Chapter 403: This Lady Said She Wanted to Stay at Our House for a Night

Chapter 403: This Lady Says She Wants to Stay at Our House Overnight

Su He was rather surprised. How lonely must someone be to tell their story to a stranger?

But judging by the lady's attire, she was dressed very elegantly.

These days, how many people could afford such a fine lambskin coat?

And her boots—genuine leather, clearly expensive at first glance.

Plus her complexion, which seemed far younger than her actual age.

Her tired expression, however, made her appear much older.

"Well, I... I'd be happy to listen, if you’re willing to share," Su He said, glancing around before adding, "But it’s already late. Maybe you should head home and rest first, and we can talk tomorrow?"

She was ready to close up. If she stayed here chatting with this lady, how long would they be stuck out in the cold?

Better to wait till daytime—after all, Wencheng had big temperature swings between morning, noon, and night.

But Mrs. Gu shook her head firmly and said, "I don’t want to go back. Miss, could you let me stay at your place for the night? I can pay you."

Su He: "......"

She scrutinized the lady again from head to toe. With such fine clothing, she couldn’t possibly be some scam artist, right?

And with her slight build, she didn't look like she could fight off anyone.

So—

What was her goal?

"Madam, I... we don’t have a spare room," Su He declined helplessly.

"That’s fine. I can sleep on the floor, really," Mrs. Gu insisted earnestly.

Su He, however, was beginning to regret being nice. Why had she gone out of her way to care? Now she was stuck.

Fu Tinghua, having just finished settling the last customer’s bill in the shop, turned and noticed Su He still standing outside talking to the lady.

It was freezing—why wasn't she dressed warmer?

Frowning, Fu Tinghua grabbed Su He’s coat from under the counter and stepped outside.

Just as he approached, he overheard Mrs. Gu pleading to stay at their place.

Quickly stepping forward, he put the coat around Su He’s shoulders and said, "It's freezing out here. Get inside."

Su He looked up at Fu Tinghua, puzzled.

Glancing at Mrs. Gu’s pleading expression, Su He sighed and said, "This madam says she wants to stay at our place for the night."

Fu Tinghua gave Mrs. Gu a cold look, but his voice softened immediately when he turned back to Su He.

"Mm, I understand. I’ll talk to her," he said, giving Su He's hair a quick ruffle before urging her to go inside.

Su He thought Fu Tinghua's attitude toward the lady a bit odd, but she didn't argue. When he told her to go in, she went.

She and Fu Tinghua were like this—they trusted each other unconditionally.

Watching their interaction, Mrs. Gu's eyes filled with envy.

"How nice," she murmured.

Dr. Fu Tinghua, however, ignored her muttering and said, "Mrs. Gu, right? Please return to the hospital. Powerful as you are, you can’t treat those beneath you like ants, making them shoulder the blame for you, can you?"

His expression turned stern at this moment. Though handsome, Dr. Fu Tinghua radiated an intimidating presence when serious.

He meant Mrs. Gu had run away from the hospital, and if the doctors and nurses noticed, they would surely search everywhere for her.

Especially the hospital director, who wouldn’t dare offend someone of her status and must be panicking.

Thus, Mrs. Gu’s actions were completely selfish, disregarding the consequences for others.

Being who she was, Mrs. Gu naturally understood the implication behind Dr. Fu Tinghua’s words.

Yet she didn’t get angry. Instead, she put on a fawning smile and said, "Ting Hua, I... I told them in advance that I’d be out for a while. I truly didn’t mean to trouble anyone."

Her fawning attitude was too obvious, making Dr. Fu Tinghua's brow furrow.

"Please go back," he said. He looked away, no longer looking at her.

For some reason, seeing the sorrow in her eyes and her cautious, pleading demeanor, Dr. Fu Tinghua suddenly felt a strange tightness in his chest.

A vague, suffocating feeling, hard to describe.

"I... I just wanted to spend a little more time with you," Mrs. Gu murmured.

Receiving no response from Dr. Fu Tinghua, she silently rose and left.

Even as Mrs. Gu walked farther away, Dr. Fu Tinghua remained standing in place, making Su He come out and check on him.

"What’s wrong? Do you know her?" Su He asked, curious.

"Yes, she’s a new patient I saw this morning," Dr. Fu Tinghua replied, nodding.

Only after Mrs. Gu’s figure had completely disappeared did he slip an arm around Su He’s waist, guiding her back into the shop.

"It’s cold outside, and yet you came out again," Dr. Fu Tinghua sighed, absentmindedly fixing the buttons on Su He’s coat.

"Not even buttoned properly—aren’t you cold?" he chided with a faint smile.

"Geez, Dr. Fu, you’re so naggy," Su He complained, though she obediently stood still for him to fix her clothes.

"Naggy? Wen City will only get colder. Bundle up every day so you don’t catch a cold."

Ever since it got colder, Dr. Fu Tinghua would lay out Su He’s clothes for the day every morning, placing them on his side of the bed to warm them so she could put them on as soon as she woke up.

That way, the chill of the fabric wouldn’t be as harsh.

Su He had no idea where he came up with these weird little ideas.

Besides, it’s not like she couldn't handle the cold, right?

"Don't try to distract me. If she’s just your patient, why were you being so weird around her?"

Su He wasn’t buying it. She was certain there was something between Dr. Fu Tinghua and that woman.

"It's nothing much, just that she seems to have some mental health issues and had a breakdown today. I'm not trained to handle cases like this, so I told the director I wouldn't take her case."

Fu Tinghua recounted the day's events matter-of-factly, but Su He felt there was definitely something he wasn't telling her.

"Did you argue with your director?" Su He asked with a knowing smile.

Fu Tinghua had been working overtime every day lately, and even Su He could sense his growing frustration.

Now, suddenly getting stuck with a patient he couldn't help, who then had an episode right in front of him—it was only natural for Fu Tinghua to take it out on the director.

After all, Fu Tinghua took his profession very seriously.

For conditions he wasn't skilled in, he would prefer they be handled by the right specialists to avoid delaying treatment or wasting anyone's time.

It had to be said—after spending so much time with Fu Tinghua, Su He had him completely figured out.