Chapter 27: Home Comforts and Hidden Pains

The day after Jiang Wenting returned, she completed Yi Lan’s discharge procedures.
After greeting Director Qi, she first took Yi Lan back to the hotel.
Xiao Ru was unhappy throughout the journey, but with Beiye present, she managed to save Jiang Wenting some face and didn’t openly scold her in front of them.

Soon, the car pulled into the underground garage.
Jiang Wenting unbuckled Yi Lan’s seatbelt, reached out to ruffle her hair, and said in a cheerful tone: “We’re home, baby!”

Beiye quickly slipped out of the back seat, pulled open the passenger door, and reached out to pinch Yi Lan’s face, also in a joyful tone: “Home we go!
“Are you happy?”

Yi Lan turned her head, avoiding the touch, her other hand tightly clutching her toy water gun.

Beiye wasn’t deterred, reaching out again, complaining as she ruffled Yi Lan’s head: “You let Jiangjiang touch you but not me!”

Yi Lan couldn’t avoid it and let the other party mess up her hair.

Jiang Wenting got out of the driver’s seat and pulled Beiye away by the collar: “Don’t bully Yi Lan.
“There’s a pile of stuff in the trunk, aren’t you going to help carry it?”

Beiye was pulled away, giving a soft snort: “Stingy!”
Seeing Xiao Ru organizing things by herself, she went over to help.

Jiang Wenting helped Yi Lan out of the car, gently holding the top of the car door to shield her: “Slowly now, be careful not to bump your head.”

Perhaps it was because the System had extended her lifespan, but Yi Lan’s spirits these past few days weren’t too bad.
After getting out of the car, she didn’t let Jiang Wenting support her, standing ramrod straight, clutching her toy water gun, exuding the aura of a general.

Jiang Wenting was amused by her: “Then Yi Lan, wait for me here.
“I’ll go help with the things.”

The other party didn’t respond.
As Jiang Wenting lifted her foot, Yi Lan also followed her over.
As they got closer, Xiao Ru shot her a glare: “Like a clingy dog, why did you follow us?
“Just looking at you is annoying!”

Yi Lan ignored her, standing silently to the side, watching them retrieve things.

Beiye caught sight of her from the corner of her eye and picked out the lightest bag for her: “Yi Lan, help me carry this!”

She dutifully walked over and took the bag.
Then, seeing Jiang Wenting still laden with bags big and small, she proactively went to help.
She pushed her platinum diamond bracelet up her wrist, making sure it wouldn’t be damaged, before reaching out to take the heavy items from Jiang Wenting’s hand.

Jiang Wenting was charmed, her peach blossom eyes adorned with a doting smile: “Baby, this is too heavy; you can’t carry it!”

She handed her another bag, but the other party refused it, stubbornly clinging to the heavier one.

Jiang Wenting patiently reasoned with her, coaxing her like a child: “Yi Lan’s body has only just recovered a little.
“Carrying heavy things will make her tired easily, and if she gets tired, she’ll have to go to the hospital for an IV drip.
“IV drips hurt a lot, don’t they?”

Yi Lan: “…”

Seeing that the other party didn’t speak, Jiang Wenting freed a hand to rub her head: “Be obedient, understand?”

Yi Lan, treated like a child, remained expressionless but eventually released the heavy object in her hand.

Jiang Wenting’s eyes curved in satisfaction: “Good girl!”

Xiao Ru’s eyes were practically rolling into the back of her head.
Beiye chuckled secretly.
Jiang Wenting noticed and glanced at her: “What are you laughing at!”

Beiye: “I’m laughing at how silly and cute you two are.”

The group carried their bags and took the elevator upstairs.
The hotel suite was on the 16th floor.
The elevator stopped midway, and several strangers entered.
Yi Lan instinctively stepped in front of Jiang Wenting.
In the past few days, she had learned some information about celebrities online and vaguely understood why Jiang Wenting had to be fully disguised every time she went out.

At this moment, she was afraid that Jiang Wenting would be recognized and that people would aggressively take photos of her face, like last time, so she shielded her first.

Fortunately, most of the people staying in this hotel were in the same industry, and everyone was used to it.

The elevator doors closed, and the lift continued to ascend, soon reaching the 16th floor.
Jiang Wenting had upgraded their two-person suite to a four-bedroom suite, complete with a living room and kitchen, as spacious as their own home.

Yi Lan entered, looking with curiosity at the decor, which was completely different from the hospital.

Jiang Wenting put her things down and pointed to the largest, south-facing bedroom, saying to Yi Lan: “That’s Yi Lan’s room.
“Go quickly and see if you like it?”

Beiye and Xiao Ru looked over simultaneously.
Xiao Ru was so angry she wanted to hit someone.
Beiye tilted her head back and playfully complained to Jiang Wenting: “Jiangjiang, you’re so biased, giving the biggest bedroom to Yi Lan!”

Jiang Wenting ignored her, taking Yi Lan’s hand and leading her to the master bedroom: “Don’t mind this fool, I’ll show you around the room.”

The platinum diamond clover bracelet encircled her fair wrist, sparkling even more under the hotel lights.
She led Yi Lan into the bedroom, introducing everything from the bedside lamp to the bathroom, step by step.

“This is the bathtub.
“If Yi Lan wants to bathe, you can soak in here.
“I’ll get you bath liquid and flower petals later, but Yi Lan has only just recovered, so you can’t soak for too long, okay!”

Unlike a showerhead, the bathtub was much closer to ancient bathing facilities, and Yi Lan immediately felt a sense of familiarity.
She stepped forward, gently touching the rim of the tub.
It was so big!
So many times larger than the bath tub in a military tent.
How many buckets of water would it take to fill it?

Jiang Wenting noticed her curiosity and walked to the faucet, gently turning it.
Water flowed out.
She adjusted a switch and pointed at the red water.
“The temperature can be adjusted by yourself.”

Yi Lan stared intently, her expression serious and earnest.
Jiang Wenting guided her hand to the spout, and warm water flowed over their fingertips.

Jiang Wenting tilted her head, her eyes bright: “Doesn’t that feel good?”

She didn’t answer.

Jiang Wenting smiled: “Yi Lan, then your body will be refreshed.”

The wooden-like person paused for a few seconds, “Let’s bathe.”

Jiang Wenting: “?”

Before she could react, the other party added: “You’re not coming with me?”

“With me?” Jiang Wenting looked at the incredibly spacious bathtub and actually imagined the scene of two people bathing together.
She shook her head, explaining with a slight blush: “No, my room has its own bathroom.”

My room has its own bathroom…

Yi Lan’s long eyelashes drooped slightly as she pondered what the other party had said.
So, was Jiang Wenting going to sleep separately from her now?
But in the hospital, they were in the same room.

Jiang Wenting saw her hesitation, raised her hand, and pointed to the room opposite: “My room is that one.
“If Yi Lan gets bored alone and wants to talk, you can come and find me.”

Yi Lan followed her finger and silently memorized that room in her heart.

Jiang Wenting settled Yi Lan onto the bed and then went out to help tidy up.
They had been living in the hospital for a long time, so many clothes, bedsheets, and duvet covers needed to be rewashed.
Beiye was too lazy to move, lying on the sofa on a video call with Shen Jinglan.

Xiao Ru kept a cold face, not speaking to her, angrily tidying up by herself.
Jiang Wenting followed her around, finally managing to coax her.
Thinking that she had an appointment with a guide in the afternoon, she decided to go back to her room and lie down for a while.
But when she entered the room and pulled back the covers, she found someone lying on the bed.

Jiang Wenting’s breath hitched.
Meeting those bright phoenix eyes, she reacted for half a second before she couldn’t help but smile: “My little silly, when did you come over?
“You scared me!”

Yi Lan didn’t speak, lying half-curled on her bed, like a cool, aloof little phoenix.

Jiang Wenting, feeling helpless, sat on the edge of the bed.
Her slender fingers traced Yi Lan’s body: “Isn’t Yi Lan’s room opposite?
“Why are you like a child, following me wherever I go, so clingy?”

She complained with her mouth, but the tenderness in her heart couldn’t be contained.
She raised her hand and poked Yi Lan’s nose: “Did you shower before you decided to lie on my bed?”

The person being poked rolled over, turning her back to Jiang Wenting, her slender body occupying the bed.

Jiang Wenting’s heart was about to melt.
She also lay down, reaching out to hug her, her voice languid: “This is my bed, Yi Lan, you’re not allowed to sleep here.”

Warm breath seeped into the back of Yi Lan’s neck, making her spine tingle.
Yi Lan flinched but showed no intention of pushing her away.

Jiang Wenting inhaled her scent, deliberately feigning disgust: “You’ve been lying in the hospital for half a month; you smell sour, and you’re still lying on my bed.”

But no matter how much she complained, the other party wouldn’t move an inch.

“Little clingy dog!” Jiang Wenting whispered her accusation, then got out of bed, took a thin nightgown from the closet, and said in a serious tone: “No turning around, okay?
“I’m changing clothes!”

Yi Lan didn’t turn around.
A few seconds later, soft rustling sounds filled her ears.
She tried her best not to think, but that naked body still appeared in her mind.
She was familiar with its structure; even a tiny mole on a subtle part was incredibly clear.

Until Jiang Wenting, having changed, lay down again beside her on the bed.

She hadn’t taken off her underwear; the silk nightgown wrapped her body tightly.
Her slender fingertips lifted slightly, poking Yi Lan’s slender back: “I’m done.”

Yi Lan felt the movement and involuntarily flinched.

Jiang Wenting clung to her like an octopus: “Since Yi Lan likes sleeping in my room, then you have to be my big white goose.”

Her breath was too hot, and her whole body pressed against Yi Lan.
Yi Lan found it a bit unbearable and struggled slightly in her arms.

Jiang Wenting held her tighter, deliberately saying loudly: “Time to sleep with my soft, big white goose~”

Yi Lan couldn’t break free, enduring her body heat with difficulty, her thoughts and heart racing.

Jiang Wenting was afraid she was uncomfortable, so after a while, she loosened her arm.
Her soft voice carried a faint hoarseness: “Sleep, I won’t bully Yi Lan anymore.”

Yi Lan’s back felt empty.
The burning body heat hadn’t receded.
A moment later, the other person’s steady, even breathing came from beside her.

Jiang Wenting was asleep.

Yi Lan gently turned, facing her beautiful features, tracing her gaze little by little, from her eyes to her nose, to her mouth, and then back to the mole at the corner of her eye.
It was very familiar, yet also very strange.

“A-Ting,” she called that name in her heart, quietly asking, “How could you bear to deceive me?”

As she asked, the tears in her eyes uncontrollably spilled out, dampening the pillow.
After a very, very long time, she spoke again: “But I can’t bear it.
“What should I do?”

Accompanying her helplessness and confusion, the Jiang Wenting before her had already entered a deep, peaceful sleep.