Lu Mingran smiled.
Because Lao Yan used the matter of helping Xiao Shuang to lure Xu Lingqiu away, he felt that Lao Yan's motives were impure. However, now it seems that Lao Yan was genuinely helping people and was very dedicated; he is a good person.
A somewhat pitiful good person who can't let go of his obsession.
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Lu Mingran was still in charge of receiving Lao Yan this time, but there was another colleague from the unit who wore glasses and kept taking pictures with his phone—this guy was in the publicity department, and his phone's photo album was full of pictures of various events.
Xiao Shuang's parents were also skeptical, but when they saw that someone had actually come, they were relieved.
Of course, they explained the nature of their department in a scientific way and claimed that they were essentially doctors, doctors who heal people's souls.
Xiao Shuang woke up at midnight that night. Her eyes were no longer numb and indifferent. As soon as she opened them, she started shouting and crying. At this moment, Lao Yan from the street called and said that it was okay. His tone was full of exhaustion.
Xiao Shuang's parents held Lu Mingran's hand in the room and said, "Comrade, we must thank this doctor properly."
Two days later, Xu Lingqiu, somewhat nervous, arrived at the sanatorium after making preparations. He planned to formally inform Xiao Shuang's parents that he would help them to the end.
But today he couldn't even get into Xiaoshuang's ward. From the outside, he could see a white-haired man standing by the bed, with Xiaoshuang's father and mother standing on his left and right.
Xiao Shuang's father was overjoyed, gripping Lao Yan's hand tightly until it began to turn red. On the other side, Xiao Shuang's mother, dressed in bright red, held a vibrant banner that read:
"A doctor's skillful hands bring the dead back to life, and his heart is full of compassion."
"Presented to: Dr. Yan Wu".
Old Yan was squeezed between the two men, a stiff smile on his face.
Across from him, the guy holding the phone seemed a bit dissatisfied, waving his hand to tell Lao Yan to look more natural.
"Director Yan, this is good news!"
Lu Mingran, who was squatting to the side, helped by saying, "Director Yan, don't stand so far away, come closer."
After saying that, Lu Mingran asked the guy, "When you get back, are you going to give a proper report?"
"Of course, the photos should be the largest available."
Old Yan could no longer laugh.
He was like a soulless puppet, manipulated into various poses.
He had already mentally greeted Lao Hu a thousand and eight times.
Outside the door, Xu Lingqiu saw the man who had been so mysterious and condescending in front of him that day now reduced to this state. He was filled with mixed feelings and didn't know what to say.
However, it seems that Xiao Shuang has finally been saved.
Xu Lingqiu smiled with satisfaction. At that moment, Lu Mingran received a system notification, opened the door, and wanted to come out and talk to him.
Old Yan looked over.
Now, Lao Yan saw Xu Lingqiu.
Xu Lingqiu was a little embarrassed. After congratulating Xiao Shuang's parents, he looked at Lao Yan, wanting to say something.
Finally, Xu Lingqiu managed a forced smile and squeezed out these words to Lao Yan:
"Director Yan, this is good news!"
Author's Note: Thank you to all the kind readers, otherwise Xiao Lu would probably have been stewed several times over by now...
Chapter 41 Want to Rise to the Top Quickly? No Way (5)
The air in the ward seemed to freeze.
Seeing the two staring at each other, creating an awkward atmosphere, Xiao Shuang's parents tried to think of something lighthearted to ease the tension. They stood there racking their brains for words.
Finally, when Xiao Shuang's mother looked at Xu Lingqiu's face, she remembered that she had seen him a few days ago, and he had said that he would go back and think of a way to help her daughter.
"Oh, it's you!" Xiao Shuang's mother exclaimed excitedly. "Xu Lingqiu, right? I remember you. You helped my daughter before."
Now, Old Yan looked at Xu Lingqiu, seemingly lost in thought.
Oh, so Xu Lingqiu was also involved in this.
Thinking of this, Lao Yan glanced at the banner and then at the space beside him where there was still room for one more person to stand. He made room for Xu Lingqiu and gestured for him to come in.
"Why don't you come and take a picture with me?"
The suggestion was so serious that Xu Lingqiu was stunned on the spot.
Lu Mingran's smile froze, and he asked the system:
"Has I driven Lao Yan crazy?"
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Fortunately, while being driven to madness, Lao Yan retained a sliver of rationality and did not actually invite Xu Lingqiu in.
Xu Lingqiu went downstairs, and Lu Mingran followed him out, finding him in the sanatorium's small garden.
The weather was exceptionally good today, a welcome change from the gloom of the past few days. Xu Lingqiu sat on a bench under the flower trellis, looking somewhat lost in thought.
He came fully prepared to rescue Xiao Shuang, but by then the matter had already been resolved by someone else. Lu Mingran could understand him, knowing that it was a feeling of sudden emptiness in his heart.
But no one in this world is indispensable, and no one has to be someone else's savior. Isn't carrying an excessive burden of responsibility a form of torment?
Lu Mingran wanted to go up and talk to him, but at that moment a white figure slowly walked over from the other end of the flower trellis. Upon seeing that person, Lu Mingran stopped in her tracks.
That was none other than Xiao Shuang. Xiao Shuang, who had just recovered, had slipped away to take a walk here alone; her recovery speed was truly astonishing.
Xiao Shuang had been standing there observing Xu Lingqiu for a long time, as if she was hesitating about something.
Finally, Xiao Shuang came over, greeted Xu Lingqiu somewhat shyly, and sat down next to him.
“I remember you. You spoke to me in the hallway that day, but I was in a very confused state at the time.”
Xiao Shuang looked Xu Lingqiu up and down and smiled: "Your name is Xu Lingqiu. I've heard your name before; my brother has mentioned you."
Mentioning her brother, Xiao Shuang's expression turned wistful, as did Xu Lingqiu's. A gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers passed between them, and after a long, long time, Xiao Shuang suddenly spoke:
“Some of what I’m about to say may sound a bit far-fetched, but I want to tell you something.”
"During these few days of confusion, I felt like I went to a very dark place, a very scary place, but I met someone there."
Xiao Shuang smoothed her wind-blown hair and smiled at Xu Lingqiu:
“My brother told me that he is very grateful to you for helping him in the past, and that you are the only one who has never made fun of him.”
So Xu Lingqiu turned his head to look at her, his eyes sparkling with tiny lights.
Faced with Xu Lingqiu's slightly suspicious gaze, Xiao Shuang responded with a very firm smile, which gradually dispelled the doubts in Xu Lingqiu's eyes.
"She's lying. People who return after losing their souls don't remember anything about the underworld." At that moment, the system whispered in Lu Mingran's ear.
"You mean, she didn't see her brother in the underworld?"
"I don't know, but I can tell she's lying."
The system chuckled and said, "She probably realized that Xu Lingqiu was overthinking things and wanted to comfort him."
Lu Mingran was still discussing with the system, but at some point, only Xiao Shuang was left under the flower stand.
Xiao Shuang stretched out her slender, pale arm and touched a nearby petal, just as sunlight fell on her hand.
Xiao Shuang suddenly withdrew her hand in disgust and immediately stood up and walked towards the shady building.
Whether it was a misperception or not, before Xiao Shuang left, Lu Mingran saw her call out softly to her own shadow.
...It seems like they're saying, "Brother."
"Wait a minute," the system called out.
"Lu Mingran, do you still remember the secret that Lao Yan kept in the novel?"
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afternoon.
When Lu Mingran returned to the ward, she saw Lao Yan arguing with the patient's family. While Xiao Shuang's parents were arguing about whether to take him to Furong Hotel or Lao Wang's roast chicken shop, Lao Yan quickly ran out.
Old Yan is determined not to participate in such activities anymore.
However, he was indeed hungry, so he took Lu Mingran to find a place to eat. When they arrived, Lu Mingran looked up and realized it was the noodle shop mentioned in the novel.
The noodle shop was located in an old alley, dilapidated and messy. When Lao Yan barged in carrying that bright red brocade banner, he seemed out of place with everything else there.
Moreover, his aura was too cold and his expression too fierce at that moment, making it seem as if the banner should have had four different characters written on it:
"Dugu Qiubai" (meaning "Seeking Defeat Alone").
The restaurant owner, who was cooking outside, turned his head and watched Lao Yan go inside. The diners inside also turned their eyes to him, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
Old Yan also sensed this awkwardness and casually tossed the banner to Lu Mingran. Lu Mingran hugged the banner and followed Old Yan into the innermost part of the house.
After sitting down, Lao Yan looked at the banner that Lu Mingran was holding and sighed, "I've been doing this for so many years and I've never received anything like this before."
"It's great, hang it at home to ward off evil spirits."
Lu Mingran glanced at the menu and, on Lao Yan's suggestion, ordered two bowls of noodles with beef. This restaurant was truly excellent; the beef was of high quality, and the noodles were smooth and chewy. While enjoying her meal, Lu Mingran looked up at the person opposite her.
Perhaps because he had almost completely dispelled Old Yan's mystique and power, he now seemed more approachable. He liked to avoid the scallions in his noodles and was extremely focused on his meal, never looking at his phone or anything like that.
“I was thinking of inviting Xu Lingqiu to eat at this noodle shop later,” Lao Yan paused with his chopsticks. “I know he likes the food here. And now it seems it really is quite good.”
"...You investigated him so thoroughly?"
"Because I want him to work for me."
With mixed feelings, Lu Mingran picked up a mouthful of noodles with her chopsticks and said, "What if he doesn't want to?"
Compared to this stage in the novel, Lao Yan's appeal to Xu Lingqiu has essentially vanished at this moment, and Lu Mingran inexplicably feels some sympathy for Lao Yan.
Old Yan, however, was completely unaware of his predicament and simply said, "I'll give it a try."
Lu Mingran knew that this was partly due to the past relationship between Lao Yan and Xu Lingqiu, but also because of the original plot; he couldn't persuade them otherwise. After a helpless smile, Lu Mingran ordered two bottles of soda.
"Director Yan, Lao Hu told me to go back. I won't be following you anymore."
Lu Mingran raised the orange soda bottle to clink glasses with Lao Yan, laughing heartily.
"The green hills remain unchanged, and the clear waters flow on forever."