Chapter 19 Unexpected Reunion If time could turn back, she would definitely not...
"She's the star of Zhonghe Accounting Firm, with top-notch professional skills." Zhuang Xiaoqian didn't hold back her praise for Yu Huan. "My husband told me that Yu Huan landed a big project this year on her own, earning a 20% commission. I estimate she'll be promoted to partner in less than two years."
Zhu Liushuang listened patiently, her curiosity about Yu Huan growing even stronger. Pointing to the photo in the training guide, she said, "She looks so young... yet she's already so outstanding."
"She's not young anymore, she's thirty-four this year..." Zhuang Xiaoqian leaned close to Zhu Liushuang's ear and whispered mysteriously, "It's said that she loves young and handsome men the most, and the boyfriends she dated before were either male college students or recent graduates in the workplace."
"You know that too!" Zhu Liushuang asked in surprise.
Zhuang Xiaoqian laughed and said, "Hey, I only heard about it secondhand. But..."
"But what?"
"She's fair-skinned, beautiful, successful, and rich; plenty of naive young men are lining up to throw themselves at her. My brother is so much better—strong, energetic, and he eats so well!" Zhuang Xiaoqian finished with a mischievous smile, tinged with envy. "Who doesn't like young flesh..."
Zhu Liushuang didn't understand at first, but after realizing what she meant, she blushed deeply. Embarrassed, she covered half of her face with her hand and pretended to look through the student handbook.
This innocent and shy demeanor became the pretext for Zhuang Xiaoqian to tease her.
"Oh, are you shy? What your sister said is true! If I were Yu Huan, I would definitely enjoy it even more than her." Zhuang Xiaoqian covered her mouth as she spoke, "You just lack dating experience, you haven't seen much of the world..."
"Sister Zhuang is joking." Zhu Liushuang didn't know how to respond for a moment, so she could only give a vague reply.
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Gu Chunling goes to the rheumatology and immunology department for a follow-up visit at the beginning of each month. Zhu Liushuang had originally booked an appointment with a specialist for her mother on the 3rd, but the doctor canceled the appointment for some reason.
In the first week of July, all the appointments with well-known specialists were already booked. Even if you went early to try to get an appointment, you would still have to wait until noon to see a doctor.
Considering that she still had training to attend, Zhu Liushuang had no choice but to settle for a regular appointment for her mother.
The follow-up appointment was on July 5th, the last day of the training schedule.
Zhuang Xiaoqian had returned to the company two days earlier, so no one could sign her in on her behalf. Zhu Liushuang planned to take her mother to the hospital for a check-up as soon as possible, and then return to the training location as quickly as possible.
Compared to the specialist clinic, the general clinic was much quieter. The mother and daughter arrived early and checked in early, so Gu Chunling's number was called quickly.
The attending physician was a young man in his early thirties who wore glasses. He retrieved Gu Chunling's medical records, asked a few simple questions about her recent situation, and then ordered the tests.
"Whether the medication can be reduced depends on the blood test and MRI reports. You should make an appointment for the MRI first, but it might not be possible today... I see you've been having follow-up examinations with Director Liu. Once all the results are out, you can make an appointment with Director Liu again, or you can consult online..." The doctor stared intently at the computer screen and didn't look at Gu Chunling anymore.
Zhu Liushuang had originally planned to discuss the use of biological agents with the doctor, but given the current situation, that's no longer an option. She definitely needs to make another appointment with a specialist for a more informed decision.
She thanked them, but before leaving, she caught a glimpse of a promotional poster on the white wall of the clinic. A line of striking red text on it made her stop in her tracks: Traditional Chinese Medicine Specialty Therapy - Du Meridian Moxibustion.
Zhu Liushuang coughed lightly, pointed to the wall, and asked, "Doctor, excuse me. Is this Du Meridian moxibustion effective?"
The young doctor sitting behind his desk peeked out and said, "Oh, this is a special treatment that our hospital has recently developed in collaboration with Mr. Xie Jingzhi, a renowned traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Gucheng. It is mainly for rheumatic and immunological patients who are not in the active inflammatory phase. It is still in the exploratory stage."
Seeing that Zhu Liushuang seemed somewhat interested in the project, he took out a business card from his drawer and handed it to her: "Once your mother's inflammation markers drop a bit more, you can give it a try."
Zhu Liushuang politely accepted the business card and carefully put it into her small shoulder bag.
Gucheng First People's Hospital is considered the best hospital in the area, with a constant stream of patients every day. After lingering in the consultation room for a while, when I came out again, the blood drawing hall was already packed with people.
"Isn't it Friday? Why are there still so many people?" Gu Chunling said casually after taking her blood test number.
Zhu Liushuang quickly glanced at the call number screen: "Hospitals are always bustling. There are still over thirty people ahead of us. Mom, find a spot to wait on the side, and I'll go to the service desk to book your MRI."
The information desk was in the lobby on the first floor. Zhu Liushuang glanced at the escalator, which was packed with people, and turned around to take the stairs.
As the doctor predicted, the MRI couldn't be done that day; the earliest appointment was next Monday. So she booked an MRI for Monday afternoon, planning to take half a day off to bring her mother for the examination.
Forty minutes later, Gu Chunling's blood test report was retrieved ahead of schedule. The indicators were generally normal, except that her hypersensitivity was a little high.
"This indicator is not yet normal, which means you are still in the active inflammatory phase, so you can't stop taking the medication," Zhu Liushuang explained, pointing to the data on the report.
"The erythrocyte sedimentation rate will probably take another half hour, and the biochemistry reports should be ready tomorrow. I'll call a taxi for you first, and you can view the other reports on your phone..." Zhu Liushuang spoke quickly, without stopping her feet.
On her way home after scheduling an MRI for her mother, she received a "concern" from General Manager Guo Yang.
Guo Yang said the following: "Liu Shuang, the training unit called me and said you haven't arrived today. Is something happening at home that's keeping you here?"
Zhu Liushuang was speechless for a moment, thinking to herself: How can a training session be so strict? If someone is not present on time, the unit leader will be notified directly.
She explained apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Guo. I forgot to let you know. I happened to be taking my mother to the hospital for a check-up today, which caused a little delay. I'll be there as soon as possible."
"Then I was right... You usually take leave on the first day of the month, but this time you're a few days late." Guo Yang's tone was kind, as if he were chatting with her casually.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Guo..." Zhu Liushuang felt embarrassed. "It was my fault for not asking for leave in advance. I will return to the venue as soon as I finish what I'm doing here."
"No rush... Five days of training in a row is tough, be careful on your way." Guo Yang hung up the phone with a smile.
The general manager's statement that there was no rush might just be polite, but Zhu Liushuang was actually a little anxious. After all, she wanted a promotion and a raise, so she had to put some effort into her work.
Thinking this, she quickened her pace. It wasn't until quite some time later that she realized her mother had fallen behind.
She stopped and stood in the bustling hospital lobby waiting for her mother, feeling a pang of guilt.
Gu Chunling has changed a lot in recent years. The hardships of life and the torment of illness have turned her once black hair gray. The side effects of hormones have made her cheeks and back much fatter than normal people, and her hunched back and unsteady gait make her look at least ten years older than her actual age.
She walked to Zhu Liushuang's side, supporting her lower back, slightly out of breath: "If you're busy with work, don't worry about me, I can go back by myself."
Zhu Liushuang frowned and took her mother's arm with one hand: "There's no rush. Anyway, the electric scooter is parked in the parking lot outside the hospital, which is on the way to the taxi stand."
Knowing that her daughter was worried about her, Gu Chunling remained silent.
In July, the sun shines brightly in Gucheng. Stepping out of the air-conditioned reception hall of the hospital, the summer heat hits you in the face.
Zhu Liushuang's back, which had been cool to the touch, suddenly felt uncomfortable under the scorching sun. Ignoring her nausea, she hailed a taxi for her mother and then hurriedly ran to the open-air parking lot to find her electric scooter.
The leather bench, baked in the sun, felt like a hot iron plate, making one shudder. Zhu Liushuang took off her sun-protective clothing and wrapped it around the bench before daring to sit down again.
It only takes a dozen minutes to drive from the First People's Hospital to the training venue, and she turned the engine up to the maximum to try to get there as soon as possible.
Just past 10 a.m., Zhu Liushuang slung her bag over her shoulder and jogged toward the lecture hall where the training was being held.
She left home early in the morning and didn't have time for breakfast. Her stomach started churning with acid reflux as soon as she left the hospital. Now, after standing in the sun for another ten minutes, she felt her steps growing heavier and heavier.
Upon reaching the building where the training was being held, his legs gave way and he stumbled forward.
Fortunately, she retained a shred of rationality and managed to grab the glass door frame beside her, thus avoiding a close encounter with the marble floor.
However, her handbag wasn't so lucky; it was flung quite a distance. And, coincidentally, the zipper wasn't closed...
Zhu Liushuang squatted on the ground, leaning against the door frame in a very comical posture, watching helplessly as the contents of her bag scattered all over the floor.
Ahead lay the tightly closed classroom door, from which the lecturer's voice could be heard intermittently. With no one around, Zhu Liushuang felt dizzy and, after a moment of disorientation, decided to give up. Ignoring her appearance, she plopped down on the floor, intending to wait a couple of minutes before getting up to pick up her things.
If she could turn back time, she would never have made such a decision.
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".
A few meters behind her, a man carrying a dark gray briefcase walked up to her and then passed her.
He bent down and stopped where the items were scattered. It was clear the man wanted to help her pick them up.
Zhu Liushuang looked at the pen, electric scooter keychain, tissues... and sanitary napkins on the ground. A look of utter despair crossed her face; she wanted to pick them up herself!
The man's long, slender fingers quickly picked up the scattered items on the ground and carefully put them into her handbag.
Then he turned around and walked towards her.
Zhu Liushuang's already flushed cheeks turned an even deeper shade of "liver." Heavens above, earth below... she cried out in her heart: Someone tell me, why is He Ming here!
He Ming's black leather shoes clicked softly across the marble floor, a sound that seemed to pound on Zhu Liushuang's heart. She closed her eyes in despair, and when she opened them again, he was already standing before her.
The romantic scenes between the male and female leads in idol dramas didn't happen to her. He Ming gentlemanly placed his handbag next to her, glanced at her without saying a word, and then prepared to turn and leave.
She thought he would reach out and help her up, but he... didn't even say a word. It seemed he really didn't recognize her. Thinking this, Zhu Liushuang lowered her head, pouted, and mustered all her strength to scramble to her feet.
She said hurriedly, "Thank you, Senior He." She had imagined countless times what it would be like for their formal reunion, but who would have thought it would turn out so embarrassingly.
But she didn't want to miss out.
Zhu Liushuang picked up her handbag, steadied herself against the glass door frame, and wore an awkward, stiff smile on her flushed face.
He Ming hesitated, then turned around blankly, his beautiful phoenix eyes filled with inquiry: "Who are you?"
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Author's Note: Who are you?
Senior He, you're so hurtful!
No matter how far apart we are, we are always connected. Can I leave a comment?
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