Lin Zihao had woken up, so Zhou Huaian stayed with him through the night. Around midnight, Lin Zihao insisted on going to the bathroom—and demanded that Zhou Huaian accompany him. His reason? He was afraid of the dark, and of ghosts.

Zhou Huaian had no choice but to help him out of bed.

Logically, Lin Zihao shouldn’t have been walking yet—a bedpan would have been safer. But in his current state, he’d somehow held onto his fastidiousness, refusing outright to use anything but a proper toilet.

Unable to reason with him, and not wanting to make things worse, Zhou Huaian gave in.

Once they reached the restroom, Zhou Huaian waited by the door, but that wasn’t enough for Lin Zihao. “Don’t stand outside—what if a ghost comes in? You have to stay with me. I’m scared.”

Zhou Huaian sighed and stepped inside, his expression grim the entire time.

Lin Zihao eyed him with disapproval. “You’re not nice at all. The lady from earlier was much kinder. I want her here with me.”

Zhou Huaian turned his back. “Hurry up. One more word and I’m leaving.”

Afraid of being abandoned, Lin Zihao quickly finished up, fumbling awkwardly with his hospital trousers.

As they walked back, he muttered under his breath, “I want that lady, not you. You’re too mean.”

Zhou Huaian ignored him. Back in the room, he said sternly, “Get into bed and sleep, or I’ll leave right now.”

Lin Zihao immediately fell silent, scrambling under the covers. But even with his eyes closed, he kept thinking how much better it would be if that kind woman were here instead.

…

The next morning, since her first two classes were electives, Lin Xiaoxiao decided to go with Zhou Xiaoling to visit Lin Zihao.

Xiaoling had risen before dawn to prepare millet porridge with poached eggs—all without the housekeeper’s help. As they were leaving, Li Yunlan noticed the food and asked, “Did someone have a baby? Why are you bringing millet porridge? Did you add brown sugar?”

Xiaoling just smiled and hurried out with Lin Xiaoxiao. It wasn’t until they were outside that she laughed. “Why does Mom assume millet porridge with eggs is only for new mothers? Can’t I just eat it myself?”

Lin Xiaoxiao, having eaten plenty of it after childbirth, understood well. “It’s just strongly associated with postpartum recovery. Remember how much I had?”

Xiaoling slapped her forehead. “Oh right, I forgot! I just thought it was quick and nutritious. No time to make chicken soup this morning.”

Lin Xiaoxiao linked arms with her. “It’s perfect. Something easily digestible is good for him right now.”

They took the bus to the hospital. At the door of the room, Xiaoling grew nervous. “I’m kind of scared,” she whispered. “I wonder if he’ll even remember me after a night.”

Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. “I think he will.”

People in vulnerable states often latched onto the first person who showed them kindness.

When they entered the room, they found Zhou Huaian standing by the bed while Lin Zihao sat up, the two of them locked in a silent standoff.

Lin Zihao looked utterly pitiful, and the moment he saw Xiaoling, his eyes welled up. “Sister, you’re here! He’s not nice—he hurt my face when he wiped it.”

Even though Lin Xiaoxiao had braced herself, hearing such childish words coming from him, paired with that innocent expression, felt bizarre and unsettling.

Zhou Xiaoling, having seen him the day before, wasn’t fazed. She sat beside the bed, took the towel from Zhou Huaian, and spoke gently, “Let me help you, okay? Be good for me.”

Lin Zihao nodded obediently. “I’ll be good if you stay. You’re nice.”

Lin Xiaoxiao bit back a laugh. Who would have thought that this cold, dignified man—always so reserved and proper—would one day speak like a toddler, with expressions to match?

What a pity there were no smartphones or cameras to record this. It would’ve been priceless to show him later, if he ever recovered.

Xiaoling carefully wiped his face and hands, then asked, “Do you want to eat by yourself, or should I feed you?”

Lin Zihao lifted his IV-bound arm and declared matter-of-factly, “I want you to feed me.”

Zhou Huaian had seen enough. Even knowing it was the injury talking, he found the scene hard to stomach. He turned to Lin Xiaoxiao. “I thought you had class?”

She smiled, eyes glinting with amusement. “I heard Lin Zihao was awake and wanted to see him. Don’t be so stern with him—he’s just a child right now.”

Zhou Huaian sighed. He knew that, but seeing Lin Zihao’s face paired with such mannerisms tested his patience.

Lin Xiaoxiao patted his arm. “It’s a good sign. As long as he’s conscious, there’s hope for recovery. We just need to be patient.”

Zhou Huaian nodded. “Alright, I understand.”

As she fed him, Zhou Xiaoling said, “Brother, I’ve taken the day off. You and my sister-in-law should go rest. I’ll stay with him during the day.”

Lin Zihao, who clearly didn’t want the stern Zhou Huaian around, chimed in, “Yes, you go. Let the sister stay. I like her.”

The word “like” came out so easily it gave Xiaoling pause.

Lin Xiaoxiao thought it over and tugged Zhou Huaian’s sleeve. “You haven’t rested all night. Go home and sleep. You can come back later to relieve Xiaoling.”

Xiaoling agreed. “Yes, and maybe you can make some bone broth. I won’t have time later.”

Zhou Huaian glanced once more at Lin Zihao, now happily eating, then followed Lin Xiaoxiao out.

Outside the hospital, Lin Xiaoxiao wondered, “Should we notify his family?”

Zhou Huaian shook his head. “No. Before he lost consciousness, he said not to contact them. His relationship with them isn’t great. Let’s wait and see.”

Lin Xiaoxiao marveled that Lin Zihao could already sit up and eat so soon after major surgery. “At this rate, he might be discharged in a week. What do we do then?”

Although Li Yunlan had offered to take the patient in, this situation was… unusual. And Lin Xiaoxiao couldn’t decide alone.

Zhou Huaian frowned slightly. “If there’s no room at home, we can rent a place for him.”

Back in the hospital room, Lin Zihao, between bites, suddenly reached out and grasped Zhou Xiaoling’s hand. “Sister,” he said earnestly, “will you stay here with me tonight?”