Desert Island Girl (Pure Lily) - Chapter 24.2

“Oh, Sister Xiaoyang, is the fish soup ready?”

Lin Tingting, tending to Jiang Ning, asked as Mu Xiaoyang came in with a bowl.

Hurrying to Jiang Ning’s side, Mu Xiaoyang nodded, “It’s done. Tingting, go eat first. How’s Ning?”

Before anyone could answer, their footsteps seemed to wake the drowsy Jiang Ning.

After a morning, Jiang Ning’s cheeks were even redder.

She struggled to open her eyes, slowly looking at everyone, “I… haven’t died yet?”

“What nonsense! How could you die?” Mu Xiaoyang shot her a quick glance.

Jiang Ning gave a weak but happy smile, “But… I feel so bad, Xiaoyang… If I died, would it stop hurting?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Here, the fish soup you wanted. Smells good, right? I’ll feed you.”

Mu Xiaoyang sat by the bed.

Nodding, Jiang Ning tried to sit up—but sadly, she was too weak to do so.

After struggling several times, she couldn’t manage it.

Yi Yun and Lin Tingting felt heartbroken and gently helped her up, propping a pillow behind her to make her more comfortable.

Used to lying flat, sitting up suddenly made Jiang Ning nauseous.

She forced her burning eyelids open, fighting the dizziness in her head.

Her gaze slowly swept over everyone—Bai Niao sat at the bed’s foot, tenderly stroking her feet with pity; Yi Yun and Lin Tingting stood by her side, carefully tending to her; Mu Xiaoyang held a bowl in one hand and a spoon of creamy fish soup in the other, gently bringing it to her mouth, saying softly, “Ah—”

Since learning of her illness, Jiang Ning had stayed strong, but now her nose stung, and tears fell uncontrollably.

“Ning? What’s wrong, Ning?”

“Is something hurting?”

“Did I touch your foot too hard?!”

“…”

Sobbing and shaking her head, Jiang Ning looked at the slightly panicked group, feeling both sad and happy, “No, nothing… I… this is the first time I’ve felt what it’s like to have friends. Everyone’s taking care of me, indulging me, calling me little miss, making soup for me… I… I’m really so touched…”

She looked at Yi Yun with teary eyes, “Sister Yun… you said you envied me, that I was born with a silver spoon, surrounded by friends. But it’s not true… I had no friends, Sister Yun, not a single one. People didn’t play with me. They were afraid of making me cry, ruining my clothes or toys, or offending my parents and having to pay…”

Jiang Ning shook her head sadly, her eyes full of reluctance, “I really like you all so much… I want to keep playing with you all, I… I…”

Seeing her get agitated, Mu Xiaoyang quickly comforted her, “We understand, Ning. Don’t rush. Come, have some soup first. You haven’t eaten all day.”

Nodding with a hint of grievance, Jiang Ning gently sipped the fish soup from the spoon.

The warm, smooth, savory creamy broth mixed with melt-in-your-mouth fish gave Jiang Ning great comfort.

She couldn’t help but smile through her tears, “Xiaoyang… it’s really delicious…”

“Hehe… right? I cooked it for ages. Come, I’ll feed you more.”

Seeing her childlike expression, Mu Xiaoyang felt happy too.

It was a good sign that a sick person wanted to eat! She had thought Ning’s condition would make her unable to stomach the soup.

…

Because Jiang Ning was so weak, she drank slowly. It took nearly 20 minutes to finish a small bowl.

“Xiaoyang… playing with everyone… was so much fun…”

After finishing the soup, Jiang Ning looked as if she’d fought a battle, completely drained.

She looked at Mu Xiaoyang tiredly, breathing heavily, “But I’m so scared… Xiaoyang, I miss my mom and dad… You… you have to promise me, when you’re rescued, you’ll take me home. Please, okay?”

Mu Xiaoyang and the others didn’t know that Jiang Ning nearly vomited from the soup.

She already felt nauseous from her illness, and though the fish was fresh, it had a distinct fishy taste.

If not for fear of worrying them, she wouldn’t have taken a second sip.

Sigh, she was so selfish. She insisted on fish soup, but her body… seemed to reject it now…

“…”

With tears in her eyes, Mu Xiaoyang set the empty bowl aside.

She took Jiang Ning’s hand, her voice trembling, “Okay… I promise! But you have to keep fighting to live! Ning, I, Mu Xiaoyang, swear! As long as you survive, no matter what, I’ll take you home! I keep my word! Even if there’s no rescue team, we’ll build a huge ship and leave this awful place together! So, promise me, Jiang Ning! You can’t die! You have to hold on!”

“…”

Tears streamed down her face. Jiang Ning closed her eyes, nodding weakly, “Thank you… Xiaoyang… Thank you… Thank you all… I, I’ll try to hold on…”

Nodding frantically, Mu Xiaoyang laughed through her tears, “Yes! That’s right! Listen, Ning, rest now. I’ve found a way to treat your illness! I’m going to gather herbs now. When you wake up, drink the medicine, and you’ll get better! Then we’ll build that big ship together! Okay?”

She wanted to give Jiang Ning hope—hope to keep fighting!

“Really…?”

A glimmer of hope seemed to spark, though Jiang Ning’s expression was dazed, “Will… it be dangerous for you?”

“No! No danger. Your coughing bl00d is just from a lung infection caused by bacteria! If I find houttuynia cordata, it can reduce the inflammation and help you recover! Ning, I need you to tell me yourself—you want to live!”

“…”

Staring blankly at the girls, Jiang Ning’s eyes reddened instantly.

She looked at them with grievance, tears flowing uncontrollably, “I… of course I don’t want to die, Xiaoyang—I want to stay with you all forever! I want to go home to see my mom and dad! If I can…”

“I really want to live!”

“No problem!”

Clenching her fist firmly, Mu Xiaoyang looked at the sobbing Jiang Ning, brimming with confidence, “Rest well, Ning. You have to hold on! I’ll prepare and be back soon!”

She wanted to live—not only did this give Jiang Ning hope, but it also gave Mu Xiaoyang immense confidence!