Chapter 41 New Year's Eve at a Bar

Mom recovered quite well the next day. Apart from some pain at the surgery site, she was in good spirits. Dad wasn't as nervous as he had been the day before either; he sat next to Mom chatting and laughing. Of course, the main reason they were happy was that I had a boyfriend, and that person was Chu Zhen. It was like something that had been stuck in my hands suddenly being sold off, and at a high price at that.

"I told you there was something going on between them, but they absolutely refused to admit it last time," Mom said, eating an apple and looking at me.

“When Chu Zhen injured his leg last time, he was so anxious. How could he be just a regular friend? And he kept it from us.” Dad put another piece of apple into Mom’s mouth.

"Have you given us a proper explanation? When did this start? We're very open-minded, and a child like Chu Zhen wouldn't disagree." Mom was in really good spirits right now; even the nurse next to her said that she spoke with a strong voice.

“We officially became a couple in June, but when you went there, we were really just ordinary friends,” I explained.

"You're really patient. You started dating in June, and it's almost January now, and you didn't even tell us. I told you, you're such an ingrate."

"It's alright, it's Chu Zhen's problem from now on. You just focus on getting better, and we'll be more comfortable going on trips in the future. She'll have someone to take care of her anyway." He was clearly scolding me. My dear father was actually worried that his wife would get upset and harm her health.

"See? I'm the kind of person who's neither loved by my parents nor cared for by my father," I said to the nurse who was secretly gloating beside me.

"Your family has such a wonderful atmosphere, I'm so envious."

"That's because they had a good chemistry; I was just an 'accident'."

Zhao Zhengyu would come to the ward to inquire about the situation whenever he had time, which made me happy to relax. Every morning I would make soup according to the notes written by Chu Zhen, and in the afternoon I could meet up with friends from City B to go out for a stroll.

On December 31st, the atmosphere of New Year's Eve was getting stronger in the streets and alleys. My parents, who are very particular about rituals, still asked me to pack some food for them even though they were in the hospital, and they also decorated their ward a little.

"Lin Dang, I missed you so much!" Just as I was packing my things, Huang Yanyan gave me a hug from behind, making me stumble and almost fall to the ground.

What brings you here?

"You didn't even tell me you were hospitalized. Chu Zhen asked me to pack some of your things to come over. Auntie, are you feeling better?" Huang Yanyan said as she ran to my mother's bedside.

"I'm much better now, it's nothing serious. Look, I even made you come all this way."

"It's only right. You treat me better than my mom does. I had to come to the hospital." Huang Yanyan's words were true, but it should be my mom who treats her better than I do. Huang Yanyan is sweet-talking and can also be considered a spy that my mom planted next to me, but my mom doesn't know that she is a double agent.

"Stop looking, Chu Zhen is in the back. All the parking spaces are full, and he's looking for a spot. I came up first," Huang Yanyan said quickly when she saw me looking at the entrance repeatedly.

"Who said I was looking for Chu Zhen!" I felt guilty saying that. I had been waiting for Chu Zhen from the moment Huang Yanyan stepped through the door.

However, I didn't expect Chen Weiqi to come when Chu Zhen arrived. Chen Weiqi was as warm as when we first met. I could see the satisfaction in my parents' eyes, as if to say, "This child is not bad either."

The New Year's Eve celebration was quite lively. We all watched the New Year's Eve concert and ate takeout together in the hospital room. However, after we finished eating, we all went our separate ways. My parents knew that young people liked to go out to celebrate the New Year and countdown, so they said they wanted to rest after dinner.

"Lin Dang, the doctor who treated Auntie looks pretty good!" As soon as we left the house, Huang Yanyan pulled me aside and asked.

"Indeed, he's Chu Zhen's friend. He has excellent medical skills, and most importantly, he's a very gentle person."

"Then you must have their contact information, right?"

"Young Miss, you didn't fall for her after just one meeting, did you?"

"Of course, didn't I only meet Chen Weiqi once before?"

I admire her for being so open about such "fickleness." I gave her the doctor's WeChat contact and told her everything I knew about the doctor.

"Then can you do me another favor? Could you get Chu Zhen to invite the doctor out to celebrate the New Year together?" Huang Yanyan was getting a little too demanding.

What should we do about Chen Weiqi?

“He and I didn’t have much to do with each other to begin with, and I believe that he is the one here who most wants me to be in a relationship.” Ever since I gave Huang Yanyan the “playing hard to get” tactic, I’ve noticed that she has become “increasingly distant” from Chen Weiqi. When she comes home, she no longer talks about Chen Weiqi this and Chen Weiqi that.

"Okay, I'll give it a try!" I told Chu Zhen, and to my surprise, Chu Zhen didn't object. He even asked Zhao Zhengyu to come out with him right away, since Zhao Zhengyu was off today.

"Look, this is fate, it's all preordained." Huang Yanyan said cheerfully, as if she had already won him over. Back when Chen Weiqi first appeared in my ears, Huang Yanyan had the same expression. I silently prayed to God that Huang Yanyan would get a boyfriend!

Since starting school in City A, I've rarely returned to City B, and I've lost track of where to spend New Year's Eve. Luckily, Zhao Zhengyu knew, and took us to a quiet bar facing the central lake, where there would be a fireworks display at midnight.

With Chu Zhen beside him, he was filled with curiosity as he looked at the wine list, but he still obediently ordered a glass of soda.

"Lin Dang, won't you have a drink? This wine is much better than beer." Huang Yanyan had been to a quiet bar with her colleagues, but this was my first time in a place like this. Although it wasn't as noisy as a bar, it still involved alcohol, so I had always been reluctant to go to such places.

"I don't drink alcohol." I felt a little guilty as I said this.

"I'll drink with you guys. Lin Dang can't hold his liquor, we can't let him spoil the New Year's Eve fun." Chu Zhen made up an excuse for me, so I was happy to have some peace and quiet. Listening to the resident singer perform was quite a pleasure!

"Dr. Zhao, are doctors allowed to drink alcohol? What if there are urgent patients tonight?" Huang Yanyan had been sticking to Zhao Zhengyu's side ever since he appeared, just as she had been to Chen Weiqi before.

"There's a doctor on duty, don't worry!" Zhao Zhengyu said with a smile to Huang Yanyan.

“That’s great. Let’s meet up. Lin Dang said you’re from City A, so we’re practically from the same hometown. What’s that saying again? Meeting an old friend in a foreign land.” Huang Yanyan’s social skills were truly impressive, and she quickly became acquainted with Zhao Zhengyu.

I looked closely at Chen Weiqi beside me. His expression was unusually calm, and I couldn't tell what was going on in his mind at all. Did he really have no feelings for Huang Yanyan at all?