Chapter 629: Two people confess their love to each other
He subconsciously stretched out his hand, wanting to hold Yang Xiaohua's hand and give her some comfort, but hesitated in mid-air and finally slowly retracted his hand.
He knew very well that any action at this moment might cause Yang Xiaohua's emotions, which had just calmed down, to get out of control again.
The atmosphere in the ward became increasingly solemn, with an indescribable sadness and helplessness permeating between the two.
Zhao Shuzhuo opened his mouth, trying to break the suffocating silence, but his throat seemed to be choked by something and he couldn't utter a complete sound for a while.
He could only sit there quietly, looking at Yang Xiaohua who lowered her head, his heart full of contradictions and struggles. On the one hand, he had the responsibility to his hometown Jianye Village, where his years of hard work and the expectations of his fellow villagers were placed.
On the other hand, there was this pitiful girl in front of him who made his heart beat so fast. He really couldn't bear to see her cry, and he didn't want to be separated from her.
But fate seemed to have forced him into a dilemma, forcing him to choose between the two.
In the ward, the pungent smell of disinfectant permeated the air, mixed with the faint sunlight coming in from the window, creating an atmosphere that was both depressing and hopeful.
Yang Xiaohua sat quietly on the hospital bed, her hair was a little messy with a few strands hanging in front of her forehead, making her originally pretty face look even more pitiful.
Her red and swollen eyes still showed traces of just crying, and the tears accumulated in her eye sockets flickered in the dim light, as if they would burst again at any time.
Zhao Shuzhuo stood not far from the bed. His eyes had been fixed on Yang Xiaohua since he entered the ward, never moving away for a moment.
Looking at her like this, he felt as if his heart was being grabbed by an invisible hand and it hurt so much.
The heart-wrenching feeling surged up along his blood vessels, making his breathing become heavy.
He lowered his eyes slightly, trying to calm the waves in his heart. After a brief silence, he took a deep breath, as if he had finally made up his mind.
Zhao Shuzhuo raised his head, his eyes showing unprecedented determination, and said directly:
"Xiaohua, I have been accompanying you and taking care of you in the hospital these days, but I actually have other intentions."
As soon as he opened his mouth, the words sounded quite stiff. He paused, as if he realized that something was wrong, and then slowed down his speech, with a little more tenderness and sincerity in his voice.
"I get up before dawn every day and go to the cafeteria to get you a steaming hot breakfast, hoping that you can eat comfortably."
"Whenever I'm free during the day, I'll stay by your bed, chat with you, and tell you about my hometown, Jianye Village. I'll tell you all the fun and novel things, just to make you happy."
"At night, I have to tuck you in, for fear that you might catch a cold. Only after I see that you are sleeping soundly will I feel at ease and go back to my residence."
As he spoke, he unconsciously took a few steps closer to Yang Xiaohua, his eyes becoming increasingly fiery.
"Xiaohua, I'm not doing this out of kindness. I think you should have realized in your heart that I like you and I want to be with you."
At this point, Zhao Shuzhuo's ears turned slightly red and a hint of shyness appeared on his face, but that shyness disappeared in a flash, replaced by an eager desire for an answer.
"I don't know if you have this intention towards me."
When Yang Xiaohua heard Zhao Shuzhuo express his feelings so bluntly, she felt like she was struck by a sudden electric current and was stunned for a moment.
She opened her eyes wide and stared at Zhao Shuzhuo, as if she couldn't believe her ears.
After a few seconds, a blush spread from her cheeks at a speed visible to the naked eye, first a light pink, then becoming more and more intense, like a ripe red apple.
She lowered her head in panic, her hands subconsciously tugging at the corners of her clothes, her fingers turning slightly white from the force.
She never thought that Zhao Shuzhuo, who usually looked honest and even a little dull, would be so direct and bold in expressing his feelings on emotional issues.
In her impression, Zhao Shuzhuo always gave silently, and didn't talk much but every word he said was heartwarming. But now his straightforward words broke her previous perception of him, and made her both surprised and happy. Her heart felt like a little rabbit was pounding.
For a moment, the air in the ward seemed to freeze, leaving only the two people's rapid breathing sounds intertwined together, telling of the turmoil in their hearts at the moment.
The light in the ward was a little dim. The afterglow of the setting sun outside the window shone through the mottled curtains, casting dots of light and shadow, adding a touch of warmth to this slightly cold space.
Yang Xiaohua sat on the hospital bed, her hands folded uneasily in front of her, her fingers twisting unconsciously. She lowered her head slightly, a few strands of hair falling from her cheeks, making her face look even more shy.
After a long while, as if she had finally mustered up all her courage, she slowly raised her head, looking straight into Zhao Shuzhuo's expectant eyes, and said to him in a soft but firm voice:
"Brother Zhao, I actually understood your intentions from the beginning."
As she said this, the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised a slight arc, and her eyes flashed with memories.
"Do you remember when I was first admitted to the hospital? I chose to commit suicide because my father's illness could not be cured. I was extremely depressed at the time and felt that the whole world was dark and gloomy."
"But you showed up in my ward on time every day, bringing a steaming hot breakfast. The aroma of the food seemed to have a magical power that could instantly dispel the haze in my heart."
She paused, her eyes full of gratitude and attachment.
"You not only took care of my diet, but also chatted with me to relieve my boredom, and told me stories about Jianye Village. Those interesting people and events were like a window to a new world, allowing me to find joy during these days of illness."
"At night, you always carefully tucked me in, fearing that I would catch a cold. How could I not understand the concerned look in your eyes?"
Yang Xiaohua shook her head slightly, as if she was impressed by Zhao Shuzhuo's attentiveness.
"Who else would be so nice to me, Brother Zhao? Do you want me to be so straightforward?"
When she said this, a blush appeared on her cheeks, her eyes dodged slightly, but she quickly looked back firmly.
"If I...if I don't like you, I would never accept your kindness and would have cut off all ties with you long ago."
Her voice became softer, yet filled with unquestionable certainty.
"But...but you are leaving now, Brother Zhao."
When the word "go" was mentioned, Yang Xiaohua's eyes instantly turned red and her voice choked.
"Will we never see each other again?"
Her eyes were full of worry and reluctance, as if she had already seen the loneliness and loss in the long days to come without Zhao Shuzhuo's company.
The tears were swirling in her eyes and could fall down at any time and hit her clenched hands.