The surgical clinic was located at the very end of the first-floor corridor. The room wasn’t large. There was a deep brown, lacquered wooden desk with two chairs, and a single light bulb hung from the ceiling under a green shade.
But the windows were big, and opening one offered a view of the hospital’s surroundings in the distance.
The buildings were a dull gray, connected in rows—far from the skyscrapers of later times, and without the neon lights of dance halls or restaurants. Yet the bustling streets carried a quiet vitality, a sense of life slowly unfurling.
Zhou Taimin’s gaze swept over everything in the room. His fingers, like gnarled tree branches, lightly brushed the edge of the window:
“Do you like it here? If you think the location is too remote, we could switch you to another room.”
Shen Qingli hurriedly shook her head:
“Director, I’m already very grateful to be assigned here. I won’t be picky about anything else.”
Back at Xia’an Hospital, she had seen people running rampant through connections, but she never expected to gain any privileges from such a minor connection with him.
Zhou Taimin smiled, seemingly satisfied with her answer, and left without saying more.
Shen Qingli stayed in the clinic for a long time, her heart filled with a sense of resolve.
From here, she would start anew. No longer would senior doctors take credit for her work, and she wouldn’t waste her days pining over Zhou Jingshen.
Though the clinic’s location wasn’t ideal, it didn’t matter. She would work hard, and everything she wanted, she would achieve.
She didn’t linger further and returned to the family compound. Evening had fallen, but there was no sign of activity in the kitchen.
Previously, Lin Meiyun claimed she was living there as a nanny, only responsible for looking after Su Tiantian, while Shen Qingli handled cooking, cleaning, and household chores.
Now, Shen Qingli had no intention of paying attention and went straight to her room.
Lin Meiyun frowned at her lack of response:
“Tiantian’s been hungry for a long time. Couldn’t you at least cook a little earlier next time?”
Shen Qingli’s voice was cold:
“If your own child is hungry, shouldn’t you take care of him yourself? Does he not have a mother?”
Lin Meiyun’s expression darkened for a moment:
“But I’m supposed to look after him and help with his homework. You do nothing all day, don’t do housework, don’t cook—what else are you expecting to do?”
In the past, Shen Qingli might have agreed that she should help with household chores. After all, they were family, and everyone should work together.
But no matter how much effort she put in, she never received a word of praise. Lin Meiyun always found fault, trying to provoke arguments.
If Shen Qingli lost her temper, the blame would fall on her.
She was tired of pretending. Calmly, she said:
“I’m just going to lie here and do nothing. There’s no reason for me to serve your child.”
Lin Meiyun’s eyes darkened, and though she wanted to shout, she held back. Shifting her thoughts, she went into the kitchen and not only cooked but made her specialty dishes.
Shen Qingli furrowed her brows slightly but didn’t think much of it and had no intention of leaving to eat, so she continued reading.
Suddenly, Su Jingshen’s voice came:
“Today, the elder sister-in-law cooked?”
His tone was calm, without any hint of reproach, but to Shen Qingli, it sounded piercing.
She pressed her lips into a thin line, repeatedly telling herself it wasn’t worth getting angry, yet her chest burned with an acrid ache.
She was usually the one cooking, and she believed her meals were good. She had refined her skills to win his favor.
Yet she never heard a word of acknowledgment from him. Now, someone else cooked once, and it drew his remark.
She didn’t respond, forcing herself to suppress the sadness swelling in her throat.
Lin Meiyun, feigning gentleness, said:
“Tiantian was hungry, and there was no food ready, so she made it herself. But it’s okay—Qingli just got back. Call her out to eat.”
She subtly tried to pass the responsibility onto Shen Qingli, expecting Su Jingshen to scold her. After all, in a household, doing nothing and not preparing dinner on time was outrageous.
Yet Su Jingshen, calm as ever, turned toward the room:
“Shen Qingli, dinner is ready. The elder sister-in-law has cooked.”
Lin Meiyun’s eyes flickered in surprise.
He didn’t argue with her? He didn’t scold her?
A flash of resentment surged within her.
Shen Qingli was also somewhat surprised.
Previously, if she failed in her duties, Su Jingshen wouldn’t argue due to Lin Meiyun’s provocations, but he would patiently instruct her. Even with a gentle tone, it always felt like he was siding with Lin Meiyun.
Now, she no longer wanted that kind of acknowledgment.
And the sight of Lin Meiyun’s cooking only made her feel like a fishbone stuck in her throat—bitter and suffocating.
She didn’t want any connection with them and only wished for peaceful coexistence during her remaining time here.
“No need. I’m not very hungry. You eat.” Her voice was calm.
Su Jingshen walked into the room and said:
“The elder sister-in-law worked hard to cook a lot. If you don’t eat, it’ll go to waste.”
Shen Qingli gripped her book tightly. The word “worked hard” made her heart tighten again. Her voice became a little stubborn:
“I said I don’t want to eat.”