【013 An Idea】
Zhuang Yiyi wasn’t particularly keen, but not wanting to spoil the mood, she agreed.
After a few rounds, she realised that the intern Han Rong had brought along was quite interested in her; all his questions were directed at Han Rong. Although they weren’t overly personal, they were all testing the waters.
Han Rong seemed to be a little interested in him too.
Zhuang Yiyi found an excuse, stood up and left, with Qian Zhang following behind her.
“I noticed you haven’t eaten much. Do you want to go for dinner together tonight?” Qian Zhang asked.
Zhuang Yiyi didn’t seem particularly keen on the idea, nor did she seem to mind, but she simply replied, “Sure.”
Yao Mu happened to witness this scene. He saw Qian Zhang walking beside Zhuang Yiyi, a smile that seemed tinged with excitement and flattery—it was clear these two were far from mere acquaintances.
He opened the interview WeChat group and scrolled through to find Qian Zhang’s CV. They were both from Zhejiang University, in the same year.
Classmates? Yao Mu couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it. Perhaps it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. He closed his phone and forced himself to stop thinking about it. What business was Zhuang Yiyi’s affair to him?
That evening, Chen Ding reported his schedule to Zhuang Yiyi as usual, whilst Fang Zhile teased him about being under his wife’s thumb.
Chen Ding sat in the bar. He was bored, but didn’t want to go home. Being alone was no fun.
After turning down several people asking for his WeChat, Fang Zhile noticed and instructed Fang Zhixi to sit beside him—both to shoo people away and to keep Chen Ding there, hoping to drum up more business for him.
Fang Zhixi looked at Chen Ding with a grin, his eyes round and bright. “Bro.”
“How much do you want to borrow?”
Fang Zhixi waved his hand dismissively. “Bro! How can we talk about that? “How could I possibly ask you for money? I was just wondering if you could get your wife to help me find Yao Mu—I really like him.”
At the mention of this, Chen Ding recalled what Yao Mu had said in the car park about Zhuang Yiyi being disgusting.
He and Zhuang Yiyi had never discussed the matter; they’d simply let it pass. Chen Ding couldn’t shake the feeling that this matter would become a stumbling block in his relationship with Yiyi.
He glanced at Fang Zhixi, who was still waiting for his answer. “Do me a favour first!”
“Brother, just say the word—I’d do anything for you!”
That very evening, Fang Zhixi contacted her informant, Zhang Zhang, and upon learning that Yao Mu had an outpatient appointment the next day, she immediately booked a slot.
It wasn’t even the weekend, yet there was such a long queue at the psychiatric clinic. It was the psychiatric clinic, after all. Fang Zhixi felt utterly exasperated in the crowded, noisy environment.
She got up and headed towards the inpatient ward, where she bumped into Zhuang Yiyi. “Hey! Sister-in-law!” Fang Zhixi affectionately wrapped her arm around Zhuang Yiyi’s.
Zhuang Yiyi looked at this cute girl who had suddenly grabbed her arm. “Who are you?”
Fang Zhixi smiled as she introduced herself. “Sis, my brother’s name is Fang Zhile. I’m his younger sister.”
“Hello,” Zhuang Yiyi tried to pull her arm away but failed. “Is there something you need from me?”
“Hehe, I’ve got an appointment with Yao Mu today. Could you help me get in? I’m getting so bored waiting here—there are loads of people and I’m feeling a bit stifled.”
“Why don’t you go over to the window and get some fresh air first?”
“No, thanks. Sister-in-law, please help me get in.”
“I’m afraid that won’t do. Senior Brother really hates backdoor deals. If you want to see him, you’d best wait here. If you really feel unwell, ask a nurse for some Huoxiang Zhengqi Water.”
Zhuang Yiyi headed back to the ward, with Fang Zhixi trailing behind her like a little shadow.
Zhuang Yiyi turned to look at her. “Why are you following me?”
“I’m so bored, Sister-in-law.” Fang Zhixi was quite cute, with a round face and big eyes, but what was most endearing about her was her genuinely airheaded nature. You simply couldn’t bring yourself to dislike her.
“But there’s no point in you following me. I’m off to work in the staff room now, and I won’t have time to chat with you.”
“Is it busy in there?”
“No, it’s quiet.”
“That’s fine then. Just leave me to it.” Fang Zhixi wrapped her arm around Zhuang Yiyi’s, pressing her face against hers. This startled Zhuang Yiyi, and she instinctively pulled away. Fang Zhixi didn’t realise there was a problem. “Sis, what’s wrong with you?”
Zhuang Yiyi pulled her arm away forcefully. “Don’t call me ‘sis’.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m keeping it a secret from everyone—I’m single.” As if that weren’t enough, she added, “Don’t tell Senior Brother either.”
“Why’s that?” Fang Zhixi didn’t understand.
Zhuang Yiyi didn’t want this ‘why-baby’ to keep asking, so she simply said, “It’s that simple. That’s all.”
“Alright.” Though he didn’t understand, Fang Zhixi agreed.
Fang Zhixi followed Zhuang Yiyi back to the office.
Zhuang Yiyi studied the medical records whilst Fang Zhixi played on her mobile. Before long, the head of department called her away for an impromptu meeting. She glanced at Fang Zhixi, who was dozing off in her chair, and nudged her awake. “There’s a bed behind the blue curtain. Go and sleep there.”
“Right, okay.” ” Fang Zhixi wandered over to the bed.
When she woke up, she was lying on the bed playing with her mobile. Zhuang Yiyi, having finished her meeting and eaten her meal, pushed open the door to the break room and heard the sound of a match-three game.
As she parted the curtains, she saw Fang Zhixi lying face-down on the bed, engrossed in the game.
“Didn’t you go and find your senior Brother?”
“What senior brother—!” Fang Zhixi finally remembered why she’d come to the hospital, springing up in a flash and frantically putting on her shoes. Zhuang Yiyi grabbed hold of her, “It’s already after hours. If you go now, he won’t be there.”
Fang Zhixi pouted dejectedly and let out a long sigh, “Oh—! Looks like I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow!”
She immediately grabbed her phone to book an appointment with Yao Mu, but couldn’t find his slot. “Sister Yiyi, there are no slots left.”
Zhuang Yiyi said, “You could ask the nurse. Tell her you’ve missed your slot and see if she can add you to the afternoon list.”
“Really?! Sister Yiyi, you’re so clever!” She was thoroughly impressed.
Do you fancy something to eat? Shall I order some takeaway for you?”
“Yes, please!”
The food arrived. Zhuang Yiyi had been scrolling on her phone, but the sound of her eating drew her attention. She ate with great relish, her face beaming with joy as she tucked in. She ate heartily and wasn’t fussy at all.
It’s amazing how full of energy she is! So lively and adorable.
After finishing her meal, Fang Zhixi felt a bit sleepy again. She said to Zhuang Yiyi, “Yiyi, I’m a bit sleepy. Will you keep me company and chat? Once I’m back at work, I’ll go and find Yao Mu.”
“Sure.”
Though they were supposed to be chatting, Zhuang Yiyi didn’t need to prompt her; Fang Zhixi spoke of her own accord, going into great detail. Zhuang Yiyi learned all about her life and her ex-boyfriend. Somehow, the conversation turned to the reason she’d come here.
Zhuang Yiyi sat up straight and placed her phone face-down on the table. “So, Chen Ding told you to come over?”
“Yes!”
“What did he want you to do here?”
Fang Zhixi immediately ratted Chen Ding out. “He said to ask Yao Mu if you two have made up yet. ‘Oh, have you two sorted things out yet?’”
Zhuang Yiyi didn’t answer her question directly, but gave a completely meaningless reply: “Go and ask him yourself.” In truth, Zhuang Yiyi was quite curious to know what her senior brother was thinking right now.
She glanced at Fang Zhixi in front of her. People who were a bit scatterbrained were actually quite endearing, and Fang Zhixi had a natural warmth about her. But this one, she thought, she would definitely ask him directly.
“Did Chen Ding tell you how to ask?”
“He did.” Fang Zhixi had just ratted Chen Ding out again.
Zhuang Yiyi thought Chen Ding’s approach was fine, but she still felt the need to add a word of caution: “Don’t tell him I asked you about this.”
“Got it.”
It was time. Zhuang Yiyi saw Fang Zhixi out and happened to bump into Yao Mu, who was just about to head out on a house call. Yao Mu looked surprised to see Fang Zhixi—who really shouldn’t have been there—and, what’s more, with Zhuang Yiyi.
He walked on. After saying goodbye to Zhuang Yiyi, Fang Zhixi immediately ran after him.
“Don’t you think it’s quite a coincidence that we’ve bumped into each other again?”
Yao Mu had long since figured out how to deal with Fang Zhixi: simply ignore her. The moment you spoke to her, she’d get all worked up, as if she’d been given a shot of adrenaline.
As they neared the outpatient department, Yao Mu said, “I’m off on my rounds now. Goodbye.”
Fang Zhixi followed him, “I booked an appointment with you this morning, so we’re due to see each other very soon. But I overslept and missed my appointment time. Could you please ask the nurse to add me to the list?”
“You can go and see the nurse yourself.”
“All right.”
Fang Zhixi became the first patient of the day.
Although Yao Mu knew she was fine, he still asked, “Tell me about your symptoms.”
Fang Zhixi replied, “I’ve realised I might have a bit of ADHD, so I thought I’d come and have a look.”
Yao Mu hadn’t expected Fang Zhixi to actually name a condition. Although it might have been made up, he still followed the standard procedure, asking a few questions and ordering some tests.