Li Yu listened quietly, and only after her father ended the call did she get up to pour herself a glass of water.

Her research project required some clinical data. In this aspect, the hospital was naturally more specialized than the university. Her father also taught at the school, and this was a collaborative project. She was the type of person who truly loved research. That afternoon, she had suddenly thought of a breakthrough and, feeling that it would be difficult to explain over the phone, had come directly to the hospital.

Father and daughter discussed business matters first. The Li family had been in medicine for generations, so they had their disagreements as well as their common ground.

Li Yu took after her mother, gentle in temperament but stubborn and resilient. Father and daughter often argued heatedly over small issues, but after breaking through bottlenecks, they would both get excited like children.

She wasn’t confrontational; she just didn’t like to lose.

“Dad, please recommend someone else to Xin Xin. She likes humorous and interesting types. Qing Hang is great, but they’re not suitable for each other.”

Director Li shook his head. “Don’t be so absolute. They’re both young people. Just think of it as making a new friend.”

Li Yu was direct with her father. “What I mean is, Qing Hang and I are more suitable.”

Director Li was taken aback, looking at his daughter in astonishment. He had only recently learned that his daughter and Qing Hang were academic siblings from the same mentor. His daughter excelled in all aspects and maintained enthusiasm for all new things, but she had never shown interest in dating.

“Xiao Yu, are you serious?” He was surprised. “Qing Hang is indeed excellent. You’ve been schoolmates for so many years. Why didn’t you try when you were at school?”

Li Yu said, “Qing Hang came from a remote small county to Beijing. You know his family situation—there’s a big gap with our family. His self-esteem is too strong. He knows clearly what he wants and doesn’t want. He’s cold to others but harder on himself. He has a clear life plan and will keep moving forward with it. Without sufficient confidence, he would never have accepted me. But now it’s different. His job is stable, and his prospects and future are gradually becoming clear. My family background won’t easily hurt his self-esteem anymore.”

Love wasn’t her everything. Having it would be an added blessing, but not having it wouldn’t affect her life.

But she would strive for it.

Who wouldn’t like a flower?

Director Li smiled helplessly. “Fine. You’ve always been independent and don’t like me interfering in your affairs, so I won’t meddle. I’ll call your aunt tonight to apologize.”

After leaving her father’s office, Li Yu went to the ward to wait for Qing Hang.

Several young doctors, including interns, also called her “Senior Sister.” They poured water for her, and someone always sat beside her to chat until Qing Hang returned.

Qing Hang came back to the office with documents. “Senior Sister.”

Li Yu stood up. “It’s time to get off work. Are you finished? We haven’t seen each other for three months. Let’s have a meal together.”

Qing Hang didn’t agree but instead asked, “Is your research project going smoothly?”

“It’s almost done. I’m organizing data recently and can relax a bit,” Li Yu noticed Qing Hang seemed somewhat reluctant. “What’s the matter? Do you have plans after work?”

Qing Hang said, “I need to buy a dessert. That store is famous, and if I go too late, they’ll be sold out.”

Li Yu’s smile paused for a second. “I remember you don’t like sweets.”

Many men don’t particularly enjoy desserts or milk tea.

Qing Hang’s expression was natural. “It’s not for me.”

A colleague joked, “Qing Hang is so eager to get off work today. He used to be like he lived in the hospital, available 24/7. Those who leave late never arrive earlier than him, and those who arrive early never leave later than him.”

“He was like that in the lab, too,” Li Yu looked directly at Qing Hang without any awkwardness. “Well then, we’ll arrange another time.”

She put down her teacup. “You all are busy. I’ll go first.”

The colleague said, “Qing Hang, you might as well escort Senior Sister. I’ll take it easy.”

“Alright.” Qing Hang was ready to leave anyway.

The elevator was crowded, separating Qing Hang and Li Yu. They only managed to chat casually after walking out of the lobby. Li Yu had driven herself there, and having just been rejected once, she wouldn’t ask Qing Hang if he wanted a ride to the dessert shop.

She would strive for that flower, but not without limits to lower herself.

Li Yu went to the parking lot, while Qing Hang left through the main entrance to take the subway. Before leaving in the morning, he had taken the keys to Cheng Wanyue’s place. If there had been time, he would have gone to fetch her clothes and daily necessities in the morning.

There was a queue at the dessert shop. Qing Hang waited for more than half an hour before getting his turn. Cheng Wanyue’s taste hadn’t changed. When she first came to Beijing, she had tried this shop’s cake and posted on social media saying she liked it and wanted to have it again.

As he was paying, a WeChat message popped up. Qing Hang opened it.

Y: Are you off work? Are you off work? are you off work?

Lune: I’m off. I’m going to get your things now. What do you need?

Y: I need a lot. I’ll tell you slowly when you arrive.

Lune: Okay.

Y: Did you take medicine at noon? Has your fever gone down?

Lune: I got an injection.

Y: You’re so busy, you probably didn’t have time for an IV. Was it an intramuscular injection? Was it in your buttocks?

Seeing this message, Qing Hang paused his typing. Before he could delete the unfinished text, she sent a photo.

People were around, so Qing Hang instinctively put away his phone. The clerk reminded him, and he realized he still needed to pay.

The dessert shop was near Cheng Wanyue’s home. Qing Hang walked there, only reopening WeChat to look at the photo once he was inside the community. Even without zooming in, he could see a red mark at her neckline.

The strawberry cake he had just bought suddenly felt hot in his hands.

Qing Hang put away his phone and went upstairs. He had been here once before and wouldn’t get lost.

A housekeeper came regularly every two weeks to clean, so the place was very tidy. Both bedroom doors were open, and Qing Hang could tell at a glance which one was Cheng Wanyue’s.

Cheng Wanyue was on a twenty-minute break and made a video call to Qing Hang, who was gathering clothes for her.

He asked, “Are these few pieces enough?”

“That’s plenty. It’s not like I’ll be staying at your place forever. Cheng Yanqing is coming back this weekend,” she leaned on the counter, her eyes crescent-shaped when she smiled. “Just don’t forget to bring my underwear. If you don’t bring them, I’ll assume you want me to go without.”

Last night, after her shower, she hadn’t worn anything underneath and had walked back and forth in front of him like that. She hadn’t spared him even in his dreams.

“Lower your voice.” Qing Hang didn’t point the camera at himself, and the screen kept shaking.

Right after he said this, he tossed the phone onto the bed.

Cheng Wanyue couldn’t see anything, but that didn’t stop her from remotely directing him. “Also, the makeup and skincare are on the table. Bring several lipsticks and one of each of the other items.”

She had everything neatly categorized, so it wasn’t too difficult for Qing Hang.

But there were too many types of lipstick, nearly filling an entire rack.

Qing Hang picked up the phone and pointed the camera at the lipsticks. “Which ones do you want?”

“I look good with any of them. Just pick whatever.” Cheng Wanyue couldn’t see his face, but she could see his hand.

He was very serious about selecting for her.

His slender fingers brushed over each lipstick, as if also brushing across her lips.

Qing Hang chose seven from the fifty or sixty.

On the phone screen, Cheng Wanyue had a look of sudden realization. “So you like this color…”

“I’m hanging up.”

The video call ended, and it was time for Cheng Wanyue to get back to work. Her family knew what she was doing, but no one objected or suggested she change jobs. In the eyes of the Cheng family, as long as she was happy, that was what mattered.

Cheng Wanyue had used her first month’s salary to buy a bag for Yang Huimin, who had been carrying it to work every day for almost a month without changing it.

At nine o’clock, her shift ended.

Having been followed by a drunk the day before, Cheng Wanyue was still shaken and planned to take a taxi right away. She was looking down at her phone and bumped into someone as she stepped down from the stairs.

The other person reacted quickly, steadying her by the wrist. She looked at the hand holding her wrist without raising her head.

“Excuse me, you’re in the way.”

“Which way should I move?” Qing Hang had told her more than once not to look at her phone while walking, but she never listened.

Cheng Wanyue turned her head to look at the street light. “I don’t want to hold hands with someone who hung up on me. Let me go.”

Qing Hang had been waiting by the roadside for nearly an hour. His fever hadn’t subsided, and his palm was hot. With people and vehicles moving around them, amid the chaotic noise, he could still clearly feel her pulse beating.

“What if I don’t let go?”

“Then don’t,” her tone was casual. “Since you’re still sick, I won’t bully a sick person.”

They walked to the crosswalk and waited for the green light. Qing Hang asked her, “What did you eat today?”

Cheng Wanyue counted on her fingers one by one. “Takeout, takeout, and more takeout. It was so bad. How can something so terrible have a 4.7-star rating? I don’t understand.”

“I bought groceries. I’ll cook for you tomorrow.”

“Do I need to pay for meals? I’m very thin-skinned and don’t feel comfortable eating and drinking for free.”

Qing Hang tightened his fingers. He moved his arm slightly, causing their shadows on the ground to sway.

“I’m already holding your hand, aren’t I?”

Cheng Wanyue was surprised. “Qing Hang, how have you fallen so low? You weren’t like this before.”

When she first met him, she thought he was too honest, stubborn, rigid, and inflexible.

She hated studying and liked to go out with friends on weekends, but he would wait at home until she returned.

She was playful, so he would repeat the same problems over and over.

She would praise him in front of her parents to get them to double his tutoring fee, and he would expose her on the spot, saying she wasn’t learning well.

“I need to eat three meals on time, not missing a single one.” Her voice suddenly lowered as she moved closer to his ear and whispered, “How many minutes of hand-holding equals one meal?”

Qing Hang considered for a moment. “Half an hour.”

“Half an hour?” Cheng Wanyue thought it was too much, but on second thought, it didn’t seem like a bad deal. “So half an hour for one meal? I have many half hours in a day. After eating my fill, I could work part-time selling alcohol or something else and earn a lot of money…”

Qing Hang directly interrupted her fantasy. “No.”

She snorted proudly. “I won’t listen to you.”

“I’m a sick person.”

“…Fine, just this once. There won’t be a next time, so don’t push your luck. Then what can a kiss get me? You kissed me for so long this morning that the mark here still hasn’t faded.”

Qing Hang stopped walking and grabbed her hand as she was about to pull aside her collar.

“There’s no such option. If you think it’s unfair, you can kiss me back.”