A sudden sound of footsteps outside the office made the woman, who had stealthily slipped into Zhang Yang and Yan Liangfei’s shared space, jump!

The approaching steps grew louder, clearly indicating the arrival of either Zhang Yang or Yan Liangfei. Since she was sneaking in, how could she not be anxious?

In her haste, there was no time for anything else; she could only, with lightning speed, fling the crumpled, wadded-up letter from under her foot into the trash bin.

“Creeeeak~”

The office door was suddenly pushed open, and Yan Liangfei walked in, spotting the woman inside on his first glance.

Yan Liangfei paused, curiosity etched on his face. “Liu Qianqian, what are you doing here?”

The woman who had snuck into the office was Liu Qianqian, a nurse at Jinghe Hospital. Yan Liangfei was not unfamiliar with her; when he first arrived, this same Liu Qianqian often made overtures toward him.

Liu Qianqian was attractive in her own right, possessed a good figure, and knew how to apply makeup and dress well, earning her a certain reputation around Jinghe Hospital. Yan Liangfei had heard whispers; several young doctors had been involved in ambiguous relationships with this nurse, and they had often afforded her favors outside of work. Furthermore, Yan Liangfei simply wasn't interested in the type of heavily made-up women, so he had always treated her rather coolly.

Now, seeing Liu Qianqian unexpectedly in his office, Yan Liangfei couldn't fathom why she would be there.

“Ah, I, I was just—oh, it’s like this. Director Guo asked me to relay a message to Dr. Zhang Yang, asking if he’s been following the news about that Sino-Foreign Medical Exchange event.”

After her initial panic subsided, Liu Qianqian managed to conjure a plausible excuse and regained some composure.

Hearing this, Yan Liangfei subtly pursed his lips. He knew that the moment Zhang Yang arrived at Jinghe Hospital, he had gone straight to the Director's office to see his grand-uncle. Why would his grand-uncle specifically send someone to check on Zhang Yang?

However, Yan Liangfei paused and then realized why Liu Qianqian was here. She was probably just like those other girls infatuated with Zhang Yang, sneaking in to deliver a love letter.

“Oh, I see. But my Master isn’t here. You can head back first. I’ll tell him when I see him later,” Yan Liangfei replied casually, choosing not to expose her.

“Your Master?” Liu Qianqian’s eyes widened. She noticed that Yan Liangfei’s address for Zhang Yang sounded like ‘Master’?

“Yes. I formally became Big Brother Zhang’s disciple.”

Yan Liangfei nodded. This news should have spread quickly throughout Jinghe Hospital. He wondered why it hadn't reached Liu Qianqian’s ears yet, judging by her expression.

Liu Qianqian opened her mouth, intending to inquire further about Zhang Yang, but Yan Liangfei had already settled into his seat and pulled open a drawer, rummaging through it. He had been assigned to assist in the operating room today, and only upon nearing it did he realize he forgot to return the case files he took home yesterday, which was why he had doubled back. He was incredibly busy and in no mood to chat with Liu Qianqian.

“Ah, I see. Well then, Dr. Yan, I’ll be leaving now.”

Faced with Yan Liangfei’s aloofness, a flash of cold resentment crossed Liu Qianqian’s eyes, but she immediately nodded, bid farewell, and left the office. Once outside, she lightly patted her chest, letting out a breath of relief.

Yet, the scene she witnessed inside the office returned to her mind: all the love letters had been tossed into the trash, and the single letter that had been opened bore the signature Xiao Xiao.

Liu Qianqian and Xiao Xiao already had a strained relationship, and this discovery fueled an intense jealousy within her, as if a voice were incessantly circling in her mind: Why her? Why always her?

After retrieving the case files he needed, Yan Liangfei flashed a happy smile, rose, and walked out of the office. It was then he noticed Liu Qianqian hadn't left, but stood somewhat zoned out.

“Liu Qianqian?” Yan Liangfei called out strangely, wondering if she felt unwell.

Liu Qianqian gave a small gasp before realizing she had been staring blankly for too long. She was, after all, a woman, and she sensed a sliver of concern in Yan Liangfei’s tone. She managed a sweet smile and answered in her delicate voice, “Oh, I’m fine…”

“Good. Then I’ll be going now.”

Yan Liangfei was eager to deliver the case files. Seeing that Liu Qianqian said she was fine, he didn't dwell on it and left before she could finish speaking.

Liu Qianqian felt like she had offered warmth only to receive icy indifference. Her sweet smile instantly stiffened, and she stamped her foot in frustration before turning to leave as well.

But after only a few steps, Liu Qianqian stopped again. She frowned. From her vantage point, she could see two figures near the turn of the hospital staircase ahead, deep in conversation.

That corner belonged to a seldom-used auxiliary staircase, a place where people were rarely noticed. Drawing closer out of curiosity, Liu Qianqian finally recognized the two people.

Zhang Yang and Xiao Xiao!

This realization reignited the embers of jealousy that had just begun to fade within Liu Qianqian!

Zhang Yang had just come down from an upstairs consultation room; since this staircase was closer, he chose to use it. He hadn't expected to run into that nurse, Xiao Xiao, here again.

When Zhang Yang spotted Xiao Xiao, she was already hiding there, secretly on her phone.

“Dr… Dr. Zhang?”

Seeing Zhang Yang, Xiao Xiao hurriedly ended the call, shoved the phone into her pocket, her face flushed, and lowered her head in embarrassment, feeling caught doing something wrong.

Zhang Yang didn't intend to press the young nurse about it. Being understanding, he smiled at Xiao Xiao, nodded a greeting, and prepared to move on.

“Um, Dr. Zhang!”

As Zhang Yang started to leave, Xiao Xiao couldn't help herself and called out to him again.

“What is it, Nurse Xiao? Do you need something?” Zhang Yang stopped, looking at her.

Xiao Xiao blushed, hesitating, stammering for a long time.

Seeing her demeanor, and recalling the stack of love letters received in the office, Zhang Yang had a good idea of the young woman’s intentions. Since she seemed reluctant to speak, Zhang Yang took the lead: “Don’t be scared. I won’t tell your head nurse.”

“Ah, I’m not worried about that.” Xiao Xiao thought Zhang Yang misunderstood her fear as apprehension about being reported, so she quickly denied it.

But Zhang Yang didn't address her clarification; instead, he continued, “Actually, my fiancée used to call me secretly during her shifts when she worked.”

“What!”

Xiao Xiao’s eyes widened when she heard the word fiancée. She opened her mouth in shock, then asked again in disbelief, “Dr. Zhang, you have a fiancée? You’re engaged?”

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded. He remembered how Mi Xue often used to call him secretly when she worked at the supermarket, a sweet memory that brought a genuinely happy smile to his face.

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao immediately felt a pang of heartbreak. The rosy color drained from her cheeks, replaced by an expression of disappointment. She stared blankly at Zhang Yang, her look complex. “Then… then your relationship with Dr. Zhang must be very good…”

Seeing the swift change in Xiao Xiao’s expression, Zhang Yang sighed inwardly. He knew that being young and wealthy now made him a ‘Prince Charming’ in the eyes of many girls, so it was best to make things clear sooner rather than later.

“Yes, we just got engaged a while ago. When she was still in school, she worked at a supermarket. Back then, she would often hide in an empty corner, just like you, to secretly call me.” Zhang Yang cheerfully recounted some of Mi Xue’s past stories to Xiao Xiao. Seeing that Xiao Xiao still looked downcast, he added gently, “You must have been calling your boyfriend, right? So, there’s absolutely no need to fear me reporting you.”

Hearing Zhang Yang’s last sentence, Xiao Xiao replied, as if compelled by some strange urge, “Yes, I was calling my boyfriend.”

I don't even have a boyfriend!

Xiao Xiao couldn't explain why she answered that way, but strangely, after speaking, the sense of loss in her heart began to fade, and the heartache lessened.

“Alright, I have things to do. I need to get busy,” Zhang Yang said. Seeing Xiao Xiao’s response, he knew the small upset in her heart had passed. He nodded and prepared to leave.

Xiao Xiao forced a smile, raised a fist, and said to Zhang Yang with great effort, “I wish you and sister-in-law happiness!”

Hearing this, Zhang Yang laughed heartily, reached out, and patted Xiao Xiao’s head, much like an adult indulging a child, and replied, “You too. Be happy with your boyfriend.”

This scene was exactly what Liu Qianqian, secretly watching from nearby, witnessed.

This new intern, Zhang Yang, really was involved with Xiao Xiao. She never expected the usually most reserved and proper Xiao Xiao to engage in such furtive behavior!

Liu Qianqian bit her lip, a desperate, wild decision already forming in her mind. However, at that moment, she failed to notice that after Zhang Yang parted ways with Xiao Xiao, he glanced in her direction.

Zhang Yang returned to his office and let out a long sigh. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Mi Xue?”

“Zhang Yang, what’s up? Aren’t you at work? Why are you calling me now?”

“I miss you!”

“Go, go. I’m out shopping. Hurry up and tell me what you need.”

“It’s this: can you pick me up at lunchtime? We can go eat together.”

“Really? Great! I’ll come find you at noon.”

“Mm, bye-bye.”

“Bye, husband!”

Hanging up, Zhang Yang settled comfortably back into his seat, thinking that it was best to let Mi Xue make an appearance at Jinghe Hospital sooner rather than later.