After a few days, Shen Jianian hadn’t encountered her neighbors, uncertain if the person next door lived alone like her, or whether it was a family, whether male or female, though she had seen moving staff a few tis, and they made quite a fuss.
With Shen Jianian’s efforts, the new ho gradually took on a cozy semblance. She had also bought several kitchen utensils and cookbooks, planning to explore cooking during her leisure ti since ordering takeout every day was unhealthy.
She hadn’t begun this endeavor before succumbing to illness.
The cause was how, the night before, she went downstairs to throw away trash, wearing a down coat over her ho clothes, planning to go ho imdiately after but unexpectedly discovered a stray cat in the community.
In cold winter, stray animals beco particularly worrying, irrespective of food and drink; their sleeping location also poses a problem.
Shen Jianian first went to the community supermarket to buy cat food, canned als, and mineral water, poured the cat food onto a plastic bag, and beckoned the cat to eat.
The cat was black and white, dirty with leaves hanging from its whiskers, likely rummaging through so garbage can.
It was highly cautious, looking at Shen Jianian, then at the cat food on the bag, and did not approach to eat.
Realizing this, Shen Jianian opened the can and poured it next to the cat food, then filled the can with mineral water, standing up and taking a few steps back.
The cat owed softly, tentatively approaching and devouring the food ravenously.
Shen Jianian worried about the cat’s whereabouts for the night and knew bringing it ho wouldn’t work since it was so guarded and wouldn’t cooperate. With temperatures dropping to below ten degrees these nights, sleeping outside might end in freezing.
After so thought, she went back upstairs to her ho, found a cardboard box, lined it with a blanket inside, sealed the opening with tape, cut a round hole on the side with a craft knife to make a simple cat nest, and took it downstairs.
The cat was already gone, but she placed the cat nest in the flowerbed where it had appeared, hoping it would find a refuge should it return.
After fussing back and forth, Shen Jianian’s body felt feverish halfway through the night.
Her resistance was not what it used to be.
With no stock of usual cold dicines in the new ho yet, Shen Jianian got up, drank a cup of hot water, wrapped herself tightly in a quilt, hoping sweating might improve her condition.
By dawn, she touched her forehead, still hot. Her entire body felt weak, struggling even to get out of bed. She ordered a bunch of cold dicine online for delivery.
Despite the effort, she still had to get out of bed, needing to use the restroom.
When Shen Jianian laboriously made her way to the bathroom, she discovered to her dismay that her nstrual period had arrived.
No wonder she felt a faint pain in her lower abdon, initially thinking it was a cold symptom.
After dealing with the sudden situation, Shen Jianian collapsed lifelessly onto the bed.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, the doorbell rang. Dragging her weary body, she answered, finding that the delivery had arrived. She unlocked the downstairs entrance and then opened the door to wait.
A biting cold draft blew through the hallway, causing Shen Jianian to shiver. Hastily, she closed the door, deciding to wait to open it when soone arrived as she was too weak to withstand the cold.
Right before the door closed entirely, soone passed by in the corridor, steady footsteps opening the door next to her and entering.
Simultaneously, the elevator door opened, and the delivery guy arrived, knocking on the door of unit 2602: "Hello, are you Ms. Shen? Your purchase has arrived."
Shen Jianian opened the door again, adjusted the shawl around her shoulders, and took the plastic bag: "Thank you."
"You’re welco," the delivery guy smiled, "Wishing you a speedy recovery."
Too exhausted, Shen Jianian weakly managed a slight smile and closed the door.
At the mont she closed the door, the slightly ajar door next door opened, and a man, coming out from inside, called out to the delivery guy waiting for the elevator: "What did she buy?"
The delivery guy looked at this tall, poised man, perplexed.
"I just heard you saying wishing her recovery," said the man.
The delivery guy, judging he didn’t seem like a bad person, noted that from the direction he’d co, the man was likely a resident on this floor: "That lady bought a bag of cold dicine."
The man’s brow furrowed; she was sick again.
The elevator arrived, the delivery guy pointed inside: "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going."
The man turned back, passing Shen Jianian’s door, his gaze lingering on it for a few seconds, his brow knit tighter.
Returning next door, he opened the fridge, packed with ingredients sent by staff, overflowing with fruits, vegetables, fish, at, and dairy, missing only a cook.
It’s Saturday, and had he not been preoccupied with her, coming over early to check the setup, he might not have known about her illness.
It’s just past seven; Shen Jianian likely hasn’t eaten breakfast. Skipping a al and directly taking dicine is hardly bearable. Given her constitution, far weaker compared to others, prone to allergies, who knows if she can take that dicine...
The more he thought, the more anxious he beca, yearning to knock on the next door and see her.
But he restrained the impulse, kneading his brow, pulling out his phone to call Aunt Cheng.
*
Shen Jianian took fever dicine, climbing back into bed to sleep, her lower abdon continued aching, sweat repeatedly forming on her forehead, making sleep impossible.
Previously, her nstrual period didn’t hurt so unbearably, perhaps due to getting cold last night.
Curled up into a ball under the quilt, Shen Jianian’s hands pressed on her abdon, and after a groggy period, she heard knocking, assuming she was dreaming.
After a while, the "knock-knock" sound echoed crisply.
Shen Jianian lifted the quilt covering her head; the knocks beca clearer.
Struggling for a mont, she slowly went to open the door, even forgetting to look through the peephole first.
No one was outside; on the ground, a wooden tray sat with three clay pots, one large and two small, all covered, along with a pair of chopsticks and a spoon.
Perplexed, Shen Jianian poked out half her body, peering left and right but seeing no one. She finally crouched down, finding a note in the tray, neatly written in block letters: I’m your neighbor. Overheard your conversation with the delivery, learned you’re ill, made a bit of food, hope you don’t mind.
The unfamiliar yet kind tone made Shen Jianian imagine a warm-hearted aunt.
She looked toward next door; the door was shut.
Shen Jianian picked up the tray, closed the door with her back, and walked to the dining table. The pots were well insulated; upon opening, white steam billowed forth.
The large pot contained chicken soup, infused with ginseng, cordyceps, and dates, while the small pots held vegetable porridge and an egg custard, more than enough for her entire day.
Tasting a bit of the egg custard, Shen Jianian’s tongue was burnt, and she exhaled.
After the second bite, she paused suddenly. Was this really extra? It seed specifically prepared as a al for the sick?
Holding a suspicious heart, Shen Jianian finished the entire egg custard, drank a small bowl of chicken soup, leaving the porridge untouched, unable to eat more.
From the kitchen cabinet, she found a white clay pot, poured the remaining chicken soup inside, transferred the porridge to a container for later reheated use.
Shen Jianian diligently cleaned the neighbor’s utensils, knocking on the next-door door, hoping to offer thanks directly.
She knocked for a long while with no response; evidently, no one was ho.
Gazing down at the tray, she wondered jokingly if the neighbor was a Tianluo Girl.
Amused by her thought, Shen Jianian shook her head, retreated to her apartnt, setting the tray aside, contemplating finding another opportunity to return it.
While she was knocking earlier, Fu Jichen stood in the entrance hall, holding a cigarette, facing the dark gray door, tempted to open it and see her, but he resisted.
He couldn’t let Shen Jianian know he lived next door so soon, as she might be upset.
Different approach, different approach... Fu Jichen incessantly repeated these words in his heart, reminding himself to be patient and not rash.
Having decided to pursue her differently, he must see it through.
After finishing the cigarette, calmness restored, Fu Jichen walked to the living room, picked up the phone on the sofa to ssage Shen Jianian.
Fu Jichen: "Have you eaten yet?"
Shen Jianian didn’t reply, as he expected.
Fu Jichen: "Cold weather lately, keep warm, don’t catch a cold."
Fu Jichen: "Call if you need anything, take care."
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