Chapter 16: Patient Privacy

“Exactly,” Wu Huiyi agreed. “You’re not allowed to go to that internet cafe anymore, do you hear me? You know the owner there—last week she got into a fight with over a dozen people, all of them ganging up on her. She ended up in the hospital, and I heard they almost couldn’t save her. Later, somehow she pulled through. Anyway, you stay far away from that place. Come straight home after school, no lingering around there, got it?”

Shen Gan shoveled a couple of bites of rice into his mouth, not really wanting to listen. “I haven’t gone. I’ve been at school all the time lately, and I come right home after class. What else do you want me to do? Besides, that’s her personal business. You don’t even know the whole story, Mom. Stop gossiping about everyone.”

He didn’t have a great impression of Yi Qingzhuo, but he knew people kept giving her a hard time. He’d seen it happen at the internet cafe a few times himself—several big, burly men showing up to cause trouble for her, and no one daring to stand up for her.

She’d handle those guys all on her own, calm and unfazed, like it was nothing.

Someone with that kind of nerve deserved respect. “No matter how cold-hearted and hated she is, she still did her time and got out. A woman alone, it’s not easy.” Shen Gan rarely added anything extra.

At that, Shen Chaoyi, who had been quietly listening the whole time, tightened her grip on her chopsticks until her fingertips turned white.

She turned her head to look at Shen Gan, her eyes full of scrutiny.

Wu Huiyi had no idea that Shen Chaoyi was the doctor who had saved Yi Qingzhuo, nor that the person she’d just warned her son to stay away from was now under Shen Chaoyi’s care—she had even stopped by Yi Qingzhuo’s ward before leaving work.

She gave Shen Gan a surprised look. “What’s with you? Why are you getting so worked up? I didn’t even say anything yet, and you’re already jumping down my throat.”

Shen Gan choked. “It’s none of our business, Mom. Don’t pay it so much attention.”

“How can I not pay attention? This town’s so small, something like that happens, and of course it becomes everyone’s gossip. Besides, Yi Qingzhuo ended up in the hospital where your sister works—can’t I be concerned about your sister?” Wu Huiyi glanced at Shen Chaoyi, who had gone quiet since Yi Qingzhuo was mentioned.

She turned the conversation toward Shen Chaoyi. “Chaoyi, you’re in the ER. You must know about Yi Qingzhuo, right?”

Shen Chaoyi looked up and pressed her lips together. “I know.”

Know? Of course she knew.

Even if she hadn’t been the one to resuscitate Yi Qingzhuo, everyone in the emergency department was still gossiping about the whole thing.

She didn’t pay much attention to that sort of talk, but she couldn’t avoid hearing it entirely.

“So how is she now?” Wu Huiyi perked up, setting down her bowl and leaning toward Shen Chaoyi.

“Patient privacy. I can’t disclose that.” Shen Chaoyi felt she hadn’t eaten much and was already full, so she set down her chopsticks.

She rested her hands on the edges of her chair, the faint blue veins on her pale neck showing through her skin.

Seeing Shen Chaoyi like that, Wu Huiyi pulled back. “Oh, come on. You’re home now—there’s no such thing as patient privacy here. Besides, isn’t it just departmental gossip? Why does it have to be patient privacy all of a sudden? You’re such a kid.”

Shen Chaoyi lowered her head. “It’s patient privacy.”

“Because I’m Yi Qingzhuo’s attending physician now.”

“What?” Wu Huiyi was so shocked she almost dropped her bowl. She frowned. “How did you become her attending physician?”

She was afraid Shen Chaoyi would get dragged into trouble.

That Yi Qingzhuo was someone you couldn’t afford to provoke—better to stay far away.

“Because I was the one who resuscitated her that day, and I performed her surgery, so I became her primary doctor.” Shen Chaoyi’s face was clear and composed. She stood up. “I’m full, Mom. You guys eat slowly.”

“Hey? Chaoyi.” Wu Huiyi looked at the barely touched bowl. “You’re done already? Have a little more?”

Shen Chaoyi’s expression was calm. “No, I don’t have much of an appetite. I’m going to my room.”

“Well, since you’re her attending physician, you need to be careful…” Before Wu Huiyi could finish, Shen Chaoyi’s door had already closed.

Wu Huiyi’s face was full of worry as she stared at the delicious food on the table. She said to Shen Gan, “How did your sister end up as that person’s doctor? I hope she doesn’t get caught up in any trouble. That Yi Qingzhuo is just a magnet for problems.”

“But what lousy luck—why did it have to be her?”

Shen Gan glanced at Shen Chaoyi’s empty chair and frowned too. “It’s her job. She knows what she’s doing. Don’t worry so much.”

“How can I not worry? That woman is dangerous!” Wu Huiyi said discontentedly.

Shen Gan didn’t feel like arguing with his mother, so he finished his meal quickly too.

After doing some homework in his room, he timed it and opened his door.

He poked his head out, saw that Wu Huiyi was still busy in the kitchen, and then walked over to knock on Shen Chaoyi’s door.

A soft “Come in” came from inside.

Shen Gan pushed the door open. Shen Chaoyi was sitting at her computer desk, looking something up.

Seeing it was him, she put down her pen and said in a low voice, “When the parent-teacher conference is scheduled, send me the time. I’ll make it.”

She thought he was still there about the conference.

Shen Gan stuffed his hands into the pockets of his sports pants and stopped in front of her desk. His sharp eyes flicked to her computer monitor. “I didn’t come about the parent-teacher conference.”

He knew that while Shen Chaoyi might say she wouldn’t go, she’d try her best to find the time anyway.

“Then what is it? Having some trouble lately?” Shen Chaoyi turned slightly, tilting her head up to look at him.

Shen Gan pursed his lips, thinking for a moment. “Are you really Yi Qingzhuo’s primary doctor?”

Hearing that he came to ask about this, Shen Chaoyi relaxed completely.

She let out a soft laugh. “Mm. I happened to be the one who received her and resuscitated her that day.”

Then she added, “I know you and Mom are worried. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. And that person—honestly, aside from being a bit cold and quiet, she’s actually quite polite.”

“But what about her relatives…” Shen Gan’s face darkened, still concerned.

“I’m just a doctor. The mess between them has nothing to do with me, and it won’t spill over onto me.” Shen Chaoyi raised her eyes.

Looking at Shen Gan’s handsome, proud features, she suddenly realized that the soft little kid had grown into a fine young man.

Over 1.8 meters tall, sunny appearance, and that unbridled youthful swagger unique to his age.

Remembering what his head teacher had mentioned about teenage romance, she immediately said, “Stop worrying about me. I’ve got it under control. Let’s talk about you.”

“Talk about me?” Shen Gan didn’t catch that she was changing the subject.

Shen Chaoyi asked, “I was busy before and didn’t get a chance to ask. What’s this about your head teacher mentioning you and romance? Are you dating someone?”

Shen Gan was good-looking, a sports student specializing in high jump, liked playing basketball—he was very popular among his peers.

The moment she brought it up, he rubbed his forehead in annoyance and defended himself. “No. I spend all my time training, and the little free time I have goes to gaming. When would I have time to date? It’s just a bunch of girls at school who keep clinging to me. They hang around during my training and the head teacher saw them.”

“Really not?” Shen Chaoyi confirmed again.

“Really not. I don’t have that kind of energy. You haven’t even found the right one yet, so I’m not in a hurry.” Shen Gan almost raised three fingers to swear.

“……”

Hearing that, Shen Chaoyi ground her back teeth.

She almost said through gritted teeth, “What are you implying? That I’m too old?”

She was a medical student—the first twenty-five years of her life were spent studying medicine, then internships, then all kinds of assessments.

It was perfectly normal for someone her age in the medical field to have never dated.

Knowing he had stepped on her tail, Shen Gan quickly waved his hands to clear the air. “No way. I’m the one worried some jerk will trick you into his hands. Don’t rush, don’t rush—Mom, Dad, and I don’t mind. Don’t let it get to you.”

“I know.” Shen Chaoyi nodded.

Actually, at her age and still single, external reasons were only part of it.

There was another reason she couldn’t face directly.

She might not be able to have a relationship with a man.

The thought of having another man intersect with her life, all those messy, exhausting things tangled together, felt overwhelming.

Childbirth, daily chores, the nitty-gritty of life—those were still far off.

But even simple physical contact made Shen Chaoyi flinch back like she’d been shocked.

She instinctively recoiled from men and couldn’t develop any feelings for them.

Back in her youth, she’d received love letters; in college, she’d been confessed to. But she always tucked her head in like a turtle.

Inside, aside from repulsion, there was nothing—not even the typical teenage girl’s anticipation of a boyfriend.

Shen Chaoyi had never told anyone this. She kept it all bottled up.

She couldn’t overcome her own barrier, and she couldn’t face the result calmly.

Thinking about that, she quickly hid her emotions, stood up, and walked to the door. “Since you’re not dating, good. Handle your relationships with the female classmates properly and focus on your studies. I’ve taught you all that.”

Shen Gan watched her, clearly getting the hint that she wanted him to leave.

So he stepped out on his own. “Alright. Sleep early.”

“Mm.” Shen Chaoyi hummed and closed the door.

Looking at the closed door, Shen Gan scratched his head in confusion.

He muttered under his breath, “Hey, weren’t we talking about her? How’d it switch to me?”