Chapter 18: Get ill

After a moment of silence.

Ning Ke spoke first: “Lu Jie said your cough is very severe?”

Yan Yunzhi: “It’s nothing.

Perhaps it’s because I forgot to process those two ancient books.”

Ning Ke remembered how her uncle used to hire someone periodically to vacuum the dust from ancient books.

She had also heard Ning Hui mention that many collectors of ancient books suffered from chronic coughs or even pharyngitis due to improper handling.

“Have Lu Jie help you handle them in the future, or hire someone specifically for this task.”

“I was careless this time, I’ll be careful in the future.

It’s not serious.”

Ning Ke didn’t pursue the topic: “Don’t sit up, lie down.”

Yan Yunzhi shook her head: “I’ve been lying down all night, it’s quite boring.”

‘It’s been that long?’

‘Why didn’t she tell her at the beginning?’

Ning Ke glanced at the time: “How long until your private doctor arrives?”

Yan Yunzhi: “He said on the phone just now it would be another fifteen minutes.”

Ning Ke muttered under her breath: “So slow.”

Yan Yunzhi curved her lips slightly: “It was rather sudden, don’t blame him.”

She was always like this, her emotions faint even when facing major issues, never speaking ill of anyone, let alone blaming them.

The doctor hadn’t arrived yet, so Ning Ke could only wait in the room.

This was her first time stepping into Yan Yunzhi’s room.

Beige furniture, minimalist design, only a landscape ink painting hung beside the desk, with four characters brushed next to it: Grace Under the Trees.

Ning Ke thought, ‘These words suit her well.’

“A gift from Grandpa’s friend, cough cough cough…” Yan Yunzhi started coughing midway through her sentence, “There was no place to put it, so I hung it here.”

Ning Ke lost interest in the painting: “Are you sure you don’t need to lie down?”

Yan Yunzhi saw her insistence, covered her mouth and coughed softly twice: “Okay.”

She furrowed her brows, looking frail and coolly detached, as elegant and refined as Ru ware white porcelain, warm, dignified, beautiful, and fragile.

Ning Ke reached out a hand wanting to help, but didn’t know where to start.

Yan Yunzhi smiled at her, her slender fingers lightly brushing against Ning Ke’s arm, borrowing a bit of strength, before lying down on her side.

Ning Ke subconsciously looked at her hand, inexplicably recalling Lin Yun saying the other day that these hands were very ‘1’… [TL Note: “1” is internet slang, often used in fandoms to denote the dominant/seme/’top’ partner in a romantic pairing.] ‘Aren’t they just slender and good-looking? How are they ‘1’?’

…Wait, what was she thinking?

Ning Ke snapped back to reality and saw Lu Jie leading a doctor wearing thin, gold-rimmed glasses to the door. She immediately walked over.

“Miss Ning, this is Doctor Xie.”

“Doctor Xie, this is Miss Ning, Ah Zhi’s wife.”

Ning Ke: “Doctor Xie, hello.

Please be thorough with the examination later.

She coughed some time ago due to catching a draft, this time it’s likely because of exposure to dust from two old books.”

Doctor Xie nodded: “Okay, rest assured.

I’ve been dealing with Miss Yan for many years.”

The doctor went in to examine her, and the door closed.

Ning Ke stood still in the hallway.

Lu Jie was internally ecstatic.

For over two years after the marriage, Miss Ning had been indifferent to Ah Zhi, leaving such a wonderful wife out in the cold.

Even when Yan Yunzhi returned to the country, felt airsick after landing, and was hospitalized, she didn’t see her visit the hospital.

Back then, Lu Jie thought she was a stone that couldn’t be warmed – hard-hearted!

But now? Not only did she rush back tonight, but she was also so clear about her wife’s condition and needed to instruct the doctor.

It showed this girl was just a slow-burner, finally learning how to care for someone!

‘Such a good-looking young woman who knows how to dote on people, even if she has a bit of a temper, she should be pampered and spoiled. She’s much better at loving her wife than some stinky man. She felt Ah Zhi had made the right choice in marrying her!’

Lu Jie beamed at Ning Ke, the previous dissatisfaction in her heart vanishing into thin air.

The more she looked, the more pleased she was, just hoping these two would soon be honest with each other and become sweet and loving!

Ning Ke felt her scalp tingle under Lu Jie’s gaze: “Lu Jie, why are you looking at me?”

That look… it was exactly like someone starving during a famine looking at pork, wishing they could take a bite out of her!

Lu Jie gave an awkward laugh: “Nothing, nothing.”

Although she said it was nothing, the curve of her smiling eyes didn’t retract at all, almost as if she wanted to plant a kiss on Ning Ke’s face!

Ning Ke felt uncomfortable being watched by her. Fortunately, the doctor came out.

Doctor Xie said: “The trigger for this illness is dust, but the reaction shouldn’t be this severe.

I chatted with Miss Yan, and her recent period of rushing around and fatigue is also a factor.

The family needs to take good care of her recently.”

“Okay, understood,” Ning Ke suddenly became the “patient’s family member” and felt a bit unaccustomed, reacting half a beat slow, “Oh… right, what medicine does she need to take?

Are there any dietary precautions?”

Doctor Xie listened to her questions and smiled before speaking: “Someone will deliver the medicine to Lu Jie tomorrow morning, and she also knows the dietary precautions.”

Ning Ke finally understood why he was smiling. There was helplessness and teasing in his smile… As Yan Yunzhi’s wife, she knew less about her wife’s physical condition than Lu Jie did.

This shouldn’t be the case.

A subtle feeling welled up in her heart, neither guilt nor embarrassment. She couldn’t quite describe it, but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Doctor Xie: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Ning Ke suppressed that complicated feeling: “I’ll see you out.”

She led the doctor downstairs, talking as they walked.

“How long have you been Yan… her private doctor?”

“Over ten years, I suppose, but intermittently, because she doesn’t spend much time in the country.”

“Then, what about the last two years?”

“Not that often either, maybe twice.”

Ning Ke thanked the doctor twice and saw him into his car.

Just before the car started, she walked over again: “Doctor Xie, can I add you on WeChat?”

Doctor Xie smiled as he sized her up, but agreed readily: “Okay.”

Back upstairs, Lu Jie was still standing in the hallway. Seeing Ning Ke, she lowered her voice and said: “I opened the door just now and saw Ah Zhi was asleep. Are you still going in to check?”

Ning Ke stood by the door and glanced inside.

The person was asleep, seemingly troubled by illness even in her dreams, her brow furrowed, but her expression was calm.

It was her usual gentle and forbearing appearance.

Ning Ke stood still.

After a moment, she closed the door and said to Lu Jie: “Let’s not disturb her.”

The next morning, Ning Ke was woken up by her alarm clock.

It was her fate to be busy. Having had a little leisure time the past two days, she asked Xu Jian to arrange work for her.

As a result, she went to bed so late last night and had to wake up early today. She felt like she’d lost half her life just getting out of bed.

Fortunately, today’s work wasn’t complicated. A fashion show had invited celebrities to make an appearance.

No runway walking or interviews were required; she just needed to sit in the front row and watch the show.

The organizers arranged two seats for her. Ning Ke invited Lin Yun to sit with her in the front row.

They watched the show, occasionally making comments.

However, Lin Yun did most of the talking. Ning Ke responded occasionally, seeming somewhat absentminded.

After three or five times, Lin Yun noticed something was off.

Lin Yun: “Ke Ke, what’s wrong with you today?”

Ning Ke: “What do you mean, what’s wrong?”

Lin Yun: “Come on, the model is wearing the upcoming spring limited edition!

Didn’t you used to love collecting spring limited editions from major brands, especially high heels?

Aren’t those shoes nice?

Not interested at all?”

Ning Ke: “They’re just okay.”

The intermission arrived. Other guests stood up, chatting in small groups, half networking, half catching up.

Only Ning Ke remained seated, showing no intention of talking to anyone.

Lin Yun looked at her suspiciously and suddenly asked: “You’re not thinking about your Yan Yunzhi, are you?”

Ning Ke paused for a second: “…What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lin Yun: “Did I really hit the mark?”

Ning Ke: “No.”

Lin Yun knew Ning Ke’s temperament best and changed her approach: “What caused her illness?”

Ning Ke: “Dust from the ancient books was the trigger.

The doctor also said her fatigue from the recent period was a contributing factor.”

Lin Yun: “Still say you’re not thinking about her?”

Ning Ke: “…”

Lin Yun sighed: “You and Yan Yunzhi have been married for two years. Isn’t it normal to care about her?”

Ning Ke: “It’s not about caring or not caring.”

This time, Lin Yun had nothing more to say.

She knew her best friend was quite stubborn.

During the second half, Ning Ke lacked interest and went straight home after the show.

A black extended limousine was parked in front of the villa’s main gate.

Entering the house, Ning Ke saw someone she didn’t particularly want to see. She walked over quickly: “Grandpa, you’re here.”

Yan Yunzhi’s grandfather, Yan Qi, was talking with Yan Yunzhi in the living room.

Yan Yunzhi had draped a wool cardigan over her shoulders, and a fine cashmere blanket covered her lap.

The old gentleman had snow-white hair and sharp eyes. His features were stern and proper, and his way of speaking and doing things was meticulous, carrying an air of authority without being angry: “You’re back quite early.”

Ning Ke: “I had a work arrangement today. If I had known you were coming, I would have postponed it.”

Yan Qi: “I just came by since I was passing through.

If I hadn’t come in to check, Ah Zhi would have kept the matter of her being sick from me.”

Yan Yunzhi gathered the wool cardigan around her: “It’s a very minor thing, why would I need to bother you with it specifically? I didn’t want you to worry.”

Yan Qi snorted: “How did you get sick this time?”

After asking, he looked up at Ning Ke, his gaze becoming even brighter and sharper.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t look at Ning Ke, her expression natural as she adjusted the blanket on her lap: “I caught a bit of a draft, I’m almost better.”

She didn’t mention a single word about the fatigue the doctor had brought up last night, only saying she had been careless.

Ning Ke felt uneasy. She took a deep breath: “Grandpa, I’m sorry.

It was, it was me who didn’t take good care of her.”

Yan Qi’s face remained stern, his voice heavy: “You indeed didn’t take good care of her.”

“Grandpa,” Yan Yunzhi interrupted him, “It has nothing to do with Little Ning, it really was just me being careless.”

Yan Qi stared at her, his expression shifting, finally standing up: “Forget it, I’m leaving now.

No need to see me out, neither of you need to.”

When he said no need, he meant it. Ning Ke stood watching him walk out.

Yan Yunzhi turned her head and coughed softly twice: “Don’t take Grandpa’s words to heart, don’t feel guilty.

My health isn’t good, it has nothing to do with you.”

Ning Ke turned her head to the side: “Oh.

I said that for Grandpa to hear.”

Yan Yunzhi was silent for a moment. Unlike before, when she would gently and distantly say ‘she knew’, she suddenly asked: “Is that so?”

Ning Ke’s mind went blank for a second at this sudden ‘Is that so?’. But she quickly recovered and snapped fiercely: “What else?”

Her tone was fierce, projecting an image of someone not to be trifled with.

‘Grandpa Yan is the Ning family’s benefactor. She failed to take care of the benefactor’s granddaughter. She should feel guilty… it’s only right.’

‘It has nothing to do with Yan Yunzhi.’