Early the next morning, Ruan Mian was woken by her alarm clock. Rubbing her sore shoulders, she emerged from the on-call room and returned to the office to make rounds with Meng Fuping before heading to the changing room to get ready to leave work.

After changing her clothes, Ruan Mian took the elevator down with a colleague from the department. The colleague planned to grab something to eat at the cafeteria, but she had no appetite and parted ways with them at the bottom of the building.

Summer came late in the north—it still wasn’t hot in April, and the sunlight at seven in the morning carried just a thin layer of warmth.

She walked toward the hospital entrance, mentally debating whether to take a taxi or ride the subway, so absorbed in thought that she didn’t pay attention to her surroundings.

Just outside the hospital gates was a road with flowing traffic. Along the tree-lined paths on both sides, people came and went. Ruan Mian was really too exhausted—as she stood by the roadside trying to hail a taxi, her eyelids began to droop.

In her daze, she sensed a shadow blocking the light before her.

“That tired?”

The voice startled her, making her heart skip heavily. Ruan Mian looked up and seemed somewhat bewildered to see the person standing before her.

Chen Yi had come to the hospital last night to bring late-night snacks. Before leaving, he’d noticed the doctors’ shift schedule posted on the wall and had deliberately gotten up early to come over.

His car was parked in a temporary spot by the roadside, directly facing the hospital entrance. He’d spotted Ruan Mian as soon as she came out. As Chen Yi walked toward her, he’d seen her standing there with her eyes half-closed, as if she’d fallen asleep, not even noticing his approach.

The wind carried a touch of coolness, and car horns blared suddenly on the road.

Only then did Ruan Mian snap back to attention, realizing that the distance between them had already crossed the normal boundaries of social interaction. She instinctively took a small step back, and the masculine scent surrounding her faded slightly.

She licked the corner of her lips almost imperceptibly and blinked as she asked, “What are you doing here?”

Chen Yi’s gaze was lowered slightly, amusement in his eyes. He looked especially handsome in the bright light. Rather than answering this question, he asked instead, “Did you eat breakfast?”

“Huh?” Ruan Mian shook her head and said she hadn’t eaten yet. The rising wave of drowsiness left her completely unaware that he still hadn’t answered her question.

“Then let’s go get breakfast first.”

There were several breakfast shops near the hospital. Ruan Mian didn’t know what he liked to eat, so she took him to a place she regularly frequented.

“They have wontons, noodles, congee, and steamed buns. See what you’d like.” After speaking, Ruan Mian looked up at the owner. “I’ll have a bowl of chicken soup wontons.”

Chen Yi looked up. “I’ll have the same as her.”

“Coming right up.” The owner wrote it down, then asked, “Do you want anything else? Two bowls of wontons might not be quite enough, right?”

Ruan Mian glanced at Chen Yi. “Then let’s add a steamer basket of soup dumplings.”

“Alright, coming right away.”

This was the morning rush hour, and the shop was crowded. Ruan Mian was actually much more tired than hungry. Sitting there with her head down, she yawned several times, her eyes becoming moist and red at the corners.

Chen Yi set down his cup. “Very tired?”

“A little.” Ruan Mian rubbed her eyes. “I’ll be fine once I go home and take a shower.”

Chen Yi made an affirming sound, suddenly regretting having asked her to come eat breakfast. “How about we get it to go instead? You can sleep in the car for a bit and eat when you get home.”

“It’s fine, I’m actually a bit hungry too.” Ruan Mian held her water cup. Neither of them spoke again. Occasionally their eyes would accidentally meet, then quickly look away.

The atmosphere was silent but not awkward, carrying an inexplicable harmony.

After finishing breakfast, Chen Yi drove Ruan Mian home. Meng Xinglan and Liang Yiran had taken an early morning flight and would be landing in another two hours.

Ruan Mian was really too exhausted. She’d barely gotten in the car before she leaned back against the seat and fell asleep. Chen Yi glanced over while waiting at a red light, then reached back to get his jacket from the rear seat and draped it over her.

Because of this motion, the two of them ended up very close. Chen Yi could almost hear her steady, rhythmic breathing.

In that instant, it felt as if something had scratched at his heart—not heavily, but distinctly noticeable.

The red light ahead turned green. He withdrew his movement, turned off the navigation sound, and restarted the car, driving forward at a smooth, steady pace.

The car interior fell into repeated silence and quiet.

Yet for the first time, Chen Yi didn’t find it stifling. Wind whistled through the crack in the window, and in a certain moment, he could faintly hear the sound of his own heartbeat.

One beat after another—impossible to hide his growing feelings.

……

Around eleven in the morning, after sitting in the car for nearly three hours, Chen Yi received his eighth call from Shen Yu. He turned to glance at the person still sleeping, then pushed open the car door and stepped out.

The sound of the door closing was soft, but it still startled Ruan Mian from her sleep. She drowsily opened her eyes, and the jacket draped over her shoulders slid down.

She felt somewhat disoriented. Her vision, not yet fully clear, searched the surroundings and spotted the man standing outside the car on the phone.

Chen Yi was wearing all black again today—a black shirt and black pants. His back was straight and tall, with dappled light and shadow falling on his smooth, straight shoulders.

Too far away to hear what he was saying, Ruan Mian raised her hand to rub her temples and noticed the jacket that had fallen onto her lap.

In that moment, she suddenly recalled the question from this morning that had gone unanswered, and a rather bold notion slowly emerged in her mind.

It seemed unbelievable, yet extraordinarily preposterous.

Ruan Mian actually found herself thinking that Chen Yi had come to the hospital so early in the morning just to see her, but when she tried to think of a reason why, she couldn’t articulate one.

In the brief silence, Chen Yi also finished his call. The sound of the car door opening pulled Ruan Mian from her wandering thoughts, and their eyes met in the narrow confines of the car.

Chen Yi paused in his movement of getting in, then sat down before saying, “Liang Yiran and Meng Xinglan have arrived. They’re at my place now.”

Ruan Mian made a sound of acknowledgment, then after a few seconds of silence asked, “How long was I asleep?”

“Almost three hours.” Chen Yi’s fingers tapped the steering wheel twice as he turned to look at her. “Do you still want to go back home first?”

“Let’s not.” She’d already washed up when she left the hospital that morning, and given how late it was getting, if she went back to freshen up, who knew when they’d make it over.

Chen Yi nodded and said nothing more.

At this hour there wasn’t much traffic, and the roads seemed rather empty. Ruan Mian stared at the high-rise buildings outside the window, slightly lost in thought.

There were things she wanted to ask, but she was afraid of being presumptuous. In the end, it all became unspeakable and difficult to voice.

Chen Yi lived in the eastern part of the city, about an hour’s drive from where Ruan Mian lived. By the time they arrived, it was past noon.

Shen Yu and the others had ordered Haidilao hotpot delivery at home. When the two of them entered, the broth base had just started boiling, its fragrance spreading through the air along with the steam.

“Mianmian!”

Meng Xinglan jumped down from the sofa and rushed over to throw her arms around Ruan Mian. The momentum was rather strong—neither of them stood steady, and just as they were about to fall, Chen Yi’s quick reflexes had him reaching out to support Ruan Mian’s back. She practically fell entirely into his embrace.

Chen Yi steadied her, then grasped her arm and subtly pulled her aside. As he brushed past her shoulder, he said, “Be careful.”

Ruan Mian made a small sound of acknowledgment, her voice very soft. She didn’t know if he’d heard.

Meng Xinglan hadn’t noticed the small spark of intimacy between the two of them. Holding onto Ruan Mian’s arm, she began acting coquettish. “Mianmian, I missed you so much.”

Ruan Mian smiled and squeezed her fingers.

Shen Yu came out of the kitchen carrying bowls and chopsticks, shouting, “Damn, you guys finally made it back. I’m starving to death here.”

The five of them took their seats around the table one by one. Ruan Mian ended up sandwiched between Chen Yi and Meng Xinglan. Shen Yu opened a bottle of beer for each person and placed it by their hand. “Our situation is special, so we’ll each just drink one bottle to toast—we won’t overdo it, alright?”

Meng Xinglan agreed. “Fine, no problem.”

Ruan Mian also picked up her beer bottle and poured herself a glass. Her alcohol tolerance was very poor, and she turned red easily when drinking, but in this situation it would be rude to refuse Shen Yu’s gesture, so she said nothing.

She reluctantly drank two glasses, leaving more than half the bottle remaining. She stopped pouring more into her glass and lowered her head to eat a few bites of food, chatting with Meng Xinglan as she ate.

Meng Xinglan’s wedding was scheduled for June. The specific date wouldn’t be set until the end of this month. Ruan Mian was one of her bridesmaids; the other was Fu Guangsi, their class monitor from high school.

“The groomsmen are tentatively Shen Yu and Chen Yi.” Meng Xinglan picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks. “I don’t know if Jiang Rang will be able to make it back.”

Jiang Rang.

When she heard this name, Ruan Mian’s chopsticks paused. She couldn’t help but recall that night many years ago.

The young man’s red-rimmed eyes, his helpless expression.

She pressed her lips together slightly, pushing away those memories. “Is Jiang Rang still abroad?”

“Yeah, he went to America during his senior year and has stayed there ever since. He hasn’t come back in years. Liang Yiran and I last saw him three years ago.”

Ruan Mian chewed on a meatball, lost in thought.

After a while, Shen Yu suggested they all have another toast together. She set down her chopsticks to reach for her bottle, only to discover that what had been half-full earlier now had only the bottom remaining.

Ruan Mian’s movement paused slightly. She poured out what was left at the bottom, which barely filled a third of the glass.

She glanced at another bottle on the table, which was still more than half full. Thinking Chen Yi had accidentally taken the wrong one, she reached out to grab his bottle to top off her glass.

But Chen Yi, seeing this, raised his hand to stop her. “You took the wrong one.”

“?”

He turned to look at her, amusement in his eyes. “This is my bottle.”

“…” Ruan Mian withdrew her hand and had no choice but to clink glasses with them using just that bit at the bottom. As she set down her glass, she couldn’t help asking, “Did you take the wrong bottle earlier?”

“Did I?” Chen Yi leaned back against his chair in a lazy posture. “I don’t really remember.”

“…Alright then.” Ruan Mian didn’t ask further. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating again. Her cheeks were flushed with a light pink, perhaps from the spice or perhaps from those two glasses of alcohol.

Chen Yi raised his glass, tilting his head back to drain it in one gulp. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and at the same moment, the corners of his lips curved up almost imperceptibly.

After the meal, all five of them were too lazy to move, so they stayed at the house to watch a movie, planning to go out again in the evening. The living room curtains were drawn, blocking out the only light source, and the room instantly darkened.

Meng Xinglan and Ruan Mian sat on the sofa selecting a film and adjusting the projector. Chen Yi was in the kitchen washing fruit, while Shen Yu and Liang Yiran went downstairs to buy snacks.

“Mianmian, what do you want to watch?”

“Anything’s fine, you choose.” Ruan Mian was actually a bit sleepy. Sitting on the soft sofa, her whole body sank into it, making her feel even drowsier.

“How about we watch a horror movie then.” Meng Xinglan searched for films on her phone. By the time she’d set it up to cast to the TV, Liang Yiran and the others had returned, carrying two bags of snacks.

Shen Yu walked over and sprawled out on the single sofa nearby. “What movie did you guys pick?”

Meng Xinglan put down her phone. The movie’s opening music was already playing in the room. “That super popular foreign one, ‘Triangle.’ Have you guys seen it?”

“A horror movie?” Shen Yu was about to say something when he saw Chen Yi coming out of the kitchen with the fruit platter and forgot what he was going to say.

Chen Yi placed the fruit on the coffee table, then naturally sat down in the spot next to Ruan Mian. The previously drowsy Ruan Mian was startled awake by the sudden weight sinking down beside her. She turned her head and found herself unexpectedly meeting Chen Yi’s gaze.

Right at that moment, the movie entered its opening credits, and the room became even darker, making his eyes appear especially deep and bright.

Ruan Mian felt as if her breath had been seized. Her heartbeat inexplicably quickened, and for a moment she forgot to react.

Suddenly the music in her ears grew abruptly louder. Both of them seemed startled by the sound, hastily and uncertainly looking away.

An intimate atmosphere silently spread around them.

Ruan Mian sat rigidly, hands placed on her knees. Her ears and cheeks were burning hot. Her eyes were on the screen, but her thoughts had long since wandered elsewhere.

That bold notion from earlier was stirring restlessly again.

She felt like a gambler eager to try her luck—even though the odds were slim, she still harbored some expectation, always feeling that the next round might bring a huge win.

Author’s Note: Chen Yi: This time, I won’t let you lose.

“Triangle” isn’t scary at all. I even fell asleep watching it. 😀

Promoting a friend’s advance collection! Check it out if interested!

“Heart Out of Control” / Jinhui

Shen Zhuxi had lived rebelliously for twenty-eight years when he suddenly heard he had a fiancée.

Rumor had it that the Ye family’s daughter, Ye Liang, was beautiful indeed, but had a wooden personality, never smiled, and was as dull as a glass of plain water.

Everyone knew Young Master Shen had always been defiant and difficult to manage, so they all watched eagerly for the drama.

Sure enough, before long, news of Shen Zhuxi’s marriage resistance spread throughout their circle.

At one banquet, Ye Liang stood holding champagne, laughing and chatting with the man beside her. Under the shifting lights, her every expression and smile was charming and alluring.

A friend was about to congratulate Shen Zhuxi on escaping his predicament when they saw him walk over with a cold expression, domineeringly wrap his arm around Ye Liang’s waist, and stride out of the banquet hall.

Later in an interview, Shen Zhuxi was asked what his biggest regret was.

He paused slightly, someone’s radiant face flashing through his mind.

Shen Zhuxi recalled how he’d once declared: I’ll never like Ye Liang in this lifetime!

But now…

Damn, his face hurt.

He loved her to death!

Shen Zhuxi had seen all kinds of beauty. Until he witnessed this iceberg named Ye Liang melt before his eyes—after that, nothing else could amaze him.

[Cold Beauty Emergency Room Doctor VS Spoiled Second-Generation Rich Kid Who Ends Up Loving It]