Early the next morning, someone turned the handle and opened the hospital room door from outside.
Jiang Xun was curled up in Shen Wangjing's arms, dead to the world. Shen Wangjing woke first and turned his head toward the door.
Jiang Huaixiao stood there in a crisp suit, carrying an insulated food container.
At the sight of the two of them squeezed together on the hospital bed, he paused for half a second, then walked to the window as though nothing had happened and yanked the curtains open.
"Get up. Time to check out."
Jiang Xun shrank under the covers against the piercing light. Shen Wangjing raised a hand over his eyes, shielding him from the glare with his palm, and said softly, "Let him sleep a little longer."
"The discharge paperwork has to be done before nine. The car's already downstairs." Jiang Huaixiao set the container on the bedside table and unscrewed the lid. The aroma of Wang Ma's soup filled the room. "Have some soup before we go."
Jiang Xun poked his tousled head out of the covers and stared at Jiang Huaixiao for two seconds through half-open eyes. "Why are you so annoying?"
"Annoying or not, I'm still your brother." Jiang Huaixiao ladled out a bowl of soup and pushed it to the bedside. "Get up. Stop dawdling. The sun's already shining on your ass."
Jiang Xun reluctantly sat up. Shen Wangjing had already gotten out of bed and gone to the bathroom to put toothpaste on his toothbrush. Jiang Xun shuffled over in his slippers to take it. Their shoulders brushed as one handed over the rinsing cup and the other took it, their movements flowing with perfect ease.
Jiang Huaixiao looked away, his temples throbbing, but ultimately held back from saying anything else.
Once Jiang