Chapter 40 – Aunt Xuan

Chapter 40 – Aunt Xuan

The next morning, at the orthopedic ward, the sky had just brightened. It was the start of autumn, and the air was fresh. A nurse making her rounds woke Dong Xuebing up. He yawned, greeted an old man with a fractured leg in the same ward, and slowly got out of bed to pour himself some warm water. Just as he was about to ask the nurse what checks he had today, his iPhone 4 rang. It was Qu Yunxuan calling.

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat and answered, "Hello?"

"Xiao Bing, where are you? Why didn't you come home last night?" Qu Yunxuan asked.

Dong Xuebing didn't want her to worry, so he hadn't told her about being in the hospital. He had called her the day before, saying he was having dinner with his colleagues. "Oh, we had dinner late, so I stayed at a colleague's place. I just woke up and am getting ready for work." Just then, a nurse came in with some medicine and said, "Take this half an hour after breakfast."

"What medicine?" Qu Yunxuan asked nervously. "Xiao Bing, where are you?"

Dong Xuebing tried to cover up, "It's nothing... just the TV."

"You think I'm stupid? Tell me the truth!" Qu Yunxuan demanded.

Realizing he couldn't lie to her anymore, Dong Xuebing admitted, "I'm at Jiangong Hospital. There was a fire at work yesterday, and I got some minor burns retrieving important documents. It's not serious. I'll be out in a day or two. You don't need to visit me. I'm fine."

Qu Yunxuan was silent for a moment.

"Aunt Xuan? Are you there?"

The line suddenly cut off.

Dong Xuebing tried calling her back, but she didn't answer. He was worried that she was angry.

As he started his breakfast, he could hear the sound of heels clicking quickly down the hallway. A figure rushed past the door, then turned back and burst into his ward. It was Qu Yunxuan.

Dong Xuebing, lying in bed, was nervous to see her. "Aunt Xuan, I told you not to visit me."

Qu Yunxuan's eyes were red as she saw him covered in bandages and burn marks. She didn't say a word.

"Aunt Xuan, sit down," Dong Xuebing said, pushing a chair closer.

But Qu Yunxuan just kept staring at his injuries. He tried to reassure her, "It's not as bad as it looks. I'm fine. These are just minor injuries. I'll recover in a few days."

Qu Yunxuan suddenly shouted, "It's the firefighters' job to put out fires! Why were you the only one running into the building? Are you the only person in your whole workplace?!" She then started slapping his arm repeatedly. "Trying to be a hero, huh? Who asked you to be a hero?"

Dong Xuebing had never seen Aunt Xuan so angry before. He stayed silent.

"I was so worried about you," Qu Yunxuan said, wiping away her tears.

Dong Xuebing panicked, "I'm sorry, Aunt Xuan. I won't try to be a hero again. The next time I see a fire, I'll run away. I promise!"

Qu Yunxuan gently touched his arm. "Does it hurt?"

Dong Xuebing smiled, "No."

"Where else are you hurt? Let me see."

"I just sprained my ankle. It's not broken. I'm fine."

Qu Yunxuan lifted his blanket and saw all his injuries. She almost started crying again, but then she glared at him, "Xiao Bing, you must never lie to me again. If you do, I'll spank you!"

The old man in the adjacent bed laughed at this, making Dong Xuebing blush. "I won't lie to you again," he promised.

Qu Yunxuan continued to scold him, and Dong Xuebing just agreed to whatever she said.

The old man in the bed next to them interrupted, "Girl, stop scolding him. This young man made a huge contribution. His leaders and colleagues visited him yesterday, and I heard he's getting exceptional approval to become a Party Member."

Dong Xuebing chimed in, "That's right. I'll be a Party member soon."

Qu Yunxuan gently touched his face. "Nothing is more important than your life. If something happened to you, how could I face your mother?"

"Please don't tell my mom about this."

"Okay," she agreed.

Qu Yunxuan stayed with Dong Xuebing for a while, taking care of him, then went to talk to the doctor about his condition.

When she returned, Dong Xuebing said, "It's late. You should go to work."

But Qu Yunxuan shook her head and wiped his face with a wet towel. "I took leave. I have five days of annual leave left. I'll stay with you in the hospital."

"There's no need. I'm fine."

"You can't even walk on your own, and you call this fine? The doctor said you need someone with you."

"I'm really fine."

"If you say one more word, I'll tear your mouth!"

Seeing that she couldn't be persuaded, Dong Xuebing had no choice but to accept her help.

As he lay there, he thought to himself, It would be even better if she could stay with me in bed...