Chapter 121: Absurd
You Ruxu learned about Zhou Tianzui’s blind dates a week later. She had been unwell, drifting in and out of consciousness after Zhou Tianzui left, a severe cold keeping her in bed for over a week. She only found out when she went to the station to hand over her work and ran into Chen Xiang.
“Huh? You didn’t know, Teacher You? Everyone at the hospital knows.” One of Yu Qiao’s blind date candidates for Zhou Tianzui was a colleague from the hospital. Zhou Tianzui was a good catch, beautiful and capable. Previously, people had been hesitant because of her aloof demeanor and the rumors surrounding her, but now that those rumors were proven false, those who had been interested were eager to pursue her.
It was said that Yu Qiao’s doorstep was practically worn down from all the visitors.
Chen Xiang, who kept in touch with the hospital nurses, knew about it. She had assumed You Ruxu also knew, after all, they were good friends.
You Ruxu’s face paled. She had frequent headaches after recovering from her cold, a sharp, piercing pain behind her eyes, intensifying with every thought of Zhou Tianzui, until she could barely bear it. She sat down heavily in the chair beside Chen Xiang, “I didn’t know.”
“I heard someone from Team 1 even asked for her contact information.” Zhou Tianzui had been to the TV station before, accompanying You Ruxu, making a good impression on everyone, so there had always been those interested in her, and now, with a legitimate reason, they were even more eager.
Chen Xiang, not having seen You Ruxu for a week over the holidays, was bursting with gossip, but seeing You Ruxu’s pale face, she asked with concern, “Teacher You, is your cold still bothering you?”
You Ruxu coughed, her face ashen, her lips bloodless, her usual sharp and capable demeanor replaced by a surprising fragility.
She said, “It hasn’t completely gone away yet.”
“Then take this opportunity to rest properly during your leave.” Chen Xiang’s worry intensified, “What did the doctor say?”
You Ruxu said, “I’m fine, just need some rest.”
Chen Xiang said, “Then should I drive you home later?”
You Ruxu said, “I drove, you go to work.”
Chen Xiang responded with an “okay,” “Call me if you need anything.” Just then, her phone rang. She looked at the screen, her expression changing slightly, she glanced at You Ruxu, as if wanting to say something, then just said, “Teacher You, take care.”
You Ruxu said, “I will.”
She said goodbye to her colleagues and took the elevator down. Exiting the elevator, she brushed past a man wearing a black hat, You Ruxu coughed a few times and went to her car.
She started the engine, her ears ringing.
“She’s been on blind dates for days.”
“Dr. Zhou is really popular.”
“Someone from Team 1 even went…”
You Ruxu gripped the steering wheel tightly, her fingernails digging into the leather cover, she took a deep breath and drove away.
She had intended to go home, but unknowingly, she arrived at Zhou Tianzui’s apartment building.
It was just after the New Year holidays, the area crowded with people, uncles and aunties chatting and eating sunflower seeds. You Ruxu watched them, then rolled down her car window.
She wanted to hear any news about Zhou Tianzui.
Even just a mention of her name.
But after listening to their chatter about their children and grandchildren for a while, still not hearing Zhou Tianzui’s name, You Ruxu pursed her lips, her gaze drifting upwards, the floors of the building seeming to shrink, the sunlight reflecting off the windows, blinding, she couldn’t see anything inside.
Zhou Tianzui stood by the window, not looking down, hearing Yu Qiao say, “Dr. Lin will be here soon, go change your clothes.”
The blind dates were straightforward, no subtle introductions, just meeting directly at home. Zhou Tianzui couldn’t even remember how many people she had met these past few days, they all seemed the same. She looked at Yu Qiao, “What are you waiting for? Go change.”
Zhou Tianzui went to her room.
Her clothes were in the closet. She hadn’t brought any clothes when she moved out of the apartment she shared with You Ruxu. The clothes in the closet were mostly from the past two years, rarely worn. She chose a red down jacket and gray pants. The pants were too loose, sliding down her waist. She pulled them up, but there was no belt in the closet. Finally, she took a silk scarf, wrapped it around her waist, and tied it in a knot.
She hadn’t put on her jacket yet when Yu Qiao stared at the scarf around her waist.
Zhou Tianzui had lost a lot of weight. She had been eating and sleeping regularly, Yu Qiao had been making her all sorts of soups, even delivering them to the hospital, three meals a day plus afternoon snacks, yet she hadn’t gained any weight. Even her director had noticed, asking, “Dr. Zhou, are you still not fully recovered?”
Physically, she had recovered.
Mentally, not yet.
Everything took time, but Yu Qiao didn’t know how long this would take for Zhou Tianzui.
Yu Qiao’s gaze lingered, and Zhou Tianzui, noticing, quickly put on her jacket and zipped it up, the long, red down jacket hiding the scarf, the color giving her some much-needed vibrancy.
Yu Qiao didn’t say anything, just went to the kitchen and brought her a bowl of chicken soup. Zhou Tianzui, smelling it, frowned slightly, but didn’t complain, just drank it, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and asked, “What time are they arriving?”
“They said they’re downstairs.” Yu Qiao said, “They should be here soon.”
Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Zhou Tianzui turned and saw Lin Luo standing there, holding a basket of fruit. Meeting Zhou Tianzui’s gaze, Lin Luo’s heart skipped a beat, she almost couldn’t speak, her grip on the fruit basket tightening. Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Lin, come in, come in.”
Lin Luo walked in, her heart pounding, and said to Zhou Tianzui, “Auntie, I brought you some fruit.”
“You shouldn’t have.” Yu Qiao said, “You two chat, I’ll go cut some fruit.”
Lin Luo said, “Okay.”
Yu Qiao went to the kitchen. Lin Luo stood there, feeling the weight of Zhou Tianzui’s gaze, similar to her usual demeanor at the hospital, yet different. Lin Luo felt a strange pressure, her breathing shallow, she tried to meet Zhou Tianzui’s eyes, but quickly looked away.
Zhou Tianzui said, “Dr. Lin?”
Her mother had arranged a blind date for her, with Dr. Lin?
Lin Luo?
Lin Luo moistened her lips and said, “Dr. Zhou.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Sit down.”
Her tone was similar to when she was at the hospital, giving instructions. Lin Luo felt like a new intern being reprimanded, lowering her head, stealing glances at Zhou Tianzui.
Yu Qiao had been visiting Zhou Tianzui frequently at the hospital this past week, bringing her food, and they had become more familiar with each other. Actually, Lin Luo had deliberately created opportunities to meet Yu Qiao, wanting to hear more about Zhou Tianzui, driving Yu Qiao home, accompanying her shopping, even picking her up to go to the hospital.
And somehow, Yu Qiao had seen through her, realizing she liked Zhou Tianzui.
Lin Luo had been shocked, quickly explaining, “I, I, about Dr. Zhou…”
“Don’t be nervous.” Yu Qiao had asked, “Do you like Xiao Tian?”
Lin Luo hadn’t thought her feelings were so obvious, but Yu Qiao had seen through her. She said, “I’m sorry, Auntie, I shouldn’t have…”
“Do you want to be with her?” Yu Qiao’s words surprised Lin Luo, she hadn’t expected Yu Qiao to accept her feelings so readily, even offering to set them up.
Lin Luo wondered if she was dreaming.
But Yu Qiao’s tone was serious, “If you do, come for a blind date with Xiao Tian tomorrow.”
Of course she wanted to, she had even dreamt of it, never expecting such an opportunity would actually arise. She was so excited she hadn’t slept all night, carefully choosing her outfit today, but now, facing Zhou Tianzui, she didn’t even dare look at her.
Lin Luo sat beside Zhou Tianzui, Yu Qiao returning with a plate of fruit.
Zhou Tianzui looked at Lin Luo. She had noticed Lin Luo being especially attentive to Yu Qiao this week and had assumed it was to make a good impression, never expecting it was for a blind date?
She twitched the corner of her mouth and said, “Who asked you to come?”
Yu Qiao said, “I did.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at Yu Qiao, “What are you doing?”
“What are you doing?” Yu Qiao retorted, “You don’t like men, I’m not forcing you, so I’m introducing you to a woman, what’s wrong with that?”
Lin Luo’s nerves were on edge, hearing their conversation.
Didn’t like men.
Didn’t like men.
Could it be that Dr. Zhou, like her, also liked women?
Her heart pounded at the thought, and she looked at Zhou Tianzui, her gaze less reserved now, almost too intense, “Dr. Zhou, it was me who asked Auntie, don’t blame her.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her, her expression stern and serious, her usual demeanor at the hospital. Lin Luo’s heart sank, she didn’t dare meet her gaze, Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Lin, tell us about your family.”
“I…” Lin Luo said, “I have a younger brother, he’s already working, my parents live with him.”
Zhou Tianzui blurted out, “Absurd.”
Lin Luo’s face paled.
Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian?”
Zhou Tianzui turned to Yu Qiao, who looked at her, handed her the fruit plate, and said, “Offer Dr. Lin some fruit.”
Her tone brooking no argument. Zhou Tianzui, frustrated, took the plate, wanting to just hand it to Lin Luo, but Lin Luo quickly took it, her fingers brushing against Zhou Tianzui’s hand, “Thank you.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “You’re welcome.”
Yu Qiao said, “Let’s continue our conversation.”
Zhou Tianzui abruptly stood up, “I need to use the restroom.”
Lin Luo softly called out, “Dr. Zhou…”
Yu Qiao said, “Leave her be.”
Zhou Tianzui turned and went into the bathroom.
She turned on the faucet, the cold water flowing over her hands. She lathered her hands with soap, repeatedly washing them, a ritual she had performed countless times this past week, the skin on her hands thin and raw, turning red at the slightest touch, but she seemed oblivious to the pain, continuing to lather, rinse, and repeat, the friction intensifying, her fingernails unconsciously scratching her skin, drawing blood.
The door opened. Yu Qiao rushed over, turned off the faucet, and said, “Are you crazy?”
She grabbed Zhou Tianzui’s bleeding hand, her voice rising, “Xiao Tian! Have you gone mad?!”
She had seen Zhou Tianzui repeatedly washing her hands these past few days, thinking, she couldn’t be with a man, so she found a woman, why was it still not enough? Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, you’re the one who’s crazy, do you know who’s outside? My colleague!”
“So what if she’s your colleague?” Yu Qiao asked, “Can’t your colleagues go on blind dates?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “No, they can’t!”
Yu Qiao asked, “Is it her who can’t, or is it anyone?”
Zhou Tianzui’s hand started to burn, the broken skin stinging intensely. Her body tensed. She looked at Yu Qiao, the events of the past week replaying in her mind.
Not a man, not Lin Luo, not anyone.
She only wanted You Ruxu.
Zhou Tianzui closed her eyes and said, “I’m sorry, Mom, I can’t.”
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