Chapter 33: Utterly Ridiculous

“Oh, Doctor Shen is truly a top student from the medical school—you describe people in such a unique way.” Chen Yao didn’t catch Shen Chaoyi’s deeper meaning; he just thought it was an unusual way to describe someone.

Still, calling Yi Qingzhuo “steadfast” probably wasn’t wrong.

“Officer Chen, you misunderstand. How I describe her has nothing to do with being a top student. Yi Qingzhuo is simply that kind of person. I’ve thought so ever since the first time I treated her wound.” Shen Chaoyi spoke.

From the very first glance, Yi Qingzhuo had been different.

That slender figure leaning slightly against the bed, those eyes lowered to avoid conversation, yet always murmuring “thank you.”

More importantly, no one else could emerge from such a devastating blow—bathed in fire, reborn—and walk out with such composure, such calm acceptance.

She accepted everything heaven threw at her, yet never bowed to fate.

That’s why Yi Qingzhuo was steadfast. That’s why Shen Chaoyi favored her.

Chen Yao paused for two seconds, then gave an awkward laugh. “Then we share a similar impression of her—we both see her that way.”

Shen Chaoyi hummed in acknowledgment. She didn’t want to dwell on the topic of Yi Qingzhuo’s character, so she didn’t continue the conversation.

Looking down, she reached into her pocket for her phone to hand Officer Chen the video she’d recorded, but the pocket was empty. Only then did she remember—she’d left her phone in Yi Qingzhuo’s ward.

So Shen Chaoyi gave up.

“Looking for something, Doctor Shen?”

“Nothing.” Shen Chaoyi replied coolly.

Chen Yao nodded and didn’t press further.

Seeing that Shen Chaoyi wasn’t going to add anything, and having asked all he needed to, he capped his pen.

“Alright. Zhou You and Xu Jiangqin will be taken to the station first. After we get a clearer picture of the situation, we’ll come back tomorrow to see Yi Qingzhuo. If anything unexpected happens with her in the meantime, please contact us immediately. You know the procedure—it’s part of the job. Apologies for the trouble, Doctor Shen.” He stood up. “I won’t keep you. Take care. See you later.”

Shen Chaoyi nodded. “Understood. Goodbye, Officer Chen.”

“Mm. Take care of that wound on your face. It’d be a shame to leave a scar on such a pretty face.” With that final remark, Chen Yao turned and walked out of the office.

Shen Chaoyi watched him leave, then pulled out a mirror.

She took a quick look at the injury, intending to grit her teeth and treat it herself.

But then came another knock on the office door. Shen Chaoyi paused mid-motion and looked toward the door.

Why was this office so popular today?

It was a large shared office—besides Shen Chaoyi, several other doctors had desks here, and it was often used for discussing surgical plans.

So she didn’t answer. The person outside knocked twice, then pushed the door open directly.

“Doctor Shen, I figured you’d have trouble reaching that cut on your face—let me help you with it.” Chen Ya walked in, carrying some disinfectant supplies. Her gaze lingered on the red mark on Shen Chaoyi’s cheek.

A flicker of pity crossed her eyes.

Doctor Shen was usually such a gentle, warm person. Why had so many troubles been piling up on her lately?

Even as an outsider, Chen Ya could barely stand to watch.

Seeing it was Chen Ya, Shen Chaoyi lowered the hand holding the cotton swab. She didn’t protest much, just nodded. “Mm, then I’ll trouble you.”

“No trouble at all. Just a small effort—it’s only right.” Chen Ya set down the disinfectant supplies in front of Shen Chaoyi, then hesitated, giving her a meaningful look.

In the end, she said nothing, tore open a cotton swab, and prepared to treat Shen Chaoyi’s wound.

She had been outside the whole time, watching Chen Yao leave before knocking. Since she’d been out there, she’d also seen Han Yecheng pestering Shen Chaoyi.

Whenever Han Yecheng was involved with Shen Chaoyi, he seemed to lose his usual gentlemanly demeanor—even Chen Ya found it surprising.

Doctor Han, who appeared mature and steady on the surface, actually spread rumors about his colleagues behind their backs.

The alcohol-soaked cotton swab touched the corner of her mouth. The unbearable sting made Shen Chaoyi’s delicate brows furrow.

If even a tiny bruise from a slap hurt this much… then what about Yi Qingzhuo’s whole body of wounds?

How much pain must she be in?

But she was covered in injuries and didn’t utter a single sound.

In that first instant of pain, that thought alone burst into Shen Chaoyi’s mind. She froze for a moment before her body instinctively drew back.

Noticing her reaction, Chen Ya halted nervously.

Staring blankly at Shen Chaoyi. “Doctor Shen… did I press too hard? Sorry, sorry—I was distracted for a second.”

Shen Chaoyi quickly recovered and said gently, “It’s okay. I just haven’t been injured in a long time, so the alcohol stung more than I expected—instinctive reflex. Nothing to do with you.”

She leaned slightly forward toward Chen Ya. “Go ahead. I still have work soon—let’s not take too long.”

She’d already missed the time for rounds.

“Ah…” Chen Ya met Shen Chaoyi’s gaze.

Her inner turmoil grew stronger.

One ear echoed the Head Nurse’s warnings, the other reminded her how kind Shen Chaoyi had always been to her.

As Chen Ya hesitated, Shen Chaoyi’s wound was already disinfected, ointment applied, and a band-aid stuck on.

“Thanks for your help,” Shen Chaoyi said to Chen Ya, glancing at the band-aid in the mirror.

Chen Ya kept her head down, her face full of worry.

She was so nervous she didn’t even hear Shen Chaoyi.

Shen Chaoyi stood up, smoothed her slightly wrinkled shirt, and pulled her white coat back on.

While buttoning it up, she noticed Chen Ya’s dazed expression.

“What’s wrong? You seem distracted. Not feeling well?”

Was she scared by Zhou You and the others?

But this kind of thing was routine in the Emergency Department—Chen Ya should be used to it by now.

The way she looked now, almost lost, was unusual.

Chen Ya fumbled to pack up her supplies. Hearing Shen Chaoyi’s soft voice, she looked up to find the doctor’s clear, beautiful face.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Ya said, “I just saw Doctor Han following you out of Yi Qingzhuo’s ward. You two looked… not happy.”

“Oh? So what?” Han Yecheng often shadowed her, and their work overlapped sometimes, so Shen Chaoyi didn’t find it strange.

As for looking unhappy—well, their moods were bad today, so they’d both lost a bit of their usual calm.

But it hadn’t escalated to a fight.

“Actually… earlier, Doctor Han was at the nurse station, and he said in front of everyone that you were his girlfriend. A few colleagues heard him, and Chief Director Zhou was there too. He called Doctor Han into his office. After he came out, Doctor Han’s face was awful—really sour.” Chen Ya couldn’t meet Shen Chaoyi’s eyes. She fumbled with the cleaning tools. “By now, Chief Director Zhou probably knows that you’re his girlfriend. And today, because of Yi Qingzhuo… you got hit. So I’m worried he might go after Yi Qingzhuo.”

Chen Ya chose now to speak.

Partly because she couldn’t stand the department gossiping like that about Shen Chaoyi, and partly because she was afraid Han Yecheng would cause trouble for Yi Qingzhuo—and then things would blow up.

And Shen Chaoyi, the person involved, still didn’t know the reason behind it all.

Even though the hospital was a serious place, people still chatted privately during breaks, sharing gossip about colleagues and strange patient stories.

Lately, the rumor about Shen Chaoyi and Han Yecheng had been spreading like wildfire.

“When did this happen?” Shen Chaoyi’s brows clenched, a faint anger simmering.

When had she become Han Yecheng’s girlfriend?

She didn’t even know it herself.

But from what Chen Ya was saying, it seemed like the whole department knew—and she, the person involved, was completely clueless.

Shen Chaoyi gritted her molars, feeling a heavy stone lodged in her chest.

As if today wasn’t chaotic enough—Han Yecheng had to make it worse.

She had been in the spotlight more in recent days than in all her years at the hospital.

One hot topic after another.

In her years here, this period was probably the peak of all attention.

Chen Ya bit her lip, weighing her words. “Earlier, at the nurse station, he saw Yi Qingzhuo wearing the same clothes as you and called out to the wrong person. After that, he started insulting her for no reason, but Yi Qingzhuo just ignored him. Finally, he got so angry that he said you were his girlfriend and told Yi Qingzhuo to apply for a change of doctor and stay away from you.”

“What?” Shen Chaoyi blurted out in shock. “You mean he told Yi Qingzhuo that I’m his girlfriend?”

Her eyes widened. She was almost amused by the sheer absurdity.

One hand on her hip, the flush of anger on her face deepened. “Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!”

Her good upbringing kept her from cursing. After a long pause, only those six words came out, carrying a thousand unspoken grievances.

So that was it.

When Yi Qingzhuo returned the jacket that day, she had said, out of nowhere, “You should put that ring away properly.”

The reason was that Han Yecheng had misled her into thinking Shen Chaoyi was his girlfriend, so Yi Qingzhuo believed the ring was connected to him. That’s why she said it.

Everything made sense now.