Chapter 33 Dr. Gu’s Confession Rejected

Chapter 33 Dr. Gu's Confession Rejected

In the treatment room, Su Qionglin's fingers glided over the mouse wheel, rotating the 3D dental model on the screen. The path of the enamel crack was clearly visible under microscopic magnification. He had just finished the final data review for the last patient's canine restoration—all indicators were perfect and met expectations.

After closing the model, he casually picked up the glass ornament from the corner of his desk. The ice-blue glass felt cool to the touch, and the warm golden light within it appeared especially serene against the cold glow of the screen. He gazed at it for a few seconds before placing it back. It hadn't been there long, yet he had already grown somewhat accustomed to its presence.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door of the treatment room.

"Come in," Su Qionglin said without looking up, assuming it was his assistant, Xiao Zhou, delivering something.

The door opened, but it was Gu Yunshen who entered. He held a tablet in his hand, his face wearing its usual gentle smile.

"Dr. Su, are you finished? I have a case involving variations in marked root canals—the imaging data just came in. I'd like to hear your opinion."

He placed the tablet on the desk, swiping his finger across the screen to pull up the 3D dental model, professionally pointing out several key areas.

Su Qionglin's attention was immediately captured. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the screen. The two discussed the degree of root canal calcification, the positional risks of the adjacent pheromone duct, and the feasibility of several alternative treatment plans for about ten minutes.

When the discussion concluded, Gu Yunshen showed no intention of leaving immediately.

He remained standing, his eyes fixed on Su Qionglin's face. Behind his frameless glasses, his gaze held its usual warmth but carried a touch more focus than usual.

Noticing he hadn't left, Su Qionglin looked up and met his eyes, silently asking, "Is there something else?"

Gu Yunshen took a soft breath, his tone quieter and more serious than usual as he began, "Dr. Su, I think... beyond professional admiration as colleagues and peers, I hold more personal feelings for you."

Su Qionglin's fingers, resting on the armrests of his swivel chair, didn't move. His expression remained impassive as he looked at Gu Yunshen, whose face was earnest, devoid of any hint of jest, yet without any overbearing pressure.

Gu Yunshen paused, observing Su Qionglin's impassive expression, then continued, "I know this might be sudden and could cause you discomfort. But I believe expressing my feelings clearly is a form of respect. Whatever your response, I will respect it, and I assure you this won't affect our future professional collaboration."

The treatment room fell silent once more.

Su Qionglin leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm and direct, without any evasion.

"Thank you for your honesty, Dr. Gu," he replied, his rejection clear and unequivocal. "But I don't have feelings for you beyond those of colleagues and peers."

A flicker of disappointment passed quickly across Gu Yunshen's face, vanishing almost instantly. He recovered quickly, a gentle curve returning to his lips, his demeanor once again refined and composed. "I understand. Don't worry, this won't affect our work together."

"It seems if I ever have the chance to attend your wedding in the future, I'll have to aim to be the best man."

The comment lightened the slight awkwardness in the air.

Su Qionglin didn't respond to the joke, merely nodding.

After the soft click of the door closing, the treatment room fell into complete silence. Su Qionglin leaned back in his swivel chair, tilting his head back and closing his eyes.

This was the first time since transmigrating to this world that someone had confessed to him so directly.

Gu Yunshen's feelings were clear—restrained, rational. He was a mature Alpha, professionally capable, gentle in temperament, and understood boundaries.

His confession was considerate—delivered in a familiar environment, with a measured tone, and even his reaction to rejection was impeccably proper, perfectly aligning with societal expectations of a mature Alpha.

Anyone else would likely have given it serious thought.

But Su Qionglin felt no ripple of emotion.

Instead, another face surfaced in his mind.

It was Elio—the one who had first come to the clinic with his golden hair, raising an eyebrow to ask, "Do you know who I am?"; the Elio who lay in the dental chair, enduring the pain of the dental probe without flinching; the one who said, "I miss the smell of the clinic's disinfectant," only to be teased, "You must be tired out from training"; the Elio who, during dinner, animatedly recounted being chased by a big black dog as a child, his dimples deepening as he laughed; the Elio who, in the car, earnestly said, "Marking isn't the point," his eyes shining like light.

Elio's feelings were entirely different from Gu Yunshen's.

They were chaotic, unpredictable, scorching with heat—like a flame blazing recklessly, boldly illuminating the habitually cold and quiet corners of his world.

…

A few minutes earlier, outside the treatment room, Elio Lutz was striding briskly down the hallway.

He had deliberately ended his physical training early today, taken a rush shower, and rushed over without even fully drying his hair.

His long golden hair had been carefully styled, tied back loosely but deliberately, with a few strands left out on purpose falling over his forehead, slightly damp, adding a touch of rebellious energy. He had changed out of his sweat-soaked training gear into a casually tailored light gray sports jacket, the zipper pulled only to his chest, revealing a clean white T-shirt underneath. He looked like a plant that had just soaked up the sun, radiating warmth and freshness.

The thought of seeing Dr. Su soon made the corners of his mouth lift uncontrollably.

He had even prepared an excuse—to consult about maintaining his mouthguard during high-intensity training, though he already knew the answer.

As he reached the door of Su Qionglin's treatment room and was about to knock, the faint sound of conversation inside made him pause.

He could distinguish Dr. Su's voice and another man's.

It was Dr. Gu—he had seen him once before in Dr. Su's treatment room.

The little excitement in Elio's heart deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle. He instinctively withdrew his hand, pursing his lips in irritation.

Why now? He had wanted to spend more time alone with Dr. Su. Doesn't Dr. Gu go home after work?

Should he kill time outside for a few minutes and come back later, or just wait without shame outside until Gu Yunshen left?

But he didn't hesitate for long.

Because the conversation inside didn't sound right.

He held his breath, unconsciously leaning closer to the door.

"...I hold more than just professional feelings for you personally."

Elio's blood seemed to freeze. His heart hammered wildly in his chest, throbbing against his eardrums.

He couldn't help but catch every syllable from behind the door.

Then, he heard Gu Yunshen speaking in that gentle, earnest tone he could never imitate—words like "expressing clearly" and "absolute respect."

It really was a confession!

Elio's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists unconsciously.

Gu Yunshen! He really had ulterior motives! This seemingly polished, flawless Alpha—this "peer" who could discuss professional matters so easily with Dr. Su!

An intense sense of danger instantly enveloped Elio, making him so agitated he almost exploded on the spot.

Then, he heard Su Qionglin's familiar, calm voice coming clearly through the door:

"...no feelings beyond those of colleagues and peers."

Perfect!

Dr. Su had turned him down flat!

Elio's heart, which had been stuck in his throat, sank back into place. Only then did he realize he had been holding his breath, and the back of his athletic wear was slightly damp with cold sweat.

Thank goodness… Thank goodness Dr. Su didn’t…

But this wave of wild joy lasted only a fleeting moment in his mind.

Dr. Su had said no for now, but Gu Yunshen probably hadn’t given up!

As an Alpha himself, how could Elio not see through Gu Yunshen’s seemingly graceful words—“It won’t affect our professional cooperation”—which actually left far too much room for interpretation!

Moreover, Gu Yunshen possessed that calm, rational professionalism, that aura of professional kinship with Dr. Su—something Elio Lutz, who seemed like nothing more than someone who just sweats it out on the tennis court, simply didn’t have!

He had the ability to engage with Dr. Su on an equal professional level, while Elio did not.

Just as his mind was in turmoil, the door to the consultation room clicked and swung open from the inside.

Gu Yunshen stepped out.

His face still wore that gentle, composed expression, though his eyes behind his glasses seemed somewhat unreadable, and the curve of his lips appeared polite but detached.

The gazes of the two Alphas met in the air.

The air went still in that instant.

Elio’s scent—a mix of the intense heat from vigorous exercise and strong emotional fluctuations—had yet to settle, itching at the air around him. His carefully styled blond hair seemed even spikier due to his tension, and his azure blue eyes swirled with vigilance, scrutiny, and open hostility, as if his territory had been violated.

Gu Yunshen’s footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.

He clearly hadn’t expected to run into such an obviously agitated gatekeeper.

The pheromones of the two Alphas collided silently in the narrow hallway.

Elio’s scent was intense and aggressive, like sun-scorched cedar—though he tried hard to restrain it, the emotional turbulence made it brim with unstable tension. Gu Yunshen’s, on the other hand, remained that refined, mild woody tone, perfectly controlled like calm, deep waters, yet in this silent standoff, it exuded an unshakable composure that couldn’t be underestimated.

Gu Yunshen’s gaze swept quickly over Elio’s obviously carefully coordinated athletic wear and his tense jawline, a flicker of understanding flashing in his eyes. He almost immediately grasped why Elio was here and the reason behind his hostile posture.

A hint of something complex passed through his eyes before Gu Yunshen quickly regained his composure. He even gave a slight nod to Elio, the corners of his lips curling back into that impeccable, gentle smile as he greeted him calmly, "Mr. Lutz."

His voice remained clear, showing no sign of embarrassment from being rejected.

Elio’s azure blue eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening even more.

He didn’t respond to Gu Yunshen’s greeting, only stared intently at him like a young lion who had discovered another male lion scent-marking his territory, every hair on his body bristling. The dominant aura of an S-class Alpha radiated uncontrollably from him, carrying a strong signal of "I’m pissed."

Gu Yunshen clearly felt this almost palpable hostility. He wasn’t provoked, but he didn’t back down either.

This silent confrontation lasted about two or three seconds—long enough for Elio to mentally tag him a hundred times as a threat.

In the end, Gu Yunshen was the one to break the suffocating silence. He stepped aside gracefully, making way to the consultation room, and even kindly reminded, "Here to see Dr. Su? He should be free now."

The words sounded ordinary, but given the conversation Elio had just overheard, they felt like a declaration of a victor—no, a composed exit speech from the one who had made the first move.

After saying this, he didn’t linger, nor did he wait for Elio’s response. With steps still steady and composed, he turned and left. His back was straight, his pace unwavering, maintaining that innate poise to the very end.

Elio stared at his seemingly flawless retreating figure until it completely disappeared around the corridor corner before finally looking away.

The smoldering frustration in his chest didn’t dissipate with Gu Yunshen’s retreat—instead, it grew even more bottled-up.

This kind of always-calm, always-graceful demeanor was so infuriating!

Would Dr. Su appreciate this type? Probably not! Definitely not!

Without further hesitation, he turned around abruptly, took a deep breath, and with an air of do-or-die determination, pushed open the door to the consultation room.