It is hard to be peaceful inside the house, as quiet as a grave.
The air seemed to solidify into blocks, making people breathless.
Only the occasional faint breathing sound proves that this place is not a dead place.
Xiaohong curled up in the quilt, wrapping herself up like a silkworm pupa.
The soft quilt was pressed against her hot skin, but it could not dispel her irritability and anxiety in the slightest.
Luo Xiaoyu's words were like thorns, piercing her heart, making her unable to calm down.
She closed her eyes tightly, trying to drive out the annoying words from her mind, but in vain.
Those words were as if they had taken root, and they couldn't get rid of them in her mind, making her heart irritated.
Outside the door, Luo Xiaoyu stood like a sculpture.
She pressed against the door panel tightly, as if she wanted to feel Xiaohong's emotions through this thin layer of wooden board.
Her heart was like a swing hanging in the air, sometimes waving to worry and sometimes waving to self-blame.
She was upset with her impulse just now and wanted to go back time and take back those hurtful words.
She pricked her ears and listened carefully to the movements coming from the house, for fear of missing any slight movement.
"Oh, it's noon, Xiaoyu, what are you doing? Why are you standing by the other person's door?" A slightly old but kind voice broke the solid silence.
Luo Xiaoyu was shocked suddenly, and turned around quickly like a thief guilty person. What caught her eye was Grandma Lin's face full of traces of time.
Grandma Lin was hunched over, holding a basket of fresh vegetables that had just been picked from the field in her hand, and looked at her with a smile.
Luo Xiaoyu was a little at a loss, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she stammered: "No... nothing, I'm just..." She racked her brains and couldn't think of a suitable reason.
Inside the room, Xiaohong heard Grandma Lin’s voice and sat up suddenly.
Her eyes widened, her heart full of tension and anxiety.
She hurriedly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, pricked up her ears, trying to hear the movement outside clearly.
Her heart was like a frightened deer, pounding, for fear that Grandma Lin would find her embarrassed look at her at this moment.
Luo Xiaoyu didn't know how to answer, but Grandma Lin seemed to see some clues.
She put down the basket in her hand and slowly approached Luo Xiaoyu with a concerned smile on her face.
At this moment, the door was pushed open with a "creak".
Grandma Lin pushed the door open and a fresh aroma of vegetable floated into the house.
She looked at Xiaohong with a smile and said kindly: "Xiaohong, what are you doing in the house? It is good for your health when you come out to bask in the sun." Xiaohong saw Grandma Lin's face with a hurried look on her messy hair, and she squeezed out a smile: "Grandma Lin, I'm fine, I'm just a little tired."
Luo Xiaoyu followed Grandma Lin and carefully leaned into her head, with a hint of apology and uneasiness in her eyes.
She glanced at Xiaohong secretly and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she did not show obvious hostility.
Grandma Lin looked around the room and saw the slightly messy bed. She mistakenly thought that the two of them had just quarreled over some small object. She smiled and joked: "You two girls, have you quarreled over some small things? What a big deal, it's worth sulking?"
"No!" Xiaohong and Luo Xiaoyu denied in unison, their tone surprisingly consistent.
Grandma Lin looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression on her face. She put the vegetable basket in her hand on the table, walked to Xiaohong's bed and sat down, and asked with concern: "It's okay? Xiaohong, your face doesn't look very good. Are you uncomfortable?"
Xiaohong shook her head, but her eyes turned slightly red, "Grandma Lin, I..." She wanted to speak but stopped, and her heart was filled with emotion.
Seeing this, Luo Xiaoyu also walked to the bed silently, gently pulled Xiaohong's corner of her clothes, and whispered: "Xiaohong, I'm sorry, I..."
Xiaohong took a deep breath, finally plucked up the courage, and said with a choking, "Grandma Lin, actually..." She paused, her eyes fell on Luo Xiaoyu, "Actually, I..." Xiaohong choked, and tears as big as beans slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the quilt, bleaching dark marks.
"Grandma Lin, Luo Xiaoyu... She always says I'm spoiled, I'm talking a lot, I'm talking about me..." Xiaohong's voice became smaller and smaller, and finally turned into a silent sob.
She bit her lower lip tightly, trying to control her emotions, but she could not stop the tears coming out.
She felt like a child abandoned by the whole world, lonely and helpless, and extremely aggrieved.
Luo Xiaoyu stood aside, listening to Xiaohong's intermittent crying, his eyes gradually turned red.
She clenched her fists tightly, her nails embedded in her flesh deeply, but she could not feel any pain.
She regretted her previous verbal words and regretted her misunderstanding and hurtfulness of Xiaohong.
She wanted to rush up and hug Xiaohong, telling her that she didn't really hate her, but she didn't dare.
She was afraid that Xiaohong would reject her hug, and she was afraid that Xiaohong would hate her even more.
Grandma Lin looked at the scene in front of her and sighed deeply.
She reached out and gently stroked Xiaohong's hair, her tone was gentle and loving, "Child, stop crying, tell my mother-in-law if you have any grievances."
Luo Xiaoyu took a deep breath and plucked up the courage to explain, "Xiaohong, I'm not..."
"No need to say anything!" Xiaohong raised her head suddenly and interrupted Luo Xiaoyu's words. Her eyes were red and she had a hint of anger. "I know you hate me, you don't have to pretend to be a good person!"
Luo Xiaoyu stomped her feet anxiously, "I don't! Listen to my explanation..."
"Okay, okay, don't say anything!" Grandma Lin raised her voice and stopped the two of them from quarreling about to break out. "If you have anything to do, don't make noises at any time." She turned to look at Luo Xiaoyu, "Xiaoyu, you go out first, I'll say a few words to Xiaohong alone."
Although Luo Xiaoyu was unwilling to accept it, she still obediently retreated and gently closed the door.
She leaned against the door panel, waiting anxiously, feeling uneasy.
In the room, Grandma Lin held Xiaohong's hand and comforted her softly.
After a while, Grandma Lin pushed open the door and walked out, waved to Luo Xiaoyu, "Xiaoyu, come in."
Luo Xiaoyu walked into the room nervously and saw that Xiaohong had stopped crying, but her face was still pale.
She hesitated for a moment, walked to Xiaohong, slowly stretched out her hand, and gently held Xiaohong's hand, "Xiaohong..."
Luo Xiaoyu's hands were warm and dry, tightly wrapped around Xiaohong's cold hands.
Xiaohong felt a warm current flowing slowly from her fingertips into her heart, dispelling a little chill in her heart.
She instinctively wanted to break free, but she didn't try hard, just struggled gently.
Luo Xiaoyu felt Xiaohong's resistance, but did not let go, but instead held it tighter. Grandma Lin looked at this scene and smiled with relief. The wrinkles on her face stretched out like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"Silly girl," Grandma Lin looked at Xiaohong lovingly, her tone was as gentle as the spring breeze blowing across her face, "Xiaoyu is a girl with a knife-like mouth and a tonic, don't take it to your heart."
Xiaohong bit her lip, without saying anything, her eyes flashing.
Luo Xiaoyu's hand was still holding her hand tightly, as if conveying silent comfort and encouragement.
The house was quiet and silent, with only the occasional sound of birds singing outside the window, breaking the tranquility.
Suddenly, Xiaohong suddenly shook Luo Xiaoyu's hand away, and quickly retracted his hand back into the quilt as if he was electrocuted.
Luo Xiaoyu's hands froze in the air, the smile on her face instantly frozen, and the smile on Grandma Lin's face also disappeared, replaced by a deep worry. She frowned and her eyes were locked tightly on Xiaohong.
"I...I'm tired and want to rest." Xiaohong's voice was as thin as a mosquito and flies, and she could hardly hear it.
She buried her head deeply in the quilt and did not dare to look at Grandma Lin and Luo Xiaoyu's eyes.
Luo Xiaoyu stood there blankly, as if she was a sculpture, motionless.
She didn't understand why Xiaohong suddenly became like this?
I was obviously fine just now, but why did I suddenly turn against you again?
She felt her heart tightly held by an invisible big hand, and she couldn't breathe.
Grandma Lin sighed deeply, she walked to the bed and gently patted Xiaohong's quilt, "Xiaohong, you..."
"Don't touch me!" Xiaohong suddenly lifted the quilt and sat up suddenly, his tone was sharp, with a hint of hysteria, "You all go out and let me be quiet alone!"
Luo Xiaoyu's face turned pale and her lips trembled slightly. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know where to start.
Grandma Lin frowned and looked at Xiaohong deeply, with a serious tone, "Xiaohong, you..."
Grandma Lin's brows frowned even more, and her face was full of worries. She stared at Xiaohong, but Xiaohong turned her head and refused to look at Luo Xiaoyu stubbornly, as if Luo Xiaoyu was a beast.
Luo Xiaoyu stood aside, biting her lower lip, her eyes were slightly red, and aggrieved emotions spread on her face.
"Xiaohong, why did you suddenly..." Grandma Lin sighed and reached out to touch Xiaohong's head, but Xiaohong avoided it.
"Mother-in-law, I want to be alone and quiet. You and Miss Luo will go out first." Xiaohong's voice was muffled, with a hint of sob.
Grandma Lin shook her head helplessly, "You child, I'm afraid you're sick, so I'll go find Doctor Zhang to show you."
"No need, mother-in-law, I'm fine." Xiaohong refused without thinking. She just wanted to be alone now and didn't want to face anyone, especially Luo Xiaoyu.
Luo Xiaoyu stood aside, nodded and shook her head, and wanted to speak but stopped. She wanted to persuade Xiaohong to see the doctor, but she didn't know how to speak.
She knew that Xiaohong was in a bad mood now and didn't want to be disturbed, but she was worried that Xiaohong's condition would worsen.
"Xiaohong, listen to my mother-in-law and let Doctor Zhang show you. Your face is not very good." Grandma Lin advised earnestly.
"It's really not necessary, mother-in-law." Xiaohong's voice was a little impatient.
"This..." Grandma Lin wanted to persuade her again, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Aunt Lin, are you at home?" A calm male voice came from outside the door.
Grandma Lin was stunned for a moment, then reacted, "It's Doctor Zhang! Why is this child uninvited..."
Grandma Lin quickly opened the door, and a man wearing a blue shirt and carrying a medicine box walked in. It was Doctor Zhang.
He is tall, has a thin face, and a sense of calmness and wisdom in his eyes.
Doctor Zhang came uninvited, which surprised Grandma Lin.
"Dr. Zhang, why are you here? Please come in quickly, please come in quickly!" Grandma Lin greeted warmly, and the worry on her face also dissipated a lot.
Xiaohong and Luo Xiaoyu were both stunned. They didn't expect that Doctor Zhang would suddenly appear.
Xiaohong felt even more panic. She subconsciously wanted to hide, but Grandma Lin grabbed her.
"Xiaohong, Doctor Zhang is here, just for you to see the disease."
Doctor Zhang put down the medicine box, walked to Xiaohong, and asked with concern: "Girl, I heard from Aunt Lin that you are not feeling well, can I treat you?" His voice was gentle and magnetic, making people unconsciously let go of their guard.
Xiaohong's originally tense nerves gradually relaxed. She nodded gently and let Doctor Zhang take her pulse.
Luo Xiaoyu stood aside, quietly watching the scene, with a gratified smile on her face.
She knew that the arrival of Doctor Zhang would definitely make Xiaohong's mood much better.
After taking the pulse, Doctor Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "The girl is not seriously injured, but she is a little restless, which leads to poor qi and blood. I prescribe a few medications and the girl takes them on time and will be cured soon."
Xiaohong looked at Doctor Zhang gratefully and said softly: "Thank you, Doctor Zhang."
Doctor Zhang smiled and began to write a prescription.
Seeing this, Luo Xiaoyu hurriedly stepped forward to help grind the medicinal materials.
Grandma Lin was busy boiling water and preparing to decoct medicine.
Xiaohong looked at the busy three people and felt a warm current surge in her heart.
She suddenly felt that her previous actions were a bit too much and should not be so indifferent to Luo Xiaoyu.
"Miss Luo..." Xiaohong hesitated for a moment and finally spoke.
Luo Xiaoyu raised her head and looked at Xiaohong in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Xiaohong took a deep breath, "Actually..."
"Actually... I blamed you wrongly for the past." Xiaohong's voice was very soft, but it clearly reached Luo Xiaoyu and Zhang Langzhong's ears.
She lowered her head, her hands tightly tucked together, and her heart was filled with entanglement and uneasiness.
A faint scent of jasmine flowers emanated from her, which was the smell of her usual sachet.
When Luo Xiaoyu heard Xiaohong's words, she paused the movements in her hand, and then slowly lowered her head.
The long eyelashes covered her eyes, making it difficult to see her expression.
She bit her lower lip, feeling full of self-blame and guilt.
A faint smell of sandalwood drifted out from her body, which was the smell of incense she used to use.
Doctor Zhang listened quietly, and the pen in his hand stopped in mid-air.
His eyes were deep and calm, as if he could see through everything.
There was a faint smell of herbal medicine in the air, which was the smell emitted from his medicine box.
"That day, I actually wanted to find you and tell you..." Luo Xiaoyu raised her head and wanted to explain anxiously, but she didn't know how to speak.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down, "That day, I saw that person sneaking close to your room, and I was worried that you would be in danger, so...
Xiaohong's expression kept changing as Luo Xiaoyu's explanation.
From the initial suspicion and dissatisfaction to the later surprise and doubt, it eventually turned into an indescribable complex emotion.
Her heartbeat began to accelerate and her breathing became rapid.
Doctor Zhang nodded in time and said with certainty: "The girl's explanation is reasonable."
Luo Xiaoyu looked at Doctor Zhang gratefully, then turned to Xiaohong, and said sincerely: "Xiaohong, I'm sorry, I should have explained it to you first, not..."
Xiaohong looked at Luo Xiaoyu's sincere eyes, and the doubts in her heart gradually dissipated.
She took a deep breath and tried to control her emotions, "Actually, I was wrong, I shouldn't..."
"Xiaohong," Luo Xiaoyu interrupted Xiaohong's words, "I know, you are also doing your best."
The two looked at each other and smiled, everything was silent.
Doctor Zhang looked at the two of them reconciled, and a hint of relief appeared on his face.
He handed the written prescription to Grandma Lin, "Aunt Lin, you can hold this prescription three times a day and take it after a meal."
Grandma Lin took the prescription and said gratefully: "Thank you, Doctor Zhang."
Doctor Zhang packed up the medicine box and prepared to leave.
"Dr. Zhang, let's leave after dinner." Grandma Lin kept it enthusiastically.
"No, Aunt Lin, I have other patients to see." Doctor Zhang politely declined Grandma Lin's kindness and turned around and left.
"Xiaohong," Luo Xiaoyu looked at the departure of Doctor Zhang's back and suddenly said, "I..."
The tight lines on Xiaohong's face finally softened, and a faint smile bloomed on her lips, like a rainbow that had just cleared after the rain, dispelling the haze before.
"Xiaoyu, I've actually figured it out for a long time. I'm too sensitive and blamed you for your mistake." Her eyes were slightly moist, and she let out a breath like relief, and a faint scent of jasmine flowers also spread out.
Luo Xiaoyu was ecstatic when she saw Xiaohong finally let go. She hugged Xiaohong and was so excited that she was incoherent, "That's great, Xiaohong, I knew you would understand! I... I am so happy!" She hugged Xiaohong tightly, as if she had lost treasures. A faint smell of sandalwood came from Xiaohong, mixed with the fragrance of jasmine, spreading in the air.
Grandma Lin watched the two girls get back together and laughed. The wrinkles on her face seemed to be stretched out. She looked at them kindly and nodded with relief.
Zhang, who was standing at the door, also smiled knowingly. He and Grandma Lin smiled, and a warm atmosphere spread throughout the house.
However, in this cheerful atmosphere, Doctor Zhang suddenly remembered something. His smile gradually solidified, his brows frowned, and his eyes became deep and complicated.
He remembered that when he was diagnosed and treated a patient a few days ago, he discovered a rare disease, and the symptoms were very similar to Xiaohong's previous description.
"Wait," Zhang Langzhong suddenly spoke, interrupting the laughter and joy in the room. His voice was low and solemn, with a hint of undetectable trembling. "Miss Little Hong, can you describe the symptoms you mentioned before again?"
Xiaohong, Luo Xiaoyu and Grandma Lin were both stunned. They looked at Doctor Zhang in confusion, not understanding why he suddenly became so serious.
Chapter completed!