Chapter 35 He Actually Apologized

Zhou Chenyan remembers every preference of Zhou Zhizi. He knows exactly what she can and cannot eat, and the meals he buys for her are always her favorites. Yet, he cannot even remember that I am allergic to peanuts. I had clearly told him when we first started dating.

"Zhou Chenyan, when we had been dating for a month, I had an allergic reaction in my arm from accidentally eating peanuts. You told me then that you would watch over me in the future to make sure I didn't eat them."

I believed him. The result is that I ended up in the hospital today. My back is covered in a dense layer of red rashes; I dared not take a second look after the first glance. The bone-deep itching is relentless. I am currently filled with such irritability that I could eat a person alive.

Zhou Chenyan is left speechless. The sight of the two of them irritates me, so I simply drive them both away. Finally, the hospital room is quiet.

Zhou’s mother came to visit me, her words filled with concern for me, yet also serving as an excuse for her son. "Oh, you poor thing. Allergies are the worst. You’ll have to wait two or three days to fully recover and make sure to apply the medicine on time. I know the whole story now; it was Ah Yan’s fault, and I will certainly give him a good talking-to when I get back."

With consequences this severe, that was all she had to say. I closed my eyes. "I’m a bit tired..."

"Right, right, then you rest. I won't disturb you."

Zhou’s mother left. The room fell silent again. I climbed out of bed, my back itching and aching, but I dared not lean against the headboard, so I simply sat on the edge of the bed and opened my laptop. Since my design draft wasn't finished, I wanted to take this opportunity to complete the final outlines. After that, I would never have to deal with those two again.

Although I was alone in the hospital, it wasn't dull. On the contrary, with the two people who caused me such distress gone, I felt much more at ease.

By evening, Zhou Chenyan arrived, carrying a boxed meal. I gave it a single glance. "Take it away. I'm not hungry."

No sooner had I spoken than my stomach let out a loud growl. Zhou Chenyan set up the small table in front of me and arranged the fragrant food. He handed me the chopsticks. How could I dare to take them? "I’m really not hungry."

He glanced at my stomach. "If you're not hungry, was that a toad croaking just now?"

I slapped the chopsticks from his hand onto the floor. "You might as well go feed your food to a toad!"

First, he fed me peanuts, and then he insulted me by calling me a toad. Ha! I would rather starve than eat his food!

Zhou Chenyan’s hand froze in mid-air. He remained silent for a long time, looking as if he were about to explode, but for some reason, he held it back. Rubbing his temples, he said stiffly, "This was my fault. I’m sorry."

As a man who has always been a prideful favorite of heaven, he had never apologized to anyone before, and the words were incredibly difficult for him to utter. They sounded as stiff as a zombie trying to speak.

I was surprised, but I didn't appreciate it. "If you really want me to get better soon, take your things and leave so I can get some proper sleep."

With him around, I couldn't sleep. I didn't trust him.

Zhou Chenyan seemed at a loss for words. He took a clean pair of chopsticks from the bag and placed them on the table. "I can leave, but eat this food first."

I remained silent.

"If you don't eat, I’m staying here to keep you company tonight." He pulled up a chair and sat by the bed with an imposing air, staring straight at me.

My scalp went numb, and I decisively picked up the chopsticks. He only seemed satisfied after watching me take the first bite, but I wasn't happy. "Aren't you leaving yet?"

"I'm waiting for you to finish."

"Since I've already started eating, you don't need to worry that I'll throw it away after you leave." The person was annoying, but the food had done nothing wrong.

Zhou Chenyan stood up slowly. He seemed to have something to say, but seeing that I was ignoring him, he finally didn't speak and left the room. Once he was gone, the food tasted even better.

...

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I saw Zhou Chenyan again.

"...Why are you here again?"

"Bringing you food."

I took a deep breath. "It's not necessary. I can ask the nurse to bring me food." As long as I gave them a little money. At the very least, it wouldn't ruin my appetite.

Zhou Chenyan ignored me. "Just eat. I'll leave once you're done. If you don't eat..."

He didn't say anything more; he just pulled up a chair and sat by the bed, the same tactic as last night. And yet, it worked on me. So, I ate breakfast again, finally managing to send this plague away. I realized this wouldn't do. I had originally thought that resting in the hospital would help me avoid him, but he was showing up like clockwork for every meal. This was the exact opposite of my intention.

I decided to be discharged and go home. I had only been in the hospital for a day and a night, so I didn't have much to pack. I finished tidying up quickly, only to see the familiar car and the familiar plague standing at the hospital entrance. I decisively found a spot to hide.

"Hey!"

Someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder, giving me a huge fright. Qian Yushu looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"

"What do you think?" My heart was still pounding.

Qian Yushu scratched his cheek and said sheepishly, "I didn't mean to scare you. I saw you peeking around here and thought I'd play a joke on you..."

I steadied my breathing. "Aren't you driving for your father? Why are you here?"

"My father is having a checkup at the hospital."

"What's wrong with him?"

Qian Yushu shook his head. "The results aren't out yet. My mother is upstairs with him, and I came down to buy them some water."

I had always harbored a doubt. In my previous life, I had no interaction with Qian Yushu, and I didn't know much about him—only that he had started as a simple, kind-hearted young man before becoming obsessed with love and committing countless evil deeds. But looking at him now, it felt inconsistent. Can a person really change that much?

"Qian Yushu, let me ask you a question."

Qian Yushu looked at me earnestly. "Go ahead."

"If one day, someone you liked asked you to do something evil, something heinous—and promised that if you did it, they would date you—would you do it?"

"I wouldn't." Qian Yushu’s answer came without a moment’s hesitation. He scratched his head, looking a bit shy. "I think liking someone is sacred; it shouldn't be mixed with benefits or ulterior motives. Besides, even if I liked them, I couldn't hurt others. I don't want that kind of love."

He looked at me curiously. "Sister Mu, why did you suddenly ask me that?"

I smiled. "Nothing, just a random thought."

I glanced back at the road; the familiar car was gone—he must have left. I prepared to head off and patted his shoulder. "Qian Yushu, I hope you remember what you said today."

Though he looked puzzled, Qian Yushu nodded. "I won't forget."

As I turned around, I found myself face-to-face with Zhou Chenyan’s cold, dark gaze. He was standing right behind me. A pillar had been blocking him, creating a blind spot.

As we brushed past each other, he grabbed my wrist and shoved me into the car, his face expressionless. The car started and accelerated rapidly from the moment we pulled away. The wind outside the window messed up my hair, making it impossible to keep my eyes open. I had to fasten my seatbelt tightly and grip the handle. "Slow down!"

I had finally gotten a second chance at life; I didn't want to spend it accompanying him on his madness, and I certainly didn't want to lose my life for him.

Zhou Chenyan said nothing, as if he hadn't heard me, and the speed did not decrease. I simply shut my mouth. After all, Zhou Chenyan wouldn't actually kill himself.

Until—his phone suddenly lit up. Zhou Chenyan glanced at it, and the car finally slowed down, coming to a stop on the side of the road.

The name on the screen was: Zhizi.