Lu Zhilan is a tennis prodigy and Lu Xia's older cousin. Zhilan was expected to become a professional athlete until a career threatening injury. With no other choice, she's forced to go to Germany for surgery and rehabilitation. She's been there for...
Zhilan stared at Siyang from across the table as they had lunch together. "You seem really happy today."
"Am I not usually happy?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "If you count frowning all the time as happy."
He shook his head and sipped his water. The more time they spent around each other, the more he realized what a character Zhilan was. After the initial awkwardness passed, she was bold and spoke to him in a way others didn't. It eerily reminded him of someone.
"I'm just used to it."
She shrugged and continued eating. A beat of silence followed as they went on with lunch.
"My surgery is coming up."
Zhilan grinned. "That's great news. When is it?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Good luck. You're probably not going to be allowed to eat anything after this." She pointed to his food.
Siyang chuckled. "Yes, you would know."
She didn't say anything as she thought back to the day of her surgery. The surgery itself wasn't a problem. It was the aftermath that was unsettling. She woke up to beeping machines and no one around to talk to or care for her. The only people she talked to were nurses or her doctor.
"Are you okay?" Siyang asked as he noticed she stopped eating.
"Siyang, can I ask you for something?"
"What is it?"
"Will you let me go to your room during your surgery?"
Confusion was written all over his face at the request. "Why?"
Zhilan looked down at her knee. "I just want to wait there for you."
"You don't have to. You can see me the day after."
She chuckled without humor. "Please, it would make me feel better."
"Why do you want to do that, Zhilan?"
Sbe made eye contact with him and Siyang noticed her eyes were sad. "Because I don't want you to be alone like I was after my surgery."
The answer caught him off guard completely, but he couldn't find it in himself to deny her request. "All right. My room is 512. You can wait there until I wake up."
"Thank you." She murmured so softly that he almost didn't hear her.
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The next day seemed to move at a snail's pace. Everything dragged on from therapy to lunch to the afternoon. Zhilan found it felt exactly like the day she had her surgery. Except she couldn't tell what was worse: being the patient or waiting for a patient. When she got to Siyang's room, she wondered if he was still there.
She knocked on the door softly to check.
"Come in."
She slowly poked her head through the doorway and walked in. The room was not much different from hers.
"It'll be another few minutes before they take me away." He said as she settled herself down on the couch.
"It's fine."
"Are you sure you want to wait here? It'll be a while."
Zhilan ignored his words. "I told you why I want to be here. You won't get rid of me that easily."
Siyang laughed. She was a stubborn one.
"Are you ready for your surgery?"
He sighed. "As ready as I can be. Does anything prepare you for it?"
She shook her head and messed with one of her earrings. "You just hope to get better."
"Yes, I have to play with my team at Nationals."
Zhilan smiled. "Hopefully you'll get back to them in time."
A knock interrupted and a man popped in. "Hello there. I'm here to take you to the surgical room."
"I'll see you later." Siyang said and he was rolled out.
Good luck, Siyang.
Author's Note
Back to it! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Did anyone catch the slight mention of Lu Xia? You should comment if you did! Thanks for reading!
