Jiang Feifei thought that being close to Gu Tingzhou would give her an advantage, and that they would get along well since she was colleagues with him. However, in reality, Gu Tingzhou completely ignored her.

Their interactions were limited to work; every time Jiang Feifei got off work, she would think about asking him out.

"Gu Tingzhou, are you free tonight? Let me treat you to dinner."

Gu Tingzhou refused outright, "I'm busy."

"Gu Tingzhou, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to a movie."

Gu Tingzhou refused again, "I don't have time."

...

For several days in a row, Gu Tingzhou refused, which infuriated Jiang Feifei.

She didn't believe he was too busy at night; she thought he was just deliberately rejecting her.

She wanted to see what Gu Tingzhou was busy with at night, showing such disrespect to her.

She planned to take some time to follow Gu Tingzhou.

In reality, Gu Tingzhou was genuinely too busy, because he would go to the clinic after get off work to take care of Han Caiying. And even if he had free time, he wouldn't want to bother with her.

Ever since Han Caiying injured her arm and became unable to move around easily, Gu Tingzhou has been taking the initiative to get her meals and pay for her medical expenses. He takes care of her for two reasons: first, because Han Caiying was injured while saving him, and second, because Song Ning specifically asked him to do so.

Han Chae-young felt a warm glow in her heart. She already had a good impression of him, and after spending these past few days together, her feelings for him had only grown stronger.

As soon as he got off work that day, Gu Tingzhou got his meal from the police station's canteen and prepared to go to the clinic.

He rode his old-fashioned bicycle, a lunchbox slung over his handlebars, along the road. But he always felt like someone was following him.

His instincts as a police officer kicked in, so he deliberately pretended to ride faster and faster, hoping to shake off his pursuers.

Sure enough, Jiang Feifei couldn't keep up anymore. She ran for a while, panting, but found that Gu Tingzhou had disappeared without a trace.

"Strange, where are they?"

Jiang Feifei looked around, and when she reached the alley entrance, Gu Tingzhou suddenly appeared, startling her.

Gu Tingzhou raised an eyebrow, his eyes serious. "Why are you following me?"

“I didn’t follow you,” Jiang Feifei retorted.

"If you weren't following me, then this isn't the road to your house. What are you doing here?"

“I was just wandering around, who would have thought I’d run into you?” Jiang Feifei had a sudden idea. “Why don’t you ride your bicycle with me on the back? Wherever you go, I’ll go. We can just wander around.”

After all, this is a great opportunity for close contact.

"No, we're not going that way."

Gu Tingzhou refused outright and rode off on his bicycle.

"Hey, Gu Tingzhou, stop right there!"

Jiang Feifei was so angry that she stomped her feet when Gu Tingzhou rejected her so bluntly.

Does Gu Tingzhou hate her that much? He acts like he's seen a ghost whenever he sees her.

No, she had to see what he was doing.

Jiang Feifei thought for a moment, then waited until he had ridden far away before catching up with him again.

...

Gu Tingzhou stopped in front of the clinic.

He parked his old bicycle at the entrance, picked up his lunchbox, and went into the clinic.

Jiang Feifei stood not far from the doorway, watching him go inside. She frowned. What was he going to do? Was he going to visit a patient?

Thinking of this, she quietly approached and peered through the window at the entrance of the clinic:

"I brought you some food, eat it while it's hot."

Gu Tingzhou opened the aluminum lunchbox and placed it in front of Han Caiying.

Han Chae-young sat down in her seat, her arm bandaged.

"Thank you for bringing me meals these past few days. You've worked so hard." Han Chae-young was touched.

"Don't mention it. You were injured while saving me, so it's only right that I take care of you."

Gu Tingzhou handed her the chopsticks, "Eat it while it's hot."

Han Chae-young picked up her chopsticks and started eating. After a few bites, she couldn't help but speak.

"Gu Tingzhou, what do you think of me?"

"Forehead……"

Gu Tingzhou hadn't expected her to ask such a question, and he scratched his head sheepishly, "I think you're a kind person at heart."

"Is that all? What do you think of my appearance?" Han Chae-young stammered, suddenly feeling a little shy.

"She's a very cute girl, petite and adorable. Just like the little sister next door."

Gu Tingzhou was oblivious and didn't think much of it.

Hearing him praise her like that, Han Caiying felt a little happy. It seemed that Gu Tingzhou didn't dislike her and had feelings for her.

After thinking for a moment, she continued to ask.

"So, do you still have feelings for Song Ning?"

Upon hearing Song Ning's name, Gu Tingzhou was taken aback for a moment, then sighed, "It won't be dispelled in a short time."

Hearing that he still had feelings for Song Ning, Han Caiying felt a pang of sadness, but she still spoke:

“I think you should move on and try to accept other girls. Otherwise, it’s not fair to you. There are some things I feel I need to tell you. Song Ning even asked me for some aphrodisiac pills last time. She and Huo Beian have already consummated their marriage. It’s a done deal. Are you still going to wait?”

Han Chae-young couldn't bear to lie to him, so she decided to tell him the truth.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Gu Tingzhou dropped his chopsticks and froze on the ground.

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

Song Ning, how could you give yourself away so quickly... Don't you really have any feelings for me at all?

The thought that Song Ning had already given herself to him while he was still shaving his head on the other end made him feel unbearable.

Although Gu Tingzhou loved Song Ning very much, he also had a psychological aversion to virginity. Moreover, men of that era were very traditional and had a strong virginity complex. He could accept that Song Ning was divorced, but he could not accept that she had slept with other men...

Although he had previously said he didn't care, that he would be willing to let her get married and have children as long as she was with him, and that he was overjoyed to hear she wanted a divorce, he clung to this sliver of hope and kept waiting...

But when he heard with his own ears that she had become someone else's woman, he still couldn't quite accept it.

Seeing his reaction, Han Chae-young quickly said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you. I just hope you can get over this soon."

Gu Tingzhou then came to his senses and became somewhat flustered. "I'm sorry. Hurry up and eat. I'll change your dressing after you finish."

Han Chae-young stopped asking questions and focused on eating.

Gu Tingzhou was in great pain, but he endured it silently.

Perhaps Han Chae-young is right; he really should move on. But how could he just let go of the feelings he'd had for Song Ning for so many years? He simply couldn't do it…

When changing her dressing, Gu Tingzhou gently helped her unwrap the gauze and put on a new one. At that moment, the two of them were quite close.

Han Chae-young watched him get so close to her, and her face flushed, her heart pounded, and even her breathing became rapid.

Gu Tingzhou noticed her shyness and quickly moved away from her. He stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "I've changed your medicine. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute," Han Chae-young called out to him. "Can you chat with me for a while?"