Chapter 47:

“Chairman Bai? Chairman Bai?” Secretary Lin took a deep breath, bracing himself for a scolding, then softly called out to the man who was staring intently out the floor-to-ceiling window. His heart pounded with unease—he wasn’t sure if this would provoke Chairman Bai’s anger.

The man’s jaw was clenched, his expression stern, as though he were pondering something of grave importance.

Hearing Secretary Lin’s voice, Bai Jixi snapped out of his thoughts and instinctively touched the watch on his wrist. “Ahem, what is it?”

Secretary Lin adjusted his glasses, pretending not to have noticed Bai Jixi’s momentary distraction, and reported dutifully, “This contract requires your review.” He handed over the document. “It’s for signing with the American company Teddyway. They’re very satisfied with our terms. After Manager Ding negotiated with them, they drafted the contract immediately. Manager Ding passed it to me to ask if you would approve it for signing.”

Secretary Lin was undoubtedly a competent assistant. He always knew exactly what a secretary should do—even if he was slightly curious about his boss’s rare lapse in focus, he would stifle that curiosity. After five years as Bai Jixi’s secretary, he had a good grasp of the man’s temperament. His boss was not a patient person—domineering, unyielding. Such a man would never tolerate others interfering or prying into his personal affairs.

Bai Jixi didn’t take the contract. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Since I’ve already entrusted the Teddyway collaboration to Ding Guo, he has full authority over it. If he sees no issues with the contract, he can sign it.”

Secretary Lin nodded. “Understood, Chairman Bai. I’ll inform Manager Ding. Shall I take my leave now?”

Bai Jixi waved him off.

Once Secretary Lin closed the door behind him, Bai Jixi was left alone in the office.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, exhaustion creeping in.

Ever since that New Year’s Eve when he parted ways with Qin Chaoyu, his mind had been wandering incessantly. Her earnest expression and those lively eyes kept flashing through his thoughts.

Damn it all!

Outside, Secretary Lin closed the door and spotted Ding Guo waiting anxiously.

“Well? Well?” Ding Guo asked the moment he saw Secretary Lin emerge.

He hadn’t been able to sit still in his own office, so he’d been waiting outside for news.

Logically, Ding Guo shouldn’t have been this impatient—it was unbecoming of his position. But this was the first major task Chairman Bai had assigned him since his promotion to administrative manager. He knew his rapid rise had already drawn resentment from many. If he mishandled the Teddyway deal, even if Chairman Bai didn’t fire him, his future work would be fraught with difficulties. This collaboration had to be flawless.

Secretary Lin’s expression remained unchanged as he handed the contract to Ding Guo, his tone strictly professional. “Chairman Bai instructed me to tell you that since the matter has been entrusted to you, you may proceed with signing if you find no issues.”

Ding Guo took the contract and fell silent for a moment before suddenly breaking into a relieved smile. “I understand.” He’d been overthinking it. Chairman Bai had given him this task to prove himself—not to second-guess every move. This lack of confidence wasn’t like him at all.

With his mind cleared, Ding Guo reverted to his usual playful demeanor. He slapped Secretary Lin’s shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Hey, Secretary Lin, you’re always so serious—a total workaholic. You must not have a girlfriend, right? Need me to introduce you to someone?”

Secretary Lin didn’t even blink. Holding his files, he gave Ding Guo a calm, indifferent look. “Manager Ding, I assume you have no further business. I have a lot of work to do. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked toward his workstation.

Ding Guo scoffed, unimpressed.

So rigid. What a bore.

He tossed the contract into the air a few times before turning away. Whatever. Time to focus on the Teddyway deal.

~

“Dr. Qin, how is Huijie’s leg recovering?” Mrs. Lian asked nervously after Qin Chaoyu finished examining Lian Huijie’s leg. Over the past weeks, she had accompanied her son through his treatment, witnessing firsthand his progress. She knew exactly who was responsible for this miracle. The medical staff had called it extraordinary, but without Qin Chaoyu’s confirmation, she couldn’t relax.

Qin Chaoyu put away her reflex hammer and smiled gently at the anxious expressions on Mr. and Mrs. Lian’s faces. “The recovery is progressing very well. At this rate, he’ll be able to live a normal life very soon.”

The couple exchanged relieved glances.

“How soon, exactly?” Mr. Lian pressed, now more at ease.

Mrs. Lian and Lian Huijie also looked at Qin Chaoyu expectantly.

After a moment’s thought, she replied, “Based on his current condition and recovery speed, I’d estimate one or two months.”

“Really?” Mrs. Lian gasped in delight. She rushed to the bed, half-kneeling beside her son, who was lying down for the examination, and clutched his hand. Tears spilled over instantly. “Huijie, did you hear that? In just one or two months, you’ll be able to live normally again! Mom is so happy… so, so happy!”

Lian Huijie patted his mother’s shoulder but didn’t stop her tears. He’d seen her cry in secret many times. Once a pampered young lady who had never known hardship, she had endured so much for him. Letting her cry now was a release. “Mom.”

Having weathered her son’s paralysis, Mrs. Lian was no longer the sheltered woman she once was. She quickly composed herself and smiled apologetically at Qin Chaoyu. “Dr. Qin, I’m sorry for my outburst.”

Qin Chaoyu shook her head. “No need for apologies, Mrs. Lian.”

Mr. Lian helped his wife up, holding her tightly without a word.

Lian Huijie looked at Qin Chaoyu with deep gratitude. “Thank you, Dr. Qin. Without you, I’d never have stood again.”

“It’s my duty as a doctor. Healing patients is our greatest honor.” Then, with a playful smirk, she added, “Besides, you’ve already paid for my services.”

Lian Huijie burst into laughter, his peach-blossom eyes crinkling into crescents. Despite the toll his ordeal had taken on his appearance, his innate charm and spirit remained unbroken.

Still, he sobered and said sincerely, “Regardless, thank you, Dr. Qin.”

Qin Chaoyu slung her medical bag over her shoulder. “Well, now that the checkup’s done, you won’t need me anymore.” She turned to Lian Huijie. “Just follow the medical team’s guidance for rehabilitation.”

As she prepared to leave, Mr. and Mrs. Lian hurriedly offered, “Dr. Qin, let us see you out.”

Unable to refuse, Qin Chaoyu acquiesced.

Lian Huijie watched his parents escort her out, his gaze lingering even after the door closed.

His mind drifted.

In one or two months, he’d be an ordinary, healthy man again. Without this ordeal, he might never have realized how precious normalcy was.

Thinking of Qin Chaoyu, he couldn’t help but smile.

Dr. Qin… truly a woman who stirred the heart.

~

Back at school, Qin Chaoyu declined the driver’s offer to take her to her dorm and walked back alone.

The moment she opened the door, she found Qian Fangyuan and Bai Pengpeng bickering again. She sighed inwardly. These two had fallen right back into their old routine the moment the semester started—constant squabbles, endless energy. She had no idea where they found so much material to argue about. Their antics were the dorm’s primary source of entertainment.

Miao Zhaodi noticed Qin Chaoyu first and waved cheerfully. “Chaoyu, you’re back!”

Hearing this, Bai Pengpeng immediately abandoned her quarrel with Qian Fangyuan and bounded over, grabbing Qin Chaoyu’s arm. “Chaoyu, you’ve been so busy lately! What’s going on?”

Left without an opponent, Qian Fangyuan huffed and retreated to her chair. Hearing Bai Pengpeng’s sugary tone, she shuddered in disgust. “Ugh, young miss, spare us the cutesy act. If Chaoyu were a guy, I’d get it. But she’s a girl—who are you trying to charm?”

Suddenly, Qian Fangyuan’s eyes widened in horror. She hugged herself protectively, scrutinizing Bai Pengpeng. “Wait… don’t tell me you’re… a lesbian? Just so you know, I’m not into women!”

Bai Pengpeng released Qin Chaoyu and crossed her arms, giving Qian Fangyuan a haughty once-over. “I know you’re just jealous of how close Chaoyu and I are. But that’s just my natural charm—something you’ll never have. And even if I did like women, someone like you—”

She glanced at Qian Fangyuan again, as if the sight pained her, and quickly looked away. “—wouldn’t stand a chance.”

At 5’7″, Bai Pengpeng towered over Qian Fangyuan. Combined with her arrogant smirk, the effect was infuriating.

Qin Chaoyu had already settled onto her bed when the argument reignited. Watching Bai Pengpeng’s performance, she suddenly understood why the latter had mentioned being envied and disliked by her social circle. If this was how she treated a friend like Qian Fangyuan, her attitude toward those so-called friends must have been even more provoking. No wonder they resented her.

Miao Zhaodi sighed, raising her book to block the scene. Out of sight, out of mind—these two were beyond help.

Qian Fangyuan was so furious her nose nearly twisted. She let out a loud “Hmph!” and snatched an apple from the desk, biting into it viciously, as if it were Bai Pengpeng’s flesh.

Bite you to death!