The man introduced by Dr. Xiao had been sending her various greetings every day lately, occasionally even sending flowers to the hospital.
Yu Qingyu felt it would seem too aloof and cold if she didn’t reply, so she responded to most of them, though always with a considerable delay.
Today, she had worked back-to-back shifts for a full day and night, performing over a dozen surgeries in total.
Utterly exhausted, her eyelids felt heavy and stiff. Sitting in her car, she was on the verge of falling asleep any second.
She decided to take a short nap in the car before heading home.
Huo Zhili had accompanied Li Sheng and Mrs. Li to the hospital for a check-up today. They had already entered the outpatient building, while he stayed behind in the parking lot to make a phone call.
He had noticed Yu Qingyu the moment she walked into the parking lot but had no intention of disturbing her.
It wasn’t until he hung up the phone and saw her car window slightly cracked open, with the vehicle still not starting, that he slowly walked over.
Peering inside, he found her already asleep in the driver’s seat.
He gently tapped on the car window.
Yu Qingyu, who hadn’t been sleeping deeply, frowned and opened her eyes, meeting Huo Zhili’s deep, dark gaze. Her voice was groggy from just waking up:
“What is it?”
Huo Zhili leaned down, his tone leaving no room for argument:
“Unlock the door and get out.”
Her mind still foggy, she instinctively unlocked the central lock.
He pulled the car door open.
“Move to the back seat. I’ll drive you home.”
Only then did Yu Qingyu fully wake up, her tone distant and resistant:
“I can drive myself. Huo Zhili, you’re meddling too much.”
Huo Zhili stared at her intently,
“I’m just taking you home. Unbuckle your seatbelt, or I’ll do it for you.”
Too tired to argue, she simply unbuckled her seatbelt: “Move aside.”
Yu Qingyu got out of the car and sat in the back seat. Huo Zhili then took the driver’s seat, adjusting it to his preference.
With just one glance in the rearview mirror, he saw she had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep.
The words he had been about to say were swallowed back.
He first sent a message to Li Sheng: Mom, I have something to attend to and need to leave. The driver is waiting for you in the parking lot.
Then he messaged Jiang Zhou: Drive to Guan Yu and wait for me.
Jiang Zhou replied quickly: Got it.
The drive was silent, with Yu Qingyu sleeping peacefully in the back seat.
Only when the car came to a stop did Huo Zhili turn off the engine. He sat quietly in the car for a moment before getting out and opening the back door.
Leaning in, he was about to carry her out when the sleeping woman opened her eyes alertly: “I’m awake.”
Huo Zhili straightened up: “Go inside and rest.”
Yu Qingyu got out of the car, took the bag he handed her, and said in a voice as cold as ice,
“Huo Zhili, don’t meddle in my affairs anymore. I don’t want to see you.”
They had already broken up, and she didn’t want him interfering in her life anymore.
She would rather he ignore her completely—that way, her heart could harden a little more.
She didn’t dare pick up the person she had already given up on, afraid that in the end, she would lose everything all over again.
Huo Zhili’s brow furrowed deeply, his dark eyes fixed on her retreating figure. His throat tightened, and he couldn’t utter a single word.
He really had meddled in her affairs—it wasn’t like him at all.
“I don’t want to see him.”
The words echoed in his mind over and over. Did she really despise him that much?
His phone suddenly vibrated, interrupting his chaotic thoughts.
He answered the call, and his assistant’s voice came through:
“Mr. Huo, you have a video conference at 10:30.”
Huo Zhili replied calmly: “Mm, I’m at G8.”
“Alright, I’ll be right there,” Jiang Zhou responded.
A few minutes later, Huo Zhili settled into the back seat.
His fingers unconsciously tapped the phone screen. After a long silence, he finally instructed Jiang Zhou, “Prepare a necklace and deliver it directly to Huo Songyi.”
Jiang Zhou turned his head and asked, “Any specific style requirements?”
“Keep it simple. Send me the options once you’ve chosen.”
Jiang Zhou immediately understood—this was clearly intended for Yu Qingyu. He responded, “Understood.”
After a pause, he couldn’t resist asking one more question, “Just one gift?”
After all, Miss Yu and Young Master Lou shared the same birthday.
Huo Zhili lifted his gaze, his dark eyes sweeping over him coolly. “Do you like him that much?”
Just as Jiang Zhou was about to explain, a cold, low voice came from the back seat:
“Prepare a watch as well and give it to Huo Songyi along with the necklace.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jiang Zhou quickly agreed, seizing the opportunity to pledge his loyalty.
“Mr. Huo, my loyalty to you is unwavering.”
Huo Zhili didn’t respond further. Instead, he sent a message to Xu Borui:
[Has your hospital ever considered doctor safety? Working 24-hour shifts—doctors are human, not machines.]
Seeing the message, Xu Borui felt utterly baffled. He immediately replied with a voice message, his tone full of confusion:
[What’s gotten into you? Aunt Sheng only occasionally takes on a couple of extra surgeries.]
Huo Zhili replied calmly, [I wasn’t talking about her.]
After a long pause,
Xu Borui finally responded:
[You’ve really lost it. Orthopedics has always been like this. You never cared before, so why bring it up now? And in what capacity? Young Master Huo, care to explain?]
Huo Zhili replied with just one sentence:
[Regarding the project research funding, I think it needs further consideration.]
Xu Borui instantly backed down: [No, no, no. We’ll hold a meeting to discuss improvements and prioritize doctors’ well-being, alright?]
Huo Zhili didn’t reply further.
In the afternoon, Jiang Zhou delivered the two gifts to the art studio.
Huo Songyi looked at the items, her expression troubled:
“Assistant Jiang, maybe you should take these back. They might not accept them.”
Jiang Zhou smiled:
“Whether they accept them is up to them. Mr. Huo’s gesture is what matters.”
“This gesture might as well not exist,” Huo Songyi muttered under her breath.
With a resigned sigh, she said, “Alright, leave them here. I’ll bring them over tonight.”
After Jiang Zhou left, Huo Songyi stared at the two gifts, her brows furrowed tightly.
If she really brought these over, wouldn’t she just be stirring up trouble?
“Truly my own brother, always finding ways to make things difficult.”
Huo Songyi immediately sent a voice message to Huo Zhili:
[Brother, I’ll help you deliver these just this once. Next time, if you want to give gifts, do it yourself—that’s how you show sincerity.]
Followed by another message:
[Brother, are you planning to win Qingyu back?]
And finally, she added:
[Oh, by the way, brother, what kind of gift would you like?]
Since Huo Zhili’s birthday was also approaching.
Huo Zhili replied with just one calm sentence:
[Do you ask Lou Minghe what he wants when you give him gifts? Huo Songyi, can’t you put a little more thought into gift-giving?]
Huo Songyi sent a voice message, her tone aggrieved: [I don’t ask him. I only ask you because you’re my own brother. How about I give you a painting? You don’t lack anything else anyway.]