“If I really wanted to eat you, would you still be standing here talking to me?”
Jiang Che was completely choked by Bai Yuning’s sarcastic remarks. He rolled his eyes dramatically and lost all interest in continuing the banter.
He reached out and shoved Bai Yuning aside with clear annoyance, as if she were nothing more than an obstacle in his way.
“Move, move. Stop blocking the path. I’m taking her in to see Director Hu.”
After throwing that line at Bai Yuning, Jiang Che turned to Su Qinghe. The impatience he had just shown vanished completely.
“Let’s go. Director Hu is waiting inside.”
His hand naturally took hold of Su Qinghe’s wrist as he led her toward the room at the end of the corridor.
Su Qinghe followed obediently behind him, her head lowered, her cheeks flushed like a ripe apple.
Protective…
Was Jiang Che just protecting her?
Even though she knew it might only be out of friendship, her heart still felt sweet, as if she had swallowed a jar of honey.
Bai Yuning stood where she was, watching their backs as they walked away, clicking her tongue.
“Already saying I’m in the way? Truly forgetting your sister once you have a girl.”
She shook her head. Knowing Jiang Che was just messing around, she did not get angry. Instead, she wore an amused smile and followed slowly behind.
There was a good show to watch, and she was not going to miss it.
…
Director Hu’s consultation room was at the very end of the corridor.
When Bai Yuning first called him about using connections, there had still been quite a few patients. But now, half an hour later, it was mealtime, and all the morning appointments had been finished.
Jiang Che did not know this, so he still knocked twice before entering. A strong voice from inside called, “Come in.”
Pushing open the door, he saw an elderly man with graying hair and reading glasses sitting behind a desk, reading a newspaper.
When he saw Jiang Che, Director Hu put the newspaper down and greeted him warmly. “Long time no see, Xiao Che. Is this the patient your sister mentioned?”
“Hello, Grandpa Hu.”
Director Hu was the senior of Bai Yuning’s graduate advisor and had a good relationship with her. Jiang Che had met him several times when visiting Bai Yuning before, so they were quite familiar with each other.
He smiled as he greeted him, then guided Su Qinghe to the chair in front. “Yes, it’s her. Please take a look.”
Director Hu adjusted his glasses and examined Su Qinghe carefully.
“Little girl, don’t be nervous. Let me see your hand.”
Su Qinghe was confused. Why did she need to show her hand for an eye problem?
Still, she obediently extended it.
Director Hu briefly checked her fingernails and palm color, then moved on to the main questions.
“How long have you been unable to see?”
“More than a month,” Su Qinghe answered honestly.
“Completely blind, or can you still sense light?”
“I can sense a little light, but it’s very blurry… almost the same as not seeing at all.”
Director Hu nodded and picked up a flashlight. “Raise your head and open your eyes wide.”
Su Qinghe followed his instructions.
A strong beam of light shone directly into her eyes, but she showed no reaction. Her empty gaze remained fixed upward, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Director Hu examined her for quite a while, checking both eyes repeatedly. His brows alternated between furrowing and relaxing, making Jiang Che increasingly anxious.
“Grandpa Hu, how is it?” Jiang Che finally could not hold back. “Can her eyes still be treated?”
Director Hu turned off the flashlight, sighed, and turned to type something on the computer.
“Don’t worry yet. Her condition is a bit complicated.”
He asked a few more questions about the injury, such as what she had been hit with, where she had been struck, and whether she had experienced vomiting or unconsciousness afterward.
With each answer, Su Qinghe’s body trembled slightly.
Those memories were too painful. Every time she recalled them, it felt like reopening a wound that had barely scabbed over.
Sensing her fear, Jiang Che immediately placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
It was a small gesture, but to Su Qinghe, it felt like a drifting boat suddenly finding an anchor. The fear in her heart eased a little.
After finishing the questions, Director Hu wrote several examination orders and handed them to Jiang Che.
“Take her for these tests first—fundus photography, OCT, and a cranial CT scan.”
“I’ve already informed the departments. You can go directly without waiting in line.”
Jiang Che thanked him, then led Su Qinghe out of the room.
Bai Yuning leaned against the doorway, watching the two of them come out like they were glued together, and teased, “That fast? I thought you’d stay a little longer.”
Jiang Che ignored her and took Su Qinghe straight to the examinations.
Having connections really made a difference.
Tests that normally required endless waiting were completed smoothly. In less than half an hour, everything was done.
However, the results would take some time. Jiang Che let Su Qinghe sit on a bench outside the examination room while he went to buy drinks from a vending machine.
Sitting alone, surrounded by noisy voices and footsteps, Su Qinghe felt unease creeping up from deep within her heart like vines.
She could not see. She did not know where Jiang Che had gone, nor whether he would come back.
Just as she was about to call out his name, something warm suddenly pressed against her cheek.
“Ah!”
She startled and shrank to the side.
“So timid?”
Jiang Che’s amused voice sounded above her. “I bought you hot milk. Hold it to warm your hands.”
Only then did Su Qinghe realize what it was. She reached out to take the can of hot milk, her heart finally settling.
“Thank you…”
“Why are you thanking me again?”
Jiang Che sat down beside her, opened a can of cola, and took a sip. “Didn’t I tell you? No need to be so polite between friends.”
Holding the warm milk, feeling its heat in her palms, Su Qinghe spoke softly, “But… you’ve been too good to me. I don’t know how to repay you…”
Looking at her cautious expression, Jiang Che felt a bit helpless.
She lacked affection so much that even the slightest kindness made her want to give everything in return.
“You want to repay me?”
Leaning back in his chair, crossing his legs, Jiang Che spoke lazily, “Then take good care of your health, get your eyes treated, study hard, get into a good university, and when you make a lot of money in the future, you can repay me then.”