Chapter 1322: Professor Zhong’s diary
Zhong Lizhen’s apartment.
Living room.
Dong Xuebing kept checking the bedroom when he went out to get the medication for Zhong Lizhen. He took a Bamyl from the plastic bag and mixed it with hot water.
It’s orange flavor.
This fever medicine smells nice.
Dong Xuebing returned to the bedroom. To his surprise, Zhong Lizhen remained on the bed. He was unsure if she was too weak to move or if she was scared by his threats.
“Drink your medicine.”
“Ok.”
“Be careful. It’s hot.”
“Ok.”
Dong Xuebing sat on the bed and pa.s.sed the cup to her.
Zhong Lizhen sat against the headboard and drank the medicine.
Dong Xuebing smiled and took the empty cup from her. “Rest for a while. I will check if there’s anything I can cook for you.”
“I am not hungry.”
“You must eat even if you are hungry. Don’t get out of bed.”
Dong Xuebing closed the door behind him and went to the kitchen to check the fridge.
The fridge was clean. Other than a few eggs, there was nothing inside. He knew Professor Zhong did not cook. She’s a workaholic and must have skipped her meals often. He shook his head and found the rice in the kitchen. She was having a fever and should eat something simple. He washed the rice and cooked porridge for her.
Rice… Cabbage… eggs…
Dong Xuebing was preparing a simple egg congee.
Dong Xuebing’s phone rang when he was cooking.
It was Han Jing. “Xiao Bing, how is Lizhen?”
Dong Xuebing turned down the heat and said. “She is having a fever. 38.5 degrees Celcius. But she is doing well. She does not have inflammation in her throat or other symptoms. I made her take medication and is preparing food for her now.”
“Is she still working?”
“She was working earlier, but I stopped her. Her fever will get worse if she continues working.”
“She is only concerned about her work. Sigh… I cannot do anything about her. Please take care of her, Xiao Bing.”
“Sure. I will make sure she takes a nap later.”
“You are so helpful. But you just recovered and were busy caring for Sun Kai the past few days. I am afraid you might get tired. Haha… Huilan would complain if she knew I had been ordering her husband.”
“It’s fine, Mum. Haha… I got nothing to do at home, too.”
“Thank you. We have a guest at home, and I cannot leave. I will go over after your Dad is back.”
“Don’t worry about it. I am around.”
Dong Xuebing continued to cook the congee after hanging up. He added the eggs into the pot.
About half an hour later.
After 1 pm.
Dong Xuebing walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of congee. He knocked on the door and entered. Professor Zhong was staring at the ceiling on the bed. She was frowning and mumbling to herself. Dong Xuebing rolled his eyes as he knew she must be calculating her data. He could not do anything to her as she listened and lay on the bed.
“The congee is ready.”
“Ok.”
“Drink it while it’s hot.”
Zhong Lizhen sat up quickly, and her body swayed. She held her head as she felt giddy.
Dong Xuebing quickly helped her. “Look. How can you say you are fine? You cannot sit properly.”
“Pa.s.s me a piece of paper and a pen.”
“Why do you need those for?”
“I need to record something I calculated.”
“Ah… eat the congee first. We will talk about it after you are done.”
“I might forget after I am finished the congee. Hurry. It’s in the drawer.”
Dong Xuebing took out a piece of paper and a pen for Zhong Lizhen. She mumbled to herself and wrote on the paper. There were numbers, jargon, and many unknown symbols.
“Are you done?”
“Almost.”
“The congee is getting cold.”
“I am almost done. Stop rus.h.i.+ng.”
A while later, Zhong Lizhen puts down the pen.
Dong Xuebing was unhappy and took away her paper and pen after she was done. He pa.s.sed the bowl to her. “This is the final warning. You are not allowed to work today.”
“I did not get up and touch a PC.”
“You are doing mental calculations. It is more tiring and will affect your recovery.”
Zhong Lizhen ignored him and drank the congee slowly. She started eating faster after a few mouthfuls. She must be starving.
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Didn’t you say you are not hungry?
“How was the taste?”
“Not bad.”
“There’s more in the pot. Let me get you another bowl.”
“Ok.”
Dong Xuebing went to the kitchen to get another bowl of congee for her and got himself a bowl. He sat opposite Zhong Lizhen and ate with her.
Zhong Lizhen looked at him. “You did not eat when you came?”
Dong Xuebing shook his head. “Mum told me you are sick, and I drove here immediately.”
Zhong Lizhen paused for a second and said. “Thank you.”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “Don’t thank me. I will be thankful if you can take a nap later.”
“I will take a nap later. You should go back after you finish your congee.”
“No. Mum asked me to watch you.”
“I am not a kid, Xiao Dong. You don’t need to watch over me.”
“You are not a kid, but behave more like a kid. Even a kid knows he needs rest when he is sick.”
“I am on leave these two days.”
“What’s the difference when you are still working at home?”
“All right. I can’t be bothered to argue with you. Just do what you want.”
Zhong Lizhen placed the empty bowl on the side table and got under the blanket. She turned to her side, with her back towards Dong Xuebing.
Is she going to take a nap now?
You should remove your gown first if you are going to rest.
Dong Xuebing took the empty bowl and went to the kitchen to do the dishes. He listened from outside the room and did not hear anything. However, he was still worried she might be doing some calculations secretly. He entered the room quietly and took a book from the shelf. He sat beside the bed and started reading.
Five minutes…
Ten minutes…
Zhong Lizhen turned and looked at Dong Xuebing. “What are you doing?”
“Reading.” Dong Xuebing was not reading. He was watching her sleep.
Zhong Lizhen said. “I cannot sleep when you keep flipping the book. Go and read outside.”
Dong Xuebing nodded and put down the book. “Ok. I will not read. Just ignore me and sleep.”
Zhong Lizhen covered her forehead and sighed. “Fine… I am scared of you.” She shook her head and sat up to take off her white gown. She threw it on the back of the chair and got under the blanket again.”
Dong Xuebing moved closer and helped to cover her leg with the blanket. “Sleep. Call me if you need me.”
No reply…
Dong Xuebing did not mind and sat down beside her. Her breathing became constant and slow, a sign she had fallen asleep. He smiled to himself and left the room quietly. He leaned against the window and smoked.
What should I do?
The living room was full of machines, and the apartment had no TV.
There were lots of PCs in the room. Could there be PC games on them?
Dong Xuebing looked around after he smoked. He did not dare to touch the PCs in the living room as they were essential to her work. He returned to the bedroom.
Dong Xuebing sat in front of the PC in the bedroom and switched it on.
While waiting for the PC to start, Dong Xuebing noticed a small book beside him. He had nothing to do and started reading it. He thought it was Zhong Lizhen’s notebook on her research or data.
He froze when he opened it.
3rd March.
I am having period cramps. It felt terrible. I should take a break.
Dong Xuebing realized it was Professor Zhong’s diary.
Dong Xuebing quickly threw the diary on the table. It was Zhong Lizhen’s diary, and he should not read it. However, the diary flipped to the first few pages when it landed on the table. When he was about to put the diary properly, he froze. He saw his name in the diary.
She wrote about me…
What did she write about me?
Dong Xuebing looked at the date. It was a few days after Dong Xuebing returned to China with Professor Zhong.
Zhong Lizhen’s handwriting was rigid but beautiful. She wrote: It’s been a few days since I returned. I am getting used to my life here, but I m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e more often now. I want to stop but can’t. I used to do it once a month or once every two months. I m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.ed last night, and I did it again this morning. Was it because Dong Xuebing had touched me on the plane? It was the first time a guy touched me. Although he is a kid… sigh… Sister Han might be right. I should find myself a man.
Dong Xuebing was shocked after reading. He quickly closed the diary and placed it back in its original position. He also switched off the PC.
So, Professor Zhong will m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e, too…
s.h.i.+t! I had read something I should not.
Translator’s notes: Bamyl is a brand of medicine for fever in China.