A Marshmallow: Chapter 39
Chapter 39: One's strengths become evident
"Where are you going?"
"I can't tell you."
"Can I come find you?"
"You can't."
"When will you come back then?"
"You should come back soon..."
"Grow up well, and stay safe every year."
In the eleven months after Jiang Yan left, during more than twenty days of unconsciousness, Gu An had countless times wanted to return to the summer when she was eighteen.
If time could rewind and freeze on July 19th of that year, she wouldn't have insisted on going to the amusement park with him, wouldn't have argued and gotten drunk.
She would have bid him a proper farewell.
Back then, Jiang Yan was distant and unattainable, a cold-faced police officer, but he would look at her with a gentle smile, his beautiful dimples shining brightly.
But when he appeared before her again, bearing gunshot wounds, connected to various intricate medical devices, lying silently in a white hospital room, his long lashes hanging low, those beautiful eyes were nowhere to be seen.
Outside the window, cicadas were loudly chirping through another summer, footsteps hurried in the hospital corridor, but when she met his gaze, all the surrounding noise faded away, leaving only the clarity of the person before her.
"Come over, I'll wipe away your tears."
His low, hoarse voice carried the vulnerability of a miraculous escape from death, barely audible, each word hitting the mark.
The person she had missed every day for the past year seemed to walk straight through countless dreams and appear before her.
In that moment, time seemed to rewind infinitely, scenes shifted, and she was still the immature crybaby, ready to burst into tears over the slightest thing. He was the same as always, returning home from work, a tall and long-legged young police officer, bending down to meet her gaze, comforting her like a child.
Gu An didn't know what to say or do. She just stared at his eyes, her mind going blank, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, rendering her completely speechless.
She wanted to say, "I thought I was going to die of fright."
She wanted to say, "I thought I would never see you again."
She wanted to say, "I thought you wouldn't come back."
She wanted to say, "I shouldn't have drunk, I won't drink again, I didn't say a proper goodbye to you."
But deep down, a voice spoke, one word at a time:
"Jiang Yan, I miss you very much."
Gu An tugged at the corners of her mouth, trying to show him a little tiger tooth with a smile, but before her mouth could curve upward, it slumped down. Tears welled up in her eyes and formed droplets, falling down her cheeks one by one.
She sat on a small stool by his bedside, her hair almost reaching her waist, her baby-like face with even more delicate features.
She was Gu An, twenty years old.
But when she wiped away her tears haphazardly, crying until her voice choked, she still seemed like the sixteen-year-old girl, small and helpless, like a bullied kindergarten child waiting for her parents to pick her up, finally having someone to rely on, no need to pretend to be strong.
Jiang Yan's body was in intense pain, and because there were too many painful areas, he couldn't pinpoint where the injuries were. But all of this didn't compare to the sight of the little girl in front of him crying.
"Good, don't cry."
He spoke with a familiar but cool tone, a hint of gentle indulgence in his voice, landing softly on her ears. His hand rested beside her cheek, long, pale fingers that had not seen sunlight for days, nearly translucent, with visible blue veins. He wanted to wipe away her tears, but he couldn't exert any force.
Gu An nodded, suppressing her sobs, pitiful and adorable.
Like a red-eyed little rabbit, she rubbed her eyes, gazing at him without blinking.
Jiang Yan's thin lips were pale and dry, but they curved into a gentle smile.
It's really good.
The first person he saw when he opened his eyes.
The girl he liked.
He raised his hand and accidentally touched numerous wounds on his body, but he gently stroked Gu An's hair.
Her hair was soft, flowing down, her long, curly lashes moist with tears, pitiful.
His fingertips touched the real her, not the fragile dream he revisited during the turmoil of gunshots and warfare.
Jiang Yan gazed deeply at her and quietly asked in his heart.
—Having come back alive, do you still want me?
-
"Police are indeed extraordinary; their physical resilience is something else."
Three days later, the team of experts' doctor came to check on Jiang Yan's healing wounds. He couldn't help but marvel at the speed of recovery. "The wounds have healed well, but the critical period has not completely passed. Be careful."
Jiang Yan's rigorous physical training during his four years at the police academy and his time in law enforcement provided a solid foundation that allowed him to conquer pain with overwhelming resilience. Gu An stood on the side, grinning proudly, as if she had earned a gold star, but as she laughed, her eyes reddened.
Jiang Yan cracked his knuckles and gently poked her nose, his voice carrying a smile, "Little crybaby."
Gu An bit her lip, and her gaze met his, her face lifting into a joyful smile, revealing her little tiger tooth and teary eyes.
While he was in the hospital, she refused to leave anywhere. She clung to him like a little pest.
As long as Jiang Yan was awake, she would chatter incessantly, speaking as fast as she could to narrate everything that had happened in the past year.
When Jiang Yan rested, she acted as his proxy, diligently eliminating the various fruits and snacks the Criminal Investigation Support Team had sent him.
Only the supply speed is far higher than her elimination speed, and she finally lost a bit of her baby fat face and rounded up at a visible speed.
Jiang Yan once, in a half-dream state, heard her opening a new snack.
She asked softly, "Brother Jiang Yan, you don't like this, do you?"
Then, imitating his indifferent tone, she asked herself, "No, I don't like it, Gu An can have it."
Then, her ears began to be filled with the sound of "keci keci," similar to a young koala munching on leaves, crisp and pleasant.
He quietly opened his eyes and saw her cheeks puff up like a hamster cub, very cute, shrugging her small shoulders, "Delicious, delicious, so delicious..."
Jiang Yan closed his eyes, his lips curved up silently.
Countless times, Gu Zhen wanted to carry Gu An home like a little chick.
Because every time he came, Gu An was either sneaking snacks or disturbing Jiang Yan's rest.
The degree of her noisy and carefree behavior was beyond description, far from the well-behaved German Shepherd puppy at home.
If she had a tail, she could probably wag it to the sky as soon as she saw Jiang Yan.
"Brother Jiang Yan, do you know, the cafeteria aunt who serves food, her hands tremble like sifting bran when she serves food!"
As Gu An spoke, she stretched her short arms.
With her chin held high, she cast a disdainful look at everyone, shaking her hands, she was simply a successor to a comedy.
"I just watched her sift the ribs out of my tray..."
Gu Zhen was amused, and her ramblings made his head ache, as he squinted at the young master of the Jiang family, who was half-leaning by the bedside, basking in the sun.
The young master of the Jiang family is now fragile, a top priority for protection, unable to lift a hand or shoulder, he's simply a delicate flower.
But as everyone knows, delicate flowers like quietness, speak little, and are like icebergs.
Presumably, he must want to throw this noisy human cub out, but due to his brotherly affection, he can't bring himself to do so.
So, let this bad person be taken care of by Gu Zhen.
Gu An went from talking about the cafeteria aunt to the Mediterranean of the professional course teacher, and then to how delicious the sauce is at the outside barbecue stall, she was getting excited, but suddenly someone grabbed the back of her collar.
She looked up, her brother's brow furrowed in a "川" shape, not in a good mood, saying, "Come home with me, don't disturb your brother Jiang Yan's rest here, his head wasn't much of a problem to begin with, and I bet you're giving him a headache now."
Gu An's lips, which were just curved, froze in place for a moment.
The next second, Gu Zhen received a call from his unit and left the ward to answer the call, but not before warning Gu An with his eyes to stay put and not annoy anyone here.
Gu An, like a deflated balloon, dejectedly swallowed her words and rested her chin on Jiang Yan's hospital bed, blinking her round eyes, "Do you also find me annoying?"
Jiang Yan shook his head, his hair had grown longer, falling over his forehead, soft and fluffy, which surprisingly made his icy face look somewhat charming. His eyes curved slightly, holding the clear light of summer, and deep within, there was tenderness and indulgence.
Indeed, peerless beauty existed in this world!
Even when he was ill, he was still captivating...
As Jiang Yan gazed at her with warmth, Gu An's heart raced, and she pretended to casually pinch her burning ear and muttered softly, "Why are you smiling? You must think I'm so annoying!"
If it weren't for her missing him!
If it weren't for her liking him!
How could she be so glued to him!
It had been a whole year without seeing him; there must be so much to say!
If she didn't say it, she'd burst with frustration!
Gu An's cheeks puffed up like a goldfish, and she sat on the chair, arms crossed, sulking.
A thousand words clogged her throat, but her lips remained tightly sealed, suddenly falling silent.
"Brother didn't say that," Jiang Yan couldn't help but smile, gently poking her forehead with care and innocence.
His smile with slightly pursed lips was very handsome, and Gu An's temper disappeared instantly. She had to muster the courage and asked, "Then why did Gu Zhen scold me? You didn't defend me! That's like silently admitting that I rattled his brain!"
Jiang Yan, half-lowering his eyes, looked at her, a faint smile hanging on the corner of his mouth, and the curve he held was beautiful and heartwarming.
His beautiful eyes never blinked as he leaned in closer, his thin lips parting slightly:
"So, you want me to say in front of Gu Zhen that I think his sister is cute?"
"I think his sister is cute" is equivalent to "I think you are cute."
Gu An's face turned beet red in an instant. She stood up abruptly, "Um, I, um, I'm going for a walk... It's a bit stuffy in here..."
And she fled.
Leaning against the hospital corridor, her adorable little fangs were animated, and her heart raced as it did a year ago, the long-awaited moment for her twentieth birthday approaching.
Anticipating confession, and turning her crush into a boyfriend.
Feelings that were never verbally expressed were like treasures buried beneath a big tree, finally about to see the light of day.
"I envy Xiao Zhao so much, she gets to change the dressing for the patient in bed 26 again..."
"I've never seen anyone who looks like that in all my life. That face, that figure, and those long legs, tsk, tsk."
"You have no idea, how many young girls in our hospital are clamoring to take him down before he's discharged!"
"Who doesn't love handsome and beautiful people."
"Looking at that face once a day can add many years to your life..."
"Does Officer Jiang have a girlfriend or not?"
Gu An watched the huddled group of whispering people and quietly replied in her heart:
Girlfriends and such, although he doesn't have one now, he'll have one very soon!
It seems like he stands out no matter what.
Just living in the same building attracts attention, with a group of young girls eyeing his handsome looks.
Gu An clenched her fists. She needed to speed up and make the handsome guy hers, and then live happily ever after!
She watched as Nurse Xiao Zhao pushed the door open and quickly followed suit.
With a heroic posture, she stood next to Jiang Yan, like a knight guarding a little prince.
"Officer Jiang, it's time to change the bandages."
A tension pulled in Gu An's head. She had never seen him change bandages, nor had she seen his wounds.
Where was he injured, what did it look like, and how serious was it?
She didn't dare to look but had a self-destructive desire to know.
"Take off your shirt." Nurse Xiao Zhao had seen many patients, but this handsome young officer mentioned the most in recent tea breaks. Her face turned slightly red involuntarily.
Those beautiful eyes seemed emotionless, but when he looked up at people, it was as if he could see into their souls.
Jiang Yan's long fingers landed on the buttons of the patient's gown, slowly opening it. His neck was slender with well-defined throat lines, and further down, his clavicles were delicate and straight. Gu An discovered a charming mole at the end of his clavicle, on his pale skin, it was even somewhat dazzling, exuding a seductive but cold aura.
As the patient's gown was gradually undone, a dark red wound revealed itself, like a foreshadowing.
Gu An held her breath, her heart in her throat, her eyes slightly warm.
She had overestimated her own ability to handle this.
Previously, when he was just injured on his arm with a knife, she couldn't help but cry and had nightmares for a long time.
Now, she had to see a gunshot wound on him.
Before this, she had countless times in her mind reconstructed scenes of him getting injured, how he chased the last fugitive under excessive bleeding from a ruptured artery, allowing himself to collapse only after the dust had settled.
How much pain he must have endured...
And the next second, everything went black, and she couldn't see anything.
Gu An's voice was soft and slightly teary as she spoke, "What are you doing?"
His well-defined hand gently blocked her view, and her eyelashes brushed against his palm.
Gu An furrowed her small eyebrows and reached out to remove his hand.
But at that moment, a clear, gentle voice sounded in her ear, "Be good, listen."
In that instant, Nurse Xiao Zhao knew that she had no chance at all, and those colleagues who had feelings for him were just cannon fodder.
The person with the cold face suddenly became so tender; for the first time in a long time, she saw an indulgent and helpless expression on that icy, handsome face.
"Is it really that serious..."
Gu An's nose felt sour, and the last syllable had a hint of a tearful tone.
This person was lightly injured before, acting like a professional scammer, and cried in pain with her.
But now, he's blocking her eyes and not even letting her look.
Jiang Yan spoke gently, "It's not serious."
"Then why won't you let me see?"
The young nurse stood on the side, feeling like she had been fed a mouthful of lemons.
The handsome guy in front of her, disheveled and flirting, made her blush and her heart race.
Indeed, the abstinence style of flirting was absolutely deadly!
Gu An was blocked from her sight, and when her eyes couldn't see, her sense of touch became incredibly clear, and all her senses were magnified.
Jiang Yan seemed to turn slightly and leaned close to her ear, as if whispering.
She sat on the edge of his hospital bed, her eyes covered by him, and she didn't dare to move at all. The warm breath by her ear reminded her that if she moved a little, her ear might touch his nose, or maybe... his thin lips.
In just a few seconds, which felt endless, the faint hint of mint and the warm breath fell on her ear, and he was by her ear, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, enunciating clearly:
"Skills improve with time."
"Dare to watch big brother undress."
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