Jiang Nanfang saw Zhong argue with her for the first time.
"If you don't eat or drink, I'll boss you around."
"Otherwise, if your body collapses, who will the tens of thousands of employees of Zhan's ask for their salaries?"
"Your body doesn't belong to yourself alone; it belongs to thousands of employees and their families."
"Since I'm close to you, I have the obligation to look after you for everyone. If you don't eat properly, I will manage you!"
Zhan Beijue was about to get angry again.
"I've noticed you've become more eloquent since you met Zhou Jinbei. You dare to argue with me? Believe it or not, I'll call HR right now and get you fired!"
"I'll say it even if I get fired," Zhong said.
"I've even discussed it with the doctors. If you don't eat today, they'll give you sedatives."
"Even if I have to force-feed you, I'll get you to eat. President Zhan, look at yourself, how much weight you've lost since the accident last time?"
"I'm really scared for you..."
She became more impassioned as she spoke.
"Shut up!" Zhan Beijue interrupted her.
"I see you really don't want to work anymore, talking nonsense. Get out!"
It was evident that Zhan Beijue didn't want him to finish his words.
Zhong walked out with the mop.
As he reached the doorway, he still audaciously winked at Jiang Nanfang.
"Miss Jiang, could you come out for a moment? I have a few more words to say to you."
Jiang Nanfang instinctively walked towards him.
The two stood outside, and Zhong quietly told her.
"I know why President Zhan is refusing to eat or drink. His injury is on his thigh, and he has difficulty moving these days, requiring a catheter. But he finds it unsightly."
"He doesn't let anyone touch him, not even me. After thinking about it, you're the most suitable."
"I'll be right outside, Miss Jiang. Call me anytime if you need anything. It's like helping me out. Could you first persuade him to go to the restroom?"
Let alone Zhan Beijue losing weight.
Jiang Nanfang noticed that Zhong was getting thinner.
His already not plump cheeks now seemed slightly sunken upon closer inspection.
It was estimated that he hadn't rested since Zhan Beijue's accident.
His hairstyle was messy, sticking to his scalp with a greasy sheen.
His eyes were bloodshot, with large dark circles underneath.
A layer of stubble covered his chin, losing his usual elite demeanor and making him look like a dispirited drunkard.
Seeing a grown man so troubled by Zhan Beijue, Jiang Nanfang also felt pity.
"I understand his temper and know how to deal with him, don't worry."
"You don't need to stay here and suffer. Go back and rest. His health is important, and so are you. Your parents are counting on you to support them in their old age; you can't let your body fall apart."
Being cared for by Jiang Nanfang like this, Zhong felt a bit embarrassed.
"I'm fine..."
"What do you mean you're fine? We're all born of parents. Zhan Beijue's life isn't more valuable than yours."
Jiang Nanfang said righteously, "Why would you disregard your own life for him?"
"Go back quickly. I'm counting on you to get some sleep and then come relieve me. We can't stay awake until he's discharged, can we?"
"Or do you want to die of overwork and earn a lump sum of compensation for your parents, so they can live in a nursing home when they're old?"
"..."
"Go back quickly. I'll call you when needed."
Jiang Nanfang's words made sense.
Zhong thought for a moment and nodded.
"Alright then, I'll go back and rest for a while. But remember to call me if you need anything."
Jiang Nanfang stood at the door of the ward and watched Zhong enter the elevator.
A nurse pushing a small cart happened to pass by, and Jiang Nanfang stopped her to ask.
"Excuse me, can the patient in this ward eat anything now?"
The nurse glanced at the medical record. "Yes, as long as it's not stimulating food, it's fine."
"So, he can eat monkey brain, right?"
"..." The nurse gave her a strange look. "Yes."
"Thank you." Jiang Nanfang turned and went back into the ward.
Her phone was in her bag, and her bag was on Zhan Beijue's bedside table.
Jiang Nanfang picked up her phone, opened the food delivery app, and searched. She found a shop selling monkey brain, but it was outside the delivery area.
To return this "monkey brain joke" to Zhan Beijue, she decided to go out for a bit.
"I have something to do, I'm going out for a moment."
Zhan Beijue never expected that after all his longing, Jiang Nanfang had finally come.
She had only said a few words to him and hadn't even offered any pleasantries, yet she was leaving again!
A surge of anger immediately shot up to his head. He closed his eyes angrily.
"Since you're so busy, who asked you to come?"
"Go, don't come anymore. I don't need your insincere condolences!"
"..."
Jiang Nanfang gave him a reproachful look, her pride piqued. "If you don't want me here, fine. I didn't really want to see you anyway. Don't appreciate it, then."
With that, she grabbed her bag and left the ward with a swish of her back.
The ward, which had been lively for a few minutes, instantly became quiet.
Zhan Beijue, furious, lay on the bed and waited for a moment, thinking Jiang Nanfang was just joking and would return soon.
Who would have thought this stubborn woman was so heartless? One minute, two minutes, ten minutes...
Fine, Jiang Nanfang, you really don't need to come anymore!
His heart aching with resentment, coupled with the pain from his wound, Zhan Beijue felt an extreme sense of loneliness on the hospital bed.
Unexpectedly, just when he thought he and Jiang Nanfang were parting ways for good, she returned.
Not only did she return, but she was also carrying a pile of things.
Looking at the food boxes and shopping bags in her hands, Zhan Beijue felt surprised and delighted, but he refused to admit it verbally.
"Didn't you say you were leaving? Why are you back?"
Jiang Nanfang placed the items on the bedside cabinet, speaking against her better judgment as she did so.
"I was thinking of leaving, but Zhong threatened to die if I left, saying you wouldn't survive without me. To earn some good karma, I came back."
"..."
"I bought you some monkey brain to repay the favor of you taking me to the hospital last time. Sit up properly and eat."
Jiang Nanfang pulled over a stool and sat down in front of him, opening the food box in her hands.
"Eat yourself, or shall I feed you?"
Zhan Beijue didn't want to eat.
His previous comment about giving her monkey brain was entirely a joke, and he never thought he would face such retribution one day.
However, the opportunity for Jiang Nanfang to personally feed him was rare. After some thought, he couldn't help but be moved.
"I can't move. Help me up."
Jiang Nanfang, holding the food box, stood up, stepped on the foot of the bed as if it were routine, and the headboard rose.
Unconcerned about Zhan Beijue's comfort in this position, she returned to her seat. "Open your mouth."
Neither of them spoke. In this back-and-forth, as if devoid of any emotion, she fed him mouthful after mouthful.
She fed him quickly, so he had to eat quickly as well.
Soon, the box of monkey brain was empty.
Jiang Nanfang discarded the box and picked up a large red apple. "Have some fruit."
Zhan Beijue disliked fruit and immediately turned his head. "I won't eat it."
Jiang Nanfang glared at him like one would at a child. "Say that again?"