"I'll show you." Yun Jinghan maneuvered her hands as he stood behind her, caging her into an embrace.
"Throw it like this and simply let it sink. Try to slowly drag it around. If the fish took the bait, you will feel it fighting the hook, so tighten the line and raise the rod straight up." He made a lengthy explanation to Luo Jingyi.
"Do you understand? Or do I need to repeat it?" Whispering in her ear, he asked. Their bodies were sticking too close that it made Luo Jingyi fight the discomfort.
'This guy—really—' Pursing her lips, she moved her head sideway and politely begged, "Could you let my hands go?"
Perceiving a tad of anger in her voice, Yun Jinghan laughingly raised his two hands up and stepped away from her.
"Thank you."
Yun Jinghan left and shortly after, he returned and occupied the space beside her. Apparently, he changed his mind and went to take another fishing line.
"Are you thinking of me? Quickly cast your bait and I'll take a bite of it." Yun Jinghan teased, rousing her up from silence.
"That would be dangerous. I'd rather be single than to be eaten by a shark." Luo Jingyi retorted upon gleaning the meaning behind his statement.
Yun Jinghan chuckled. "Am I that scary in your eyes?"
"No. But you like taking advantage of every situation."
"Which situation?" He asked innocently, casting the fishing line onto the sea.
"This morning, you stole a kiss from me. And just now, when you hug me from behind, you were pressing your—" she coughed, hesitating to say the word "—your body on mine."
"I didn't. I was only teaching you how to fish." Yun Jinghan denied. The corners of his lips were drawn up. When he turned to look at her, she smirked at him for feigning ignorance.
"And the kiss—" He pointed at his lips before he continued, "—you can retaliate if you want."
Perceiving what he meant, she scolded him. "Yun Jinghan, why are you so shameless?"
"Why sweetie, I am only like this with you." Yun Jinghan muttered in amusement.
Luo Jingyi nearly rolled her eyes. She didn't speak. Not that she was unable to quip a retort but she knew it was a waste of time to argue with him. She was suddenly faced with a predicament: How could she get away from him? Because if she won't she might really precariously fall.
.....
Looking at what they caught, Aunt Alice suddenly decided to have a barbecue party to celebrate Uncle Antoine's birthday. She invited the other four after she found out that they were staying at the same resort as them.
With the help of everyone, they were able to set up the impromptu celebration at the beach. Yun Jinghan helped Uncle Antoine in grilling while Luo Jingyi borrowed the kitchen to whip a few seafood dishes.
"You two should just get married." Uncle Antoine commented when Yun Jinghan kept stealing glances on the group at the table to check if Luo Jingyi was around.
"I thought you said don't rush." Yun Jinghan reminded him of what the man had advised the first time they met.
"That's because I wasn't convinced then. Now it's different." He revealed, flipping the fish to sear the other side.
Yun Jinghan stayed mum. He had marriage in mind. But after springing out the proposal thrice, he discerned that it wasn't him that she was refusing. It seemed that his wife hated the word 'marriage' itself which puzzled him a lot. So forcing it on her would only turn into unfavorable results rather than good.
'It is better to give it time. Anyway, she can never get away.' He advised himself.
"There she is." Uncle Antoine nudged him on the side. When Yun Jinghan looked ahead, he caught her staring at him.
…..
Conversation flew as their group enjoyed the small party. However, Luo Jingyi was the quietest, only answering when asked. When the four revealed that they were doctors and they came to the medical conference for a reason, Luo Jingyi was glad that she only told them her first name.
"Are you one of the speakers?" One woman asked.
"Not really. Which hospital are you working at?" Luo Jingyi tactfully diverted the conversation.
"We are junior residents in Medlife."
"We skipped work for a few days because we heard that there will be a lot of famous speakers this time. But in fact, we are excited to see Dr. Luo." One excitedly disclosed. She reminded her a lot of Dr. Feng aka Blue girl. This woman's rainbow highlights made her think of the colorful unicorn's mane.
Aunt Alice and Uncle Antoine eyed Luo Jingyi. Reaching for the glass of juice, Luo Jingyi asked, "Really? Why do you want to meet her?"
"Because she's an amazing person. She's the only one in the country who has two specialty—trauma and cardiothoracic."
"She seemed an interesting person." Uncle Antoine joined in the conversation, winking at Luo Jingyi.
"I can't absolutely describe how superb her skills are. Her schedule is always packed that sometimes, it is difficult for ordinary people to get her as their surgeon. Sometimes, one had to wait for a year." She went on excitedly.
'That's an exaggeration.' Sniffing, Luo Jingyi rubbed her nose. The waiting was a case to case basis. Those who needed urgent surgery that she couldn't accommodate, she referred them to other surgeons.
"But there are two more surgeons that have the same specialty as m—" She closed her mouth suddenly when she realized she didn't tell her name to them. "—same specialty as Dr. Luo."
If they noticed her slip, it didn't show on their faces.
"That's true. But they are different. Dr. Lacroix works in the military while the other one, she's somewhere unknown volunteering."
The Lacroix couple glanced at each other. Dr. David Lacroix was Uncle Antoine's younger brother. He's a military surgeon and he was her mentor.
"If it's as simple as you say, you will have an opportunity once she starts working in Medlife. So there must be a different reason why you specifically came to seek her, right?"
"How did you know Dr. Luo is going to our hospital?" The other woman eyed Yun Jinghan skeptically. Her father was the Director of Human Resources for Medlife and he told her that the hospital hadn't made any formal announcement yet.
"I heard you in the boat earlier."
The group looked at each other before the oldest one nodded her head, giving permission to reveal the secret.
"There are rumors that Dr. Luo is selecting the members of her own team."
Luo Jingyi was indeed handpicking the people in her team because it would be more efficient to work with the same group. She pondered on this woman's background. Her handpicking her OR team was a secret. Nobody knew except two people in that hospital. It was to avoid ruckus. But it seemed the news had gotten out already. If it had, she would have to be careful with people approaching her in the future.
"So, you wanted to convince Dr. Luo to take the four of you." Uncle Antoine surmised.
They nodded at the same time.
"She seemed to be a formidable person. I think you have to work hard in convincing her." Uncle Antoine advised them, shooting a wink to Luo Jingyi.
Luo Jingyi didn't speak. Regardless of what these four would do, she would always stick to her number one criteria: results. Threatening nor paying her would be of no use.
…..
Yun Jinghan sent Luo Jingyi to the door. Standing outside her room, Luo Jingyi thanked the man for accompanying her.
"I really have to work very hard because my fianceé is an amazing woman." Yun Jinghan teased.
"Geez! Stop sputtering nonsense."
Yun Jinghan let out a peal of soft laughter. "Could I come in?"
Without answering, Luo Jingyi swiftly got inside and blocked herself at the door, leaving it slightly ajar. She bobbed her head out and said, "Goodnight."
"I guess it's no." He laughed awkwardly, pocketing the hand that froze in the air as he wanted to push the door seconds earlier.