The two of them exited the KTV.
Peng Fei still had blood seeping from his temple, his nose plugged with white paper. Combined with the stubble on his chin and his slightly greasy hair, he looked truly worn out.
Zhan Jingchun asked if he was alright and if he needed to go to the hospital. Peng Fei said no.
Looking at his dejected appearance, Zhan Jingchun felt a mix of deservedness, heartache, and anger.
She couldn't understand why he had become so weak. He used to be able to handle seven young men with ease.
"Weren't you very good at fighting before? How did you become so delicate after only a few days in the entertainment industry? With you like this, you still want to go back to the countryside?"
Peng Fei fell silent again. He already felt unwell, and after the recent exertion, he was now breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling dizzy. Zhan Jingchun couldn't even imagine how bad he felt.
They stood in silence for a few seconds. Zhan Jingchun, thinking he was truly fine, irritably stepped off the stairs.
"I'm going home. If you're really okay, you should go home too. Don't follow me anymore. Let's not contact each other again. I never want to see you again."
Peng Fei clenched his fist tightly, forcing himself to steady himself, and then followed her.
"I'll take you home first."
He was always like this, answering the questions he wanted to and acting as if he hadn't heard the ones he didn't.
Zhan Jingchun was somewhat used to it and didn't bother scolding him further. She turned her back to him and said nothing. They walked back to the villa entrance in silence.
The nanny, worried sick, hadn't dared to go home and had been waiting at the entrance.
Seeing them return from a distance, she hurried to meet them.
Her eyes fell on Peng Fei's appearance and she was startled again.
"What happened? How did you get like this? Oh dear, you're bleeding! Chun Chun, are you... are you alright?"
She rushed to check if Zhan Jingchun was injured, but Zhan Jingchun waved her hand away.
"I'm fine. He got into a fight. Go and look after him."
With that, she walked into the villa first.
The nanny saw Peng Fei sweating profusely, his face as pale as paper, looking as if he might collapse. She quickly grabbed his hand and examined him all over.
"Where are you hurt? Why do you hurt so much? Did you injure your bones? You went out for such a short time and got into a fight. You two really... oh dear, oh dear!"
Seeing her, Peng Fei seemed to have found someone he could rely on. Unable to bear it any longer, his vision went black, and he swayed forward. The nanny quickly steadied him with her shoulder.
"Help! Chun Chun! Oh no, Peng Fei is collapsing!"
Peng Fei was taken to the hospital.
The doctor's examination revealed severe anemia and dehydration, and his condition was already very dangerous. They questioned why he was brought in so late.
"In this day and age, how can someone be so malnourished? How long has he been without sleep? Dehydrated like this in the middle of winter, when was the last time he ate anything?"
The doctor's questioning made Zhan Jingchun blush, but in front of everyone, she couldn't argue, so she could only listen obediently.
She hadn't expected Peng Fei's condition to be so serious.
Just a few days ago, he was a dazzling star, and now he was on the verge of death, without food, drink, or sleep for days...
No one was forcing him to stand on the street and punish himself. What was the point of this melodrama?
The doctor administered glucose to Peng Fei. He was so exhausted and uncomfortable that he slept for a full day and night before waking up.
He woke up in the evening. A sunset glow hung in the sky, making it look warm.
Zhan Jingchun had brought a stool and was sitting by his bed, reading a book.
The sunset was directly behind her, illuminating her gently.
Peng Fei momentarily thought he was dreaming. This dream was so beautiful; he wished he could keep looking at her like this.
It wasn't until Zhan Jingchun noticed something amiss and looked up to meet his gaze.
"You're awake?"
Having slept for so long, if the doctor hadn't said he was fine, she would have doubted if Peng Fei would ever wake up.
Seeing him finally open his eyes, Zhan Jingchun felt a surge of emotion.
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? I'll go call the doctor."
Peng Fei then realized he wasn't dreaming. There were many things attached to his hand; he was in the hospital.
He didn't feel uncomfortable. The tightness in his chest, shortness of breath, and clammy sweat he felt before falling asleep were gone.
He didn't want Zhan Jingchun to fuss over him, so he quickly called out, "Chun Chun, no need."
Zhan Jingchun stopped and looked back at him.
"Your voice is so hoarse. Are you thirsty? I'll pour you some water first."
At that moment, Peng Fei saw tenderness and concern in her eyes.
Chun Chun cared about him?
Peng Fei was deeply touched. He stared blankly as Zhan Jingchun ran out and back, holding a cup of hot water and blowing on it urgently.
"It's a bit hot. Don't rush, I'll blow on it for you."
After blowing for almost a minute, she handed the water to his lips.
She supported the cup with one hand and helped him sit up with the other.
Peng Fei was overwhelmed with gratitude, but he was extremely thirsty. He gulped down half the cup before moving his mouth away.
Zhan Jingchun then helped him lie back down. "Drank enough? Then I'll go call the doctor."
Peng Fei reluctantly held her hand. "I'm not uncomfortable, don't go yet."
Zhan Jingchun thought he had something to say, so she stopped, and they looked at each other.
After several seconds, Peng Fei finally spoke blankly.
"I, why am I in the hospital?"
Zhan Jingchun then remembered her anger, realizing it belatedly.
"You have low blood sugar, severe sleep deprivation, are underweight, and dehydrated. The doctor said you almost died. Was it worth it, deliberately making yourself like this to extort me?"
So it was because he hadn't slept. He would be fine after a few days in bed. Peng Fei didn't take it to heart.
He really liked the feeling of talking to her so closely now.
"Actually, I didn't need to come to the hospital. I was just sleepy. I've been in here for a few days; how much did it cost?"
After all, he had been an idol and had earned a lot of money. The fact that he asked about money as soon as he opened his eyes showed his lack of ambition.
Zhan Jingchun couldn't help but scold him. "Are you that poor? Afraid I'll ask you for money, always crying poor. You were doing so well in the entertainment industry for a year, didn't you save a single cent?"
Peng Fei felt ashamed when this was brought up. He didn't know how his agent was doing; after compensating the brands for their endorsements, he wondered how much debt they were in.
However, he didn't want to tell Zhan Jingchun about these things.
"Don't worry, I have hands, feet, and strength. I'll earn money again slowly in the future. If you don't mind, no matter how much I earn each month, I'll give it all to you."
Who wants your stinking money?
Zhan Jingchun didn't mean it like that at all!
Although she wasn't in the entertainment industry, she had followed celebrities for a long time and knew some of the ropes.
With such a big incident, she guessed the various compensation and liquidated damages would be enough for him to handle.
Considering he had just woken up, she decided to let it go.
"I'll pay for the medical expenses. You don't have to repay me. Consider it as me having dug up your family's ancestral grave in a past life and owing you. Lie down properly and don't think about money."
After saying that, she started to leave again, but Peng Fei was very reluctant.
"Where are you going? Leaving already?"
Seeing him look pitiful, like he was afraid of being abandoned, Zhan Jingchun couldn't help but tap his head.
"Don't worry, I won't leave you here alone before you're discharged. You haven't eaten anything after lying down for so long, aren't you hungry? I'll go ask the doctor if you can eat."