Illness: Xiao Xu, Everything I Do for You Is Willing

Good things never happen when you expect them, but bad things always come true.

Jiang Xu didn't catch a cold—Liang Xiaoqing did. She said it would be better in a couple of days, but instead it got worse.

She managed to hold out until the weekend, then completely collapsed. Every Friday, she'd take an hour to give the house a thorough cleaning. As soon as she got off work, she'd start without pause. On Fridays, Jiang Xu got out of school early, so often before she came back, Liang Xiaoqing had already done most of the work. The house was tiny, and two people working together only made it more efficient.

But this Friday, when she got back, Liang Xiaoqing was done for. Her head was incredibly heavy, and everything before her eyes was blurry. If she walked any longer, she might faint on the road. After returning, she called out in a muffled voice, “Xiao Xu!” The house was empty and cold, with no one answering.

“Help me...” She thought Jiang Xu would be home. Jiang Xu never refused her anything. But before she could see anyone, she tripped over herself. Her swaying body fell to the floor with a dull thud, and she couldn't get up. Her eyelids began to droop, and sleepiness overwhelmed her.

She thought she'd never be so stubborn again.

She'd experienced this before, but it was too deeply etched in her memory, and she didn't want to recall that feeling of loneliness and helplessness. Being alone in a room, waiting in silence, made Liang Xiaoqing's body tremble slightly.

When it mattered, she wasn't there. Liang Xiaoqing was a bit angry at Jiang Xu. The floor, warm with summer heat, made her irritable. Sunlight poured through the window, spilling across the ground. Using her last bit of willpower, Liang Xiaoqing moved her body but found she couldn't stand up.

Fine.

She'd just sleep right there.

There were always things in life you had to compromise on, so you could feel lighter.

Liang Xiaoqing drifted off with heavy sleepiness, thinking it wasn't Jiang Xu's fault for coming home late. When she opened her eyes again, Jiang Xu's face was right in front of hers.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, her gaze focused.

“Xiaoqing jie, are you feeling any better!”

Her hand was held by a pair of warm, damp hands.

“...” Liang Xiaoqing looked at the white ceiling above. Her head hurt, but the dizziness had eased. She touched her forehead with her other hand and felt a needle on the back of her hand, with a tube attached.

“Don't move, Xiaoqing laoshi,” said the new young nurse, changing her medicine. “You're on an IV. If the needle slips out, it'll be trouble.”

“... Is this the health center?” Liang Xiaoqing finally figured out where she was. Her voice was hoarse, like an old duck. She lowered her hand and couldn't help coughing twice.

Jiang Xu nervously rubbed her chest: “It's okay, it's okay. The doctor said once this bottle finishes, the fever will break.”

“... I have a fever?”

“Yes!” The young nurse held an empty bottle and raised her voice a bit. “It was almost forty degrees! If she hadn't carried you here on her back, who knows how bad it could've been! Xiaoqing laoshi, how can you not take better care of yourself!” The nurse's tone was a bit reproachful. She pointed at Jiang Xu. “In this heat, she was exhausted!”

“You need to drink plenty of water the next few days, rest a lot, don't overwork yourself. Come to the front desk to pick up some medicine later.”

She looked at the young girl beside her—thin and weak, carrying someone her own size. It was surprising. She noticed Jiang Xu's unfriendly glance, pretended to cough “ahem ahem,” feeling a bit awkward, and walked out with the medicine bottle, muttering something.

“So unreasonable...” When she reached the door and turned around, Jiang Xu wasn't looking at her anymore. She glared at Jiang Xu's back, and Liang Xiaoqing saw it but said nothing.

The girl in front of her really did look pitiful—her ponytail was messy, her white short-sleeved shirt was soaked and stuck to her body, her chest was dirty from sweat. She had sweated a lot, fine strands of hair stuck to her temples. She raised her hand and wiped her forehead.

Sweat beaded on Jiang Xu's nose too. Her face, wet with sweat, looked even more pale and translucent, with a healthy flush on her cheeks.

Liang Xiaoqing sat up a bit. Jiang Xu leaned closer, reached out, and touched her forehead with the back of her hand. She was also sweaty, her clothes damp and clinging, uncomfortable. When Jiang Xu's hand moved away, Liang Xiaoqing saw flickering lights. Maybe it was the fever, but Jiang Xu looked a bit blurry.

“Xiaoqing jie, you scared me to death.”

Things gradually became clear. She looked out the window—it was already night, and the old light bulb cast a dim glow. The body beside her relaxed, and then she saw Jiang Xu wiping her eyes.

... Crying?

That made her spirits recover a bit. The frail figure before her seemed to tremble.

“Xiao Xu.” Her voice was still hoarse, not pleasant to hear. She tugged at Jiang Xu's arm. “What's wrong? Why are you crying?”

Jiang Xu rarely cried in front of her; she usually acted mature beyond her years. But Wang Cai's death had left deep wounds. In those days, Liang Xiaoqing often found wet tear stains on Jiang Xu's pillow.

Jiang Xu cried even harder, unable to hold back. At first, she was embarrassed to let Liang Xiaoqing see her like this and kept a distance, but Liang Xiaoqing knew her personality well. In such situations, she had to be persistent.

“Xiao Xu, come here.” She thought Jiang Xu had encountered something unhappy. Jiang Xu never spoke up on her own; Liang Xiaoqing only learned about such things from the teachers.

Before, Liang Xiaoqing might not have understood how parents felt, but now she truly did. If Jiang Xu were hurt, she would ache. The longer they spent together, the deeper this feeling grew.

Her tone was a bit stern, but the next moment, Jiang Xu threw herself into her arms, hitting her chest hard, making Liang Xiaoqing's heart jolt. She was stunned.

“Xiaoqing jie, I was afraid you'd fall down and never get up again."

Oh, now she understood. Jiang Xu was worried about her.

Crying for her.

Her nerves were too thick. Liang Xiaoqing wondered if anyone had ever truly cried for another person. In her over twenty years of life, few people had cried for her like that. Her hand instinctively stroked Jiang Xu's head. Jiang Xu nestled in her arms, a warm bundle. Liang Xiaoqing's voice grew softer: “Don't cry, Xiao Xu.”

She touched Jiang Xu's head, and a soft feeling slowly filled her heart. It was a strange sensation—warmth from the inside out, but not unpleasant. A smile unconsciously curved her lips. Maybe she didn't even realize she was smiling.

Really...

Do parents often feel this way?

“Alright, alright, Xiao Xu, I'm fine now. Who is your Xiaoqing jie... I'm Liang Xiaoqing...! How can you be so silly? It's just a cold...”

Liang Xiaoqing rambled aimlessly, letting Jiang Xu lean against her and sob. When she felt Jiang Xu cry even harder, she had to say helplessly, “You child...”

Jiang Xu stopped crying by the time Liang Xiaoqing finished the IV. Liang Xiaoqing felt much better, but when she got up from the bed, she suddenly felt dizzy again. Fortunately, Jiang Xu was there to support her. She deliberately leaned lightly, afraid her weight would crush Jiang Xu—the girl probably couldn't support it. Little did she know, Jiang Xu was now taller than her, and supporting her from the side made her look like she was enveloping Liang Xiaoqing.

After picking up a few days' worth of medicine, at the door, Jiang Xu insisted on carrying Liang Xiaoqing. She said Liang Xiaoqing's face was pale and she was weak.

How could she agree? But Jiang Xu stubbornly opposed her.

“I carried you here to the health center just now too,” Jiang Xu said.

“That was because I fainted. I can walk now.” Liang Xiaoqing, faced with Jiang Xu's noncooperation, tried to soothe her. “I'm already much better. You can just support me from the side.”

“No. You almost fainted again just now.”

“...” Liang Xiaoqing felt her head hurt even more now.

Was this the temperament of a teenager? One moment she was moved, the next she didn't know what to do with Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu stood before her, very determined. Liang Xiaoqing suddenly felt the difficulties again.

Being a parent truly required skill.

“Fine, fine.” Liang Xiaoqing finally gave in.

Without a word, Jiang Xu half-crouched, giving her a narrow back: “Xiaoqing jie, hurry up and get on.”

Liang Xiaoqing gritted her teeth and climbed on.

She'd fall for sure!

With those skinny arms and legs of Jiang Xu's.

But the world spun, her feet left the ground, two forces caught under her knees, and the bent body straightened up, steady and flawless, without a single mistake.

The stars in the night sky shone brightly, scattered like rain across the sky. A cool breeze brushed her cheeks, and Liang Xiaoqing unconsciously hooked her arms around Jiang Xu's neck.

She froze.

“Xiaoqing jie.” A familiar voice pulled her back. Jiang Xu's voice was still young. “Xiaoqing jie, I told you I could do it.”

There was a hint of barely concealed joy in her words. Liang Xiaoqing's legs swayed slightly in the air. She didn't know what she remembered, but she suddenly felt a strange melancholy.

She stiffened her body, not wanting to burden Jiang Xu with too much of her weight, but Jiang Xu walked so steadily, without any wobble.

So Liang Xiaoqing relaxed and leaned against Jiang Xu's back.

The cicadas and insects in the bushes chirped far into the distance, one after another.

Liang Xiaoqing said, “Where did you go after school this afternoon? You should tell me before going somewhere, so I don't worry.”

Jiang Xu's breathing grew heavier: “I went to Erya's house.”

“...” Liang Xiaoqing said again, "Then next time, remember to tell me."

“Mm.”

Liang Xiaoqing asked again, "Did you eat dinner?"

She probably hadn't.

Jiang Xu didn't say anything, her breath getting heavier.

Liang Xiaoqing tightened her arms around Jiang Xu's neck, knowing Jiang Xu was truly tired. She struggled to get down, and this time Jiang Xu didn't argue, letting her down.

“Are you still going to be stubborn next time?”

Jiang Xu was sweating profusely, her face flushed red.

She leaned in and wiped the sweat for Jiang Xu. Jiang Xu lowered her head slightly.

Liang Xiaoqing took her hand and walked forward: “Don't ever be stubborn again in the future.”

“...” Jiang Xu hung her head.

Liang Xiaoqing turned to look at her: “And I don't want you to do anything for me.”

As they walked, the muddy path crunched under their feet, and the gentle wind lifted Liang Xiaoqing's hair.

She said, "Xiao Xu, everything I do for you is willing."