Lin Banxia did not react with the furious anger he had imagined. Instead, she swiftly rose to her feet and softly said, "You've been unconscious for a day and a half. After your high fever, your body temperature dropped significantly, so I had no choice but to warm you like this. I hope you don't mind."
Yu Lei blinked in surprise; was she trying to explain herself to him? However, his concern was unwarranted—given his current state of weakness, unable even to lift his arms, what could he possibly do to her?
"Here, drink some water. If you feel like eating, I can prepare some compressed food for you, turning it into a porridge." Lin Banxia quickly brought over water and food. While it seemed she moved swiftly, she had merely placed everything nearby in advance.
With her assistance, Yu Lei sat up, pondering how she could have fed him water while he was unconscious. He vaguely remembered the soft and cool sensation on his lips but was unsure.
He wanted to see her expression, yet she kept her head down, her long bangs obscuring her face, making it impossible to discern her mood.
As he sipped the water from her hand, he noticed his watch was on her wrist.
"Oh, I wore it to keep track of the time. I can return it to you," Lin Banxia said casually, noticing his gaze fixed on her wrist.
"No, I just wanted to see what time it was," Yu Lei quickly clarified. It dawned on him that her tone suggested she was clearly upset. But what could she possibly be angry about?
Lin Banxia extended her wrist toward him, and after a moment of scrutiny, Yu Lei confirmed that he had not misread it. The watch's display showed it was already 4:15 PM on December 23, 2012. He had been unconscious for such a long time.
Lin Banxia held an object in her other hand and scanned it across his forehead. After a mechanical beep, she sighed in relief. "37.3 degrees—your temperature has finally returned to normal."
Yu Lei gazed at the device in her hand, uncertainly asking, "Is that an ear thermometer?" He recalled not finding one underwater. If it wasn't his, then it must have been...
"I found it in a cabinet. It was likely placed there during last year's outbreak of the mutated H1N1 virus, intended for monitoring everyone's temperature," Lin Banxia said as she casually checked her own temperature, smiling upon seeing she had not been infected.
"You should go get some sleep; there's no need for you to stay awake for me." Despite the dim light, he could see the deep dark circles under her eyes. She must have been awake the entire time, and if this continued, her health would suffer.
"No, you should sleep some more," Lin Banxia said with a gentle smile, yet her demeanor conveyed a clear sense of distance.
Yu Lei was taken aback by her indifference, realizing he must have done something wrong.
Yet he refrained from pondering it further, understanding that her implication was that neither of them would sleep, and so he could only lie back down, wondering if she would sleep beside him again. Though the platform was narrow, the two of them had managed to sleep comfortably and warmly before.
Revisiting that tender touch in his memory, Yu Lei waited with anticipation, even consciously making space for her, but the other side remained still. Eventually, fatigue overcame him, and he gradually fell into a deep sleep.
This time, his slumber was remarkably peaceful, devoid of dreams. Yu Lei awakened once more, stirred by the pangs of hunger.
He turned over and found himself covered with a thick military coat; although somewhat damp, it provided adequate warmth against the chill. He glanced toward Lin Banxia, only to see her huddled up, shivering without any cover.
Foolish girl, she had given him both coats—one as a blanket and the other as a cover, neglecting her own well-being.
A surge of gratitude filled Yu Lei's heart as he hurried over to drape the coat, warmed by his own body heat, around her shoulders. He also took the liberty of checking her temperature with the electronic thermometer; while slightly low, it was likely due to her insufficient warmth.
At that moment, he noticed his watch had returned to his wrist. It was now 12:06 PM on December 24th—he had slept for nearly an entire day.
As he pondered this, the gnawing hunger grew unbearable, prompting him to find a few bags of rations to satiate himself and drink plenty of water. Stretching his limbs, he felt a slight soreness from lying down for too long, but otherwise, he was fine. He also realized his wounds had been skillfully bandaged, a testament to Lin Banxia's care, filling him with warmth.
Shouldn't he do something in return? Yu Lei looked around the impeccably tidy platform, noting that there was little for him to do.
His gaze landed on the Christmas decorations discarded by Lin Banxia as useless trash, and he suddenly recalled her jest from two days prior.
It seemed he had found something to occupy his time.
————————
Lin Banxia had been awake for a while but was still mired in gloom, so much so that she didn't even want to open her eyes.
For once she did, she would have to confront that obnoxious man.
That obnoxious man, who, after she had tirelessly cared for him for a day and a half, had the audacity to call out another woman's name!
This was an unforgivable offense!
Lin Banxia gritted her teeth in frustration, but deep down, she understood she had no right to be angry.
Why should she be upset? If he were to ask her about it, how could she respond? Would she outright admit her feelings for him? Certainly not; that would betray a woman's reserve, especially since he had a girlfriend.
Yet she couldn't confront him either; given their current situation, they would inevitably encounter each other, and there was nothing she could do about it.
A wave of inexplicable resentment surged within Lin Banxia. Now, with the end of the world upon them, there were hardly any good men left!
Reluctantly, she climbed to her feet and suddenly realized she was draped in a thick military coat. Upon opening her eyes, she was astonished to find the surroundings flooded with light.
"What...?" Lin Banxia rubbed her eyes and looked around, her heart lifting at the sight of candles illuminating the area, her lips curving into a smile.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Bang!" Yu Lei popped a party horn, and colorful streamers and glittering confetti cascaded down like snowflakes, prompting an involuntary gasp from Lin Banxia.
"Hehe, the Christmas tree is tied to my foot, or else I could have decorated it," Yu Lei said, scratching his head sheepishly.
Lin Banxia gazed at the twinkling confetti falling from above, realizing the platform's railing was adorned with satin ribbons, and balloons and garlands hung everywhere.
"Um, these things were meant to be used tonight anyway. I was just passing the time, so I decided to decorate a little. But I've never done this before, so I hope it meets your expectations," Yu Lei said simply. Lin Banxia had tirelessly cared for him for two days; if not for her, he would have perished long ago. Though he didn't understand why she was upset, he merely wished to bring her some joy.
Lin Banxia was still in shock from the spectacle before her when Yu Lei squatted in front of her, beaming as he said, "Extend your hand."
Without thinking, Lin Banxia complied, only to find something in her palm the next moment.
It was something familiar, a treat she could easily find, yet in this moment felt exceptionally precious.
A piece of Dove chocolate, milk-flavored. Individually wrapped, it lay quietly in her hand.
"This is your Christmas gift!" Yu Lei said cheerfully, then suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. "Although it's a humble gift, I still hope you accept it." Usually, a piece of chocolate like this wouldn't garner any attention, let alone be treated so solemnly as a Christmas gift. Yet when he discovered it during his afternoon dive, he was ecstatic; in the base, food was strictly rationed, and this chocolate must have been smuggled in by someone. Although he had hoped to find a more valuable and fitting gift for her, his underwater search had yielded nothing.
Lin Banxia looked at the chocolate, her spirits lifting completely. This man, why had she been angry with him? Being upset with someone who didn't even know why they were angry would only leave her feeling miserable in the end. "I'll share half with you!" she said, eagerly unwrapping the packaging.
"No, no, you eat it. I found two pieces, and I couldn't resist eating my own long ago," Yu Lei insisted, waving his hands.
Lin Banxia didn't hesitate, quickly placing the chocolate in her mouth, savoring the silky sweetness melting between her lips.
But in that instant, she noticed Yu Lei staring intently at her expression, and after just a second of reflection, she realized he had just been deceiving her.
What was this nonsense about finding two pieces? He had only found one!
This man, truly, was impossible to handle.
Lin Banxia smiled playfully, lifting her hand to wrap it around his neck, gently pulling him in for a kiss.