. The pressure wasn’t applied well when the needle was pulled out, so it bruised. The nurse put a patch on it. It’s fine.”

Lu Cong didn’t respond. He looked at that piece of gauze, and it felt as if his chest was blocked by something. “What kind of IV has to be administered from below the collarbone?”

“This,” Meng Yuan smiled and pulled the collar down a bit to let Lu Cong see more clearly. “I’ve had an IV port installed! This way, it’ll be much more convenient for infusions and blood transfusions in the future; I won’t have to keep getting pricked in the arm.”

Half a month ago, Meng Yuan had gone to the hospital.

It wasn’t for a routine blood transfusion.

It was that morning when he woke up and found his lower legs were swollen. When pressed, they left a pit that wouldn’t spring back for a long time.

Knowing this wasn’t a good omen, Meng Yuan hurriedly made an appointment with the doctor for a check-up.

But in the end, the doctor only said his indicators weren’t good and that the treatment plan needed to be adjusted, so they buried an IV port under his collarbone.

Meng Yuan was a bit scared at first. How terrifying was that?

But after it was actually installed, he found it was indeed very convenient. For someone like him who frequently needed IVs, his arms were so full of needle marks that they wouldn’t heal for ten days or half a month.

Now with the IV port, his arms were completely liberated.

Meng Yuan’s tone was exceptionally relaxed as he spoke, but the screen went quiet.

Lu Cong looked as if he was not very happy, but it wasn’t the feeling of being angry. Meng Yuan couldn’t quite read this expression for a moment.

Fortunately, Lu Cong didn’t continue to press for details and quickly adjusted his state.

“You seem to have lost weight,” he said. “Does Qin Qing not make meat for you to eat?”

Hearing this, Meng Yuan laughed and curled his lip. “Speak lower; if Sister Qin Qing hears that, she’ll be heartbroken.”

“I’m telling the truth,” Lu Cong said solemnly.

“I eat it, I eat it,” Meng Yuan said helplessly. “I eat a lot of meat every day. Not being able to get fat is a talent.”

Lu Cong: “…”

He didn’t expect this kid would still be able to joke.

Clearly, one could tell his physical condition was not good just from his complexion.

Lu Cong opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

He wanted to talk about what happened that day, wanted to apologize; his mind was a mess, and in the end, he still couldn’t open his mouth.

“By the way,” Meng Yuan suddenly spoke, interrupting his thoughts. “What time is it over there?”

Lu Cong glanced at the time. “1:00 AM.”

“That late?” Meng Yuan’s brow furrowed. “Then why aren’t you sleeping? Don’t you have a meeting tomorrow?”

“I do.”

“Then go to sleep quickly; don’t stay up late,” Meng Yuan said. “If you can’t sleep, watch that Russian science and education film of yours. I feel that this thing has miraculous effects.”

Lu Cong laughed upon hearing this.

He didn’t say much, but directly stood up and used a projector to start playing it.

Meng Yuan’s eyes turned round with a smile. “What strong executive power.”

“This narration lasts for ten minutes,” Lu Cong looked at the phone screen. “If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll fall asleep within ten minutes. I’ll tell you one last thing.”

“What?”

“New Year is coming soon; I’ll be back very shortly.”

Meng Yuan froze for a moment. It felt strangely odd for some reason, yet he couldn’t put his finger on it. After thinking for a long while, he didn’t know how to reply.

The narration of the science film on the other side was still counting down.

“Then…” Meng Yuan struggled for a while and said tentatively, “I await your grand arrival?”