Dr. Chi’s Mission: Seduce Officer Su - Chapter 29

At noon, the sunlight stubbornly pierced through the thick clouds, carrying a sense of mission to warm the world, sweeping away the gloomy haze of deep winter.

The orange glow, like tireless little sprites, followed the rustling branches into the hospital room with the wind, silently enveloping the two figures and giving rise to a warm, drowsy comfort.

Su Qiao leaned back against the headboard with ease, her arm naturally draped behind Chi Jue’s neck. It seemed this posture offered a sense of security, allowing the frightened Dr. Chi to rest more comfortably.

The satisfaction of leaning against each other dispelled Chi Jue’s fear and eased Su Qiao’s worries.

For now, the undisturbed intimacy didn’t make them feel awkward. Instead, they silently savored the fleeting, tranquil moment.

“Director Chi, your X-ray is out…”

Tong An’an sauntered lazily into the room, a bag in hand, but the word “out” caught in her throat as she abruptly fell silent.

Her gaze burned as it landed on the two, who were nearly embracing, and her mind erupted with silent screams, Oh my, after all these years, has the famously unapproachable “iron tree” of the People’s Hospital finally blossomed?

Su Qiao, feeling intensely uncomfortable under the scrutiny, hastily withdrew her arm and sat up properly.

At first, she nervously scratched the back of her head, then fumbled with the shallow pockets of her police uniform jacket, unsure where to place her hands. In the end, she stuffed them haphazardly into her pants pockets.

Tong An’an narrowed her eyes mischievously at Chi Jue, her smile gradually taking on a suggestive tone.

Secretly raising the banner of “police as the dominant, doctor as the submissive,” she seemed to have made up her mind, today, she was determined to fan the flames of this romance!

“Ahem, take a look for yourself,” she said, walking to the bedside and handing the X-ray to Chi Jue before pulling up a chair and sitting down.

Feeling the empty room was too quiet, she decided to stir up the atmosphere. “Oh my, it wasn’t easy, you know. I had to dig through the official contact number from a promotional video to get in touch with Officer Su~”

“Thank you for reaching out to me promptly,” Su Qiao replied, though she wasn’t entirely sure why she was thanking Tong An’an, perhaps for finding the right person at the right time.

Tong An’an feigned offense, her voice teasing. “With the friendship between Dr. Chi and me, saying ‘thank you’ feels so distant~”

Now that she had a moment to spare, she could calmly admire the “police top” she was so fond of. Her eyes swept over Su Qiao, unable to conceal her excitement.

Just look at that delicate face, so handsome!

Legs for days, straight and poised!

A broad, sturdy frame with sun-kissed skin, looking incredibly dashing in that uniform!

Every inch of her radiated an irresistible, fantasy-inducing sexual tension~

Her smile grew even more suggestive, her eyes practically trying to bore through Su Qiao’s clothes.

Suddenly remembering something, she quickly opened Weibo and shoved her phone in front of Su Qiao. “You two are trending again! Just looking at Chi Jue’s grumpy face is so boring, but today I finally got to enjoy some fresh, sweet gossip! Your Zhouhai Traffic Police really know how to score points, official promotion means it’s a legitimate couple!”

“Uh… well…” Su Qiao’s previously warm smile instantly stiffened. She had a strong suspicion that the barrage of comments online included some “brilliant” contributions from this very doctor.

Her cheeks flushed crimson as she glanced helplessly at Chi Jue, her sparkling eyes sending a clear “save me” signal.

Chi Jue, meanwhile, was holding up the spinal X-ray. The spot where her back had hit the edge of the stairs still ached, likely a soft tissue contusion, but thankfully, no bones were broken.

After putting the film back into the bag, she finally met Su Qiao’s pitiful gaze.

With a radiant smile, she signaled to “Little Bear” not to stand on ceremony. Worried that she might feel too awkward, she instinctively linked arms with her and decided to ease the tension by making introductions. “Tong An’an is a pediatrician. The lost child last time was taken to her for a consultation.”

“Oh, I see,” Su Qiao said with understanding, then grinned sheepishly and thanked her again. “Thank you for the candy.”

“Oh~ Anti-cavity baby candies~” Tong An’an recalled the scene where Chi Jue had forced her to hand over the candies, only now realizing that the two of them had already been involved back then.

Not bad, Director Chi, playing such a subtle trick.

She watched Chi Jue hanging onto Su Qiao’s arm, acting like a brainless little woman, and sighed inwardly. If this wasn’t falling into the swamp of love, then what was it?

Tong An’an suddenly grew anxious, hopping around like a frantic groundhog in a melon field, practically demanding they spill the sweet gossip.

Since they couldn’t make a direct move, she’d do it herself!

“You two…” She brought her two thumbs together slowly. “Are you together?”

“Huh?” Su Qiao was stumped by this question, blinking her wide eyes in confusion. Apparently, not all doctors were as composed as Chi Jue.

“Don’t make wild guesses. We’re just close friends,” Chi Jue flatly denied. As long as Su Qiao didn’t confess, their relationship could only be defined as friendship.

She desperately hoped “Little Bear” would step up and refute it, but she also knew that all beautiful expectations couldn’t be rushed.

Su Qiao was already used to the “friends” narrative and went along with it. “Yeah, we’re good friends.”

The unmistakable disappointment was all too clear in Chi Jue’s eyes.

But disappointment was a good thing, it meant the future was full of infinite possibilities.

Tong An’an looked utterly unconvinced, thinking that even a child would laugh at such a lie.

“By the way, today’s incident has already reached President Xiao. The inspection department might come to question you. They’re the most annoying with all their prying, just give them vague answers. Or better yet, why not take some leave?” She suddenly shifted to serious matters, adopting a properly solemn tone.

Su Qiao sensed that the inspection department was no easy opponent and asked, “Do you need me to help with anything?”

“No need to trouble yourself. This matter has blown up quite a bit, so the inspection department will definitely come to ask for the whole story. But I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I be afraid?” Chi Jue wasn’t one to shy away from trouble, especially since she was the victim. She thought Tong An’an’s suggestion was a good one and decided to take a couple of days off to recover.

“I won’t disturb your rest anymore,” Tong An’an said, standing up to leave. She kindly asked, “Do you want me to get you some food from the cafeteria?”

Chi Jue gently declined, “No need. I’ll head back to the department to wrap up some work and then go straight home. You should go eat, if you miss the peak time, there won’t be much left.”

“Alright then. Rest well at home, and if anything comes up, just give me a call.” After taking a couple of steps, she suddenly turned back and fixed a stern gaze on Su Qiao, her frustration practically oozing. “I’m entrusting our Dr. Chi to your care, okay? If you don’t take good care of her, I’ll come after you!”

Su Qiao was amused by her tone and teased, “Don’t worry, Dr. Tong. I promise to complete the mission.”

After Tong An’an left, Chi Jue propped herself up, preparing to get out of bed.

Su Qiao leaned in, steadying her by the shoulders. “You haven’t rested enough yet, where are you trying to run off to now?” Her tone held a mix of complaint and affection.

Chi Jue wrinkled her nose in annoyance, her words drawn out lazily. “The restroom.”

“I’ll help you there.”

“I didn’t break anything, I have arms and legs, you know~”

“Don’t be stubborn.” Su Qiao left no room for refusal, crouching down to slip her shoes on before scooping her up into her arms. She adjusted her hold, hefting her weight a couple of times, and sighed helplessly. “You’re so light, it’s like holding a wisp of air.”

“If I were as light as air, I’d be in the ICU instead of the emergency room right now.”

Chi Jue had intended it as dry humor, but her remark only flustered her “little bear.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, it’s the holiday season. Can’t you say something more auspicious?” After escorting her to the restroom, he lingered foolishly by the door. “I’ll wait right here for you.”

“Are you the door god or something?” Chi Jue realized her “little bear” could be quite clingy. “Fine, stand guard then.”

She locked the restroom door, and the carefree smile that had graced her face vanished the moment she turned around.

In the stifling silence, her usually inscrutable eyes gradually revealed profound disappointment and resignation.

Exhausted, she braced her hands against the sink. Her battered body had lost its usual graceful poise, and as she hunched over, a dull, persistent ache throbbed deep in her nerves.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she waited for the discomfort to ease before turning on the faucet to wash away the dried blood on her face.

The icy water felt piercingly cold against her skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill that had settled in her heart.

She had never considered being a doctor as some grand, noble calling, yet when it came to treating patients, she carried an unwavering sense of duty and purpose.

Even when she had tumbled down the stairs, disoriented and bruised, her first thought had been to hurry and perform the child’s surgery.

But now, with every fiber of her being aching, it felt as though each pang mocked her, not all efforts were rewarded with praiseworthy outcomes.

This conclusion was deeply unsatisfactory.

She scrubbed repeatedly at the dried blood crusted near her left eye. In the porcelain-white sink, the water gradually tinged pink with diluted traces of blood before swirling down the drain.

Once clean, she lifted her gaze and stared intently at her reflection in the mirror.

Water traced winding paths down her straight nose and well-defined features. Her trembling lashes were dotted with beads of moisture about to fall. The gauze on her forehead showed faint, serum-tinged stains, standing out starkly against her increasingly pale skin and making her appear all the more fragile.

She tried to force a composed, indifferent smile at her disheveled self, but the muscles around her lips only tightened into a stiff, unconvincing mask.

It turned out that after being harmed by a patient’s family member, she couldn’t truly remain unshaken. The heart-stopping fear she felt when pushed replayed over and over in her memory, sending her heart into repeated bouts of weightlessness, panic, and unease.

In her dazed distraction, the vibration of her phone on the marble countertop seemed amplified.

The buzzing, like an impatient fly, felt like an accusation of her cold indifference.

Glancing at the caller ID on the screen, Chi Jue’s finger hesitated over the answer button. But unable to resist the caller’s persistence, she exhaled softly and finally pressed to connect.

“Chi Jue, have you no sense of propriety? You always act completely indifferent toward your family. Your brother has been back for days, and you haven’t made a single move.”

Even without putting it on speakerphone, Chi Qinian’s resonant voice echoed clearly through the bathroom.

Chi Jue had long developed immunity to this kind of blunt reproach. She felt the wound on her forehead throbbing, her bruised spine aching, even her breathing seemed to hurt, only her strong heart remained numb and unfeeling.

She let out a cold laugh and calmly retorted, “Does Father have anything else to say?”

Perhaps stunned by his daughter’s indifference, Chi Qinian fell silent, creating the illusion that he had hung up.

“If there’s nothing else, I’m going to hang up first.” Chi Jue had no patience left. After all, one wrong word could ignite fireworks, why subject herself to such displeasure?

“Do you know what day it is today?” Chi Qinian maintained his accusatory tone, though his voice had softened.

“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. You just want me to come home for a meal, but honestly, it’s unnecessary. Why ruin everyone’s appetite?”

From Chi Jue’s perspective, she couldn’t feel any warmth from her blood relatives. The only kindness they showed was staying out of her way and not disturbing her.

“You!” Chi Qinian was left speechless with anger.

“That’s it then. I’m busy.” Hanging up, she shrugged with a faint, mocking smile. When would this kind of family atmosphere ever come to an end?

When Su Qiao heard vibrations coming from the bathroom, she couldn’t resist her curiosity and pressed her ear against the door, trying to catch the conversation.

Though she knew such behavior was shameful, when it came to anything about Chi Jue, she seemed to keep lowering her own boundaries.

She could roughly make out the content of Chi Jue’s call but was still puzzling over why Dr. Chi was at odds with her family when the door suddenly swung open.

Losing her balance, she flailed for a moment before quickly steadying herself against the doorframe. With an awkward yet polite grin, she chirped, “Hehe, the door guardian pays respects to you~”

Chi Jue stared blankly at the ‘little bear’ who had nearly performed a New Year’s bow, teasing, “Do you want a red envelope? But it’s not New Year’s Day yet~”

“Dr. Chi.” Su Qiao blocked Chi Jue’s path. She couldn’t think of any sweet words to please, but she could infuse everyday trivialities with joy. “The traffic police unit handed out New Year’s goods today, and there’s a share for you. I left it at home.”

“Keep it for yourself. I’m sure Little Granny would love it.” Chi Jue was nonchalant, as she wasn’t particularly adept at handling local specialties.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” Su Qiao waved her hands in a fluster. The invitation to visit her home was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t know how to phrase it without seeming too forward.

“Then what are you trying to say?” Chi Jue felt a bit exasperated by her constant hesitation but patiently waited for her to continue.

“Today is Spring Festival. Grandma cooked Laba porridge early this morning. Would you like to come to my house as a guest?” Su Qiao mustered her courage to extend the invitation but, out of habit, left herself an escape route. “But if you have other plans, just forget I said anything.”

Chi Jue rose on her tiptoes, her gaze sharp as it met the ‘little bear’s’ eyes, and burst into laughter. “Every time you invite me, you always add that line about other plans. Are you once bitten, twice shy?”

“That’s only because you promised to take me for some authentic Jianghu cuisine, but it turned out to be nothing special.” Su Qiao grumbled, feeling utterly wronged.

“Oh, so you’re feeling hard done by now?” Chi Jue couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. “Who told you not to value your own life?”

Mmm~ It’s been so long since I’ve had some tender beancurd…

Su Qiao covered her reddened cheek and pressed, “So are we going or not?”

Chi Jue pinched her other cheek, adopting the airs of a young mistress. “Considering how you stood up for me today, I suppose I can reluctantly agree~”

The proper way to enjoy tender beancurd, of course, is to have both sides equally pinched!

…

The old streets and alleys took on a different charm as evening approached.

Elderly people gathered in small groups, chatting about health, their children, and the approaching Lunar New Year.

Children on winter break raced in packs along the winding, narrow cobblestone paths, their carefree laughter rising and falling like waves.

Everyone was immersed in the joyful anticipation of the Spring Festival, the holiday people look forward to all year long.

Insistent on bringing a gift for her grandmother, Chi Jue had driven to the city center after leaving the hospital and spent the afternoon shopping.

On the surface, she bought some seasonal fruit, but while Su Qiao was off buying soda, she secretly purchased the latest model tablet.

As they walked through the alley, Chi Jue deliberately slowed her pace. Shedding her usual reticence, she kept asking Su Qiao about her grandmother’s preferences.

“What does your little old lady usually like to do for fun? She can’t just stay home binge-watching dramas all day, can she?”

“Not exactly. Sometimes she plays mahjong with the neighbors, other times she visits her old friends to chat. But most of the time she does watch dramas. Since she lives on a high floor with no elevator, I don’t feel comfortable having her go up and down too much.”

Su Qiao answered earnestly, amused by Chi Jue’s poorly concealed nervousness. It’s just a visit, not a marriage proposal.

Chi Jue nodded understandingly. “Stairs are indeed a concern. Elderly people can’t afford falls. If it’s convenient, I could examine her… Have you considered moving somewhere else?”

Su Qiao’s heart sank. She wanted to avoid this topic but had to address Chi Jue’s question seriously.

She reminded herself that facing poverty honestly was also a form of respect toward Dr. Chi.

“We’ve thought about it before, but housing prices in Zhouhai are so high. A decent apartment in a green neighborhood would cost at least 800,000 yuan. With my monthly salary, saving for a down payment alone is tough. Besides, Grandma doesn’t want to leave. She says she’s lived here most of her life, and her bonds with the neighbors are stronger than with distant relatives. Moving to a new environment would make life feel like endurance rather than living.”

“I understand. A golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as Grandma’s own nest.” Chi Jue wasn’t bothered by Su Qiao’s financial struggles, after all, housing, transportation, and healthcare were challenges faced by everyone nowadays.

From an angle Su Qiao couldn’t see, Chi Jue glanced up at the dull red-brick building and formed a plan in her heart. She wanted to do something for Su Qiao.

When they reached the stairwell, Su Qiao suddenly bent her knees into a half-squat, patting her back with exaggerated generosity.

Chi Jue was caught between laughter and disbelief at her reaction. “What are you doing?”

When they left the hospital, Su Qiao had already noticed that Dr. Chi was injured, yet she had stubbornly dragged him around all afternoon without a single break.

Though she couldn’t voice her concern, her eyes were filled with worry for Chi Jue’s well-being.

“Let me carry you upstairs. After all, you’re injured. Walking a few steps is fine, but climbing stairs is exhausting. It’s my fault for not planning this properly.”

“No need. Honestly, I feel a bit embarrassed to meet Grandma with these injuries on my face.” Chi Jue declined out of habit, pointing to the gauze on her forehead.

“Don’t worry. When we’re eating, I’ll tell Grandma about the hospital disturbance. She’ll probably curse the troublemaker a few times, she loves hearing about these kinds of bizarre incidents.” Su Qiao refused to give in, still crouching halfway down. “You’re lighter than the sandbags I carry during training. Come on, let’s power through and climb up.”

“Ah… I can’t win against you…” Chi Jue sighed helplessly and clumsily climbed onto the “little bear’s” back. “If you get tired, just tell me. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Hey, Dr. Chi, you really underestimate me. I can run five kilometers with weights without even panting, let while carrying a wisp of ‘air.’” Su Qiao boasted shamelessly, firmly holding onto Chi Jue’s legs as she cheered, “Let’s go!”

This was a story of someone who couldn’t stay cool for more than three seconds.

“Are… are you okay?” Chi Jue wrapped her arms around Su Qiao’s neck. By the time they reached the third floor, the “little bear” was panting so hard she barely looked human.

“I… of course… I’m fine…” Su Qiao insisted stubbornly. How could an adult admit defeat?

“I don’t think you’re fine.” Chi Jue struggled to hold back her laughter, her whole body trembling.

“Wh-why… why are you shaking?”

“It’s your legs that are shaking!”

“Nonsense… You… you’re making fun of me…”

Using every ounce of strength she had, Su Qiao finally made it to the seventh floor.

She set Chi Jue down and leaned against her old-fashioned security door, gasping for breath. “We’re here… we’re here… finally here…”

Chi Jue stepped in front of her and wiped the sweat from her face with her sleeve. “Do you still think I’m air now?”

Su Qiao, stubborn to the core and unwilling to admit defeat, insisted, “You are… you’re still air…”

Chi Jue pinched her lips into a duck-like shape, teasing her affectionately. “Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were having an asthma attack. Still as stubborn as a mule!”