Chapter 32

If you don’t accept me, I’ll turn this into workplace harrassment.

The music playing in the car was “If I’m Not in Love With You”, a track from the soundtrack of the film “Trading Places.”

In this situation, with this song playing, Hu Xiu’s first feeling wasn’t surprise or embarrassment, but... being touched.

On the rain-soaked road covered with Chinese parasol leaves, a person, filled with affection, suddenly leaned out of the car window to kiss the girl he liked. His hand cupped her chin, and the raindrops created a soft mist, perfectly framing the two of them in the moment.

Would an audience be moved by such a scene? And the person kissing her was not unappealing—he shone in every way...

Being able to offer love just when needed was a rare kindness, and not accepting it would surely bring consequences.

She sat there in a daze, and Pei Zhen wiped the rain from her face. “It’s really too cold. I can’t let you go back like this.”

He opened the car door and took off his black coat to wrap it around her. “Wait in the car for me, I’ll be right back.”

“My clothes are still wet...”

“It’s fine. It’s just one piece of clothing.” Pei Zhen, wearing a black sweater, looked back at Hu Xiu with a smile as he crossed the street. “If you don’t accept it, that kiss just now might turn into workplace harassment. I’m leaving the car keys with you. I’ll be back soon.”

Hu Xiu climbed into the car. The air conditioning was strong, and soon the car locked, and the music stopped. She stared out the window.

Every year when the parasol trees in Shanghai shed their leaves and the ground turns golden from the rain, romance often feels distant from her. This year, however, it felt different—it almost made her wonder if she was about to experience a big twist of fate.

Pei Zhen’s coat was stiff and full of texture, carrying his warmth, with a faint scent of perfume. It was very subtle, but Hu Xiu recognized it as BVLGARI’s Petitset Mamans, with the same fresh and sweet powdery scent that Lee Donghae wore.

There was definitely a story with Lee Donghae and his past involved.

A fateful connection.

Forty minutes passed while she handled work and looked at the scenery. Pei Zhen opened the car door, bringing in a gust of cold air. He climbed back into the car and said, “Cold enough? Let’s head back to the hospital.”

“You’re the one who’s freezing.”

“The embassy was warm. The interviewers are all afraid of the cold, they had the air conditioning on full blast.”

“That smooth?”

“Of course. I had an invitation letter—did you forget I’m going for the exchange?”

After the car started, the same song continued to play on repeat. Pei Zhen, sitting in the car, pressed the gas pedal. His tone seemed relaxed, but there was a hint of impatience, which Hu Xiu could easily sense.

Age is a good thing; small emotions are easily detectable. Pei Zhen, nervous from the sudden kiss, was trying to calm himself and create a conversation to distract from the awkwardness. Hu Xiu, on the other hand, silently waited for him to speak, curious to see what he would say. Changing the topic would seem like he cared too much, which might give away his anxiety; retracting the kiss would make things uncomfortable for her; and if he confessed, being rejected would make it impossible to return to being just friends. As the smart and decisive man who confidently led in the hospital, Pei Zhen was now faced with a dilemma. Hu Xiu couldn’t help but be curious about how he would deal with his own impulsiveness.

This was also the reason why she had never confessed to Diao Zhi Yu, because no matter what choice she made, she would be the one passively waiting for the outcome. Now, with Pei Zhen in this position, she found it somewhat amusing.

“I need to ask you for a favor.”

What was this new approach?

The car happened to stop at a red light. Pei Zhen’s necklace, hanging below his black sweater, swayed slightly as he leaned over. He was very close to Hu Xiu, but quickly returned to his seat, handing her a file folder. “Can you deliver this to Li Ai for me?”

“Make sure to persuade Li Ai to accept treatment. I’m counting on you. Lately, I can’t bear seeing patients refuse treatment. If the surgery costs are a problem, I’ll help him find a solution.”

“Thank you. We’ll also help with the costs. He’s helped me a lot in Shanghai—always ready to help, like a brother. I can’t bear to see him lose a limb.”

“Then I’ll feel relieved. And—” Pei Zhen let out a long sigh. “Impulses are the devil. I’m so nervous right now. If you really hated that kiss just now, it would be harassment. When we get to the hospital, I won’t get reported, right?”

He sneezed as he finished, hurriedly looking for a tissue. Hu Xiu watched him, noticing his lips trembling with nervousness and his breath shaking. She couldn’t help but find him... cute.

She could have acted innocent, but playing the innocent card wasn’t that important. With Pei Zhen, every expression on his face seemed to be animated because of her. The serious, frowning mask he wore at the hospital had been removed, replaced by a smile full of affection and warmth when he interacted with her.

At this moment, the best response seemed to be to face it calmly, and indeed, she wasn’t that nervous.

“If reporting had a reward, I might consider it. But in most cases, reporting one’s superior or colleague doesn’t end well—this secret, I can help you keep.”

Pei Zhen laughed when he heard this as he drove, “You’re really smart.”

“Why are you helping Li Ai? Is it because of... me?”

“I want to say it’s because of you, but I can’t lie—this is the instinct of a doctor.

I’ve seen too many patients refuse treatment. Life is fragile. The earlier you detect and treat a problem, the more freely you can live.

When a person is seriously ill, they realize how hard it is to stay alive. Li Ai must understand this better than anyone. If I can offer any help, it’s my duty.”

The car approached the hospital. Pei Zhen stopped in front of the hospital and said, “You go ahead. I’ll park at the nearby shopping mall. There’s no parking here, but fortunately, we can split up today because I drove. You wouldn’t be able to finish so much work without you.”

As she got out of the car, Hu Xiu coincidentally ran into her senior who was coming out of a meeting in the administrative building. Unsurprisingly, by the time she returned to work, the entire hospital already knew that Hu Xiu had taken Pei Zhen’s car back to the hospital. The version had already changed from Hu Xiu helping Pei Zhen with a task to the two of them being a couple who had gone home together and then to the embassy.

When Hu Xiu heard the gossip, she furrowed her brow. Her senior was generally good, but she had a knack for embellishing stories. She had spread enough gossip already, and now she was doubling down.

In the hospital, office romances were the biggest taboo. It wasn’t that people were afraid it would affect their work; it was more about how, in the end, all the hard work would be reduced to: relying on a man for career advancement.

Sure enough, the next day when Hu Xiu arrived at the office, her senior found an excuse to send her outside.

While wandering the corridor, she vaguely overheard some seniors discussing sending her to the vice president’s office next door as an assistant. The head nurse was also in the room, talking about how the orthopedic department wanted Hu Xiu to do specialized translation, with only one permanent position available. Chen Yang had been in the hospital for three years, and although he had neither achievements nor complaints, he still had experience.

Her senior spoke quickly, but Hu Xiu could clearly understand: “Xiao Hu’s competence is one thing, but Dr. Pei really likes her. Does the orthopedic department lack people?

Finding a translator is not impossible, and even without a recruiting quota, Chen Yang still doesn’t have a chance, no matter how hard he tries.”

Pei Zhen waved at her from a distance. Hu Xiu turned around and walked away, heading straight into the restroom to avoid the situation, but it seemed like the trouble found her anyway.

When she came out again, Pei Zhen was gone, and Director Cai had come out of her office. He told her, “Xiao Hu, we’re shifting your position. The office needs a man, so you’re moving to the office next to the vice president.”

There wasn’t much to move, and as Hu Xiu packed her things, the office remained silent. She wasn’t angry. She just considered herself a potted plant in the office.

After settling her things next to the vice president’s office, her senior asked her to go out for milk tea. Hu Xiu thought to herself: How complex is human nature? Office politics felt like a painting of the floating world—one minute, people were gossiping, and the next, they didn’t know how to win her over.

“Xiao Hu, you’ve been getting closer to Dr. Pei lately, haven’t you?”

“Not really. I just helped him deliver some documents.” There was no need to say more, Hu Xiu thought.

“Senior, I need to say something, though. Doctors are different from us. Most of us in administration don’t have a medical background. You and I have a bit of value, but you have to be careful in the office.”

“I don’t really get it. We’re all colleagues in the hospital. It’s just work. Why is it so sensitive?”

“Because it’s Pei Zhen. There are two types of doctors in this hospital: one is Pei Zhen, and the other is everyone else.”

Everyone is outstanding and hardworking, using 24 hours as if they were 48.

But among them, there’s only one person who is handsome, well-off, talented, and has a clear and insightful mind—Pei Zhen. You can’t deny that Pei Zhen is handsome, can you?”

“He’s handsome, but that has nothing to do with me... What I mean is, I work in the hospital, he gets a lot of attention, but that doesn’t mean I have to pay special attention to him.

We all rely on our abilities to do our jobs, and friends help each other—it’s just part of the job.

If getting a permanent position is based on Dr. Pei’s attention, I might as well go work as a housekeeper for his family.”

“What are you talking about? Drink your coffee.” The senior sister bought two cups of coffee and handed one to Hu Xiu. “Just say this to me, but don’t let the head nurse or Director Cai hear you.”

Hu Xiu rolled her eyes, thinking, you’re the one who’s going to spread this, anyway.

As she walked out of the hospital in the evening, Hu Xiu shivered. Someone waved from outside the car window—it was Pei Zhen. When she got into the car, the cold wind rushed in, and the two of them sneezed at the same time and exchanged a smile.

Pei Zhen started the car. “You caught a cold too; it’s my fault. Do you want to eat something hot? I’ll treat you…”

“It’s just sympathy. I probably caught a cold earlier, and maybe I even passed it to you.”

Of course, she knew it was from sleeping on a military cot in the cold at Diào Zhìyǔ’s café during the day. Young people, so much energy.

“I know a good place. It’s perfect for now.”

The car drove straight to Lujiazui. At the Shangri-La Jade36, after exiting the elevator, they turned right, walked through a long corridor, climbed three steps, and entered a warm, yellow-lit area with soothing jazz music. The Christmas decorations were already up. They sat by the window with few people around, and the atmosphere was very quiet. Outside the window was the endless Huangpu River and the classic Bund promenade—Shanghai’s iconic view.

The more Hu Xiu thought about it, the more she felt she’d been set up. This wasn’t just a casual meal—what was supposed to be an ordinary dinner felt like a proposal setup. Pei Zhen, it’s just helping you deliver some materials, it’s not like this.

Soon, the appetizer bread, lobster soup, and foie gras with popping candy were served, which made Hu Xiu nervous. After the kiss yesterday, if he proposed today in this setting, she really wouldn’t know how to reject it. It felt like being forced into a corner.

Pei Zhen, on the other hand, was calm, leisurely flipping through the menu. His actions were natural, and he followed all the dining etiquette perfectly. His manners came from deep within.

The manager greeted Pei Zhen, bending slightly and chatting with him in a friendly manner. He was a regular here.

The manager quietly asked if they wanted wine. When his gaze briefly shifted to Hu Xiu, there was a trace of discomfort and curiosity, which Hu Xiu caught. This was someone who had witnessed something, eyeing the new person brought by a regular guest.

Pei Zhen asked kindly, “Do you want to drink? I can buy you a drink, I’ll take you home afterward.”

“I’m not that good at drinking.”

“Today’s my birthday. I’m sorry for bringing you here without asking first. I’ve had no friends at the hospital, and I’ve been wanting to find a place to celebrate... to prove that I’m special.”

The words lingered in Hu Xiu’s mind, like subtitles lagging behind the visuals. It took a while for her to process it: while being excellent, Pei Zhen might also be... very lonely.

Not knowing what to say to comfort him, Hu Xiu replied, “If you want to enjoy yourself, I can drink with you. After all, you’ve got your U.S. visa and you’re going to be a researcher there. That’s worth celebrating.”

A few drinks later, when the steak was placed in front of them, Hu Xiu saw Pei Zhen covering his face. “Oh my God, I didn’t expect you to drink this much.”

“I’m not that good at it. It’s just that during the gap year when I quit my job, my drinking tolerance went up.

Back in college, after watching small theater plays, I’d usually have a drink. Alcohol is another kind of hallucinogen, staying in the dream of the play.”

“Small theater... that’s so romantic.”

“Small theater at Nanda, with tradition. Translating can be boring and stressful, so I’d always look for some fun. I’d often go to the Avant-Garde Bookstore. Don’t you have worries?”

“No, not with my research topics. If I really have a worry... it’s that if I keep eating, I’ll gain weight. Does that count?”

Pei Zhen laughed and said, “I really struggle with controlling my weight. I gain weight quickly, especially on my face, it’s tough.”

As they became slightly tipsy, their swaying souls were likely about to merge into one.

Hu Xiu laughed at his words, and when she looked up, her vision swayed like a shaking camera lens. Pei Zhen’s face seemed to come closer and then drift away as they leaned on the glass, both smiling foolishly. “I didn’t realize interpreting could be so profound until I saw you guys doing simultaneous translation. I thought, you must be really nervous, with all that high-density thinking. If I were doing it, I’d probably panic.”

Hu Xiu shook her finger. “Of course not. The most important quality for an interpreter is a steady mindset. If we panic, both sides will be lost. Getting impatient will make the whole atmosphere tense.

As the bridge of communication, we need to keep our emotions steady. I’m not bragging, but in all these years, I’ve never made a mistake in translation.”

“How do you do it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe... fate just brings people to the places they’re meant to be.” The sentence sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

“You’re really more interesting than most of our colleagues in the hospital. I knew you weren’t ordinary from the first time I saw your name. But now—” Pei Zhen’s brain short-circuited, “I need to find a designated driver.”

Between them, a sweet, slightly tipsy air flowed. Hu Xiu watched Pei Zhen, frowning as he held his phone. This atmosphere felt familiar and reassuring—he must really rely on this kind of relationship.

Where exactly was she like his ex-girlfriend? What stories had happened in this restaurant that could make his breathing and the air here entwine so comfortably, as he gazed at her with soft, affectionate eyes, half-drunk?

She didn’t ask, because there was no way to know.

As the dessert arrived, Hu Xiu checked her WeChat Moments. Diao Zhiyu had posted a status, with a new crescent moon and the caption “I’s.”