Chapter 11 The wagging-tail puppy looks like it could fall off with the slightest tug...

It was already two o'clock when Cheng Guo lay down on the bed. She had gone to bed late last night, worked more than ten hours today, and was frightened by Yuan Man in the evening. Her body was so tired that she felt like she could sink into the mattress and didn't even want to move her fingertips.

However, he was very excited.

Yes, excitement.

This was a very rare emotion and experience for Cheng Guo, something he hadn't felt in over a year.

When she opens her eyes, she sees Shen Zhui rushing towards her without hesitation; when she closes her eyes, she sees Shen Zhui standing under a streetlamp, awkwardly and earnestly telling her his hand, word by word.

How could anyone be so foolish as to reveal their hand to others?

Some people are foolish enough to reveal their hand to her, giving her an unprecedented sense of security and stirring a ripple in her otherwise mundane life.

With her thoughts changed, Cheng Guo smiled as she looked at the items Shen Zhui had forcibly shoved into her.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, she sat up again.

Since the surgery, Chen Zhui has been running, jumping, and fighting, engaging in all sorts of strenuous exercise. Today, when crossing the neighborhood, he didn't take the usual route; instead of using the gates that people should use, he stepped directly over the car bumper.

It's hard not to worry about his wound.

Pushing open the door to leave the room, a stuffy feeling hit her. Cheng Guo glanced at the broken air conditioner and thought of Chen Zhui's wet hair every morning.

July is the hottest month in Licheng. Although the evenings are cooler, air conditioning is still necessary. Cheng Guo couldn't imagine how Shen Zhui had spent the past few nights.

The living room lights were off, and Chen Zhui lay quietly on the sofa. Cheng Guo called his name, but no one answered. She went back to her room to get her phone, thought for a moment, opened the window from the bedroom to the balcony, and then tiptoed out.

Shen Zhui was fast asleep, with most of the blanket hanging down onto the carpet next to the sofa, and only one corner was pressed down by a hand and placed on his abdomen.

The clothes I bought for him have arrived. They've been washed and are hanging to dry on the balcony. He's lying flat on the sofa with only a towel around his waist, one leg straight out and the other slightly bent, his knee resting against the sofa back. His body lines undulate smoothly in the dim light.

He was so tall that there was usually a lot of space on the sofa when she lay down, but now he filled it completely.

Thinking about what she was going to do in a little while, Cheng Guo's ears burned. She turned on her phone's light and squinted to turn the brightness down to the lowest setting. Chen Zhui's flat and firm abdomen came into view.

Even in his relaxed state of sleep, you can still see the firm muscle lines rising and falling slowly with his breathing.

She recalled her thoughts on the night of Chen Zhui's surgery, when several nurses vied to shave him, and wished she could travel back in time to undo it.

At least a half-naked handsome guy is still quite a sight to behold.

Carefully moving his hand away, Cheng Guo first checked the exposed wound. The dressing was no longer secure and was peeling up at one corner. Fortunately, the wound was fine, and she breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced down.

Knowing that she wouldn't come out after entering the room, Shen Zhui tied the bath towel very low without any burden, simply tucking one corner of the towel around his waist, as if it could fall off with a gentle tug.

After silently repeating "I am a good person" twice in his mind, Cheng Guo reached out to that corner and slowly pulled it.

When Cheng Guo's knuckles accidentally brushed against his lower abdomen, Shen Zhui groaned and moved his arm as if he were about to wake up. Cheng Guo's heart skipped a beat and she quickly stopped. Feeling guilty, she turned off the flashlight. But then she thought that if Shen Zhui woke up at this moment, she would be even more confused. So she turned it back on and stared intently at his face. She was relieved when she saw that he only frowned slightly and then did not move again.

She should have just woken him up, turned on the lights, and made him pull down his towel to show her, no doubt about it.

After a moment of silence, caught in a dilemma, Cheng Guo reached out again. She didn't dare to untie the towel completely, but only loosened one corner and pulled it down to reveal the other two wounds. After checking that they were alright, she pulled the towel back up, tucked it in hastily, turned off the light, and quietly went back to her room.

The next morning, Cheng Guo woke up according to her biological clock. When she left the room, Chen Zhui was coming out of the bathroom. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black athletic shorts, looking very clean and casual. His hair was still damp from the shower, and his eyebrows and eyes looked deep and defined, as if they had been heavily painted. His exposed calves were firm and strong.

Cheng Guo greeted him listlessly with a "Good morning," then walked past him into the bathroom to wash up. The ventilation button on the wall was lit, the fan was working diligently, and the air was filled with the faint scent of shower gel. The water vapor on the mirror hadn't been wiped away yet, making her reflection somewhat blurry.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?" Shen Zhui stood outside the door, water droplets from the ends of his hair dripping onto his neck.

"It's okay." Cheng Guo lowered her head and squeezed toothpaste.

She is used to closing the doors and windows and drawing the curtains tightly when she sleeps. This sense of enclosure gives her a sense of security. Last night, she opened the curtains a crack and left the window wide open. It took her a long time to process this discomfort. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she thought about how the air conditioner repairman would be coming today.

There's another reason: I'm having lunch with Yu Muying and Cheng Fuyan today, so this birthday is bound to be anything but pleasant.

After washing up, Cheng Guo turned into the kitchen and glanced outside. Shen Zhui was standing on the balcony answering a phone call. Sunlight shone on his hair, giving it a faint metallic sheen. His back was broad, and he was facing away from her. Cheng Guo looked away, reached out and touched the magic wand in Sakura's hand on the refrigerator. After watching it spin, she smiled and opened the refrigerator door.

Too lazy to make breakfast, she took out bread and fresh milk. As she twisted the cap off the bottle, Chen Zhui came in. He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. He showed no sign of leaving. His shadow stretched onto the counter next to her, and his movements as he fiddled with his magic wand were clearly visible.

Cheng Guo tilted her head, cleared her itchy throat, picked up a mug, and poured milk into it while pinching the carton between her fingertips. When she noticed a gaze falling on her, she looked up and asked, "Want some?"

"Um."

Shen Zhui's gaze remained unwavering.

"...Would you like this one?"

Cheng Guo followed his gaze to the mug containing the poured milk, trying to understand.

Two seconds later, Shen Zhui glanced at her, took the milk carton from her hand without ceremony, poured himself a cup, and gestured for her to screw the lid on while holding the milk carton.

Cheng Guo was inexplicably bewildered.

When the air conditioner repairman arrived, Cheng Guo had just finished reading a paper. She asked Chen Zhui to put on a mask, opened the door, and the repairman came in carrying a toolbox and a folding ladder. After inspecting the indoor and outdoor units, he explained that the air conditioner compressor was broken. It was now out of warranty, and replacing the compressor would require waiting for parts, which would be expensive. It would be better to buy a new air conditioner.

"You can order it at the store or online, and customer service will arrange an installation time," the repairman said while packing his toolbox.

It was hot, and he was sweating profusely while checking the outdoor unit. Cheng Guo handed him a bottle of ice water and asked, "Is it possible to install it today?"

"It will take at least five or six days," the driver said, taking a few sips of water before estimating. "We get a surge in orders every summer around this time."

Cheng Guo suddenly felt a headache coming on; Shen Zhui would have to endure the heat for several more days.

"What time do you get off work? I'll give you extra money if you'd bother to come and help me with the installation," she asked persistently.

The installer smiled and declined, "I've been doing more than ten jobs a day lately, and by the time I finish, it's past ten at night." He looked around the apartment and asked, "Is the air conditioning in the bedroom working?"

"OK."

"That won't bother you. You can sleep in the bedroom and just open the door when you're in the living room." "..." Cheng Guo had no answer.

Shen Zhui, standing beside him, turned his head away without saying a word.

“Oh, you have a cold and need to sleep separately, right?” The doctor noticed the mask he was wearing and offered advice, “Then just open a door or a window in the bedroom so that both sides are open. One air conditioner is enough for this house.”

Shen Zhui glanced at Cheng Guo, and seeing that she didn't intend to speak, he hummed in agreement, his lips curving under his mask, "Enough."

Cheng Guo glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Cheng Guo rented this apartment. To replace the air conditioner, she had to contact the landlord. After communicating with him, the landlord readily ordered a new air conditioner, and the installation was scheduled for five days later.

The restaurant Cheng Fuyan had booked was half an hour's drive from Cheng Guo. After finishing with the air conditioning, she didn't have much time left, so she didn't dare to delay and changed her clothes before heading out.

Shen Zhui didn't go out today either, standing to the side watching her change her shoes. "What time will you be back?"

"I get off work at midnight. You can eat dinner by yourself; don't wait for me." She's on another night shift today, and she can rest tomorrow.

"Then..." Shen Zhui lowered his eyes, seemingly unhappy, and hesitated to speak.

"What's wrong?" Before leaving, Cheng Guo glanced at the packages blocking the doorway and thought to herself how amazing genes are. Shen Zhui must have inherited his mother's love of shopping. She assigned him a task, "Take care of these today. I bought privacy glass stickers, you stick them on the bathroom door."

These past few days, Chen Zhui has been going out to take a shower and coming back with a bunch of mosquito bites on his head.

“Okay,” Shen Zhui asked tentatively, “Should I go to the hospital after get off work?”

He added, "It's too dangerous for you to be alone."

He followed her to the entrance to see her off. At 190 cm tall, he almost touched the lintel. As if afraid of being rejected, he looked away from the side when he spoke.

Just then, the elevator arrived. Cheng Guo didn't take the emergency staircase. After a slight hesitation, she put the car keys back into her palm and said, "Okay."

"Wear a mask when you come out," she reminded her.

Yesterday's rain made everything around us seem to have a clear filter applied. The sky was crystal clear, a pure blue, the leaves were lush and green, and the sunlight reflected off them. Even the flowers that the city had arranged in the middle of the road looked more vibrant than usual.

The restaurant was on the third floor of the mall. It was lunchtime and a weekend, so parking was hard to find. Cheng Guo drove around for a while and saw a car about to leave, so he quickly drove over to wait for a table.

The car window rolled down, revealing a young and handsome face. Jiang Heng greeted her with a smile, "Cheng Guo, happy birthday."

The last time they met was during the Chinese New Year when she went to see Cheng Fuyan, and Jiang Heng, who was preparing to go abroad, happened to be there as well.

Although the two knew each other, they were not close because of their different social statuses. Cheng Guo rolled down the car window to thank him and wondered why he was there.

Jiang Heng understood her meaning and explained, "Teacher Cheng's car broke down, and I happened to be coming here, so I brought him over for dinner. I asked him to give you your birthday present."

After Cheng Fuyan's second divorce, Jiang Heng did not distance himself from him; he simply changed his address to Teacher Cheng.

Cheng Guo thanked him again. Jiang Heng's birthday was at the end of the month, and she wanted to return the favor with a gift.

After Jiang Heng drove away, Cheng Guo parked his car and went upstairs.

Cheng Fuyan booked a private room.

Following the waiter's directions, Cheng Guo pushed open the door a crack and heard the arguing.

Yu Muying was a strict teacher, her voice deep and powerful: "You've never cared about Cheng Guo's personal issues, so what right do you have to criticize me now?"

In contrast, Cheng Fuyan spoke much more gently, "I'm not criticizing you. I don't object to you introducing blind dates to Nannan, but you should check their character first, right? Last night, that Xiao Yuan, Yuan Man, got drunk and followed her in the middle of the night. If something really happens, who do you think will take responsibility?"

Cheng Guo's wrist, gripping the handle, froze, and she remained motionless as she pushed the door open.

How did Cheng Fuyan find out that Yuan Man was drunk and following her?

The room remained silent for a long time before Yu Muying spoke, her voice much firmer than before: "I will find out about Xiao Yuan's matter. If you know anyone of good character, introduce them to someone. Jiang Heng is getting married at the end of the year, and Cheng Guo doesn't even have a boyfriend yet."

“All the people I know are in the medical system, and you don’t want our daughter to start a family with a doctor.”

"Do I have to make Cheng Guo suffer the same hardships I've endured?" Yu Muying raised her voice. "When I was so exhausted that I fell ill and was hospitalized, you weren't there. I had to ask the neighbors to help take care of Cheng Guo. When Cheng Guo had pneumonia and a high fever and was crying for her father, you weren't there. I was teaching senior high school students preparing for the college entrance exam and couldn't get time off work. Cheng Guo was only a few years old then and had to get an IV drip in the infirmary by herself."

"I wasn't like that back then—"

"Yes, you have a career, you're busy. By the time you remarry, you'll be successful and not so busy anymore. You'll have time to take your son to tutoring classes, and even after the divorce, you won't forget to introduce him to potential partners. But what about Cheng Guo's studies or his love life? Have you ever cared about either of them?"

"Is it that I don't want to care?" Cheng Fuyan also got angry.

Cheng Guo knocked twice on the door, then opened it with a smile, "Mom."

He then turned to Cheng Fuyan, "Dad."

Cheng Fuyan composed herself before Yu Muying, smiled and responded, inviting her to come in and sit down.

During the meal, Cheng Fuyan brought up a few topics, and Yu Muying responded occasionally. Most of the time, the conversation at the table was between Cheng Fuyan and Cheng Guo.

Yu Muying doesn't have the habit of eating birthday cake. Cheng Guo finished a bowl of longevity noodles, and that was the end of her birthday. Before leaving, Yu Muying told her that she had already discussed the tuition issue with Cheng Fuyan, and that she could just register without worry.

Whether it was because of Yuan Man's matter or because she recalled Cheng Fuyan's various derelictions of duty as a husband and father, Yu Muying looked unwell and was in low spirits. Cheng Guo did not bring up any other issues related to the doctoral entrance examination.

The birthday party she had been worried about ended uneventfully after she opened the door.

Carrying the gifts from Cheng Fuyan and Jiang Heng, Cheng Guo drove to the hospital. Liu Xuejin had just arrived when he entered the office.

The two had worked shifts together and performed surgeries together several times, so they were more familiar with each other than with others and spoke more casually. When Liu Xuejin saw her come in, he reminded her, "The director wants you to go to his office after you come here."

And then, mysteriously: "Good news."

Cheng Guo, whose birthday had never brought anything good, knocked on Director Li's office door. Director Li looked up and said, "Go downstairs and pick up a package for me."

"..."

Cheng Guo stood at the door without moving, saying, "My teacher doesn't even give me the chance to run errands anymore."

"A birthday present," Director Li said.

"Sent by my teacher?"

Director Li glared at him: "Couldn't it have been sent by me?!"

He frowned and urged them on, "Go get it quickly, don't delay the shift handover. Bring it to me, don't just take it away."

Cheng Guo closed the door, went to the courier station to pick up the package. It was a rather heavy box that rattled when she shook it. Fearing that it might contain parts that needed to be assembled, she carefully carried it to Director Li.

The pencil case on the table was empty except for a utility knife. Cheng Guo picked it up and carefully opened the case. Director Li leaned over and said, "It's not bad. Pick one."

There wasn't much to choose from; there were only two types of brooches in the box.

One type is a cow wearing a white coat and a stethoscope.

One type is a horse wearing a white coat and a tie.

Cheng Guo took a horse and went back to Liu Xuejin, saying, "The director asked me to give this to you."

Liu Xuejin glanced at it twice and then pinned it to his white coat.

Cheng Guo was surprisingly not busy tonight. He read a paper and occasionally replied to the dog that Ruan Ning sent him.

In previous years, she would be in a bad mood after her birthday, and Ruan Ning would try to distract her by talking about various topics. In recent years, after discovering that she particularly liked Samoyeds, Ruan Ning would bombard her with a bunch of videos and pictures of Samoyeds in addition to talking about them.

Today is different. Today's dog is raised by a returnee from overseas, and Cheng Guo has never added him.

The three-month-old Samoyed's ears have just started to stand up, making it look like a little polar bear. It's currently in the teething stage, with itchy gums and a strong urge to chew. In the photo, the Samoyed is seen chewing on slippers, toys, and data cables...

Although it's cute, but...

Cheng Guo replied to Ruan Ning's message: 【Zhou Nanyu has joined the production team?】

[Running: How did you know?! This time it's the second male lead!]

Then he went on and on about how Zhou Nanyu originally auditioned for the role of the fourth male lead, but the production team thought he was more suitable for the role of the second male lead. He auditioned for the role of the second male lead the day before yesterday, signed a contract, and joined the production team yesterday.

After finishing her explanation, I asked her how she knew.

[Cheng Guo: Zhou Nanyu isn't busy, so how would you have time to chat with overseas returnees?]

[Running: What do I talk about with a returnee? I'll just steal photos from his WeChat Moments to show you!]

After she finished speaking, she posted two screenshots of her WeChat Moments, one of a series of nine photos of Samoyeds. Judging from the posting dates, she was more diligent than the people advertising on Cheng Guo's WeChat Moments.

[Cheng Guo: Are you really not a dog trafficker?]

[Running: No!! This guy is two years younger than you, and he looks like the kind of younger brother you like.]

Cheng Guo didn't reply to this message. Her colleague from the night shift arrived and handed over the shift early after hearing it was her birthday.

There was less than half an hour left before the actual end of the workday, and if Chen Zhui was coming over, he should be just about to leave.

Cheng Guo didn't rush to leave. She took a stroll in the corridor and paused when she passed the window.

The hospital was quiet at night, with few people outside. In the distance, the shadows of the trees and the light created a solitary figure standing.

The man was very tall, carrying a box in one hand, and was looking down at his phone.

A short while later, my phone vibrated in my pocket, and a message popped up on the screen:

Are you busy? Would you like to come down?

A note from the author:

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Thank you everyone for waiting! This chapter includes a red envelope as a token of our gratitude.

With the recent change of seasons, many people around me have fallen ill, and I myself have also been severely affected by a cold.

Take care of yourselves, everyone!