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The car emerged from the underground parking lot and merged onto the main road.
Jian Xi rolled down half of the driver’s side window. The wind rushed in, scattering her loose strands of hair around her ears. He Ran noticed a white doctor’s coat draped over the backrest of the driver’s seat.
Lin Jia in the backseat couldn’t help but comment, “You work at a hospital?”
Jian Xi nodded lightly. “Yes.”
“You know what? I’ve had a phobia of doctors since I was a kid. Just the sight of a needle makes me want to pee myself.” Lin Jia scratched his head and tried to make small talk. “Sister, which hospital do you work at? Next time I need an injection, I’ll come find you. If it’s you giving it, I can handle the pain no matter how bad it is.”
Jian Xi replied dryly, “You might not get that chance.”
Lin Jia asked, puzzled, “Why not?”
“I’m in obstetrics.”
“…”
He Ran, sitting in the passenger seat, smirked faintly, then quickly composed himself. “Pull over. We’ll get out here.”
A bus stop appeared ahead, so Jian Xi drove a bit further before stopping near it.
He Ran didn’t rush to open the door. Instead, he pulled out his wallet from his pants pocket and handed her a fifty-dollar bill.
Jian Xi frowned, confused. “What’s this for?”
“You got your car dirty. Go get it cleaned,” He Ran said. “Car wash money.”
When they’d gotten into the car earlier, the bucket of chicken blood had made a mess of the backseat.
Jian Xi glanced back—it wasn’t too bad. “It’s fine. The seats are leather; just needs a wipe.”
He Ran insisted, “Take it.”
After exchanging a brief glance with him, Jian Xi relented first. “Alright.”
She took the money and joked lightheartedly, “Prices go up around the New Year, you know.”
He Ran sneered, opening the car door. “Go to Yati Road. They charge thirty-five there.”
Jian Xi remarked, amused, “You seem to know the market well.”
“Not really,” He Ran said casually. “I do part-time work around there at night.”
Jian Xi smiled at his serious tone and didn’t press further.
Once the door closed, He Ran walked off.
As Jian Xi leaned down to fasten her seatbelt, someone tapped on the window. She looked up to see He Ran bending slightly outside.
“Hmm?” Jian Xi lowered the window.
From this angle, He Ran’s straight nose and neatly cropped hair gave him a rugged, masculine appearance.
He said, “Thanks again for earlier.”
Jian Xi grinned, pointing to the fifty dollars on the passenger seat. “No need. You already paid.”
He Ran chuckled. “Right, and you even made an extra fifteen.”
Just then, her phone rang—it was the hospital. Jian Xi quickly answered. “Director.”
She was informed about an emergency surgery scheduled for 2 PM. As soon as she hung up, she realized He Ran had vanished. Looking left and right, she spotted something—an iron hammer lying in the car door’s storage compartment.
It was the one He Ran had thrust into her hands when she’d dug her nails into her palm at the parking lot.
________________________________________
Back at the hospital, Jian Xi dove into another stretch of relentless work. With the year-end approaching, the number of pregnant women scheduling cesarean deliveries surged. Jian Xi barely left the rest area, eating meals there and only seeing sunlight during her rare moments of sleep.
By the time she finished, three days had passed. Exhausted, Jian Xi dragged herself home after work when Tao Xinglai’s call came through.
“Sis, Mom’s been calling you, but no one’s picking up. You can’t disrespect our elders like that.”
Jian Xi massaged her stiff neck. “I was just about to call her back. I nearly passed out in the operating room today.”
Tao Xinglai teased, “What kind of season is this? Everyone’s having babies all at once.”
“This time, there’s even a set of triplets—all girls,” Jian Xi said, balancing her phone between her ear and shoulder while flipping through records.
“All girls, huh? Dad’s aim must be spot-on,” Tao Xinglai joked before turning serious. “Anyway, Mom and Dad want us to have dinner at home tonight. I’ll head over after finishing my show.”
Jian Xi had planned to return home that evening anyway.
After retrieving her car from the parking lot, she noticed the dried-up chicken blood on the backseat. Only then did she realize she hadn’t had time to wash the car amidst her busy schedule.
It was still early, so she decided to clean the car. As she bent down to fasten her seatbelt, she spotted the iron hammer again in the storage compartment.
Rusted and out of place in her otherwise pristine car.
She picked it up, weighing it in her hand. He had mentioned a place called… Yati Road?
Yati Road was the only area in the city that hadn’t undergone redevelopment. Narrow streets were lined with makeshift storefronts converted from old houses. Even though it wasn’t peak hours yet, maneuvering her car into the area proved challenging.
There were indeed a few car washes scattered around—simple setups with a high-pressure water pump and two large buckets filled with soapy water.
Jian Xi drove slowly, scanning the roadside. As she neared the end of the street, her eyes lit up.
Outside a shop called “Old Zhao’s Auto Repair,” two or three people stood chatting and laughing. Jian Xi immediately spotted He Ran. He was the tallest among them, leaning casually against a truck missing two tires. The posture accentuated his broad chest, making his undershirt appear snug beneath his jacket.
Jian Xi rolled down the window and honked.
He Ran turned, surprised.
A man in his early thirties jogged over. “Need repairs?”
Apparently the owner, Jian Xi asked, “Do you wash cars here?”
The owner nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! What kind of wash would you like? We even offer detailing services.”
Jian Xi replied, “The thirty-five-dollar one.”
Then she looked at He Ran, smiling as she waved at him.
The owner caught on. “You two know each other?”
He Ran approached, patting the owner’s shoulder. “Old Zhao, take care of her car.”
Jian Xi parked the car in the designated spot and grabbed her bag and coat. “This place wasn’t hard to find.”
As she spoke, she slipped her coat on, stretching her arms forward naturally, accentuating her figure.
He Ran raised an eyebrow, quickly averting his gaze. “You’re really here to wash your car?”
“You said it was cheap,” Jian Xi teased. “Where I live, it’s ridiculously expensive, and they force you to sign up for membership cards.”
He Ran stared at her Audi A6, silently calling her bluff.
Jian Xi continued to smile. “Are you working part-time here?”
He Ran replied, “It’s my friend’s shop. I occasionally help out.”
“Do they pay you for helping?” Jian Xi asked.
Old Zhao, who was washing the car, chimed in loudly, “Paying ruins friendships. No money involved.”
He Ran shot back, “What friendship?”
Jian Xi laughed, her eyes crinkling into crescents. “I forgot. Speaking of which…” She remembered. “You left something with me.”
He Ran furrowed his brows, confused. “What thing?”
Jian Xi stepped carefully over the wet ground and retrieved the iron hammer from her car. “Here. I’m returning it.”
He Ran: “….”
Jian Xi spoke honestly, “Actually, washing the car was just an excuse. The real reason was to return this.”
“This doesn’t need returning,” He Ran said, exasperated.
“It’s your tool for work,” Jian Xi reasoned.
He Ran burst out laughing. “I have plenty at home. One less won’t matter.”
Unfazed, Jian Xi tossed the hammer to him.
“Damn! Trying to kill me?” Despite his grumbling, He Ran caught it deftly.
Jian Xi crossed her arms over her chest. “That was the first time I witnessed debt collection in action. Your equipment seemed pretty comprehensive. How long have you been doing this?”
He Ran nodded. “Five years. Collecting debts for clients.”
“What else do you do besides splashing things?” Jian Xi asked.
“All the dirty tricks you can think of, we’ve used,” He Ran said nonchalantly, pulling out a cigarette. He glanced at her. “Scared?”
Jian Xi rolled her eyes. “How could I be? I never owe anyone money.”
He Ran chuckled, cigarette dangling from his lips. “Keep it up. Be a good citizen.”
Jian Xi wore a form-fitting beige trench coat over a light gray cashmere sweater, revealing her elegant collarbones. Two subtle curves framed her neckline without being overly pronounced.
He Ran’s gaze dropped slightly, noticing a delicate chain disappearing into her collar.
He thought to himself, Her skin is so fair it shines like fresh snow.
“Come, have some tea,” a woman called out, emerging from the shop with two cups of hot tea.
He Ran quickly accepted them. “Careful, sis.”
The woman patted her lower back. “I’m fine, really.”
Jian Xi’s eyes fell on the woman’s protruding belly. Casually, she asked, “Due soon?”
Old Zhao, who was wiping down a car, interjected. “Nope, next month. Still a while to go. Wife, go rest.”
Jian Xi studied the woman’s abdomen more closely. The placenta had already shifted downward. She advised, “Still, take care.”
The woman, taking it as polite conversation, smiled and gestured toward a chair. “Sit for a bit.” Then she went back inside.
He Ran flicked his cigarette ash. “Is your work always this busy?”
Jian Xi sighed dramatically. “Busy, extremely busy. I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion.”
He Ran chuckled at her exaggerated response. “Are you a nurse?”
Jian Xi tilted her head. “What do you think?”
He Ran nodded. “Probably.” After all, she was young, and doctors in his mind were usually older.
Before Jian Xi could respond, a dull thud echoed—
Thump!
Immediately followed by the woman’s cry of pain, “Ow!”
Old Zhao reacted first, dropping his tools and rushing inside. He Ran stubbed out his cigarette and followed.
In the ten-square-meter room, scattered repair tools littered the floor. Old Zhao’s wife clutched her stomach, moaning in agony. Two children stood nearby, looking helpless.
“I’ll beat you senseless for bumping into her!” Old Zhao raised his hand, furious. He Ran grabbed his wrist mid-swing. “Enough! Hitting won’t help. Focus on your wife—”
Before he could finish, He Ran froze.
The woman collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, her face pale and screaming in pain. Between her legs, dark liquid seeped through her pants.
“Don’t lift her! Lay her flat!” Jian Xi rushed over, crouching to gently touch her abdomen. “Fetal movement is intense. Get her to the hospital now!”
Old Zhao stuttered, panicked. “H-Hospital? I’ll go call a car.”
His hands trembled so much he nearly dropped his phone.
Jian Xi watched as more blood pooled between the woman’s legs—dark, thick blood. Her heart sank. This was a symptom of placental abruption.
“There’s no time! Lift her head and feet carefully, keep her as flat as possible. Put her in my car!”
Without hesitation, Old Zhao and He Ran followed her instructions. Jian Xi sped off, swerving sharply as she raced through the streets.
As she ran two red lights in quick succession, He Ran finally couldn’t resist warning her. “Hey, hey, hey! That’s the second one.”
Jian Xi didn’t slow down. “Oh? Watch this—the third one’s coming.”
He Ran: “….”
Old Zhao’s wife had fallen into a semi-conscious state, her light-colored pants stained crimson halfway up.
Jian Xi freed one hand, dialing the department. “Director, I have an urgent case of a pregnant woman.”
Her timely call ensured a stretcher was waiting at the entrance of the First Municipal Hospital. Old Zhao’s wife was rushed into the operating room immediately.
“Miss, miss! Will my wife be okay?” Old Zhao was on the verge of tears, gripping Jian Xi’s arm tightly.
Jian Xi pursed her lips, speaking honestly. “She’s lost a lot of blood. If it’s uncontrollable hemorrhaging…”
Old Zhao’s face turned ashen.
Having witnessed countless life-and-death situations, Jian Xi calmly explained the surgical risks. “If it comes down to saving either the mother or the child…”
“Save the mother,” Old Zhao declared firmly, tears glistening in his eyes.
Jian Xi paused, then nodded. “We’ll do our best.”
As she prepared to leave, Old Zhao stopped her, shoving a red envelope into her hand. “Miss, I know you’re close to the doctors. Please beg them to save my wife. If it’s not enough, I’ll go get more money.”
Jian Xi tried to refuse, but Old Zhao persisted with surprising strength, making her wince.
“Old Zhao, calm down!” He Ran intervened, pulling him away. “Don’t hurt her.”
Finally freed, Jian Xi rubbed her sore wrist and told He Ran, “I’ll be performing the surgery. Don’t worry—I’ll have the nurse update you if anything happens.”
With that, she shrugged off her coat and tossed it to He Ran. The nurses had already prepared sterile scrubs and were waiting at the door.
Jian Xi moved briskly, skillfully tying her long hair into a bun.
At the end of the corridor, the operating room loomed cold and solemn, illuminated only by the harsh glare of fluorescent lights overhead.
He Ran watched Jian Xi’s retreating figure—a slender crescent moon shimmering faintly in his vision.
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