Giving You Dawn And Dusk - Chapter 5

Xu Qingzhu’s episode came on too quickly, and the ward soon descended into chaos.

Zhao Xuning kept speaking to Xu Qingzhu, trying to soothe her emotions.

But at this moment, Xu Qingzhu could not take in a single word. Both her hands were clutching the blanket tightly, the backs of her hands turning white. After that first shrill, miserable scream, she buried her head against her knees, her entire body trembling nonstop.

“Xu Qingzhu, listen to me. This is the hospital. No one will hurt you.” When Zhao Xuning spoke to her, she was far gentler than when she spoke to Liang Shi. “It’s okay. You can trust me. I’m Zhao Xuning.”

Xu Qingzhu suddenly pulled the blanket over herself completely, but she was still shaking.

Zhao Xuning turned back, originally wanting to see whether Doctor Gu had arrived yet, only to spot Liang Shi standing there like a post. She frowned and snapped irritably, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Without waiting for Liang Shi to react, she instructed the nurse beside her, “Push her out. Don’t affect the patient’s mood.”

Liang Shi’s brows furrowed slightly. As the nurses tried to push her away, her long hair came loose and fell down.

The beautiful Alpha with such a powerful presence made the nurses unconsciously pause. It was as if pushing her one more time would make the Alpha angry.

But Liang Shi merely struggled lightly and directly freed herself. “I can walk on my own.”

If an Alpha truly did not want to leave, no amount of force from a Beta would be useful.

Liang Shi carried the strawberries and walked out. But when she reached the doorway, she suddenly turned back. She pressed her lips together, her voice very gentle, yet carrying a stubborn strength.

She called Xu Qingzhu’s name softly. “Xu Qingzhu.”

Xu Qingzhu, on the bed, suddenly stopped trembling. Like a shy, wary cat, she even tentatively pulled the blanket open. But she only glanced once before immediately hiding back in the darkness that gave her a sense of safety.

“Whether you believe me or not, I won’t hurt you.” Liang Shi turned back and revealed a gentle smile.

Even if Xu Qingzhu could not see it, she believed sincere kindness could still reach the other person.

Liang Shi said, “Don’t be afraid. There are many people here, and they can all protect you. Once you’re better, we can talk about everything else.”

“Get out.” Zhao Xuning said coldly, “The patient’s emotions are unstable right now. Everything can wait until she’s better. Don’t pressure the patient now.”

Liang Shi’s expression also cooled. She looked straight at Zhao Xuning. “This isn’t pressuring the patient.”

“Then what are you doing right now?!” Zhao Xuning questioned.

“I’m only making a promise to Xu Qingzhu.” When Xu Qingzhu was mentioned, Liang Shi’s voice instantly softened. “I want her not to be afraid.”

“Xu Qingzhu.” Liang Shi called her gently once more. “I’m going out first. Listen to the doctor. I did many wrong things in the past, but from now on, I absolutely won’t let you get hurt.”

After saying that, she walked out, casually handing the strawberries she was carrying to the nurses and letting them share them.

Soon, Doctor Gu arrived.

Liang Shi stood in the corridor, listening to the movement inside the ward. Before long, the room quieted down.

Only then did she finally let out a breath of relief.

**

Gu Junru was Xu Qingzhu’s personal psychiatrist.

Xu Qingzhu’s post-traumatic stress disorder had always been treated by her. Nearly twenty years had already passed since the kidnapping, but it had left a tremendous impact on Xu Qingzhu’s personality.

For a very long period of time, Xu Qingzhu did not speak at all.

It was not until she was ten that Xu Qingzhu finally spoke again. Only when she was fifteen did her condition temporarily stabilize.

She had not shown symptoms for a very long time.

Today’s incident had also startled Gu Junru.

Fortunately, the situation was not especially severe. Before she arrived, Xu Qingzhu had already received some comfort.

Gu Junru gave Xu Qingzhu a sedative, then cleared everyone out of the ward.

After Xu Qingzhu fell deeply asleep and completely relaxed, Gu Junru tucked the blanket around her. Only then did she beckon Zhao Xuning over. “What happened? Why did her condition suddenly flare up?”

Zhao Xuning adjusted her glasses. With both hands tucked into the pockets of her white coat, she said irritably, “Who else could it be?”

“I saw Liang Shi at the door just now,” Gu Junru said.

Zhao Xuning’s voice carried disgust. “No one else but her.”

“But…” Gu Junru paused.

Zhao Xuning raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Gu Junru shook her head and fell silent.

That belonged to the patient’s privacy.

“Did Liang Shi comfort Qingzhu just now?” Gu Junru changed the subject.

“She did,” Zhao Xuning said. “Zhuzi even poked her head out because of what she said.”

“What did she say?” Gu Junru’s voice was very calm. “Tell me in as much detail as possible.”

Zhao Xuning frowned and coldly repeated what Liang Shi had said earlier. Then she gave a sneer. “Hypocritical.”

Gu Junru did not comment on that.

She did not know much about what had happened between the two after their marriage. However, she remembered that years ago, when she was treating Xu Qingzhu, Xu Qingzhu had once said that a girl had given her courage back then. When the two of them were kidnapped together, that girl had been braver than she was and had even encouraged her to be brave.

Then there was the last time, when Xu Qingzhu said during a follow-up appointment that she was getting married.

The person she was marrying was that girl.

Zhao Xuning looked at Xu Qingzhu’s pale face and sighed helplessly. “It depends on her.”

Gu Junru nodded. “She’s very brave.”

**

When Xu Qingzhu woke up, it was evening, and there was no one in the ward.

Most likely, Zhao Xuning had been afraid she would not rest well and had sent everyone out. She had also left a note by Xu Qingzhu’s pillow, telling her to press the emergency bell beside the bed or call her once she woke up.

Xu Qingzhu merely sat there in a daze.

The events of the past two days had left her utterly exhausted. She needed a quiet space to empty her mind.

But when she had just woken up, her body was dehydrated. She reached out to feel for the glass of water by the head of the bed, but because she did not have enough strength in her hand, she accidentally knocked the cup to the floor, producing a crisp shattering sound.

It frightened her so badly that she shivered.

Immediately afterward, the ward door was pushed open, and a nervous-looking Liang Shi ran in. “Are you okay?”

Xu Qingzhu locked her brows and stared at her. Her hand had already landed on the emergency bell, but then an unopened bottle of water was suddenly handed to her.

Liang Shi said warmly, “If you need it, I can help you twist the cap open.”

Unopened water. Surely there would not be any danger this time, right?

“This is warm water,” Liang Shi said. “I’ve been keeping it warm in my hand.”

Xu Qingzhu stared at her without moving.

The person before her felt unfamiliar.

Not quite like the Liang Shi she knew.

Seeing that she did not speak, Liang Shi felt a little panicked, but she pretended to remain calm. “Do you want me to open it for you?”

As she spoke, she was about to withdraw her hand, but Xu Qingzhu accepted the bottle of water and said coldly, “No need.”

She held the water. Liang Shi’s body heat still lingered on it.

There was also a faint tea fragrance, similar to the scent of Baihao Yinzhen.

It was a type of tea her late grandfather had liked very much.

Liang Shi had already taken the broom and dustpan from the ward and was bending down to clean up the glass shards on the floor.

Xu Qingzhu gripped the bottle and watched her unfamiliar movements. Suddenly, she spoke. “Who are you?”

Liang Shi’s movements paused. She lifted her head and smiled. “I’m Liang Shi.”

Xu Qingzhu’s brows drew even tighter. “Are you?”

“Yes. We’re married.” Liang Shi said, “Did you lose your memory?”

When she said this, there was surprise in Liang Shi’s eyes.

Her acting skills were excellent, so at this moment, she did not let Xu Qingzhu see any flaws.

When she reached out to touch Xu Qingzhu’s forehead, Xu Qingzhu leaned back, avoiding her touch.

Xu Qingzhu said nothing more.

Liang Shi cleaned up the broken glass on the floor. When she turned back, she saw Xu Qingzhu struggling with the bottle cap.

The sick Omega was soft and weak. At this moment, she could not even twist open a bottle cap, and even drinking a mouthful of water had become difficult. Liang Shi quickly strode over in a few steps, standing there hesitantly as she asked, “How about… I do it?”

Xu Qingzhu still lowered her head and kept trying. Her pale-pink fingernails had turned white from using too much force.

Liang Shi could not stand watching anymore and directly reached out to take it. Her fingers happened to press against Xu Qingzhu’s.

It was clearly a very simple touch, yet Xu Qingzhu suddenly raised her head.

Liang Shi also belatedly withdrew her hand, but the instant she pulled back, Xu Qingzhu’s fingers lightly brushed across her palm.

It brought with it a tingling, numbing itch.

Her heart suddenly sped up by several beats.