Chapter 123: Hate Her
Yu Qiao crouched down and picked up Zhou Tianzui’s chopsticks. Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll wash these.”
She stood up abruptly, her leg bumping against the table leg, but her expression remained unchanged, as if she didn’t feel any pain. Yu Qiao watched her walk away.
Zhou Tianzui used to be afraid of pain, making a fuss over the slightest injury, clinging to her parents, crying and asking to be held, to have the hurt “kissed away.” But since Zhou Qiming’s death, Yu Qiao hadn’t heard her complain about pain once.
Over time, she forgot that Zhou Tianzui also felt pain.
She forgot that during those agonizing years, Zhou Tianzui suffered too, that when she herself couldn’t bear it any longer, Zhou Tianzui was still holding on, her own pain expressed freely, in anger and tears, but what about Zhou Tianzui?
Her Xiao Tian.
What did she do when she was hurting?
Yu Qiao sat in a chair, her expression blank, when a doctor entered, calling out “Auntie.” She returned to her senses, greeted him, then seeing Zhou Tianzui still hadn’t returned, went to look for her.
The corridor was busy, the restroom nearby. Yu Qiao stood outside, thinking of Zhou Tianzui’s retreating figure, her indifferent reaction after bumping her leg, and felt a lump in her throat. She leaned against the wall, unable to take another step forward.
Why, of all people, You Ruxu?
Yu Qiao took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of anger, hatred, and pain at the mention of that name, a tangled knot in her heart, preventing her from moving. The restroom door was open. Two nurses came out, saw Yu Qiao, and hurried over, “Auntie? Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”
Yu Qiao shook her head, her face pale. She stood there for a moment, then asked, “Is Xiao Tian inside?”
“Dr. Zhou? I didn’t see her.” One nurse said, and the other added, “I think she went to the ER.”
Yu Qiao’s heart sank. She nodded, “The ER?”
The nurse nodded, “I think so, I saw her walking in that direction.”
Yu Qiao forced a smile, “Thank you.”
She turned and went downstairs, each step heavier than the last, thinking, if it were You Ruxu who was injured, what would Xiao Tian do? Yu Qiao suddenly didn’t want to go to the ER, didn’t want to see Zhou Tianzui’s anguish. She stood in the corridor, letting the crowd carry her towards the ER, which was also crowded, reporters and police officers. She saw Zhou Tianzui from afar.
Zhou Tianzui wasn’t with the crowd, but standing by a window, not far from the ER, her gaze fixed on the operating room, motionless. Yu Qiao walked over and stood behind her.
Captain Zhou turned around, saw Zhou Tianzui, said something to her team member, and walked over, “Dr. Zhou.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her, her lips bloodless, her face pale, her voice strained as she asked, “What’s the situation?”
“She’s still in surgery. Pushed down the stairs, many witnesses.” Captain Zhou said, “It’s somewhat related to your father’s case.”
Zhou Tianzui’s hand gripped the windowsill, “Related how?”
“The suspect is the victim’s father.” Captain Zhou explained, “After the TV station’s report, he kept harassing Chen Xiang, trying to find out where the victim was staying. Chen Xiang didn’t tell him, so he pushed her down the stairs today.”
Zhou Tianzui froze, “Chen Xiang?”
Captain Zhou looked at her and nodded, “Yes, Chen Xiang.”
Zhou Tianzui’s hand slipped from the windowsill, her body swaying, her arm hitting the glass. Captain Zhou quickly steadied her, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Just tired from all the night shifts lately.”
“You don’t look well.” Captain Zhou said, “No one to cover your shift?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “There is.”
Her face regained some color. The operating room door opened, and a doctor emerged. Captain Zhou said, “I’ll go check on the situation.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, watching her approach the doctor, who said thankfully, it wasn’t serious, a concussion and a fractured arm, needing hospitalization and observation, they could question her after she woke up.
Zhou Tianzui turned and walked back, her heartbeat slowing down, her expression calmer now. Returning to her office, she saw Yu Qiao sitting at her desk, a lunchbox on the table, her head lowered, she couldn’t see where the chopsticks were, and just as she was about to look for them, Yu Qiao called out, “Xiao Tian?”
She turned around.
Yu Qiao said, “Come eat.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay.” She took a pair of disposable chopsticks from the drawer, “I left them on the table earlier, the cleaning lady probably threw them away.”
Yu Qiao didn’t ask further, just a casual “oh,” “Eat.”
Zhou Tianzui ate her lunch and asked Yu Qiao, “When are you going back?”
Yu Qiao said, “After you finish eating.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I can ask a colleague to drive you…”
“No need.” Yu Qiao said, “I’m going to the supermarket, I’ll take a bus later.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, and after lunch, walked Yu Qiao downstairs, then after a moment of thought, went back to the ER. She was told Chen Xiang had been transferred to a regular ward. When she entered the ward, Chen Xiang was talking to her family. Seeing Zhou Tianzui, her eyes lit up, “Dr. Zhou?”
Zhou Tianzui walked in. Chen Xiang introduced her, “Mom, this is Zhou Tianzui, the doctor from the obstetrics department, I told you about her.”
“Hello, hello.” Chen Xiang’s mother was very welcoming. “Would you like some fruit?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Thank you, Auntie, but no, I’m just here to visit.”
Chen Xiang said, “Mom, go wash some fruit.”
Chen Xiang’s mother agreed and left.
Only Chen Xiang and Zhou Tianzui remained in the ward. Chen Xiang’s head was bandaged, and her arm was in a sling, but her movements weren’t restricted, still quite agile. Zhou Tianzui asked, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” Chen Xiang said, “Tough as nails.”
Zhou Tianzui, hearing her joke, smiled faintly, “It was the victim’s father?”
“Yes.” Chen Xiang looked at Zhou Tianzui, her tone knowing, “Her father.”
Zhou Tianzui asked, “Does she know?”
“I didn’t tell her.” It was a strange coincidence, although You Ruxu was in charge of the story, Chen Xiang was the one who conducted the interview, her name on the report. The man had contacted her, and afraid he would go after You Ruxu, she had said that besides herself and the interviewee, no one else was present, not even You Ruxu knew who it was. And with the audio editing for the interview, the man wouldn’t even think of You Ruxu.
So, You Ruxu still didn’t know about this.
Chen Xiang said, “Dr. Zhou, please don’t tell Teacher You.”
Zhou Tianzui asked, “Why not?”
“She hasn’t been well lately.” Chen Xiang said, “She had a bad cold after the New Year, then it turned into pneumonia, her mother came from Yuhai and took her back home. She was supposed to come back, but she hasn’t fully recovered yet. I heard she even submitted her resignation.”
“Resigned?” Zhou Tianzui frowned, looking at Chen Xiang.
Chen Xiang said, “She was already planning to resign, wasn’t she?” She had already told Shi Qi about it while she was still hospitalized. Shi Qi and the station director hadn’t approved, asking her to take a leave of absence first, but before leaving Jindu, You Ruxu had still completed all the handover procedures. Chen Xiang was surprised, “Dr. Zhou, didn’t you know?”
“I…” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ve been very busy lately, haven’t contacted her.”
“I only found out when I messaged her a couple of days ago.” Chen Xiang said, “I heard her mother even scheduled surgery for her after the New Year, she might be moving back to Yuhai.”
Zhou Tianzui looked down, “That’s good then.”
“It is good.” Chen Xiang said, “Being with her family is definitely better than being alone, hopefully she can take this opportunity to rest properly.”
Zhou Tianzui hummed in agreement. Chen Xiang’s mother returned with the fruit. Zhou Tianzui had already left, “Where’s that doctor?”
“She went back.” Chen Xiang said, “She’s on duty tonight.”
Chen Xiang’s mother looked at her, “You should just resign, it’s too dangerous. Your father’s blood pressure shot up when he heard about it this afternoon, he’s probably coming back tomorrow morning…”
“Mom.” Chen Xiang said, “I’m fine.”
“It’ll be too late when you’re not fine!” Chen Xiang’s mother was slightly annoyed. Chen Xiang hugged her arm and said coquettishly, “Mommy, dearest…”
There was a knock on the door. Chen Xiang looked over, “Who is it?”
Yu Qiao stood outside, holding a basket of fruit. Chen Xiang, momentarily confused, then quickly reacted, “A-Auntie?”
Yu Qiao said, “I heard from Xiao Tian that you were hospitalized, so I came to visit.”
Chen Xiang said, “You shouldn’t have, Auntie, Dr. Zhou just left.”
Yu Qiao paused, “She was here?”
Chen Xiang nodded, “Yes.”
Yu Qiao looked down.
Although she knew it wasn’t You Ruxu who was injured, she still came to visit, unable to shake her worry. Yu Qiao handed her the fruit basket, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” Chen Xiang said, “Tough as nails, built like a tank!”
Her mother slapped her on the head, “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Chen Xiang chuckled awkwardly, “Mom, I’ll chat with Auntie for a bit.”
Her mother looked at the two of them, “I’ll go pour some water, have a seat, Auntie?”
Yu Qiao nodded and sat on the chair beside Chen Xiang’s bed, looking at her, her head bandaged, yet still full of energy, she suddenly thought of Zhou Tianzui, it had been a long time since she had seen her so lively.
Before, she would always hug Yu Qiao’s arm, calling her “Beautiful Yu” this, “Beautiful Yu” that.
“Auntie.” Chen Xiang’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Is there something you wanted to ask me?”
Yu Qiao shook her head, “No, nothing, I just came to visit. I heard it was her father who pushed you?”
Chen Xiang nodded, a little embarrassed, “Yes, you’ve heard about it.”
Yu Qiao, seeing her expression, asked, “You didn’t tell her father, did you?”
“No.” Chen Xiang said firmly, “Auntie, you have no idea, he’s a monster! A scum! Gambles, drinks, does everything! Spent most of his life in prison! If he knew who it was, that person’s life would be ruined.”
Yu Qiao, looking at her, indignant even while lying in a hospital bed, softly repeated, “That person…” She asked, “Don’t you hate her?”
Chen Xiang was stunned, “Hate her?”
Then, realizing what she meant, she said, “Of course not.”
Yu Qiao asked, “Why not? You were injured because of her, why don’t you hate her?”
Chen Xiang, without hesitation, said with a smile, “Auntie, it’s our job.”
Yu Qiao looked at her.
Chen Xiang said, “Anyone would do the same, Teacher You would, and so would any other reporter.”
Yu Qiao opened her mouth, then closed it without speaking.
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