Xu Yueliang had just finished tidying up when You Weiwei started pounding on the door, bang bang bang.
Xu Yueliang hurriedly grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. But right before stepping out, she suddenly pulled back, turning to check herself in the full-length mirror from every angle.
No issues. Satisfied, Xu Yueliang bounced out the door.
She swung it open, and there was You Weiwei in a hat, yelling, “Yooooooo~~~~”
Xu Yueliang turned to lock the door, her fingers trembling faintly. “What’s with the ‘yo’?”
You Weiwei took a step back, eyeing her up and down.
Xu Yueliang had on a thin short-sleeved knit top covered in little red cherries, paired with high-waisted wide-leg jeans. When still, the pieces just met; when she moved, they parted to reveal a glimpse of her slender white waist.
You Weiwei grinned. “Figures. You dolled yourself up all pretty just to watch me suffer.”
Xu Yueliang finished locking up, looped her arm through You Weiwei’s, and started walking. “Don’t I always look like this?”
You Weiwei snorted. “Who knows? In the live streaming room, you’re always perfectly put together, fancier than anyone. But outside of that… I never even see you.”
Xu Yueliang shrugged. “I spend most of my time there anyway.”
You Weiwei laughed. “Fair point, Orange workaholic.”
She tilted her head up, looking fretful. “I didn’t prep at all today. Hair’s from last night’s wash—that’s the best respect I could muster for a doctor. Didn’t dare do makeup either. I watched the video; gaping bloody mouth, drooling everywhere… Makeup wouldn’t save it. Still hideous…”
Xu Yueliang’s eyes flickered as she turned to her. “You looked that bad at the dentist?”
You Weiwei sighed. “What do you think? Mouth stretched wide like a bloody basin, sucking on cotton swabs. How’s that supposed to be pretty…”
Xu Yueliang trailed off. “…”
You Weiwei pressed. “You’ve been through it. You know.”
Xu Yueliang murmured. “…Yeah.”
Suddenly, You Weiwei fixed her gaze on Xu Yueliang’s face, staring hard. Xu Yueliang froze mid-step, rooted to the spot.
You Weiwei observed. “One tiny flaw—dark circles. Your makeup’s so light, they peek through.”
Xu Yueliang nodded. “Mmm… Didn’t sleep well last night.”
“You stream way too long!” You Weiwei exclaimed, tugging her onward. “If I were you, forget dark circles—I’d be straight in the ICU…”
Chatting all the way, they headed downstairs, left the complex, and flagged down a taxi. They climbed in.
Xu Yueliang gave the address and instructed the driver on Route 26 to take—it wouldn’t be too jammed.
“Old pro,” You Weiwei teased, leaning her head on Xu Yueliang’s shoulder. “Woo woo woo, thank goodness you’re here. I’ve dragged this tooth out forever; without you forcing me, I’d put it off till doomsday…”
Xu Yueliang pursed her lips. “Fix it now and be done. Better a short pain than a long one.”
She waved her hands at once, adding brightly, “It doesn’t hurt that much anyway. The doctors are super nice~”
You Weiwei nodded. “Got it.”
A moment later, she piped up again. “Moon, which doctor did yours? I just grabbed a general clinic number at random. Hope it’s fine?”
“No worries,” Xu Yueliang assured her. “You’ve gotta see what the problem is first. My doctor… she specializes in extractions. Might not be right for you…”
You Weiwei shuddered. “Ooooh. Hope I don’t end up with her. Woo woo woo, extractions terrify me.”
It was her first real dentist visit, so nerves were expected.
Xu Yueliang soothed You Weiwei the whole ride. By the time they pulled up to the hospital entrance, You Weiwei had shaken off her fear. She hopped out with bold strides and charged ahead, full of bravado.
Xu Yueliang trailed behind, pulled along, her heart skipping a beat with every step. They reached the outpatient building, and the familiar Youhai sign loomed into view. Xu Yueliang halted abruptly.
You Weiwei stumbled from the sudden yank. “Huh? Wrong place?”
Xu Yueliang shook her head. Sunday or not, the hospital buzzed with activity—doctors and nurses in white coats darting to and fro. All too familiar.
“I…” Xu Yueliang’s mouth opened, but only a syllable escaped.
You Weiwei sensed something was off and studied her. “You okay? Feeling sick?”
Xu Yueliang pressed a hand to her chest. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Her heart battered against her ribs.
“My… heart doesn’t feel right…” she admitted bluntly.
You Weiwei startled. “Heart trouble? Want me to fetch a doctor? But this is dental—do they even do hearts here?”
Xu Yueliang waved frantically. “No, no, no! I… I’ll be okay after a rest…”
She racked her brain, landing on a solid excuse. “Didn’t sleep well, that’s all. Makes it act up sometimes.”
Glancing around, she added, “Mind if I find a spot to sit and wait? I won’t go in with you.”
You Weiwei: “Ah…”
Xu Yueliang lowered her eyelashes. “I get scared just hearing that grinding sound…”
“Oh, oh, oh, got it.” You Weiwei said, “Then I’ll go by myself. It’s fine—I’ve always charged through gunfire alone like a PUBG gun king… You find a spot to rest. If it takes too long, I’ll message you. Don’t you want to go live on time this afternoon?”
“Mm.” Xu Yueliang nodded.
You Weiwei waved at her and went inside.
Once You Weiwei’s figure disappeared around the corner, Xu Yueliang quickly stepped off the wide main road in front of the outpatient building and ran to the Little Garden nearby.
It was pretty hot out right now, and there was no one in the garden.
Doctor Lin’s clinic room was on the third floor, west side, third room. Xu Yueliang tried her best to make out the location and craned her neck to look up, but she could only see that the clinic room’s curtains were pulled open.
They were open, so there was probably someone there.
Whether that someone was Doctor Lin was another question.
The sunlight glared painfully into her eyes. Xu Yueliang felt her head grow foggy and heavy, her heart thudding dully too—nothing felt right.
It was probably because she hadn’t slept well last night.
She glanced around and sat down on a covered walkway where no one was likely to pass by.
The message she’d sent to 11 on her phone still hadn’t gotten a reply. In the other WeChat chat, Doctor Lin’s account was always dead silent—not only did she never message her, even her Moments page had always been blank.
Xu Yueliang tapped into her profile picture and scrutinized it carefully, but there was still nothing new.
The admin had woken up, though, and replied to her:
– [Doesn’t seem like anything weird to me.]
– [Except that he’s genuinely loaded—from that PK incident last time, you can tell he’s really into you.]
– [Oh, right—earlier I told him to join the big group, but he didn’t. Probably too many people. Then he came asking me about that time we hit number one on the charts.]
– [Just feels… super competitive, full of youthful vigor.]
– [Probably not that old—a rich kid from some wealthy family. No idea how he ended up in your real life. Double-check the people you know.]
Competitive, full of youthful vigor…
Xu Yueliang gripped her phone and stared at her chat with Doctor Lin for a good while longer.
A nurse led You Weiwei to the clinic room door, and she stuck her head inside to peek around.
There were three people in the clinic room. One looked like the doctor, one looked like an assistant, and the third was sitting at another desk—young and beautiful, with a poised and noble air. She didn’t seem like an assistant or a doctor.
She looked like an actress here to film a medical drama.
You Weiwei entered the room and greeted the doctor.
The doctor smiled and invited her to sit—it was indeed the one she’d booked.
Then she described her symptoms, got onto the treatment chair, and had some tool buzzing and grinding at her teeth for ages. You Weiwei’s scalp tingled; now she understood how Xu Yueliang felt.
After one tooth was filled, she clutched her face and eagerly hopped down from the treatment chair.
The doctor was swapping out instruments and laughed at the sight. “There’s still one more. Come on, let’s knock them both out at once.”
You Weiwei shook her head furiously. “No, no, no, Doctor. Let me rest a bit, just let me rest.”
Her tooth roots ached fiercely, and she really didn’t want to endure more torment. “Can I come back tomorrow? Tomorrow… I have work, work…”
The doctor had clearly seen this before. “You’ve got the other side too. Once we’re done here, by the time the inflammation on that side goes down, we can finish it right up.”
You Weiwei still shook her head, dead set against it. “Doctor, I’ll come back tomorrow for the other one. Give me time to adjust—I swear I’ll come tomorrow.”
The doctor shook her head helplessly and smiled at the medical drama actress nearby, who wasn’t doing anything but sitting there looking at her computer. “Over at your place, they’ve got people crying over extractions. Here, I’ve got ones running away from fillings.”
The actress smiled but said nothing, merely giving You Weiwei a faint glance.
You Weiwei inexplicably felt tense and swallowed hard.
Fortunately, the doctor let her off the hook and started writing her a prescription, while instructing her: “You just got this one filled, so no eating for two hours.”
You Weiwei nodded vigorously. Forget two hours—she didn’t want to eat all day today.
The doctor finished the prescription slip and handed it to her. Just as You Weiwei turned to go pick up her meds, the medical drama actress called out to her.
“You Weiwei.” She said, “Come here for a moment.”
Her few words were soft yet weighty, calm yet pleasant to the ear. You Weiwei hurried over, thinking that sure enough, even a beauty’s voice stood out.
She stopped in front of the actress and glanced at the name tag on her chest.
Whoa, she really was a doctor. Lin Qimian—even her name sounded nice.
“Doctor Lin, what’s up?” she asked.
Lin Qimian handed her a flyer. “We’re running a Love Your Teeth Awareness Month event. Would you mind helping me out with it?”
You Weiwei blinked. “How?”
Lin Qimian smiled gently. “Just listen while I give you a quick rundown on dental care. It’ll only take five minutes.”
You Weiwei perked up. “For free?”
“Absolutely free.”
You Weiwei plopped down into a chair right away, shoving thoughts of Xu Yueliang waiting outside to the back of her mind. “Sure, sure, no problem at all.”
Of course she’d cooperate. How could she not?
A beautiful doctor patiently explaining how to take care of your teeth—and for free? It was too good to be true.
You Weiwei gazed at Lin Qimian with eager anticipation. Lin Qimian chuckled. “And if you stick it out till the end, there’ll be a little gift for you.”
You Weiwei’s eyes lit up. “Oh! Awesome, awesome!”
For the next five minutes, You Weiwei felt like she was basking in a spring breeze.
Doctor Lin had a lovely voice—soft and soothing, with clear logic and practical, straightforward advice.
When it wrapped up, You Weiwei was left wanting more.
Doctor Lin stood. “Take good care of your teeth, and you’ll save yourself some money and pain down the line.”
You Weiwei nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Doctor Lin smiled. “Come with me to grab your gift. We’re out of them here.”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
The two left the clinic room and stepped into the hospital corridor.
Doctor Lin led the way, with You Weiwei trailing behind. Doctor Lin really was a gem—chatting amiably with a smile to ease the boredom of the walk.
“Did you come alone?”
You Weiwei hesitated. “Yeah. A friend dropped me off, but she didn’t come in.”
Doctor Lin tilted her head. “Why not? It’s so hot outside.”
You Weiwei laughed. “She’s too scared. She had a tooth pulled here before and says the sounds freak her out.”
“Oh…” Doctor Lin drew out the word thoughtfully.
Worried that the lovely Doctor Lin might get the wrong idea, You Weiwei quickly added, “She actually recommended Youhai to me, though. Said the doctors here are great.”
Doctor Lin’s lips curved into a smile. “Thanks.”
They took the stairs to the third floor and entered another clinic room.
Doctor Lin opened a drawer, pulled out a packet, and handed it to You Weiwei.
You Weiwei stared at the QinQin Shrimp Strips in her hand, momentarily stunned.
Doctor Lin grinned. “Protect your teeth so you can enjoy the snacks you love without a worry.”
You Weiwei’s face lit up with understanding. “I get it now. You’re a true saint, Doctor Lin!”
“Let me walk you out.” Doctor Lin escorted her downstairs.
Glancing around, she added, “You still need to get that tooth fixed, fear or no fear. Have your friend come with you tomorrow—it’ll make it easier.”
“Yes, yes, yes!!!”
Doctor Lin waved goodbye, and You Weiwei clutched her shrimp strips as she headed out the door.
She didn’t remember to call Xu Yueliang until she’d reached the main entrance.
Xu Yueliang soon burst out of the hospital, jogging up with concern etched on her face. “How’d it go?”
“Whoa, it was intense. I was scared half to death. Most of my teeth have issues, but I got a cavity filled. It didn’t really hurt, just felt super weird…” You Weiwei launched into a rambling account.
Xu Yueliang leaned in, listening intently as they walked and talked their way to the front gate, where they tried to flag down a cab to head home.
But after chatting for a good while—You Weiwei spilling all her key takeaways from the visit—no taxi had stopped.
Another occupied car zipped past. Xu Yueliang pressed her lips together. “Weiwei, let’s try the other side. It’s easier to get a cab there.”
“Sure.”
You Weiwei added, “I’ve gotta come back tomorrow. Doctor Lin made a lot of sense—I need to get this sorted ASAP…”
Xu Yueliang froze. “Doctor Lin?”
“Yeah! I almost forgot to tell you about her. Doctor Lin—she’s gorgeous. So young too. How does a hospital even have a doctor this stunning? At first, I thought she was some actress or something. With a doctor like that around, are patients coming for treatment or just to stare? She’s not my regular dentist, though. Maybe from the PR department? Anyway, they had this event, I helped out, and I got a little prize.”
You Weiwei proudly displayed the shrimp strips clutched to her chest.
Xu Yueliang stared at them blankly. “You just had dental work. You can’t eat that.”
“Right, but Doctor Lin gave it to remind me: protect your teeth if you want to snack.”
Xu Yueliang murmured, “Doctor Lin… what’s her full name?”
You Weiwei beamed. “Her name’s just as memorable and pretty…”
A cab pulled up, and You Weiwei waved it down. “Hey, cabs are easy here after all.”
The car pulled up right in front of them. You Weiwei opened the door and picked up the thread of their earlier conversation. “Her name is Lin Qimian.”
Her name is Lin Qimian.
Xu Yueliang stood frozen by the side of Route 26 as You Weiwei climbed in and settled into her seat. She just stood there, poking absently at nothing.
“Hurry up and get in!” You Weiwei called out to her.
Xu Yueliang clenched her fist. Her toes had just begun to turn toward the car when her phone buzzed twice in her pocket—new messages.
From 11:
-【Yeah, I know her.】
-【She’s a friend of a friend. I’ve met her twice. After hearing you go on about that beautiful doctor so many times in the live streaming room, I kept thinking it was her.】
-【Talk about a coincidence.】
Talk about a coincidence. Xu Yueliang’s toes curled back.
When You Weiwei urged her again, she finally stepped forward and got into the car.
The car glided quietly along the road while Xu Yueliang sat there in a daze.
You Weiwei glanced at her once, then again, but Xu Yueliang remained oblivious.
“What’s wrong with you?” You Weiwei finally asked. “Still not feeling well?”
“Huh?” Xu Yueliang blinked at her vacantly, her gaze shifting over at last.
You Weiwei pointed at her chest. “Wasn’t it your heart bothering you earlier?”
Xu Yueliang pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the steady thump within. After a long moment, she murmured, “It’s much better now.”
“That’s a relief,” You Weiwei said. “If it keeps up, though, you really should get it checked out. Maybe wear one of those heart monitors or something…”
Xu Yueliang’s eyes drifted downward, landing on the bag of shrimp strips.
QinQin Shrimp Strips—an old brand, a classic flavor.
Her fingers twitched. In a soft voice, she asked, “Can I… have this bag of shrimp strips?”
“Huh?” You Weiwei blinked, surprised by the sudden shift to snacks.
Xu Yueliang’s gaze wavered. She looked up, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes brimming with an unspoken shyness. “I’m… kind of hungry…”
“Didn’t you eat breakfast before we left? Your sleep and eating habits are way too erratic.” You Weiwei hurriedly passed the bag over. “Even though these are a prize from the beautiful doctor, they’re yours now. All of them.”
Xu Yueliang clutched the bag to her chest but made no move to open it.
As the car rolled on, You Weiwei turned to her. “Are you coming with me to the hospital tomorrow?”
Xu Yueliang, who had spent the whole day acting like a wooden doll, could only manage another dazed, “Huh?”
You Weiwei sighed. “As much as I hate to admit it, Doctor Lin said it helps a lot if you’re scared and have someone there with you.”
