Dr. Chi’s Mission: Seduce Officer Su - Chapter 11

The early morning winter chill swept through the long street. The northern wind was as sharp as an ice blade, and the brilliant sun in the azure sky had lost its warmth.

After returning to the Criminal Investigation Division, Su Qiao took the bus to work every day.

The bus stop wasn’t far from the criminal investigation center. She walked with a light spring in her step, likely still savoring the late-night interaction with Doctor Chi from a few days ago.

The memory of the little rabbit-shaped mung bean cake being placed in her mouth brought a flush to her cheeks. It was hard to tell if it was from the wind or a so-called psychological blush of shyness.

As she walked to the center’s open-air parking lot, she happened to run into Ji Nanxing.

“I told you to stay home and rest your injury for a few days. Why don’t you listen?” Ji Nanxing wasn’t good with soft words, but her lecture was full of concern.

Su Qiao waved her hand. “It’s not like I broke any bones. No need to be absent.”

“You’re still such a hard worker. You got hurt right after rejoining the team. I feel terrible about it.” Ji Nanxing felt she had done Su Qiao a disservice. She was the one who had pleaded with the bureau chief to get her back, only for her to be injured right away.

Su Qiao, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. “What’s the big deal? Being so fussy isn’t your style.”

They looked at each other and smiled. It had been a long time, this feeling of tacit understanding.

The two walked one after the other to the office entrance, coincidentally bumping into Ao Yu, who was heading out to get hot water.

“Morning, Captain Ji,” Ao Yu greeted her. His gaze then shifted to Su Qiao, who was following behind. His smile became slightly awkward, and he could only offer a generic nod.

Su Qiao hesitated for a few seconds, then pulled back the foot she had just been about to step into the office with. She hurried after Ao Yu but didn’t immediately call out to him.

Some things, you couldn’t run from forever.

Before they reached the small alcove with the water dispenser, Ao Yu stopped abruptly, his jaw tightening as he clutched his thermos.

The faint sounds of gossip drifted from the alcove.

“Hey, I heard Captain Ji insisted on bringing her back.”

“No way. An incident as serious as getting a teammate killed, and Chief Zheng still agreed to let Su Qiao be reinstated?”

“Who wouldn’t be puzzled? God knows what the higher-ups are thinking. Such a bizarre move.”

“If I were in the detachment office, I’d definitely feel it was unfair. After working my butt off for so many years, my chance for promotion is less than someone with a stained record.”

“Exactly. At the very least, Liu Jiaqi and Ao Yu have Cheng Can. Any one of them could fill the deputy position. I don’t think Captain Ji handled this well.”

Ao Yu’s face was grim. He was about to leave when he turned and came face-to-face with a crestfallen Su Qiao. His throat tightened, and he didn’t know what to say.

They had heard every hushed word of the conversation from the alcove.

How could Su Qiao not be sad? Being gossiped about was like having an old scar torn open again and again. No one knew her pain; she could only swallow it down and digest it in silence.

“Can we talk?” She smiled at Ao Yu, a smile full of bleakness.

Ao Yu also despised the idle gossip of others, so he reluctantly agreed. “Okay.”

The two found an empty break room.

Ao Yu leaned against a table in silence. Since Su Qiao had been the one to ask, it wasn’t his place to start the conversation.

Su Qiao’s fingertips tapped on the dusty tabletop as she thought about how to begin without hurting him.

“How have you been? I mean… Uncle and Auntie.”

“They’re fine.”

Su Qiao’s voice caught. After a moment of silence came a pale apology. “I’m sorry.”

As the seconds and minutes ticked by, everything around her dimmed. The stirred-up memories lifted her high, only to smash her brutally into the long river of time, leaving her shattered beyond recognition.

“Captain Ji, I’m so cold… Can you hold me…” The young female officer on the stretcher bed moved her lips, tears of terror uncontrollably welling in her eyes.

“We’re almost at the emergency room. Hang in there, just a little longer…” Ji Nanxing’s voice trembled.

Su Qiao, covered in blood, followed closely, panting. Panic, entwined with fear, was suffocating her.

The injury was so severe that with every word Ao Miao spoke, blood would pool and spill from the corner of her lips. Through the bullet hole in her abdomen, her mangled organs were faintly visible. Blood gushed in waves from the irreparable wound.

“I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…” She suddenly raised her hand, unwilling to give up, and used all her strength to grip her captain’s arm. The light in her wide-open eyes gradually faded.

Su Qiao’s throat constricted. Those desperate words, “I don’t want to die,” were choking her.

In the face of life and death, everyone was helpless.

Ao Miao managed a resigned smile, making a final plea before she took her last breath. “Don’t… don’t let… my brother… see me like this…”

The medical staff pushed her at a full sprint toward the emergency room. Just as they reached the door, the hand clutching the arm slipped powerlessly to the side of the stretcher.

“Ao Miao! Ao Miao!” Ji Nanxing’s defenses shattered as she shrieked. She grabbed a doctor behind her and begged frantically, “Save her, I’m begging you, please save her…”

Su Qiao’s legs gave out, and she collapsed by the door, pounding the floor over and over again.

The memories lay in a heap of ruins.

Ao Yu said coldly, “I’ve heard enough of your apologies.”

Su Qiao sniffled and murmured, “I don’t know what else I can do for you. It seems like no matter how I try to make it up, it’s useless.”

During her two years transferred to the traffic police, she had been like a piece of driftwood in the tide, floating along the city’s avenues, thinking that with enough time, any sorrow would be weathered away.

It wasn’t until today, until she was still being maligned, that she understood some things are never washed clean by time.

Running away was just deceiving herself.

Su Qiao asked cautiously, “Is money tight? I mean… for Uncle and Auntie’s living expenses…”

“Do you think money can solve the problem? Can it buy back a life?” Ao Yu’s sudden roar echoed in the break room, fury heaving in his chest.

“That’s not what I meant. I just want to do everything I can to make up for my mistake.”

“You’re not the only one living in the past. And I have no reason to forgive you.” Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, Ao Yu resolutely stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Su Qiao’s brow twitched. She covered her face sorrowfully. The day Ao Miao died, her pride and her dreams had died too.

Ji Nanxing’s advice echoed in her ears, “No matter how hard the wind blows, it can’t blow you back to the past.”

…

The head nurse was walking down the corridor when she ran into Chi Jue, who had just finished her rounds in the inpatient department. As it happened, she was looking for her.

“Director Chi, President Xiao asked me to pass on a message. He wants you to go to his office.”

“Is it urgent? Did he say what it’s about?” Chi Jue was surrounded by several family members. She held a CT scan up to the light, too busy to get away.

“He didn’t say what it was about, but I saw some people from the traffic police going in with him.”

“Alright, I understand.” Hearing “traffic police,” she showed little reaction and turned back to discussing the patient’s post-operative recovery plan with the family.

She was extremely patient with her patients, meticulously explaining the key points of recovery. No matter how ignorant the questions from the family members were, she would answer them one by one.

Only after seeing everyone off did she stomp her sore heels.

By the time she hurried to the president’s office, the people inside were chatting and laughing.

She stood up straight and knocked politely. “President Xiao, did you need me for something?”

Xiao Qishu was beaming at that moment. Who knew what he had been discussing with the people from the traffic police, but judging by the way his smile nearly reached his ears, it must have been good news.

Seeing the subject of their conversation appear, he smiled and beckoned to Chi Jue. “Come in. Let me introduce you. These are the leaders from the Traffic Police Detachment.”

Chi Jue greeted them politely. “Hello, leaders.”

“Doctor Chi, I hope our sudden visit hasn’t interrupted your work?” The leading traffic police officer said courteously as he presented a silk banner, getting straight to the point. “We came here today for two reasons. First, on behalf of the Traffic Police Detachment, to thank you for your enthusiastic assistance on National Highway 104. Second, to discuss something with you.”

“Discuss what?” Chi Jue looked at the president, puzzled.

Xiao Qishu immediately explained, “Chinese New Year is coming up, which is a peak period for accidents. The Traffic Police Detachment wants to film a PSA about traffic accidents and emergency first aid after an accident. They need our cooperation.”

“A PSA? What do you need me to do?”

The old traffic police officer said, “The video of you and Officer Su saving someone together is very popular online. We want to take this opportunity to promote it further, which we believe will have a greater impact.”

“I’ll be filming with Officer Su?” Chi Jue’s face was calm, but ripples were already spreading in her heart.

“Of course. It’s just that Officer Su’s situation is a bit special. She was recently transferred back to the Criminal Investigation Detachment. But we will communicate with them. After all, filming together is the only way to achieve the effect we want.”

“If it can have a positive social impact, I’m more than happy to cooperate.” Chi Jue’s words were well-phrased, but her willingness stemmed from a deeper hope.

The old traffic police officer said, “Considering your busy schedule and that Chinese New Year is less than half a month away, the filming schedule is very tight. We’ll try to shorten it to two to three days.”

Chi Jue accepted readily. “No problem. Just let me know once the process is confirmed.”

Seeing that she was being very accommodating, Xiao Qishu added, “Our Director Chi is indeed very busy. The period around Chinese New Year is also a peak time for medical emergencies. Our hospital will do our best to adjust her schedule. Please rest assured.”

“Alright then. Thank you very much for your cooperation. We won’t disturb you two any longer.”

After seeing the traffic police off, Xiao Qishu returned to his desk.

Seeing that Chi Jue was also about to leave, he quickly called out, “Jue, sit for a bit.”

“President Xiao, is there something else?”

“You can just call me Master in private. No need to be so formal.” Xiao Qishu took out his treasured tea. “You should have time to have a cup of tea with me, right?”

The moment Chi Jue heard this opening, she knew the old man was definitely worrying about her personal life again.

She sat down in the guest chair and smiled helplessly. “You’ve been doing heart bypasses your whole life. Haven’t you had enough?”

“Hahaha, isn’t matchmaking a kind of bypass surgery too? I’m very familiar with this technique.” President Xiao laughed heartily as he served the freshly brewed hot tea and started to chat. “How have your parents been lately?”

Chi Jue held the cup and took a small sip. “They have plenty of energy when they argue. How could they not be well?”

Xiao Qishu had a good relationship with Chi Qinian and knew the father and daughter didn’t get along. He said with a smile, “At our age, blood pressure tends to shoot up easily. You should try not to anger your father so much.”

Chi Jue avoided discussing family matters and cut straight to the chase. “Master, just say it. Which outstanding young man have you set your sights on this time?”

“He’s a cardiac surgeon from the First Central Hospital next door. I met him at a seminar last time. He just came back from abroad, his professional achievements are no less than yours, and he’s about your age. He comes from a family of doctors for three generations, so you could call it a medical dynasty. Most importantly, he’s handsome and still single.” Xiao Qishu rattled on, praising the young talent he had scouted to the high heavens.

He leaned back in his chair, sipping his tea, as if savoring his own good judgment. He smacked his lips. “A catch like this is hard to come by. You have to go meet him. What if you hit it off?”

Chi Jue looked at the president lost in his reverie and couldn’t help but tease, “Wow, someone that amazing shouldn’t have trouble finding a wife, right? Does he really need to resort to blind dates to solve his personal problems?”

“Don’t talk about him. First, look at your own situation. I never used to force you, but you have to go meet him this time. At the very least, our two hospitals can hold a mixer after the New Year. I’ll set a KPI for you.”

Chi Jue raised an eyebrow and studied Xiao Qishu, asking suspiciously, “Did Chi Qinian come looking for you?”

President Xiao quickly denied it. “He really didn’t. It’s purely your master here worrying himself sick.”

Chi Jue didn’t linger. “I have a minor surgery this afternoon. I’m going to get ready.”

Once something like a blind date started, it would spiral out of control. It had to be nipped in the bud.

Xiao Qishu craned his neck. “Busy is busy, but you have to keep this in mind. I’ll help you set up a time. A meal won’t take up too much of your time.”

“We’ll see.”

Back in her own office, Chi Jue’s gaze fell upon her desk.

That bouquet of Freud roses, blooming with an almost arrogant extravagance, was noble and aloof, yet so difficult to refuse. But the sight of them stung her eyes.

“You wander carelessly through my dreams, turning my heart into a fragrant garden. From then on, you are my faith, my peace, my everlasting hope.”

The person who once whispered sweet nothings into her ear had returned.