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Jian Xi held her phone, tossing her coat and sweater onto the bed. Her navy-blue lingerie accentuated her figure, paired with matching underwear embroidered with a butterfly.
Barefoot, she loosened her hair as she walked toward the bathroom. But just before entering, she paused and decided to reply to the text first—
[Really? You ate an entire pot?]
After sending it, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself. Spending time with Tao Xinglai must have rubbed off on her—his quirky sense of humor was contagious.
Less than ten seconds later, He Ran called. Jian Xi hesitated briefly but answered anyway.
Without waiting for him to speak, she dove straight in. “Did the pot taste good?”
He Ran’s voice carried traces of amusement. “Next time, I’ll share a lidful with you. Try it, and you’ll know.”
Jian Xi hummed softly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
After a brief silence, He Ran asked, “Is Dr. Jian still working?”
“No, I’m home now. About to take a shower.” Jian Xi brushed her arm; it was already growing cool.
He Ran paused. “Then go ahead—I’ll hang up.”
Her phone remained warm in her hand long after the call ended.
He Ran swallowed hard, opening the window slightly. A rush of cold air swept in, and he squinted his eyes against it.
His grandmother passed by the doorway, shouting, “What are you doing opening the window? Do you want to catch a cold? Close it quickly!”
This time, He Ran complied without argument. He grabbed a clean pair of underwear from the cabinet. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Grandma stared at his retreating back, puzzled. “Eh? Didn’t you just shower after dinner…?”
________________________________________
Every Monday, the hospital was always busiest.
The obstetrics department was fully staffed, yet all morning appointments were booked within an hour.
Being busy was one thing, but dealing with unreasonable patients was another headache altogether. Early that morning, Jian Xi encountered a man accusing her of ordering unnecessary lab tests, claiming hospitals were too profit-driven.
Jian Xi patiently explained, “The glucose tolerance test is mandatory during mid-pregnancy. Your wife’s weight is already above the recommended limit, putting her at high risk for gestational diabetes.”
“I don’t care! That’s nonsense!” The husband grew agitated. “Eating more sugar raises blood sugar levels. My wife doesn’t eat sweets—you’re trying to fool me!”
Jian Xi calmly continued, “This has nothing to do with whether or not she eats sugar. If her blood sugar isn’t controlled, the consequences could be severe…”
“What kind of doctor are you? Do you even know how to treat patients? Give me my money back—I want to see a senior professor instead! Young doctors like you don’t understand anything!” The man rudely interrupted, pounding on her desk.
Muttering curses under his breath, he stormed out, his complaints still audible down the hallway.
Jian Xi massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She instructed the nurse, “Call the next patient.”
The young nurse, fresh out of training, marveled at Jian Xi’s composure. “Dr. Jian, how can you stay so calm? If it were me, I’d have snapped back.”
Jian Xi smiled faintly. “If I lost my temper every time someone acted like this, I’d be exhausted from arguing daily.”
The intern gazed at her with admiration and curiosity. During a rare lull, she asked, “Dr. Jian, what are you having for lunch? I’ll ask Jiaojiao to place the order.”
Jian Xi opted for a light steamed tofu dish. She’d indulged in rich food at Old Zhao’s house the other day, and sure enough, a small pimple had appeared on her face that morning.
As usual, by the time she finally had a moment to eat, her meal was stone-cold.
She reheated the takeout in the microwave. While waiting, she massaged her neck. Long hours of consultations inevitably led to occupational ailments. To combat this, Tao Xihong had forced her to join an elite gym downtown, paying five years’ worth in advance and demanding she exercise twice a week.
Tomorrow was her night shift, so Jian Xi planned to hit the gym tonight. Just then, her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She pulled it out and froze.
Three words lit up the screen: Lu Pingnan.
Jian Xi answered, her tone frosty. “What is it?”
“Can’t I check in on you? Xixi, have you eaten yet?” Lu Pingnan’s voice was smooth, oozing familiarity as if they were old friends.
That was his talent—he could stab you in the back one moment and charm you the next. After all these years, his ability to make people fall apart and put them back together again hadn’t diminished.
Despite herself, Jian Xi softened slightly. “Yes, I’ve eaten.”
Lu Pingnan replied, “I just returned from a week-long business trip. Can I pick you up after work tonight? Let me treat you to dinner.”
A flush of warmth rushed to Jian Xi’s ears—a fleeting sensation that momentarily overshadowed the frustration from their last encounter at the KTV.
“I’m on duty today until seven. I’ll eat at the cafeteria.”
“That’s fine—I’ll wait for you after your shift. See you later.” Lu Pingnan spoke swiftly, leaving no room for refusal.
The microwave beeped, signaling her food was ready.
Hesitation swirled in Jian Xi’s mind, looping endlessly. Finally, she murmured, “Alright.”
________________________________________
The afternoon brought fewer patients, mostly those coming in for fetal heart monitoring. Jian Xi spent some time in the monitoring room and handled one urgent case requiring bed rest before finishing her shift at seven sharp.
True to his word, Lu Pingnan waited outside the hospital entrance, leaning casually against his Cayenne in a pale apricot coat, exuding charm.
He jogged over. “Tired? Want to grab something else to eat? Your hospital is so busy—I’ve been waiting fifteen minutes, and three ambulances have come in already.”
As he spoke, he reached for Jian Xi’s bag. She resisted briefly but let him take it.
Lu Pingnan opened the car door chivalrously. “How many more days until your car’s maintenance is done?”
“It’ll be ready tomorrow.” Jian Xi’s car had been sent to the dealership yesterday, so she’d been commuting by taxi.
“Then I’ll drop you off tomorrow morning.” Sitting in the passenger seat, Lu Pingnan retrieved an elegant paper bag from the backseat and handed it to her.
Jian Xi didn’t take it immediately. Lu Pingnan took a deep breath. “Xixi, I was wrong last time. I got drunk and acted out of line. Please don’t hold it against me. This is my apology gift.”
Jian Xi’s gaze shifted from the paper bag to his face. Back in college, even a glance from him would send her heart racing. Now, as an adult, despite everything she’d experienced, that initial flutter still lingered.
Time hadn’t dulled the spark. None of the men who’d crossed her path since could compare.
Jian Xi acknowledged her feelings.
She accepted the gift. “Thank you.”
Lu Pingnan visibly relaxed. Those two words signaled forgiveness—an unspoken rule between them that never failed.
Arriving at Champs-Élysées Apartments, Jian Xi picked up her bag. “Drive safely on your way back. Tomorrow morning, there’s no need…”
Before she could finish, Lu Pingnan leaned over suddenly, his voice brushing past her ear. “Don’t be so formal.”
His hand reached across her waist to unbuckle her seatbelt.
Instinctively, Jian Xi flinched, but Lu Pingnan had already straightened himself.
They parted ways. As his taillights disappeared into the distance, the flutter in Jian Xi’s heart gradually subsided.
Turning around, a shadow suddenly emerged from behind a nearby sycamore tree.
Jian Xi nearly screamed but caught herself upon recognizing the face—
He Ran, frowning deeply.
Relieved, she pressed a hand to her chest. “You scared me half to death. I thought you were…”
“A robber? Or maybe someone after beauty?” He Ran sneered, his tone icy.
Jian Xi was momentarily silenced by his biting sarcasm. The night breeze chilled her, and she hugged herself tightly, fingers hooked around the elegant paper bag.
“What are you doing here?”
He Ran scoffed, towering over her in the dim evening light. “Did you build this road? Are you saying only pretty boys are allowed to visit, while real men aren’t?”
His scathing response left Jian Xi speechless. Noticing the plastic bags in his hands, she changed the subject. “What’s that you’re holding?”
“None of your business,” He Ran snapped, still fuming over the scene he’d witnessed earlier in the car between Jian Xi and Lu Pingnan.
Jian Xi maintained her composure, smiling faintly. “Are you really bringing me a pot lid to try?”
Under the lamplight, shadows cast angular patterns across He Ran’s face, making him look enigmatic and unpredictable.
He snorted. “Dr. Jian, once was enough. Why keep falling for the same type of guy? Haven’t you had enough pain?”
Jian Xi’s expression turned cold. Without another word, she sidestepped him and began walking away.
Feeling defeated, He Ran lashed out again. “What’s so great about that guy? Is he worth your affection time and again? Can’t you raise your standards?”
Jian Xi stopped in her tracks, tilting her head slightly, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. “I happen to like handsome men. What’s it to you?”
Parroting his earlier words, she left him speechless.
Resuming her steps, the sound of her heels clicking against the pavement echoed like muted piano notes.
“He’s not even that handsome!” He Ran’s voice rose sharply. Holding up the plastic bag, he shouted after her, “You think slicked-back hair equals good looks? Do you really believe my abs are harder than his dick!”
Jian Xi whirled around, striding back to confront He Ran.
“Mr. He, please show some respect. We’ve known each other less than two weeks. Our interactions were unavoidable due to circumstances beyond my control. If we part ways peacefully, I might still remember you fondly. But if you continue to insult my friends…” Her voice hardened. “Sorry, but I will hate you.”
The usually bustling road was eerily quiet tonight.
He Ran fell silent for a moment before scoffing disdainfully, his condescending gaze piercing through her. “You apologize when hating someone? Dr. Jian, that’s such a pretentious act.”
A distant car honked, breaking the stillness. Headlights flashed as vehicles resumed movement.
In the brief illumination, He Ran saw tears welling up in Jian Xi’s eyes, threatening to spill over.
“What gives you the right? Are we close friends? Don’t put yourself on such a pedestal!”
With those final words, Jian Xi turned and walked away, forcing the tears back.
Her slender, fragile silhouette disappeared through the apartment gate. He Ran stood rooted to the spot, unmoving.
Silence descended, and rationality returned. Reaching into his pocket, He Ran pulled out his phone and dialed Jian Xi’s number without hesitation—
“The number you have dialed cannot be reached. Please verify and try again.”
An invalid number?
Impossible. It simply meant she’d blocked him, choosing not to create errors manually.
He Ran clenched his fist around the plastic bag. Moments ago, when Jian Xi had teased, “Are you really bringing me a pot lid?” he hadn’t had the chance to respond.
Yes, not just a lid—but also a pot.
Inside the pot was piping hot chicken soup, lovingly prepared by his grandmother that afternoon.
And the chicken? Killed exactly as Jian Xi had taught him—better than ever before.
He Ran lowered his hand and placed the soup by the roadside. Hands stuffed into his pockets, he kicked a pebble absentmindedly. Taking a few steps forward, he glanced back—the streetlamp stretched his shadow long across the pavement.
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