A Graduation Gift

Squinting slightly, Rufus turned to gaze upon Cassandra, lying on the sickbed with a strange flush covering her cheek.

Suddenly standing up with his tall and strong figure, Rufus responded in his deep and velvet voice, "Yes, she's my wife."

Upon hearing this, the doctor's expression turned colder, and displeased with the man's lack of care for his own spouse.

"What are you doing? Do you have any idea how long she stayed in the wind and snow? Why didn't you stop her? She's barely wearing enough clothes for the weather! Even if you quarreled with her, you should, at the very least, pay attention to her health. She's too weak with a low blood pressure. It's so cold outside that she can't stand it at all."

Being the rather strong and intimidating figure he was, Rufus had never been blamed and chastised by others, much less a woman, in such a harsh tone. Faced with the blame the doctor placed on him, though, he was not angry at all.

In the doctor's eyes, Cassandra and Rufus were merely a young and carefree couple, making it easy to put the blame on him.

"When will she wake up?"

Without commenting on her scolding, Rufus didn't say anymore as he just wanted to know of Cassandra's physical state.

With a roll of her eyes, the doctor tapped the case folder to show him.

"Look at this case! The diagnoses and treatments are all recorded online now. Looking at her hospital admission records, she's been hospitalized with a fever so often in the past six months. She gets sick so easily. And now, seeing you, her husband…I'm curious about how you take care of her. Her physical condition is poor. When she gets discharged and return home, you need to nurse her body very carefully. I can't emphasize enough how you need to pay attention to her physical state. You need to be vigilant in taking care of your wife's health. After all, she's so weak that the wind could practically blow her over," the doctor explained reproachfully.

In the midst of the little sermon, a nurse came in and went to the doctor in a hurry.

"Doctor, the patient in bed 27 on the 7th floor vomited again. The doctor on duty is asking you to have a look!"

Upon hearing the news, the doctor quickly signed the current diagnosis and hung it on the bedside table. Even as she turned away and followed the nurse out, her grumble could be heard from far away.

"There is no need for the patient in bed 27 to hurt himself. Even if his family doesn't come to see him, he should know enough to take good care of himself. I've tried to persuade him a number of times, but he kept refusing my advice. Goodness! I wonder what's going on in the heads of young people now..."

After she left, Rufus simply stood next to Cassandra wearing a gloomy expression as he looked at her, who was passed-out with her eyes closed shut. Faced with such a situation, Rufus had no idea how to make her regain consciousness as soon as possible, so he only stared at her with a worried expression.

Standing beside her sickbed, Rufus thought about how little attention he had paid to Cassandra, since she'd been to the hospital so often. A trace of remorse sparked in his heart.

Although she was in a coma, Cassandra slept uneasily.

Her body shook from time to time - her face twisting into a frown and the sweat trickling down her forehead, as if she was being plagued by a nightmare.

All the while, Rufus held her hands, bringing them up to cup his face so that he could warm them up. Still, her hands remained icy cold.

"Cassandra, I'm here. Don't be afraid. I will always be with you." His deep voice was soothing.

Regardless of Rufus' words of comfort, Cassandra still suffered the nightmare.

Having stayed up late to take care of her, Rufus's eyes had already turned red. By midnight, her fever turned even more severe than earlier. Being worried about her condition, Rufus abruptly grabbed the arm of a nurse passing by.

"Where is the doctor? She's been passed out for such a long time, why hasn't she woken up yet?"

Unsurprisingly, a flush crept into the nurse's face as she looked at the handsome man who grabbed her.

"I'll find the doctor for you," she whispered.

away. After a short while, she came back with a

doctor examined Cassandra immediately and chattered again, "Her fever has gone up to 39.5 degrees. It's not easy to bring down a high fever like this. It wouldn't be that big of a deal if you had a fever it, but she's not as strong as most people. Looking at

word in, Rufus simply kept his mouth shut.

Cassandra frowned and murmured

Rufus had to bring his ear closer to her mouth before he finally

it, Mother! It wasn't

Mother…don't leave me…

Rufus, my heart hurts…"

her body back and forth under the quilt

checked her hands and feet before releasing a sigh of

is almost gone," she then said to Rufus, "She should wake up soon. She's lucky because you sent her to the

still unconscious Cassandra, the doctor said, "You should pay more attention in the future, alright? Don't treat yourself like this! Every time you get ill, you won't only have to spend money, but also take medicine and get injections. Moreover, your partner will spend loads of time and energy taking care of you. It's not

and over, Rufus walked the doctor

turned to look at Cassandra, he found that she had

chair beside the sickbed. His eyes sparked with something unique only when he was looking

her nightmare, she is dreaming

the one closes to her. Why

brightness in his eyes faded at the thought and he

to bring her hope but keep

her dream, what do

image of Rufus's profile. When she came to her senses, she could see that he was fast asleep, and

sculpted by a master, looking especially dazzling under the morning sunshine.

deep sleep, and at

help reaching her hand out to touch his beautiful face. Midway, though, something made her retract her

flickering, she put her hand down

aware of her movements. If he had opened his eyes,

off the food box of congee with minced pork and preserved eggs that

ward as soon

really delicious," he said, deliberately raising his voice to catch

slurped the congee loudly. It was satisfying enough to see Cassandra swallowing quietly as he

staying in the snowfield for so long, she suffered from a high fever all night. Hadn't

stubborn woman would resist the

to play with her a little more, he waved one spoonful of porridge right above

my throat.

Cassandra swallowed again. Her long eyelashes flickered as if it

is still asleep and can't enjoy such delicious food. Well…I guess I'll just eat

Cassandra abruptly opened her eyes and sat up. Without a word, she stole the tin and spoon from Rufus's hands and scooped a mouthful

realizing it, Cassandra released sighs of contentment as she ate. She

hand, she lifted her head to look at Rufus sheepishly, as she had almost forgotten he was sitting there in her rush to finish the porridge. Unexpectedly, she met his eye, realizing he had been staring at her with such a gentle gaze the whole

adjusted herself to get into a more comfortable position. After a little while, she felt much better

Fixing his deep eyes on hers to force them to meet his, he made her freeze in her actions. When he looked at her in such a way, Cassandra

about work. I've already asked for a leave on your behalf." His tone was firm as

get up again. Her attempts