Hearing You Say Love chapter 40
To Carry or To Support?
Zou Beiyuan was standing with his back to the door beside the hospital bed and didn’t see Su Ming come in. It was actually Song Zhixian, sitting on the bed taking her blood pressure, who first exclaimed in surprise, “Su Ming?”
The nurse frowned in dissatisfaction, “Don’t talk.”
Fu Ruoqin turned her head and saw the friend of her nephew, who she had just met downstairs, standing by the wall. Her nephew quickly reached out to support him.
Zou Beiyuan’s action had a somewhat indescribable feeling, as if he was overly tense. But this thought was fleeting, and Fu Ruoqin didn’t dwell on it.
Zou Beiyuan helped Su Ming over and settled him into the chair beside the hospital bed.
At that moment, after finishing the blood pressure measurement, Song Zhixian and Zou Beiyuan exchanged glances and simultaneously asked, “How do you know each other?”
“He’s my student,” Song Zhixian said.
“He’s my friend,” Zou Beiyuan said.
Song Zhixian looked puzzled, “How did you two meet?”
“He lives in Tianhe Mansion too,” Zou Beiyuan explained. “I live opposite him.”
“Really? What a coincidence!” Song Zhixian smiled and reached her hand, which was attached to an IV, toward Su Ming. He leaned in closer and held her fingers.
The old woman’s hand was thin, her skin severely wrinkled, but it still radiated warmth that hadn’t changed in over a decade.
Su Ming visited Song Zhixian every year during Teacher’s Day and the Spring Festival for over a decade without fail. He was more filial than the younger generation in her family, and Song Zhixian considered him one of her own children.
“What happened to your leg?” Song Zhixian pointed at him.
Su Ming typed on his phone to show her: [I accidentally fell.]
“I also fell by accident,” Song Zhixian said, always optimistic, and didn’t think it was a big deal. “Look, I’m still in good shape but they insisted on bringing me to the hospital.”
Fu Ruoqin immediately expressed her dissatisfaction, “With that huge bump on your head, what do you mean by being in good shape? Mom, stop being stubborn, okay?”
Song Zhixian covered her mouth with her hand and quietly complained to Su Ming, “See how fierce she is?”
Su Ming pressed his lips together with concern and typed on his phone: [You hit your head; you should get a proper check-up.]
Zou Beiyuan saw Su Ming chatting with his grandmother, looking very familiar, and he wanted to know what Su Ming was saying to her. However, he felt that it wasn’t appropriate to be too close to Su Ming in front of his aunt and grandmother.
He had come to visit his grandmother, but Su Ming ended up accompanying her for a long chat.
Ms. Song was delighted to see Su Ming and wanted to invite him for lunch. She instructed Fu Ruoqin, “Go order some food from a restaurant outside. Xiao Yuan and Su Ming will eat with us.”
Su Ming immediately looked at Zou Beiyuan and gently shook his head. He felt it would be somewhat inappropriate to eat with Zou Beiyuan’s grandmother and aunt.
However, Zou Beiyuan pretended not to understand his meaning and casually turned his gaze away.
Su Ming had no choice but to lower his head and type, then turned his phone screen toward Teacher Song: [No need, Teacher Song. I still have to get the X-ray results and see the doctor. I’ll eat when I get home.]
“Come back after you’re done,” Song Zhixian ignored Su Ming’s request. She understood Su Ming’s family situation well and knew there was no one at home to take care of him. “It’s almost noon. After seeing the doctor, who knows what time you’ll get back? If you go home, who will take care of your meals? Just eat here with us.”
Zou Beiyuan spoke up at the right moment, “No need for aunt to order. I’ll take Su Ming to get food after we see the doctor.”
Song Zhixian replied, “That works too; just buy something Su Ming likes.”
Zou Beiyuan flashed a bright smile, “No problem.”
Su Ming: …
Seeing that it was about time, and Su Ming’s X-ray results should be ready, Zou Beiyuan helped him up and said to his aunt and grandmother, “I’ll take him down first.”
His grandmother said, “Okay, take your time. Be careful not to let Su Ming fall.”
As they left the room, Fu Ruoqin sat down in the chair where Su Ming had just been. “Is Su Ming the kid Jie helped get a cochlear implant all those years ago? He’s grown up now.”
“Yes, it’s been twelve years.”
“How come he still can’t speak?”
Song Zhixian seemed to fall into reflection, and after a moment of silence, she said, “It must be a psychological issue.”
Fu Ruoqin had heard about Su Ming’s childhood experiences from her mother. Fu Ruozheng, Fu Ruoqin elder sister, had felt that Su Ming was too pitiful, so she secretly helped him without telling Zou Beiyuan’s father, using Song Zhixian’s name to provide support.
Fu Ruoqin continued, “If Jie knew that the child she helped back then became friends with Xiao Yuan, she would probably be very surprised.”
Song Zhixian sighed deeply, “Xiao Yuan has grown up too. It’s a pity your sister can’t see it.”
….
After Su Ming finished his X-ray, the doctor was almost off duty, and they were the last ones to enter the consultation room.
The doctor said it was only a mild ligament injury, prescribed some medication to promote blood circulation and reduce swelling, and advised him to rest and avoid intense activities. He assured Su Ming that he would recover in about a week.
By the time they got the medication, most of the people in the hospital lobby had already left.
Zou Beiyuan asked him, “Do you want to wait in the ward first, or do you want to go with me to buy something to eat?”
Su Ming poked his finger into Zou Beiyuan’s chest, indicating that he definitely wanted to go with him.
Zou Beiyuan said, “I’ll carry you to the parking lot.”
Su Ming shook his head.
Zou Beiyuan said again, “I’ll carry you.”
As he spoke, he bent down to pick Su Ming up. Su Ming pressed against his arm and hopped on one foot, signaling, Let me walk by myself!
Zou Beiyuan didn’t negotiate at all: “The doctor said you must rest and avoid activities. If you want to recover quickly, just listen to me.”
Zou Beiyuan continued, “Do you want me to carry you or give you a piggyback? You choose.”
Su Ming locked eyes with him for a moment, glanced around to see there was no one nearby, and reluctantly put his hand on Zou Beiyuan’s shoulder.
Piggyback, then.
The car was parked at the underground level. Zou Beiyuan didn’t take the elevator; he walked down the stairs.
He seemed very relaxed, walking down while still having the energy to chat with Su Ming: “I’ve known that my grandmother has a student who visits her every year, but I didn’t expect it to be you. If I could have found time to come back and celebrate the New Year with her a few years ago, would I have met you sooner?”
Su Ming rested his face against his shoulder and wanted to ask him, So if we had met earlier, what then?
If he had known earlier that Zou Beiyuan was Teacher Song’s grandson, he felt he definitely wouldn’t have wanted to bend him.
After all, this was, ultimately, not entirely proper.
At first, Su Ming was attracted to Zou Beiyuan because he reminded him of Wolf Jue, and he wanted to find inspiration from him.
Then, driven by lust, he wanted to sleep with him.
He didn’t know when it started, but his simple lust began to grow complicated, and he greedily wanted a deeper and more meaningful connection with Zou Beiyuan.
Su Ming had experienced very few feelings, so he cherished every little bit he could grasp.
Zou Beiyuan put him in the front passenger seat and they drove to a nearby restaurant.
After more than half an hour of buying things, he returned just as Teacher Song’s IV was finished. The four of them gathered around the coffee table in the reception area to eat.
“The test results are out,” Auntie said to Zou Beiyuan. “The doctor said the fainting was caused by low blood pressure. When she fell, she cracked her skull. Luckily, it’s not serious—just a tiny fissure—but she still needs to be hospitalized for a while.”
“How long will she need to stay?”
“The doctor said at least two weeks. When she can be discharged will depend on her recovery,” Fu Ruoqin said, a bit worried. “I have three days off, so I can stay here all day. After that, I’ll have to go back to work, and I won’t be able to come during the day. Zhang Donglai is frequently on business trips, so maybe we should find a caregiver instead.”
Zhang Donglai was Zou Beiyuan’s uncle by marriage, who ran an office and was constantly traveling for work. He just came back for a two-day break but was leaving again that night, so he couldn’t be relied upon.
When the old lady heard they were going to hire a caregiver to take care of her, she immediately objected, “What do I need a caregiver for? I don’t need a caregiver; I can take care of myself.”
Fu Ruoqin insisted, “How can that be? If no one looks after you, you won’t even be able to eat.”
“I’ll do it,” Zou Beiyuan said.
Fu Ruoqin replied, “What about your training?”
“I’ll discuss it with Joyce.”
“I’m telling you it’s not necessary,” Song Zhixian said, not wanting to trouble the younger ones in the family. “Ruoqin, you should focus on your classes, and Xiao Yuan should train as usual; there’s no need for him to come to the hospital just to keep me company.”
Su Ming typed on his phone, holding the screen above the dining table so everyone could see what he wrote: [In three days, my foot will be okay enough to walk; I’ll come to take over for aunt
He called Fu Ruoqin “Aunt” following Zou Beiyuan’s lead. Initially, friends addressing each other’s elders this way was simply out of courtesy, but it stirred something in Zou Beiyuan’s heart.
There was a subtle intimacy in it.
Fu Ruoqin looked a bit troubled: “But what if you can’t speak and need to call the doctor or nurse?”
“I mean no harm,” Fu Ruoqin said directly, having been a decisive female leader for a long time. Realizing her words might be hurtful, she added, “Mainly, I’m worried about any sudden issues that might arise with the elderly and the need for timely responses.”
Zou Beiyuan disliked it when others pointed out Su Ming’s shortcomings and firmly insisted, “I’ll do it.”
Fu Ruoqin asked, “Is it okay for you not to train for half a month?”
Zou Beiyuan replied, “It’s fine.”
Su Ming typed again: [Then I’ll cook for Teacher Song and have Su Mo bring the food.]
Since Teacher Song had a skull fracture, resting was the most important thing, and the doctor had just given a lot of dietary advice.
Fu Ruoqin felt a bit moved; she couldn’t cook herself, and Zhang Donglai was busy. If Su Ming could help cook, that would be the best.
Teacher Song said, “Do I need so many people just for a hospital stay? Why bring Su Mo here? He’s busy with work at the bank.”
Zou Beiyuan’s focus shifted, “Is Su Mo also your student, Grandma?”
Teacher Song replied, “Yes, they’re twins.”
Zou Beiyuan asked, “Were they in the same class in high school?”
Teacher Song answered, “Yeah.”
Su Mo and Su Ming were the two most memorable students in Song Zhixian’s teaching career. Su Ming was accepted to the school due to his award-winning painting, while Su Mo had always performed well academically. They both were quite handsome, often attracting girls from other grades to come watch them at the classroom door.
Zou Beiyuan asked, “Was Su Mo really annoying in high school?”
Still lost in memories, Song Zhixian replied, “Huh?”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Fu Ruoqin interrupted. “Then let’s have Su Ming cook and Xiao Yuan, you bring food to Grandma every day. I’ll be here 24/7 for three days. After three days, Xiao Yuan can stay during the day, and I’ll take the night shifts. Whenever your uncle is free, he can switch shifts with you.”
Zou Beiyuan agreed, “Okay.”
Su Ming also typed on his phone: [Okay.]
Teacher Song protested, “I said it’s not necessary! You’re not listening to me!”
But no one paid attention to her objections.
…
After dinner, Zou Beiyuan and Fu Ruoqin cleared the table and took out the trash while Su Ming sat on the sofa chatting with Teacher Song.
“I never expected you and Xiao Yuan would become friends,” Song Zhixian asked with a smile, “How did that kid end up hanging out with you?”
Su Ming typed, [One time, his car broke down on the road, and I helped him out a bit.]
“Is that so? Then you must be taking care of him most of the time, right?”
Su Ming wrote back: [Not really; he takes care of me too.]
“He knows how to take care of people?” Song Zhixian spoke of her grandson, her words brimming with love, “He knows how to take care of people, but he doesn’t act like it.”
Su Ming looked at Song Zhixian, unsure how to tell her that when Zou Beiyuan took care of him, and he did so very well.