Chapter 24: Li Zhao

Shen Han gave a simple three-word reply: “Old friend.”

Thanks, but anyone with eyes could see that.

Since Li Zhao told her to wait outside, Shen Han obediently didn’t enter the ward.

The hallway was empty except for the two of them. Shen Han leaned against the wall next to the ward, while Su Mi stood in the middle of the corridor, hands behind her back, counting the lights on the ceiling out of boredom.

After a while, Su Mi couldn’t stand it anymore.

They’ve been inside for quite a while now, right?

She sneaked a glance at Shen Han and asked, “Big sister? Should we go in and check?”

Shen Han replied calmly, “Listen to the doctor.”

Su Mi: …

Wasn’t that just an offhand comment?

It wasn’t exactly a medical order.

Besides, the person inside is your future mother-in-law! Shouldn’t you go in, make an introduction, and solidify your relationship?

Su Mi gave Shen Han a look of disappointment.

Even if you’re rich, powerful, attractive, and unique… you still need to…

She paused at this thought.

Alright, if you have such advantages, maybe you don’t need to worry about pleasing the mother-in-law.

Only a small fry like her needed to worry.

Su Mi sighed softly, then tiptoed to the door, attempting to eavesdrop.

The hospital room door had good soundproofing; it was completely silent inside.

Behind her, Shen Han shifted her gaze from the wall posters to the girl crouching by the door, blatantly eavesdropping with her butt sticking out.

“…”

Shen Han’s gaze swept over her, then calmly looked away.

At the same time, Su Mi turned back around.

She pondered again.

Xu Nanqiao’s mother, Xu Rou, is not like other mothers-in-law; she’s very wary of Alphas. If the groundwork isn’t laid properly, she will definitely become a major obstacle later on.

Moreover, now that she’s ill, it’s the perfect time to show some concern, earn some goodwill, and demonstrate some humanity in front of Xu Nanqiao.

Su Mi had it all planned out: introduce Shen Han as “Xu Nanqiao’s friend’s sister” to establish a basic acquaintance.

She cleared her throat.

Tentatively, she asked, “Big sister, have you met Xu’s mother?”

Shen Han lifted her eyelids. “No.”

Su Mi immediately looked worried, saying, “I heard Xu is from a single-parent family. Her mother raised her alone, and she’s done so well academically. It must’ve been really tough. I think, since you care about her so much and spend time together every week, maybe you’d want to visit her?”

Shen Han looked at her with interest, observing her micro-expressions. “Every week? Spend time together? Your class teacher specifically mentioned today that your grades have improved a lot.”

Su Mi: “…That’s not important.”

Shen Han responded smoothly, “What you’re talking about isn’t important to me either.”

Upon hearing this, Su Mi was taken aback. She stared at Shen Han’s indifferent face for a moment and realized she was serious.

How could she say that?

These words sounded heartless to Su Mi’s ears.

If you like someone, you should care about their family too, right?

After all, family is a significant part of anyone’s life, whether good or bad.

Su Mi couldn’t quite explain why this mattered to her so much. She bit the inside of her cheek, frustrated, and looked at Shen Han.

Although she knew the villain didn’t know how to love someone and had a high blackening value, making a bit of psychological dysfunction understandable.

But still—

Su Mi felt her temper flare.

Overcome with emotion, she marched up to Shen Han, looked up, and said firmly, “You’ll regret this!”

Without giving any further explanation, she turned and headed toward the ward, fuming.

Shen Han: ?

She raised an eyebrow, watching the girl’s angry retreating figure.

…

She didn’t understand.

But that didn’t stop Shen Han from raising her voice, coldly saying, “Su Mi.”

Su Mi’s action of opening the ward door paused for half a second, as if Shen Han’s voice caused the temperature in the hallway to drop several degrees.

Her neck felt like it was getting goosebumps, and her eyelid twitched.

It would be too cowardly to turn back now. Su Mi took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Inside the ward, a frail and beautiful woman lay in the central hospital bed. She looked about eight-tenths similar to Xu Nanqiao, though older—this must be Xu Rou.

She was resting with her eyes closed, but opened them upon hearing the door, looking confused. “Whose voice was that?”

Su Mi quickly straightened up as the door automatically closed behind her.

She smiled and greeted, “Hello, Auntie. I’m Nanqiao’s classmate. My name is Su Mi.”

Xu Nanqiao wasn’t by the bed but standing by the window with Li Zhao.

When Su Mi looked over, the two figures crossed for a second before Li Zhao walked over quickly.

Li Zhao glanced at the door first, then said to Xu Rou, “Auntie, it’s nothing. It’s just your daughter’s classmate.”

Xu Rou’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing.

She seemed uninterested in Xu Nanqiao’s schoolmates, giving Su Mi a cold look before calling over, “Nanqiao, your classmate is here.”

There was a corner between the window and the bed, so Xu Rou couldn’t see the situation there, but Su Mi could.

Xu Nanqiao seemed to wipe her eyes before walking over slowly.

Her eyes were red. She avoided looking at Xu Rou and gave Su Mi a small smile. “Thank you, Su Mi.”

The atmosphere felt odd.

Su Mi wasn’t good at small talk, and Xu Nanqiao didn’t seem willing to discuss her mother’s condition in front of her. She only mentioned it was an old illness acting up, and her fainting was due to low blood sugar.

Xu Rou then suspiciously insisted on being discharged. Xu Nanqiao sniffed and softly reasoned with her mother.

It seemed there was no need to visit the sick anymore.

Back when Su Mi was in school, she met several parents of her classmates, all of whom were kind and considerate.

So, Su Mi assumed all parents were friendly towards their children’s friends.

This was her first time being treated coldly, leaving her a bit at a loss, standing there dumbly.

Thus, she didn’t notice Li Zhao observing her.

It wasn’t until she heard a light cough beside her that Su Mi snapped back to reality. She turned to see Li Zhao winking at her.

Su Mi: ?

She looked at Li Zhao in confusion. Li Zhao’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment before she smirked.

Li Zhao had beautiful almond-shaped eyes, dark and bright like high-quality obsidian.

In a slightly raspy voice, she said, “Little sister, it seems we don’t quite fit in here.”

Su Mi agreed with a hum, but then Li Zhao brazenly leaned in close.

Startled, Su Mi took a big step back, wary of Li Zhao’s flamboyant demeanor.

Judging by her aggressive nature, Li Zhao was likely an Alpha.

Su Mi tried not to let her gaze wander to the rose tattoo on Li Zhao’s collarbone, forcing herself to look puzzled.

Seeing that she hadn’t scared Su Mi, Li Zhao tilted her head and said, “May I pass?”

Su Mi stepped aside, making room. As they passed each other, Li Zhao’s open lab coat lightly brushed Su Mi’s arm.

Following the movement, Su Mi noticed a damp spot on Li Zhao’s chest pocket.

Su Mi paused, then instinctively followed her out.

Outside the corridor, Shen Han was nowhere to be seen.

Li Zhao glanced around, sighing in disappointment. “Doesn’t follow doctor’s orders, not waiting outside.”

Su Mi followed her to the elevator, then called out, “Dr. Li.”

Facing her, Su Mi asked, “Is Nanqiao’s mother’s condition serious?”

Li Zhao calmly replied, “Not serious, it’s indeed an old ailment.”

Su Mi scratched her cheek. “Did Nanqiao…cry?”

Li Zhao paused, then looked at Su Mi in mock surprise. “You noticed that? Good observation.”

Face to face, the damp spot on Li Zhao’s coat was even more apparent.

Even a blind person could see it.

Xu Nanqiao was about her height. Su Mi silently compared and thought it must be from Xu Nanqiao crying against Li Zhao… but why?

Xu Nanqiao had strong boundaries and wouldn’t cry on a stranger’s shoulder for no reason, right?

Her gaze wasn’t subtle. Li Zhao glanced down, then smiled.

“So, you figured it out from this?”

Su Mi nodded.

“Well, let me ask you something.”

Li Zhao suddenly leaned in, draping an arm around Su Mi’s shoulders.

The open lab coat revealed glimpses of a muscular arm, toned but not overly so, lightly but firmly encircling Su Mi, carrying a lingering smell of strong liquor.

In a low, raspy voice, Li Zhao said, “Answer a question for me, and I’ll tell you why Nanqiao cried. Deal?”

Su Mi stiffened, feeling awkward with a stranger’s arm around her. She nervously agreed, “Okay, you can ask.”

Li Zhao’s voice carried a teasing tone. “Using ‘you’ now? Don’t be scared. Just call me Sister Li Zhao.”

Su Mi forced herself to say, “…Sister Li Zhao.”

Li Zhao asked, “What do you think of your sister’s relationship with Nanqiao?”

Su Mi was puzzled but replied honestly, “It’s pretty good.”

Li Zhao pushed for specifics, “Specifically? How does your sister treat Nanqiao?”

Su Mi hesitated, thinking Li Zhao might know about Xu Nanqiao treating Shen Han’s illness, then resolutely said, “She can’t do without her, they’re a perfect match.”

Li Zhao chuckled, her laughter muffled.

After a moment, she wiped away nonexistent tears from her eyes and said, “Exactly, a perfect match.”

Su Mi: …

This is so confusing.

She hadn’t expected her impression of Li Zhao to change three times in half an hour.

Her first impression was of an unreliable socialite, the second was of a serious and kind doctor…

Now she thought Li Zhao was crazy.

But she had answered the questions, and Su Mi wasn’t comfortable being held by a stranger like this. She struggled subtly.

Sensing her discomfort, Li Zhao loosened her grip slightly.

As Su Mi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had escaped, Li Zhao’s hand moved to gently press her head against her chest.

With a playful tone, Li Zhao said, “Actually, I just suggested this, to prevent her mother from seeing her tears. I let her cry on my clothes.”

Su Mi: …………………

You call this a suggestion?!

You, you call this clothes?!

If she hadn’t turned her head in time, she would have buried her face in it!

Her ears brushed against a soft mass, making Su Mi’s face burn as she quickly stepped back.

What is wrong with you!

Is it a game for the sick to play with the sick?

She opened her mouth, red-faced, and managed to say, “Dr. Li, please behave.”

Li Zhao shrugged nonchalantly, saying, “You were just calling me Sister Li Zhao, even saying I was better than your sister and wanted me to be your real sister.”

Su Mi was stunned. “When did I…”

Wait.

She suddenly realized Li Zhao wouldn’t say this out of nowhere. She turned around to see the elevator doors open, with Shen Han standing there.

Shen Han’s expression was calm, her gaze cool as she watched them.

Meanwhile, Li Zhao wasn’t done. She stepped closer and lightly tugged on Su Mi’s earlobe.

Her voice was teasing, “By the way, little sister, your earrings are very pretty.”

Li Zhao’s lab coat billowed as she walked away, leaving a devastated Su Mi behind.

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Author’s Note:
Su Mi: You’re surprisingly nice^^

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