Xie Huaichu held her wrist and gently pulled her into his arms.
It was like a brother comforting his sister.
His large hand brushed through her long hair, and his voice softened, careful and tender.
"Grandma is fine. The surgery was a success."
"Don't be afraid, okay?" Xie Huaichu's words were like a calming pill, slowly easing the anxiety and restlessness in Jiang Li's heart.
Her body leaned against him, still trembling slightly, murmuring to herself.
"It's okay, Grandma is fine."
Nearby, Aunt Hua watched them with a heart full of sympathy, her tears welling up.
Xie Huaichu didn't speak again; he just held her quietly.
Soon after, a nurse pushed a cart out from the ER.
Hearing the sound, Jiang Li quickly turned and ran toward the cart.
She leaned over, resting beside it, and softly called out, "Grandma, it's me, Li Li. Can you hear me?"
"The patient has just undergone surgery, and the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet," the nurse explained. "She can't hear anything right now. Please step aside."
"We need to move her to the ward."
"I'm coming with you," Jiang Li said, jogging behind the cart.
Xie Huaichu watched the small figure, his eyes narrowing instinctively.
Jiang Li.
There seemed to be many mysteries surrounding her, and he wanted to uncover them all.
Night fell, and the hospital grew quiet.
Jiang Li had been sitting in the ward for a long time. The nurse had told her that because of her grandmother's age and the complexity of the surgery, her body was very weak. It would take some time before she woke up, and Jiang Li shouldn't worry too much.
She could go home to grab a change of clothes since her grandmother would need to stay for observation after waking up.
At that moment, she was sitting on a bench outside the ward.
A single light shone in the empty corridor.
The light stretched her shadow, making her seem incredibly lonely.
She had her hands pressed to her face, her elbows resting on her knees, and her shoulders faintly shaking.
Xie Huaichu saw her from a distance, his pupils constricting.
He tucked the pen he was holding into the pocket of his white coat and adjusted his glasses.
He walked toward her slowly.
It seemed she sensed his footsteps because she hurriedly wiped away her tears.
When she looked up again, Xie Huaichu was standing right in front of her.
"Are you crying?" he asked.
"No, I'm not," Jiang Li replied hoarsely, turning her head to avoid looking at him.
"What can I do to make you stop feeling so sad?"
Xie Huaichu remained silent for a long while before carefully speaking.
Jiang Li turned around in surprise, completely not expecting him to say something like that.
"I just thought… if the old lady wakes up and doesn't see her family, she might be even more upset."
Xie Huaichu awkwardly shifted his gaze, speaking contrary to his true feelings.
Seeing him so uncomfortable, the tight knot in Jiang Li's chest loosened considerably.
She sniffled, tilted her head to look at him, and then softly asked, "Can I snuggle with you?"
"Huh?" Xie Huaichu was confused, turning back to look at her.
She gazed at him with her eyes still glistening with tears.
His heart skipped a beat, and an unsettling thought began to form.
He wanted to hide her away.
Not let anyone else touch her, only he could care for her.
The girl's eyes were red, but she held back her tears, her face stubborn, though her gaze was filled with sadness and sorrow.
She looked like an abandoned kitten, and it made his heart ache.
"How do you want to snuggle?" he asked.
"Just put your hand out."
Jiang Li stretched out one hand, her soft voice making Xie Huaichu swallow hard.
He obediently extended his hand toward her.
Jiang Li grabbed his hand and tugged, but couldn't pull him closer. "Can you move a little closer?"
She looked at him with such eager anticipation that it was hard for him to refuse.
Xie Huaichu steadied himself and stepped forward. "And then?"
Jiang Li didn't respond to his question. Instead, she gently cupped his hand and slowly moved it toward her cheek.
The moment her soft cheek touched the palm of his hand, Xie Huaichu's entire body stiffened.
The image of kissing her earlobe while she was half-conscious flashed back into his mind.
In that instant, his breathing grew rapid, and his throat felt dry.
He cursed himself for being a beast while desperately trying to suppress the restless feeling inside him.
He didn't understand what Jiang Li meant by "snuggling."
At this moment, the young girl seemed a little happier.
Xie Huaichu lowered his gaze, simply watching the little head in his arms.
A softness surged in his heart, something he didn't even realize was there.
Jiang Li held his hand, her cheek pressed against his palm.
The heavy, knotting sadness in her chest seemed to dissipate a little.
Xie Huaichu's hand was slightly cool, just the right temperature to soothe the restlessness within her.
She closed her eyes slightly, greedily savoring this moment.
Her grandmother was ill.
She couldn't cry, but she still couldn't help shedding tears.
She had no one to rely on and could only depend on herself.
Xie Huaichu's presence felt like a light in the darkness, giving her new strength.
The request to snuggle was something she blurted out without thinking.
She hadn't expected much, but to her surprise, Xie Huaichu actually agreed.
This person, who usually appeared cold and distant, as if keeping everyone at arm's length…
And who had done something over the line when she was half-conscious…
But at this moment, she felt that he was kind, warm.
After a while, Jiang Li lifted her head, and the redness around her eyes had already faded.
She gently released his hand and smiled brightly. "Thank you."
Xie Huaichu withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back.
His hands clasped together, as if holding onto the warmth that had been left in his palm.
Looking at Jiang Li's pure gaze, Xie Huaichu couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.
Just moments ago, she had seemed helpless, like an abandoned child.
But now, she appeared so carefree, almost like she had been reborn.
Jiang Li, how many faces do you have?
A young girl in her twenties, yet she seemed like someone who had lived half a life.
What kind of stories had unfolded in her life?
"No need to thank me," Xie Huaichu regained his composure, deliberately lowering his voice.
He didn't want to sound too aloof, so as not to frighten her.
"If you don't mind, would you allow me to invite Dr. Xie to some late-night snacks?"
Jiang Li slowly stood up, tilted her head to look at him, a faint glow appearing in her eyes.
"Let it be a thank you for Dr. Xie allowing me to snuggle with him earlier."
"Sure."
Tonight, Xie Huaichu didn't have any shifts to work.
But when he was leaving, he saw her sitting alone on the bench in the corridor.
He didn't know why he went over.
Perhaps it was because seeing her in such a helpless state stirred something inside him.
But he knew full well that he wasn't the type to meddle in others' business.
So where did this feeling of pity come from? He couldn't quite figure it out.
There was a small eatery beside the hospital, and the two of them ordered two bowls of noodles.
While waiting for the noodles to arrive, Xie Huaichu's gaze would occasionally drift toward Jiang Li.
"If Dr. Xie wants to look, why not just look openly?" Jiang Li noticed Xie Huaichu's unintentional glances and, not rejecting it, teasingly smiled at him.
"Sorry," Xie Huaichu apologized seriously, as if he had been caught sneaking a peek.
Little did he know, his ears were already burning red.
Seeing him so awkward, Jiang Li couldn't help but smile softly.
"So, the usually aloof and dignified Dr. Xie can also lower his head like this, huh?"
"Can I take that to mean Dr. Xie was stunned by my beauty, and that's why he was sneaking glances at me?"
Xie Huaichu: "…"
The girl was quite bold.
"Miss Jiang is indeed very beautiful, that's an undeniable fact."
Xie Huaichu looked at the bright, captivating girl before him.
Once again, a strange feeling surfaced deep inside him.
Could it be that he was developing feelings for this little girl?