Shen Chaoyi pulled her hand back, frowning slightly. “Can you stop thinking about fighting fire with fire? The other party is already at the police station, and the medical department will handle the follow-up. I won’t let them get away with hitting me, don’t worry.”
Shen Gan stopped his turn toward the hospital, looked back, his face covered in frost.
“Didn’t I tell you to go straight to the security department if there’s a conflict? Why did you rush in? Look at this, it’s all red and swollen.”
“It was an emergency, I couldn’t help it. I’ll be more careful in the future.” Shen Chaoyi patted Shen Gan’s shoulder to comfort him.
Shen Gan’s brows furrowed into a deep crease, the corners of his eyes red with anger. After holding it in for a long time, he managed to force out three stiff words to Shen Chaoyi.
“Does it hurt?”
A big guy, over six feet tall, all muscle.
But hearing that his sister had been hit, he felt helpless and couldn’t do anything.
In his rage, his eyes turned red, and gritting his teeth, all he could utter was the heart-wrenching question, “Does it hurt?”
He didn’t care how badly he got hurt during training, but even the slightest scratch on Shen Chaoyi made him ache.
“Alright, what’s a little pain? You’re a grown man, are you going to cry?” Shen Chaoyi handed him a tissue, laughing helplessly at Shen Gan’s reaction.
She was the one who got hurt, but Shen Gan looked even more wronged than she did.
Shen Gan took the tissue indignantly. “Didn’t I ask Brother Cheng to keep an eye on you?”
As soon as Shen Chaoyi heard Han Yecheng’s name, her expression changed.
She turned and walked into the living room, poured herself a glass of water, and downed half of it in one go.
Then she said to Shen Gan, “I know you two get along well, and I’m not stopping you from hanging out with him. But to be honest, I only see him as a colleague. There’s not even a hint of romantic interest. Don’t try to set me up with him anymore.”
“Why? Isn’t Brother Cheng a perfect match for you?” Shen Gan forgot to change his shoes as he hurried after Shen Chaoyi.
“Does being a good match mean we have to be together?” Shen Chaoyi set down the cup with a serious expression. “Ever since he started spreading rumors that we were boyfriend and girlfriend, I’ve started to feel repulsed by him. In my eyes, it’s a matter of character.”
Shen Gan thought for a moment. “He spread rumors?”
“Yes. I suggest you keep your social distance from him from now on. He’s not as gentlemanly and steady as you all think.” Shen Chaoyi used the word “suggest,” not forcing Shen Gan’s hand.
She had always respected her younger brother.
“How could this be?” Shen Gan pursed his lips, his impression of Han Yecheng plummeting instantly.
He was shocked that Han Yecheng would do such a thing.
Although he had been rooting for Han Yecheng and his sister, it was based on Han Yecheng’s gentlemanly demeanor and excellence in all areas.
But once there was a matter of principle, Shen Gan would respect his sister’s choice. He said, “I won’t contact him anymore.”
“The choice is yours. I just wanted to tell you to stop saying we’re a good match. I don’t like it.” Shen Chaoyi glanced at Shen Gan, her stern tone softening. “Alright, didn’t you have plans with friends? I’m fine, I can handle it. Go enjoy yourself.”
“I’ll stay and keep you company.” Shen Gan frowned at the wound on the corner of Shen Chaoyi’s mouth, worried.
Shen Chaoyi shook her head. “How can you just break a promise? Don’t make a big deal out of this little injury. Don’t tell Mom and Dad either. I’m tired, I’ll take a shower and rest.”
Shen Gan knew he couldn’t argue with his sister.
So he turned and heated a glass of milk and made some breakfast.
“I made breakfast, eat something before you sleep.” Shen Gan sent a message to Shen Chaoyi from the living room.
He knew Shen Chaoyi was probably in the bathroom, so he didn’t go near to say it.
After sending the message, Shen Gan waited ten minutes in the living room and received a reply from Shen Chaoyi.
“Okay.”
Shen Gan let out a long breath, then stood up and left, looking back repeatedly.
The next day
Shen Chaoyi deliberately woke up half an hour early to avoid her parents seeing the bruise on her face that hadn’t faded yet.
But when she finished washing up, she found Shen Gan already waiting for her outside.
On the table were a sandwich and a glass of milk.
Shen Chaoyi glanced at the closed door of the master bedroom and yawned lightly. “Mom and Dad aren’t up yet. Why are you up so early?”
Even if Shen Gan had school today, he wouldn’t be up this early.
Shen Gan stood up, ladled a bowl of porridge for Shen Chaoyi, and placed it in front of her. “I’ll drive you to work later, then go to school. In the evening, I’ll come pick you up after work.”
Shen Chaoyi pulled out a chair and took a sip of milk. “No need. I’ll take you to school. Since you’re up early, you should go to school early too.”
“I’m not in a hurry.” Shen Gan couldn’t stop worrying.
“You can’t follow me around all day. Going to school properly is your top priority.” Shen Chaoyi chewed slowly, eating at a leisurely pace.
Clearly, the breakfast in front of her was all made by Shen Gan. Although Wu Huiyi usually took care of him, Shen Gan had always been very self-sufficient.
A simple breakfast, but it tasted pretty good.
In the end, despite his reluctance, Shen Chaoyi managed to convince Shen Gan.
She dropped Shen Gan off at school before heading to the hospital for work.
It was Monday, so after parking the car, Shen Chaoyi didn’t go straight upstairs. Instead, she entered through the hospital’s main door.
She planned to check the comprehensive evaluation results that had just come out today.
The evaluation was once a month, ranking medical staff from each department on a hundred-point scale based on the number of consultations, completeness of medical records, and surgical success rates.
The top two in each department not only received bonuses but, more importantly, it was a reflection of their ability.
“Doctor Shen, you’re here early today.”
As soon as Shen Chaoyi stood by the large screen, a colleague recognized her and greeted her.
“Yeah, I have a meeting later, so I came early.” Shen Chaoyi nodded and smiled.
Then her gaze turned to the screen, searching for the emergency department’s ranking.
Seeing her looking at the rankings, the female doctor smiled and said, “Don’t bother looking. Your emergency department, and you’re the runaway first place again. Counting this time, how many times have you topped the list? I bet you’ll have a spot in the year-end awards again.”
Hearing this, Shen Chaoyi pursed her lips sheepishly. “It’s all up to the leadership.”
“You’re a key physician the hospital is cultivating, and young too. If anything comes up, we’ll have to rely on you.” After saying that, the female doctor gave a polite smile. “Take your time looking. I’ll head up first.”
Shen Chaoyi nodded, then turned her attention back to the screen.
Finally, her eyes lingered for two seconds on her own name in the first row, a gentle smile spreading across her lips.
The higher her score, the more patients she had cured.
A strong sense of satisfaction welled up inside her. After watching for a while, she withdrew her gaze.
She walked towards the elevator area, but as she got closer, the sound of crisp crying grew louder.
The sounds reached her ears, and Shen Chaoyi looked around in confusion.
The emergency hall was always noisy, full of people coming and going, with all kinds of sounds.
Shen Chaoyi didn’t pay it much attention, until she turned around and almost bumped into a little boy.
Fortunately, Shen Chaoyi reacted quickly and stepped back just in time to avoid colliding with him.
The little boy in front of her looked about five or six years old, his face covered in tears. There were no parents around, and he looked very helpless.
Shen Chaoyi crouched down, took a tissue from her bag, and gently wiped his tears. “Little one, where are your mom and dad? Who came with you? Why are you crying here alone?”
Shen Chaoyi’s words made the little boy pause for a second. He stared at her, and when he realized she was a stranger, he burst into loud crying again.
“Don’t cry, okay? Auntie will help you find your mom and dad.” Shen Chaoyi said gently.
But the little boy seemed agitated because he had suddenly lost his parents.
Even though Shen Chaoyi was all smiles and spoke softly, it didn’t seem to calm him down.
He broke free from Shen Chaoyi’s arms and quickly ran off in another direction.
Startled, Shen Chaoyi quickly stood up to catch him, afraid he might bump into something while running.
But Shen Chaoyi didn’t notice the doorknob above her head that she was about to slam into.
Suddenly, a hand appeared and covered the top of her head. As Shen Chaoyi moved, the back of that hand slammed hard into the doorknob.
Shen Chaoyi was completely unharmed.
Yi Qingzhuo let out a muffled grunt, then used her other hand to grab Shen Chaoyi’s wrist to help her steady herself.
“Auntie, he already found his mom.” Yi Qingzhuo lifted the corners of her lips in a silent, faint smile.
Following the voice, Shen Chaoyi realized it was Yi Qingzhuo. She shrank her neck slightly and immediately looked at her hand. “Are you alright? Did you hit it?”
She was too flustered to notice that her other hand was still held in Yi Qingzhuo’s grip.
Her mind was entirely on the dull thud she had heard just now.
Her movement had been fast, and judging by the sound, it must have been a hard hit.
Yi Qingzhuo lowered her hand from above Shen Chaoyi’s head. There was a distinct mark on the pale skin of the back of her hand.
She clenched her fist, then withdrew her other hand. “It’s fine, Auntie. Just be careful next time. Getting hit hurts.”
Shen Chaoyi glanced at the little boy who had run into his mother’s arms and was being picked up.
Her heart, which had been in her throat, settled, and she let out a long sigh.
Only then did she realize what Yi Qingzhuo had called her.
Yi Qingzhuo called her “Auntie”?
Twice.
Shen Chaoyi met Yi Qingzhuo’s eyes, which were full of amusement, and chided gently, “Why are you calling me ‘Auntie’? Call me ‘Sister’.”
She had already seen Yi Qingzhuo’s file. She was three years older than Yi Qingzhuo, so it was only natural to be called “Sister.”
