"How old are you? Don't you see our family's situation right now? And you're still talking about liking someone, how childish?"
"Now, if Old Man He is willing to take you, just on the basis of your face being able to write off Dong Dong's debts, you should be grateful to the heavens! Still fantasizing about liking or not liking, do you still think you're a little princess?"
Hu Jiasheng couldn't stand it anymore. He walked up two steps and grabbed the man's wrist.
"Excuse me, please let her go."
Despite not sleeping all night, Hu Jiasheng's mental state and skin condition were good.
Tall with long legs, handsome features, excellent taste in clothes, and an imposing demeanor.
His uncle sized him up from head to toe: "Who are you?"
Hu Jiasheng was about to say he was her friend, but Tang Nannan quickly came closer and linked her arm through his.
"My boyfriend!"
Her uncle's brow furrowed: "What?"
"University classmates. We've known each other for many years. We just recently started dating."
Her uncle scoffed and shook off Hu Jiasheng's hand.
"Fine. You're good at getting by. Even when your family is in ruins, you still have an old classmate who remembers you. Where are you from?"
Judging by his accent, he was from out of town. Tang Nannan: "..."
Hu Jiasheng: "Nancheng."
Nancheng was a good place, Tang Nannan thought, he was indeed good at getting by.
Her uncle finally stopped talking. He glanced at them again before turning and going into the ward.
"I'll go see Dong Dong now. I'll take care of him for these two days. Don't take any time off, get back to your work. You know the family's situation now, I don't need to remind you of some things."
Watching him walk away, Tang Nannan immediately took two steps back apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Hu."
It was just linking arms, Hu Jiasheng wasn't going to get angry.
He looked at the large patch of soy milk on the floor and then asked, "Do you have any paper?"
Tang Nannan saw it too. "I'll clean it up. You can go if you have something to do."
Tang Nannan didn't have any paper.
She picked up the soy milk and steamed buns with her bare hands, threw them into the trash can, turned back to look at the floor, and prepared to scoop up the soy milk with her hands.
The nurses' station was not far away. Hu Jiasheng couldn't bear to watch her like this, so he asked her to wait.
He walked over, asked the nurse for some paper, then returned, crouched beside her, and said, "I'll do it."
The hospital had central air conditioning. Since it was early morning, the temperature felt quite low.
Hu Jiasheng, wearing a shirt and trousers, felt a bit cold, but Tang Nannan, in a short-sleeved shirt, actually had a layer of sweat on her forehead.
Hu Jiasheng only glanced at her as he squatted down, and immediately noticed something was wrong.
She was swaying, her eyelids seemed unable to lift, blinking very slowly.
Then, just as Hu Jiasheng was about to get up, her eyes closed, and she fell forward.
Fortunately, he had anticipated it and caught her by the shoulder with one hand.
Tang Nannan suffered from low blood sugar, severe anemia, and malnutrition. The doctor said she needed to be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids for nutrition.
Hu Jiasheng was not a relative.
Although he knew her family wouldn't care about her, he still asked the nurse to find her uncle.
Her uncle, upon hearing from the nurse that she had fainted, came over cursing.
Before he even got close, Hu Jiasheng could hear his grumbling.
Hu Jiasheng frowned, immediately regretting his decision.
What was the point of talking to someone like that?
Besides causing annoyance, it achieved nothing.
So, as soon as he reached the ward door, Hu Jiasheng stopped him again.
"Do you know why I asked you to come here?"
Her uncle looked at his gloomy face and reluctantly shut his mouth: "Say what you want to say."
Hu Jiasheng suddenly felt a surge of passion: "She is my person. Remember that from now on."
"I can't bear to hit or scold her, or let her suffer even a little. You have even less right."
"Today, considering it's our first meeting, I won't hold it against you. If I see you like this again, don't say I wasn't polite."
He was a few inches taller than her uncle, and when he said this, his expression was excessively serious, looking very unapproachable.
Her uncle was successfully intimidated.
Hu Jiasheng stayed by Tang Nannan's bedside until she woke up.
She opened her eyes and looked around. Hu Jiasheng was watching her, and she had an IV needle in her hand, with a drip bag hanging.
She felt even more embarrassed.
Hu Jiasheng asked her, "How long have you been in this condition?"
"Not long. Only recently."
"The last time I saw you at the hospital, why were you getting an IV?"
"Just a little cold."
"Why didn't you go back afterwards?"
"I got better. My health is usually very good, and my immunity is strong."
Although she answered fluently, Hu Jiasheng knew that every word was a lie.
Since he had helped, he had to see it through.
Since he couldn't work today anyway, he asked Tang Nannan to get up.
"Where are we going?"
"I haven't eaten yet. Aren't you hungry?"
With her fainting, they missed breakfast and went straight for lunch.
Hu Jiasheng flagged down a taxi at the hospital entrance, searched for a well-rated restaurant on his phone, and headed straight there.
It was a Chinese restaurant with a tranquil environment. It had a courtyard. Walking through the courtyard, there were rockeries, small bridges, and flowing water.
The sound of Qin music was playing, indicating a high standard.
Tang Nannan had no money in her pocket, so it was clear that he was treating her to this meal again.
The more she owed, the less she felt awkward. She didn't feel as embarrassed as she had last night.
They sat down, and Hu Jiasheng let her order. She ordered two dishes she liked.
Hu Jiasheng also ordered two according to his own taste, and then ordered a bowl of chicken soup for her.
While waiting for the food to be served, Tang Nannan proactively asked him what he did for work.
"I'm just here on a business trip and won't be staying long. Knowing too much won't do you any good. It's better to talk about yourself."
"How can I help you?"
Tang Nannan was taken aback, not understanding what he meant.
Hu Jiasheng said, "I don't mean anything else. It's just that you remind me of an old friend. I didn't help her when she had problems before, and some things happened that I regret. Consider this a way to make up for that regret."
So that was it.
He didn't seem like the type to be outgoing and meddle in others' affairs, yet he had intervened on her behalf multiple times.
Tang Nannan naturally wouldn't delusionally think he was interested in her.
She was well aware of her current state.
Dirty and tired every day, sallow and thin.
Wearing ordinary clothes, a large mask covering her face.
A successful man like him, accustomed to seeing beautiful women, would likely not even notice her under normal circumstances.
Since he offered to help, and she genuinely needed help, Tang Nannan didn't stand on ceremony.
"To be honest, I am indeed in need of a high-paying job right now. But I don't have any particularly outstanding skills."
It was a bit embarrassing to openly admit her shortcomings.
But Hu Jiasheng listened attentively and analyzed it as a serious matter.
"Don't talk about shortcomings, tell me about your strengths."
Tang Nannan thought for a moment.
"I graduated from Shangcheng Academy of Theatre with a directing major. I've been playing the piano since childhood and have a Grade 10 certificate. I can also dance classical dance. Other than that, that's it."