Under Yi Qingzhuo’s gaze, Shen Chaoyi placed the insulated cup on the bedside table.
“Sorry, I overheard your conversation with Aunt,” Shen Chaoyi repeated, her tone very sincere.
A burning gaze landed on Yi Qingzhuo.
Yi Qingzhuo had already composed herself. With a blank expression, she said, “I trust Dr. Shen isn’t the type to eavesdrop, and it’s not some shameful secret either. Just a coincidence, Dr. Shen needn’t worry about it.”
She casually placed the book beside the pillow, looking unconcerned.
Seeing that she wasn’t making a fuss, Shen Chaoyi breathed a sigh of relief.
She suppressed her racing heart. “Aunt has a relatively traditional mindset, so it’s normal for her to have difficulty accepting it at first. So, give her some time. She’s quite reasonable and shouldn’t make things difficult for you.”
Perhaps Shen Chaoyi herself hadn’t noticed, but her voice trembled slightly, and there was even a hint of excitement hidden in her eyes.
Standing before the bed, Shen Chaoyi’s clothing fluttered gently.
Between her warm, jade-like brows and eyes, there were faint traces of rippling emotion.
“I know.” Yi Qingzhuo looked up at Shen Chaoyi, who stood with her hands at her sides.
Observing her reaction, she tilted her head slightly, a faint smile curving her lips.
She asked Shen Chaoyi, “Dr. Shen, you seem to have a high tolerance for this. Don’t you find this kind of relationship jarring? It’s an unconventional way of thinking.”
After all, society holds many differing opinions on the minority group of homosexuals.
“It shouldn’t be opposed in the first place, should it?” Shen Chaoyi countered.
Yi Qingzhuo tugged at her lips. “Quite insightful. I have faith in you.”
Shen Chaoyi found herself inexplicably wanting to laugh at these words.
“What kind of evaluation is that?” she thought. Saying something so laughable with such a serious expression.
After a moment of thought, Shen Chaoyi raised an eyebrow. “Yes, just follow your heart. You don’t need to have any psychological burden either.”
Yi Qingzhuo crossed her legs. “I won’t. You’re overthinking it.”
Her choices in romance were not bound by any constraints. If she didn’t meet someone, then she believed in fate.
Yi Qingzhuo had always been free on a spiritual level.
“Dr. Shen, your piano piece is beautiful. Thank you.” After a moment of silence, Yi Qingzhuo said.
The piano pieces Shen Chaoyi chose were all very soothing melodies, perfect for listening while reading, and not disturbing to the mind.
Yi Qingzhuo probably also sensed that this topic wasn’t suitable for further discussion, so she quickly changed the subject.
Shen Chaoyi nodded, going along with her words. “You’re welcome. Aunt’s chicken soup is also very good.”
Without even lifting her eyelids, Yi Qingzhuo said calmly, “Mm.”
With no further words, Shen Chaoyi said at the right moment, “It’s almost time. I’ll go back and prepare for work.”
Turning around, Shen Chaoyi paused as she lifted her foot, as if remembering something. She added, “Oh, by the way, Aunt didn’t say anything out of line to me. She just shared some of your past hobbies with me, said you like playing badminton and reading books. That’s all, nothing else.”
Shen Chaoyi had heard a hint of reproach towards Yi Changhuan in Yi Qingzhuo’s tone, so she explained.
Yi Qingzhuo pressed her lips together, not looking up.
After three seconds, she finally said, “I don’t blame her.”
“That’s good. Get some rest.” Shen Chaoyi gave a slight nod of her chin.
In this autumn, everything was withering.
Only the two people in this ward seemed to have their hearts revived like spring, with green shoots breaking through the soil deep inside.
Shen Chaoyi, standing by the hospital bed, had a glimmer of starlight in her eyes as she looked at Yi Qingzhuo.
She wasn’t smiling, yet she clearly carried a gentleness like a clear breeze and bright moon.
Yi Qingzhuo said nothing more, and Shen Chaoyi quickly withdrew her gaze.
She walked out of the ward and closed the door behind her.
“Dr. Shen! Good morning!” As soon as she turned around, Chen Ya popped her head out.
For Shen Chaoyi, who had just been on edge, this was like throwing a big rock onto a calm lake.
Shen Chaoyi was startled, feeling like her heart skipped a beat.
She looked back at the newly closed door, suppressed her composed words, and walked with Chen Ya to the nurse station.
“You scared me. What’s up? Is something wrong?” Shen Chaoyi patted her chest.
Chen Ya had already changed into her nurse uniform. She pouted, “I just changed and came out, and I saw you. Just saying hello. Dr. Shen, seeing you as soon as I start work really lessens the resentment of having to get up early to catch the subway.”
Seeing that Shen Chaoyi hadn’t changed clothes yet and had just come out of Yi Qingzhuo’s ward, she couldn’t help frowning. “Dr. Shen, why did you go to the ward as soon as you arrived without changing clothes? Chief Director Zhou has been very strict about checking lateness recently. If he catches you late and not in uniform, who knows how he’ll scold you.”
And she went to see Yi Qingzhuo again.
Thinking about the argument between Han Yecheng and Yi Qingzhuo here a couple of days ago, Chen Ya’s smile immediately faded.
“I went to return something, not for a room check.” Shen Chaoyi took a deep breath, finally calming down. “I’ll go change first, and then do rounds with Director Zhou later.”
“Oh, okay.” Chen Ya gave a complex look at Yi Qingzhuo’s ward.
She grabbed Shen Chaoyi, who was about to leave. “Speaking of Director Zhou, did you know that the day before yesterday, Dr. Han was called into his office?”
Chen Ya only said half, testing Shen Chaoyi.
But Shen Chaoyi knew nothing and wasn’t very curious. “Isn’t it normal for Director Zhou to call people to his office? What’s the problem? You seem so mysterious.”
“No, you really don’t know?” Chen Ya grew a bit anxious.
Shen Chaoyi really didn’t know at all.
“I don’t know. What’s wrong? Is it related to me?” Shen Chaoyi asked, puzzled, thinking it might be about her work.
So she listened attentively.
Chen Ya hesitated. “It’s about Dr. Han. That day he said he was your boy…”
Just then.
“Chen Ya! Clock in for work!” The voice of Head Nurse Wang Shiye came scolding.
Shen Chaoyi and Chen Ya both turned around. Wang Shiye was looking at Chen Ya with displeasure.
Turning her head, Wang Shiye changed her expression and nodded to Shen Chaoyi. “Good morning, Dr. Shen.”
Chen Ya was startled by the Head Nurse’s warning, and before she could react, she heard Wang Shiye say, “Chen Ya must have heard some gossip again, all that unsubstantial stuff. Dr. Shen, you’re busy. Don’t waste time listening to useless gossip here.”
“Chen Ya, don’t you know what you should be doing?”
Shen Chaoyi looked at Chen Ya in surprise. Based on her experience working with Chen Ya for several years, she felt Wang Shiye had a point.
So she said, “Mm, you go ahead. I’ll be off.”
She was almost late. Though puzzled, Shen Chaoyi didn’t dig deeper.
“Hey? Dr. Shen,” Chen Ya wanted to say something more.
But Wang Shiye pulled her back. “Chen Ya! Are you stupid? What do you think you’re doing? Are you crazy?”
She had been present that day when Han Yecheng provoked Yi Qingzhuo, and had seen it clearly, though she had later left on some pretense.
But even at the corner, she hadn’t missed how Han Yecheng was so angered by Yi Qingzhuo that he almost lost his composure in public.
Adding to what Chen Ya had said later, anyone with clear eyes could see that Han Yecheng was pursuing Shen Chaoyi, but Shen Chaoyi had no interest in that regard.
Yet Han Yecheng claimed Shen Chaoyi was his girlfriend.
Wasn’t that spreading rumors?
To be serious, it was slander, damaging Shen Chaoyi’s reputation.
“Dr. Han said that, but Dr. Shen doesn’t know anything. Then she’ll be fine, and suddenly she’ll have a publicly acknowledged boyfriend out of nowhere. How would that work? Dr. Shen has always been good to us. We can’t hide it from her, right?” Chen Ya was torn.
She was close to Shen Chaoyi and didn’t want to hide it from her.
Wang Shiye looked around and, not seeing anyone familiar, pulled Chen Ya aside and lowered her voice. “That’s their own business. You’re meddling. If Dr. Han finds out it was you who told, and he holds a grudge against you, will your life be easy?”
“Use your head. If you heard it, fine, but you can’t let it come out of your mouth, understand? Dr. Han is, after all, a student personally mentored by Director Zhou. Even if he did this, it’s indeed inappropriate, but Director Zhou can’t slap his own face no matter what. Do you get it?” Wang Shiye looked like she was disappointed in Chen Ya. “Then who will be made an example of? You?”
“Head Nurse, but…” Chen Ya lowered her head after being scolded.
“Shen Chaoyi hasn’t done anything to deserve this.”
“There are no buts. You’re just a nurse. You don’t earn as much as them, and you have a family to support. Sometimes you need to learn to be a mute, understand?” Wang Shiye cut off Chen Ya’s words. “Alright, alright, get to work.”
Chen Ya nodded reluctantly. “Okay.”
