Back Then, I Adored You

“Did you call the ambulance?”

“I’ve called…”

“Which hospital?”

……

After hanging up the phone, Qin Zhi’ai threw off her covers and jumped out of bed. After getting dressed and grabbing her wallet and cell phone, she ran downstairs and hailed a cab to rush over to the hospital where Old Master Gu had been admitted.

……

By the time Qin Zhi’ai reached the hospital, Old Master Gu had already been pushed into the emergency room. Nanny Zhang asked her if she had notified Gu Yusheng. Qin Zhi’ai shook her head and instantly whipped out her phone to check the time: 1:00 a.m.

Gu Yusheng had called her earlier that night at 10:00 p.m., when she had heard him typing away busily on his laptop. She had gone to sleep by 10:30 p.m., and he’d sent another text at 11:50 p.m., which she hadn’t read until she was in the taxi on her way to the hospital. It read simply, “Goodnight.”

He had flown to Shanghai early that morning and had worked from the time he touched down until presumably when he had last texted her.

Old Master Gu’s situation might not be that serious, and Gu Yusheng must be exhausted. I’d hate for him to get up now and catch a flight back…

Qin Zhi’ai smiled slightly at Nanny Zhang and said, “Yusheng is pretty busy on his end. Let’s not disturb him just yet.”

Nanny Zhang, thinking that sounded reasonable, nodded her head in agreement. “True,” she said.

……

Fortunately, Old Master Gu’s condition was not serious. He had not recovered fully from his previous bout of flu, and the mild infection remaining in his lungs led to his high fever. After an injection, the doctor left the room.

In consideration of Qin Zhi’ai being pregnant, Nanny Zhang told her to return home to rest, but Qin Zhi’ai shook her head and rejected the suggestion. Tired from keeping watch by the bedside, Nanny Zhang drifted off to sleep. Midway through her uncomfortable nap, she woke up to adjust her sitting position and saw Qin Zhi’ai sitting quietly by the bed and then reaching out to gently adjust the speed of Old Master Gu’s IV drip. Nanny Zhang stared at Qin Zhi’ai for a moment before shutting her eyes once more.

It was daybreak before Nanny Zhang opened her eyes again. Qin Zhi’ai was tucking Old Master Gu into the covers. Nanny Zhang cleared her throat and, upon hearing this, Qin Zhi’ai turned and smiled gently. “You’re awake?”

“Morning, Miss Qin,” Nanny Zhang replied as she stood up. She walked over and reached her hand out to check if Old Master Gu’s fever had subsided. Before she could touch his forehead, though, Qin Zhi’ai said, “His fever has subsided. Around 4:00 a.m., it really started to go down.”

4:00 a.m.? Miss Qin stayed up all night without sleeping?

Nanny Zhang took a deeper look at Qin Zhi’ai and, before she could speak, Qin Zhi’ai gestured toward the thermos on the table nearby and continued. “I texted the butler last night. She had breakfast prepared this morning and brought it over…”

“The doctor was here earlier and said that once Grandfather has had sufficient sleep, he’ll wake up. It’s already past seven now, so I expect him to be up soon…”

Qin Zhi’ai paused and then lifted her purse beside her. “Now that you’re awake, I’ll be heading—”

“Miss Qin, aren’t you going to wait for Old Master to wake up before you leave?” Nanny Zhang asked curiously.

“No, I didn’t rest for the entire night, so I’m slightly tired…” Qin Zhi’ai paused momentarily before continuing. “When Grandfather is asleep tonight, give me a call, and I’ll come take over the night shift…”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhang slowly grasped what Qin Zhi’ai meant.

She knows that Old Master Gu might not want to see her, so she’s scheduling her time to take care of him for when he’ll be asleep.