After leaving the outpatient room, the next steps were to pay the fees and collect the medication.
Gu Junxing found a chair for Nian Suian to sit on, while he quickly went to get the medicine. Upon returning, he immediately took out the lozenges prescribed by the doctor.
This time, without Gu Junxing saying anything, Nian Suian obediently opened her mouth. These lozenges were indeed effective, making her throat feel much more comfortable.
Nian Suian pointed to her throat and gave a thumbs-up gesture.
"Let's go back then. When we get back, I'll have someone make you something light to eat. You must be hungry, right?" Gu Junxing said as he extended his hand.
Nian Suian nodded and took Gu Junxing's hand. The two walked out of the hospital hand in hand.
After getting in the car, her throat still uncomfortable and thinking about how she had ended up in the hospital because of choking while eating spicy food, Nian Suian felt ridiculous no matter how she looked at it. If she hadn't been so stubborn yesterday and continued eating that plate of stir-fried pork with chili peppers, it probably wouldn't have gotten this serious.
Nian Suian's emotions were always written on her face, and at this moment, she looked somewhat dejected.
Seeing her like this, Gu Junxing asked, both concerned and amused, "Will you still eat stir-fried pork with chili peppers in the future?"
Nian Suian thought for a moment, then nodded firmly.
Stir-fried pork with chili peppers was just too delicious!
[Next time, I'll be more careful when eating]
"There's one more thing you need to reflect on," Gu Junxing said, feigning seriousness.
Nian Suian tilted her head, indicating she didn't quite understand.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier when you weren't feeling well? Why didn't you say anything last night? You only told me when you couldn't speak today. Didn't you suffer unnecessarily for a whole night?"
As Gu Junxing mentioned this, Nian Suian indeed felt guilty. It was her stubbornness that came first, followed by her greed for food. She had been in discomfort since last night but hadn't said anything.
Nian Suian couldn't defend herself, firstly because she couldn't speak, and secondly because there was simply no defense.
Gu Junxing seemed to want to take advantage of her inability to argue back to give her a good talking-to.
"Who taught you to endure discomfort by yourself? Even if you don't see me as your husband or boyfriend, even if you just see me as a friend, can't you tell me when you're not feeling well?"
Knowing that Gu Junxing was also worried about her, the more he spoke, the more Nian Suian felt her behavior was ridiculous.
Not wanting him to continue, Nian Suian wanted to say that she wasn't as he described, but she couldn't speak. After thinking for a moment, she decided to manually mute him.
She reached out and covered Gu Junxing's mouth, preventing him from speaking, then leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
First force, then persuasion, rendering him completely speechless.
Nian Suian's hand covered Gu Junxing's mouth for two minutes, and they remained in this position without moving.
After two minutes, Gu Junxing took Nian Suian's hand and held it in his own.
"Do you understand your mistake now?"
Nian Suian nodded.
"Will you tell me next time?"
Nian Suian nodded vigorously.
Gu Junxing leaned in and kissed Nian Suian's brow.
"Make sure you remember."
Then, the kiss landed on the tip of her nose.
And after that, on her lips.
Nian Suian first widened her eyes, then gently closed them. Her hands also moved from her sides to Gu Junxing's neck.
Her lips parted slightly.
The hand on her waist gradually tightened, warm and strong.
Three minutes later, Nian Suian's cheeks were pink, and she was slightly out of breath.
Nian Suian held up her phone: [My lozenge is gone, can you give me another one?]
"Compound Gorgonian Lozenge"
Gu Junxing read the name on the box slowly, enunciating each word.
"It's sweet."
Hearing this, Nian Suian's face turned even redder. She quickly grabbed the lozenges and unwrapped one, popping it into her mouth.
Gu Junxing stopped teasing her and started the car with a smile.
When they returned, they happened to see Liu Jian in the hotel lobby. As soon as he saw the two of them, he immediately came over.
"How is it? Is Suian alright? Was the choking severe? Were the chili peppers too spicy?"
Gu Junxing replied, "The doctor said it's acute pharyngitis. They prescribed some medicine. She needs to take good care of herself. For the next couple of days, I'd trouble you to have someone prepare some light meals for her."
"It's good that it's nothing serious. Don't worry about the food, I'll make sure to give proper instructions," Liu Jian said. Then, looking at Gu Junxing again, he asked curiously, "Wait a minute, why do you look so cheerful? What's there to be so happy about after a trip to the hospital?"
Hearing this, Nian Suian also looked up at Gu Junxing.
Cheerful? Was he?
It did seem a little like that...
Nian Suian forced herself to stop thinking. She couldn't think about it anymore, or she would blush again.
Gu Junxing, however, said without blushing or showing any sign of discomfort, "Do I? Isn't it natural for me to be happy that Suian is alright?"
Liu Jian was half-convinced. The words sounded fine, but why did he feel like something was off!
"You go ahead with your work. She's hungry, I'll take her to eat something," Gu Junxing said.
Liu Jian slapped his forehead, instantly forgetting about what felt off.
"I almost forgot, there's a guest I need to personally receive. They should be arriving soon. You two go ahead. If you want anything to eat, just tell the waiter directly."
"Alright, you go on then."
Liu Jian walked a couple of steps, then turned back.
"Oh right, make sure to let Zhijing know. That kid was worried sick."
Hearing this, Nian Suian immediately took out her phone to send a message to Gu Zhijing.
[I'm fine now. Your dad and I are back, about to go to the restaurant to eat. You should come too.]
After a long deliberation, Gu Junxing finally ordered a small bowl of rice porridge, a steamed fish, and some baby bok choy in superior stock for Nian Suian.
He knew Nian Suian didn't like such bland food, but there was no other choice at the moment.
After sitting down, he gently caressed Nian Suian's face with his fingertips, comforting her, "Bear with it for a while. Just eat light food for these couple of days. You can have your favorite foods once you're better."
Behind them, Gu Zhijing, who had come running, saw this scene and immediately came to an abrupt stop...
Gu Junxing turned around and saw his son standing there.
"Why are you standing there? Come over here."
Only then did Gu Zhijing walk over and sit down across from them.
"I didn't want to disturb you two," he said.
Then he asked Nian Suian, "Little Mom-sis, are you really alright now? What did the doctor say? What was the cause?"
Nian Suian patted Gu Junxing, gesturing for him to answer.
"Acute pharyngitis. The doctor prescribed some medication. She needs to take good care of herself for a couple of days. Have you eaten yet?"
Gu Zhijing shook his head. He hadn't had time to eat at all.
"Perfect timing then, let's have some porridge together."
Hearing this, Nian Suian immediately typed on her phone and showed it to the father and son.
[I'll just have porridge. You two can eat whatever you like.]
It was already past lunchtime, and while she had no choice but to drink porridge, how could she let the two of them just have porridge with her?
Gu Junxing disagreed, "How can we feast while you're having porridge? It's already past lunchtime anyway, and I don't have much of an appetite. Some porridge will be enough for me. Zhijing, if you want something else, go ahead and order."
Gu Zhijing immediately said, "I'll have porridge too. I don't want anything else."
Hearing this, Nian Suian was deeply moved, only wishing she could express herself.
All she could do was stand up, lean over, and pat Gu Zhijing's shoulder vigorously to convey her feelings.
In the end, the family of three had porridge together. Nian Suian's throat started to hurt without the lozenges, so she didn't eat much porridge or the dishes. She only drank a bowl of soup from the baby bok choy in superior stock.
Gu Junxing watched her, feeling distressed but helpless. He couldn't eat anymore either.
Seeing this, Gu Zhijing also put down his chopsticks.
Nian Suian felt both anxious and frustrated. She rolled her eyes and gave Gu Junxing a firm pat.
[I'm going back to sleep. You and Zhijing eat. Eat more!]
She then used her eyes to signal Gu Junxing to order some dishes for Gu Zhijing, while she stood up, ready to return to the room.
"I'll go with you."
[You sit down and eat! My throat is bad, not my legs. If you don't eat, I'll lock the door when I get back, and you won't be able to come in to sleep tonight.]