Chapter 53: Who Are You?

For the first time, Zhou Jiayan didn’t linger in bed. Early in the morning, she ran to Jiang Zao’s room and knocked on the door. The knocking roused Jiang Zao from her slumber, leaving her dazed and disoriented.

The mattress in the old house’s guest room was exceptionally soft, so even the slightest movement rippled through her entire body.

In the past, Jiang Zao would have rolled around on the spot, stretching lazily and sighing, “So comfortable.”

But today, when Zhou Jiayan plopped down at the foot of her bed, the barely perceptible tremor sent a wave of nausea through Jiang Zao.

She scrambled to the bathroom, clutching the toilet as she began to vomit.

“Huuurgh—”

Zhou Jiayan jumped back in alarm. “What kind of nightmare did you have? Or did you sneak a midnight snack? How are you throwing up like this first thing in the morning?”

Jiang Zao was too busy retching to reply, only waving her hands in dismissal.

Seeing how miserable she looked, Zhou Jiayan hurriedly fetched some plain water from the cabinet and handed it to her.

“Have some water, take it slow. Are you okay?”

Jiang Zao rinsed her mouth and shook her head, signaling that she was fine. “Why are you up so early? Eager to see your brother?”

Zhou Jiayan crossed her arms and looked down at her. “It’s already nine o’clock. Early? You didn’t even make it to breakfast. Uncle wouldn’t let me wake you, said you were tired and needed rest. Since when did he start caring so much about you?”

Jiang Zao shooed her out. “I need to wash up and use the bathroom. Wait outside for me, be good.”

Zhou Jiayan’s voice echoed in the cold bathroom, reverberating until Jiang Zao felt as if she were trapped inside a resounding bell—her head spinning.

After freshening up and changing into the clothes the housekeepers had laid out, she went downstairs. Zhou Jiayan was already waiting in the living room.

Shen Xiaonan sat nearby, tending to a bouquet of flowers. When she saw Jiang Zao, she smiled gently. “Would you like some breakfast?”

Jiang Zao, cheeks flushed, shook her head. “No, I’ll go to the hospital first and eat later.”

Shen Xiaonan nodded with a smile. “Xiaochuan should be able to talk normally today. Go ahead, I’ll join you after I help your uncle with his medicine.”

Zhou Jiayan, as if pardoned, bundled Jiang Zao into the waiting nanny van.

...

On a workday, the hospital was bustling with people. Jiang Zao and Zhou Jiayan avoided the crowds, taking the quiet VIP corridor straight to the inpatient ward.

Zhou Lichuan’s eyes could already make out faint silhouettes.

Shen Mushi said his recovery was going well.

Looking at the man lying in bed, still lost in dreams, Jiang Zao thought of the chaos of the past days and felt a wave of unspeakable grievance.

She had so much to say to Zhou Lichuan, wanted his embrace, his words of comfort.

Her nose stung as she fought back tears.

While she was dabbing at her eyes, Meng Qiaoyuan slipped quietly into the room. Seeing Jiang Zao’s shifting mood, her brows knit in concern.

Pregnancy truly was a terrifying thing.

Even someone as strong-willed as Jiang Zao could not escape the emotional swings brought on by hormones. Giving birth was no less than a complete transformation.

She handed over a tissue and gently stroked Jiang Zao’s back in comfort. “He woke for a while earlier, chatted with Shen Mushi, and then went back to sleep. The pain from his wounds saps his strength—he needs more rest.”

Jiang Zao wiped away her tears and gave Meng Qiaoyuan a reassuring look.

She found it strange herself: last night, she was ready to go head-to-head with Zhou Huai to protect her child, but now, seeing Zhou Lichuan lying there, she could not control her tears.

On the television, a variety show played at random, its easygoing atmosphere light and unobtrusive. Jiang Zao glanced at it in passing—it was the program Zhou Kuan had joined.

But all her attention was on Zhou Lichuan; she paid no mind to the TV.

Soon, Du Bin arrived with a takeout box.

“Miss Jiang, I heard you skipped breakfast, so I bought you something. Would you like a bite?”

Jiang Zao glanced at her own stomach, decided not to upset the little peanut inside, and accepted the box, eating spoonful after spoonful of steamed egg custard.

Seeing her eat, Meng Qiaoyuan finally relaxed.

The custard was still unfinished when Zhou Lichuan began to stir. He cleared his throat from the bed.

“I need some water.”

At the sound of his voice, Jiang Zao immediately set down her food, picked up a cup, inserted a straw, and brought it to his lips.

Zhou Lichuan took a few sips, moistened his throat, and thanked her with little expression. “Thank you. Sorry to trouble you.”

The words sent a chill through Jiang Zao. When had Zhou Lichuan ever been this polite to her?

Meng Qiaoyuan teased from the side, “Are you two always this courteous with each other?”

Zhou Lichuan turned his gaze to Meng Qiaoyuan, seeming to think hard. “Hello, and you are…?”

The room fell silent enough to hear every breath.

Zhou Jiayan was the first to break the tension. “Brother, are you confused? That’s Meng Qiaoyuan. Don’t you recognize her voice?”

Zhou Lichuan’s voice was full of doubt. “Zhou Jiayan? You’re back in the country? Meng Qiaoyuan? Oh—Meng Qiaochong’s sister, right? A doctor, if I recall. Dr. Meng, why can’t I see? What’s wrong with my eyes?”

The cup slipped from Jiang Zao’s hand and shattered on the floor.

What kind of joke was this?

“Nurse, are you all right? Zhou Jiayan, please help clean up.”

Zhou Jiayan stood frozen. “Brother, what did you say? Who’s the nurse?”

Zhou Lichuan was puzzled. “The lady who just dropped the glass. I can’t see clearly, but she had long hair—I assume she’s a lady.”

Jiang Zao was nearly breathless, her legs weak as if she might collapse.

Luckily, Meng Qiaoyuan caught her in time.

Du Bin quickly moved a chair over for her to sit.

Everyone realized something was wrong.

Meng Qiaoyuan cautiously asked, “Mr. Zhou, do you remember why you’re in the hospital?”

Zhou Lichuan thought for a moment. “I was waiting by the road for Lin Rui to pick me up, and two groups of young thugs started fighting. I got hit in the head by mistake… I don’t recall anything else. By the way, where’s Lin Rui? The project files are urgent. Did he send them?”

Meng Qiaoyuan’s heart clenched as she reached for Jiang Zao’s hand, only to find it as cold as death.

“Zaozao, don’t scare me. Are you okay?”

Du Bin hadn’t taken his eyes off Jiang Zao’s face. In the space of a few breaths, he saw the color drain from her cheeks until she was as pale as paper.

Zhou Jiayan didn’t hesitate; she dropped her phone and ran out. “I’ll find Shen Mushi.”

She returned quickly with Shen Mushi and several other doctors.

Everyone else was ushered from the room. Jiang Zao sat in a daze on a chair outside the door.

“Zhou Jiayan… is he…?”

Zhou Jiayan squatted before her, meeting her eyes. “Jiang Zao, the doctors are inside now. There’s no diagnosis yet—don’t scare yourself.”

Meng Qiaoyuan rushed over as well. “Zaozao, calm down. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”