Chapter 94: Apologize to Me

Watching Song Chengyi struggle to find words, Luo Yixia began to push her luck.

“Look at you, always getting angry with me. You’re older than I am, and yet you always fuss over the smallest things,” she said.

“So shouldn’t you call me brother?” Song Chengyi gave her a dry laugh and went back to his phone.

Luo Yixia bit her lip. How did the conversation end up back here again?

After that, Song Chengyi truly stopped talking to her.

Luo Yixia sat on the bed, pouting. How could someone be so stubborn?

“This IV bottle is nearly empty,” she said, pointing at the almost depleted drip.

Song Chengyi glanced at it indifferently, then got up and replaced it with the last bottle.

Luo Yixia noticed that it was already nine o’clock at night.

“I need to use the bathroom,” she said, unable to hold it any longer.

Song Chengyi put down his phone and looked at her with a reluctant expression, as if to say: You’re so troublesome.

But he said nothing, stood, and carried her IV bottle.

There was a bathroom inside the ward.

“You can just hold it and wait outside,” Luo Yixia said, biting her lower lip.

She went in and closed the door, while Song Chengyi waited outside with the IV bottle, thankfully at just the right distance.

Still, Luo Yixia felt embarrassed. Song Chengyi was right outside, and she felt mortified.

When she came out, her cheeks were flushed.

Song Chengyi hung the IV bottle on the stand and tucked her in.

“Are you still angry?” Luo Yixia grabbed the corner of his shirt as he turned to leave.

“No.”

“Oh.”

With that, Song Chengyi returned to his seat.

“It’s chilly tonight. Do you want to sit over here?” Luo Yixia asked.

She was usually shy, but whenever she faced Song Chengyi, her skin was thicker than a city wall.

He looked at the girl before him, at a loss for words; she was utterly carefree.

Whether it was lingering anger or a mischievous impulse, without thinking, Song Chengyi blurted, “Did you admit you were wrong?”

Luo Yixia looked at him and finally acknowledged his anger.

She giggled, “I was wrong.”

“Where were you wrong?” Just seeing her smile, Song Chengyi’s anger vanished, but he kept a stern face.

“I shouldn’t have called you my brother.” Luo Yixia always thought he was angry because of that.

But Song Chengyi was clearly dissatisfied; what bothered him was how she pushed him away whenever others were around, never daring to acknowledge their relationship.

Yet seeing her innocently smiling, he felt powerless to be angry. Some things couldn’t change instantly; they would have to take time.

“Apologize,” Song Chengyi said seriously.

“I’m sorry,” she replied cheerfully, knowing his anger had faded. Then she reached out, wanting a hug.

Song Chengyi couldn’t refuse her adorable gestures and expressions.

In the end, he gave in and sat on the bed.

The little girl nestled into his arms like a kitten.

“Luo Yixia, you’re so clingy,” he couldn’t help but complain.

She poked her head out of his embrace and asked sincerely, “You don’t like it?”

He pursed his lips in silence; that wasn’t it.

Suddenly, she asked, “Song Chengyi, do you not dislike me anymore? Do you like me now?”

He looked down at her hopeful face, his lips curving in a smile as he pinched her cheeks, then pushed her away in mock annoyance: “You’re overthinking it.”

Luo Yixia pouted and hugged him tighter. It didn’t matter. As long as she liked him, she couldn’t ask for too much. He already treated her very well.

“Luo Yixia, if you move again and the needle gets crooked, you’ll have to fix it yourself,” he warned, eyeing her restless hands.

“Okay.” She obediently adjusted her arm and settled down.

A new needle wouldn’t be a big deal, but she dreaded the head nurse coming back.

Later, Luo Yixia held Song Chengyi’s hand and watched Korean dramas.

Song Chengyi glanced at the screen, utterly uninterested.

“So romantic,” she sighed, enthralled.

Romantic? Just giving flowers counts as romantic? he thought.

“That oppa is so handsome,” Luo Yixia’s eyes were glued to the screen.

Song Chengyi glanced again—average, not particularly handsome.

“I really love Korean heartthrobs; they all look like models,” she went on.

“My phone’s about to die.” He took his phone away.

“Is it? There’s still fifty percent battery,” Luo Yixia said, puzzled.

“I still need to call my brother to pick us up later.” He pocketed the phone.

Luo Yixia looked up at her IV.

“There’s only a little left; soon I can leave.” She checked the time—it was nearly ten.

When the last drops finished, she impatiently pulled the needle out and rushed to the bathroom.

Song Chengyi had already called, and Song Zeming should arrive soon.

When Luo Yixia came out, they didn’t hurry to leave but waited in the ward for Song Zeming.

“In two weeks, we can go home,” Luo Yixia said, rubbing her numb hand after more than four hours of IV fluids.

“Weren’t you always looking forward to starting school?” Song Chengyi remembered her anticipation for the military training.

“No, not anymore. It’s too exhausting.” And there’s no time to be with you.

“Once school starts, you’ll be even busier,” he said.

Luo Yixia paused; she knew that when term officially began, although they’d be at the same school, Song Chengyi would be busy, and she might not see him for ages.

Her mood suddenly soured.

“Will you stay in the dorm when school starts?” he asked.

“Yes, I always stay in the dorm.” She knew Song Chengyi disliked dorm life; he’d only stayed for his first year before moving out.

Now he’d return to the apartment at night, making it even harder for her to see him.

“Move to the apartment. I don’t feel comfortable with you in the dorm,” he said, not meeting her eyes.

Luo Yixia stared at him, wondering if she’d misheard.

“What?”

“You’re always getting into trouble; dorm life isn’t suitable for you.” He coughed awkwardly.

“Are you worried about me?” Luo Yixia leaned closer.

He watched her face draw nearer, his ears turning red as he looked away. “You’re overthinking it. I just don’t want Mom nagging me about taking care of you.”

“Oh.” Luo Yixia sat back, disappointed.

She hadn’t heard what she wanted.

Before long, Song Zeming arrived to pick up Luo Yixia.

Just then, the head nurse came by for rounds.

Song Zeming greeted her politely.

“It’s so late, and you’re still heading back?” the nurse asked with concern.

“Yes, I’m taking them back to school tonight.”

“Are you their brother?” she noticed he and Song Chengyi looked alike.

“Yes, this is my younger brother,” Song Zeming replied with a smile.

For some reason, Luo Yixia felt uneasy, as if something unpleasant might be said.

“Your mother is lucky, two sons and a daughter,” the nurse said kindly.

Song Zeming was slightly surprised. “You misunderstood. My mother only has my brother and me. But... it’s the same now. She always wanted a daughter, and now she has one.”

Luo Yixia closed her eyes and covered her face. She knew it—this was a disaster.

The nurse looked at Song Chengyi and Luo Yixia, mouth agape. “You’re not siblings?”

Song Zeming turned to them. “You’re mistaken. How could they be siblings? They just registered their marriage.”

The nurse’s expression changed, her gaze toward Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi suddenly unfriendly.

Luo Yixia wished she could vanish.

She endured the nurse’s displeasure, hiding behind Song Chengyi as they left.

Even after walking a long way, she felt cold, as if the nurse’s glare still lingered.

Outside the hospital, she covered her face. “So embarrassing.”

“What’s wrong?” Song Zeming asked, seeing her discomfort.

Luo Yixia explained what had happened, only slightly glossing over the nurse’s misunderstanding about her and Song Chengyi.

“Haha, so I exposed your lie?” Song Zeming laughed in the car.

“Zeming, you don’t know—the nurse’s look when I left was so venomous. My back still feels cold.”

“You deserved it,” Song Chengyi suddenly spoke up.

Luo Yixia glared at him. “It’s all your fault.”

Song Zeming watched them get along, feeling reassured.

He’d worried about them; when their mother called, he’d been surprised.

But he knew his brother was self-restrained, so it couldn’t be just obligation that brought him and Luo Yixia together.

Besides, his brother wouldn’t have acted solely because Luo Yixia was drunk; whatever happened was because Song Chengyi wanted it.

He’d always known that a fragile girl, drunk, wouldn’t initiate anything. If anything had happened, it was because his brother was willing.

And now, seeing them together, he could see Song Chengyi’s eyes held warmth for Luo Yixia, no longer cold and indifferent.

It was a promising start.

After eleven, they finally reached the training base.

“Xiaxia, don’t forget to get your IV tomorrow afternoon,” Song Zeming reminded her as she got out.

“Okay, I’ll remember,” she replied.

She’d rather make extra trips than stay at the hospital.

After all, she couldn’t hold Song Chengyi up. He’d spent the whole afternoon with her, and tomorrow he still had training.