"Doctor, there's no issue with his hand, is there?" As she watched the young nurse re-bandage Xiang Ri's right hand, Tie Wan turned to the middle-aged doctor standing nearby.
"There's no problem anymore!" the doctor replied with certainty. "However, as a physician, I must remind you—be cautious from now on. Avoid any impact to the injured area. It's best not to move the right arm for at least a month. If there's no serious issue, I'd suggest you consider stabilizing the arm."
"Thank you, doctor," Tie Wan expressed her gratitude.
The middle-aged doctor immediately responded with humility, "No need for thanks; it's our duty to heal and save lives."
Xiang Ri watched the exchange, his irritation growing. The man in the white coat had such a false smile—if anyone else had been in his place, he certainly wouldn't have been so ingratiating. It was only because of the female police officer in uniform, with her obvious rank on display, that he was so overly courteous.
Who would bother offering advice unless they stood to gain something? In reality, the doctor likely wished for more injuries—to profit from them. A doctor who didn't care whether you lived or died!
"Sweetheart, why waste time talking to him? Let's just go," Xiang Ri said bluntly. Had the old man not just treated his injury, he would have punched him already, especially with the way he leered at Tie Wan.
The middle-aged doctor faltered, then chuckled awkwardly, his internal jealousy seething. Not only had this bespectacled kid found himself such a beautiful girlfriend, but she was also a high-ranking officer. Damn it, with her at his side, he'd probably skip at least two decades of hard work.
Xiang Ri's comment was lost on Tie Wan, though she did feel her face burn with embarrassment at his tactless remark. "Doctor, I'm truly sorry, he—"
"Apologize for what?" The doctor cut her off. "We've paid the medical fees. It's perfectly normal—I'm treating him as a patient."
"You still talk!" Tie Wan quickly moved to deliver a sharp pinch to his waist, forcing him to back away. "Come on, let's leave," she said firmly, tugging him out of the room.
"Hey, honey, why are you twisting your elbow? You should be helping me out, not making things worse," Xiang Ri grumbled, massaging his side where she had pinched him.
"Help you? Help you, my foot! You say that kind of thing in front of everyone, and now I'm the one who looks bad," Tie Wan snapped, raising her voice slightly now that the hallway was empty.
Seeing her getting truly upset, Xiang Ri immediately softened his tone. "Alright, alright, it's my fault, okay?" He paused, then continued, shifting his words with a sly grin. "But you saw the guy's attitude, right? His eyes were glued to you for so long... Cough, I mean, after all, I'm his patient. Doesn't he owe me some attention too?"
Tie Wan's expression turned curious, her eyes narrowing as she regarded him closely. "Are you jealous?"
"Jealous? I'm not jealous, I just don't like that guy," he retorted, feigning innocence.
Despite his exaggerated denial, Tie Wan couldn't help but smile. "You're so funny. I think that doctor wasn't too bad, he looked very much like a proper doctor."
"Not too bad?" Xiang Ri sneered. "That's only because you're wearing that police uniform. If it were someone else, he'd probably be breaking bones just to get you to notice him."
"Is he really that bad?" Tie Wan's expression betrayed her disbelief.
"Worse than I'm saying. You have no idea how much impact your uniform has—especially the insignia on your shoulder!" Xiang Ri's tone took on a teasing edge as he slid an arm around her shoulders.
Tie Wan, still lost in thought about the doctor's behavior, now noticed her uniform more keenly. She hadn't given it much thought earlier, but now she considered the possibility that Xiang Ri was right—the doctor had likely been overly courteous only because of her rank.
"Now you understand?" Seizing the moment, Xiang Ri slowly slid his hand down, stopping just at the curve of her hip. With the uniform adding an air of sharpness and confidence to her usual allure, his instincts flared.
"Get your hand off me!" Tie Wan snapped, suddenly aware of his actions and loudly scolding him.
"Whoops, my hand slipped," Xiang Ri chuckled awkwardly, quickly retracting his hand.
Tie Wan, still fuming, reached for him in anger, but Xiang Ri nimbly dodged, sprinting ahead with a grin.
"Damn it! Stop right now!"
"Come catch me, and if you do, I'll reward you with something special..." Xiang Ri chuckled mischievously, quickening his pace. However, just as he rounded a corner, the door to a nearby hospital room suddenly opened, and a figure stepped out.
Xiang Ri skidded to a halt, startled by the sight of a graceful woman holding a food tray. "Professor Song?" he asked in surprise. Although he knew her brother was hospitalized here, he hadn't expected such a chance encounter.
"Xiang Ai, what are you doing here?" Song Qiuheng, equally surprised to see her student, noticed his hand and immediately asked, "Your hand... has it been hurt again?"
"No, just a little accidental bump. By the way, are you visiting your brother so late?" he replied casually.
"Yes, I just brought him some food," Song Qiuheng said, her eyes softening as she spoke of her brother, though a hint of worry still lingered in her gaze.
"He's not in any danger, is he?" Xiang Ri asked with genuine concern, noticing the slight furrow in her brow.
"The doctor says we'll need to observe him for a little longer," Song Qiuheng answered, her expression relaxing. Upon seeing Xiang Ri's concerned look, her heart warmed. "But don't worry, he's much better now, and his condition has stabilized."
"That's a relief," Xiang Ri began to say more, but before he could continue, Tie Wan had caught up with him. Seeing him talking to a beautiful woman, she immediately linked her arm through his with a smile. "Xiang Ai, why don't you introduce me to your friend?" she asked, her sharp instincts telling her something was amiss.
Normally, Xiang Ri would have welcomed the attention, but the timing felt off. For reasons he couldn't explain, he didn't want to be seen by his former lover with another woman's arm around him. However, pulling away now would only raise suspicion, so he introduced Song Qiuheng in a calm, neutral tone.
"This is my teacher, Miss Song."
"I see, Professor Song," Tie Wan said, her smile widening. "Hello, I'm Xiang Ai's fiancée, Tie Wan."
Song Qiuheng blinked in surprise. Fiancée? At first, she had thought the woman was perhaps a relative, but this relationship caught her off guard. Despite her astonishment at the age and professional differences, she remained polite and smiled. "Miss Tie, nice to meet you."
"Ah, by the way, Professor Song," Tie Wan added with a mischievous tone, "Has Xiang Ai caused you any trouble at school?"
"Not at all. You're too kind, Miss Tie. Xiang Ai is always diligent in his studies, and he even helped me once. I never properly thanked him," Song Qiuheng responded warmly, though she was aware of the subtle hostility radiating from the officer.
But this reaction was only natural—any woman would feel a twinge of jealousy seeing her man talk with another woman. Still, Song Qiuheng didn't take it personally. After all, the young man had been the one to claim her most treasured first experience, a memory she could never forget.
Tie Wan studied Song Qiuheng closely, noting her composed demeanor. With a sigh of relief, she said, "No need for thanks. He's just doing what he should. If you ever need his help again, don't hesitate to ask. And if he refuses, let me know, I'll make sure he gets a proper talking-to. Anyway, it's getting late, so we'll let you be. Take care, Professor Song!"
Without waiting for a reply, Tie Wan swiftly pulled Xiang Ri away.
Tie Wan's intention was simple—she could not afford for him to spend more time with this elegant and mature woman. She feared that the woman's allure might prove too strong for him. One unresolved issue was already enough of a headache; another would surely drive her to madness.
"Is this really necessary?" Xiang Ri sighed as he was hurried along.
"Necessary?" Tie Wan scoffed. "You think this is harsh? I was wondering why you seemed so out of sorts when we mentioned the Ninth People's Hospital. Turns out you were hoping to see your beautiful Professor Song, huh? Hmph! You better come clean—what exactly is your relationship with her? She seems pretty interested in you."
Xiang Ri groaned inwardly, exasperated by how women always jumped to conclusions. As he debated how to respond, his phone rang.
"Hold on, I need to take this call," Xiang Ri said, quickly pulling out his phone and answering. A hurried voice came through the receiver, "Xiang Ai, hurry back, your aunt is here again."