Momo's Gradual Change

C83. Going Home Sick.

Chapter 83: Going Home Sick

It was almost one o'clock when they arrived home.

Without a word, they silently agreed to let Miao Jun continue driving.

"It's too late, Uncle Miao, you should go home first. The things aren't urgent, we can get them tomorrow," he said.

Miao Jun handed him the car keys. "It's just a few steps, I can walk back in a few minutes."

But then he remembered something and took the keys back, opening the car door to grab Song Yimo's backpack and then finding the house keys under the dim streetlight.

"Don't announce our arrival, it'll disturb the neighbors. If Aunt Song asks, just make up an excuse. I'll come over early tomorrow and explain everything to her."

He nodded, waving goodbye as they both spoke in hushed voices. Song Yimo, who had been dozing off the entire way, didn't wake up.

Opening the door quietly and turning on the lights, Grandma Song came out with her clothes, "I knew it was you guys. Driving at night is dangerous, why didn't you come during the day?"

She offered to help, but he stopped her, saying, "Yimo is asleep, I'll take her to her room first."

"Take her to my room, and you can sleep in her room."

"Not tonight," he replied. He knew Yimo would worry if Grandma found out something was wrong, so he didn’t want to cause her any unnecessary stress. "I'll just sleep on the sofa tonight, we can figure it out in the morning."

"Oh, you can't..."

"Of course, Grandma, there's no need to be polite. I'm planning to be quite impolite this New Year!" he joked.

Grandma Song initially looked confused but then burst out laughing, "No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite. If you’re polite to me, Grandma won’t be happy."

Although they were speaking softly, Yimo, who had finally woken up, heard them.

Looking around drowsily, she realized they were home. Breathing in the familiar scent, she felt at ease and muttered, ‘Grandma, I'm home,’ before leaning on Zhai Muyang's shoulder and falling back asleep.

"This child, how did she get so tired? Muyang, take her to bed."

"Sure."

He gently placed her on the bed, and Grandma Song helped her undress, tuck her in, and then patted her granddaughter's face softly. "She's been through a lot. She's so worried about me that she hides everything from me."

Thinking about Yimo's recent hardships made Zhai Muyang want to speak up, but he knew it wouldn’t help. It would only burden Yimo, so he remained silent.

"Yimo is so filial."

"Yes, filial. She embodies all the kindness of the Song family."

Grandma Song caressed her granddaughter's hair lovingly, sighed, and got up, "I don't want her to go through so much trouble to comfort me. Let’s pretend I know nothing. Muyang, since Yimo was born, we haven't had much of a connection. You should take care of her more as her brother. I don’t know how long I can be with her..."

"Grandma!" Zhai Muyang interrupted her, "If Yimo hears this, she'll be heartbroken. She would gladly give you her own life so you could live longer."

Grandma Song patted his arm and walked away, "Alright, I won't say it."

Zhai Muyang helped her back to her room, "I know my way around here, you don't have to worry about me. Rest well, the sofa is soft and I won't feel cold."

"Then let me get a blanket for you." Grandma Song took out a new blanket she had prepared earlier, "I knew you would come, so I got this new cotton blanket for you. It’s warm."

"Thank you, Grandma. You should rest, I'll go wash up and sleep."

The sofa in the Song family's house was old-fashioned, made of wood. In winter, they would place a mattress on it, so it wasn't too cold.

Zhai Muyang, being tall, had to curl up a bit to fit on it, but the blanket was big enough to cover him entirely.

It was the simplest bed he had ever slept in. But despite his concerns, he fell asleep within seconds. This had never happened even on his expensive bed at home.

However, his worries kept him up, and he woke up early the next morning.

Opening the door quietly, Zhai Muyang saw Yimo had kicked off her blanket, half of her body exposed.

He remembered Guo Chao's warning that Yimo would be prone to illness in the next six months. With her restlessness last night, he was a bit worried. Seeing her uncovered, he quickly went to cover her.

But as he approached, he knew something was wrong.

Yimo's face was flushed, brows furrowed, with moisture at the corners of her temples. When he touched her, her skin was burning up.

Without hesitation, he sat by the bed, half-embraced her to dress her, covered her with a blanket, and then carried her out.

As they got in the car, he realized he had no idea where to go. He didn't know where the hospital in Xinghu County was.

Feeling her forehead, noticing her temperature had risen, he cursed under his breath and quickly called Miao Jun.

Miao Jun, who had slept in that day, was only just getting up when his phone rang. He handed the phone to He Yi as he approached, "Why is Muyang calling you so early?"

With the phone on speaker, Miao Jun asked, "Muyang, what's the matter?"

"Uncle Miao, Yimo has a fever. I don't know where the hospital is. Can you guide me?"

"What?! A fever?!" He Yi panicked, forgetting that it was she who was supposed to receive the call, "Where are you guys now?"

"Drive to my place. I'll wait for you downstairs." Miao Jun quickly finished rinsing and grabbed his jacket as he walked to the door, followed by He Yi.

"This time, don't stop me. You big guys don't know how to take care of a sick person."

The two didn't wait any longer and ran out of the complex. As soon as they reached the street, a car stopped in front of them.

He Yi stepped back in fright.

Zhai Muyang got out of the car and said, "Uncle Miao, Aunt He, you guys sit in the back."

He Yi started chattering, "Don't drive too fast, Muyang, calm down and drive steadily."

"I was reckless," Zhai Muyang took a deep breath to calm his racing heart before responding, "Which way should I go?"

"Continue straight ahead." He Yi leaned over to feel Yimo's forehead on the passenger seat, "She’s burning up. The doctors won’t be on duty yet. Let's go to a clinic run by a doctor I know. If he thinks we should go to the hospital, then we’ll go."

Zhai Muyang glanced at He Yi through the rearview mirror, "Is he reliable?"

"Don't worry, he was a chief physician at a hospital in the big city for years before setting up his own clinic. He's also my middle school classmate. Turn right at the next traffic light and then another one, and we’ll be there."

Trying to control his urge to step on the gas, Zhai Muyang managed to arrive at Ning’an Clinic quickly thanks to the lack of traffic in the early morning.