“Staying up late is even worse,” Meng Yang whispered.
“I’m reading a professional book to help me fall asleep,” Liu Zhi added. “Reading a professional book before bed helps me sleep.”
Meng Yangning choked and continued to sleep with her head down.
Liu Zhi turned off the light, leaned closer to her, gently pulled down the blanket, and tidied her up.
"Good night," Liu Zhi said.
Meng Yang turned his head away and looked at Liu Zhi's profile.
How did this silent guy become so good at flirting?
"So your lack of romantic understanding was all an act?" Meng Yang felt increasingly uneasy and stared intently at Liu Zhi.
“Just because I’m quiet doesn’t mean I’m clueless about romance,” Liu Zhi said earnestly, looking into Meng Yangdi’s eyes. “Just because I’m not talkative doesn’t mean I’m a blockhead.”
"You can switch between two modes?" Meng Yang asked curiously.
"No," Liu Zhi said. "We don't talk in our sleeping quarters."
...
These days without work have felt incredibly long.
The statutory Spring Festival holiday is over. Liu Zhi and Meng Yang watched four or five TV series and seven or eight movies.
All the films were selected by Meng Yang, and Liu Zhi usually acted as a human-shaped body pillow in such situations.
During this time, they didn't argue or have any cold wars, and gradually became more and more inseparable. They would brush their teeth side by side in the morning, feed each other lunch, and hold hands even when taking out the trash at night.
At first, Liu Zhi only dared to sleep in the corner, but she eventually developed the habit of automatically offering her arm whenever Meng Yang came up to her.
There's no need to worry about Liu Zhi lying on her side anymore, as Meng Yang acts as Liu Zhi's pillow and leg-pressing blanket every day.
On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Meng Yang was summoned to the affiliated hospital to discuss matters.
Liu Zhi treated everyone to a farewell dinner for Teacher Wang.
Halfway through the dinner, He Guangyi and Liu Zhi started talking about the medical disputes.
He analyzed his views on this medical dispute from a media perspective.
Liu Zhi could tell that He Guangyi was quite capable.
Marketing accounts want traffic and buzz.
Between justice and traffic, they need traffic more.
Finally, He Guangyi agreed to help Liu Zhi with this favor.
Liu Zhi mentioned this matter to Meng Yang once. Meng Yang stared at her blankly for a while, then pounced on her and hugged her tightly, kissing her passionately.
Meng Yang has been very busy these past few days. As soon as he has a moment to spare, he is called by relevant departments to conduct investigations and collect evidence.
Zhang Jude continued to play the victim online, gaining sympathy from some people.
After He Guangyi published his article reflecting on doctor-patient conflicts, it resonated with many people. At the same time, he organized the sharing of heartwarming stories between doctors and patients on various platforms, turning hostility into warmth.
After that, the more Zhang Ju tried to play the victim, the more vicious the criticism became in the comments section.
The internet has a very short memory; after about a week, the hype had died down by two-thirds.
Among the old man's belongings was a notebook containing a long thank-you letter specifically addressed to Meng Yang and the staff of Ning Nursing Home. The notebook also contained many other fragmented entries, with a significant portion dedicated to complaints about his son's selfishness and willfulness.
Later, the notebook was leaked by a media outlet, and subsequently, the official investigation results were released.
The old man's death had nothing to do with Meng Yang.
Zhang Jude was imprisoned for extortion related to medical disputes. His past lies were also exposed one by one, and he became a laughing stock.
The affiliated hospital called Meng Yang several times to urge him to go to work, but Meng Yang didn't want to leave Liu Zhi and kept putting it off until the Lantern Festival.
On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Liu Zhi invited He Guangyi to dinner.
Meng Yang insisted on following along, no matter what.
In the Western restaurant, He Guangyi sat opposite them, and the more he looked at them, the more something seemed off.
The sweetness on the other side was overflowing from the screen, and he felt out of place. The steak on his plate turned into a deluxe version of dog food as he cut it.
Meng Yang was being lazy and didn't cut the steak. Liu Zhi cut it into small pieces for her, almost feeding her with a fork.
Meng Yang's hand was smeared with black pepper sauce, so Liu Zhi put down her knife and fork, turned her palm over, and carefully wiped it clean.
When Meng Yang finished his drink, Liu Zhi thoughtfully called the waiter to refill it.
Liu Zhi didn't know why Meng Yang was suddenly acting so pretentious today. Usually, she was a carefree and swift-moving tomboy, but today she suddenly turned into a soft, delicate, and frail woman.
On the way home, Liu Zhi held Meng Yang's hand and asked curiously, "Why are you being so clingy today?"
"Don't you enjoy my clinginess?" Meng Yang raised his hand, which was interlocked with Liu Zhi's, and rubbed his thumb against Liu Zhi's index finger. "Have you been using hand cream these past few days?"
Liu Zhi nodded somewhat guiltily.
Meng Yang glanced at her, his eyes seeming to say, "Liar."
"Starting tonight, I'll make sure you use hand cream," Meng Yang said. "If you don't..."
"What will happen if you don't wipe it?" Liu Zhi continued, following her train of thought, "Will they lock me out?"
Meng Yang shook his head, "Burn all your textbooks."
Liu Zhi choked up.
"I've got it." Meng Yang lowered his raised hand and pressed even closer to Liu Zhi.
"He Guangyi's gaze towards you is strange," Meng Yang sighed. "His girlfriend is incredibly charming."
“He was a classmate from junior high school,” Liu Zhi said. “He didn’t have any bad intentions and helped me a lot.”
“I know, that’s why I paid for the meal.” Meng Yang turned around. “But when it’s time to assert sovereignty, we still have to do so.”
After the Spring Festival, the weather has started to warm up, but the temperature difference between day and night in the capital is still significant.
Meng Yang and Liu Zhi stood in the wind for a while, their cheeks turning red from the cold.
There's a convenience store around the corner, and from this angle you can see steaming hot oden.
"Want some oden?" Meng Yang asked Liu Zhi, shrinking his neck.
"Just finished eating?" Liu Zhi asked.
“I don’t like Western food.” Meng Yang pulled his collar up a little. “Western food is about style, but I prefer something more substantial.”
"Is there something implied in your words?" Liu Zhi asked.
"Guess whatever you want," Meng Yang laughed, his eyes softening.
From this angle, Liu Zhi could see the reflection in her eyes—a reflection of her was hidden in Meng Yang's eyes.
It was warm inside the convenience store, so Meng Yang ordered a few skewers of oden and a small bowl of instant noodles.
There is also a convenience store on the campus of Yanzhong. Occasionally, some students will skip evening self-study and sneak into the convenience store to eat instant noodles.
By the time Liu Zhi learned about this, the principal had already begun staking out and arresting people. Therefore, she never tried it herself.
"What are you thinking about?" Meng Yang noticed that Liu Zhi was lost in thought.
"It reminded me of high school," Liu Zhi replied.
"Skipping evening self-study to eat instant noodles?" Meng Yang laughed. "Really?"
The romance of going from school uniforms to wedding dresses is probably like this—sharing the same beautiful memories of a pure and innocent era.
“The top students definitely haven’t tried this.” Meng Yang held up a bowl of instant noodles and offered it to Liu Zhi. “Want a bite to make up for it?”
Liu Zhi took a bite with Meng Yang's fork and said, "To make up for it."
"I have to go to work every day." Meng Yang put down the instant noodle box and sighed. "I don't want to be a corporate slave."
"I'm bored at home, and I want to go back to work," Liu Zhi said. "After resting for so long, I don't know if I can adapt to being a chief resident again."
"I feel like my bones are about to fall apart from sleeping so much these past two days," Meng Yang concluded. "That's what I say, but I still don't want to go to work."
Meng Yang lay on the table, sighing repeatedly.
She was wearing a light brown fur coat today, and lying there like this, she looked just like a little bear.
Liu Zhi was charmed by Meng Yang's soft and cute demeanor and patted her head.
I stayed at the convenience store until nine o'clock, and the wind outside got even stronger.
"Do you need a taxi?" Liu Zhi asked.
"No," Meng Yang refused decisively. "I want to walk with you."
There were few people on the street. Meng Yang, swinging Liu Zhi's arm, walked with an air of indifference, as if he didn't recognize anyone.
"Hurry up." Meng Yang was already an arm's length ahead of Liu Zhi and couldn't help but urge him on.
Liu Zhi deliberately took large strides to increase the distance between herself and Meng Yang.
"Alright, alright," Meng Yang said, panting. "You can slow down now!"
Meng Yang approached and took Liu Zhi's forearm with both hands.
Liu Zhi's phone suddenly vibrated, but she didn't pay much attention to it.
Chapter 31 Note
"Liu Zhi," Meng Yang held her fingers tightly, unwilling to let go, "I still feel like I'm dreaming."
"Liu Zhi," Meng Yang called her again.
"Yes." Liu Zhi put her arm around Meng Yang's shoulder. "I'm here. It's not a dream."
“That’s so unfair,” Meng Yang concluded. “I’m always the one who pursues you; you’ve never pursued me.”
Liu Zhi laughed, then lowered her head and said, "Why have you suddenly become so childish?"
"Because I've fallen for Liu Zhi." Meng Yang's eyes reflected her image.
“My name is Liu Zhi, not Liu Youzhi.” Liu Zhi hugged Meng Yang tighter.