Lu Weizhu held a bowl and chopsticks, gazing at the meal her younger sister had thoughtfully prepared.
“Thank you, Weiyu. I’m going to start eating now.”
After expressing her gratitude, she took a sip of porridge and swallowed a slice of warm meat.
The taste was quite good, but Lu Weizhu still felt a bit uneasy.
She turned her head to look at another hospital bed not far away.
Lin Li was squatting in front of the bed, feeding her mother little by little.
She sat there all alone, as if she existed in another world.
In silence, Lu Weizhu stood up.
She walked slowly to Lin Li’s side.
“Lin Li, do you want to eat with us? It’s more lively with three people.”
Lu Weizhu wasn’t even sure herself why she made the offer—she just acted on impulse.
Maybe it was because she was so used to loneliness that she couldn’t bear to see someone else alone?
“Hm?”
Lin Li glanced at Lu Weizhu, then set the liquid food she used to feed her mother on the nightstand,
picked up her own dishes and a bowl of rice, and came to Lu Weiyu’s bedside.
“Thank you.”
Lin Li didn’t reject Lu Weizhu’s kindness and placed her food on the nightstand.
The small cabinet was suddenly crowded with five boxes of dishes, some with meat and some vegetarian—it looked a bit cramped. “Mmm.”
The little world between the two sisters was disturbed, making Lu Weiyu a bit displeased.
But since it was her elder sister’s decision, she accepted it without question.
The three of them gathered together, but there was a strange silence between them.
Everyone only picked from their own dishes and didn’t touch anyone else’s food.
Lu Weizhu glanced at Lin Li’s dull, yellowish hair. Her meal was just two simple vegetable dishes: stir-fried celtuce and dressed cucumber slices. It looked rather meager.
“Let’s share. Don’t be shy. After all, we’re all pitiful people sharing a hospital ward.”
Lu Weizhu smiled, boldly picking up a piece of Lin Li’s cucumber first.
The odd atmosphere broke, and things finally felt a bit more comfortable.
“Big sister, ah…”
Lu Weiyu started feeding Lu Weizhu with little effort here and there. Lu Weizhu could only accept with resignation. Lin Li watched the sisters’ interactions, then tentatively picked up a piece of shredded meat. As she tasted the meat, she suddenly craved more, and her manner became less restrained. The meal quickly ended in a flurry, all the dishes and rice cleared away.
If you had to name the biggest eater among the three, it was definitely Lin Li, but that was understandable—her job really was exhausting.
Every time Lu Weizhu saw the heavy dark circles under Lin Li’s eyes, she couldn’t help but think of herself a year ago.
“Thank you, Lu Weizhu.”
Lin Li said her thanks solemnly.
As her words faded, she returned to continue feeding her mother. Lu Weizhu shrugged, cleaned up the remaining trash, and threw everything into the garbage bin.
When she came back from taking out the trash, Lin Li had finished feeding as well.
After a moment of hesitation, Lin Li walked over to Lu Weizhu.
“Can you come with me for a moment?”
“Huh? Where to?”
Lu Weizhu was a little confused. They weren’t exactly close, after all.
“The restroom. There’s something I want to tell you, Lu Weizhu.”
Lin Li had already taken off her helmet, looking much more approachable.
“Uh… all right?”
Lu Weizhu nodded in agreement.
Following Lin Li, the two entered the restroom together.
“Thank you for sharing your food with me.”
With her eyes lowered, Lin Li stuffed both hands in her pockets. Her pockets moved from time to time—her fingers were fidgeting inside.
It was obvious she wasn’t as calm as she looked.
“Eh? It’s nothing to thank me for. Let’s just be friends.”
Lu Weizhu smiled, then turned to head out of the restroom. She wondered why Lin Li was thanking her again after already expressing gratitude.
“I know what your real job is.”
Just as she was about to leave, Lin Li’s words made her freeze in place.
“Uh… Uh… What real job? I’m just a waitress. I don’t understand.”
Lu Weizhu tried to play dumb.
“You were with different people twice. I saw both times…”
Lu Weizhu fell silent.
Her smile faded from her face.
“What do you want?”
Her tone dropped, and suddenly, Lu Weizhu regretted ever getting involved with this person.
Seeing the change in Lu Weizhu’s expression, Lin Li grew a bit anxious.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
She waved her hands hurriedly.
“I just wanted to say, you should be more careful next time. Don’t let other people notice anything odd.”
“You… don’t hate me?”
Lu Weizhu was stunned by this unexpected development.
She’d thought this girl was going to blackmail her.
“No.”
Lin Li shook her head.
“I think you’re amazing, being able to shoulder your sister’s medical expenses all on your own.”
“Don’t you think what I do is disgraceful?”
“I don’t see it that way.”
Lin Li leaned against the restroom stall door.
“Actually, I kind of envy you… If you have a natural advantage, why not use it? Someone useless like me is the one who should be ashamed.”
Lin Li laughed at herself.
“You’re really strong, much better than my own sister. That woman only ever asks me for money.”
Lin Li let out a long breath.
“When you said you wanted to be friends, did you mean it?”
Lin Li looked at Lu Weizhu with hope in her eyes.
“Uh… Of course.”
Lu Weizhu nodded.
This person didn’t seem so bad after all?
After receiving a definite answer, Lin Li’s eyes brightened. Even her tired face seemed more spirited.
She held out her hand.
“You’re the first person in this city who’s willing to be my friend. Everyone else just thinks I’m some country bumpkin. Thank you.”
Lu Weizhu wondered how many times Lin Li had thanked her already. She remembered her old self, too—constantly thanking and apologizing.
Lu Weizhu reached out and shook her hand.
Years of working as a delivery driver and gripping the scooter’s handle had left calluses on Lin Li’s palm.
“We’re friends now. You can call me Lili. Though, I probably can’t help you much… sorry.”
“It’s fine. You can just call me Weizhu.”
A moment of kindness had brought her a new friend, and Lu Weizhu couldn’t help but feel happy.
With a friend, Lin Li felt happy, too.
They returned to the ward together, and Lin Li put her helmet back on.
“I need to get back to work. See you later.”
She hurried out of the ward.
“Sis? Where did you two go?”
Lu Weiyu’s face was full of curiosity as she watched Lu Weizhu return to her bedside.
“It’s nothing… I just made a friend.”
Lu Weizhu patted Lu Weiyu on the head.
That Lin Li… she was a pitiful soul, too.
Lu Weizhu glanced at the comatose middle-aged woman on the hospital bed and recalled Lin Li’s mention of a sister who only ever asked her for money.
Lu Weizhu couldn’t understand.
A sister is supposed to protect her younger sibling. How could it be the other way around?
“Oh, big sister has another new friend.”
Lu Weiyu sounded rather indifferent.
Every time Lu Weizhu made a new friend, it meant her own share of attention would shrink a little more.
Why was it her share? Maybe because she always took up the biggest place in Lu Weizhu’s heart.
“Hmph?”
Smiling wordlessly, Lu Weizhu took out her diary and added a few more lines about today’s events.