Heather came back to her senses and saw that he was staring at her. She thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"You obviously do," Nian Shen said. "Just like the last few times. Every time you think of him, you end up looking like thisâdistracted and lost. If you really miss him so much, how about this: stop calling me Mr. Nian. You can call me Ah Nian."
"Ah Nian..." Heather murmured, repeating the words as she blankly stared at Nian Shen.
How could he possibly be Ah Nian...
She shook her head, smiled faintly as if some thought had crossed her mind, and said, "Ah Nian is Ah Nian, and you are you. He wonât become you, and you wonât become him. Youâre clearly two different people. Why insist on merging them into one?"
It was already easy enough to blur the lines. If she started calling him Ah Nian too, one day, she might genuinely lose her mind.
...
A week passed. Early in the morning, Nian Shen came again, bringing her breakfast.
During this past week, heâd been bringing her three meals a day, unfailingly, no matter the weather. It wasnât just othersâHeather herself began to feel a strange illusion forming.
Telling him not to come was useless. He wouldnât listen at all, insisting on putting the blame for the accident entirely on himself, saying heâd take care of her until she fully recovered.
The doctor was currently performing a preliminary examination on her.
After it was done, the doctor didnât speak to her, but turned to address Nian Shen instead. "Miss Haiâs physical condition is quite good and her recovery is going well. At this rate, thereâs no need for surgery anymore. With some medication and a period of rest, the blood clots will dissolve on their own."
"Got it."
"Alright," the doctor then turned to Heather and said, "Your diet this week has been well-managed. If you continue maintaining this progress, in another half month of rest, you can be considered for discharge."
"Another half month?" Heather exclaimed in surprise.
Sheâd only been here a week, and during this week, Nian Shen hadnât let her do anything. He was practically monitoring her every moveâshe couldnât even take a walk outside. Sheâd lost her freedom!
Yet, he carried himself as if everything he did was for her own good, leaving her unable to get mad at him. Sheâd ended up cooped up in the hospital room for an entire week.
She felt like she was about to grow roots.
"Half a month is already short," the doctor said. "Normally, anyone who suffers a severe head injury would need a month of rest. Your recovery is indeed progressing well, and with Mr. Nianâs dedicated care, I believe even after youâre discharged, there wonât be issues. Thatâs why discharge is even being considered."
Heather was about to say something when Nian Shen interrupted her. "Doctor, weâll follow your recommendation. Until you officially approve it, she wonât be discharged."
He was so assertive, as if he were her legal guardian.
The doctor wasnât surprised at all, already accustomed to this dynamic, and only listened to Nian Shenâs decisions.
Heather: "..."
After the doctor left, Nian Shen placed the food he brought for her on the table and opened the takeout box for her. As if anticipating what she was about to say, he spoke first: "Trying to get discharged early is pointless. If the doctor hasnât said you can leave, Iâll keep watching over you. If you want me to ease up, just focus on healing properly."
"..." Heather was at a loss for words.
Those words sounded like a veiled threatâthat if she didnât behave, heâd stick around forever.
"But Mr. Nian, youâve taken exceptional care of me this past week. Surely, thatâs more than enough. Besides, this wasnât really your fault; you were just implicated..."
"She wonât come to take care of you, so this falls to me."
Ah... there was nothing she could do. Truly nothing. She had no idea how to handle him.
If he were someone she disliked, she couldâve ignored him. But he wasnât. And you donât hit a smiling face extended in kindness. She really had no countermeasures for this.