/
Chapter 53: “Get off the car,” he said.
Five or six years passed by in a flash, and no one thought that after they separated, they would still meet again at different crossroads after such a long time.
In the morning, after Xu Sui distanced herself from Zhou Jingze, she was called away by a nurse in a hurry. After finishing her work, during lunch break, Xu Sui took off her coat from the hanger and lay down on the sofa in the office to rest with her eyes closed.
The cool afternoon wind blew in through the window. Xu Sui closed her eyes and had a long dream. The details of the memories were so real that she really thought that she had returned to high school, admitted to the university, and met him again.
The alarm suddenly rang on the phone Xu Sui held tightly, but she still felt her eyelids were heavy and that someone besides her was nudging her arm. She opened her eyes with difficulty and unconsciously said, “Class is over.”
Beside her came a chuckle; the nurse on duty today, Xiao He, asked: “Doctor Xu, it’s time to go to work, are you asleep?”
The voice brought Xu Sui back to reality in an instant. Xu Sui got up from the sofa with a coat still on her body and smiled lightly: “True, I fell asleep and got confused.”
“It’s almost 2 o’clock, and in the afternoon, we have to see the people in the waiting room.” The nurse who worked with Xu Sui reminded her.
“Okay.”
Xu Sui got up and went to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water. Facing the mirror, she took off the hair tie on her wrist and tied her hair into a neat low ponytail.
The curtains in the office were pulled open with a “swish” and a large amount of light flooded in. Xu Sui unscrewed the lid, grabbed a handful of scented tea, and threw it into an electric tea kettle, pressing the power button with a “beep”.
Accompanied by the gurgling sound of boiling tea, Xu Sui leaned over to sort out the medical records and documents on the desk; her brain was working faster, and her speech became clear and well organized: “Nurse He, in a while, we’ll let people waiting to see the doctor come in order, if there are too many people in line and the patient is anxious, you can appease them as you see fit. If you encounter trouble, don’t push yourself, just call the security guard to deal with it.”
“Okay, Doctor Xu.”
On weekends, many people made an appointment. After Xu Sui sent off a patient, she welcomed another patient. She was so busy that she didn’t even have time to drink water.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, Xu Sui saw a rather special patient. A mother led a little girl in. The little girl was about ten years old; her hair was tied into pigtails, and she had fair skin and round eyes.
The girl’s mother held the girl and sat down, lifting her clothes to show the girl’s belly, and said, “Doctor, there was a fight between a pair of boys in my daughter’s class two days ago, and the one who was beaten was her deskmate. She has always been considerate, and in the spur of the moment, she rushed to pull apart the fight but was hit by a blunt object held by one of them.”
I saw a bruise on her abdomen that day, and Dou Dou said it didn’t hurt. I simply helped her treat the wounds. But two days later, I didn’t expect that she would cry out in pain. She couldn’t sleep because of the pain and had some difficulty breathing.”
Xu Sui nodded, looked away from the patient’s medical history on the computer screen, and said, “Let me have a look.”
Xu Sui leaned over and pressed on the injury of the little girl’s abdomen and asked softly: “Does it hurt?”
The little girl’s eyes were wet, and her mouth curled down: “It hurts.”
Xu Sui returned to the desk, printed two examination forms, and signed on them: “Take her for an abdominal ultrasound and CT to check whether there is any delayed organ damage.”
An hour later, the mother led the little girl back. Xu Sui took the report, checked it carefully, and finally said, “Fortunately, it’s just a soft tissue injury. I’ll prescribe a course of medications, but let her rest well, and after finishing them, you can come back for an examination.”
The girl’s mother breathed a sigh of relief and nodded hurriedly: “Thank you, doctor.”
The little girl didn’t understand but had a vague feeling that it was good news, and her face immediately brightened, revealing a smile. Xu Sui walked up to her, took out a handful of fruit candies from her pocket, and at eye level, she said softly:
“You are very brave. This is a reward for you, but promise me to protect yourself before being brave next time, okay?”
The little girl nodded vigorously, staring at the colorful candy in her palm. Her eyes rolled around, and her tone was lively: “Sister, do you have mint flavor? I prefer that one more.”
Hearing “mint flavor” Xu Sui’s dark eyelashes trembled, and she froze for a moment. The little girl’s mother pushed her arm and said: “Give it to you, and you’re still so picky. Take it quickly and thank the doctor.”
Thank you, sister.” The little girl picked out two candies from her palm.
Xu Sui regained her composure, raised her hand, and touched her head. She got up and sat back on the chair to continue working. The sun slowly set, and the last orange light came in and fell on the table.
Xu Sui glanced at the time; it was about to be six o’clock in five minutes. She pressed the intercom and asked, “Xiao He, is there any patient in the back?”
Xiao He hesitated and said, “There is one more, he’s been waiting here for a long time.”
Xu Sui picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip of water. She tightened the lid, and her voice finally eased a little: “Let him in.”
Not long after, there was a rhythmic knock on the door, “Du du——” Xu Sui lowered her head and was writing the hospital records. A few strands of hair fell on her forehead, reflecting on the paper as a shadow.
“I’m here to see a doctor.”
A sound close to metallic texture rang, deep and magnetic, familiar, yet unfamiliar. Xu Sui was concentrating on writing, and with a “squeak”, the tip of the pen suddenly drew a long line downward, and the record was ruined.
The paper was torn off and thrown into the trash can.
Xu Sui pressed her index finger and thumb on the blue file, and what she saw was black trousers, his hand hanging on the hem of the trousers. The protrusion of the wrist bone was clear, and there was a blood-red mark between the thumb and index finger, which had just been scabbed.
There was a silver ring on the middle finger.
She lifted her eyes slowly.
A branded black thin jacket with a black and white striped shirt inside. The neckline made his facial features more distinct and chiseled. Two buttons were undone, revealing a throat bone. It was still those dark and deep eyes that made people unable to look away at a glance.
He was less loose and carefree than before but a little more abstinent and masculine.
It seemed that something had changed, but it also looked like nothing changed.
It was indeed Zhou Jingze.
She met him twice in one day.
The clock on the wall happened to be exactly six o’clock. Xu Sui only looked at it for two seconds, then retracted her gaze very lightly and put the cap back on the pen: “I’m already off work. If you want to see a doctor, turn left to the emergency department.”
Zhou Jingze was stunned. He was driven away as soon as she let him come in. It was obvious that she just didn’t want to see him.
He raised his eyelids, looked at Xu Sui, and said, “Xu Sui, I’m really here to see a doctor.”
Xu Sui lowered her head and remembered what she had to finish. Zhou Jingze’s serious and calm tone seemed like she didn’t forget him but was deliberately trying to avoid him.
At this time, the door was pushed open, and Nurse He came in with a pile of documents. Zhou Jingze directly pulled out a stool and sat down, speaking calmly, “Nurse, can I ask you a question?”
“What?” When Xiao He saw that the handsome guy was talking to her, her voice softened.
Zhou Jingze was playing with a silver lighter in his hand and asked, “What if you encountered injustice on the road and saved someone, and because of that person, you got injured? But the other party doesn’t want to take responsibility?”
“Isn’t that being ungrateful! You must hold that person responsible.” The nurse said excitedly.
“That makes sense.” Zhou Jingze nodded seriously.
Xu Sui ignored their conversation and sorted out the documents on the desk. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the man sitting there calmly, his line of sight slowly falling on her head.
He kept silent, and Xu Sui’s neck was numb from his scorching gaze. She finally spoke with a slightly aggressive tone: “Why haven’t you left yet?”
Nurse He, who was sorting out the files next to her, looked surprised. Dr. Xu has always been gentle, and today, was the first time she saw her speak aggressively. Zhou Jingze put the lighter on the table; in a casual tone with a low and pleasant voice:
“Well, I’m here waiting for you to take responsibility.”
? ? ? ? ! ! ! ! ! A row of exclamation marks appeared on the nurse’s face. No wonder Dr. Xu was single, and no matter how good the conditions were, she didn’t look at them. There was such a top-quality handsome man in front of her demanding her to take responsibility, that of course, if you showed her someone, she wouldn’t look at them.
“I’m off work. If you need to see a doctor, you can go to the emergency department.” Xu Sui repeated.
Nurse He seemed to understand, and before going out, she couldn’t bear to say a word for the handsome guy: “Doctor Xu, why don’t you help him out? It was this gentleman’s turn before, but there was an old woman in front of him who was in a rush, so he gave his spot to her.”
It turned out to be like this.
Xu Sui lowered her eyes and softened: “Where do you feel uncomfortable?”
“Back.” Zhou Jingze spoke briefly.
Xu Sui pointed to the compartment inside: “Go inside and let me check.”
Zhou Jingze didn’t hesitate. He went in and sat on the edge of the bed, probably thinking it would be troublesome, he stretched his hands on the hem of his clothes and directly took off his shirt, revealing distinct and firm muscles and flashing the V-line abs that extended to the abdomen.
Xu Sui subconsciously turned her face away. After Zhou Jingze took off his clothes, he automatically turned his back to her, and Xu Sui stepped forward to check. At this moment, the sun had completely set, and the light in the room was a little dim.
A row of spines on the back of the slender neck was obvious. The back was broad and thin, and there were two dark red scars in the middle with purple bruises; the wound appeared a little festered.
It must have been from that night.
He didn’t do anything either.
Only when the wound relapsed.
Xu Sui leaned over and pressed the bone near the wound on his back, lowered her eyelashes, and focused: “Tell me where it hurts.”
A pair of soft bruises on his back was pressed back and forth, and when she touched the wound, Zhou Jingze kept a pale face and said nothing. Suddenly, he let out a “hiss” sound, as if he was extremely patient in enduring something.
Xu Sui paused and asked, “It hurts here?”
“No, your hair got me,” Zhou Jingze’s voice was light and deep, and he slowly said a word, “Itchy.”
A strand of hair on her forehead fell on his back. She took a step back, reached out, and hooked the falling hair behind her ear: “Sorry.”
“It’s no big problem,” Xu Sui sat back at the desk again, with a light tone, “I’ll write you some medications, just go to the window on the first floor to get it. Pay attention to wound infection, avoid smoking and drinking, and eat less spicy food.”
“Okay.” The computer screen reflected the man’s figure below his chin, dressing slowly and fasting buttons in a laid-back posture. Xu Sui retracted her gaze, waiting for him to come over and hand him the prescription.
The two didn’t make any eye contact the whole time.
After the person left, there was silence in the office, and the clock on the wall made a tick-tick sound. Xu Sui leaned back on the office chair, relieved.
Xu Sui sat in the office for fifteen minutes before leaving with her bag.
In the underground parking, Xu Sui took the key out of her bag and pressed the lock to unlock the car. She walked forward, opened the door, and put the bag aside, shifting gears to back up her car out of the lot.
After coming out, Xu Sui put her hand on the steering wheel and turned on the music. The soothing music played, and her nerves relaxed a lot. For some reason, she has always felt tired recently.
Maybe it was really time for her to take an annual leave and go out to relax.
Xu Sui thought, completely oblivious to the fact that a big black G suddenly appeared across from the front, drifting obliquely, and then the four-wheel drove steadily as if waiting for her in the front.
By the time she realized it, it was too late to decelerate and brake; she bumped into it with a “bang”.
Under the impact of inertia force, Xu Sui’s head bumped against the steering wheel. She looked up and saw that the other party’s rear car hood was largely dented, too tragic to look at.
It was like playing with bumper cars but still smoking after the crash.
She was about to turn 28; was she going to have an unlucky year this year?
The other party opened the car door and walked towards her. When Xu Sui got a clear look at who was coming, she closed her eyes in despair. She lay on the steering wheel and turned her face sideways, her heart utterly dissipated into ashes.
With a cigarette in his mouth, Zhou Jingze walked over with his long legs. He bent his fingers and knocked his knuckles on the car window. Xu Sui had to press the button to lower the car window.
The wind poured in, and his face was visible.
“Get off the car,” he said.
Xu Sui had no choice but to get out of the car. Zhou Jingze bit his cigarette and raised his hand to signal her to come over. Xu Sui had no choice but to walk over, and just as she stood still, unexpectedly, Zhou Jingze pressed on the phone with his thumb and forefinger and “clicked” to take a picture of her.
“Why are you taking a photo of me?” Xu Sui frowned.
Zhou Jingze took the cigarette out of his mouth, dusted the ash with his hand, and looked at her:
“Leaving evidence, just in case you don’t owe to the debt.”
Xu Sui: “.”
“You decide, private talk or follow the procedures.” Zhou Jingze asked her.
Xu Sui glanced at his G-Class car starting with 65; the license plate with consecutive numbers had been hit by her, and a corner of it was missing. At a glance, she couldn’t afford it even if she used all of her wealth.
However, the self-esteem in her heart and determination to not have anything to do with him forced her to pretend to be calm and gritted her teeth:
“Follow the procedures.”
Zhou Jingze nodded, holding the phone in his hand, and turned around. He pressed his thumb on the screen: “Number.”
Xu Sui pursed her lips, subconsciously on guard: “You can come directly to Puren to find me, I’m always here on weekdays.”
“Xu Sui,” Zhou Jingze called out her name slowly, his voice was a little low, and his tone was serious, “I’ve been busy recently.”
The hidden meaning was that he didn’t want to harass her.
Xu Sui had no choice but to report a series of numbers and then turned around and left. Three seconds later, a clear and very loud female voice sounded behind her:
“I’m sorry, the number you dialed is an empty number, sorry…”
Zhou Jingze turned on the speaker. Xu Sui blushed in embarrassment from head to toe, and Zhou Jingze exhaled a mouthful of gray smoke and raised his eyebrows:
“Want to explain, huh?”
After Xu Sui reported the number again, she escaped back to the car and started the car to leave.
Zhou Jingze returned to his car and stared at the white car leaving in front of him with strong emotions in his eyes. Suddenly, the screen displayed an incoming call from Sheng Nanzhou.
Zhou Jingze picked up the airpods and stuffed it into his ear. He tapped the switch with his index finger, and the call was connected. Sheng Nanzhou immediately spoke, crackling a lot:
“Damn it, young master I called you several times, why are you only answering now! Those favored all have nothing to fear huh? Let me ask you, did you think about going to the training base of the China Aviation Academy? Let me tell you, although it’s a bit compromising with your qualifications, you are still a chief instructor, and the salary is good. Also, aren’t you short of money recently…”
“Dude, my car got hit.” Zhou Jingze said suddenly.
“?”
“Holy shit, bro, that’s your favorite car. Usually, I only use it twice, and you’re still so reluctant to let me touch it. How could you say that you just got hit by a car?” Sheng Nanzhou nagged a lot before finally realizing, “No wait, why do I think you’re a little happy?”
“Actually a little bit.” Zhou Jingze responded.
After they finished speaking, Zhou Jingze lowered his neck and slid his thumb on the photo album. Xu Sui was wearing a knitted skirt, long hair, and a shawl, standing beside the car with a beautiful nose and red lips. She had naturally curved eyebrows and a blank expression on her face.
The collarbone at the neckline was long and prominent, and the slender waist was grasped in one hand.
How long has it been?
It doesn’t seem to be that long.
Xu Sui still looked quiet and beautiful as before, but there were many changes in the details. She was no longer a little girl who showed timidity in her eyes after being teased by others.
When Xu Sui faced him, her calm eyes were on guard, which made Zhou Jingze’s throat feel dry and rough, and a soft thorn pricked his heart, making it piercingly painful.
A stage just above being strangers, what is it called?
Xu Sui’s attitude and reactions were reminding him.
Years have passed.
Zhou Jingze frowned, his eyes were heavy, and the surging emotions in his eyes couldn’t be suppressed:
“She lost weight.”