It was raining lightly and the sky was dark. The weather forecaster on TV reported that there was a possibility that it would transform into a raging storm in the middle of the night and cautioned people to be careful on the street. If possible, they must not leave their homes unless necessary.
At that time, Jiang Jinyan had just returned from another session of physiotherapy. The strength in his arms were returning and he was able to push the wheelchair on his own without the nurses' help anymore.
He had just exited the elevator when the corner of his eyes caught a familiar figure.
It was the Shi Nian who was supposed to be lying in the ICU for intense monitoring. Jiang Jinyan was surprised. She had finally woken up from the coma? It had been six days, he counted.
With the rainy night as background, the girl's back was especially desolate and lonely. Jiang Jinyan didn't know what possessed his mind and before he knew it, he had pushed his wheelchair toward her.
Instantly, two pairs of eyes turned to him.
Jiang Jinyan gave them a furtive glance, his eyes calm and clear and the two casually clothed men retracted their gazes but still kept a defensive posture as if they could spring into action at any moment.
He inadvertently recalled Wei Xiameng's words.
The…police? They were really monitoring her?
He returned his eyes to the girl and approached her slowly. The wheels on the hospital floor created a smooth rattling sound, in the middle of the empty hallway, it was especially conspicuous but she didn't give any reaction whatsoever, just looking out of the window motionlessly as if the rain was the most attractive thing she had ever seen.
Until Jiang Jinyan tapped on the floor to ceiling glass window, only then did she snap out of her reverie. She turned to him in surprise and seeing him, her eyes widened even more, giving him a wide access to scrutinizing her features clearly.
Small oval face, fair skin, bloodless lips, long jet black hair, she looked like a little doll. Jiang Jinyan had always thought that when Wei Xiameng deliberately widened her eyes and batted her eyelashes, she looked especially adorable. But now, he had to retract his previous thought.
The girl didn't even do anything but somehow, she exuded a gentle and calm temperament that made people subconsciously relaxed around her.
Jiang Jinyan cleared his throat. "Miss Shi, isn't it?"
The girl kept on staring at him, her expression frozen as if someone hit a pause button, if not for her slowly undulating chest, then she would really look like a living doll.
No…she seemed to not be breathing?
"Miss Shi?" Jiang Jinyan had no chance but to call out once again. Inwardly, he thought. Did he look so weird and scary to the point that she was frightened stiff? No…the therapist once said that she was his fan? But was she really?
Shi Nian blinked and the realization dawned on her.
The one who appeared before her was truly, the real and genuine Jiang. Jin. Yan.
Shi Nian: "!!!"
Panicking, she looked around but didn't find her board anywhere, only then did she remember that she didn't bring her board out. Helplessly, she stole a few glances at Jiang Jinyan. In a moment of inspiration, she blew hot air into the glass window and wrote with trembling fingers. [Mr. Jiang…]
The words that came out were so wiggly like worms that she was mortified!
Fortunately, Jiang Jinyan wasn't a perfectionist nor was he rude like uncle detective. He glanced at her words and breathed a sigh of relief. Good, it turned out the girl truly knew him.
He asked politely, "Have you felt better?"
Shi Nian blinked and blinked but didn't know what she was supposed to say. Mr Jiang…was asking about her wellbeing? He was worried about her? There was a floating feeling beneath her feet as if she was stepping on clouds.
But the man took in her reaction by mistake and thought that she didn't catch his words. "That day, I saw you…"
Shi Nian blushed and lowered her head. She had a thin skin and once she blushed, it traveled from her cheeks to her ears until her neck. [I…I am better already. Thank you very much!!!] She added three exclamation marks and to his surprise, the girl suddenly bowed her head deeply until her waist was bent 90 degrees.
Jiang Jinyan was shocked and waved in a flustered manner. The girl's overly polite demeanor somehow made him nervous. "No, I didn't do anything. I was just calling for help…it's a police officer who gave you the first emergency treatment."
She wrote once again. [Thank you!]
Jiang Jinyan scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, it's really okay. You too, don't stand there for too long. Summer will come soon and people will easily catch a cold." Realizing that he had lectured a little young girl with his long winded sentences, Jiang Jinyan looked more and more awkward.
But the girl's bright smile soothed her nerves. [Mr. Jiang Jinyan. My name is Shi Nian!]
Jiang Jinyan paused and smiled. He, too, didn't realize how easy it was to smile in front of a stranger whom he had just met less than five times. "I know," he gently replied.
[I live in room 505!]
"You—" Jiang Jinyan was speechless. "How can you casually tell me your room number?" He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This was the first time he met such a naïve and trusting girl, even Xiaxia wouldn't give a stranger her apartment's number. "Are you not scared that I have bad intentions?"
After saying it, Jiang Jinyan felt heat rush up to his cheeks. But because he had a thick skin, the color wouldn't show easily, pardoning him from the embarrassing situation.
Shi Nian shook her head. [You're good.]
He finally chortled out a laugh. "How do you know?"
She pursed his lips and gave him a profound look. [I just knew.]
Somehow, the way she talked and behaved tickled him and his face relaxed. The atmosphere around them turned pleasant and harmonious.
Until all of a sudden, a booming voice echoed across the hallway. "SHI NIAN!"
The both of them turned in shock only to find an enraged and dark faced young man strode toward them, each step carrying wind and storms.
"I've gone to your room only to find the bed fucking empty! What the hell are you doing strolling around the hallway in a white gown at such a late night? Are you trying to be a ghost?!"
Shi Nian: "…"
The flowery atmosphere broke off in an instant and Shi Nian's face turned blank from the full force of questions. She frowned and scowled.
Jiang Jinyan couldn't help but to give the man another glance and found that it was the same man who had first ran to her. He pointed out, "He's the one who saved you."
But as soon as he said that, the man once again shot his mouth off. "What the heck are you doing there?! Still don't want to return?!"
The good guy image Jiang Jinyan tried hard to build for the man was instantly broken to pieces. He was speechless by how rude he was. From young, he had been taught by his mother to respect women, thus hearing such a word, he frowned deeply, contemplating. "Are you okay? Do you want me to go and talk to him?"
Shi Nian shook her head strongly and gave him a look as if saying, "Are you crazy?!"
Jiang Jinyan: "…"
"Shi. Nian!" The man gritted his teeth and emphasized each word.
Shi Nian sighed heavily and looked at him with a helpless look.
Jiang Jinyan smiled in understanding. "It's okay. Go, it seems like he needs you there."
Shi Nian secretly rolled her eyes and puffed up her cheeks. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Jiang Jinyan himself went to talk to her without her initiating it! And it was all ruined by uncle detective! Shi Nian really wished that she could brandish her claws and scratched his face.
She hesitated for a moment and blew hot air onto the glass window, hastily writing word by word. [Mr Jiang Jinyan, I wish you a speedy recovery!]
Jiang Jinyan was taken aback for a moment and smiled faintly. "Thank you very much."
Shi Nian breathed a sigh of relief and pumped her fist.. Finally, she could say it to him! Hooray, her! Good job, her! She mustered the brightest smile she could at him and finally turned around to the awaiting Xu Binchen, her look firm in determination like a soldier who was ready for war.