Chapter 12 No Money

Chapter 12: No Money

Chi Suiyong looked up and finished the water in his cup. "It's almost lunch break. Wait for me a little longer."

Chu Yan, satisfied, returned to his inconspicuous seat. He seemed accustomed to and unfazed by the scrutinizing looks from others in the consultation room.

The last patient called in the morning was a grandmother and her grandson.

The old lady had clearly been waiting outside for a long time. She entered looking flustered. "Doctor, my grandson has been coughing so hard these days, it's like his lungs are coming out. Last night he coughed up nosebleed, his face turned purple, scared the life out of us."

Chi Suiyong put on his stethoscope. "Is there phlegm?"

"Yes, but not much."

"Come over, let Uncle listen to your chest."

"It's likely bronchitis. We need to do a CT scan."

"Chu Yan, do you remember where the CT room is?"

Finally called upon, Chu Yan stood up with a start. "I know, on the east side of the eighth floor."

Chi Suiyong nodded approvingly. "Then take this... elderly lady to pay first, and then to the CT room. I'll wait here for you."

The old lady looked at Chu Yan in his hospital gown, uneasy. "Doctor, this..."

"It's fine, Auntie. Just follow him. It will be faster, otherwise you'll have to wait until the afternoon."

Hearing that they might have to wait until afternoon, the old lady quickly nodded and said to Chu Yan, "Okay, okay. Thank you then."

After seeing the last patient, he should have ended the consultation and taken a lunch break. But after a whole morning, he'd finally found a chance for Chu Yan to shine, and Chi Suiyong really didn't want to dampen his spirits.

He had thought Chu Yan would be back in at most fifteen minutes, but after waiting half an hour in the consultation room, Chi Suiyong hadn't seen him, so he called the CT room.

"Xiao Lin, did you see that patient in hospital gown who took a child for a CT scan?"

"Ah, which one do you mean?"

"The one with long hair, the color of a Siamese cat."

"You mean President Chu's younger brother! Yes, I saw him. That elderly lady asked him where the cafeteria was, and then Chu took her downstairs."

Chi Suiyong smiled. "Quite helpful."

"Haha, indeed. Handsome and kind-hearted, a real eye candy."

"Alright, thanks, Xiao Lin."

After hanging up, Chi Suiyong took off his white coat and headed straight to the cafeteria to find Chu Yan.

On the corridor leading to the cafeteria, Chi Suiyong saw Chu Yan walking toward him. Outdoors was different from indoors; Chu Yan was wearing a thin hospital gown, and because he was so tall, his ankles were exposed. As the wind blew through the corridor, the clothes clung to his body, making him look thin and long.

"Yong Yong, you came to find me."

"Mm, I didn't expect you to have come down. Let's go back to the ward first. Put on some extra clothes, and then we'll go eat together."

Chu Yan shook his head. "But I'm not cold."

"Be good. If you catch a cold, you'll get sick."

"Mm... alright then."

The two walked side by side back to the ward. After being out for the half-day consultation session, a small incident had completely changed Chu Yan's demeanor. His eyes fell on the surrounding scenery, ripples stirred in his gaze.

Watching Chu Yan like this, Chi Suiyong felt the dullness and entanglement of the past few days caused by caring for him suddenly swept away.

If he had to describe the feeling, it was mostly like witnessing a patient recover his health before him, and partly personal.

In his years at He'an Hospital, although he got along well with colleagues, most of the time he was still alone. Now he had someone by his side in daily life. Although communication was limited due to Chu Yan's condition, it was precisely this that made the companionship pure.

Habits are formed gradually. In this regard, Chi Suiyong was more sensitive than ordinary people. He was used to planning everything far ahead—to put it nicely, being responsible for himself; to put it bluntly, being overcautious. In short, thinking that once Chu Yan recovered, this companionship would also disappear, he'd already started mentally preparing himself.

Chu Yan naturally didn't know what he was thinking, and that it was related to him. He just saw that Chi's gaze drifted far away. Following it, he saw a gloomy patch in the sky.

"Yong Yong, did you think of something unhappy?"

Chi Suiyong snapped back to reality. "Why do you ask?"

"Just a feeling... because sometimes I also think of something and suddenly become unhappy."

Chi Suiyong thought he had regained some memory. "Like what?"

Chu Yan looked bewildered by the question. He touched his chest. "Can't say, can't remember anything, like this morning."

This morning?

Only then did Chi Suiyong understand.

There must have been some pent-up emotions in Chu Yan's heart, but it wasn't because of him.

That was fine. He had never thought himself great enough to doubly cure the other person. These were never his responsibility.

"Alright, let's not think about unhappy things. Hurry up and change clothes. I'm hungry."

The remaining days were all stable. Chi Suiyong had gotten used to the daily consultation routine with an extra person by his side.

Chu Yan could really sit still for ages. Chi Suiyong had gotten used to treating him like a child. If this personality reflected his childhood, then his quiet obedience was actually heart-wrenching.

One noon, Chi Suiyong received a call from Dad Chi, saying that his brother-in-law's birthday was coming up and asking him to come home early for dinner.

Chi Suiyong glanced at Chu Yan beside him. "Dad, I'll bring someone tonight. Remember to set an extra place at the table."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then the tone suddenly changed. "Okay, okay. Rush hour traffic, so try to come as early as you can."

After hanging up, Chi Suiyong thought it over and still felt he should inform Chu Chenzhi.

Previously, his account had been directly forwarded to the other party by Director Xing. The two had already added each other as friends a few days ago. Chi Suiyong opened his chat with Chu Chenzhi and typed: "President Chu, I need to go home tonight for something. If you think it's convenient, I'll bring Chu Yan along."

Chu Chenzhi replied quickly. Chi Suiyong opened his phone and saw a transfer, and the amount was astonishing.

Chi Suiyong: ?

The other party sent a voice message: "Chu Yan's current condition doesn't allow him to handle social niceties. Thank you, Dr. Chi. Please give my regards to your family."

Chi Suiyong directly returned the transfer. "It's just a casual meal at home. President Chu, no need to be so polite."

Chu Chenzhi was not one to insist. After a long while, he only replied with an "Okay."

As for Chu Yan, upon hearing that he could leave the hospital and go to Chi Suiyong's home, he was excited but also a bit nervous. After the consultation, he pulled Chi Suiyong back to the ward and rummaged through all his stuff.

Chi Suiyong watched from the side, assuming it was the proper routine for someone particular going out. Unexpectedly, after failing to find what he was looking for, he looked dejected. "Yong Yong, is my family very poor?"

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"I have no money. Not a single cent on me."

"What do you need money for?"

"When you visit a friend, you can't go empty-handed. You have to bring something." Chu Yan's expression was sincere, and after speaking, he fell into thought, as if trying to figure out a solution.

Chi Suiyong said, "You don't need to bring anything."

"That won't do. I'll ask my big brother Chu Chenzhi for money. Yong Yong, lend me your phone so I can call him and have him send me some money."

Chi Suiyong was speechless.

He had just sent back the other's transfer at noon, and now Chu Yan wanted to call him for money. How would that look?

Chi Suiyong came up with a compromise. "I'll buy the things. You don't need to worry."

"Yong Yong is lending me money to buy them?"

Chi Suiyong's head throbbed from the brothers' antics. "Let's just say that!"

Only then did Chu Yan back down, blinking. "Then when I have money, I'll pay you back, Yong Yong."

With that big issue settled, Chu Yan started looking through his clothes again.

Earlier, Yunshang had only left two outfits here, and they were already matched, with limited options. Chu Yan looked at the weather. "Yong Yong, can I wear this when we go out?"

Come to think of it, Chi Suiyong had never seen Chu Yan wear his own clothes. "Either is fine. We won't be outdoors, so thicker or thinner doesn't matter."

Chu Yan held up both sets in front of himself, comparing them back and forth. "Then, Yong Yong, which set do you think looks better?"

One was a khaki British trench coat with a black layering piece underneath; the other was a short jacket with a white T-shirt and jeans. Chi Suiyong watched him compare for a moment and gave his opinion based on his own aesthetic. "I think the long one looks better. Do you want to try it on?"

Chu Yan tossed the unchosen set into the cabinet. "Okay, then I'll wear this one."

With that, Chu Yan started to take off his clothes.

Seeing that, Chi Suiyong quietly left the room. "I'll wait outside."

Soon, Chu Yan, changed, came out of the inner room. "Yong Yong, I've got my shoes on too. Let's go!"

Chi Suiyong turned his head and looked Chu Yan up and down. The fit was perfect, and wearing this outfit, Chu Yan's whole aura changed, as if a male model had stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine.

Indeed, dressing well is about attitude first, then build. With Chu Yan's looks, what style couldn't he pull off?

Chi Suiyong couldn't help but take a couple more looks, his eyes full of admiration for beautiful things.

"Let's go to the parking garage."

Chu Yan's expression was cheerful. "What about my hair? Is it messy?"

"It's perfect already. We need to hurry. It's someone's birthday today, and it's not good to be late."

Chu Yan followed behind. "Whose birthday?"

"My brother-in-law."

The two took the elevator down to B1. Chi Suiyong's car hadn't been driven for a few days; it was a five-seat sedan. Given Chu Yan's height, Chi Suiyong first adjusted the passenger seat.

"Okay, get in."

But Chu Yan didn't move.

Chi Suiyong turned around and saw that Chu Yan's face had gone completely pale.

"What's wrong?"

Chu Yan stiffly stepped back a few times, his breathing becoming rapid. "Yong Yong, I... I don't want to get in. I can't breathe."

Seeing his terrified expression, Chi Suiyong finally realized. Chu Yan had been sent to the hospital because of a car accident. Even if he didn't remember anything, the stress response lurking in his subconscious was still there.

As meticulous as he was, he couldn't believe he had forgotten this.

Chi Suiyong closed the car door and went over to hold Chu Yan's hand. "Then let's not take this car. My home isn't far from here. Let's use another way to get there."