Chapter 100: Miss Me
You Ruxu was kicked out, along with Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui said, “My phone’s broken, I’m going to get a new one.”
It had only been a couple of hours, but the informant appeared during that time, and then escaped. You Ruxu, losing control, went to Zhou Tianzui’s apartment.
Zhou Tianzui said, “My mom, she needs some time.”
“It’s okay, as long as you’re alright.” You Ruxu paused. “As long as Auntie is alright.”
The two police officers stood outside on the stairs, unable to hear their conversation clearly. Zhou Tianzui said, “Tonight…”
“Don’t come over tonight.” You Ruxu said, “Stay home with Auntie?”
Remembering Yu Qiao’s expression earlier, You Ruxu’s heart ached. Zhou Tianzui paused, “I’ll be at the hospital tonight, I’m on duty.”
You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui, her eyes still red, her jacket unzipped, her clothes thin. Zhou Tianzui bent down, crouched in front of You Ruxu, and zipped up her jacket. You Ruxu was only wearing a thin hospital gown, the fabric clinging to her skin from the wind. Zhou Tianzui’s hand rested on her knee, a comforting warmth. She said, “Give my mom some time.”
She pulled the hood of You Ruxu’s jacket over her head. You Ruxu’s gaze followed her movements, nodding slightly, “Mm-hmm.”
Zhou Tianzui glanced at the two officers not far away, touched You Ruxu’s face, “It’s cold, go back.”
You Ruxu let Zhou Tianzui help her into the car.
The car’s heater was on, and it was warm inside. You Ruxu touched her knee, then her cheek, still carrying Zhou Tianzui’s warmth, the faint scent of disinfectant. She looked down and heard the officer driving say, “Reporter You, you’ve known Dr. Zhou for a long time, haven’t you?”
You Ruxu said, “Over three years.”
Just as she finished speaking, she received a call from Captain Zhou, who said they had caught the informant. You Ruxu breathed a sigh of relief, “When?”
“Just now.” Captain Zhou said, “You—”
Did you see Zhou Tianzui?
She paused, then said, “You can relax now.”
You Ruxu said, “Okay, thank you.”
The arrest of the informant wasn’t made public yet, only a few people involved in the case knew. Captain Zhou subtly revealed this information to Zhou Heng, who became even more agitated.
He wasn’t the type to resort to murder.
Captain Zhou had met him a few times, had a good grasp of his character, but now, he was the prime suspect, his name publicly announced, he was trapped. He had orchestrated the kidnapping. Confessing meant certain punishment, not confessing, being accused of murder, also meant certain punishment.
His lawyer advised him not to confess, claiming they could win the case.
But they had caught the informant, and the driver who kidnapped Xu Jinwan. The lawyer’s words and the police’s words clashed in his mind. During the last interrogation, they didn’t ask many questions, just brought him in, asked a few questions they had already asked before, a mere formality, they already had enough evidence to convict him.
Zhou Heng was on edge, his gaze constantly drifting towards the door.
Captain Zhou, looking at the computer screen, observed his every move. The officer monitoring the interrogation said, “Was he really the one behind Xu Jinwan’s disappearance?”
With his intelligence.
It didn’t seem likely.
Captain Zhou didn’t reply.
If Xu Jinwan hadn’t been killed, the plan would have been perfect, Fengyuan would have cleared its name, its image even improved, and the TV station would have been discredited, Xu Jinwan’s previous reports deemed false.
Killing three birds with one stone.
This plan didn’t seem like something Zhou Heng could come up with.
She said, “It wasn’t him, there must be someone else.”
Someone who wanted Xu Jinwan dead.
The officer watching the monitor said, “What a bastard, how’s Reporter You doing now?”
You Ruxu, back at the hospital, was coughing slightly from being exposed to the cold, but thankfully, her fever hadn’t returned. She took some medicine. The doctor said, “You can’t be running around like this, you need to rest.”
“I know.” You Ruxu said, “I’ll rest.”
The doctor, although unaware of why she went out, but knowing her profession and the reason she was hospitalized, said sympathetically, “You work too hard.”
You Ruxu said, “You’re the one who works hard.”
She offered the doctor a piece of fruit. The doctor smiled. You Ruxu also gave some fruit to the two police officers stationed outside her door and asked, “Now that you’ve caught the informant, does that mean the case is solved?”
The officer in front of her said, “Captain Zhou said they’re still waiting for Zhou Heng’s confession.”
You Ruxu nodded, taking a bite of the fruit. Remembering Yu Qiao’s expression earlier, the fruit suddenly tasted bitter and sour, difficult to swallow.
That night, she received a message from Zhou Tianzui: [I’m here.]
Knowing she was at the hospital, You Ruxu relaxed, her mood lifting slightly. Zhou Tianzui didn’t come to her ward, but sat in her office. He Wei said, “Dr. Zhou, is your cold better?”
Zhou Tianzui’s fever had subsided after taking medicine, but she had taken an extra day off to be with Yu Qiao. It was originally Fu Shushu’s turn for the night shift, but she had switched with Zhou Tianzui last time, so Zhou Tianzui was on duty tonight.
She nodded: “It’s gone.”
He Wei poured her a cup of hot tea. Lin Luo glanced at Zhou Tianzui, trying to find a topic of conversation. It was a quiet night, not much to do, everyone busy typing on their computers, updating patient files. He Wei, seeing Lin Luo still there, was surprised, “Are you working overtime?”
Lin Luo, her gaze on Zhou Tianzui, quickly looked away, “Yes, overtime, I have nothing to do at home anyway, might as well learn more here.”
He Wei’s lips twitched.
She had never seen anyone like this, others couldn’t wait to leave after work, but Lin Luo, not only did she stay, she even volunteered for overtime, was she a fool? She didn’t usually talk to Lin Luo, so she turned to another doctor, “Hey, have they found that missing baby from the maternity hospital yet?”
“Which one?” The doctor asked, then after a moment, “That newborn? No, it’s strange, they checked the surveillance footage, but couldn’t find anything.”
Zhou Tianzui looked up, “What baby?”
“Dr. Zhou, you haven’t heard?” He Wei said, “A newborn was taken from the maternity hospital two nights ago, they still haven’t found the baby.”
The family was frantic, but with the Fengyuan and Xu Jinwan incidents dominating the headlines, although the news was reported, many people still didn’t know about it, Zhou Tianzui included, “What about the surveillance footage?”
“They checked it.” He Wei said, “But there’s nothing, people online are even saying it’s an inside job.”
Lin Luo muttered, “How is that possible? If it was an inside job, why would they go to the hospital to give birth?”
Wouldn’t it be easier to do it at home?
He Wei said, “Who knows, but the rumors are getting wilder and wilder.”
Zhou Tianzui browsed the news, reading the brief report, the landline on her desk ringing. She answered, it was the director, “Dr. Zhou, disable the security system.”
Zhou Tianzui hung up and contacted the nurses’ station, asking them to disable the system.
Lin Luo asked, “Disable the security system?”
They didn’t usually disable it, it was inconvenient for visitors, sometimes people forgot their access cards and had to wait, which often led to complaints, it seemed the news about the missing baby had reached here as well. Zhou Tianzui said, “Go check if it’s been disabled yet.”
Lin Luo nodded, “Okay.”
He Wei chimed in, “Is it because of the maternity hospital incident?”
Zhou Tianzui glanced at her coldly. He Wei shrank back, hearing Zhou Tianzui say, “I’m going on my rounds, He Wei, come with me.”
They didn’t usually do rounds at night, but with the security system disabled, it was best to check on the patients, just in case. Zhou Tianzui and He Wei went from ward to ward. He Wei reported, “We admitted three expectant mothers today, one is ten days past her due date, currently on oxytocin, one scheduled for a C-section tomorrow, Dr. Fu’s patient, and the other one has been complaining of abdominal pain, but there’s no sign of labor yet, so she’s just staying in the ward for observation, they’re all sharing a room.”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “Sharing a room?”
Each ward had three beds, but in their hospital, C-section patients were usually separated from natural birth patients. He Wei explained, “The C-section patient was originally assigned to room 22, but seeing it was empty, she said she was scared to stay alone, and insisted on being with other patients, so they moved her to room 21.”
Zhou Tianzui didn’t think much of it, changing wards was common. She entered ward 21. Two expectant mothers were eating fruit, chatting. The third one, lying on the bed furthest from the door, her husband sitting beside her, playing on his phone.
“What are you naming your baby? Have you decided on a name yet?”
“Not yet, my husband can’t make up his mind. You?”
“Same here, we’ve been looking through dictionaries these past two days. We’ll have a name by the time the baby’s born, but I’ve already decided on a nickname, ‘Manman’ (Slowly), since she’s taking her sweet time in my belly.” Ten days past her due date, oxytocin ineffective, needing a C-section now, her tone slightly exasperated, yet also filled with the gentle joy of an expectant mother. Zhou Tianzui walked over to the woman nearest to the door, “Is your stomach still hurting?”
“It’s not hurting anymore.” The woman said, “You’re Dr. Zhou, right?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes.”
“My sister-in-law had her C-section with you, she said you’re excellent at stitching, and told me to look for you.” Zhou Tianzui said, “All our doctors are excellent surgeons.”
“That’s true.” The woman smiled. Her husband peeled a tangerine for her, which she offered to Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou, want some?”
Zhou Tianzui shook her head, “No, thank you.”
She glanced at the woman in the furthest bed, who seemed to find their conversation disturbing. She had drawn the curtains, turning her back to them. Zhou Tianzui left the ward and returned to her office. He Wei commented, “People are so different.”
The doctor opposite her looked up, “What are you so sentimental about?”
He Wei said, “Just random thoughts, from our rounds just now, in ward 21, the husband of the woman in bed 63, acting as if his wife giving birth has nothing to do with him, so infuriating.”
“Bed 63? I know him.” The other doctor said, “That man is ridiculous, completely clueless, doesn’t even know how far along his wife is, about to give birth, and he doesn’t even know the last time she had a checkup.”
“Seriously, some people shouldn’t be parents.”
Zhou Tianzui sat at her computer, listening to their chatter, and looked out the window, the streetlights casting a bright glow, the roads clearly visible. She finished updating a patient’s file and took out her phone, messaging You Ruxu: [Are you asleep?]
You Ruxu quickly replied: [Not yet.]
Zhou Tianzui: [What are you doing?]
You Ruxu pursed her lips. She wasn’t doing anything, just lying there, unable to sleep, Yu Qiao’s cold gaze flashing in her mind every time she closed her eyes, like needles pricking her heart. After a moment, she replied: [Staring into space.]
Zhou Tianzui: [Thinking of me?]
You Ruxu: […]
Sometimes, she really liked Zhou Tianzui’s seemingly nonchalant attitude, as if she could handle anything, that Yu Qiao just needed a little more time, and she would accept them.
Zhou Tianzui kept giving her this hope.
You Ruxu, clinging to this hope, her mood lifting slightly, replied: [Yes.]
Zhou Tianzui: [Yes, what?]
You Ruxu paused for a few seconds, then typed: [Thinking of you.]
Zhou Tianzui: [Keep thinking then, I’m on duty tonight, can’t come over, I’ll come see you after my shift.]
You Ruxu’s gloomy mood instantly brightened. She replied: [Okay. Are you free tomorrow?]
Zhou Tianzui sent a question mark.
You Ruxu typed: [My aunt’s coming tomorrow, I can’t pick her up from the airport, could you?]
Zhou Tianzui: [Okay, say it again.]
You Ruxu: [Say what?]
Zhou Tianzui: [Say you miss me.]
You Ruxu pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
Zhou Tianzui: Say you miss me.
You Ruxu: I miss you.
Zhou Tianzui: What do you miss about me?
You Ruxu: …
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