Chapter 23: Visiting the Sick

The clubhouse wasn’t far from Su Mi’s home. Just as she finished telling a fairy tale, Shen Han smoothly parked the car at the villa entrance.

Wen Zisu, having received the news in advance, was waiting outside the courtyard gate.

As the driver’s side window rolled down, Wen Zisu, assuming it was Su Mi driving, bent down and started saying, “Yaya, sorry, Daddy today…”

Unexpectedly, he found himself looking directly into Shen Han’s eyes from the driver’s seat.

Wen Zisu, rarely caught off guard, turned to the back seat and saw his daughter holding her younger brother, both looking at him as well.

“…”

Wen Zisu chuckled, saying, “Su Mi, how did you get Shen Zong¹ to drive you?”

Su Mi, looking innocent, thought to herself that it wasn’t her request. She pointed to Su Yi in her arms.

She said, “Xiao Yi insisted on me holding him.”

Wen Zisu smiled and chided his son, then turned apologetically to Shen Han, saying, “Even after the differentiation period, he still acts immature. Thank you for today. The situation was sudden, and both Ziyu and I couldn’t make it. Sorry for the trouble.”

Shen Han responded politely, “You’re too kind, Uncle. I happened to be free and took the opportunity to visit my alma mater.”

Wen Zisu was cordial to Shen Han, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then took Su Yi from Su Mi.

Su Mi also got out of the car and explained to Wen Zisu that she needed to visit a classmate in the hospital with Shen Han.

Wen Zisu naturally agreed.

As Su Mi was about to open the backseat door again, Wen Zisu raised his hand slightly and whispered, “Sit in the front.”

Su Mi: “Oh, oh!”

She almost forgot.

“Will do next time.”

She waved a goodbye gesture to Wen Zisu, quickly opened the front passenger door, and sat down.

Shen Han turned her cold face toward her, “Which hospital?”

Su Mi projected the navigation onto the car’s intelligent system.

The car started smoothly, and Shen Han leisurely turned the steering wheel with one hand.

Su Mi found herself staring at Shen Han’s hands for a long time, her mind wandering.

The villain’s hands were indeed beautiful, probably because she was an Alpha. Her fingers were long and slender, with distinct joints, and her nails were neatly trimmed.

The ring at the base of her finger seemed to be the finishing touch. Did it have any special meaning?

Su Mi recalled some useless trivia she had read before.

Single? Celibate?

Which one would Shen Han be? She liked Xu Nanqiao, so AO union would be possible for marriage, maybe just proclaiming her single status?

Or perhaps it was merely a fashion accessory with no attached significance.

Su Mi didn’t realize how long she had been staring until the car stopped at a red light and the finger in her view tapped the steering wheel.

It suddenly left the steering wheel.

Su Mi watched as the other hand covered it, slightly turning the ring before taking it off—

And handing it to her.

Su Mi: “…???”

She looked up in shock, meeting Shen Han’s calm, dark eyes. Shen Han’s tone was flat: “Take it.”

Su Mi was stunned, realizing the villain had misunderstood.

She thought Su Mi was staring at her hand because she liked the ring?

The ring sat precisely in Shen Han’s palm, embedded with a crystal-clear, ice-blue gemstone, undoubtedly valuable.

Su Mi felt a pang of emotion, not understanding the villain’s thought process.

No wonder the original character’s greed and desire grew step by step; Shen Han was too good to her.

In any case, Su Mi felt that the ring should not be accepted.

Other gifts might be okay, but a ring… Perhaps it was her traditional mindset, feeling such an item should not be casually given away.

Su Mi waved her hand, and when Shen Han didn’t move, she took the ring with her fingers.

Her fingertips brushed against Shen Han’s palm, noticing its smooth texture, yet there were numerous faint lines, feeling somewhat tangible and not matching its appearance of white jade.

Su Mi felt a slight tickle in her fingertips.

But it wasn’t the time to think about this; she decisively put the ring back on Shen Han’s finger.

Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She explained, “Although it wasn’t my intention… I wouldn’t dare wear it outside, my parents would say something. Why not just cash it?”

As the light turned green, Shen Han started the car, reversed her hand, curled her fingers, and looked at the ring back on her pinky.

“It’s priceless, how could I cash it for you.”

Su Mi: “…” Priceless, yet you offer it so casually!

She was speechless.

Shen Han slightly raised the corner of her mouth, seeming to think Su Mi’s silence was regret.

She said, “How about cashing it into a South Garden mobility scooter?”

“…” Why still remember this!

Not only did the villain’s mood change constantly, but her thought process was also unusual.

Su Mi mumbled a random agreement.

She then heard Shen Han snicker.

Su Mi: So annoying.

Without further conversation, Xu Nanqiao had probably settled her mother in and exchanged a few messages with Su Mi, telling her their exact location.

They were at a public hospital. They took the elevator to the eighth floor of the inpatient department. As the elevator door opened, they saw Xu Nanqiao at the entrance.

Xu Nanqiao’s eyes were still red. Seeing Su Mi, she whimpered, seeming to want to hug her.

Her voice was especially pitiful: “Su Mi…”

Su Mi almost jumped out of her skin.

Please don’t! The villain is right next to me!

She couldn’t avoid it in time and was grabbed by the tearful Xu Nanqiao.

Only then did Xu Nanqiao notice Shen Han beside her, politely greeting her before pulling Su Mi towards the ward.

There were few people in the inpatient corridor. Xu Nanqiao dragged Su Mi along, almost tripping her in the first few steps. Remembering Shen Han, Su Mi quickly turned to check if the villain was following.

On the way, Su Mi asked, “Nanqiao, is your mother alright?”

Xu Nanqiao looked distressed at the mention, stammering and shaking her head, “I can’t explain it well, the doctor is in the ward, you should hear from her.”

They reached the ward door, just as it opened from the inside.

Out came a tall, thin woman in a white coat.

With messy black short hair, a face devoid of expression, she exuded an intimidating aura, even sporting a prominent eyebrow piercing.

She smelled strongly of alcohol, looking as if she had just woken up from a night out, especially with a tight black crop top showing off her curves under the white coat, and a string of black roses tattooed along her collarbone.

She didn’t look very professional.

There was a name tag on the left chest of the white coat, reading “Li Zhao.”

Underneath, in small print, was her title: Deputy Chief Physician, Second Gender Department.

The Second Gender Department dealt with Alpha, Beta, and Omega gender classifications.

Blocked at the door, Li Zhao scratched her wolf-tail-like short hair, looking up at Xu Nanqiao.

In a hoarse voice, she said, “Your mother just woke up. You can go talk to her. I’ll get the test results and explain in detail later.”

Xu Nanqiao gasped and glanced into the ward, quickly saying, “Thank you, Dr. Li.”

Su Mi: …She really is a doctor?

Does this world have such loose requirements for doctors?

She secretly observed Li Zhao, noticing she paused on Xu Nanqiao for a few seconds before looking up to see Shen Han against the wall.

She froze, frowning.

Directly addressing, she said, “Shen Han.”

Shen Han, arms crossed, nodded, “Dr. Li.”

Su Mi, bewildered, looked between the two, curiously asking, “You know each other?”

Xu Nanqiao explained, “Dr. Li brought my mother to the hospital. She wasn’t on duty today but came specifically to take my mother for a check-up.”

So, she was the kind-hearted person who called Xu Nanqiao.

She didn’t look kind, but actually was very nice.

Su Mi mentally scolded herself for her brief prejudice.

Li Zhao glanced at Su Mi, then turned to Shen Han, “Is this your god-sister?”

Shen Han nodded.

They seemed quite familiar with each other.

Li Zhao casually handed Su Mi a card, “Little sister, please go to the first-floor reception and get the test results for room 809. I need to chat with your sister.”

Su Mi blinked, even more curious.

Li Zhao wasn’t mentioned in the original plot, nor was there someone seemingly close to Shen Han.

She glanced at Shen Han, who said, “Go ahead.”

Su Mi took the card and ran off.

When she returned with the results as fast as she could, Xu Nanqiao had already gone into the ward to see her mother.

Shen Han and Li Zhao stood at the ward door chatting.

Su Mi arrived just in time to hear a bit of their conversation.

It seemed to be about travel.

Mostly, Li Zhao was talking, mentioning going skiing on some snowy mountain last winter before returning to the country.

Shen Han, with arms crossed, listened, occasionally adding a few words, indicating she had been there before too.

Su Mi quietly approached, not interrupting, and handed the results filled with data and charts to Li Zhao.

The conversation paused as Li Zhao looked down to flip through the results. After reading a few pages, she frowned.

Shen Han, observing from the side, asked, “What’s wrong? Is there a case even Dr. Li can’t handle?”

Li Zhao snorted, “What do you think?”

Shen Han responded naturally, “I’m doing quite well.”

Li Zhao retorted, “If that were true, I’d be thanking the heavens.”

She snapped the folder shut and was about to enter the ward but hesitated.

“What are you doing here today? Accompanying your sister to visit a patient?”

Li Zhao abruptly showed concern.

Shen Han stood still, glancing into the ward. “Didn’t you just ask about her?”

Perhaps out of consideration for Su Mi’s presence, Shen Han didn’t elaborate, but Li Zhao clearly understood.

Li Zhao paused awkwardly, pressing her lips together. “Wait here a moment.”

With that, she went into the ward, leaving Shen Han and Su Mi outside.

Su Mi blinked repeatedly, curiosity bubbling up.

If she understood correctly, Li Zhao seemed aware of Shen Han’s mental condition.

Earlier in the elevator, Su Mi had hurriedly researched the responsibilities of the Second Gender Department. The information was diverse but seemed to encompass issues related to Alpha, Beta, and Omega genders, including glands, mental strength, and susceptibility periods.

Shen Han’s condition appeared related to mental strength, fitting this logical line.

Analyzing further, Li Zhao’s question about Shen Han’s condition likely implied the unsolvable case was right in front of her—Shen Han herself. Otherwise, Shen Han wouldn’t have mentioned her own good state.

…Good state? The blackening value fluctuates daily.

Su Mi was unsure of Li Zhao’s final question’s implication.

Did she also know about Xu Nanqiao reading to Shen Han as therapy?

Curiosity gnawed at Su Mi as she fidgeted, finally daring to speak.

“Big sister, who is this Dr. Li?”

Author’s Note:
Su Mi: You’re actually a really good person ^^

T/N:
1 Shen Zong – In Chinese business and corporate settings, “Zong” (总, zǒng) is a common way to address high-ranking executives, similar to “President,” “General Manager,” or simply “Boss.” It is often used as a respectful form of address for people in leadership roles, particularly in companies. ⤴