Nervous Expectations

Night had fallen when Hui Yin went back to Lu Shen's hospital room. They watched TV together and took turns taking a bath, as the hospital had given Hui Yin a set of cotton pajamas.

Several nurses enthusiastically volunteered to help Lu Shen wash himself because his upper body was still bandaged, but Lu Shen refused them all. In the end, he went into the bathroom by himself and came out looking like he had personally battled a fearsome monster. Hui Yin couldn't help but laugh when she saw him.

"I told you to accept their help," she pointed out. "What's with the bruise on your forehead? Did you slip?"

He nodded with watery eyes.

Hui Yin laughed again. When he acted childish like this, he appeared even more younger than his current age. She raised herself on her tiptoes and absently patted his head.

"When you grow up, you can't succumb to face paralysis, okay? I wouldn't like you if you do."

He lowered his head and grabbed her wrist.

"I wouldn't do anything that would you make you not like me," he said somberly. He slightly flushed at their close proximity and took a step back, releasing her wrist.

Hui Yin smiled but didn't reply. It was already too late for promises like that.

Lu Shen started to arrange the pillows on the bed and gestured at her.

"You should sleep on the bed. I'll sleep on the sofa."

"What are you talking about? You're injured. You should be the one to sleep on the bed."

Lu Shen plopped himself on the sofa and lay down, crossing his arms.

"I'm not going to move from here. So you should go and sleep on the bed."

Hui Yin raised her eyebrows. "Oh, so you're not going to move from there? I'll just eat dinner by myself in the cafeteria then."

She was still speaking when she pivoted on her heel and ran out.

Lu Shen bolted from the sofa and chased after her. "Ah, don't leave me here!"

Hui Yin closed the door on her way out and he slammed face-first into it. Lu Shen crumpled to the floor with a muffled squeak of pain before struggling to his feet.

Hui Yin, who heard the loud 'thud' and felt guilty, was waiting for him outside the door. Lu Shen looked at her with an aggrieved expression when he went out. He was covering his nose with his hand.

"Bad."

Hui Yin hastily nodded. "Yes, yes, I'm bad. Is your nose okay?"

"It hurts."

"Did it bleed? Let me see."

Lu Shen avoided her and continued covering his nose.

Hui Yin blew out her cheeks. "I'm sorry for playing a prank on you, okay? Let me see. It'll be bad if it's broken."

When she went towards him and gently removed his hand, to her utter surprise, he swooped in and planted a kiss on her forehead.

His nose wasn't bleeding at all. It only looked a little red.

"You...!" Dumbfounded, Hui Yin was a step too late to stop him. This baby chick was actually a white-eyed wolf! [1]

"Fight poison with poison [2]." He grinned at her like an idiot.

Unable to get angry at him when he looked at her like that, Hui Yin threw her hands up and just thought of it as a debt owed and paid. The two of them went into the cafeteria together and ate their dinner.

Because Lu Shen beat her to the bathroom and brushed his teeth first, Hui Yin could only stare at his smug position on the sofa and reluctantly trudge towards the bed. She could imagine the look on the nurses' face tomorrow when they find out that their 'most precious patient' was sleeping on the sofa.

Hui Yin switched off the lights and tried to find a comfortable position to sleep. Just as her eyes were about to close, she heard Lu Shen tentatively say, "Goodnight, Hui Yin."

She rubbed her eyes and replied drowsily, "Goodnight, Lu Shen."

He seemed to be saying something else to her, but Hui Yin had already drifted off to sleep.

As the girl's soft breathing filled the whole room, Lu Shen opened his eyes and glanced over towards the direction of the bed. In the dark, his eyes were deep, his eyebrows creased. His nose was aquiline, and he had the habit of stroking it with his forefinger when he contemplated thoughts that were graver than the usual. It was an indifferent face, a stern face, and yet a trace of sadness could also be seen in his features.

If he told her he wanted to marry her, would she agree?

If by chance she rejected him...suddenly, his heart became glad that she did not hear his question. It was better to stay by her side a little longer, before asking her if she could stay beside him for a lifetime. Important things like this...they should not be rushed.

Lu Shen fell asleep an hour later, his dreams troubled with worries and nervous expectations.

...

Hui Yin opened her eyes to see that the room was still dark. She turned her body to the other side, her back on the sofa, only for her eyes to fall on the closed door.

Or what should be a closed door.

It was open now, but the light on the hallway was dim. She could only see the silhouette of a man standing there, unmoving.

Hui Yin's heart became paralyzed, and she wanted to scream, but she couldn't make a sound. In the next second, the man turned around and ran away.

Feeling her senses return, Hui Yin jumped out of the bed, her feet bare. Her mind was too muddled to wake Lu Shen, she simply did not think of any other thoughts than to chase that man.

That man, why is he so familiar...

As Hui Yin hurried after the man's fleeing figure down the hallway, the dim lights were enough for her to see his back.

It was also enough for her to see his hair.

His hair...was pink.

[1] an ungrateful person; someone who repays kindness with evil intentions

[2] to meet aggression with aggression