Volume One, Chapter 18: At Home, Even in Bed... Does It Not Count?

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In a private room at the teahouse.

After leaving the hospital, Yiyao called her parents. Since she had to go to work soon and time was tight, going home would take too long, so they agreed to meet at a nearby tea restaurant.

Once the waiter had set the tea on the table and closed the door behind him, Yiyao’s father spoke first: “Yiyao, you specially asked us to come and told us to bring the bank card. Do you need money?”

Yiyao nodded seriously. “Yes, but I promise to repay you within a year, with interest at the bank loan rate.”

Without hesitation, her father handed the bank card to her. “You’re our only daughter. Though we sold the old house, Yan Chen gave us another apartment. It’s much more comfortable than the old one. We’re old now and don’t have many expenses. Xie Huaijin earns a lot, but he’s no easy man to deal with. If you ever have children, you’ll need money. Your mother and I have long thought about this. We’re giving you all two hundred million yuan without keeping a single cent for ourselves. But there’s one condition: you can’t use this money to support Xie Huaijin or his mother. Always keep your wits about you—that way, you’ll have a fallback.”

Yiyao wanted to tell her parents that she had already decided to divorce and that this two hundred million was bait—a bargaining chip to reclaim everything that belonged to her.

But she couldn’t say it.

She couldn’t reveal too much. Xie Huaijin was a meticulous and clever man. If she told her parents about the divorce plan, they would press for details, and the next time they met Xie Huaijin, they wouldn’t be so polite and would create a rift. Such a rift would not go unnoticed by someone as smart as him.

So she kept silent, silently nodding after receiving the bank card.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

...

Back at the company.

Yiyao found Gu Yanzhe and briefly discussed last night’s events. She knew Gu Yanzhe was sent by He Yanchen. Gu Yanzhe didn’t bother to hide it and straightforwardly said he was here to help her, and he didn’t care about anything else. She understood and didn’t press further.

By six-thirty in the evening, Yiyao still had some work unfinished. She didn’t want to go home so early and planned to stay late at the office. Feeling a bit hungry, she took out her phone to order takeout through Meituan. Gu Yanzhe happened to pass behind her, saw her about to order food, immediately snatched her phone and locked the screen.

“I’m your leader here. Would I let such an outstanding employee eat takeout? Everyone, stop working for now. If there’s more tomorrow, we’ll work overtime then. Tonight, I’m treating you all to Jiu Xi barbecue.”

Yiyao knew this barbecue brand. She had come here once before with Xie Huaijin. They didn’t order much that time, but it still cost over twenty thousand yuan. Today, there were five of them, and it seemed Gu Yanzhe’s wallet would be thoroughly drained.

While everyone was chatting and teasing Gu Yanzhe, a tall, upright man dressed in a clean white shirt and black pants appeared at the door. His starry eyes, sharp brows, and handsome features radiated a calm and indifferent aura. He stood there motionless, a striking sight in itself.

Gu Yanzhe saw him and immediately waved. “Yanchen, over here!”

He Yanchen...

Why was he everywhere?

Yiyao was stunned, lowering her head with a faint blush, feeling awkward.

He Yanchen’s tall figure approached the table. At first, he couldn’t find a seat, so Gu Yanzhe took the initiative, “The seats are full. You’ll have to squeeze in next to Yiyao.”

The seats were benches, each fitting two people. Although Gu Yanzhe was sitting alone, why did he arrange for He Yanchen to squeeze next to her? He Yanchen wasn’t even invited by Yiyao!

Especially after what happened with Song Weiying, Yiyao was even more reluctant to invite suspicion or misunderstanding. She interrupted, “Director Gu, Dr. He is your brother. He can sit with you, but it’s not appropriate for him to sit next to me.”

He Yanchen’s eyes were sharp as a blade. He could detect the slightest trace of emotion on her face, let alone her subtle thoughts.

“When I gave you the injection, why didn’t you say it was inappropriate?”

The colleagues nearby chuckled quietly. Yiyao knew they must have misunderstood! Their understanding of “injection” wasn’t the literal medical meaning!

Yiyao tightened her jaw, suddenly losing control of her expression. “It’s not what you think… Dr. He and I have a purely professional relationship. I’m his patient, and I always go to the hospital for injections, nowhere else…”

He Yanchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice, his eyes slightly lifted, and he raised his chin as if deliberately provoking her, “How so? At home... and on the bed, doesn’t count?”

“...Stop it!”

Yiyao couldn’t bear it any longer. She immediately stood up, tiptoed, and tightly covered He Yanchen’s mouth with her hand.

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This was the first time the man felt the softness of her fingertips. His breath mingled with her fingers, and her fingertips felt a heat as if melting. She quickly withdrew her hand, not daring to linger on his thin lips even for a moment...

Too intoxicating!

She bit her lip, blushing like a peach, not daring to meet his gaze, and cleared her throat. “I... I’m going to the restroom.”

...

Flustered, she fled to the restroom outside the hall and took in some fresh air. The heat clouding her head gradually dispersed.

Not far behind her, Song Weiying, wearing a black waist-exposing dress, seemed a little dizzy, probably from drinking. She also wanted to get some fresh air but was stopped by Director Wang who had followed her out.

Director Wang was in charge of internal medicine and didn’t know Song Weiying’s true identity. Actually, he had taken a liking to her since her first day as an intern but hadn’t found a chance to approach her. Today, several senior leaders of the hospital’s internal medicine department were dining together. He Yanchen was supposed to be there but didn’t show up for unknown reasons. Song Weiying regretted coming.

Since she was there and with the hospital leaders, she couldn’t easily leave, so she forced herself to eat a little. Unexpectedly, when she stepped out for fresh air, the greasy Director Wang blocked her. Her delicate, obedient face now looked less so.

“Director Wang, do you need something from me?”

Director Wang, drunk and aggressive, said lowly, “Dr. Song, you heard the leaders at the banquet. You must have learned a lot. To get ahead in the hospital, you need a patron. He Yanchen is just an ordinary doctor. No matter how good his skills are, without a position, he can’t protect you. Take your internship to full-time conversion as an example. Without my signature, no matter how close you are to him, he can’t help!”

“Heh.”

Song Weiying understood his meaning but, as the proud daughter of the Song Group, she didn’t need this opportunity. She didn’t take his words seriously and rolled her eyes.

Director Wang frowned, displeased. “What are you laughing at? Do you think I’m no match for He Yanchen?”

Song Weiying sneered coldly, “It’s not that you’re no match. You simply don’t have the right to compete with Dr. He!”

“You—”

Director Wang was furious, but Song Weiying ignored him and turned to leave. She then noticed Yiyao standing not far away. Why was she here?

An idea struck Song Weiying. She turned back, looking at Director Wang with eyes as venomous as a snake’s. “Director Wang, you must hate Dr. He, right? Now’s the best chance to take him down. Do you see that woman over there? She’s Dr. He’s girlfriend. If you deal with her, won’t you have all the leverage you need against Dr. He?”

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