Chapter 21: If This Isn’t Love, Then What Is?

“…Wouldn’t it be particularly interesting to tease her in bed?” Sheng Ruqi reveled in the thought. Although she said this while looking at Xia An, for some reason, another girl filled her mind.

Sheng Ruqi didn’t realize that it’s even more interesting to say you want to sleep with someone’s wife right in front of them.

Ye Jin’s hand, holding the glass of water, tightened slightly.

Sheng Ruqi turned to look at Ye Jin, only to find her face was dark, coldly staring at her.

An inexplicable low-pressure atmosphere enveloped her.

Seeing Ye Jin’s reaction, Sheng Ruqi jokingly laughed, “You haven’t taken a liking to her, have you?”

Ye Jin stared at Sheng Ruqi for a moment, her eyes seemingly calm, not revealing anything.

“If you did, anyone who catches your eye probably isn’t born yet,” Sheng Ruqi teased. Chatting about these kinds of things with Ye Jin was like asking for boredom, knowing that Ye Jin was famous for being aloof.

Even if Ye Jin remained alone her entire life, Sheng Ruqi wouldn’t find it strange. But if Ye Jin truly remained alone forever, then her guilt towards Ye Jin might never disappear…

Sheng Ruqi sincerely hoped someone could take Ye Jin off her hands; it wasn’t just a fleeting thought.

****

Nightclub lights intertwined.

After finishing the last glass of wine, Xia An dejectedly slumped on the table, feeling an unbearable fatigue.

She was already tired of this kind of life, but she gritted her teeth and got through another day.

Despite knowing the next day would be the same.

Life seemed like a repetitive cycle, without a clue. What supported Xia An was probably her deep belief that she would one day escape her current situation.

Ye Jin noticed Xia An’s state at that moment.

She wanted to ignore it but subconsciously couldn’t help but pay attention.

In the hospital during the day, at the nightclub at night, did she really think she was made of steel and didn’t need rest?

After another glass of wine Sheng Ruqi became restless.

Ye Jin saw Sheng Ruqi suddenly get up, “Where are you going?”

Sheng Ruqi glanced in Xia An’s direction, her smile charming and alluring, “What do you think?”

Flirting with women was indeed Sheng Ruqi’s style.

Ye Jin knew very well how good Sheng Ruqi was at coaxing women. But the former Sheng Ruqi wasn’t like this. She didn’t know why, but the older she got, the more frivolous she became.

Following that, Ye Jin saw Sheng Ruqi swaying towards Xia An.
It was quite a sight.

Ye Jin lowered her head and absentmindedly took a sip of pure water, which tasted bland, and then she got up and left her seat.

Someone helped her shoulder. Xia An looked up, it was a strange woman.

Although she had met Sheng Ruqi once before, Xia An had no impression; she dealt with too many people every day.

“Where do you feel unwell?” Sheng Ruqi half-embraced Xia An’s shoulder, very gently, and gazed at her face ambiguously.
She was indeed pleasing to the eye.

Gentle off the bed, wild on it.
This was Sheng Ruqi’s consistent style of flirting, and many women fell for it, so the success rate was very high.

Xia An was expressionless; she often encountered this kind of pick-up. But she felt uncomfortable being too close to a stranger and wanted to keep her distance.

“Don’t move, your hair is messy…” Sheng Ruqi was about to reach out to fix Xia An’s hair, launching her gentle offensive.

“Come outside with me for a moment.”
A beautiful figure stood nearby.

A wild card suddenly appeared.

Sheng Ruqi was disappointed. She looked up and suspected she was seeing things because the wild card was none other than Ye Jin?

Ye Jin looked down at Xia An.
Xia An pushed away Sheng Ruqi, raised her eyes, and recognized Ye Jin’s face. Why did she come to Night Colors again? Still surprised, Xia An didn’t quite hear what Ye Jin said.

Ye Jin spoke again, “Come outside with me for a moment.”

“Okay.” Xia An understood, stood up, and followed Ye Jin’s steps.

Sheng Ruqi was left hanging on the sofa.

Snatched away, and by Ye Jin no less.

Sheng Ruqi was dumbfounded, never so dumbfounded before, and it took her a long time to recover. She drank half a glass of wine in one gulp, looking at the departing figures, her mood quite complicated.

This was rare.

Was that Miss Ye?

No, Sheng Ruqi was now sure that there was something between Ye Jin and that girl, it wasn’t simple.

Leaving the noisy and chaotic nightclub.

The night breeze was getting cooler.

The two slowed their pace and finally stopped.

Seeing that Ye Jin hadn’t spoken the whole way, Xia An took the initiative to ask, “Ye Zong [General Manager], is something the matter?”

Except when necessary, Xia An was more used to calling her “Ye Zong [General Manager].” Calling her name was too intimate, and their relationship wasn’t that close.

Why? Ye Jin saw Sheng Ruqi flirting with Xia An’s hair, so she did it.

Wearing a sleeveless dress, Xia An felt a bit cold. She touched her arms and quietly looked at Ye Jin, waiting for her answer.

“Didn’t you say you were doing experiments at school? Why are you here?” Ye Jin finally spoke.

However, the question was obviously redundant; doing experiments was just a lie Xia An told.

“That was just for Liang Laotai [Old Madam Liang] to hear,” Xia An explained. Moreover, Ke Rochu explained it that way.

Looking at that pure, innocent face, Ye Jin almost believed it.

But she had no right to interfere in the other person’s private life.

“Why are you here?”

“With a friend.”

“Then do you have something to tell me?” Xia An asked Ye Jin again, recalling the earlier situation.

She bit her lip and smiled at Ye Jin, tentatively asking, “Are you afraid I’ll be taken advantage of?”
After all, Ye Jin had helped her out of trouble several times.

Xia An still wore a pure and bright smile on her face at that moment.

Ye Jin, seeing her like this, didn’t want to bother.

Knowing that Sheng Ruqi wanted to take advantage of her, why not keep her distance? If she didn’t push her away, Ye Jin could see that Sheng Ruqi wanted to hug and kiss her in the next second.

“I’m not that stupid. Thank you for your concern,” Xia An smiled.

“It’s not my first time here; I know how to protect myself.”

Ye Jin remained silent.
Xia An didn’t know what else to say.

The two’s conversation came to an abrupt end.

The night was silent, with cars occasionally driving by.
One, two…

“When will you have time?”

“Hmm?” Xia An looked at Ye Jin.

Ye Jin said softly, “Ye Wan wants to see you.”

“In a few days. I called Ye Wan today and already told her,” Xia An explained. After gazing at Ye Jin for a while, seeing that she remained silent, Xia An assumed that was all, “If there’s nothing else…”

“Uncomfortable?” Ye Jin suddenly asked.

She heard Xia An’s voice was hoarse and her expression was tired. She had been slumped on the table just now, motionless, as if she were sick.

Although it sounded like a casual question, it stirred warmth in Xia An’s heart. She didn’t speak but continued to look at Ye Jin with a smile in her eyes.

Ye Jin met Xia An’s gaze, clear and clean. When she smiled, her eyes seemed to speak, but her fair face was slightly pale.

The two’s hair was slightly messed up by the night breeze.

Seeing that Xia An didn’t answer for a long time, only smiling, Ye Jin couldn’t help asking, “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.” Xia An’s voice was still hoarse and tired, and she slowly said, “I just feel that Ye Zong is actually quite caring.”

There was a hidden meaning in Xia An’s words.

From the last time Ye Jin took her home and prepared ointment for her, Xia An felt that she was a warm person, but her surface was covered with a layer of ice, like a transparent barrier, making people want to approach but unable to.

Caring? Ye Jin didn’t agree. After so many years, it was the first time she heard someone evaluate her like this.

Xia An’s smile still couldn’t hide her fatigue. Ye Wan usually looked listless like this when she had a fever. The big and small one were really similar. Ye Jin thought and subconsciously raised her hand, and like she usually did with Ye Wan, she covered Xia An’s forehead with her palm.

This action was very sudden.

Xia An was stunned at first.

Then, her thoughts were a bit chaotic.

Gazing at Ye Jin’s face, a certain feeling seemed to intrude into her heart again.

Xia An obediently stiffened in place, allowing Ye Jin to place her palm on her forehead, touching her gently.

It only lasted for a brief moment.

Ye Jin withdrew her hand; her body temperature was normal.

Xia An snapped back to reality, her tone deliberately light, “I’m a medical student; wouldn’t I know if I had a fever?”

Even so, Ye Jin didn’t think Miss Xia understood how to cherish her body, “If you’re tired, go back and rest early.”

Another unexpected expression of concern.

Ye Jin was slowly realizing that she was indeed showing more concern for Xia An.

It was probably because she saw a shadow of her former self in Xia An, and she understood the girl’s stubbornness and strength, which was why she was like this.

“Okay.” Xia An was puzzled.

Why could Ye Jin, who didn’t say much, always hit her heart? She spoke as if she were ice, but she felt warm.

The phone rang abruptly.

Interrupting the conversation.

“I’ll take this call.” Coincidentally, the duty manager was calling. Xia An dealt with the other end of the line, unable to get away, and then hastily said goodbye to Ye Jin.

Her slender figure disappeared into the night.

Leaving Ye Jin alone.

Sheng Ruqi had watched this scene for a long time, from disbelief at the beginning to a smile gradually rising on her face.

“You still say you haven’t taken a liking to her.” Ye Jin turned around, and Sheng Ruqi had already walked to her side, saying with a meaningful sigh.

“Going back?” Ye Jin said.

Sheng Ruqi wasn’t distracted by Ye Jin’s attempt to change the subject, “First, tell me what your relationship is with that girl? Why are you so concerned about her?”

Looked like there was something going on.

Faced with the other person’s persistent questioning, Ye Jin thought for a moment before saying carefully, “Legally speaking, she’s my wife.”

Her tone was indifferent, and Ye Jin directly revealed her relationship with Xia An to Sheng Ruqi. There was no need to hide it from Sheng Ruqi; they would inevitably meet again in the future.

After she spoke, there was silence.

Sheng Ruqi was speechless. She stared at Ye Jin for a long time before confirming that she hadn’t misheard, “What did you say? She’s your…”

“I married her,” Ye Jin said more simply and directly.

“Are you kidding?” A dubious smile spread across Sheng Ruqi’s face, and she repeated like a broken record, “You and her, married?”

Ye Jin’s expression and tone didn’t seem to be joking, “This month.”

Sheng Ruqi had originally thought that seeing Ye Jin being ambiguous with another woman tonight was already shocking enough.

But now, something even more shocking had happened.

Standing in the cold wind and calming down for a while, Sheng Ruqi remembered something, “… A marriage of convenience?”

Ye Jin knew she couldn’t hide this from Sheng Ruqi and nodded in acknowledgment, “Yes, a contract marriage.”

Sheng Ruqi’s mood calmed down slightly. She still understood Ye Jin. Ye Jin had barely considered marriage and hadn’t even considered finding a partner. But Ye Jin had mentioned the idea of a marriage of convenience to her, to fulfill her Liang Laotai’s wish.

In the end, she still found someone for a marriage of convenience.

“The beautiful CEO falls in love with the nightclub girl; your love story sounds legendary. Can your Liang Laotai [Old Madam Liang] accept it?” Sheng Ruqi was still surprised.

Even if it was a marriage of convenience, Ye Jin wouldn’t settle for just anyone. She could have chosen someone with a better family background.

“She’s still a student.”

Still a student. Sheng Ruqi wanted to say, “Ye Zong [General Manager], how can you bring yourself to do this?” But then she remembered the girl she had kissed at Night Colors last time, who was probably a student too.

“If I hadn’t thoroughly investigated her background, would I have married her?” The situation was complicated, Ye Jin only explained it this way.

That was true; Ye Jin was more careful and meticulous than her. But Sheng Ruqi remembered the earlier situation and, based on a woman’s intuition, felt that there was more to it between Ye Jin and that girl.

Sheng Ruqi was still seriously scrutinizing Ye Jin, as if she wanted to say something.

“Say what you want,” Ye Jin said.

“You won’t take what I said tonight to heart, will you? I really didn’t know she was your… wife. Just pretend I was drunk and talking nonsense.” Sheng Ruqi thought of saying she wanted to sleep with Ye Jin’s little wife in front of Ye Jin before, no wonder Ye Zong  couldn’t sit still.

Recalling Ye Jin’s reaction at the time, Sheng Ruqi gasped and laughed earnestly, “I’ve known you for so long, and it seems like this is the first time I’ve seen you jealous…”

Jealous? Ye Jin frowned, “You’re overthinking it.”

“I’m overthinking it?” Sheng Ruqi’s tone was full of doubt. From the moment she entered Night Colors, Ye Zong [General Manager]’s eyes were glued to that girl. At the time, she was wondering what Ye Jin was looking at; now, she finally understood.

“Don’t tell me you’re not interested in her at all; I don’t believe it.” Sheng Ruqi was adamant. She had seen the situation tonight; when had Ye Jin ever cared so much about someone else?

Ye Jin remained impassive, “We just have a contractual relationship; we don’t interfere in each other’s private lives.”

Sheng Ruqi smiled, her eyes still suspicious.

There’s a saying that those involved are confused, while the onlookers are clear, and Sheng Ruqi had absolute confidence in her intuition.

Even a fake marriage might inevitably spark some attraction. Sheng Ruqi couldn’t help but wonder, “Honestly, having such a beautiful little wife hanging around all day, haven’t you ever had any… thoughts? No… sexual impulses or anything?”

Sheng Ruqi was outspoken. Although she was three years younger than Ye Jin, she was mature enough.

Ye Jin had always dismissed the crude jokes that Sheng Ruqi often made, which Sheng Ruqi grandly called “fun.”

“Miss Sheng,” Ye Jin said, looking at Sheng Ruqi with a hint of disdain in her eyes, “Not everyone is like you.”

“That’s true, that’s true,” Sheng Ruqi muttered as she was rebuffed again. “Everyone else is as horny as hell at thirty, unlike our Ye Zong [General Manager], a goddess descending to earth, pure and abstinent, never having any physiological needs…”

Ye Jin was already used to Sheng Ruqi being like this.

It seemed she couldn’t get anything out of Ye Jin’s mouth. Sheng Ruqi deliberately asked Ye Jin in a sarcastic tone, “Since you have a marriage of convenience and don’t interfere in each other’s private lives, would you mind if I slept with her?”

The scene of Sheng Ruqi teasing Xia An earlier flashed through Ye Jin’s mind again, combined with what Sheng Ruqi had just said…

Sheng Ruqi raised her eyebrows, noticing Ye Jin’s subtle reaction.

After a few seconds.

Ye Jin said “She’s not interested in you.”

As expected….if she minds, she minds, but she won’t admit it.

Sheng Ruqi realized that Ye Jin’s hidden sensuality was far beyond her imagination.

But she suddenly felt that a marriage of convenience might be a good thing for Ye Jin. At least Ye Jin’s emotional life, which had been stagnant, had finally stirred a bit.

Perhaps this was how things could accidentally go wrong.

“Hey, how do you know she’s not interested in me?” Sheng Ruqi became more and more energetic. “You can cultivate interest slowly. You know, I’m most patient with beautiful women.”

Ye Jin gave Sheng Ruqi a cold look, indicating that she had no patience to listen to her nonsense.

“Alright, alright, I was just joking. You’re taking it seriously. Also, I must declare that I have absolutely no interest in your wife. Tonight was purely a misunderstanding. Besides, I wouldn’t steal a woman from anyone, especially not from you.”

Sheng Ruqi’s last sentence was definitely from the heart. It wasn’t easy for the eternally single Ye Zong to have an ambiguous partner.

“Have you said enough?” Ye Jin interrupted Sheng Ruqi’s endless stream of words.

Sheng Ruqi helplessly shrugged her shoulders. Tonight, she wasn’t in the mood to drink anymore, “Let’s go back; I’ll hitch a ride with you.”

Ye Jin walked ahead, heading towards the parking lot.

“Keep the marriage of convenience a secret,” Ye Jin said.

Although she knew Sheng Ruqi wouldn’t spread it everywhere, she still gave a reminder.

“I know; I’m not stupid.”

Ye Jin stopped talking.

The car sped along the street.

After a few minutes, Sheng Ruqi felt a bit tired and leaned back in her seat, half-closing her eyes.
She inexplicably remembered that night half a month ago.

That girl’s personality was as soft as her lips.

Her face turned red with a gentle kiss. Thinking of that scene, Sheng Ruqi’s red lips gently turned up.

She wondered if she would ever meet her again.
Sheng Ruqi suddenly sighed softly.

“Something wrong?” Ye Jin heard Sheng Ruqi sighing.

Sheng Ruqi had said she wasn’t interested in relationships recently, and Ye Jin thought it was a work-related problem.

Sheng Ruqi leaned back in her seat, rubbed her forehead, and murmured with her eyes closed, “Half a month ago, I met a girl at Night Colors. You know, she looks average, and her figure is just so-so, but why do I keep… thinking about her?”

It all came back to relationship matters.

Ye Jin was dismissive, but those words didn’t sound like something Miss Sheng would say.

Sheng Ruqi’s feelings rarely lasted long. She guessed that this time, she wouldn’t miss her for more than a few days.

That’s what Sheng Ruqi thought, but she had been going to Night Colors often for the past half-month.

The first time she went to a nightclub, she was forcibly kissed around the waist. That girl was so shy that she probably wouldn’t dare to come again, right?

Unconsciously, Sheng Ruqi was immersed in that innocent kiss from that night again.

After a period of silence in the car.

“Ye Jin,” Sheng Ruqi turned her head towards Ye Jin, using a tone that was as serious as when she was dealing with work matters, “If you have feelings for that girl, I think you can try.”

The topic turned to Xia An.

‘Have feelings?’

Ye Jin didn’t know how long it had been since she had considered this question again, especially since the other person was almost ten years younger than her.

She gripped the steering wheel, looking at the night scene in front of her, still driving seriously.

Sheng Ruqi was serious for only three seconds, “Nearby young grass is the easiest to eat.”

Ye Jin just listened, ignoring her.

“You’re not really planning to stay single forever, are you?”

“Being alone is fine,” Ye Jin said again.

In fact, Ye Jin thought so.

Since she couldn’t find someone suitable, she might as well be alone. She had gotten used to her current life a long time ago.

Sheng Ruqi stared at Ye Jin’s profile, studying her for a long time, and then turned to look at the windshield.

Knowing that there were some things Ye Jin didn’t like to mention, Sheng Ruqi couldn’t help but bring them up, “Can’t you still forget her?”

Something from many years ago was mentioned again.

Sheng Ruqi was asking very cautiously.

“No,” Ye Jin said, her emotions unchanging, perhaps with a hint of helplessness, because Sheng Ruqi had asked her this before.

“Then why…” Sheng Ruqi couldn’t think of another reason why Ye Jin’s emotional life had remained blank, why she refused to start a new relationship.

“Drive, be quiet,” Ye Jin interrupted Sheng Ruqi.

Sheng Ruqi was really quiet.

Ye Jin was obviously not willing to say more about this, and she wouldn’t get any results if she asked further.

Although she was considered Ye Jin’s closest friend, Sheng Ruqi didn’t feel that she understood Ye Jin.

Sheng Ruqi turned her head and looked out the window sadly.
The past rushed to her mind, making her irritable.

If it hadn’t been for her immaturity back then, Sheng Ruqi thought, wouldn’t Ye Jin be like this now?

****

Late at night, the car parked in the garage.

As usual, Ye Jin returned home alone.

Ye Wan had already taken a bath, wearing fluffy pajamas and sitting on the sofa watching cartoons, with Aunt Zhou accompanying her.

Seeing Ye Jin’s figure, Ye Wan’s eyes dimmed. Unlike adults, children showed their disappointment on their faces.

Ye Jin took off her coat and casually draped it over the sofa.

“Where’s Xia An?”
“Didn’t I tell you she won’t be back for a few days?” Ye Jin touched Ye Wan’s head. “Go to sleep early.”

Her little expectations were dashed again. Although Xia An had called today to say she wouldn’t be coming home, Ye Wan still hoped that Ye Jin would bring Xia An back.

Ye Wan wanted to be upset but felt she shouldn’t be unreasonable.

As a result, she pouted, secretly acting difficult, and was much colder to Ye Jin than usual.

She picked up a doll on the sofa and quietly went to the bedroom.

“This child is still acting up,” Aunt Zhou said with a smile. “I’ll go coax her.”

“I’ll go, you should rest early.”

After bathing in the evening, Ye Jin didn’t return to her bedroom but went to Ye Wan’s room. The little one was really unhappy.

Usually, when she said she would sleep with her at night, she would be so happy that she would roll around on the bed.

“Ye Wan.” Ye Jin lay down at the edge of the bed, but Ye Wan only left her with a small back view. “Why are you unhappy?”

“I’m not,” Ye Wan stubbornly said.

It was written all over her face that she was unhappy. Ye Jin gently stroked the little one’s soft hair. How was Ye Wan getting more and more like someone?

Ye Jin glanced at the other side of the bed.
Usually, that was where Xia An slept.

Xia An didn’t come back every day, but every time she came, Ye Wan couldn’t help but pester her and Ye Jin to sleep together.

Ye Jin looked at the empty pillow, suddenly remembering Xia An and Ye Wan playing on the bed, laughing and joking.

Such a grown-up could play with a child like this, no wonder Ye Wan always liked to cling to her.

Because of Xia An’s appearance, the family seemed to become complete all at once. Ye Wan became more cheerful, and Liang Laotai [Old Madam Liang]’s mental state was better.

Ye Jin noticed all these changes.

Many years ago, Ye Jin imagined that her future life would be like most people’s.

Meeting someone suitable, getting married at the right age, and then having a lovely child.

Her family would be by her side, and everything would be peaceful and stable.

But reality and ideals often diverged.

Many years later, Ye Jin felt that she was perhaps more suited to be alone.

The clock ticked.

Sleepiness gradually arose.

“Mom—” After lying down for a while, Ye Wan turned to Ye Jin and softly asked, “Did you bully Xia An? Why does Xia An never come home?”

“She’s busy,” Ye Jin could only say vaguely.

“You must have made Xia An angry.” Ye Wan was sure of this. In Ye Wan’s heart, Xia An was the best in the world. She remembered when she was angry, she especially hoped that someone would coax her, so she pestered Ye Jin and said, “You coax her more; she won’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry. Mom will bring her back in a few days.”

“I don’t want to,” Ye Wan was still upset. “You have to bring Xia An back tomorrow.”

“Be good.”

After a while…

Ye Wan was still thinking about this. She muttered softly, “I’m going to tell Liang Laotai that you’re bullying Xia An.”

Ye Jin was helpless. She rubbed Ye Wan’s head and ordered, “Go to sleep.”

****

It was still a busy day. During the lunch break in the employee cafeteria, everyone was rushing to save time.

Xia An held a tray and sat down opposite Ke Rochu.

Ke Rochu picked up a dish but didn’t put it in her mouth. She was spaced out and looking absentminded.

Xia An had seen that she had been gloomy recently.

She had originally thought she was being tortured in the emergency department, but now she had been transferred from the gastroenterology department, but she was still wearing a bitter face.

“You’re finally free from the emergency department. Aren’t you happy?”

“I’m happy; I’m finally free.” Ke Rochu said absentmindedly. She came back to her senses and became concerned about Xia An’s situation, “Are you busy in general surgery now? Is your instructor nice? Mine is very fierce…”

“It’s okay.” At the end of October, Xia An rotated from cardiology to general surgery.

Surgery was much busier than internal medicine, but for Xia An, whose goal was always to become a surgeon, it was a good exercise.

Her instructor also took care of her, and she often had opportunities to observe and learn.

“Surgery must be very busy. I really admire you; you never say you’re tired.”

“Does saying I’m tired make me less tired?”
She just wasn’t used to complaining.

Ke Rochu didn’t know what to say.

She hoped that Xia An would say she was tired in front of her, that Xia An would show weakness in front of her so that she would at least have a chance to comfort her and get closer to her.

But Xia An was always able to handle everything on her own, as if the sky were falling.

“Xia An.”

“Hmm?”

“Pay more attention to resting. Don’t wear yourself out. You always say you know your limits, but look how tired you are.” Seeing that Xia An didn’t look well today, Ke Rochu felt even more sorry for her. She thought for a long time and couldn’t help but whisper, “If the hospital is too busy, I think you shouldn’t go to Night Colors anymore…”

“Nightclubs aren’t as chaotic as you imagine. Don’t worry,” Xia An comforted Ke Rochu. She had explained it to Ke Rochu more than once.

“But… but you can’t always drink alcohol; it’s bad for your health.” Besides these simple concerns, Ke Rochu didn’t know what else she could do for Xia An.

“I’ll drink less. Let’s eat,” Xia An said, picking up her chopsticks and lowering her head to eat.

As usual, Ke Rochu was used to quietly paying attention to Xia An. Just looking at her like this would sometimes satisfy her.

Glancing at Xia An’s thin lips, Ke Rochu’s face burned a little. Last month, when the two of them were in the study room, she saw Xia An sleeping on the table, and she almost couldn’t help but kiss her.

Thinking of kissing…

The scene of a strange woman hugging her waist and kissing her when she went to Night Colors that night flashed through Ke Rochu’s mind.

Her first kiss was gone like that.

Now, half a month later, Ke Rochu still remembered that mature and beautiful face vividly. Thinking of the details of that night, she was probably crazy; she had actually hugged her and kissed her… Ke Rochu’s face turned red from the inside out, and her facial temperature soared. 

Before they had even finished half of their meal, Xia An was interrupted by a phone call.

This was normal. Like them, students who came to the hospital to study were, in some ways, similar to errand runners.

“Rochu, I have to go first.”

“Hey, you’ve only eaten this much? Do you want…” Ke Rochu didn’t even wait for an answer before the other person’s figure disappeared before her eyes.

From noon to evening, Xia An had been busy all the time, only taking time to drink water.

At five o’clock, interns entered the demonstration room one after another. There would be an operation later, a pancreaticoduodenectomy, and the chief surgeon was Qi Muyi, who had just returned to the country not long ago.

Although Qi Muyi had only recently joined the staff at Nanwai Hospital, she was very popular.

There were already few female surgeons, and she was mature, beautiful, and had excellent medical skills, making it difficult not to be popular.

Therefore, Qi Muyi was easily pushed to the position of surgical queen.

Because of Qi Muyi, Xia An clearly felt that there were more interns observing the surgery than usual.

Anesthesia, incision, surgery…
Xia An carefully observed every step.

On the operating table, she was calm, orderly, skillful, and handled almost every step perfectly. The surgical queen was indeed not just a name.

Staring at Qi Muyi’s hand holding the scalpel, Xia An seemed to see her goal.

The reason she wanted to be a doctor was simple.

Her father had always been in poor health, and her mother had abandoned the family for this reason.

From then on, a seed was planted in Xia An’s heart.

When she was young, she didn’t understand so much, but she was just stubborn.

Later, she still got on this path as she wished.

More than three hours later, the operation was successfully completed.

Under such highly stressful conditions, it was a great test of both personal physical strength and psychological quality.

Xia An was the last one to leave the demonstration room because she hadn’t eaten anything all day, and her eyes were a little dizzy. 

Dragging her slightly heavy steps to the break room, Xia An poured a cup of hot water at the water dispenser. When she turned around, she didn’t notice someone behind her and almost spilled it on someone.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”
A soft female voice.

Xia An looked up, “Director Qi”

“Yes,” Qi Muyi responded with a smile.

“Hello, my name is Xia An,” Xia An took the initiative to introduce herself.

She cherished the learning opportunities in the hospital, and most of the seniors liked humble and studious students.

“I just happened to rotate to general surgery this month. I’ll trouble you to teach me a lot in the future.”

Xia An, hearing a familiar name, Qi Muyi carefully looked at the young girl in front of her, “You’re Xia An?”

Xia An was surprised by Qi Muyi’s sudden question.

Qi Muyi explained, “Oh, Professor Song often mentions you to me.”

“Is that so?” Professor Song was Xia An’s instructor in general surgery.

“She said that the most hardworking, studious, and beautiful girl in our general surgery is a student she is teaching,” Qi Muyi nodded and said humorously, “Well, it seems that Lao Song is right.”

“Thank you, teacher,” Xia An knew that Qi Muyi was complimenting her in another way. “Also, teacher, tonight’s surgery benefited me a lot.”

Qi Muyi took out a heated sandwich from the microwave. She had been busy until this point and hadn’t eaten. She saw that Xia An didn’t look well and joked, “Is this your first time observing surgery? Why do you look so bad? Were you scared?”

“No. Maybe I haven’t rested well lately.” Perhaps she should really take a good rest for a day. She had been told several times today that she looked bad.

Qi Muyi: “Professor Song is busy. If you have any questions in the future, you can ask me.”

“Okay, but don’t be annoyed by me.”

“I’ll tell you everything I know. I’m going to get off work first,” Qi Muyi said with a smile. Seeing that Xia An looked tired, she said, “You should go back and rest early.”

“Goodbye, teacher.”

Xia An held the water cup, watching Qi Muyi leave.

Although Qi Muyi was nicknamed the surgical queen, she didn’t act like one at all. She was very easygoing, so it was no wonder she was so popular in the hospital.

Speaking of queens, Xia An leaned against the wall and took small sips of hot water. A face appeared in her mind.

Ye Jin’s face.

That arrogance, aloofness, and the feeling of rejecting people thousands of miles away were more like a queen on high. Although Ye Jin was taciturn, as soon as she opened her mouth, she had a strong aura.

Snapping out of her thoughts, the phone in her pocket vibrated.

Xia An took it out and looked.

How coincidental, the queen was calling to give instructions…

It wasn’t inappropriate to say instructions.

Ye Jin rarely contacted Xia An. Whenever Ye Jin called, Xia An knew that she probably needed her to cooperate.

Xia An knew very well what her relationship with Ye Jin was. It was just acting, so besides that, there was nothing else they could contact each other about.

In the office, the lights were bright.
Ye Jin stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking into the distance, taking in the most prosperous and splendid night view of Nancheng.

“Going back tonight?” As soon as the call was connected, Ye Jin asked this question again.

Recently, Ye Wan had always been muttering about wanting to see Xia An and had been unhappy for many days. Everyone had strengths and weaknesses. What Ye Jin was not good at was coaxing people.

“Not tonight,” Xia An said, squeezing the disposable paper cup in her hand. She looked at the time, and in a while, she would have to go to the old place again. “Just tell Liang Laotai and Ye Wan that I’m too busy at the hospital to come back and will go home tomorrow night.”

The expected answer.

“I see.”

Before Xia An could say anything, the sound of the call ending came from the other end of the phone.

The call ended just like that.

Was she… unhappy? Xia An felt that she was overthinking it. Ye Zong [General Manager] always spoke coldly.

Staring at the call record on the phone screen, which was less than 30 seconds, Xia An instantly had the illusion that she was a scumbag, the kind who didn’t return home every day, leaving her wife and children at home unattended.

Xia An smiled helplessly, put away her phone, crumpled the paper cup in her hand, threw it into the trash can, and quickly walked out of the break room.

****

A chill autumn rain in Nan City.

The air was moist and cold, Ye Jin walked out of the JM Building, only to realize her light windbreaker wasn’t enough to keep warm, the wind rose, coldness assaulting her.

Ye Jin drove down a familiar road, passing through a section of Jinglin street, when she encountered traffic police checking for drunk driving, creating a slight traffic jam.

The display showed an incoming call. Ye Jin answered, “Aunt Zhou, what is it?”

“Ye Zong [General Manager], Ye Wan refuses to take her medicine, no matter how I coax her…” Aunt Zhou said anxiously. If it wasn’t truly unmanageable, she wouldn’t have called Ye Jin.

The temperature had been dropping sharply these days, and Ye Wan had accidentally caught a chill, showing some coughing and cold symptoms.

“I’ll talk to her,” Ye Jin said.

After a moment, a small, childish voice came from the other end of the phone, “Mama…”

“Why aren’t you being obedient? Mama will be home soon.”

“Then where’s Xia An?”

“Xia An will be home tomorrow.”

“I want Xia An.” Ye Wan sniffled, saying softly, her voice slightly nasal because of her cold, making her sound even more aggrieved.

Ye Jin didn’t know how to handle the child. “Ye Wan, take your medicine first.”

Ye Wan started to sob quietly, still saying, “I want Xia An…”

Two minutes later, Ye Jin hung up the phone and changed her driving route on the spot.

It was only a little after ten, but Xia An had already left Night Colors, her complexion very pale.

She only had a thin coat draped over her shoulders, her legs exposed to the cold wind, giving her goosebumps.

“Fairy,” Amy, who had just finished her shift, recognized Xia An’s figure and quickly approached.

“Are you finishing up so early tonight?”

“I can’t be worn out like a dog every day,” Xia An forced a smile, but at that moment, her stomach suddenly churned.

“Are you alright?” Amy noticed that Xia An wasn’t looking well.

“I’m fine,” Xia An shook her head.

“Want to grab a late-night snack together?”

“No thanks…” Xia An felt like she was about to collapse. She bit her lip and smiled at Amy, “You go ahead.”

“Then I’ll head out first.”

Once Amy had walked a distance away, Xia An lowered her head, supporting herself against the wall. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and bent over, vomiting.

Having worked at Night Colors for so long, this was the first time she had drunk to the point of throwing up.

Xia An had always believed she knew her limits, that she could gracefully handle everything she needed to face. But now, she was vomiting miserably, more wretched than she had ever been.

Lowering her head, staring at the filth on the ground, Xia An felt like she had lost her soul. Her nose stung, but she refused to let the tears spill from her eyes.

Why was her life filled with thorns? It wasn’t that Xia An hadn’t ever resented her fate. It was just that, over time, she had come to realize that, even after resenting it, she still had to face reality.

“Ugh…” After another bout of violent vomiting, Xia An finally felt a little better. Her arms still supported her against the wall, she straightened up again, wanting to pretend that nothing had happened.

But when she turned around, she saw a familiar face.

Xia An didn’t know how long Ye Jin had been standing beside her, but she knew that her most vulnerable side had been completely exposed.

This was what Xia An feared the most.

Finally unable to force her usual smile, Xia An was expressionless, not daring to meet Ye Jin’s gaze.
At that moment, she only wanted to leave silently.

“You stop right there.” Ye Jin blocked Xia An’s path, the other woman’s usual smile replaced by a lost and disoriented look. “Where do you think you’re going? Still want to go drink?”