Jiang Xing was like a butterfly that had finally escaped from a cage. After receiving rigorous treatment every day, she would stare blankly in front of the closet for a long time, picking out colorful dresses and putting on delicate light makeup, trying her best to escape her parents' supervision and sneak out of the hospital.
Xiang Nanfeng also went through the formalities again and returned to school, and started intensive preparations for the exam with me.
After school, Jiang Xing mysteriously held a huge bag in his hand and blocked Xiang Nanfeng and me at the door of the classroom. He raised his chin and said loudly, "Let's go! To the rooftop! I'll show you something good!"
This girl has always been quirky. Xiang Nanfeng and I showed great interest in her suggestions. We first took out the key to the rooftop, and then the three of us couldn't wait to run towards the rooftop.
The bag was bulging and Jiang Xing held it like a treasure. She didn't sit on the ground until she had locked the door to the rooftop tightly, then she pulled out the things inside one by one.
There were a few cans of cold beer, a few bottles of our favorite green tea, some exquisite and tempting side dishes, and... lots of fireworks!
She actually got some fireworks!
"How is it? I'm awesome, right?" Seeing the stunned looks on Xiang Nanfeng and me, she was even more proud. "I just passed by and saw it for sale on the roadside, so I bought it. I haven't played with this kind of thing for a long time. Do you guys miss it too?"
"It's not New Year's Day, why did you buy so much..." Although Xiang Nanfeng complained, he still picked it up and observed it with interest.
"Oh! If you don't like it, don't touch it! I'm playing with Wen Yu!" Jiang Xing glared at him and opened three cans of beer. "Come on, eat something first. I'm starving!"
"Can you drink? Or just eat." I sat down next to her worriedly.
Jiang Xing raised her hand and waved: "No problem! I've already understood it. It's okay to drink only one can."
"We agreed to only have one can. Don't play dumb." Xiang Nanfeng frowned and took a can of beer.
The aroma of alcohol filled the rooftop. Jiang Xing kept complaining about how boring and miserable life in the hospital was and how much she was looking forward to the surgery in three months. Soon a can of beer was finished. In the blink of an eye, Xiang Nanfeng had already drunk two cans.
"Okay, now that we're full, the show is about to begin!" Jiang Xing's eyes lit up, and he couldn't wait to get up and pick up a firework, "Is that ok?"
Maybe it was because I had drunk some wine, but I couldn't stop . I even stepped forward to grab a firework from Xiang Nanfeng's hand and shouted, "Let's light it together!"
"Yes, together!" Jiang Xing responded with a smile .
"You are all kids, right?" Xiang Nanfeng shook his head with a bright smile in his eyes. He carefully took out a lighter from his pocket and lit the fireworks in our hands one by one.
"boom--"
Brilliant colors burst out, blooming into dazzling flowers in the sky, reflecting each other and reflected in our pupils.
The dark sky seemed to be ignited by such colors, and even the moon and stars were dimmed.
My cheeks flushed with excitement. I turned around and saw Jiang Xing and Xiang Nanfeng holding the fireworks tightly in their hands, standing on tiptoe, trying to get closer to those beautiful and almost unreal colors.
My heart was beating so hard because of the emotion at that moment, and I almost cried.
How I wish time could stay at this moment forever, stay under these fireworks, and illuminate the future whose direction we cannot see clearly.
But disaster always strikes at the happiest moment.
Just as I was looking up at the gorgeous starry sky, the phone in my pocket rang wildly, breaking the beauty of this moment, and Ni Nuo's name appeared on the screen.
I answered the phone tremblingly, but heard a strange and anxious voice: "Are you Ni Nuo's girlfriend? Come to the hospital quickly! Something happened to him!"
In the crowded hospital, I ran madly towards Nino's office, regardless of my frantic heartbeat and tired body.
I won’t allow it, and I don’t want anything to happen to anyone around me anymore!
From a distance, I could see that his office was surrounded by people of different identities - doctors in white coats, angry family members, patients and passers-by who were watching the fun... I stretched out my hands to push away the crowded crowd, looking for Ni Nuo, but found that he was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room with a hideous wound on his forehead. The glaring blood was slowly flowing out, dyeing half of his face red.
But his expression was unusually calm, as if nothing had happened.
"Ni Nuo..." My voice became trembling, "What's wrong with you?"
Hearing my voice, his expression finally changed: "Why are you here?"
"Oh, she is your girlfriend, right? I just called her. You need someone to take care of you in this condition!" A middle-aged doctor wearing glasses standing next to him said with a wink.
Ni Nuo glanced at him, sighed helplessly, turned to me again, and said softly: "I'm fine, I just got a minor injury. The matter is almost resolved, why did you come here?"
"You're like this and you still say it's okay? There should be a limit to how stubborn you are!" I rarely lost my temper with Ni Nuo, "What happened?"
Just as Ni Nuo opened his mouth, the doctor with glasses rushed to answer : "A boy committed suicide after unsuccessful treatment. His family was very upset and came here to make a scene for a long time. Ni Nuo went forward to mediate and was accidentally injured by them." He curled his lips in dissatisfaction, "These people are really too impulsive..."
"Say less." Ni Nuo interrupted him quickly, "Isn't it all over?"
"Okay, okay, go and be affectionate with your girlfriend." The doctor with glasses spread out his hands and smiled maliciously.
I had no intention of listening to their quarrel. My mind was on Ni Nuo's wound. Seeing more and more blood, I asked anxiously, "Where are the medicine and gauze?"
Ni Nuo was stunned: "In the drawer opposite. Wen Yu, go back, it's really okay..."
"Shut up!" I roared, and Ni Nuo dared not say anything for a moment.
The spectacled doctor made a funny gesture to Ni Nobi with a gloating look, then turned and left, dispersing the people blocking the door, slamming the door, leaving only the two of us.
I picked out the appropriate medicine and gauze, dipped a cotton swab in the medicine and carefully treated the area around his wound. My hands were shaking violently due to nervousness and worry, and I smeared the medicine on his cheeks and forehead many times.
Ni Nuo stared at me quietly, with a satisfied smile on his lips.
He whispered in my ear: "Wen Yu, you are worried about me, right?"
I bit my lips tightly, tears finally falling down: "How could I not worry about you! Why didn't you protect yourself? I was lucky that I only suffered superficial injuries this time. What if my life was in danger? If something really happened to you, what would I do..."
The tears kept falling. I couldn't continue the movements with my hands. I just sat there crying silently.
No one knew the panic in my heart. The moment I heard "Ni Nuo is in trouble", I seemed to fall into a bottomless abyss.
Even I don't know how important he is to me... "Well, I'm alive and kicking right?" Ni Nuo sighed, but the smile on his face deepened. "In fact, we can't blame the family members. The child's condition has always been grim. Although we have tried our best, he still hasn't walked out of the dark world he created. How can the relatives not be excited when they watch their family members leave?"
"Then you just let them vent their anger? Are you a child?" I continued to retort angrily.
"It's all my fault. I was wrong. Don't be angry anymore." Ni Nuo quickly changed the subject and moved closer to me, acting like a child. "Why don't you help me with the wound quickly? It really hurts."
I moved my clenched hands, glared at him for a long time, then picked up the hands in front of me again and continued to clean the wound.
"Don't make me worry anymore..." I endured the pain and swelling in my eyes and stopped the tears from falling. "Ni Nuo, I can't lose you."
Nino's gentle gaze stayed on me for a long time. Those talking eyes have become something I will never forget in my heart.
After a while, he replied softly: "Okay, I will."
After treating Nino's wound, it was already pitch dark outside and it was hard to see even a few people. Although I refused again and again, he still sent me to the door of my house and leaned over to kiss my forehead under the street light.
My anger over his injury finally calmed down, and I gave him a few detailed instructions, which made him laugh out loud: "Silly girl, who among us is the doctor?"
My face flushed, I pushed his shoulder, turned around and walked back home.
What surprised me was that the lights in the house were still on. Normally, my mother would go to bed early at this time because of fatigue. I also called her to tell her that she came home late today. Could it be that she had found a part-time job?
Because I was afraid that my mother's body would be damaged due to excessive fatigue, I went to look for her as soon as I closed the door, but found her sitting quietly on the sofa, holding some ointment in her hand that I had never seen before.
"Are you back? How's Nino?" She looked up and smiled.
But my eyes were fixed on her hands.
I tried my best to make my voice sound calmer, but it still trembled slightly.
I said, "Mom, what happened to your leg?"
After hearing such a question, the mother's face turned a little pale. She forced a smile and answered indifferently: "The bathroom floor is a little slippery. I accidentally fell. It's no big deal."
I continued to restrain myself: "Is this the reason why you didn't turn off the lights? Is it so serious that I can't even walk on the road?"
"Wen Yu..." My mother looked at me pleadingly, "It's really okay. I've taken medicine and I feel much better now."
I held my breath and looked away, not wanting to look at my mother's old face and injured leg. I couldn't bear to blame her anymore, so I could only go forward and slowly help her up. I quickly asked, "Since you are injured don't go to work tomorrow. I will take care of you at home." I interrupted my mother who was about to refuse, "Mom, I know you are afraid of this. I won't agree. No matter what, you have to stay at home and heal your leg before going out!"
"I really didn't..."
"Leave all the housework to me, and you can just sleep in your room ." I said firmly, "Do you want to make me feel uncomfortable?"
The last sentence was the most convincing. The mother suddenly closed her mouth. Although she looked unwilling, she stopped arguing.
After settling my mother down, I closed the door of her room expressionlessly , walked back to my bedroom, turned on the music, listened to sad songs, and all the fear and sadness in my heart were released.
I clutched a corner of the quilt tightly, buried my head in the pillow, and sobbed softly.
I can't stand anyone around me getting hurt, even a little bit.
But my power is so weak, how can I protect them, these important people in my life?
In order to let my mother rest at home with peace of mind, I took a week off from school to take care of her. Every day, she looked at my busy figure and irresistible eyes. She was a little anxious and tried to persuade me to rest assured and then go to work in the factory.
But I would never agree to it anyway.
I prepare meals, wash clothes, and clean the house in the morning, noon, and evening. I spend the rest of the time staying by my mother's side, chatting with her, previewing my homework, and memorizing boring English words.
Over time, she finally compromised under my silent insistence, and she stayed at home to recuperate and did not interfere in any housework.
I think my mother understands the anger and worry in my heart.
Four days after this, I welcomed the first visitor to visit my sick mother - Ni Nuo.
He didn't tell me in advance, nor did he let me prepare. Just as the aroma of lunch filled the small room, I heard a very light knock on the door.
I hurriedly covered the pot of soup that was about to burst out and rushed to the door, where I saw Ni Nuo with gauze wrapped around his forehead and a large bag in his hand.
"Why are you here?" I asked in a low voice after a long time without coming back to my senses.
Ni Nuo looked innocent: "Why can't I come? I came to visit my aunt, and I brought a lot of medicine...ah, it smells so good, I haven't eaten yet..."
As he spoke, he carefully walked past me and went straight into the house.
"Hey you……"
I protested in dissatisfaction and stood stupidly in front of the door with a soup spoon in my hand, watching him put down everything in his hands first, then rolled up his sleeves naturally to check the vegetables in the pot, cut the onion, ginger and garlic and put them in, added some seasonings, and finally went to greet my mother gracefully.
"Isn't this Ni Nuo?" Seeing him, the mother was obviously very happy. She quickly sat up straight and patted the seat beside the bed, "Come and sit here."
"Aunt, I heard Yu said you had a leg injury, so I came to see you." He sat over without hesitation and reached out to take the bags. "I brought you some very effective Chinese medicine, as well as tonics and fruits."
"Good child, you are so polite." The mother was so excited that she was a little incoherent. "Ah, you haven't eaten yet? The meal at home has just been prepared. How about eating together?"
Ni Nuo raised his eyebrows, turned around mischievously, looked at me standing in front of the door with wide eyes, and smiled mischievously: "Okay!"
I froze .
My mother and Nino were still having an intimate conversation, completely ignoring me as a transparent person. I even suspected that they had planned this for a long time and were just playing a trick on me when the knock on the door sounded again.
My mind was buzzing as I went to open the door and welcomed the second guest in my home that day.
This is the person who, no matter how hard I tried, I thought it would be impossible for him to appear.
Southerly wind.
He stood in front of the door a little shyly, his eyes downcast: "Um... you haven't been to class these days, I was a little worried, so I came to see you, is everything okay?"
As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes froze.
Ni Nuo was leaning against the door, his eyes full of meaning.
The whole world suddenly became dark and I wished I could find a crack in the ground to crawl into to escape this embarrassing scene.
Oh my god, are you kidding me too?
Because Xiang Nanfeng had helped a lot during the move, his mother liked this bright and cheerful young man. After a brief conversation, she suggested that he "stay for dinner". She herself, on the other hand, used the excuse of "feeling unwell" to simply hide in her room and refused to come out.
The table in the restaurant was filled with not-so-rich food. These bland home-cooked dishes turned out to be appetizing in Ni Nuo's hands. I first served three bowls of rice to them, and stammered, "The food isn't particularly good either. You guys just have to make do with it..."
Ni Nuo smiled slightly and didn't say much. He took the chopsticks first and put a piece of fish into my bowl. Xiang Nanfeng, who wanted to do the same, was a step late and could only retract his hand awkwardly.
"Cough!" A mouthful of rice got stuck in my throat and I started coughing desperately.
Xiang Nanfeng quickly poured a glass of water and pushed it in front of me.
I couldn't drink any more.
Because from the corner of my eye I noticed that Ni Nuo, who was usually calm and composed, looked noticeably more unhappy.
Xiang Nanfeng kept his head down and only ate the white rice in the bowl. Ni Nuo would occasionally complain jokingly, "The food is too salty" or "Not enough onions", but the atmosphere did not become livelier because of this. Instead, it became more depressing.
Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I picked up the dish in front of me and explained hurriedly: "I'm going to see my mom..." Then I left the restaurant like a flash, not daring to look back.
No one tried to stop me, but they just paused for a moment. But when I mustered up the courage to rush into the battlefield in my mother's room, I found that the two people in the restaurant had already left.
The leftover dishes were covered with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator, and the dishes were washed clean.
Did the two of them do this together?
Trying to imagine the two of them standing side by side doing housework in a weird atmosphere, I couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, yet I also found it vaguely funny.
Are they both...having a tantrum?
I couldn't help but smile and shook my head. Just as I was about to turn around and leave, I found a white note on the table, neatly placed in the center.
“No more chili in the fish.”
There were eight characters written in a flamboyant style on it , with a smiling face emoticon at the end.
I don't know who left this.