Chapter Eighty-Seven: Bonds

Sometimes, when all your hope rests on getting a simple bun to stave off hunger and cold, and someone not only gives you a meal that banishes your hunger but also a bowl of hot soup to warm your body, such heartfelt kindness in a time of need would move even the most hardened soul.

To Qian Ning, Zhang Wenhao was just such a presence. He had helped her even when threatened at gunpoint, and now, he regarded her as a responsibility, carrying the burden of caring for and protecting her entirely on his own shoulders.

Qian Ning was keenly aware of the danger she faced. She did not want Zhang Wenhao to have any further involvement with her. From the very beginning, she had asked him to buy a large quantity of food and necessities all at once, intending to remain here until her wounds improved or the situation changed.

But Zhang Wenhao insisted on administering antibiotics for several days, wanting to observe her wound for signs of infection before leaving. Qian Ning agreed, but now the situation had clearly worsened. If she continued to burden him, the trouble she brought him would be endless, even putting his life at risk.

Today, Qian Ning had planned to warn Zhang Wenhao, once he arrived, never to come here again. What she hadn’t expected was that Zhang Wenhao had found information about her online. Upon learning she was in grave danger, he not only did not retreat, but even volunteered to help her resolve her predicament. This moved Qian Ning deeply, filling her heart with guilt and self-reproach.

Zhang Wenhao was unaware of Qian Ning’s thoughts. After she finished eating, he packed up the leftovers and placed them in the meal container, then said, “I’ll give you the infusion now. Tonight, I’ll observe the area nearby, but I won’t come in. Remember to boil a few eggs, and try not to move around much.”

Qian Ning nodded obediently. “You must be careful. Promise me nothing happens to you.”

“I know,” Zhang Wenhao replied, nodding. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Qian Ning took her laptop, opened it, and said, “Tell me your phone number. I’ll give you my virtual number. We can contact each other through internet calls.”

Zhang Wenhao recited his number, and after Qian Ning recorded it, she said, “Wait a moment, I’ll apply for a temporary virtual number.”

Zhang Wenhao didn’t really understand how internet calls worked, but soon his phone rang. When he answered, he saw a strange number beginning with +0058, followed by only seven digits. He asked, surprised, “What number is this?”

“A Venezuelan number,” Qian Ning replied. “No one can trace it. As long as I don’t cancel it, you can call me directly. When you call back, the software will hang up, then call you back.”

Zhang Wenhao nodded. “If anything happens here or you need anything, just call me.”

Qian Ning agreed, tapping briefly on her keyboard. Shortly after, Zhang Wenhao received a text from the same number, containing an email address.

Qian Ning set down her laptop and looked at Zhang Wenhao. “I rarely use a phone, and even when I do, it’s always temporary—I change numbers every time. This email is the only way to contact me. In the future, if you need anything, just email me.”

Zhang Wenhao joked, “So if someone bullies me in the future, I just send you an email and you’ll come to my rescue?”

Qian Ning, however, took him completely seriously, her voice resolute: “I told you before—whenever you ask, no matter who it is, I’ll risk my life to kill them for you!”

Zhang Wenhao smiled softly. “You’re so beautiful; anywhere you go, you’d be surrounded by admirers. A woman like you should be gentle and delicate, not always involved in violence and danger.”

Her cheeks flushed at his words, but she gave a bitter smile. “I’m not as free as other women. Fighting and killing isn’t what I want, but I’m destined never to leave this world. It’s not up to me anymore.”

She shook her head, sighing. “Someone like me shouldn’t have any feelings at all. Emotions only interfere with my will, making it impossible to focus one hundred percent. Without absolute focus, I could die at any moment. And people like me shouldn’t have family or friends—they’re not only bonds, but potential victims who could be hurt because of me. I’ve never had family since I can remember, and I don’t want the latter…”

Zhang Wenhao felt awkward hearing this, but then Qian Ning suddenly looked up, her mesmerizing eyes fixed on his face. She spoke softly, “You’re the first. For that, I’m grateful, and also deeply sorry.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled calmly. “After you leave River City, I hope you’ll think of me as a passerby. I don’t want you to get hurt someday just because you have me as a ‘friend.’”

With that, he turned away, sorting through medicines as he said, “I’ll check your wound in a moment, clean and disinfect it, then re-bandage it. Depending on its condition, I’ll decide how many units to administer today.”

Qian Ning replied from behind, her eyes fixed on his back, unmoving. Her gaze grew increasingly dreamy, and unconsciously, a perfect arc formed at the corners of her mouth. Zhang Wenhao didn’t know that when Qian Ning smiled like this, two deep, beautiful dimples appeared.

He placed the prepared medicines and infusion set on the bedside table and said, “Take your left leg out of the covers.”

Qian Ning froze, her face reddening as she lowered her gaze. “I’m still wearing pants.”

Zhang Wenhao frowned. “Did wearing pants pull at your wound?”

“It’s okay,” Qian Ning replied timidly, like a child who had done something wrong. “It hurts a bit when I bend my leg. It bled a little, but not much.”

Zhang Wenhao’s expression grew stern. In his view, Qian Ning wasn’t following medical advice; he had told her that her wound needed time to heal and that she should avoid moving her left leg too much. But then he reconsidered—her body was weak, and she must be cold. Wearing pants was understandable.

He said mildly, “Your wound is high up. I can’t just roll your pants up to your thigh; that would easily touch the wound.”

“But…” Qian Ning hesitated for a long moment before saying softly, “It’s too cold at night here. I’ve been especially afraid of the cold, so I have to wear pants to sleep.”

Zhang Wenhao sighed helplessly and lifted the end of the blanket, seeing she wore loose sweatpants, which reassured him somewhat. “If it’s inconvenient for you to take them off yourself, I’ll help you.”

“Ah?” Qian Ning was stunned, flustered and embarrassed, her face quickly flushing bright red.

Seeing her shy expression, Zhang Wenhao was exasperated. “I mean, I’ll help you take the pants off from your ankles. You’ll still be under the covers, so nothing will be exposed.”

“Oh…” Qian Ning nodded quickly.

Zhang Wenhao came to the bedside, lifted the blanket enough to reveal her ankles, and took hold of the pant legs. “Press with your arms and lift your hips a little.”

At his request, Qian Ning blushed again, but knowing he meant nothing improper, she braced herself with her hands and raised her hips slightly. Zhang Wenhao pulled the pants off in one smooth motion.

He placed the pants at the side of the bed. “Move your left leg out slowly.”

Qian Ning complied. Her leg had already been thoroughly examined and even touched by Zhang Wenhao, so she felt no embarrassment. Her long, slender, porcelain-white leg was exposed to the air, and Zhang Wenhao couldn’t help but marvel. He quickly regained his composure and took her pants, gently lifting her knee and sliding one pant leg onto her left leg, just below the wound.

His careful attention moved Qian Ning deeply, but Zhang Wenhao was focused on removing the gauze from her wound. Layer by layer, he unwrapped it; the last few layers were stuck to the blood crust. “See? Moving around caused your wound to bleed and scab. Hold on, it might hurt a bit.”

Qian Ning nodded softly.

Zhang Wenhao did his best to unwrap the gauze gently, cleaned the blood crust from the wound, then used disinfectant and cotton to clean it anew. He bandaged it with fresh gauze, supported her leg, and carefully placed it back under the covers.

Watching Zhang Wenhao skillfully and gently insert the infusion needle into her vein, Qian Ning felt no pain at all. After he secured the needle and tubing, and carefully opened the flow valve, Qian Ning silently told herself, “Whether or not you ever see Zhang Wenhao again, he has already become a bond in your heart. For someone who has never felt emotion, once it takes root, it will leave an indelible mark.”