Chapter 57: What’s Wrong, Can’t I Be Worried About You? Part 1

Su Ye turned back to glare at her. “Stop following me! I’m not going to the shop; I’m going to take care of my own business!”

Having been snapped at for no apparent reason, Yue Chengqi could only fall silent. She hugged her own arms, following Su Ye to the building’s entrance with the pitiful, hesitant steps of a kicked puppy.

The girl tried to drive her away again, her dissatisfaction written clearly across her face.

Yue Chengqi wore a look of speechless resignation, gazing at Su Ye with pleading eyes. The younger girl clenched her fists tightly, her voice practically dripping with resentment. “Yue Huan, I am truly fed up with you. You don’t want to take things further, yet you’re afraid to let go. You insist on provoking me like this—do I look like someone easy to mess with?”

The girl’s breath hitched. After a moment, she lowered her head. “I’m sorry. I thought…”

She thought that they could at least remain friends. After all, their relationship had eased significantly over the past couple of days; they were no longer constantly at each other’s throats.

But it seemed that “thinking” was all she was doing.

Su Ye let out a haughty huff. “You and your ‘thoughts.’ Keep thinking then! Stop following me; I don’t want to see your face right now.”

Yue Chengqi puffed out her cheeks as she watched Su Ye walk away. The final sentence she wanted to say never left her lips.

She had simply wanted to ask if Su Ye was coming home for lunch. If not, where was she going? Could she tell her?

But who am I to her? she thought. She had no official relationship with Su Ye. What right did she have to ask such things? They weren’t even considered friends anymore.

The girl wrapped her arms tighter around herself and let out a long sigh, feeling a mixture of helplessness and sorrow.

Why did it have to be her? Why her, of all people?

She sat down by the ward entrance, staring blankly at the ceiling.

On the other side, Su Ye exited the building, turned a corner, and slipped back in through a side entrance. She hurried up the stairs to Zhang Mingfang’s office. Inside, several doctors were chatting. The elder Dr. Zhang was reclined in a chair by the window, soaking up the sunlight while warming herself against the radiator pipes.

In this era, underfloor heating didn’t exist yet. If an office was a bit too large or empty, your feet would turn into blocks of ice.

Su Ye peeked through the crack in the door, just in time to hear a doctor ask Zhang Mingfang, “Old Zhang, have you really made up your mind? It should be your turn for a promotion next year. It’s such a waste.”

Zhang Mingfang didn’t even bother to lift her eye mask. She replied lazily, “I’m not short on money. It’s better to leave the opportunity to someone else. Aren’t you all next in line anyway? The sooner you get promoted, the sooner you reach financial freedom.”

Another doctor chuckled while holding a tea cup. “I really envy Sister Zhang. No marriage, no kids, no lack of money, and no elderly parents to worry about. You’re so free and easy. Sister, is there anything in this life you’ve wanted to achieve but haven’t? Say it so I can feel a bit better about myself.”

There is. Of course there is.

I want her to be healthy. I want her to be happy. I hope she truly finds the meaning of existence she’s looking for. I hope… she can love her forever.

Nothing in this world could truly claim the word “eternal,” yet she didn’t even dare to dream of “longevity,” let alone eternity.

Forget it.

Zhang Mingfang cursed the colleague jokingly and snatched a pen from the windowsill to throw at her. She didn’t care who she hit. Someone called out a “Thanks for the charity, Sister!” for the donated pen. Zhang Mingfang lifted her eye mask and stood up to stretch her aging bones. When she looked up…

The others also noticed the young girl acting suspiciously at the door. “Little Leaf is here again? Little Leaf, I heard you’re working with Qining Group. When are you going to start selling TVs? What about refrigerators? Can we get a discount if we go?”

Su Ye scratched her head bashfully and gave a cheeky grin, sidestepping the topic for now.

She really couldn’t rush this. Shipping costs were currently astronomical. She could only slowly bring in goods from Sichuan Province, but the people there didn’t fully trust her business plan yet. By the time she had returned, it still wasn’t certain if they would proceed. The team sent by Qining Group to establish a contract factory in Shan Province was still training employees. She wouldn’t be able to go all out until the Red Sun production line was fully established.

By a conservative estimate, that wouldn’t be until next year.

Zhang Mingfang pressed a hand onto the girl’s head, cutting off her chance to speak further. She grabbed her by the collar and led her out. “What is it? My shift isn’t over yet. I’ll head over when I’m done.”

“Do you have surgery later?” the girl asked expectantly.

Zhang Mingfang smiled. “I have ward rounds soon. No surgeries for the rest of the day. Why?”

“Come with me, come with me! I’ll have you back before your rounds.”

Once the discussion ended, Su Ye ran off to buy the things she needed. Zhang Mingfang finished her rounds, clocked out, and walked straight to the maternity ward.

Lin Wanjia had her back to the door, gently rocking the cradle and teasing the giggling little baby.

It was as if she had eyes in the back of her head. She said softly, “She’s so cute when she smiles. Come take a look.”

Zhang Mingfang walked over and sat down. “Lin Qining… let Lin Qining stay for the New Year. You have another surgery in a few weeks; it’ll be easier with her here to help out.”

“I haven’t decided yet.” Lin Wanjia looked at the tiny creature who was currently clutching her index finger with both small hands. She looked somewhat dazed. “I thought this would be enough. But it feels like… it’s not quite enough.”

It was hard to describe her current state. She had thought that once Youle was born, the void in her heart would be filled. After all, this was her true family, and everyone would revolve around her. But… no. Not at all.

She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. The gap in her soul, which she had tried to fill with so many methods over so many years, seemed to have remained empty once again.

What else can I do?

“Did I make the right choice?” she whispered in self-doubt. “Keeping her by my side, making it so she only has a mother, forcing her to go through all of this, making her…” Her remaining words were swallowed by an embrace as someone leaned over.

Zhang Mingfang pressed her lips against the corner of Wanjia’s mouth and murmured, “You just need to rest. Stop thinking.”

Soft lips met. Zhang Mingfang held the back of her head, tracing the lines of tenderness inch by inch. After a long moment, she slowly let go.

Lin Wanjia panted slightly, her eyes reddening. She said slowly, “But I… I don’t know. I’m not sure.”

Their gazes drifted apart.

Zhang Mingfang straightened her back and poured herself a glass of water. She stared into space for a moment, pressing her fingers to her lips. “Don’t think about it; it’s still early. I actually have a new discovery regarding Little Leaf.”

Wanjia sat up to look at her. “What discovery? Tell me quickly.”

“I think their recent conflict might be the ‘pre-cast’ animation for a relationship breakthrough. Though it’s hard to say what the exact problem is. It’s completely different from last time; Little Leaf actually backed down this time.”

The rest of the chatter was nonsense, but the sentence “Little Leaf backed down” made Lin Wanjia’s eyes widen. “She actually backed down? How?”

Zhang Mingfang gave a helpless smile. “Look at you, suddenly full of energy. Why don’t you use some of that energy on yourself?”

“Just tell me!”

“Su Ye asked me to help celebrate Ah Huan’s birthday. She said ‘asked,’ but she’s doing all the preparation herself. The only job she left for me is to deliver the gift and say ‘Happy Birthday.'”

“I see…” The woman rubbed her chin, her expression unreadable. “Does that mean Little Leaf is the one in the wrong?”