Chapter 45 We can no longer sleep in separate rooms.
The next morning, the winter sun brought a lazy warmth, but it still couldn't dispel the biting chill in the air.
Huo Nanchen brought Lin Xili back to the familiar health center.
After all the tests were completed, Huo Nanchen received the lab reports at 2 PM.
His gaze swept across the page; every value was within the standard range.
He looked at Lin Xili, his tone steady, with the characteristic voice of a doctor, yet with a hint of relaxation.
"Completely recovered, no recurrence, and thyroid function is completely normal."
"You can resume your normal diet and no longer need to avoid seafood."
Lin Xili's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
She stared at the numbers on the report that represented her health.
His shoulders relaxed completely, and a long-suppressed breath was silently exhaled.
With the Spring Festival approaching, the number of people seeking thyroid treatment at the health center has actually increased, with queues extending into the hallways.
Lin Xili noticed many young faces; they probably only had long holidays to go home from the city where they worked.
After checking on this bothersome "minor ailment," Huo Nanchen returned to his clinic to continue working.
Lin Xili didn't want to go in and disturb him, so she turned around, went downstairs, and walked towards the huge longan tree.
In the south, the longan trees in winter have not lost their green leaves, but they are not as lush as they are in summer.
She found a stone bench and sat down. The bench was chillingly cold, making her skin sting.
Lin Xili subconsciously wrapped her trench coat tighter around herself. She often wore this coat in Hong Kong, as winters in the countryside were much colder than in the city.
She sat on the stone bench, waiting quietly.
Time passed slowly, and the number of people in the health center gradually decreased.
Huo Nanchen and Dr. Zhang Jie saw off the last patient and took off their white coats.
As the two went downstairs, they spotted Lin Xili immediately. Dr. Zhang Jie, as if sensing something, quickly took a step forward.
Lin Xili remained seated under the longan tree, her body slightly curled up.
The tip of his nose was red from the cold, and his exposed hands also had an unnatural red tinge.
He frowned, quickened his pace, and strode over.
Lin Xili sensed someone approaching, raised her head, and her gaze met Huo Nanchen's deep eyes.
"Why don't you go upstairs and wait? There's no wind in the examination room."
Lin Xili stood up and tried to move her stiff and cold hands and feet.
"There are a lot of people today, I don't want to bother you."
Not causing him any trouble seems to have long been her habit.
Huo Nanchen didn't say anything more. He directly took action and unbuttoned his coat.
It was a thick, dark gray cashmere blend coat.
He stepped forward, put his arm around her back, and draped the coat, still warm from his body, over her shoulders.
A warm feeling, mixed with the clean scent of soapberry, enveloped me.
The chill was instantly dispelled; the coat was too big for her, with the hem reaching her calves.
The cashmere material felt heavy, pressing down on her shoulders, and that weight gave her a sense of peace.
Lin Xili froze, and she instinctively reached out to push him away.
"No need, I..."
“It gets colder here in the evening,” Huo Nanchen interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument.
His gaze fell on her reddened hands, the hands that had once firmly held a scalpel.
At this moment, they were unconsciously rubbing each other, trying to keep warm.
Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out his hand.
With the warm, dry, steady, and strong palm that belongs only to a doctor.
It completely enveloped her icy hands.
Lin Xili's fingertips trembled, and a tingling shiver ran from the skin that touched hers, instantly spreading throughout her body.
His hands were large and warm, holding her slender, cold fingers tightly in his palms.
That heat, through her skin, spread along her blood vessels, little by little, seeping into every corner of her body.
She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but he gripped it tightly, not letting her break free.
"Doctors, whether clinical or non-clinical, must protect their hands."
Huo Nanchen's voice rang out above her head, calm and undisturbed.
His words were completely unambiguous; they were purely a professional reminder.
But this action itself had already crossed the line, and she could hear her own heartbeat.
One beat after another pounded in my chest, and my cheeks burned.
Fortunately, the cold winter wind provides the best cover.
She lowered her eyes, not daring to look at his face, not daring to look into those dark eyes that could see through people's hearts.
She simply responded softly and obediently, "Mmm."
Her fingers finally relaxed in his warm palm.
No longer stiff, her icy fingertips greedily absorbed the warmth of his palm.
The weather is gradually warming up.
He held her hand like that, standing under the longan tree for a full minute and more.
There were no superfluous words, only a silent warmth that was quietly conveyed through tightly clasped hands.
Only when he felt the coolness in her hand completely disappear did Huo Nanchen naturally and slowly release his grip.
"Let's go back."
His tone had returned to its usual indifference, as if the intimacy just moments before was merely a casual gesture.
"Okay," Lin Xili replied softly, pulling her coat tighter around herself.
His scent and warmth still lingered on it. She followed him toward the parking lot.
The cold wind was still blowing, but she didn't feel the slightest bit cold.
His coat was on her shoulders, and his lingering warmth lingered on her fingertips. The two warm currents merged, protecting her tightly and shielding her from all the cold outside.
She secretly glanced up and saw the tall, slender figure in front of her.
She seemed to be growing more and more attached to the feeling of being carefully cared for.
When they got home, Grandma Huo had already prepared a large table of home-cooked dishes, which smelled delicious.
Every dish was specially prepared to avoid spicy and stimulating ingredients, so Lin Xili could enjoy them without worry.
Although she no longer needed to avoid certain foods, Grandma Huo still prepared according to the previous instructions, feeling that this was the right thing to do.
At the dinner table, Grandma Huo's gaze remained fixed on Lin Xili.
Her eyes shone with undisguised joy, and even more so with a deep and weighty anticipation.
After dinner, Grandma Huo pulled Lin Xili to the old sofa in the living room.
She patted the spot next to her and then beckoned Huo Nanchen, who had just finished washing the dishes and came out of the kitchen, to come and sit down.
Her face wore a solemn expression, as if some important decision was about to be announced.
"Xi Li's illness is now completely cured, Nan Chen. You said it yourself, and you are healthy now!"
After Grandma Huo finished speaking, her gaze began to sweep back and forth between the two people sitting side by side.
"So, we can't sleep separately in this room anymore!"
Huo Nanchen: "..."
Lin Xili: "..."
The air suddenly froze.
A burst of heat shot up Lin Xili's cheeks, making her ears burn bright red.
She understood what Grandma Huo meant, of course; the old lady was looking forward to holding her great-grandchild.
But she...
She had just been transferred to the forensic department, and there were still three months left in her six-month training period. She was under pressure to pursue a doctorate while working, and it would take at least three years to graduate.
Now, she's being asked to consider having children...
She understood the old man's expectations; even though she and Huo Nanchen were legally husband and wife, they still had to fulfill this obligation.
Besides, she didn't feel any resistance to having a child with Huo Nanchen; it's just not the right time yet.
She wants to wait until she finishes her doctorate and has a solid foothold in the forensic department.
Huo Nanchen also felt this invisible pressure.
He paused for a few seconds, then said, "Grandma, no rush. Let's wait until her job is more stable before we talk about it."
"Work, work, all you young people know is work!"
Grandma Huo raised her eyebrows and feigned displeasure, scolding him.
"When will work ever end? When will things be completely stable?"
"Then you can sleep together first and get to know each other better!"
"Look at the two of you, it's been three months already!"
"How many WeChat messages have you sent? Hmm?"
"What about the phone? Have you made a single call?"
"As the saying goes, sharing a bed is the fastest way to deepen feelings!"
Huo Nanchen: "..."
Lin Xili: "..."
Grandma Huo's words were straightforward and sharp.
It ruthlessly exposed the truth about their marriage.
Without an emotional foundation, even the most basic daily communication is pitifully lacking.
Grandma Huo looked at the two silent men in front of her. She knew that talk was cheap and action was useless. The old woman sighed and got up to take action.
She carried a brand new winter quilt out of her room; the quilt looked thick and warm.
She walked up to Huo Nanchen and, without saying a word, shoved him into his arms.
"Look, I knew this would happen. I've taken all the winter quilts from your room. This is the only thick winter quilt we have left."
"You guys figure it out yourselves. Grandma's getting old and can't stay up any longer. She's going to bed now!"
After saying that, she yawned, turned around without looking back, and didn't give the two of them any time to react.
She walked quickly back to her room and slammed the door shut.
The two of them were left alone in the living room, and neither of them spoke first.
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