Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

Chapter 233: Yuan Yuan Is Sick

After watching a movie together, Xia Yuan hadn’t been feeling well. She had no appetite during dinner, and Mei Fang and Lin Youxi both thought she might have eaten too many cold things during the day which upset her stomach. They told her to get a good night’s rest.

At midnight, the sound of Xia Yuan vomiting from the bathroom woke Mei Fang. He got up to check on her and found her looking pale and exhausted as she came out of the bathroom. Seeing Mei Fang, she looked pitiful and cried:

“Ah Fang, I feel so awful…”

Mei Fang felt her forehead and compared it to his own, “Stomach pain, vomiting, and fever—it looks like acute gastroenteritis. I’ll talk to Aunt Liang and take you to the hospital.”

“Aunt Liang should be asleep. It’s not good to disturb her…” Xia Yuan mumbled. “How about just the two of us go?”

“We definitely need to let her know. It would be really disrespectful not to.”

Hearing Mei Fang and Xia Yuan talking, Lin Youxi got up and went to see what was happening. Upon learning about Xia Yuan’s condition, Lin Youxi went into Liang Meijuan’s room to wake her up and explain. The four of them then changed clothes and took a taxi to a nearby hospital for an emergency night consultation.

Lin Youxi was very worried about Xia Yuan’s condition. “It’s my fault. I should have advised her not to eat so many cold things.”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself. The important thing now is to diagnose the problem.”

After seeing a doctor at the hospital, Xia Yuan was confirmed to have acute gastroenteritis, just as Mei Fang had suspected. She needed an IV drip and would have to stay in the hospital for observation.

Liang Meijuan was unfamiliar with the procedures in a big city hospital, so Mei Fang handled everything, saving a lot of time. Soon, they were settled in a spacious and bright VIP room. The night shift nurse set up an IV for Xia Yuan, which made her feel a bit better.

“This seems like a VIP room with only one bed. Ah Fang, how much did this cost?” Liang Meijuan asked.

“Don’t worry, Aunt Liang. We have student health insurance, so we can get reimbursed.”

“Can this kind of thing be reimbursed?”

“Mom, don’t worry about the cost. Staying here will help Yuan Yuan recover faster.”

Liang Meijuan had always lived a frugal life and was naturally thrifty. However, she knew that Xia Yuan was a young lady of some standing, and she herself wasn’t particularly assertive. After Lin Youxi’s persuasion, she stopped inquiring about the associated costs, as continuing to do so would make her seem overly meddlesome.

Xia Yuan lay on the bed for a while before starting to dry heave again. Mei Fang quickly grabbed a plastic bag for her to vomit into.

She now felt both ashamed and embarrassed. She clenched her teeth, trying hard to resist the urge to vomit. Then, covering herself with the blanket, she began to grumble.

“I’m sorry… I was greedy… Now everyone has to suffer with me at night.”

“What are you saying, child? As your guardian, it’s my job to take care of you… Just be mindful of your diet from now on, okay?”

“Mm… I know.”

Xia Yuan nodded lightly, then her gaze fell on Mei Fang.

Xia Yuan didn’t mind Mei Fang and Lin Youxi seeing her in such an unsightly state, but Liang Meijuan was an elder. Xia Yuan had always been conscious of her image since childhood. She was the most outstanding, sensible, well-behaved, and obedient child in the eyes of the elders, so she didn’t want Liang Meijuan to see her in such an embarrassing situation.

Mei Fang noticed Xia Yuan glancing at him and then at Liang Meijuan, understanding her concerns immediately. He stood up and said to Liang Meijuan, “Aunt Liang, it’s late now. Why don’t you go back and rest? You don’t need to stay here with us.”

“If anyone should go back, it should be you and Youxi. I’ll stay here with Yuan Yuan. You both have school tomorrow and need your rest.”

“Mom, come here for a second. I need to talk to you,” Lin Youxi said, pulling Liang Meijuan aside to discuss something. When they returned, Lin Youxi said to Xia Yuan and Mei Fang, “Since Yuan Yuan’s condition has stabilized, I think it’s fine if there aren’t too many people here. My mom and I will head back to rest. If Yuan Yuan needs to stay in the hospital tomorrow, we’ll bring some food.”

Liang Meijuan then reminded them, “Don’t worry about school. I’ll talk to your homeroom teacher and arrange for you both to have some time off.”

“Thank you, Aunt Liang,” Mei Fang said, then looked at Lin Youxi. “Youxi, you should rest early too.”

“Let me know if anything happens,” Lin Youxi said, making a calling gesture. “Don’t worry about waking me up.”

“Mhm, okay.”

After seeing Liang Meijuan and Lin Youxi off, Xia Yuan finally relaxed her previously tense mood.

Mei Fang bustled around, pouring hot water and getting a hot water bottle to place on Yuan Yuan’s stomach to relieve her pain.

“Does your stomach still hurt?”

“No, it feels much better.”

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?”

“Um… no, I don’t.”

Seeing Mei Fang sitting by the bed, resting his chin in his hand and looking a bit tired, Xia Yuan felt a pang of heartache.

She murmured, “Ah Fang, do you want to rest? You can sleep with me.”

“I can’t sleep yet. Your IV isn’t finished; it’ll take at least another hour.”

“Mm…”

Xia Yuan looked up at the IV drip, then back at Mei Fang. By now, Mei Fang had perked up a bit and was looking at his phone. “Youxi and her mom just got home.”

“That’s good… ouch…”

Xia Yuan groaned from a sudden cramp. Mei Fang quickly started massaging her.

“Where does it hurt? Here?”

“Uh-huh… and here.”

“Here too?”

“Mm…”

After a lot of back and forth like this, the IV was finally done, and Xia Yuan’s condition had improved significantly. Mei Fang led Xia Yuan to use the private bathroom in the VIP ward, then helped her walk out shakily, and assisted her in lying down comfortably on the bed.

“You should be able to sleep now… I’ll go get a folding bed.”

“Why spend money on that? You can just sleep here with me.”

They had previously shared a bed at a hotel with Lin Youxi, so Mei Fang wasn’t embarrassed about it. “I’ve been running around all night and probably smell sweaty, so I won’t sleep with you.”

“You can take a shower in the bathroom. There should be hospital gowns to change into,” Yuan Yuan muttered. “I feel terrible today and just want to have Ah Fang to hold.”

“I don’t see you being this proactive when you’re not feeling bad…” Mei Fang lightly pinched Yuan Yuan’s nose, then went to the bathroom to take a shower.

Spending a lot of money really did make a difference. The bathroom had towels, shampoo, body wash, and toiletries, almost like staying at a hotel.

When Mei Fang finished taking a shower and drying his hair, Xia Yuan seemed to have fallen asleep.

Seeing her finally resting, Mei Fang felt relieved, as it meant Xia Yuan’s discomfort had eased significantly. Even in this reborn world, Mei Fang’s biggest fear was still illness, as some diseases couldn’t be cured no matter how much money he had. Therefore, he adhered to the principle of early detection and early treatment. Whenever there was any sign of illness in the people around him, he would actively suggest that they get a checkup.

He turned off the lights in the ward and quietly and gently climbed into Xia Yuan’s bed, lying down on one side.

In the darkness, he felt Xia Yuan reaching out to poke his back.

“Cover yourself with the blanket, or you’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m very healthy.”

“I thought I was too before I got sick… Youxi used to get sick often, and I would go to the clinic near their house to see her and watch anime with her to pass the time.”

“That’s nice.”

Mei Fang gently lifted Xia Yuan’s blanket. Xia Yuan then instructed him, “Move closer, okay? I get a little scared at night.”

“Scared of what… the hospital?”

“Mhm…” Xia Yuan mumbled. “This is my first time staying in a hospital, so it feels a bit scary.”

“I’m here with you the whole time. What are you afraid of?”

“Then you have to hold me tightly. You’re not allowed to leave me without my permission.”

“Got it, my lady.”

Mei Fang wrapped his arms around her, but since Xia Yuan was still weak, he didn’t hold her too tightly.

Xia Yuan then took one of Mei Fang’s arms and hugged it tightly, as if guarding her precious treasure.

“Ah Fang… um——”

“Do you want a kiss?”

“The doctor said acute gastroenteritis can’t be spread through oral transmission, but it might have bacteria. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to Youxi, so let’s not.”

Xia Yuan said this as she slipped her hand inside Mei Fang’s hospital gown. “But I still want to feel your heartbeat. It helps me sleep better.”

“Uh… I’ll allow it since you’re sick.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Finally, Xia Yuan fell asleep peacefully in Mei Fang’s warm embrace.