Shen Chaoyi was taken aback and sheepishly withdrew her hand.
“Cough, cough.” She cleared her throat twice but didn’t push it.
“Your face is fine, it’s mainly your hand.”
Yi Qingzhuo’s expression remained calm. “I understand.”
“Any other discomfort on your body?” Shen Chaoyi looked Yi Qingzhuo over and pressed her temple.
“No, that’s all.” Yi Qingzhuo shook her head.
Shen Chaoyi hummed in acknowledgment, pulled up several medications on the computer, and slid the prescription slip to Yi Qingzhuo. “Go pick up your medicine on the first floor.”
Yi Qingzhuo stood up, took the slip, her voice subdued. “Thank you.”
Shen Chaoyi nodded and smiled faintly. “Mm.”
As Yi Qingzhuo reached the door, Shen Chaoyi’s eyes caught her phone on the desk. Remembering something, she called Yi Qingzhuo back. “Miss Yi, did you leave your own phone number when you registered?”
“Yes.” Yi Qingzhuo put her hat back on.
“Oh, then keep an eye out—our nurse will send you a mass message with some reminders.” Shen Chaoyi got up. Her night shift was long past due for handover.
She hadn’t closed her eyes for over thirty hours since last night, and a layer of exhaustion clouded her eyes. It was time for Shen Chaoyi to clock out.
Yi Qingzhuo thought about the tone of those two messages and a doubt rose in her heart.
That tone—it was clearly Shen Chaoyi’s.
Seeing that Shen Chaoyi was also getting up, as if she was about to leave too, Yi Qingzhuo zipped up her jacket. She had no interest in pressing further to find out if that was really Shen Chaoyi’s number.
A low grunt escaped her throat, and Yi Qingzhuo turned around and strode away.
In the white-themed hospital, Yi Qingzhuo’s all-black outfit stood out starkly. Among the crowd, she was instantly noticeable.
Head down, hands in her pockets, but her back was exceptionally straight—unyielding, unbending. It was a far cry from the lazy way she leaned against the wall.
A strange person, and contradictory.
Shen Chaoyi withdrew her gaze as her phone rang from inside her bag.
Seeing the caller ID, Shen Chaoyi frowned slightly. She answered while waiting for the elevator.
“Hello, Teacher Zheng, did Ah Gan cause trouble again?”
“Yes. I was supposed to be at a meeting at the Education Bureau all day, but it was canceled last minute. When I got back to school, I found out that Shen Gan and a few of his friends had skipped class. I can’t reach him now.”
“That kid—just because his grades are passable and he’s a sports student, does he think he can do whatever he wants? This has happened multiple times, and I’ve had enough. I hope you and his parents can discipline him properly. Otherwise, I’ll report his recent behavior to the Political Education Office. You know what the consequences will be, Miss Shen.”
“Let him take a week off to reflect at home. I don’t want to see Shen Gan approaching graduation with a blemish on his record.”
“Miss Shen, we won’t even get into his other issues like premature romance. Skipping class crosses a line for me. I hope you can take this seriously.”
The elevator was crowded, and Shen Chaoyi was squeezed into a corner. In the noisy space, she strained to hear the head teacher’s lecture.
When she finally reached the parking lot and the crowd thinned, Shen Chaoyi replied, “I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Zheng. I’ll make sure to discipline him properly.”
“And please don’t hold it against him—I appreciate your efforts, Teacher Zheng.” Her clear voice was soothing, managing to calm some of the anger on the other end.
“Alright, handle it as soon as possible.”
Born to the same parents, raised in the same environment, yet the older sister was so obedient and outstanding, while the younger brother was constantly breaking rules, skipping class, dating early, and refusing to change.
Teacher Zheng had contacted Shen Gan’s parents several times before. Either the father was too busy to discipline, or the mother couldn’t manage a high schooler going through puberty. Only his sister seemed to have any effect—every time she talked to him, he’d behave for a while.
Shen Chaoyi smiled and hung up.
Her plan to go home and rest was dashed. She glanced at the location map on her phone.
Redeemed Internet Cafe.
There again. Skipping class to play games.
A layer of exhaustion covered Shen Chaoyi’s eyes, but she downed a cup of instant coffee and forced herself to stay alert.
Her car drove smoothly out of the parking lot. As she passed the hospital entrance, her peripheral vision caught a familiar figure.
Yi Qingzhuo.
She was half-leaning against a bus stop sign, apparently waiting for a bus.
One earbud hung from her ear, the black wire casually resting on her chest—languid and carefree.
She wasn’t on her phone. Hands in her pockets, the silver buckle on her black Martin boots glinted sharply.
Even among the crowd, she seemed out of place—unable to fit in.
Shen Chaoyi thought for a moment, then changed direction and drove toward Yi Qingzhuo.
She honked and rolled down the window. “Miss Yi, are you going back to the internet cafe?”
Yi Qingzhuo looked up, her gaze fixed squarely on Shen Chaoyi.
Her again.
“Mm,” she replied, a layer of cold irritation settling over her delicate features.
She picked up the other earbud hanging on her chest and casually stuffed it into her ear.
Shutting out the sounds of the outside world. Shutting out Shen Chaoyi.
Seeing this, Shen Chaoyi’s face paled. A flicker of complex emotion passed through her heart.
She dropped her smile, said nothing more, turned the steering wheel, and drove off.
The white car lingered briefly, then vanished, leaving only its back to Yi Qingzhuo.
Yi Qingzhuo looked up at the white car. The red at the corners of her eyes deepened.
Even the music in her earbuds couldn’t suppress her thoughts. She suddenly abandoned the idea of taking the bus and turned to walk back to the internet cafe alone.
She didn’t know why Shen Chaoyi had suddenly asked if she was going back to the cafe.
Was she offering her a ride?
Carrying the medicine, Yi Qingzhuo walked quickly, purposefully.
When she reached the internet cafe, she saw the white car at the entrance.
Her eyes flickered. The license plate looked familiar.
She had seen it half an hour ago—it was Shen Chaoyi’s.
But the road had been congested, so she had probably only just arrived.
Yi Qingzhuo paused for a moment, then stepped into the internet cafe.
She casually tossed the medicine on the counter and scanned the room. No sign of Shen Chaoyi.
So the car wasn’t hers?
Yi Qingzhuo pulled up the log of customers and quickly found Shen Gan’s registration.
Her eyes moved to the final seat number.
She took a lap around the cafe and spotted Shen Chaoyi and Shen Gan near the restroom.
Shen Gan was looking at Shen Chaoyi with a pitiful expression. “Don’t be mad, sis. I already know all that stuff. There’s nothing to do at school except train and daydream.”
Shen Chaoyi glanced at the curious looks from the people around them and said simply, “Come home with me first.”
She wasn’t angry. She looked up at Shen Gan.
Shen Gan grabbed his ID and phone from the table, stretched his arm, and leaned on Shen Chaoyi’s shoulder, wheedling, “Sis, don’t tell Mom and Dad. I love you the most.”
Shen Chaoyi pushed his arm off her shoulder and said softly, “We’ll talk at home.”
She repeated herself, then turned around.
And saw Yi Qingzhuo sitting in a chair, legs crossed, silently watching the show.
She still had one earbud in, but she wasn’t wearing her cap anymore.
Casual and indifferent. She didn’t react at all when Shen Chaoyi noticed her.
“I have something to tell you.” Shen Chaoyi stopped in front of Yi Qingzhuo and tightened the strap of her bag, her knuckles turning white.
Hearing this, Yi Qingzhuo lifted her chin. Without the cap to block her face, Shen Chaoyi could clearly see her raise one eyebrow and open her eyes.
“Miss, your brother is an adult. Our internet cafe has always operated legally.” Seeing the situation turn tense, Li Hengyang glanced cautiously at Yi Qingzhuo and said to Shen Chaoyi with a smile.
Shen Chaoyi smiled calmly and explained, “No, you misunderstood. I’m not here to hold anyone responsible.”
Shen Chaoyi wasn’t the type to make a scene or be unreasonable and annoying. That was evident from the times she had come to the cafe to drag Shen Gan away. The gentleness in her words and actions was undeniable.
But Li Hengyang wasn’t worried about Shen Chaoyi causing trouble—he was worried about his cold-faced boss, Yi Qingzhuo.
Wouldn’t this traumatize Shen Chaoyi?
“Sis, let’s go.” Shen Gan knew Yi Qingzhuo and was aware of her reputation.
So he was still somewhat wary of her, especially when he accidentally met her icy gaze.
Even though he came here often to game, he didn’t see Yi Qingzhuo much.
Most of the time, Li Hengyang managed the place. Plus, it was cheap and close to school—the perfect internet cafe base.
That’s why Shen Gan had been caught several times but couldn’t bear to change locations.
Yi Qingzhuo stood up and tilted her chin. “Come on.”
None of the people present knew that Yi Qingzhuo and Shen Chaoyi had already interacted before. The way Yi Qingzhuo said it sounded almost teasing.
“Just gaming, nothing to see here, move along.” Li Hengyang had the good sense to block the curious gazes.
But out of the corner of his eye, he was also curious about Yi Qingzhuo and Shen Chaoyi.
Yi Qingzhuo turned and walked out of the internet cafe, disappearing from sight.
Shen Gan’s friends looked at each other with curiosity, and when they followed her out, she was gone.
Strange—how did she just vanish?
