The sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow over Lu Han's figure.
After eight years, Tang Su still found him as astonishing, as dazzling as ever in her eyes.
Across from her, Lu Han had a spark flare up in his eyes the moment Tang Su pushed the door open, and by the time she sat down, he had rapidly hidden the indecipherable emotion in his gaze.
He hadn't expected to bump into her that day. He hadn't asked much then, only noticing her disheveled state and subconscious evasion.
Her tear-soaked eyes and pitiful look had filled him with confusion, making him want to ask, but he dared not to, fearing she would suspect him of harboring ill intentions.
Lu Han took Tang Su's medical record, with her name written in elegant script on the cover, alongside her phone number.
Lu Han took a casual glance, just one look, and the eleven-digit number was sharply etched into his mind.
Tang Su hadn't spoken a word because she feared that everything happening at that moment was a dream. She had longed for so many years, even choosing a university in the city where she heard he was.
But for all these years, she had never encountered him again.
Now, just when she had completely given up and was about to marry another man, was Lu Han miraculously dropping out of the sky?
She was so afraid it was a dream.
But she didn't dare pinch her thigh, for fear that waking up would mean Lu Han would vanish as well.
It wasn't until Lu Han spoke to her that the reality began to register.
"Miss Tang?"
"Ah? I'm here," Tang Su responded like a student called upon in class.
Upon realizing it, she shyly scratched her ear and let out an honest smile.
"Sorry about that, Doctor Lu."
Tang Su decided that since Lu Han evidently didn't remember her, she should act as though she didn't know him, as if their acquaintance began now.
With this in mind, Tang Su faced Lu Han once more, feeling much more relaxed than before.
"It's okay. Most patients are a bit nervous when they see their doctor. I'm used to it," Lu Han said, his voice considerably deeper upon hearing her call him Doctor Lu.
"..."
Ah? Isn't it impossible to get nervous seeing such a handsome doctor?
It would only be exciting.
Tang Su thought to herself, of course, these were not words she dare say directly to Lu Han.
"Now, tell me about your situation," Lu Han said.
"Okay."
Tang Su described the constant buzzing in her left ear, a significant decline in hearing compared to before, manifesting as intermittent hearing loss.
Ye Sichen truly lost his temper that day, so the slap he administered was with all his strength. At that moment, her ears weren't the only thing buzzing; it felt like her head was as well, for a long time.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have slept for an entire day and night.
"Hearing loss in your left ear? Have you been subjected to any external stimuli? When did it start?" Lu Han inquired thoroughly.
"It's been like this since someone slapped me."
"..."
Lu Han noticed the swelling and the faint outline of a handprint on her face.
"Doctor Lu, did the slap cause this?"
"I cannot rule out that possibility."
Lu Han did not deny it, his tone quite serious. He stood up from his seat, "Come this way, let me examine you."
"Okay."
Tang Su cooperated obediently.
In the examination room, Lu Han put on his headlamp, took a pair of tweezers and a cotton swab, and performed a preliminary examination on Tang Su.
"How does it look, Doctor Lu?" Tang Su asked anxiously.
"Besides the buzzing sound, are there any other noises?" Lu Han asked, all business.
"No, that's it," Tang Su shook her head.
"So it's intermittent deafness, right?"
"Mhm." Tang Su nodded.
"Doctor Lu, is my condition serious?" Tang Su was genuinely afraid that she might become deaf in the future and was thus particularly anxious.
"The eardrum has a slight perforation, there is visible congestion, and some inflammation as well. The situation is not too serious, at least there is no need for surgery. You'll start with oral medication, then routine follow-up observations. Afterwards, go next door to have your hearing tested."
"Okay, Doctor Lu, thank you."
"You're welcome, it's my job," Lu Han answered distantly.
Lu Han returned to his desk and wrote an auditory test order for Tang Su, "Give this to the nurse. The report should be ready in about half an hour. After you get the report and your medication, come back to hear the medical advice."
"Yes."
"Next, please."
As Tang Su reached the door, she suddenly remembered something. Turning back, she took a few steps closer to Lu Han. She was so focused on dealing with Ye Sichen that she didn't notice Lu Han's hand resting on his knee, clenching into a fist.
"Doctor Lu, could you provide me with a certificate? I might need it later when I seek justice."
Lu Han glanced at her, saw her determined look, and nodded in agreement, "Sure, after the test and picking up your medication, come back for the medical advice, and I'll issue the certificate for you."
"Thank you." Tang Su smiled, true to her name. "If we happen to meet again, I'll treat you to a meal."
Lu Han: "..."
Does she not remember she needs to come for regular check-ups?
She's certain our next meeting will be a coincidence?
**
Half an hour later, Tang Su came back with her hearing test report and the medication Sun Qing had helped her collect. Lu Han inspected the report; hearing indeed had diminished, but it wasn't a complete loss, indicating the auditory nerves were gradually repairing.
He prescribed a three-day medication; Tang Su was young, and the buzzing should disappear.
"You must take the medication for a full three days. Even if the buzzing stops, continue taking it. After three days, regardless of whether the buzzing has stopped or your hearing has recovered, you need to come back for a check-up."
"Okay, Doctor Lu."
"Mhm, here's the certificate you requested." Lu Han usually didn't interfere in personal matters, but he supported Tang Su in seeking justice against the person who had slapped her.
Never underestimate the damage from a slap.
Some become deaf because of a single slap. He had a young patient whose eardrum was severely perforated when her father slapped her as she tried to protect her mother from domestic violence. The injury resulted in irreversible hearing loss.
She had been treated by him for a while without significant improvement and ultimately had to get a cochlear implant.
The device was expensive, and her mother couldn't afford it.
He'd offered financial support, but the girl's mother had refused.
When the girl was discharged, Lu Han had given her a Sign Language Book, encouraging her to learn sign language during the time she couldn't hear, so she could communicate with the outside world.
"Thank you, Doctor Lu. You must be about to finish work, right? Would you like to have dinner together?"
Before Lu Han could reply, Tang Su's phone started vibrating.
Tang Su, afraid of missing the call if she couldn't hear it, had turned on the vibration.
A string of unfamiliar but local numbers flashed on her phone screen.
Tang Su dismissed it as a telemarketing call and hung up, but it rang again soon after.
"Excuse me, Doctor Lu, I need to take this call."
"Mhm."
The next second, Tang Su answered the phone.
"Who is this?" Tang Su held the phone to her right ear.
"It's me." Ye Sichen's deep distant voice came through.
"What do you want?" Tang Su's tone was also very cold.
"Tang Su, have you forgotten that today is Friday? I took half a day off this afternoon. Did you stand me up?" Ye Sichen was slightly taken aback before he began to interrogate her.
Not only did she stand him up, but she also completely blocked him. He couldn't get through to her phone, and messages on WeChat wouldn't send either. What exactly was she trying to do?