She ate her meal absentmindedly.
The moment Liu Zhiyi had seen Zhou Jianghao’s wife, she had assumed the woman would pressure her during the meal—maybe tell her to stay away from Zhou Jianghao.
But it wasn’t until they returned to the hospital that she realized a silent dagger cut deeper than any overt pressure.
The atmosphere between Zhou Jianghao and her wife was like an impenetrable barrier, one Liu Zhiyi could never breach.
Zhou Jianghao’s wife didn’t need to say a word to defeat her completely. It made Liu Zhiyi’s efforts over the past two weeks look like those of a pathetic clown.
What frustrated her most was that, after that day, Zhou Jianghao seemed to slip back into her solitary routine.
Liu Zhiyi had been counting on shared lunches in the canteen to build some rapport, but now she felt too defeated to even try flirting again. And Zhou Jianghao’s wife suddenly had a lot more free time, showing up every day at noon.
Either she took Zhou Jianghao out to eat, or she brought a lunchbox and joined her right there.
Whenever the two of them sat together in the hospital staff canteen, they drew every eye in the place.
“She’s not even hospital staff, but she keeps coming to mooch off our canteen. Shameless!”
Hearing this, Liu Zhiyi looked up. “Don’t be so harsh. She’s bringing her own food—she’s not mooching off the canteen.”
The woman across from her was Zhu Sui, a colleague from the same intake batch. They got along decently, and Zhu Sui knew about Liu Zhiyi’s crush on Zhou Jianghao. She’d even teased her a few times when things seemed to be heating up. Now, seeing Zhou Jianghao all lovey-dovey with her wife, Zhu Sui was naturally indignant on her behalf.
“So what if she brings her own food?” Zhu Sui sneered. “She’s still taking up seats in our staff canteen.”
Liu Zhiyi opened her mouth but couldn’t muster a rebuttal. After a long pause, she muttered, “Just drop it.”
She couldn’t stand watching their intimate display any longer. Picking up her tray, she said, “I’m heading out.”
Zhu Sui clenched her fists. Once Liu Zhiyi was out of sight, she shot to her feet and stormed over to Zhou Jianghao, planting herself in front of them. “Doctor Zhou!”
Her tone was sharp.
Zhou Jianghao looked up at her face, momentarily blanking on her identity.
Before she could place her, Zhu Sui snapped, “This is the hospital staff canteen. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate for outsiders to keep coming here to eat every day?”
She didn’t even pause for a response before barreling on. “Even if you’re bringing your own food, you’re still occupying seats in our staff canteen. We’re all part of the hospital here. The food might be awful, but if we can eat it, why can’t you? Why do you get to act special?”
The words poured out like machine-gun fire.
Zhou Jianghao’s expression darkened. Tan Qingya had probably never been dressed down like this in her life, and now she had to put up with it just for tagging along.
Zhou Jianghao stood, her face cold as she opened her mouth to speak. But a hand suddenly caught hers, and Tan Qingya beat her to it.
“Act special?” Tan Qingya set down her chopsticks leisurely. “I seem to recall that the staff canteen allows family members. Or has City Hospital changed that policy in the last couple of years?”
“No policy change,” Zhou Jianghao said, gradually regaining her calm. Her gaze pinned Zhu Sui. “Or has the hospital started letting you make the rules now?”
Zhu Sui faltered, her eyes darting around the room. Seeing the crowd, she gained some bravado. “No one else brings food from home or drags family along. Why do you get to be the exception? Everyone has strong opinions about this!”
“Sorry to interrupt.” A ghostly voice cut in. “Doctor Zhu, get your facts straight. It’s not that we don’t want to bring food from home—we don’t have the means.”
One voice sparked others, and soon comments flew from all directions:
“Yeah, and none of us mind at all.”
“What’s wrong with bringing family? It’s not like she’s freeloading. Why be so petty? We’re all colleagues!”
…
People spent their whole careers at the hospital. Someone was bound to start a family eventually. Today it was someone else bringing their spouse; tomorrow it could be you. It was just a meal during lunch break— it didn’t affect work at all. Was there any need to be so aggressive?
Not a single person sided with Zhu Sui.
Zhu Sui’s face fell. She turned to leave, jaw set. But Zhou Jianghao’s voice rang out behind her. “Doctor Zhu, we’re not done here. No need to rush off.”
“You just launched into lecturing me and my wife out of nowhere. Don’t you owe us an apology?”
“Or do you still insist the staff canteen bans family? If that’s why you won’t apologize, fine. I’ll contact the dean and pass along your suggestion.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m just relaying your thoughts.” Zhou Jianghao’s face was impassive. “Or would you rather tell the dean yourself?”
Of course Zhu Sui didn’t dare approach the dean.
There was an elementary school near the hospital, and the dean often picked up her daughter at noon and ate in the staff canteen. Complaining to her about this would be a slap in the dean’s face.
Gritting her teeth—she didn’t want to offend the dean over a moment’s anger—Zhu Sui finally dipped her head. “Sorry.”
With that, she stormed off.
Zhou Jianghao sat back down. Though she’d gotten an apology, her mood was soured. She turned to Tan Qingya. “Sorry about that. She just doesn’t like me, and you got dragged into it.”
“How could I mind?” Tan Qingya arched a brow. “My Little Doctor Zhou is so commanding. She wouldn’t let anyone bully me and even forced an apology out of her. I’m thrilled.”
She didn’t sound insincere; the smile in her eyes was genuine. Zhou Jianghao relaxed a fraction and said earnestly, “Ignore what she said. I checked—the rules do allow family.”
But the incident had derailed their earlier conversation, making it awkward to pick up.
Just before Zhu Sui had barged in, Zhou Jianghao had been trying to tell Tan Qingya she didn’t need to come for lunch every day.
Now, after the drama, suggesting it again would make her seem overly influenced by outsiders.
Zhou Jianghao’s distraction was obvious. Tan Qingya glanced around the canteen and drawled, “In a couple days, I’ll take you out to eat.”
Zhou Jianghao looked up.
“Actually, you made a good point earlier,” Tan Qingya continued. “The hospital and the office aren’t that close. Running back and forth does waste time. I think it’s worth it, but if I get busy, I won’t be able to look after you.”
“Don’t overthink it. Even without that doctor’s nonsense, I’d have said the same.”
A canteen was just a canteen, after all.
City Hospital might be large, but in her eyes, there was plenty of room for improvement in the food department.
Zhou Jianghao had only just started putting on a little weight under her care. She needed to strike while the iron was hot and fatten her up more. Daily canteen meals wouldn’t cut it.
Occasional lunch deliveries were just a stopgap—they wouldn’t solve the real problem.
She lowered her gaze, a preliminary plan already forming in her mind.
Word of Zhu Sui’s confrontation with Zhou Jianghao in the canteen reached Liu Zhiyi the next day.
“I can’t believe Doctor Zhu caused a scene with Doctor Zhou yesterday, and today the hospital announces canteen renovations.”
“No kidding. I hear they’re issuing a notice later, calling City Hospital ’employee-friendly’ and clarifying that family members are welcome. Feels like a direct jab at Doctor Zhu.”
“They’re really putting out an announcement like that?”
“You’ll see soon enough. You think I’d lie?”
“Talk about awkward for Doctor Zhu. What was she thinking? That high-profile couple was just quietly eating. What business was it of hers? Yesterday she was dripping with sour grapes!”
Liu Zhiyi hadn’t yet connected “Doctor Zhu” to Zhu Sui. She stepped out of the stall and calmly went to the sink to wash her hands.
“Doctor Liu.” Someone called her suddenly.
Liu Zhiyi frowned and turned.
“I thought you were close with Doctor Zhu and Doctor Zhou. Any idea what their beef is?”
Everyone loved a good gossip. One question drew a crowd to the restroom.
Liu Zhiyi’s heart skipped, but she kept her face neutral. “Are you all that bored?”
She shot them a cold look, dried her hands, and left.
Ignoring the chatter behind her, she ducked into the stall by Zhu Sui’s and whispered once it was empty, “Did you pick a fight with Zhou Jianghao yesterday?”
“What do you mean ‘pick a fight’?” Zhu Sui bristled. “I was just voicing an opinion. She was acting special. Ridiculous.”
Clearly, she hadn’t heard about the renovations or the emphasis on family members.
“The canteen already allows family,” Liu Zhiyi said, suppressing her irritation. “How is that ‘acting special’? Zhu Sui, I know you’re standing up for me, but my feelings for her have nothing to do with her. You can’t target her just because she doesn’t like me back. That’s emotional blackmail.”
Seeing Liu Zhiyi still defending Zhou Jianghao only fueled Zhu Sui’s anger. “She’s fickle, stringing you along on purpose and then parading her wife to rub it in! Zhiyi, wake up!”
“I’m wide awake.” Lunch break was almost over. Liu Zhiyi spoke quickly. “Word is, leadership’s issuing a canteen announcement soon, and renovations start today. Zhu Sui, why do you think they’re suddenly prioritizing this—and specifically stressing that family is allowed?”
Zhu Sui froze.
The patient load was heavy that day. By the time Zhou Jianghao finished and changed out of her uniform, her hands ached. As she stepped out, she spotted Liu Zhiyi and the woman from yesterday waiting at the door.
She frowned instinctively.
Zhu Sui’s face was pale, but her tone was far more sincere than the day before. “Doctor Zhou, I was in a bad mood yesterday and took it out on you and your wife. I’m sorry—please don’t take it to heart.”
Her demeanor bore a striking resemblance to Li Zhenyu’s from earlier.
Zhou Jianghao lowered her gaze and responded coolly. “Mm.”
Perhaps Tan Qingya had pulled some strings again.
“Little Hao, is your wife coming to pick you up today?” Liu Zhiyi knew her friend had offended someone because of her, and even though she was still fuming, she had to help Zhu Sui smooth things over now. “Zhu Sui offended you and your wife yesterday. She’s been feeling really bad about it all day and wants to apologize to your wife in person.”
That morning, the hospital had issued an announcement that deliberately highlighted the cafeteria issues. Rumor had it that someone had poured a fortune into expanding the facility, so in the future, it wouldn’t just be for family members—it would be open to the public as well.
This was obviously connected to the incident from yesterday.
No one from upper management had called Zhu Sui in for a talk, but the lack of any response only made her more uneasy. She spent the entire day on edge, her nerves frayed to the point that she took the afternoon off due to her poor condition.
It was pure torment.
It felt like an invisible sword hung overhead, ready to drop at any moment—except no one knew when the blade would fall.
It left her anxious and fearful from dawn till dusk.
