Chapter 46 He was waiting for her. Just as she was staring intently at him, ...
The following morning, the wind and rain that had raged for a day and a night finally subsided. Zhu Liushuang's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
Gu Chunling's ward was at the end of the rheumatology and immunology corridor, with about twenty three-person rooms ahead of it. Therefore, when the head doctor came in with a group of interns for rounds, it was already past 9:30 in the morning.
Zhu Liushuang was anxious, fearing that her actions might delay the departure of the entire group.
"How are you feeling today? Is your morning stiffness still severe?" Director Liu asked Gu Chunling with a smile, following up with his routine inquiry. After the examination, he even gave a quiz to the students following behind.
Zhu Liushuang's expression was as uneasy as that of the students beside Director Liu.
However, their anxieties were different. The interns were worried that the director would call on them, while she hoped that the director would finish asking questions as soon as possible so that she could start processing her mother's discharge.
Finally, the agonizing ten minutes passed, and the interns lowered their heads, looking pale. Zhu Liushuang's face broke into a smile again: "Director, is the next outpatient follow-up appointment in half a month or a month?"
Director Liu glanced at the report on the computer screen again and said, "The situation is relatively stable at the moment, and several indicators have decreased. Let's have a follow-up visit in a month. A few more reports will be available later, and you can consult online then."
"Okay, thank you, Director. You've worked hard." Zhu Liushuang quickly expressed her gratitude.
"Xiao Li, patient in bed 76 can be discharged today. Prepare their discharge summary." A group of people left the ward in a grand procession, leaving the doctor surnamed Li to handle the patient's discharge.
Gu Chunling couldn't wait to be discharged from the hospital and go back to work. Before she even received her discharge summary, she had already packed her luggage.
"Family members, come with me for a moment. What medications do you have left? Tell me what medications you need to take with you when you are discharged, and I'll prescribe them for you in a bit. Once they're prescribed, go down to the window on the third floor to pay. After you get your medical insurance settlement report, go to the nurses' station to pay." Dr. Li spoke gently, making people feel very comfortable.
Over the past year, Gu Chunling has become a regular at the rheumatology and immunology department. Zhu Liushuang accompanies her every time and is very familiar with the discharge procedures.
There were many people being discharged in the morning, so it wasn't until 11 a.m. that the discharge procedures were officially completed.
It was lunchtime, and the elevators in the inpatient department were packed with people.
Zhu Liushuang held onto the suitcase handle with one hand and supported her mother with the other, squeezing into the corner of the elevator car.
After going down to the underground parking garage, the two hurriedly rushed home.
The expensive "elderly electric vehicle" came in very handy. Zhu Liushuang drove the car from the front, while Gu Chunling and the suitcase sat in the back, which was much more comfortable than driving an electric scooter.
Because of the typhoon, the weather wasn't so hot. When the car started moving, the wind rushed in through the windows, making my hair messy, but it wasn't bad at all.
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The meeting point set by the company was near a gas station not far from National Highway 318.
The first stop on our self-driving tour was Chujiatan in Xuancheng, which is next to Gucheng and takes about two and a half hours by car.
We departed promptly at 1 p.m.
Fearing she would miss her departure time, Zhu Liushuang only tidied up briefly after returning home from the hospital, without even having lunch, before dragging her suitcase out the door.
While sitting in the taxi, she took out a cushion foundation from her backpack and quickly tidied herself up in front of a small mirror, trying to make herself look better.
The hospital cot was so hard it hurt her bones, and the old man in the next bed was snoring loudly. She hadn't slept well for two nights in a row.
She still looked a bit haggard. Zhu Liushuang took out a matte rosy lipstick and applied a thin layer to her lips, also dabbing some on her cheekbones.
After all that, her complexion was finally "rosy".
But she was still not satisfied. She looked at herself in the small mirror from left to right, feeling that something was still missing.
Yes, her ear piercings were bare and needed some decoration.
Zhu Liushuang bent down to look for earrings in the hidden compartment of her bag. After rummaging through them, she only found a pair of simple "daisy" earrings.
It did match the off-white dress she had changed into before leaving the house quite well. She picked up the earrings and carefully put them on.
This series of actions aroused the driver's curiosity: "Young lady, you're dressed so beautifully, are you going on a trip? With your boyfriend?"
Older people tend to be a bit gossipy, and Zhu Liushuang blushed slightly, saying shyly, "No, it's with colleagues."
"It's great to be young, you have so much time to travel and enjoy life..."
Zhu Liushuang didn't really pay attention to what the driver said afterward, only absentmindedly responding with a few "uh-huhs" as a sign of politeness.
Her thoughts had already flown several kilometers away.
There was someone there whom she longed for day and night.
He will be going on this three-day, two-night road trip with her.
The taxi came to a stop just as it was coming to a stop on the side of the road, and Zhu Liushuang immediately opened the door and got out.
"Miss, remember to give me a five-star review!" The driver turned around and saw that the back seat was empty. He had no choice but to roll down the window halfway, lean out and call out, "Miss, don't forget the luggage in the trunk."
Even without the driver's reminder, Zhu Liushuang remembered to take her luggage.
She could easily carry the 20-inch lightweight suitcase with one hand, as it contained very little.
The rollers dragged across the asphalt road, making quite a commotion wherever they went.
From a distance, she could see many private cars parked near the gas station ahead, mostly SUVs.
Zhu Liu walked along while taking out his phone to call Zhuang Xiaoqian.
"Hey, Sister Zhuang, I'm here! What's your husband's license plate number?"
Zhuang Xiaoqian sounded excited on the phone. After giving the license plate number, she covered the receiver and lowered her voice, saying, "Liu Shuang, come quickly! Sister Zhuang has prepared a surprise for you."
The sun, which had been hiding behind the clouds, suddenly appeared, and its rays lazily shone down.
Zhu Liushuang squinted, searching for the car Zhuang Xiaoqian and the others were in.
After checking each license plate one by one, they finally found the car with the last four digits of 31 among a group of black SUVs.
She went up and knocked on the car door, and the passenger-side window rolled down.
Zhuang Xiaoqian poked her head out and said, "Liu Shuang, we've been waiting for you! Get in the car quickly..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to the young men in the back seat and said, "Our company's most beautiful lady is here. Can any of you go down and help her put her suitcase away?"
"Holy crap—"
"I--"
"I'll do it—"
Several voices rang out at the same time, making the car unusually noisy.
Zhu Liushuang, who was about to open the back door, was completely unaware of this.
Therefore, when the car door was suddenly pulled open and three burly men tumbled out, she was so startled that she backed away repeatedly.
Three shadows loomed over her; an unsuspecting person would have thought they were about to rob her.
Zhu Liushuang's forehead was covered in even more sweat, and he stammered as he spoke, "What...are you going to do?"
"Let me help you with your luggage."
“Yes…it’s not right to let a young girl carry such a heavy suitcase. Let us do it.”
"Miss Zhu, we are all Brother Liu's colleagues. It's hot, please get in the car first."
"This suitcase is so small, it doesn't seem heavy at all, does it?" Zhu Liushuang thought to herself, her right hand gripping the suitcase's pull tab tightly.
She was both amused and exasperated; she had never seen anything like this before.
"No...no need...I can manage by myself." With that, she fled to the back of the car, preparing to open the trunk and put her luggage in herself.
"Let me do it!" One of the three young men, oblivious to the situation, followed over and made a move to snatch the suitcase from Zhu Liu's hands.
Zhu Liushuang was so embarrassed that her face turned completely red, and she didn't know whether to hold on or let go.
The stalemate continued, and she still didn't "give away" the suitcase in her hand.
"Excuse me, you can get in the car first, I can put it away myself." Her tone was somewhat forceful.
The thought of spending more than two hours sitting with three hot-blooded strangers made her feel uneasy.
After standing still for a moment, she knocked on the passenger door again.
The first thing I saw was Zhuang Xiaoqian's eyes crinkling with laughter: "How was it? Are you satisfied with the surprise your sister prepared for you? These three boys are about your age, and their looks and height are quite good..."
Although Zhuang Xiaoqian lowered her voice when she spoke, Zhu Liushuang still felt the blood rushing to her face.
"Sister Zhuang, could you..." Her voice trailed off; what she really wanted to say was, could you move to the back and sit with me?
But then she thought again and realized she was being a bit unreasonable. The young couple were sitting in front of her, so loving and affectionate; it wouldn't be right for her, as a third wheel, to break them up.
Heavens above! Can't I at least get a new car?!
There are currently only empty cars in the company, probably only Guo Yang's.
Riding in Mr. Guo's car... forget it, that would only invite more criticism.
Zhu Liushuang pursed her lips, unsure how to begin. She didn't move an inch.
"Sister Xiaoshuang!"
Who is calling her?
That voice, that tone, it sounds like Gu Gu.
Zhu Liushuang was both surprised and delighted, and she quickly turned her head.
A fluffy head peeked out of the car window. The little girl had a ponytail, and her delicate oval face radiated joy.
"Gu Gu," Zhu Liushuang asked, "what are you doing here?"
The little girl waved her hand: "I'm going on a road trip with my brother!" Then she grabbed Gu Xufeng's head, "Brother, I told you it was Sister Xiaoshuang! How could you doubt my ability to recognize people..."
"Miss Zhu." Gu Xufeng pulled the hand off his shoulder and greeted Zhu Liushuang politely, "I heard that your company is going with us for this team building trip."
Zhu Liushuang smiled and nodded, her eyes scanning the car from all angles.
She remembered very clearly that the black SUV belonged to He Ming.
So, the person driving this time is He Ming again!
As she pondered, she heard Gu Xuting warmly invite her: "Sister Xiaoshuang, would you like to ride in our car? There's just one empty seat. The journey is so boring, it would be great if we could keep each other company!"
"Xiaoting!" Gu Xufeng scolded, "You haven't even asked your brother He Ming yet, how could you make decisions on your own..."
"Then I'll ask now!" Gu Xuting glared at Gu Xufeng angrily, then turned to He Ming and asked in a coquettish tone, "Brother He Ming, can I invite Sister Xiaoshuang into the car? Sister Xiaoshuang is so nice, gentle, beautiful, understanding, and she makes amazing desserts..."
Every word Gu Xuting said reached Zhu Liushuang's ears, and her face burned even hotter.
Is it appropriate to praise her like that?
I don't know what He Ming said in the carriage, but I heard the little girl shout "Yay!"
She knew that He Ming must have agreed.
Sure enough, Gu Xuting exclaimed excitedly, "Sister Xiaoshuang, get in the car quickly! Brother He Ming said it's okay!"
Gu Xufeng rubbed his sister's head helplessly: "You're so clever. Miss Zhu hasn't even agreed yet, and you're getting excited for no reason."
"Of course Sister Xiaoshuang will agree, right?"
Caught off guard, Zhu Liushuang was speechless for a moment.
She was in a bit of a dilemma, after all, she was the one who asked Zhuang Xiaoqian to reserve a seat for her. What's more, Zhuang Xiaoqian had prepared such a big "surprise" for her.
Although, what was supposed to be a "surprise" turned into a shock for her.
But she really didn't want to ride in the same car with three men she didn't know.
Zhu Liushuang decides to follow her heart and offend her colleagues.
"Wait a moment, I'll go tell my colleague." She turned and walked towards Zhuang Xiaoqian.
"Sister Zhuang..." Before she could finish speaking, Zhuang Xiaoqian finished the sentence for her.
Are you trying to say you're going to take the car over there?
"Um—" Zhu Liushuang said apologetically, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Zhuang Xiaoqian was a shrewd person; she could tell at a glance that Zhu Liushuang wasn't interested in the three young men in the car.
She deliberately put on a long face and said, "Oh well... I guess all my hard work was for nothing."
"Um—Sister Zhuang, it's my fault. I'll make you tiramisu every week next month to make up for it," Zhu Liushuang said with a bitter face.
Zhuang Xiaoqian held up two fingers with a serious expression: "Two months."
Even if she said three months, Zhu Liushuang would probably agree without hesitation.
"OK."
"Deal!" Zhuang Xiaoqian reached out and patted Zhu Liushuang's shoulder, a sly smile on her face. "I was just teasing you. It was my oversight; you're so shy, three young men are indeed a bit too many. Let's go to the other side, we're about to leave."
Zhu Liushuang looked up in surprise. Inside the car, Zhuang Xiaoqian had clear eyes and a knowing smile on her face.
"Thank you... Sister Zhuang." Zhu Liushuang thanked her, and subconsciously glanced at the back of the car. The three burly men had already gotten into the car, and the outside was empty.
She turned her head and looked at the black SUV a few meters away.
Suddenly, a person appeared at the back of the car. The person was dressed in light gray casual wear, with a matching baseball cap, and had a slender, elegant appearance.
Just as she was staring intently at him, he seemed to sense her gaze and suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met, and Zhu Liushuang seemed to understand He Ming's gaze.
He was waiting for her.
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Author's note: Will Shuangshuang sit in the passenger seat of Senior He along the way?
Thank you for the moonstone gift! There's a new cover! Which one looks better, the old one or the new one? Actually, I like them both.
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