My Ex Who Dumped Me Comes to Hook Me Up Every Day - Chapter 9

The entire corridor became bright and transparent, and Jiang Yuhuai finally woke up, jolted by the intense light.

She looked up, her eyes reflecting Jin Zhou’s figure bathed in a soft white glow.

That face gradually merged with the hazy, barely discernible image of the youthful face in her memories.

Jiang Yuhuai froze for a moment, almost believing she was trapped in some beautiful dream she had relived countless times.

But when she looked again, Jin Zhou was frowning, her eyes barely concealing her impatience, and the elevator and apartment door were unmistakably familiar.

This wasn’t a dream; this was Jin Zhou’s home.

Jiang Yuhuai’s gaze flickered slightly as she asked, “Why did you come out?”

A newly awakened voice always carries a faint huskiness. When this quality tinged Jiang Yuhuai’s usually cool, clear voice, it inexplicably added a touch of sensuality.

Unfortunately, Jin Zhou was in no mood to appreciate it.

She was certain Jiang Yuhuai had done this deliberately.

Deliberately collapsing in front of someone else’s door and then, when the owner emerged, asking with feigned innocence, “What’s wrong?”

Jin Zhou leaned against the door, watching her. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”

Jiang Yuhuai fell silent.

Jin Zhou scoffed coldly. “Surely Dr. Jiang doesn’t actually plan to sleep here until morning?”

In a way, Jin Zhou’s words had struck a nerve with Jiang Yuhuai.

The reason she had allowed herself to fall asleep at the door was precisely to force Jin Zhou to come out and see her one last time.

Jiang Yuhuai knew that Jin Zhou, despite her tough exterior, had a soft heart. No matter how much she disliked her, she wouldn’t be able to leave her sleeping there all night.

However, Jin Zhou had made one miscalculation: if she hadn’t opened the door, Jiang Yuhuai would have indeed spent the night there.

After all—

She would be sleepless at home anyway, so where she slept made little difference.

Jiang Yuhuai opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t voice the thought. Instead, she simply replied, “I wouldn’t.”

Jin Zhou said coldly, “Then leave. Why are you still sitting there?”

Jiang Yuhuai tentatively stretched her legs, but after sitting for so long, they had lost all sensation.

She found herself unable to move.

Jin Zhou glanced at her mockingly. “Still not moving? So many germs on the floor—Dr. Jiang suddenly doesn’t mind getting dirty?”

Jiang Yuhuai flinched at the jab. After a long silence, she looked up at Jin Zhou and said softly, “My legs are numb. I can’t move.”

“…Oh.”

This unexpected answer left Jin Zhou momentarily flustered.

Numb legs—

What should she do?

Offer a hand to help her up?

Her brow twitched, her instincts recoiling from the idea.

The absurdity of that night had already crossed the line. Jin Zhou had no intention of having any further inappropriate contact with Jiang Yuhuai.

But if she didn’t help, was she just supposed to let Jiang Yuhuai sit there indefinitely?

Sensing Jin Zhou’s hesitation, Jiang Yuhuai said understandingly, “It’s fine, don’t worry about me. I just need a moment to recover.”

She gently stretched her limbs, rested briefly, and then prepared to slowly stand up by leaning against the wall.

Since Jiang Yuhuai had said so, Jin Zhou gladly stood aside and watched.

But before Jiang Yuhuai could even straighten her legs, she lost her balance and began to fall.

Jin Zhou: …

With lightning reflexes, Jin Zhou stepped forward and caught the swaying Jiang Yuhuai.

“Let me support you. Don’t want you to break anything.”

Knowing Jin Zhou was all bark and no bite, Jiang Yuhuai murmured softly, “Thank you.”

The temporary numbness from sitting too long wasn’t a serious issue.

But the widespread tingling in her limbs was still uncomfortable, like a thousand tiny insects wriggling through her bloodstream.

Jiang Yuhuai could only lean heavily against Jin Zhou, her body limp.

She clearly felt Jin Zhou’s body stiffen slightly, but the other woman didn’t pull away.

Jiang Yuhuai lowered her gaze, a secret joy and contentment blooming in her heart.

She carefully inhaled Jin Zhou’s scent.

It was the faint, aquatic fragrance of her perfume.

Like the vast, boundless ocean, serene and profound, encompassing all things.

In short, it was utterly different from the naive, adorable college student Jin Zhou had been six years ago.

This was an aura of mature tenderness.

A utopia, a land of peace and comfort.

Inscrutable yet irresistibly alluring.

“What perfume is that?”

Before she realized it, Jiang Yuhuai had already asked the question aloud.

Jin Zhou didn’t answer, her face tight as she asked, “Are you okay?”

Jiang Yuhuai wisely refrained from pressing further.

“It might take a while longer. I can’t stand properly yet.”

In truth, the numbness in her limbs had subsided considerably; she could at least stand with some effort.

But this warm embrace was too long overdue, and she found herself reluctant to let go.

So—

Let her tell one more lie.

The last time Jin Zhou had been this close to Jiang Yuhuai was when she was drunk, leaving only fragmented memories in her mind.

For those memories, even the most explicit scenes felt distant, as if she were merely an observer watching from a third-person perspective.

Beyond the embarrassment, there was little genuine physical sensation.

But this time, Jin Zhou was fully conscious, experiencing the tangible touch of fingers and the palpable warmth of breath.

When she stumbled, Jiang Yuhuai’s warm, moist lips brushed against her cheek.

A jolt like an electric current surged through Jin Zhou’s body, her muscles tensing involuntarily.

Jiang Yuhuai leaned closer, burying her face in Jin Zhou’s neck. The familiar warmth of sun-dried laundry radiated from her, flowing over Jin Zhou’s skin like a gentle stream.

Jiang Yuhuai’s steady breaths brushed against her sensitive skin, sending shivers through Jin Zhou’s soul, as if her heart were resonating with a primal tremor.

Despite her intention to avoid contact with Jiang Yuhuai, she found herself drawn closer, almost betraying her own purpose.

Jin Zhou’s expression grew strained. “It’s just my foot falling asleep,” she said, her voice tight. “Hasn’t it recovered yet?”

Jiang Yuhuai nodded slightly. “In theory, adjusting your posture should quickly relieve pressure on the nerves and bl00d vessels in your lower limbs. But I’m feeling a bit dizzy, probably because I haven’t eaten and my bl00d sugar is low.”

Her voice was soft and weak, a stark contrast to her energetic demeanor during the day.

Even if she was an ex-girlfriend, abandoning her in such a vulnerable state would be downright inhumane.

Jin Zhou sighed. “Fine, I’ll help you inside to sit down.”

Jiang Yuhuai’s eyes lit up, surprised by her sudden compromise.

But the catch came quickly.

“Once you’ve recovered, leave immediately. I need to rest.”

The hope in Jiang Yuhuai’s eyes dimmed considerably. “Okay,” she murmured.

Jin Zhou switched on the living room lights again and helped Jiang Yuhuai settle onto the sofa. She even kindly poured her a glass of water.

Jiang Yuhuai took the glass and sipped it slowly, but the water was gone in no time, clearly showing how thirsty she was.

After finishing, she handed the glass back with a polite, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” Jin Zhou said, shaking her head as she reached for the cup. Her peripheral vision caught sight of the large bag beside Jiang Yuhuai’s feet.

The bag looked somewhat out of place beside the sofa, unconsciously reminding Jin Zhou that Jiang Yuhuai hadn’t eaten.

In truth, Jin Zhou didn’t need to be so concerned. After all, Jiang Yuhuai had chosen not to eat; no one had forced her.

Yet, as if compelled by some inexplicable force, Jin Zhou blurted out, “You can use the kitchen. Would you like to make something to eat?”

Staying longer was naturally preferable, and Jiang Yuhuai agreed without hesitation.

“Okay.”

She stood up and started toward the kitchen. The next moment, she collapsed straight back down.

The bag in her hand fell, spilling vegetables across the floor.

Jin Zhou froze, momentarily stunned, unable to decipher what Jiang Yuhuai was up to.

It wasn’t until Jiang Yuhuai sank deeply into the sofa, motionless for a long moment, that Jin Zhou realized something was wrong.

Jin Zhou knelt down to check on her.

Jiang Yuhuai’s face was unnaturally pale, her eyes tightly closed, and her lips drained of color.

Frowning, Jin Zhou gently patted Jiang Yuhuai’s cheek.

“Jiang Yuhuai? What’s wrong?”

“Jiang Yuhuai! Can you hear me?”

Just as Jin Zhou was about to call emergency services, Jiang Yuhuai regained consciousness.

Her eyes fluttered open slightly, and her lips moved as if she were trying to speak.

Her voice was so faint that Jin Zhou had to lean closer to hear.

“Don’t worry… just low bl00d sugar… Do you have… glucose?”

Jiang Yuhuai’s warm breath brushed against Jin Zhou’s ear. Jin Zhou pulled back slightly. “No, but is there anything else that would work?”

“Then give me… a piece of candy.”

As she spoke, Jiang Yuhuai’s eyelids began to droop again, and she seemed on the verge of losing consciousness.

Jin Zhou rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a piece of rock candy, and stuffed it into Jiang Yuhuai’s mouth.

After a few minutes of sucking on the candy, Jiang Yuhuai’s complexion finally improved, no longer as frighteningly pale as before.

But Jin Zhou wasn’t a doctor and had no idea what was really going on. She could only verbally check on Jiang Yuhuai’s condition.

“Jiang Yuhuai, how are you feeling now?”

Jiang Yuhuai struggled to speak. “I just need to lie down for a bit longer. Thank you.”

“Mm, no problem.”

The two fell silent.

Jiang Yuhuai lay quietly on the sofa, looking as if she had fallen asleep.

Jin Zhou picked up the scattered items from the floor one by one and returned them to her pockets.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Jiang Yuhuai’s hands, neatly folded across her chest.

This was Jiang Yuhuai’s habitual sleeping posture, a habit she had maintained throughout the years.

She really hasn’t changed.

Hasn’t changed…

Jin Zhou glanced up at Jiang Yuhuai’s seemingly unguarded sleeping face.

Could she truly say that Jiang Yuhuai hadn’t changed at all?

Perhaps not.

Jin Zhou remembered clearly how Jiang Yuhuai had been in college: gentle and vibrant.

When happy, a faint smile would grace her face; when displeased, she would give Jin Zhou a playful glare.

The Jiang Yuhuai before her now, though more mature than before, seemed to mask her emotions. Her smiles and frowns carried a hint of pretense, making it impossible to discern her true feelings.

Moreover—

Her figure had become worryingly thin.

The hands resting on her chest were so slender that her fingers resembled bamboo joints, their bones sharply defined beneath a thin layer of skin. Veins that should have been hidden beneath fat were clearly visible.

Looking up, Jin Zhou noticed dark circles beneath Jiang Yuhuai’s eyes, and even her lips were dry and cracked.

In the current vernacular, Jiang Yuhuai had truly neglected herself.

When had she become like this?

Could it be that she hadn’t fared well during their years apart?

Jin Zhou couldn’t help but indulge in a malicious thought.

After Jiang Yuhuai’s heartless departure years ago, perhaps she had encountered someone just like herself—someone who feigned love and protection, only to abandon her without hesitation once they tired of the relationship.

Someone who would crush her into the ground, grinding her into dust.

That would be fitting.

That would be perfect.

Jin Zhou lowered her gaze.

As she felt a strange unfamiliarity with the deep malice she harbored, she noticed the suffocating weight in her chest seemed to lighten slightly.

Yes, she thought. I never wanted her to be happy.

She hadn’t always been this dark and twisted. Jiang Yuhuai had turned her into this.