For BingLan, the days of waking up, rushing to hospital, returning home dead tired, studying till your brain protests, sleeping only four hours, are on repeat.
Before she knew it, two weeks had passed.
Nowadays, she only uploaded a picture of her empty milk glass in the night on weibo, while Delun only updated his breakfast pictures.
Thanks to Delun, now breakfast shops have a schedule in S university, from which he graduated.
The students there unfailingly followed Delun's schedule, hoping like many mobs that they could follow in his footsteps, as long as they imitate his behavior.
For better or worse, this had a placebo effect, and the followers on Delun's web page increased from three hundred thousand to one million over the course of the past few weeks.
Now, he could literally be considered one of the influencers of the 'S' city.
It has been one month since BingLan has last seen Delun.
Then, one day, she suddenly received a message saying there's a visitor for her near lunch time.
Hoping against hope it will be Delun, BingLan went to the lobby.
The person had their back to herself, but Binglan could vaguely recognize that silhouette.
It's not Delun.
It doesn't matter who it is, she told herself, despite recognizing the man.
She is unwilling to say his name even in the premises of her own mind.
The man turned around.
As expected.
'Never' was not too late to see him.
However, this is her workplace, and it will make the entire hospital rife with rumors if she openly rejects meeting him.
Thus, she reluctantly followed BaiMing to the nearest cafe, sitting at a table within the perfect view of the people, but too far for any of them to be able to hear what they are saying.
They both stayed silent for a minute.
Binglan refused to give in.
Finally, Bai Ming began first.
"First of all, I am really sorry for how I behaved at the hospital last time." he started off with a breezy apology.
BingLan could feel these words are sincere, regardless of the motive behind them.
"I have liked you from the moment I have seen you. I liked you more than you know. Yet, it is because of my actions you were brought to harm. There is nothing I regret more than that." Bai Ming said, gauging BingLan's expression.
BingLan had a poker face on.
BaiMing is sweet by nature, and very nice to those whom he likes. Now that she thinks about it, he is also the enduring type, perhaps he did like her in his own demure way. Then, what about his engagement with Miss Zhu? He did attend it willingly, did he not?
"That day in hospital, I only just found out through my friends that a gangster named Fan Delun was the one sent to deal with you. That is why I was so zealous about making you not meet him. As long as you do not meet him, you will not come to harm." BaiMing explained.
BingLan still had a poker face, though she was reeling inside.
'Seriously?'
'Is BaiMing's information network this crooked, or is BaiMing himself this crooked?' BingLan wondered.
Sure, Delun is indeed a gangster. Only, it does not take much effort to find out he is more than a gangster. Yet, gangster is the word BaiMing uses to describe him.
BingLan's eyes sharpened.
What is going on here?
Which part is true? Which part is lie?
She is sure among what BaiMing said, a major amount is true. Yet, she is this nagging feeling of the same kind that it is not a complete story.
Did she judge wrong?
Is Bai Ming more dangerous than she has thought about?
She thought him to be a little white rabbit, a bit intelligent, but harmless overall except for it's guardians.
Now, it doesn't seem to be so.
Bai Ming is playing a pig to eat the tiger.
She - Why did she fall into the arrogant belief her judgement is always right?
"I was just hoping to convince you to leave with me, so I exaggerated my feelings for you. I won't deny I got swept away emotionally by the moment. I must have come across like a fanatical stalker. I apologize for my actions." Bai Ming continued.
BingLan cooled down a little.
The encounter on that day was indeed a bit surreal and overly emotional.
Then she was still boiling with anger towards BaiMing, and his words and deeds were indeed a little unbelievable.
After all, in an alternative timeline, he did get engaged to Miss Zhu voluntarily.
She later watched the video segments released by her friends.
He did not have the slightest hint of sadness in his face.
Bai Ming continued.
"You must have thought I used you to break up an arranged marriage or something. This is not the case, Bing Lan. I was true in my affections. Only, I was over enthusiastic, and I realize the error of my ways now." he said sweetly.
BingLan's anger seeped out of her.
Indeed it is Bai Ming's affections that brought her trouble. However, that is Bai Ming of another timeline, and she could not pin his crimes on Bai Ming of this timeline.
So, she chose to forgive, but not forget. While what he says is very much believable, it is indeed the same as before. Everything is right, but she has this hidden sense of something being off.
So, rather than extend this conversation, BingLan chose to cut it short the surest way.
"I forgive you. If that is all you came for, then I will go back." She said, about to get up.
"Wait! I wanted to ask you about something else as well. A Job opportunity." Bai Ming continued in a rush, fearing BingLan would leave too fast.
BingLan did not want to take any job opportunities provided by BaiMing. .
"It's in the medical field." Bai Ming rushed to say before BingLan could reject him.
"Fan Shan, the patriarch of the Fan family, is having health troubles. They wanted a person at home to regulate his health. He lives in the penthouse of the apartment besides you. Isn't it more convenient for you to live near the hospital?" he asked her.
BingLan paused.
"What does this FanShan do? And what is his medical condition? " BingLan asked. She felt there must be an ulterior motive for Bai Ming to offer this kind of help, but she did have a two hour commute.
She is tempted.
After all, Delun did tell her she need not avoid BaiMing expressly.
Also, even if she stays at this Fan family house, it's not BaiMing's house.
He can't come by every day. So, despite knowing this job is a poisonous apple, BingLan wanted to take it.
"Fan shan was the biggest real estate tycoon in the eighties. Fan patriarch's health is not so good any more. The doctors advised him rest, and continuous monitoring. However, continuous monitoring for his heart condition is a bit too much for a nurse to do, and too little for a specialist doctor to stay and monitor. You would be perfect for the job as a medical intern." Bai Ming convinced her.
'What is he not telling me?' BingLan wondered.
"Why me?" she asked, trying to find any clue that this job is a rotten offer.
"You have the highest qualifications among the doctors I know. I mean, among the ones who are not specialists and such." Bai Ming answered.
This could indeed be true. A specialist doctor will never do such services for any except the family members.
They have to get intern doctors, and BingLan's qualifications are indeed high.
"I will decide after I meet the Fan patriarch in person. " BingLan answered.
"Sure. I will call after confirming his schedule." Bai Ming answered her.
BingLan nodded in answer, and left the scene.
The doctors around her were all too curious about who the guy is - so Binglan explained that it was an old friend who needed a doctor to watch over the elderly in his home.
When they realized it's a completely business opportunity, they left with a sigh.
Not everyone has the energy to work more after they finish their job in the hospital.
After everyone left, BingLan removed Bai Ming from the blacklist, once again allowing him to contact her as he pleased.
Bai Ming, true to his word, arranged a meeting in the Fan patriarch's home.
BingLan went there after sprucing herself up.
The house is quite spacious, and decorated very tastefully.
However, it reeked of masculinity, as if the very house is announcing no women live here.
The woodwork is all mahogany, and the paintings are one or other kind of battle scenes.
There were swords, and deer heads on display.
The couch is European leather with giant recliner seats, the leather dark and shiny.
Everything is classy, yet extremely utilitarian.
There's no hint of coziness anywhere.
And in such a hall, BingLan waited quietly for the Fan Patriarch to arrive.
She got up to observe one of the paintings on the wall after some time.
"Hello, Doctor!" a very familiar voice called from behind her.
BingLan whirled back in surprise, her feet twisting around on the carpet.
She fell face first onto the man's chest.