Chapter 10: No Prescription for Medicine
Si Yan slowed down his speech, "Let's get married."
"Huh?" These words split the darkness of the rainy night like a bolt of lightning, creating a blank in Su Nian's world. Her brain froze, the CPU temperature approaching the boiling hot pot broth.
Su Nian suddenly looked up and met his bottomless eyes, which seemed to contain the starlight and abyss of the entire universe.
"Abortion is very harmful to the body. I'm a Chinese medicine practitioner, and I know this better than you. If we get married, then this child can be born legitimately," Si Yan's voice was unhurried, but every word was weighty, striking the softest part of her heart.
"I will take on my responsibilities as a husband and father, so you don't have to worry too much. Regarding your studies, I can be flexible—it depends on your health. If you want to take a leave of absence and then resume your studies after the baby is born, that's fine too. Don't worry, I'll take care of the child, and I'm confident that I won't delay your studies."
He slightly raised the corners of his lips, revealing a rare gentle smile, like the green grass that appears when the glacier first melts.
"I'm a few years older than you, but that age difference does have its advantages—I've always had more experience and knowledge from the grind of life. If we live together in the future, maybe we can avoid some unnecessary mistakes. It's like the prescriptions written by an old Chinese doctor: the older they get, the more effective they become—though sometimes the prescriptions they prescribe may just be more bitter."
This joke is not funny at all.
Si Yan seemed unaware of this "coldness". He suddenly restrained his previous relaxed attitude and became more serious. He looked as if he was about to start a serious academic report, and the theme seemed to have been prepared in advance: "On How to Develop the Teacher-Student Relationship into a Husband-Wife Relationship".
"Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Si Yan, I'm 28 years old, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and I'm currently teaching at the Jiangcheng University of Traditional Chinese Medicine's School of Medicine. I also see patients at my family-run Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic. My income is stable, more than enough to support you and the baby."
He paused, as if checking if he'd missed anything, then added, "I don't smoke or drink—except that time, of course. There's no domestic violence. On weekdays, besides reading and exercising, I lead a pretty regular life."
"By the way, my parents are both professors in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and they both have their own careers to attend to. If we ever get to the point of getting married, they won't interfere too much in the lives of their children, so you don't have to worry about conflicts with your in-laws."
After saying all this in one breath, he raised his hand and gently pushed his glasses up on his nose. The lenses reflected a calm luster in the light, and his tone was softer than before: "I wonder if these conditions meet your expectations of your partner?"
Su Nian was stunned and speechless for a long time.
In just a few minutes, Professor Si not only accepted the fact that she had a child, but also considered her studies and future child-rearing in detail.
He is indeed as appropriate and steady as Rehmannia root that has been steamed and dried nine times, with mild medicinal properties but remarkable efficacy.
Such an outstanding person said he wanted to marry her? This must be a dream, right? She pinched her thigh. It hurt!
Seeing Si Yan's serious expression, she realized that this was no joke.
But getting married is more important than abortion. Marriage is not a prescription, you can always try again if you make a mistake.
She spoke hesitantly, her voice very soft: "Professor Si, can I think about it?"
"How long?" Si Yan asked directly, but his eyes softened unconsciously, as if he was afraid of disturbing the birds resting on the branches.
"Is a week okay?"
"Okay." He stood up. "But remember, no matter what choice you make, don't let fear dictate your decision. Sometimes the hardest path is the best one."
"Please... please don't tell my friend Lin Fei'er. I want to tell her myself." Su Nian said with some embarrassment.
She was already imagining the "pupil tremor" her best friend might experience when she heard the news.
"Okay, I understand!" Si Yan nodded.
Outside the window, the rainstorm continued to rage, but the sound seemed to have a gentle rhythm to it. It was as if fate had quietly planted a gentle foreshadowing amidst the frantic drumbeats.
Seeing Su Nian coming out of the clinic, Lin Feier stepped forward and asked with concern, "How is it? What's the disease? Where is the prescription? Let me see!"
"Lin Feier, are you free? I'm responsible for this patient!" Si Yan said sternly in displeasure.
"Professor Zhang is free now, do you want to..." Lin Feier whispered to plead for her best friend.
"No need!" Si Yan said firmly.
"Si Yan is here! What do you need?" A middle-aged female doctor came out of Clinic No. 3, carrying a cup of water. "Fei'er just said her best friend wanted me to take a look. Come on, little girl, come here and let me take a look."
"Mom, I've checked! It's okay!" Si Yan said seriously.
"Oh, I'm glad you're okay!" Professor Zhang looked at his son suspiciously, then looked at Su Nian whose face was flushed, and walked towards the water room thoughtfully.
"Just now you said I made a mistake, but now everything's fine?" Lin Fei'er muttered softly, "I just want to know, what's wrong with Nian Nian?"
Si Yan glared at Lin Fei'er fiercely: "Lin Fei'er, go and do your thing! You're not needed here. I'll go get the medicine for your bestie myself!"
Su Nian, standing by, paid no attention to her bestie's conversation with Si Yan. She was completely bewildered by Professor Si's word "Mom," and her brain's CPU was practically frying—Si Yan calling Professor Zhang "Mom"?! What kind of magical realism plot was this?!
Oh my god, what on earth is this place? Why is she here?
Si Yan turned and walked towards the pharmacy, his back exuding unquestionable authority.
Lin Feier stretched her neck to look, and saw Professor Si's slender fingers moving among the medicine cabinets, like a piano master playing precisely on the black and white keys.
What made her even more crazy was that Professor Si didn't even have a prescription for the medicine - this was completely against the rules of Jishidiang!
"Professor Si!" Lin Feier ran up and asked, "What kind of illness does Nian Nian have? Why don't you even write a prescription?" She stamped her feet in anxiety, like a cat whose dried fish was taken away.
Si Yan didn't even raise his eyelids as he continued to weigh the herbs: "Lin Fei'er, your current task is the triage desk." His tone was as flat as if he was discussing the weather, but it made Lin Fei'er wilt like a frost-bitten eggplant in an instant.
"But thinking of her..."
"She is not feeling well and is not suitable for the job of a medical guide." Si Yan finally stopped and a look made Lin Feier swallow the rest of her words. That look clearly said "If you say any more, I will make you organize the medicine warehouse."
Didn't you just say you were fine? Why are you feeling unwell again now? This concerns the health of my best friend!
She watched Professor Si carry the medicine out of the pharmacy, and Su Nian was taken away like a puppet.
Lin Feier looked at the backs of the two people leaving, and felt like thousands of ants were crawling in her heart - what was going on?
Who should she ask? !
Si Yan's Tesla was driving smoothly on the street after the rain, but the car was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.
"For now, I can only...prescribe medicine to maintain pregnancy." Si Yan suddenly spoke, his voice as low as the strings of a cello, "It doesn't matter whether you take it or not!" He emphasized the last few words very heavily, as if to emphasize something.
Su Nian twisted her fingers together unconsciously. "Yeah. My mom knows I'm at the clinic, so I'll take it!" She paused, her voice as soft as a mosquito's. "This medicine... is it okay to take?"
"Of course!" Si Yan's answer hit the two of them like a hammer.
His knuckles gripping the steering wheel turned slightly white, revealing his inner uneasiness.
The sunlight after the rain poured in through the car window. Su Nian secretly glanced at Si Yan's profile. The outline seemed particularly sharp in the soft halo, just like him - seemingly cold and hard, but hiding an unknown tenderness.
Su Nian did not go to Ms. Su Hong's sewing shop, but went straight back to her home in Jinxiu Garden.
Tesla parked steadily at the entrance of the community, like a docile giant beast that had retracted all its sharpness.
Si Yan stretched out his hand towards Nian Nian and said, "Give me your phone." This brief request could not be refused.
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