Chapter 1 Reunion
He thought his marriage was compassionate, but it was actually his deliberate plan to survive the turmoil of the past ten years.
"On the 28th, Lu Yuan, please go to Clinic No. 5."
The cold voice of the call number machine in the outpatient hall rang out in the corridor. Lu Yu, who was sitting outside the clinic, picked up Lu Yu'an, whose face was flushed with fever and looked listless, and pushed the door open and walked in.
What caught my eye was Lin Che, who was sitting in front of the computer desk wearing a blue mask. His long eyelashes drooped, covering his face, making it difficult to see his true emotions. Only the slightly white knuckles holding the mouse revealed an unusual tenseness.
"Uncle Che." Lu Yu'an's voice, hoarse due to fever, rang out in the clinic, carrying with it the dependence of someone who was ill.
Lin Che looked up when he heard the voice, and when his eyes met Lu Yu holding the child, he was obviously stunned for a moment, and even his fingers tapping on the keyboard stopped.
This was the first time... that he saw Lu Yu personally bring his child to see a doctor.
In the past, whenever his little nephew Lu Yu'an had a headache or fever, his mother Lu Jinshu would rush into the clinic with him in her arms. President Lu was so busy with his work that he would hardly even be seen.
"This is my uncle." Although Lu Yu'an was delirious with fever and nestled in Lu Yu's broad and strong arms, he still did not forget to use his hoarse little voice to seriously introduce Lu Yu's identity to Lin Che, as if he was announcing something very important.
Lin Che quickly suppressed the turmoil in his eyes and put on his businesslike mask again. His voice, which came through the mask, was devoid of any emotion, only the calmness of a doctor: "Fever? When did it start?"
His eyes fell on the child's red face, and he deliberately avoided Lu Yu's eyes, which were so deep that they seemed to see through everything.
"At 8 o'clock last night, the fever reached 39.2. It kept coming back after I took the antipyretics." Lu Yu's low voice rang out in the not-so-spacious clinic, with a unique magnetism.
"Are there any other symptoms?" Lin Che asked about the condition while his slender fingers flew quickly on the keyboard to write down the condition.
"It seems that he only has a fever at the moment." Lu Yu looked down at Lu Yu'an in his arms and replied.
Lin Che stood up and picked up the thermometer on the medical tray. "Take your temperature again."
He stood up, walked around the table and came to Lu Yu.
The space in the clinic seemed a bit cramped because of the presence of two adult men.
Lin Che reached out and tried to gently insert the thermometer into Lu Yuan's armpit.
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the child's hospital gown, Lu Yu's eyes suddenly raised and captured him accurately.
Their eyes suddenly met, and for a split second, Lin Che's gaze shifted away indifferently without a flicker of emotion. Only the fingertips holding the thermometer had turned pale from the pressure.
Lu Yu saw Lin Che's momentary attempt to conceal his gaffe. A faint, elusive glint flashed across his deep eyes, and his arms around Lu Yu'an seemed to unconsciously tighten.
He didn't say anything, but his gaze followed Lin Che as she stuffed the thermometer under Lu Yu'an's armpit.
The sudden close distance made Lu Yu subconsciously hold his breath, and what hit him was the faint smell of disinfectant and a fresh mint scent from Lin Che's body.
"Take it out in five minutes." A cold voice sounded in his ears, bringing Lu Yu back to the present situation.
The cold touch of the mercury thermometer made the child shiver and snuggle deeper into Lu Yu's arms.
"Don't move, An An, be obedient." Lu Yu's low voice was soothing, and his big hands gently patted the child's back, but his eyes still vaguely fell on the white skin of Lin Che's neck that was exposed because he bent over.
Lin Che stood up straight, took a step back, deliberately distanced himself from Lu Yu, and sat back in front of the computer, tapping his fingers on the keyboard, recording information.
The blue mask covered most of his face, his short black hair hung loosely on his forehead, and his fair skin still seemed clear and translucent under the light of the clinic.
While the temperature was being measured, the outpatient nurse hurried in from outside the clinic and leaned over to whisper a few words into Lin Che's ear.
"It's lost." Lin Che explained to the nurse calmly.
"Teacher Lin, that...that flower is quite big. It would be a pity to throw it away." The young nurse blushed, lowered her head, her voice full of regret and reluctance, as if she still wanted to fight for it.
"Then handle it yourselves." Lin Che's eyes didn't even move away from the screen. His voice remained calm, with a cold aura that kept people at a distance, as if he was talking about a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.
When the young nurse heard Lin Che's instructions, although she felt a little helpless, she smiled again. She whispered, "Thank you, Teacher Lin," and turned around and ran out of the clinic lightly.
"Time's up. Give me the thermometer." Lin Che finally spoke again, breaking the silence.
He raised his eyes and his gaze fell on the child in Lu Yu's arms. His slender white fingers stretched over the edge of the table and pointed in the direction of Lu Yu.
He didn't look at Lu Yu, but just raised his clear-cut chin, indicating that the other party should take out the thermometer. This action carried a sense of professional command.
Lu Yu obeyed and gently took out the thermometer. The silver mercury column clearly stopped at the scale line.
He didn't hand it to Lin Che immediately. Instead, he lowered his eyes to take a look and read out the number in a low voice: "38.7."
Lin Che's gaze finally turned to the thermometer in his hand.
He held out his hand, palm up, and waited.
Lu Yu placed the thermometer in Lin Che's palm, and the edge of his slender fingers seemed to accidentally brush across Lin Che's palm.
The strange feeling in his palm made Lin Che frown unconsciously, and he picked up the thermometer in his hand and took another look at the value.
"If you have recurring fever, I suggest you get a blood test and a flu test."
"good."
"Go to the laboratory on the second floor," Lin Che fixed his gaze on the computer screen again. His voice returned to its previous calmness, but it was a little colder and harder than before.
"A blood test and a throat swab for influenza A and influenza B. The results will be out in about half an hour. Come back to me directly after you get the report." He tapped his fingers on the keyboard and printed out a test report.
Lu Yu took the receipt that was still warm from the printer, but his eyes did not leave Lin Che's face covered by the mask, as if he wanted to penetrate the thin blue non-woven fabric and see all the emotions hidden underneath.
He stood up holding Lu Yu'an, his tall figure casting a deeper sense of oppression in the clinic.
"Okay." It was still just one simple word, low and emotionless.
Lu Yu turned around and walked towards the door with the child in his arms, his steps steady.
Just as he was about to open the door to the clinic, Lin Che's cold voice rang out again, with a subtle hint of tension:
"Mr. Lu."
Lu Yu paused, but did not look back.
"During a child's fever, make sure they stay hydrated. Physical cooling can be helpful." Lin Che's voice came through the mask. It was pure medical advice, perfectly formulated. "If the child becomes listless, experiences shortness of breath, or has convulsions, seek emergency medical attention immediately."
Lu Yu's back seemed to stiffen for a moment, and after a moment, a deeper voice came in response: "Got it."
The door of the clinic closed gently behind him, blocking out the noise from the corridor outside and the figure with a powerful presence.
Lin Che remained facing the computer for a long moment, motionless. Only after confirming the footsteps had faded to the end of the corridor did he take a slow, deep breath and exhale extremely slowly. His fingers loosened their grip on the mouse, and his palm felt damp.
He took off his glasses and pressed his sore eyebrows with his knuckles. When he opened his eyes again, there was an inextricable fatigue and a hint of... embarrassment in his eyes.
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