【025】
“Which two? Are they good-looking?”
“One is the patient’s lawyer—he’s really handsome and very stylish. The other works at our hospital; he used to be my ex-boyfriend. They broke up after he went to Beijing to do a postgraduate degree. Oh, right. That lawyer went to the same university as you. You might even know him.”
“What’s his name?”
“Chen Ding. Do you know him?”
“I do,” Wang Yimei said slowly. “He’s my ex-boyfriend.” Seeing Han Rong’s stunned expression, Wang Yimei smiled and said, “Why are you so surprised? I mentioned him to you loads of times when we were together.”
“Goodness me!” Han Rong suddenly found the whole affair rather amusing, and was quite taken aback; her smile widened involuntarily. “Is the world really that small?”
Han Rong cut straight to the chase. “So you came to see me today because you wanted to know if Chen Ding has a girlfriend, hoping to get back together with him?”
“I just want him to be happy.”
“I don’t know what to say. Whether it’s guilt or whatever reason, I think you’d best stay out of this. Chen Ding won’t thank you for it.”
“I don’t mind.”
Han Rong stared at her, nodding slightly—whether in agreement or not, she wasn’t sure—and pointed to the fine dishes on the table. “You’re treating me to this meal today. Next time you come to Hangzhou, I’ll treat you.”
“Alright.”
After sorting things out, Fang Zhile rushed back to Hangzhou. Once he’d seen with his own eyes that Fang Zhixi was all right, he let loose with a torrent of swearing. Then he rang Chen Ding and Zhuang Yiyi to invite them out for a meal.
Zhuang Yiyi couldn’t make it as she was busy with a project.
So the dinner was just the two siblings from the Fang family and Chen Ding.
Halfway through the meal, Fang Zhile said, “I saw Wang Yimei at the bar.”
Chen Ding didn’t stop eating. “I’d already met her when I was on a business trip to Shanghai last time.”
Seeing that Chen Ding showed little reaction to the matter, Fang Zhile didn’t bring it up again. Fang Zhixi, however, sensed the scent of gossip. “What’s this about Wang Yimei?”
Fang Zhixi knew only that Chen Ding had had an ex-girlfriend during his undergraduate days, but she didn’t know who she was specifically. Fang Zhile didn’t want to say much to her either. “Just eat your meal. Don’t meddle in matters that don’t concern you.”
Chen Ding didn’t bring up the matter either.
After the gathering, Chen Ding drove home. He received a call from Wang Yimei.
“Hello.”
“It’s Wang Yimei.”
“Mm. I know. Is there something you need?”
On the other end of the line, it took Wang Yimei a few seconds to come to her senses. Had Chen Ding actually kept her number? She’d assumed he’d deleted it by now.
She chuckled softly. “Are you free tomorrow evening? I’m in Hangzhou on business. Let’s have dinner together. You still haven’t treated me to a meal for helping you with that case last time.”
Keeping his eyes on the road, Chen Ding asked in a calm tone, “Can I bring someone along? I’m currently chasing a girl, and I’m worried people might get the wrong idea—it’d be hard to explain.”
Wang Yimei’s heart skipped a beat, and a bitter taste touched her lips, but she quickly put on her professional smile. “Of course you can. I’ll text you the time and address in a moment.”
Before hanging up, Wang Yimei said, “A-Ding, I’m really quite happy.”
Zhuang Yiyi was working overtime, so Chen Ding didn’t disturb her. By midday the following day, he tried calling Zhuang Yiyi again, but the line was still busy.
However, he simply had to tell Zhuang Yiyi about today’s events.
He went to see Qian Yi first and spotted Qian Zhang in Qian Yi’s hospital room.
Qian Zhang wasn’t standing there holding a medical chart; instead, he was sitting beside Qian Yi, chatting with him.
Chen Ding glanced at Qian Yi’s complexion and felt he looked considerably less well than the last time he’d seen him. Qian Zhang spotted him too and said with a smile, “You’re here.” He stood up. “Well, you two have a chat. I’ll be off.”
Chen Ding sat down. “You don’t look as well as you did last time.”
“Side effects of the medication. It’ll sort itself out once I stop taking it.” Although Qian Yi was smiling, the muscles in his face didn’t seem to move as he intended. “What brings you here?”
“Nothing in particular. I just happened to have some business at the hospital and thought I’d pop in to see you.”
Business at the hospital. Qian Yi couldn’t help but recall seeing Chen Ding talking to his cousin here last time. He asked tentatively, “Are you here for a consultation?”
“No. I’ve got something to discuss with Dr Zhuang.”
Dr Zhuang was in the psychiatric department, wasn’t he? Before Chen Ding stood up to leave, Qian Yi asked, “Chen Ding, how’s your condition?”
“It’s all right.” Chen Ding gave a vague answer.
Chen Ding had originally come to see Zhuang Yiyi, but upon seeing Qian Yi’s state, he went to find Qian Zhang first.
He didn’t know which office Qian Zhang was in, so he asked a nurse before heading to Qian Zhang’s office. The office was crowded; doctors were discussing a case. Chen Ding knocked on the door, and as eyes turned to him, the expressions on their faces varied.
Chen Ding keenly sensed something was amiss, but he didn’t let it bother him. He called out, “Dr Qian, are you free right now?”
Qian Zhang put down the medical file he was holding. “I’m free, I’m free.”
The moment the two of them stepped out, a heated discussion broke out in the ward.
Chen Ding briefly enquired about Qian Yi’s condition. Upon learning that Qian Yi’s poor complexion was indeed due to the medication, he said thank you and prepared to leave.
Qian Zhang asked, “Did you come to the hospital today to see Yiyi?”
“How did you know?”
“That’s obvious, isn’t it? If you’re at the hospital, you’re obviously here to see a doctor,” Qian Zhang said. “Yiyi’s in the staff room. She’s free right now.”
“You seem to know Doctor Zhuang’s schedule quite well?”
Qian Zhang’s smile made Chen Ding feel inexplicably irritated, as if the two of them were too close.
“I’ve just been to see Yiyi. That’s how I know.”
Chen Ding found that answer acceptable.
When Qian Zhang returned to the staff room, his colleagues bombarded him with questions, all wanting to know what he’d discussed with Chen Ding.
The people in this staff room had all joined at the same time, so there were no real differences in age or seniority. Qian Zhang remained mindful of protecting patient privacy, so he simply said, “He came to see Yiyi for a consultation.”
The colleagues’ expressions changed. “You just showed him the way?”
“Of course.” Qian Zhang found his colleagues’ reaction rather amusing. “This is a psychiatric ward. If a patient comes to see a doctor, you’ve got to show them the way. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, who’s going to take the blame?”
Another colleague, hearing this, couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you know this man is chasing after Dr Zhuang?”
“That can’t be.” Qian Zhang really hadn’t sensed that Chen Ding was pursuing Yiyi.
“It’s true!” The colleague mentioned that the man had frequently come to the staff room to see Dr Zhuang a while back, “It’s just that he hasn’t been coming much lately.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Qian Zhang’s resolve began to waver.
Chen Ding found Zhuang Yiyi in the staff room.
“What are you doing here?”
Chen Ding fiddled with the crystal ball on the table. “You didn’t answer my calls, so I came to see you.”
“You could have just sent me a WeChat message.”
“I need to speak to you about this in person,” Chen Ding said, his tone turning serious.
“Go on.”
“I have an ex-girlfriend.”
“Have you got back together?”
“……” Chen Ding emphasised, “No.” “No.”
“Last time I was in Shanghai on business, handling a labour dispute case. The woman who’d handed in her notice wasn’t keen on settling, but I happened to bump into her. She was on good terms with that woman, so she had a word with her, and that’s how the case was resolved so smoothly. I owe her a meal. She’s in Hangzhou at the moment, so I thought I’d invite you to join us for dinner?”
“You’re inviting me and your ex-girlfriend out for dinner?” Zhuang Yiyi felt that the logic didn’t quite add up.
“I owe her a favour, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. That’s why I’m inviting you along.” Chen Ding added, “Darling, I can see you’re actually quite pleased to be feeling a bit jealous. But apart from that one time, we really haven’t been in touch. You don’t need to worry about me cheating on you.”
Zhuang Yiyi said, “You go on your own. I don’t want to go.”
“Then I’ll invite Fang Zhile along. Are you coming home tomorrow?”
“We’ll see.”
“Right. I’ll ask you again tomorrow afternoon.”
The following afternoon, Zhuang Yiyi received a WeChat message from Chen Ding. Zhuang Yiyi felt there was no point in going back, and she was genuinely busy. “Probably won’t go back.”
When Chen Ding received the message, he was having a meal with Wang Yimei. Actually, calling it a meal wasn’t quite accurate. A meal should involve three people chatting away, but the meal between Chen Ding, Wang Yimei and Fang Zhile was rather quiet.
Fang Zhile wasn’t particularly sociable, and the awkwardness of being with an ex-couple made things even more difficult. But since the other two weren’t taking the initiative, he had no choice but to make the conversation.
In just ten minutes, Fang Zhile had already taken several awkward sips of water.
Wang Yimei understood Fang Zhile’s discomfort. She glanced at her phone, then put it down and said to Chen Ding, “How’s the meal? I made a special reservation at this restaurant.
Chen Ding replied, “It’s quite good.”
Wang Yimei teased with a smile, “How good is ‘quite good’? The way you put it always makes me feel like you’re just going through the motions.”
Fang Zhile drank his water awkwardly. Sometimes, to gauge whether someone still harbours lingering feelings for you, the content of their words is one thing, but the tone in which they speak is another.
Wang Yimei’s tone right now was exactly like that—overly familiar, as if she were Chen Ding’s girlfriend, though she didn’t seem to notice.
Fang Zhile kept his head down, trying to make himself invisible. A phone call saved him; he picked up his mobile and left the table.
After Fang Zhile had gone, Wang Yimei teased with a smile, “You and Fang Zhile really are close, aren’t you? I remember you used to play basketball with Fang Zhile all the time. It’s been so long now, and you’re still hanging out with him.”
“We’re friends. It’s no surprise we spend time together.”
“But to remain such good friends for all these years—I can only envy that. I don’t have any friends who’ve lasted that long. Perhaps I’m simply not cut out for friendship.” ” Wang Yimei said with a laugh, “Let’s not talk about that!”
Chen Ding casually followed her gaze and saw two familiar yet unexpected figures.
Han Rong and Yiyi. His wife, Yiyi.
Realising this scene might lead to misunderstandings, Chen Ding immediately stood up. “Why are you here too?”
For a split second, Han Rong remained silent, as if deep in thought, whilst Zhuang Yiyi fixed her gaze on the unfamiliar woman.
Chen Ding’s ex-girlfriend.
Zhuang Yiyi’s first impression of her was that of a wealthy socialite. She had the air of a mature woman and was quite pretty, though the signs of cosmetic surgery were a bit obvious. Overall, however, she looked rather good.
Wang Yimei was also sizing up Zhuang Yiyi.