Chapter 78: Hug Me
Zhou Tianzui walked over to You Ruxu, “Why are you here?”
Her voice was gentle. The nurse pushing the patient’s bed glanced at Zhou Tianzui, wondering if she had misheard. When did Zhou Tianzui speak so softly? She was usually as strict as a homeroom teacher, her reprimands making people cower.
You Ruxu said, “I was bored lying in bed, so I came to see you. Are you going in?”
She moved aside. Zhou Tianzui removed her gloves, tossed them into the trash can, and said, “She’s just having contractions, it’ll be a while. Want to go to my office?”
You Ruxu shook her head.
Zhou Tianzui looked at her.
You Ruxu said, “You go ahead with your work, I’ll just watch.”
Zhou Tianzui smiled, “Watch what?”
“Watch you work.” Her voice was soft. Zhou Tianzui said, “What’s so interesting about watching me work—”
You Ruxu said, “It is interesting.”
Zhou Tianzui’s eyes crinkled with amusement, trying to maintain a neutral expression, her heart filled with a sweet warmth, like honey. She wanted to pinch You Ruxu’s cheek, to hug her, kiss her, but they were in a hospital corridor, people coming and going. She put her hands in her pockets, “Then watch.”
She wouldn’t be visible once she entered the delivery room. You Ruxu sat on a bench in the corridor, watching Zhou Tianzui go back and forth. She remembered the first time she interviewed the obstetrics and gynecology department, it had been like this too. Back then, they weren’t very close, and Zhou Tianzui hadn’t wanted her to wait too long, always hurrying over to her, saying, “Sorry, I’m a little busy, you can go to the office and have some tea.”
And she had said, “It’s okay, I can observe and learn.”
She hadn’t learned much about medical procedures, but she had become captivated by Zhou Tianzui, who calmly and efficiently arranged surgeries and diagnoses. Back then, Zhou Tianzui wasn’t as strict as she was now, but the signs were already there, and later…
You Ruxu felt as if she had spent a hazy period with Zhou Tianzui, a hazy mix of pain and happiness.
It was completely different from how it felt being with Zhou Tianzui now.
The next time Zhou Tianzui came out, the person who had been sitting on the bench was gone. Her heart sank, a sharp, fleeting pain. She chided herself for being sentimental. It was just a short absence, why did it feel so strange?
But You Ruxu didn’t even say goodbye.
Zhou Tianzui returned to her office and grabbed her phone, messaging You Ruxu: [When did you leave?]
You Ruxu was in her ward. Yao Zhao, despite being told to choose what she wanted, had bought You Ruxu’s favorite food, having observed her preferences. You Ruxu felt bad and took her out to eat.
She received Zhou Tianzui’s message just as she and Yao Zhao reached a restaurant. She replied: [Just a while ago, Yao Zhao came over, I’m taking her out for dinner.]
You Ruxu thought for a moment and then asked: [Haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Want me to bring you something?]
Zhou Tianzui: [Bring me something.]
Zhou Tianzui: [No need to bring it up, I’ll come over after work.]
You Ruxu: [Okay.]
Knowing she was busy, You Ruxu didn’t say anything more, putting away her phone and entering the restaurant with Yao Zhao. She ordered three milk teas, holding the warm cups in her hands, and handed one to Yao Zhao.
Yao Zhao bit her lip, then said softly, “Thank you, Sister.”
Obedient and well-behaved, her eyes much brighter than when they first met. You Ruxu, contacting her homeroom teacher earlier, had been told, “Yao Zhao has changed a lot recently, she’s even started interacting with her classmates.”
You Ruxu reached out and patted Yao Zhao’s head, “Let’s go.”
On their way, You Ruxu called out, “Yao Zhao…”
Yao Zhao, holding the warm milk tea, turned to her. You Ruxu was about to speak, then frowned slightly, “It’s nothing, let’s go back to the hospital.”
“Oh, okay.” But weren’t they going out for dinner?
But there was still the food she bought at the hospital, they couldn’t waste it. Yao Zhao didn’t question her, just followed You Ruxu, who was walking quickly. You Ruxu glanced back at Yao Zhao, then suddenly reached out and took her hand. Yao Zhao froze for a moment, then You Ruxu pulled her along, hurrying towards the hospital.
After entering, You Ruxu released Yao Zhao’s hand.
Yao Zhao finally reacted, “Sister, what’s wrong?”
You Ruxu said, “Nothing.”
Yao Zhao said, “Were we being followed?”
You Ruxu looked at her.
Yao Zhao said, “Two men in black were following us just now.”
You Ruxu smiled, “Were you scared?”
Yao Zhao wanted to say yes, but she didn’t feel that scared, perhaps because she was with You Ruxu, her fear lessened. She said, “I didn’t have time to be scared.”
She was even making jokes now.
You Ruxu said, “Let’s go inside.”
They entered the hospital. You Ruxu glanced back, the two men who had been following them were gone.
Following her?
Connecting it to her recent car accident.
You Ruxu frowned slightly. This wasn’t the first time she had been followed, but this time, it seemed too obvious, almost as if they wanted her to see them.
If it was really Zhou Heng.
What was he trying to do?
Intimidate her?
It seemed a little childish.
You Ruxu took Yao Zhao back to her ward, ordered takeout, and Yao Zhao said, “But there’s already food here.”
“We’ll have this with Dr. Zhou later, I ordered some of your favorite food for tonight.” You Ruxu explained. Yao Zhao blushed, “Thank you, Sister.”
You Ruxu smiled.
Yao Zhao asked, “Sister, those people who were following us just now, was it because of your news report?”
You Ruxu looked at her.
Yao Zhao continued, “I heard from my classmates that your car accident was because of the news story you were investigating.”
And what Dr. Zhou had said this morning about the mortality rate of reporters.
Yao Zhao was worried.
You Ruxu said, “That’s not certain yet.” She looked at Yao Zhao, “Were you scared just now?”
Yao Zhao looked at her, her eyes clear: “What about you, Sister, were you scared?”
You Ruxu thought for a moment, then shook her head, “No.”
Yao Zhao asked, “Why not? Aren’t you afraid?”
“I am afraid.” You Ruxu said, “It’s normal to be afraid.” She then asked Yao Zhao, “I remember you said you wanted to be a police officer.”
Yao Zhao nodded, “I do.”
You Ruxu asked her, “Will you be afraid when you’re arresting criminals?”
Yao Zhao hesitated, “I…”
You Ruxu asked again, “Will you be too scared to act?”
Yao Zhao didn’t hesitate: “No.”
You Ruxu smiled. Yao Zhao seemed to understand. She looked at You Ruxu and smiled as well, the milk tea in her hand still warm, tasting extra sweet, extra comforting.
After dinner, You Ruxu cleared the table. Yao Zhao said, “I’ll take out the trash later.”
“Are you, going home today?”
Yao Zhao said, “I’m staying at the school dormitory now, I’ve already arranged it.”
You Ruxu pursed her lips, “What about the weekend?”
Yao Zhao paused for two seconds, “The police officer came to see me today, she said she would tell him the results.” She was referring to Yao Zhao’s stepfather. Yao Zhao continued, “I asked her to tell him tomorrow instead.”
You Ruxu asked, “Why?”
“I know he’ll want me to go back home.” Yao Zhao’s tone was much calmer than before, as if she had made up her mind. She continued, “I also know he’ll definitely tell the media that I lied, that I made it all up.”
He had evidence.
He had a legitimate reason.
That kind of person, to force her to go back home, would definitely spread such rumors.
You Ruxu looked down.
Yao Zhao said, “So, Sister, please publish the story.”
You Ruxu looked up. The light fell on Yao Zhao. She remembered their first meeting, the girl’s head lowered, being pushed around by her classmates, not even fighting back, wearing a washed but thin school uniform that blended with the night, silently enduring, like a little mute. So different from the girl now, her eyes clear and bright, talking about her dreams for the future.
Such a good child.
You Ruxu said, “Yao Zhao.”
Yao Zhao said, “Sister, do you know what makes me happiest right now?”
You Ruxu asked, “What?”
“Meeting you and Dr. Zhou.” Yao Zhao said, “I’m really lucky to have met you.”
Although they had only known each other for a short time, although they hadn’t talked much, You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui’s influence on her was profound. They had planted a seed of hope in her heart, and she had carefully nurtured it, already seeing it sprout.
Yao Zhao said, “Sister, please publish the story.”
Publish the whole truth. After the story was out, she would cooperate with the investigation, request community intervention, she could avoid going back to that home. She knew what this meant, she might face an even bigger storm, but she wasn’t afraid.
Yao Zhao’s eyes were firm, without the uncertainty she had shown at their first meeting. She had a clear plan, a definite goal.
You Ruxu paused for a moment, then nodded, “Okay.”
Yao Zhao’s heart lightened, and she smiled. She wanted to hug You Ruxu, but didn’t dare to. You Ruxu stood up, walked over, and hugged her. Yao Zhao was shorter than her, and very thin. She was overcome with emotion, hugging You Ruxu’s waist tightly, her voice choked with tears, “Sister, I’ll call you.”
“I’ll pay you back as soon as I have money.”
Still worried about the money.
You Ruxu chuckled, “I know.”
Yao Zhao said, “Sister, thank you—”
She started crying, her embrace tightening.
There was a knock on the door. Zhou Tianzui opened the door, they hadn’t let go yet, and she raised an eyebrow, “What’s going on here?”
Yao Zhao, embarrassed, said, “I’ll be going now, Sister.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Wait.”
Yao Zhao looked at her. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Are you going back to the school?”
Yao Zhao had mentioned wanting to stay at the school dormitory this morning, so she nodded. Zhou Tianzui said, “My colleague lives near your school, I’ll ask her to drive you back.”
Yao Zhao said, “Okay, thank you, Dr. Zhou.”
Her demeanor was much more composed now.
Zhou Tianzui took her to her colleague. After Yao Zhao left, Zhou Tianzui returned to the ward and saw You Ruxu standing by the window. She closed the door and walked over, “What are you looking at?”
You Ruxu said, “It’s snowing outside.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, “What did you and Yao Zhao talk about?”
You Ruxu said, “She wants me to publish her story.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Didn’t we decide not to?”
“Her stepfather won’t agree.” You Ruxu said, “Have you noticed how much Yao Zhao has changed?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, she’s even clinging to you now.”
You Ruxu chuckled, hearing her words.
Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “Still laughing? Come here.”
You Ruxu asked, “What for?”
Zhou Tianzui extended her arms, “To hug me.”
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