Getting Caught Up In His Cycle Of Passionate Love - Chapter 14
Do you need my company?
When Lu Que returned to the hospital, his grandfather was peeling an apple. His aged hands gently touched the person lying on the hospital bed. It seemed like he noticed her hands were a bit cold, so he got up and covered her with a blanket.
“Grandpa, I’m back.”
The old man seemed not to have heard him. Lu Que, already used to this, stepped forward and asked again, “Grandpa, can I take over?”
This time, the grandfather responded a little. Seeing Lu Que, his eyes curved into a smile as he handed the apple to him.
“Xiao Que… why have you come again? Didn’t you say you had something important to do today? Go focus on that, don’t worry about us here. As long as I’m here, it’s enough.”
Lu Que sat beside him and shook his head, “I still wanted to come. How’s Grandma’s condition today? Did the doctor say anything we should pay extra attention to?”
Grandpa smiled and began to carefully describe what the doctor had told him today.
“I’m fine on my own.”
“The doctor said Grandma’s condition is a little better than yesterday. We don’t have to watch over her every moment. Your college entrance exam is coming soon. You need to study well. Running back and forth every day isn’t good.”
Lu Que shook his head but still insisted on his own idea, “It’s fine, Grandpa. You don’t know me well yet. I can handle preparing for the exam.”
The person lying on the bed had tubes inserted all over, and the heart rate monitor beside her kept beeping, making the atmosphere oppressive.
When Xu Tao Yue received the call from the hospital at school, she hurriedly asked Xiang Baijie for leave and took the nearest train to the hospital.
“Mom, what happened? How did you suddenly fall?”
Seeing Xu Tao Yue rushing over like that, Xu Wen’s heart actually felt bad too.
“Why did you come back? I was trying not to worry you, so I didn’t tell you. The exam is soon, you should hurry back to school.”
Xu Tao Yue was anxious, “Mom, are you okay? What did the doctor say?”
Xu Wen waved her hand, “It’s nothing, nothing serious, just put on some red flower oil and it will be fine.”
Xu Tao Yue was doubtful, “Really? Injuries to tendons and bones take a hundred days to heal. You need to rest well or there might be aftereffects.”
“Do you want your mother to be unwell?”
Hearing this, Xu Tao Yue quickly said, “Mom, what are you talking about?”
Looking around, Xu Tao Yue said, “I’ll get your medicine, you just sit here and don’t move!”
When Lu Que came out, he happened to meet Xu Tao Yue rushing to the pharmacy. Worried something might happen to her, he followed her upstairs.
“Why are you suddenly here at the hospital?”
Xu Tao Yue was startled by Lu Que’s sudden appearance, looking around, “No, why are you here?”
Lu Que frowned, “Xu Tongxue, isn’t this something I should ask you first?”
Xu Tao Yue realized, “Ah, my mom twisted her ankle, I came to see her. What about you? You haven’t been running back and forth between school and hospital, have you?”
Lu Que shrugged, tacitly admitting what she said.
When Xu Tao Yue sent Xu Wen back, she specially told her younger brother to help Xu Wen during this time. Indeed, the German Shepherd was trustworthy, and Xu Tao Yue was very satisfied and at ease.
Lu Que waited outside. Xu Tao Yue didn’t keep him waiting long before rushing downstairs. “Lu Que.”
“Mm.”
He stood under the streetlight. Occasionally, some kids rode bicycles and wandered about. Xu Tao Yue hurried over and asked about him.
“How’s Grandma’s condition?”
“Pretty good.” Lu Que’s tone showed no emotion; Xu Tao Yue didn’t continue asking.
The two started walking. Eventually, Lu Que couldn’t bear the oppressive atmosphere and spoke first.
“This has been going on for more than a day or two. If that day really comes, I think I’ll calmly accept it.”
Xu Tao Yue nodded but didn’t respond, “Why?”
Why…
He didn’t know either. Parting seemed like a very ordinary thing to him.
“Because I’ve seen her suffer and struggle so much, sometimes I think it might be better to let her go.”
Lu Que’s grandmother had been fighting cancer for more than three years. From the beginning when she was radiant, elegant, and strong, to now being weak and dispirited — Lu Que had witnessed it all.
“Has she expressed her wishes?”
Lu Que shook his head, “No, but I know she’s holding on for Grandpa.”
“The nurse said Grandma is already at the very end. Sometimes I just don’t want to believe it.”
Lu Que seemed calm; Xu Tao Yue didn’t know what to say to comfort him.
“Don’t bother thinking about how to comfort me with your brain cells,” Lu Que guessed that Xu Tao Yue was making that expression because she was thinking about something.
“How do you know everything?”
Xu Tao Yue pouted.
Lu Que chuckled softly, “Do you think I’m cold and heartless?”
“Not at all! No way!”
Xu Tao Yue immediately denied, “Lu Que is the best person in the world.”
“How do you know me so well?”
“I really know you.” Xu Tao Yue stared into his eyes, “Really.”
Lu Que smiled, “If one day she really leaves us, I’ll be happy for her. At least she won’t have to pretend she’s not in pain and hide it from us anymore.”
Xu Tao Yue smiled, “Grandma must be a very gentle person.”
Walking around, they unexpectedly returned to the small fork where they first met. Lu Que suddenly laughed out loud, “Xu Tongxue, did you find your supermarket?”
Xu Tao Yue: “…”
Better not to mention it. Mentioning it reminded Xu Tao Yue of something embarrassing that happened that day.
“You really have the nerve to say that?”
“Do you know how the security guard looked at me when I went to the mental hospital?”
Lu Que responded, “I really didn’t lie to you.”
“Just say, isn’t the supermarket in that area?”
That was really undeniable. For some reason, the supermarket was right behind the mental hospital.
Xu Tao Yue: “…”
“Well then, I forgive you.”
Lu Que nodded and followed Xu Tao Yue’s words, “Then thanks for not holding it against me.”
“No need, no need.”
Behind the alley was a cake shop. Lu Que lowered his eyes and suddenly remembered something, then casually asked, “Is your birthday coming up?”
“No, my birthday is still a while away.” Xu Tao Yue didn’t think much and answered.
Lu Que looked at her with a puzzled expression, “Really?”
Xu Tao Yue nodded and counted on her fingers, “Yeah, my birthday is October 20th. Are you planning a surprise for me?”
That was strange. Lu Que lowered his gaze, because he remembered that when Xiang Baijie asked him to organize student information at the beginning of the semester, Xu Tao Yue’s birthday was listed as September 30th.
“Are you sure?” Lu Que wasn’t convinced and asked again. He thought he couldn’t be wrong.
“Of course I’m sure.” Xu Tao Yue was unconcerned and teased Lu Que, “Lu Tongxue, did you get my birthday wrong? This time, remember it well. My birthday is October 20th!”
“Mm, got it.”
Xu Tao Yue glanced at her watch, “Back to school? At this time if we go back, it’ll be close to break time. I can accompany you~”
Lu Que didn’t think much, “Let’s go.”
“Hmph, you also really need my company, right~” Xu Tao Yue started her performance again.
Lu Que sighed, knowing if he didn’t play along, she wouldn’t let him off, “Alright, alright, I need your company, okay?”
Xu Tao Yue was happy, hopping forward, “Lu Que, you better keep up!”
Lu Que was helpless and had to speed up.
Xiang Baijie saw Lu Que come back and gave him the stage, “Lu Que, watch over them here. I’m going to the office to organize some files.”
Lu Que nodded. After Xiang Baijie left, he carefully recalled the details.
Ye Wan turned around and softly asked Xu Tao Yue, “Tao Tao, is your mom okay now?”
Xu Tao Yue leaned forward, “She’s fine. Luckily, she only twisted her ankle and will recover in two days.”
Ye Wan nodded, “That’s good. Next time, I’ll visit your aunt.”
Xu Tao Yue nodded seriously, “Mm, you must come. When you come, I can escape my mom’s nagging.”
Ye Wan was amused and then handed her all the papers she missed that morning in one pile.
“These are all the tests since you asked for leave. Write them quickly. They’ll be collected in evening self-study.”
Xu Tao Yue: “!!!”
You can’t avoid it forever. When will the stressful life of senior year finally end?
That night, Xu Tao Yue had a dream. She dreamed she directly crossed over to college life, and nobody knew her anymore. Everyone started drifting away.
Suddenly, Xu Tao Yue woke up, just wanting to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized something was wrong.
“Xu Tao Yue, you’re going to be late for your 8 a.m. class, hurry up.” An unfamiliar voice sounded by her ear. Xu Tao Yue was startled and immediately sat up.
Xu Tao Yue was confused and felt like she wasn’t fully awake and wanted to sleep more, but someone nearby shook her awake again.
“Why aren’t you getting up? You’ll be late for your professional class. Hurry up or you’ll lose credits!”
A girl in a skirt struggled to shake Xu Tao Yue’s bed. Xu Tao Yue tentatively asked, “Where am I…?”
The girl pulled her down, “Are you dumb? I really won’t joke with you anymore. Hurry, or you’ll be late for Teacher Li’s class!”
Xu Tao Yue shook her head and looked around. The girl had already left, and the whole dorm was empty except for her.
This was bad. She had no idea what she was doing. She pinched herself hard, and it really hurt. This wasn’t a dream.
Xu Tao Yue habitually grabbed her phone and looked. The sky was falling.
September 23, 2045.
But delayed by a whole year.
Xu Tao Yue was a little panicked. She didn’t know how she suddenly came to one year later.
It should be college time now, and according to this date, it should be the first day of school. What was going on with this story?
Had she suddenly appeared here and the version of herself from a year ago vanished without a trace?
She didn’t dare think further, feeling it was getting scarier. Then she saw a message from Lu Que.
Lu Que: “You disappeared without saying a word a year ago. Now do you still want to run away?”
Xu Tao Yue: “……”
This was the real sky falling.