Yang Xueyi, with her arm still bound by a fixed silk bandage, wandered into the café outside the hospital, plotting how to pursue Ying Yun so fiercely that he’d be frightened off and run away within three days.
Of course, a plan like that wasn’t going to come to her so quickly.
It was already lunchtime.
On a whim, Yang Xueyi decided to buy a sandwich and some hot cocoa from the café and head home, eating and scheming along the way.
When her hot cocoa was finally in hand, Yang Xueyi took a sip.
The rich aroma soothed her mood a little, but only for a moment before she became troubled again.
Her left hand was immobilized, her right hand clutched both her phone and the cup of hot cocoa, and a bag of anti-inflammatory medicine dangled from her wrist.
She really didn’t have a spare hand to carry her freshly heated sandwich.
The café outside the hospital was packed.
The baristas behind the counter were so busy they barely had time to breathe, and all takeout orders had to be bagged by the customers themselves.
But Yang Xueyi simply couldn’t manage.
Behind her, the line was full of patients and their family members, all in a hurry to eat and get back to the hospital.
No one had the time or inclination to help her.
She was practically pushed and squeezed out of the line by impatient customers behind her, not even managing to grab her sandwich.
Just as Yang Xueyi was feeling trapped, she turned around—and saw a familiar, aloof face in the line.
Truly, “searching high and low only to find him by chance.”
The man was tall, wearing a white doctor’s coat.
Yang Xueyi had just seen him in the clinic a little over ten minutes ago.
Ying Yun looked like he’d just finished his morning outpatient shift and come to buy coffee, a bit dishevelled.
At that moment, he was looking down at his phone, seemingly replying to work messages.
She’d just been scheming about how to chase after Ying Yun, and now he’d delivered himself to her door.
Yang Xueyi had considered it: when pursuing Ying Yun, she couldn’t possibly go from cold indifference one moment to a dramatic one-eighty the next, suddenly fawning over him.
Not only would Ying Yun find it fake and suspicious, even Yang Xueyi didn’t have the face for it.
She needed an opportunity—a natural, seamless transition.
And right now, wasn’t this the perfect chance?
“Zheng Yun—”
Yang Xueyi composed her expression, her gaze friendly and kind, her voice soft and gentle, “Could you help me with something?”
As expected, Ying Yun looked up, frowning slightly, as if surprised that the voice belonged to Yang Xueyi.
His face remained unreadable.
Yang Xueyi ignored his reaction and simply pointed to her sandwich at the pickup counter, her tone weak, “My hand’s dislocated, it’s really inconvenient. Could you help me bag it up? You’re the only one I know here.”
Because of her deliberately pitiful voice, Ying Yun’s expression shifted.
He looked at Yang Xueyi as if scrutinizing a suspicious character, his cold face creasing just a little.
Yang Xueyi tried to make her eyes as innocent and pure as possible, staring at Ying Yun, her tone coquettish, “Please, Ying Yun? Otherwise, how am I supposed to get home?”
People always have a bit of sympathy for the weak.
Now that Yang Xueyi had shown such vulnerability, she didn’t believe Ying Yun would refuse.
Sure enough, after a deep glance at her, Ying Yun, still expressionless, walked over to the pickup counter.
Success!
She hadn’t expected it to be this easy.
Now that Ying Yun had helped her with this small favor, she could use it as an excuse to express her gratitude, then make a dramatic shift and start “pursuing love” in earnest!
That’s what Yang Xueyi thought, and that’s exactly what she did—
“Ying Yun, you’re so kind. I knew you became a doctor because you have a strong sense of duty. You wouldn’t ignore a patient like me who’s struggling with mobility.”
“Honestly, it’s only when you’re sick that you realize how fragile you are. I used to be so stubborn, always going against you. But now, in this moment, I finally see who I can rely on in a crisis. If it weren’t for you, my arm wouldn’t have been reset so quickly. I’ll be counting on you to look after me these next few days at home.”
She’d thought it would be hard to say such shameless flattery, but once she started, Yang Xueyi realized she was a natural.
The words flowed as smooth as silk—no need for a draft at all.
“I was so wrong to treat you that way before. But I won’t anymore. This dislocation was a blessing in disguise—it’s made me realize what really matters in life, what I truly need…”
“What do you need?”
Yang Xueyi looked up, only to find Ying Yun standing at the pickup counter, staring at her expressionlessly.
There was no strong disgust on his face, nor was there any delight—just the cold indifference of a snow-capped mountain that never melts.
Was this a sign he’d softened after her barrage of sweet words?
Or was he simply unmoved?
Yang Xueyi was a bit anxious, but when Ying Yun took a plastic bag and put her sandwich inside, she felt relieved.
Flattery always works!
Even if Ying Yun’s face was unreadable, who knew how pleased he was inside.
He really fell for it!
Yang Xueyi almost wanted to laugh out loud.
Go ahead and enjoy it, Ying Yun—soon I’ll scare you away in no time!
Think I’m here to make peace?
No!
I’m here to confess!
Having come this far, Yang Xueyi decided to go all out.
A moment of courage for a lifetime of luck.
She looked at Ying Yun, her eyes full of emotion, “Right now, I need a man who’s willing to carry things for me, to help me through these inconvenient days. First, help me with my sandwich and walk me to the subway station.”
Yang Xueyi left it at that, gazing at Ying Yun with affection.
Anyone with half a brain could guess what her next, unspoken words were—
That man is you!
She pretended to be calm, then stole a couple of shy glances at Ying Yun, as if hoping for his response, secretly preparing to watch him get scared off by her boldness, never daring to approach her again.
After this, he’d avoid her, maybe even turn and walk away at the sight of her, terrified of being stuck with her.
But, contrary to Yang Xueyi’s expectations, Ying Yun didn’t run away.
He just tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if seeing through her disguise the way he had when she’d pretended to be Japanese while skiing in Japan.
Then, he nodded lightly, “Got it.”
…What?
Yang Xueyi hadn’t even processed this before Ying Yun took the sandwich out of the plastic bag he’d just packed it in, “This bag’s too small. Wait a second.”
With that, he turned and exchanged it for an extra-large plastic bag, then put the sandwich inside again.
Yang Xueyi didn’t quite understand what Ying Yun meant.
Was he really going to help her carry it?
Could it be that Ying Yun’s earlier attitude wasn’t out of dislike, but rather a form of awkward affection?
Was he deliberately teasing Yang Xueyi to get her attention?
Now, after her bold move, did Ying Yun suddenly realize his own feelings and want to get together with her, not only unafraid of her sudden pursuit, but actually going along with it and carrying her sandwich?
No way!
And for such a tiny sandwich, did he really need to use an extra-large plastic bag?
How wasteful!
But Yang Xueyi didn’t have time to dwell on these thoughts, because Ying Yun, having repacked the bag, was already walking toward her with the sandwich.
To be fair, Ying Yun was a block of ice, but his looks and bearing were outstanding.
Now, as he approached with his frosty expression, even Yang Xueyi felt a bit nervous.
Things were veering off script.
What if… what if Ying Yun confessed to her, saying he wanted to be that man for her? What would she do then…
She didn’t want this annoying guy at all!
Yang Xueyi tried to find herself an out, “Ying Yun, if you’re really too busy, I can just ask someone else. The hospital’s big—there’s got to be some kind-hearted man willing to help me out.”
She wasn’t lying.
Earlier, while standing in line, no one could see her face, so nobody stepped forward to help.
But now, having left the line, a few young men in the back had perked up the moment they saw her face, itching to come help, only holding back because Ying Yun was standing beside her like a cold-faced guardian.
After saying her piece, Yang Xueyi pretended to scan the crowd, as if already picking out which man she’d ask to help her.
But Ying Yun just kept walking toward her, as if determined to help her out of this predicament.
Yang Xueyi started to get nervous, “Maybe I shouldn’t trouble anyone. I’ll just manage myself. People should be strong-willed even with physical setbacks—and I only have a dislocation, after all.”
Ying Yun, don’t come over here!
But just as Yang Xueyi was struggling and panicking, Ying Yun had already reached her, “Do it yourself? Do you know how you’d carry it home by yourself?”
His voice was low, and he stood so close to Yang Xueyi that it was almost dangerously intimate, making her heart race with nerves.
She was terrified he’d follow up with a melodramatic line straight out of an idol drama, “Silly girl, how could you possibly do it yourself like this?” and then insist on helping her.
Just imagining it gave Yang Xueyi goosebumps.
Had her “reverse pursuit” turned into a reward for Ying Yun instead of a punishment?
Would he be so pleased that he’d mercifully give her a chance?
But before she could react, Ying Yun made his move.
And it was nothing like what Yang Xueyi had imagined—
Before she could process it, Ying Yun calmly hung the extra-large plastic bag around her neck.
He glanced at Yang Xueyi and said coolly, “This size is just right.”
Yang Xueyi felt a string of ellipses appear simultaneously on her face and in her heart.
“I have a surgery soon. I don’t have time to walk you to the subway.”
Ying Yun gave her a quick once-over.
“But I agree with what you said. You don’t need to trouble any other kind-hearted man, since you’re perfectly capable of handling this yourself.”
The annoying guy even raised an eyebrow, “Sure, your hand’s dislocated, but your neck’s fine. You can carry it back yourself—sandwiches aren’t that heavy.”
“Didn’t know how to do it before? Well, now you do.”
With that, under Yang Xueyi’s stunned gaze, Ying Yun calmly picked up the coffee he’d just ordered, glanced at his watch, and without another word or look at her, strode briskly off toward the operating room.
Yang Xueyi’s neck was forced to change jobs, leaving her dumbfounded and unable to believe everything she’d just experienced in the last few minutes.
Even from behind, Ying Yun was tall and long-legged, with perfect proportions—it was like even the back of his head spelled out “handsome.”
But who would have thought…
Was that even human speech?
Was that even human behavior?!
Yang Xueyi simply couldn’t believe it—how had someone like Ying Yun not been reported by patients and had his clinic shut down already?
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