Chapter 11 Relationship Terminated

Chapter 11: Ending the Relationship

Only the words 'It's okay' managed to come out.

It felt like this phrase had been used countless times before, to soothe his current feeling of powerlessness.

Indeed, Chu Yan's heart felt much better. He even thought now that he didn't necessarily have to cling to the other person so desperately.

But the precondition was that the other person would just leave now, preferably without so much as a word or a glance.

"Chu Yan, say something. Are you feeling unwell?"

Chu Yan wiped away his tears. "I'm not unwell. I'm doing fine."

For a moment, Chi Suiyong was at a complete loss. He mentally replayed his own words from earlier, trying to find among those words the part that had suddenly dejected Chu Yan.

Chu Chenzhi, who had been watching closely from the side, already knew the reason.

It was a truth he had been instilling in Chu Yan since childhood, but the other had never listened to it, and it had become a deep-seated, stubborn complex.

Back then, Chu Yan also used to say 'It's okay' all the time, but every time after saying it, the same look of grievance and defiance would appear. He understood the root cause but could not resolve it.

Chu Chenzhi was already regretting having come on this trip and said those unnecessary words.

He could only stand there helplessly.

Chi Suiyong crouched on the ground, his arms resting on the back of the chair, encircling the curled-up Chu Yan within his embrace.

He clearly knew that given the other's current dependence on him, words like 'ending the relationship' should not have been said. He didn't know why, after hearing a few words from Chu Chenzhi, he had ignored Chu Yan beside him. If it was only to declare his innocence, he could have used another approach.

"I'm sorry, Chu Yan."

Chu Yan shook his head. "You... don't need to apologize."

"Yes, I do. Because I said something wrong just now that gave you the wrong idea."

Chu Yan lifted his face, which looked as if it had been frosted over. The reasons he himself didn't know seemed to have been understood by Yong Yong. "Which words?"

Chi Suiyong took the opportunity to grasp his arm, gently squeezing it. "Right now, we have a doctor-patient relationship. Once you're well and discharged, that relationship is over, right? That means the relationship is terminated."

Chu Yan's already heavy heart clenched further. He spoke words that went against his heart. "We can end it now."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Let's end the doctor-patient relationship right now."

Chu Chenzhi, standing nearby, grew worried. "Dr. Chi..."

Chi Suiyong raised his hand to signal him to stay calm.

"Actually, I don't really like the doctor-patient relationship either, especially with you."

Chu Yan latched onto the word 'especially.' "I'm different from them?"

"Yes, you're special. So let's not be doctor and patient anymore. Let's just be friends, okay?"

"Friends?"

"Yes, friends. The good thing about this relationship is that it's not bound by profession, age, or gender. As long as we don't have a falling out, this relationship can last forever."

The frost on Chu Yan's face was slowly melting. "Will it be different from now?"

"It will be a little different."

"How so?"

"Between friends, there's mutual help. For example, if there's something I can't do, I might ask you for help, and you can help me solve it. The same goes for you. That way, as we go back and forth, the relationship becomes more lasting and solid."

Chu Yan's sunken emotions, which had been at rock bottom, were slowly being pulled ashore.

He was already thinking about the difference between the 'doctor-patient' and 'friend' relationships.

Chu Yan seemed to lean more toward the 'friend' relationship—of course, not the kind between him and his 'girlfriend.' Both he and Yong Yong were guys, so they would definitely be closer.

"Then how can Yong Yong and I become friends?"

Chi Suiyong smiled with relief. "I have to go to the clinic in half an hour to see other kids. But I might not be able to handle it all by myself..."

Chu Yan interjected, "I can help."

"Alright, then we're friends now." Chi Suiyong extended his right hand. "Come, shake on it to seal the deal."

Chu Yan looked at the hand extended toward him. The slender fingers were straight, with a solemn air, making him feel that this was truly a new relationship that needed to be taken seriously.

Chu Yan blinked, hesitantly reaching out his hand. "Then... it's official."

Chu Chenzhi's anxious heart finally settled.

Toward Chi Suiyong, he even felt a rare sense of admiration.

"Thank you, Dr. Chi."

This thank-you made him feel relevant again in Chu Yan's eyes.

But the face that had just smiled immediately soured when it turned to him.

Chu Chenzhi ignored his brother's expression, simply grinned, then greeted Chi Suiyong and left.

Chu Yan watched his older brother's back, his expression never softening.

"Yong Yong, I don't like my older brother."

"I can tell."

"Then you shouldn't like him either."

Chi Suiyong fell silent.

He didn't know what kind of conflict had occurred between the two brothers, but it was easy to see that the older brother was full of tolerance for his younger brother. So even if he wanted to soothe Chu Yan, he couldn't use Chu Chenzhi as a pawn.

"Don't treat your brother like that," Chi Suiyong said, then swallowed the next words. "You can be a little

Chi Suiyong hadn’t actually thought he’d get a free assistant, but to uphold the spirit of their agreement, he still thought of a few small tasks that Chu Yan could handle.

He first took Chu Yan on a tour of the whole pediatrics floor, pointing out the counters for payment, lab tests, picking up reports, and collecting medications. Chu Yan followed closely, listening carefully, and his expression showed he was really making an effort to remember everything.

“Chu Yan, the children who come here for treatment are all accompanied by their parents or guardians. But some parents are older, and these procedures aren’t very friendly to them. So later, you’ll stay with me in the consultation room. If you see an older person with completely white hair, accompany them and guide them through the process. Can you do that?”

Chu Yan looked down, thought for a moment, and asked, “Do you mean people with completely white hair?”

“Not necessarily, depends—I’ll let you know when the time comes.”

“Okay, I’ll do what Yong Yong says.”

After they had looked around the whole floor of the clinic area, they entered the consultation room.

There were still a few minutes before the official call for patients began. Chi Suiyong put on his white lab coat, set a comfortable seat that wasn’t in the way for Chu Yan, and then took out a tablet. “If you get bored, you can watch TV or play some games on it.”

Chu Yan shook his head. “No need. I’ll just stay here.”

“Alright. If you get thirsty or need the bathroom later, just go ahead and get it yourself.” He pointed to his water bottle on the desk. “Use this to get water, and make sure you drink warm water.”

Chu Yan nodded. “Okay, I’ve remembered everything.”

After getting all that set up, Chi Suiyong pressed the call bell.

The first family that came in was a family of three—the young patient was four years old, carried in by his father.

“Please have a seat,” Chi Suiyong said. “What seems to be the issue?”

The father sat down with the child and pulled the child’s hand toward Chi Suiyong. “Doctor, look at these blisters on his hand—could this be an antibiotic allergy?”

Chi Suiyong saw a needle mark on the child’s hand. “What antibiotic did you use?”

“Cephalosporin, oral. A few days ago, the child had a fever and had an IV drip at a clinic. After coming home and taking the medicine at night, this rash appeared.”

“Are they on his body too?”

“Yes, on his chest and back, and also on his feet.”

“Let me look at his throat first.”

“Has he had any history of antibiotic allergies?”

“No.”

“Alright, let’s do a blood test first, and then a throat swab.”

“Doctor, what’s wrong with him?”

“We’re considering scarlet fever, but we’ll need to wait for the throat swab results. First, go get his blood drawn.”

“Okay, thank you, doctor.”

On his first day back to work, Chi Suiyong still had fifty appointments. Once he got busy, he didn’t even have time to lift his head. Chu Yan sat to the side, not feeling bored at first, but almost all the parents bringing children in were young. The task Yong Yong had given him in the morning couldn’t be put to use at all.

He felt a bit disheartened, occasionally glancing at the door of the consultation room, hoping to see an older person with white hair walk in. He also glanced at Yong Yong from time to time, hoping for a signal so his idle self could be useful.

Finally, Chu Yan’s gaze settled on Yong Yong’s lips.

Most of the morning had passed, and Yong Yong had been talking nonstop, licking his lips more and more frequently.

Chu Yan guessed—was he thirsty?

So he picked up Yong Yong’s water bottle and went to the water station.

First he filled the cup and drank it all, then refilled it to the brim.

When he returned to the consultation room, there were even more people inside.

Chu Yan felt that once Yong Yong was back at work, he had no time for him. At this thought, the loneliness in his eyes couldn’t be hidden no matter how hard he tried.

His "doctor-patient" relationship with Yong Yong was over, and with it, he had lost the privileges that other patients had. Now he and Yong Yong were friends—a relationship that had shifted from exclusive possession to mutual need. If he wanted a response, he would have to be the one to take the initiative.

The cup of water in his hand was his way of making the first move.

Chu Yan walked around the crowd and went straight to stand behind Yong Yong, waiting for a break in the consultations to hand him the water.

But his appearance suddenly made the room fall silent.

Everyone stopped talking, their eyes fixed on Chu Yan.

Sensing something unusual, Chi Suiyong turned around and suddenly met the look of loneliness in Chu Yan’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

This long-awaited question seemed to wake the dormant joy in Chu Yan’s body. Joy began to creep from the corners of his eyes, filling his gaze. “Yong Yong, I got you some warm water.”

Chi Suiyong then noticed the cup in his hand—the outside was covered with water droplets, as if it had been washed clean.

He smiled at Chu Yan. “Thanks, I was just feeling thirsty.”

Chu Yan unscrewed the lid. “Drink it now, okay?”

“Okay.”

Everyone in the consultation room was drawn into this little moment. They didn’t know the relationship between these two, and Chu Yan’s childish, clingy behavior seemed a bit odd. But after Dr. Chi responded, the scene felt unexpectedly warm.

“Have you had any water this morning?” Chi Suiyong asked.

“Yes, I drank from this cup too—but I washed it.”

Everyone’s eyes fell on the cup in Dr. Chi’s hand.