Hospital 18

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Jiang Yunxi saw Huo Lingchen to the door. Only after watching his car start up and drive away did she turn and return to the dining room.

Qiao Yuyan had picked up a piece of begonia cake and was prodding it listlessly with her chopsticks.

Jiang Yunxi sat down beside her, reached out to stroke her younger sister’s long hair, and said softly, “Yanyan, it’s all right.”

Qiao Yuyan set down her chopsticks and turned to look at her sister. “Doesn’t Brother-in-law know you hate red bean paste?”

“He’s very busy.” Jiang Yunxi picked up her chopsticks, placed a beef shumai on the plate before Qiao Yuyan, and explained with a smile, “It’s only a trivial thing. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t remember.”

Didn’t remember? Qiao Yuyan sneered inwardly. Huo Lingchen had not forgotten at all. He remembered it far too clearly.

It was nothing more than a little obedience test.

But seeing her sister like this, even if Qiao Yuyan told her the truth, she would not listen. She would only think that Qiao Yuyan was being overly suspicious.

Qiao Yuyan said nothing more and picked up her chopsticks to continue breakfast.

In any case, she already had a plan. What she most wanted to know now was whether last night’s actions had affected the direction of the original story.

Earlier, when Huo Lingchen had gone downstairs, a new chapter had appeared in the novel inside her mind. She opened the document and read it carefully while eating breakfast.

When she saw that the passage describing Huo Lingchen waking up that morning had turned into garbled text in the latest chapter, her eyes curved into two lovely crescents.

Just as she had guessed, the key to changing the plot of this novel was the protagonist’s attitude.

She could not bear to lay a hand on her sister. Since Huo Lingchen harbored ill intentions, however, he could not blame her for showing him no mercy.

Qiao Yuyan closed the document. When she saw Jiang Yunxi put down her chopsticks and rise to gather her things, she asked, “Sis, are we going out?”

“Mm. I have to go to the hospital,” Jiang Yunxi replied. “You can go out and have fun by yourself. I won’t be able to accompany you today.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.” Jiang Yunxi’s answer was somewhat vague. “It’s just a routine checkup.”

Qiao Yuyan knew at once that her sister was not telling the truth. She walked over, linked her arm through Jiang Yunxi’s, and said, “Sis, I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Yunxi tucked the hair falling against her cheek behind her ear. She hesitated for a moment, but thinking that the hospital visit would probably involve nothing more than some routine examinations, she finally said helplessly, “Fine, fine. Let’s go.”

The driver took them to the hospital.

Jiang Yunxi walked toward the obstetrics and gynecology department with practiced ease. Following behind her, Qiao Yuyan took one look at her sister’s back and guessed what kind of examination she had come for.

Pretending not to know anything, she quietly stayed by Jiang Yunxi’s side, playing the role of a well-behaved younger sister carrying her bag.

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The doctor treating Jiang Yunxi was around forty. Her back was straight, her white coat spotless and neat, and her shoulder-length black hair was tied tidily behind her head without a single stray strand.

When she saw Jiang Yunxi, she greeted her with a warm smile. From the natural ease between them, it was clear that they knew each other well.

After Jiang Yunxi sat down, the doctor pulled up her test results. A moment later, she looked at Jiang Yunxi and said gently, “Your health is very good. You’re still young, so there’s no need to rush about having a child.”

At those words, Jiang Yunxi pressed her lips together and said nothing. They had been married for four years and still had no children. How could she not be anxious?

Almost instinctively, she glanced at Qiao Yuyan, who was sitting by the door, hugging her bag and playing intently on her phone. Then she leaned closer to the doctor and lowered her voice. “Doctor, are you sure those medicines haven’t had any effect?”

Qiao Yuyan’s finger paused on the screen. Her sister had deliberately avoided mentioning the medicine in front of her. It seemed those medicines had not been anything good.

Sure enough, upon hearing Jiang Yunxi’s question, the doctor sighed softly. “The medicine has been completely metabolized. But from now on, you still need to be careful about what you take. Don’t put too much faith in those folk remedies.”

Jiang Yunxi nodded silently.

The doctor knew how anxious she was and patiently tried to reassure her. “Since you were able to conceive normally before, that proves there’s nothing wrong with either of your bodies. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Let nature take its course. Perhaps the child will come when you least expect it.”

“Mm. Thank you, Doctor.” Jiang Yunxi forced a smile, then rose to say goodbye. “I’m sorry to trouble you. We’ll be going now.”

Jiang Yunxi walked over to Qiao Yuyan, who was absorbed in her game, and lightly patted her on the head. “Yanyan, it’s time to go home.”

“All right.” Qiao Yuyan answered with her mouth, but her eyes remained glued to the phone as she slaughtered her way through the game.

Jiang Yunxi had no choice but to put an arm around her and lead her outside, reminding her, “Be careful not to trip.”

“Mm-hmm,” Qiao Yuyan answered absently, her fingers moving rapidly across the screen. The game repeatedly announced, “Quadra Kill!” and “Penta Kill!” Yet her thoughts were nowhere near the game.

She opened the document in her mind and skimmed rapidly through every chapter from beginning to end, discovering a crucial detail she had overlooked.

Even three years later, her sister still had no child.

Neither of them had any physical problems, yet after seven years of marriage they still had no children. More importantly, the doctor had just said that her sister had once been pregnant but had tragically lost the baby. From the way they had spoken, it seemed that Jiang Yunxi had taken some folk remedy that had caused it.

But Jiang Yunxi had a master’s degree in clinical medicine. There was no way she would casually believe in remedies with no scientific basis. If so, who had given her that remedy? Could it have been Huo Lingchen?

The phone announced, “Victory!” Qiao Yuyan had no interest in admiring the dazzling effects of the crystal exploding. She lightly slid her finger across the screen and exited the game, just as she was about to speak.

A group of doctors in white coats approached them. The distinct scent of operating-room disinfectant clung to their coats, suggesting that they had just finished an operation.

They looked relaxed as they passed the two women.

“Jiang Yunxi?”

The gray-haired doctor at the front stopped.

Hearing that familiar voice, Jiang Yunxi raised her head in astonishment. She looked at the kindly woman before her, who was well past sixty yet still wore an expression full of warmth. Her lips trembled, and it seemed as though something had lodged in her throat. After struggling for a long while, she finally forced out two words:

“Teacher.”

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Qiao Yuyan stood to one side and quietly watched them. She recognized the woman as Jiang Yunxi’s graduate adviser, Chen Huilan.

They had come to Chenxing University Affiliated Hospital. Jiang Yunxi had studied medicine at Chenxing University, and her graduate internship had also taken place at the affiliated hospital. Running into her former mentor here was only natural.

“Director Chen, we’ll be leaving now.” Several young doctors followed behind Chen Huilan. Seeing that their director had encountered an acquaintance, they tactfully asked in quiet voices for permission to leave.

“All right. Go on ahead,” Chen Huilan said with a nod.

After they had gone some distance away, she took Jiang Yunxi by the hand and led her to a nearby chair. Once they were seated, she glanced in the direction from which Jiang Yunxi had come and asked softly, “Are you pregnant?”

“No.” Jiang Yunxi was somewhat dejected. She lowered her head and shook it gently.

“It’s all right. You’re only twenty-five. There’s no need to hurry.” Chen Huilan’s voice was soft and warm as she lightly patted the back of Jiang Yunxi’s hand. “How have you been all these years?”

Her mentor’s concern only deepened Jiang Yunxi’s guilt. Back then, Chen Huilan had placed great hopes in her, guiding her personally and imparting everything she knew. Yet Jiang Yunxi had abandoned her studies for the sake of marriage. She had failed the teacher who had nurtured her.

“Don’t worry, Teacher. I’ve been doing very well.” Jiang Yunxi’s voice caught despite her efforts to control it.

Chen Huilan had begun mentoring Jiang Yunxi in her sophomore year and had guided her for five full years. She had watched her grow from a confused young student into a rising star in academia. Although she regretted that such a promising talent had failed to persevere to the end, the road of life was long, and everyone had the right to make their own choices. She could not force her.

With a gentle smile, she held Jiang Yunxi’s hand and said softly, “As long as you’re doing well, that’s all that matters.”

It was rush hour, and the hospital was filled with busy figures. Before long, a nurse called Director Chen over the intercom to attend to a patient.

Chen Huilan rose and gently stroked Jiang Yunxi’s elegant curls. “Whenever you want to come back, I’ll welcome you.”

Jiang Yunxi opened her mouth, but her throat was dry and raw. Not knowing how to respond to such affection, she could only give a quiet acknowledgment.

Seeing her like this, Chen Huilan understood more than enough. She sighed softly, said nothing further, and hurried away.

Jiang Yunxi watched her teacher’s figure gradually disappear. Remembering that sigh, she finally could not hold back her tears.

“Sis.” Qiao Yuyan took out a tissue and wiped the tears from her face.

Jiang Yunxi tugged at the corners of her lips, forcing a stiff smile. “I’m fine. Yanyan, let’s go home.”

Without waiting for Qiao Yuyan to reply, she clasped her hand tightly and hurried out of the hospital.

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