After leaving the apartment building, Su Baizhou arrived at Jiangcheng Medical University and met her best friend, Li Xia.
Li Xia was dressed in a white top and denim pants. She had the perfect "internet celebrity" face and a tall, slender figure, though her chest was rather flat.
She sat with one leg crossed over the other at a café near the affiliated hospital of Jiangcheng Medical University. When Su Baizhou sat down across from her, Li Xia smiled slightly and asked, "Zhou Zhou, we doctors only get one day off, and I'm using it to see you. So, what's up? What do you need?"
Su Baizhou casually responded, "You're still just an intern, right? The one who runs errands."
Upon hearing this, Li Xia waved it off, "Being a doctor isn't that easy. Without a few years of experience, I can't even perform surgeries."
Not wanting to waste time, Su Baizhou got straight to the point, "Xia Xia, when your boyfriend has his birthday, what kind of gift do you usually give him?"
"Boyfriend? Which one are you talking about?" Li Xia looked confused.
Su Baizhou: ...
"Li... what's his name?" Su Baizhou asked cautiously.
"That one's over."
Li Xia said it flatly.
Then, she suddenly realized something and her face changed. She stared at Su Baizhou, shocked, "What did you say? A birthday gift for your boyfriend? Who are you talking about? Since when do you have a boyfriend?"
Seeing Li Xia's dramatic reaction, Su Baizhou remained calm. She had already thought up an excuse.
Su Baizhou cleared her throat and said casually,
"It's just for a male friend, and I'm asking for a friend."
Li Xia twitched her lips.
Anyone could tell this was an excuse.
"Which friend? I remember you only have one friend at Jiang University."
"Exactly, it's Qin Yuwen." Su Baizhou said without skipping a beat.
Li Xia rolled her eyes in disbelief.
However, she didn't call her out on it and instead wore a mischievous smile, looking at Su Baizhou with a teasing gaze. After a moment of thought, she said, "So, Yuwen has a crush on someone? If she wants to give him a gift… First, she needs to know what he likes."
Luo Ye, what does he like?
Su Baizhou thought about his face.
What does Luo Ye like… She honestly couldn't think of anything.
They hadn't known each other long—barely a month. And only recently had they started becoming familiar with one another.
"Idiot Zhou Zhou."
Li Xia suppressed a laugh and said, "I bet that guy must like Yuwen, right? Tell Yuwen to give herself to him as the best birthday gift."
As soon as those words left Li Xia's mouth, a scene flashed in Su Baizhou's mind.
The image appeared for just a moment and then quickly disappeared.
Su Baizhou's face turned slightly red, but she still maintained a calm expression and said, "You really are the love expert, having dated over ten boyfriends, but Yuwen's still a virgin."
"Huh? What are you talking about? Even though I've dated a lot, they were all online relationships. I'm still a virgin!"
Seeing Su Baizhou's face turning red while trying to act composed, Li Xia couldn't help but feel a little too happy.
The "Ice Queen" is in love now. Su Baizhou, it's your turn!
Li Xia coughed lightly and then said, "Zhou Zhou, since you asked so seriously, I'll kindly tell you."
"When dealing with men, it's not about the gift itself; it's about the intention behind it. The real question is: What kind of intention will interest the guy and make his birthday stand out? I'll give you the answer—it's about creating a sense of uniqueness. You have to give him, or rather, Yuwen needs to give him a gift that only he can receive. No one else can have it. That's the kind of special feeling you want to give."
After hearing this, Su Baizhou fell into deep thought.
Then, she raised an eyebrow and said with a calm expression, "So, you're still telling Yuwen to give herself to him."
(Qin Yuwen: Achoo~)
"Ah, Zhou Zhou, you just don't get it. There are many ways to create a sense of uniqueness. Come on, let's go shopping. I'll help you pick out a gift."
Before Su Baizhou could respond, Li Xia grabbed her hand, and they left the café to head to the nearby shopping mall.
Just as they left, Luo Ye arrived at the entrance of Jiangcheng Medical University's affiliated hospital.
He had the peace charm he'd promised to give to Shen Qiao, and since he had nothing else to do, today was a good time to drop it off.
But why did Shen Qiao give him the address of the affiliated hospital?
Luo Ye walked in, feeling confused, and followed the address to a hospital room.
Inside, Shen Qiao was massaging a girl.
The girl was very beautiful, and Shen Qiao had shown him a photo of her, which matched perfectly with the girl in front of him.
The only difference was that in the photo, the girl looked optimistic and bright, but now, lying in the bed in hospital clothes, she was motionless.
Seeing Luo Ye, Shen Qiao smiled and waved for him to come in.
Luo Ye stepped into the room, glanced at the girl on the bed, and then looked at Shen Qiao, puzzled. "Brother Shen, who is this...?"
"This is Xiao Lei, my girlfriend. She's in a vegetative state..."
After handing over the peace charm, Luo Ye sat in the hospital's activity area, watching all kinds of patients around him.
So, the famous male celebrity really does have a girlfriend.
Her name was Xiao Lei. Shen Qiao said she liked to cry, so he nicknamed her Xiao Lei, Little Pearl, and Crybaby, among others.
After graduating from high school, Xiao Lei had gone traveling with her family, but they were in a car accident.
Her parents both shielded her during the crash, and while they passed away, Xiao Lei remained alive—only as a vegetative state.
Now, having lost both parents, all of Xiao Lei's medical bills were being covered by Shen Qiao and his family. But even then, the chances of her waking up were slim.
Shen Qiao's relationship with his family had become increasingly strained, and they were in constant conflict.
He wasn't obligated to stay by Xiao Lei's side, nor to pay all her medical bills.
But…
Back in high school, they had kept their distance to focus on their studies, even though they were a couple. To the outside world, they just seemed like regular friends.
They had made plans to attend Jiangcheng University together, dreaming of a future with each other—eating, dating, traveling…
But just as they were about to leave the metaphorical "cage," Xiao Lei's accident happened.
At the time of the accident, Shen Qiao had been deeply in love with her.
Luo Ye, as a writer, could empathize deeply.
He put himself in Shen Qiao's shoes.
If he were Shen Qiao, how could he possibly accept the fact that his beloved girl would be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life?
Heaven had given Shen Qiao extraordinary good looks, making it easy for him to find love.
It also gave him firm principles and a girl he deeply loved.
But then, heaven took her away.
Damn it, heaven, what are you even doing?