Chapter 244 The Isolated Island (Part 1)

The rain outside the window tapped against the glass, making a pattering sound.

Ji Wanqing had just finished a late-night live stream. She rubbed her slightly sore eyes and prepared to go to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.

As I passed through the living room, I heard a very faint sound from the fingerprint lock at the door.

It's not hers, it's the neighbor's.

She glanced at the wall clock unconsciously; it was 1:30 a.m.

It's Dr. Pei who's back.

Ji Wanqing held her water glass, listening to the sounds of the door opening and closing, shoes being changed, and then silence returning to the opposite door. A ripple of something indescribable stirred in her heart.

She knew he had a major surgery that day, which would last for nearly ten hours.

This kind of high-intensity work is the norm for him, but every time she learns about it, she feels a mixture of admiration and heartache.

She hesitated for a moment, put down her water glass, walked to her front door, and peeked out through the peephole.

The motion-activated lights in the corridor were off, leaving the area dimly lit.

She sighed softly and was about to turn back when her phone screen lit up.

Pei Yu: [Aren't you asleep yet?]

Ji Wanqing felt like she had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.

Ji Wanqing [Just finished broadcasting, you... just got back? Did the surgery go well?]

Pei Yu: [Yes, everything went smoothly. I heard some noise on your end.]

It turns out he heard it too.

Separated by two doors, they communicated silently on their cell phones in the quiet of the night.

Ji Wanqing: [That's good. You must be very tired. Get some rest.]

Pei Yu: Are you hungry?

He didn't respond to her question about resting; instead, he asked her a question.

Ji Wanqing subconsciously touched her stomach. She hadn't felt it while she was highly focused during the live stream, but now that she had relaxed, she did feel a little empty.

Ji Wanqing [is a little...]

Pei Yu [opens the door.]

Ji Wanqing was stunned for a moment, and almost subconsciously walked to the door and turned the doorknob.

The motion-activated light outside the door turned on in response.

Pei Yu was still wearing the clothes he had worn when he returned, his face showing the fatigue from working continuously, but his eyes were still bright.

He handed her a paper bag with the logo of the 24-hour porridge shop next to the hospital printed on it.

"I was just passing by and bought this. It's yam and pork rib porridge, good for the stomach." His voice was slightly hoarse, but unusually gentle.

Ji Wanqing took the bag, the warm touch spreading from her fingertips to her heart.

This porridge shop is indeed close to the hospital, but it's quite a distance from their residential area, so it's definitely not just a "side trip".

He deliberately took a detour to buy it on his way home from get off work.

"Thank you, Brother Pei..." she whispered, looking up at him. Under the light, the dark circles under his eyes were even more noticeable. "Have you eaten?"

Pei Yu shook his head. "We'll just grab something to eat when we get back."

"Then... together?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Ji Wanqing regretted it. Was she too abrupt?

Late at night, she invited a male neighbor who was clearly exhausted to her home for a late-night snack.

Pei Yu was clearly taken aback for a moment. He looked at her slightly flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, a faint smile flashing across his eyes, dispelling some of his fatigue.

"Okay, let's go to my house."

He should do it decisively.

Knowing that Ji's mother must be resting at this time, and not wanting to disturb her rest, they proposed a better solution.

So, in Pei Yu's home, the living room was warmly lit at a little past one in the morning.

He set out the bowls and chopsticks and served out the steaming porridge.

Pei Yu washed his hands and sat opposite her, eating elegantly but quickly, clearly extremely hungry.

The two ate their porridge in silence, the atmosphere subtly awkward yet strangely harmonious. The sound of rain outside continued, further emphasizing the tranquility inside.

"I met a really interesting teammate during today's live stream..." Ji Wanqing tried to find a topic and started talking about the interesting things that happened in the live stream.

Pei Yu listened quietly, occasionally glancing up at her radiant appearance, a slight smile playing on his lips.

When she talks about a brilliant play, he'll briefly comment "Very impressive," and when she complains about weird teammates, he'll frown slightly, indicating agreement.

This listening and response gave Ji Wanqing a sense of being valued and appreciated.

The porridge was quickly finished.

Pei Yu put down his spoon and took a tissue to wipe his mouth.

"It tastes great, thank you for the late-night snack."

"You bought it..." Ji Wanqing chuckled.

“I meant,” Pei Yu looked at her, his gaze deep, “the meal we ate together.”

His words were always like this: direct and sincere, without any fancy embellishments, yet they always accurately struck the softest spot in Ji Wanqing's heart.

Her face felt hot again.

After finishing the meal, Pei Yu cleared away the dishes and took them to the kitchen to wash.

Ji Wanqing leaned against the kitchen door, watching his tall and straight back, and seeing his calm and composed demeanor even while doing mundane chores like washing dishes. A corner of her heart softened.

This man, who controls life and death on the operating table with composure and self-control, would bring her a bowl of hot porridge late at night, listen quietly to her rambling about the trivialities of her live stream, and meticulously wash the dishes she had used.

"Pei Yu," she suddenly called out, calling his name.

Pei Yu turned off the tap, dried his hands, turned around, and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

"You..." Ji Wanqing mustered her courage and met his gaze, "Do you like me?"

Pei Yu always cared for her silently, but never directly expressed his feelings.

This question had been lingering in her mind for a long time, and now she finally asked it aloud.

After asking the question, she nervously lowered her eyelashes, not daring to look at his reaction.

Pei Yu remained silent for a few seconds, then walked towards her step by step until he stopped in front of her.

His cool, refreshing scent, mixed with the faint aroma of rice porridge, gently enveloped her.

He reached out, his fingertips slightly cool, and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his focused and deep gaze.

"Ji Wanqing." He called her by her full name, his tone solemn. "It seems I haven't done enough, which is why you have this question."

His fingertips left a cool touch on the skin of her chin, but his gaze was so intense that she could hardly breathe.

“Since that’s the case…” he said slowly and clearly, “then I’ll say it formally again: I hope you will be my girlfriend, and I hope that in the future, the porridge I bring home late at night can be shared with you legitimately.”

Looking at his handsome face so close to hers, and at the undisguised affection and expectation in his eyes, all of Ji Wanqing's unease and hesitation vanished in that instant.

She tiptoed and placed a soft, quick kiss on the corner of his lips.

"Okay." Her face flushed, her voice soft but unusually firm, "Then... please take care of me from now on, boyfriend."

Pei Yu's pupils dilated slightly, and then, a dazzling light burst forth from his usually calm and composed eyes.

He tightened his arms around her, pulling her close, and lowered his head to place a restrained yet precious kiss on the top of her head.

"Yes, please take care of me, my Wanqing."

The rain outside the window had stopped sometime earlier, and the moonlight quietly peeked out from behind the clouds, casting its gentle glow upon the two people embracing.