Dr. Chi’s Mission: Seduce Officer Su - Chapter 30.1

Holding onto Little Bear’s neck all the way up to the seventh floor, Chi Jue’s mind was completely absorbed in their cheerful interaction. Only when she was steadily back on the ground did she begin to notice her surroundings.

The so-called ventilation windows in this old red-brick building were actually gaps left between the bricks. These palm-sized openings were arranged symmetrically across the wall. Perhaps, toward the end of the last century, this was considered a novel, stylish, and cost-effective design. But aside from slicing the sunlight into scattered, mottled patches, they could hardly be said to serve any real ventilation purpose. As a result, the dust inside couldn’t escape, and the fresh breeze from outside couldn’t get in. The air remained thick with a musty, damp smell, and even the elegant scent of cedar emanating from her couldn’t mask the odor accumulated over the years.

The shared area in the hallway was quite small. There was no long, straight corridor between the two apartments facing each other, the space at the turning of the staircase was only as wide as the stairs themselves. If two people happened to pass each other going up or down, they’d have to turn sideways to avoid one another. If there were just a few more people, it would become a one-way passage.

Large cobwebs coated in dust were visible all over the walls, looking as though a single gust of wind could send them drifting onto a passerby’s head, making one instinctively shrink back with a shudder.

Although the sky hadn’t completely darkened yet, the visibility in this oppressive space had already sunk into the depths of night.

Su Qiao leaned against the door to catch her breath for a moment. Only after exhaling one last heavy breath did she leisurely fish out her house keys. It was a motion ingrained in muscle memory, no need to bend down and search, just a couple of blind gropes, and the key slid precisely into the lock.

“The environment isn’t great, hope you don’t mind.” she said, trying to sound casual, though her smile was tinged with awkwardness.

“Don’t all homes get like this after being lived in for a long time? Why would I mind?” Chi Jue wasn’t bothered by the state of the surroundings. After withdrawing her gaze, she lifted the fruit and her handbag in her hands and urged, “Hurry up and let’s go in. We shouldn’t keep the elderly waiting too long.”

Su Qiao pulled the door open, only then remembering that she hadn’t given her grandmother any advance notice about having a guest over.

Slipping into her house shoes, she hurried into the living room. “Grandma, I’ve brought a friend over.”

The elderly woman, wearing reading glasses, was busy stitching shoe insoles while her gaze drifted through the gap above her lenses to the tablet in front of her. The TV drama playing was turned up rather loud, lending a bit of liveliness to the otherwise quiet and lonely house.

Hearing the voice, she blankly set down what she was holding and swept a puzzled look toward Chi Jue, who stood behind Su Qiao.

It had been years since her granddaughter last brought a friend home. She remembered the last time it had been this lively was when Ao Miao was still alive. Back then, the young folks from the criminal investigation team loved dropping by for meals, each with a remarkably good appetite. Watching the kids eat heartily made her enjoy her own meals more, too.

Sadly, such bustling scenes could no longer be found.

Chi Jue clasped her hands and gave a slight, polite bow. “I’ve come unannounced, I hope I’m not disturbing you?”

“How could it be a disturbance? Come over, come sit down.” the elderly woman warmly greeted her, her face crinkling into a smile.

How could the elderly not enjoy a bit of liveliness?

Su Qiao had thought Chi Jue might feel a bit out of place, but instead, she gracefully took a seat next to her grandmother. “I didn’t know what kind of fruit you like, so I just bought a little of everything.”

“My teeth aren’t good, so I usually can’t eat much. Look at you, spending so much, you should keep your salary for yourself.”

Old folks are all like this, they can’t stand seeing young people spend money recklessly and always feel the need to nag a little, even though deep down, they’re overjoyed.

“Honestly, having a guest over and not giving me any notice. Go wash the fruit and bring it over.” Grandma grumbled, directing Su Qiao like a tool, then turned to beam at the somewhat embarrassed Chi Jue.

Su Qiao pouted and muttered under her breath, “Talk about double standards.”

Grandma took one look at Chi Jue, neatly dressed, polite, and well-spoken, and instantly took a liking to her.

Leaning in, she waited until Su Qiao had gone into the kitchen before placing both hands over Chi Jue’s and making small talk. “What’s your name, dear? Qiaoqiao has never mentioned making a new friend before!”

“Hello, Grandma. My name is Chi Jue. Officer Su and I haven’t known each other long, but we get along well and have a good relationship.” Chi Jue also took a liking to this lively little old lady, petite, with a round face and eyes always crinkled in a smile, like a cartoon character come to life.

The old lady asked with concern, “What happened to your forehead?”

“I ran into a bit of trouble at the hospital, but thankfully Officer Su stepped in to help.” Not wanting to worry the elderly woman with the details of the hospital dispute, Chi Jue deftly changed the subject and pulled out a gift from the bottom of her bag. “I heard you enjoy watching dramas, but I wasn’t sure what to get as a meeting gift. This is the latest tablet, it should be more convenient for you.”

Grandma didn’t know brand names, but she knew digital products were expensive and hurriedly refused. “Oh, you can’t give such an expensive gift the first time we meet! No, no, this thing must cost way more than a few hundred. I can’t accept it.”

Chi Jue had anticipated her refusal and told a little white lie: “I knew you wouldn’t take it, so I made sure to tear up the receipt. It can’t be returned now, you have to keep it.”

Su Qiao returned to the living room with a fruit platter just in time to see Grandma holding the latest brand-name tablet. A slight frown flickered across her brow, but she went along with Chi Jue’s story. “This is Dr. Chi’s gesture of kindness, please accept it.”

“You’re a doctor? Which department?” Now, with the added prestige of her profession, the old lady liked her even more, holding Chi Jue’s hand and reluctant to let go.

“Orthopedics.”

“Oh my, I wouldn’t have guessed! You must be quite busy normally?”

“Not as busy as Officer Su, who’s on duty every day.” Chi Jue’s remark was aimed at Su Qiao, likely a gentle complaint about how she’d been too busy to stay in touch.

“You two chat; I’ll go prepare dinner.” Grandma carefully set down the tablet, her mood brighter than ever, reciting a cheerful rhyme: “Little child, little child, don’t be greedy, after Spring, the New Year’s near. Eat Spring congee for days, and soon it’s the twenty-third…”

Watching Grandma stride off energetically, Chi Jue teased, “The old lady is so full of life, glowing and full of energy!”

“Why did you secretly give such an expensive gift behind my back?” Su Qiao’s smile faded, clearly uncomfortable with overly lavish presents. She pulled out her phone, muttering to herself, “How much did it cost? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

“The gift is a token of my heart. Its value can’t be measured by price. What you should do is take the time to teach Grandma how to use it, that’s when the gift truly becomes complete.” Chi Jue had put thought into this. She knew that what the elderly needed most in their later years was companionship, and she also understood that Su Qiao, when busy, often couldn’t spare time for such moments.

“Thank you for being so thoughtful.” Su Qiao gave a wistful smile. Her words of gratitude felt somewhat inadequate, but the comfort of being understood was profoundly precious. She felt grateful for Chi Jue’s empathy.

Only then did Chi Jue have the leisure to glance around the furnishings in the home. Curiously, she asked, “Is it just you and your grandma living here?”

“Yes, just the two of us relying on each other.” Su Qiao replied calmly. She didn’t seem particularly downcast about the fact that her family was small, or perhaps she had long grown numb to the pain of it.

Chi Jue thought she had inadvertently touched on a sore spot for ‘Little Bear’ and murmured, “Sorry for bringing up such a sensitive topic.”

“Why apologize out of the blue? It’s the truth. My parents divorced when I was very young. My mom passed away from late-stage stomach cancer while I was in college. Later, my grandpa, already old, developed a high fever and was hospitalized with pneumonia for a month. We thought he was fine and discharged him, but the very next day, he was declared critically ill and passed away that same day.”

“You’ve grown up so strong, thanks to your grandma’s hard work raising you.” Chi Jue reached out and ruffled ‘Little Bear’s’ hair, her heart aching with a mix of pity and helplessness. Those were years she hadn’t been part of, years that must have been incredibly tough for ‘Little Bear.’ “How about showing me your room?”

“Sure, but my home isn’t as big as yours. A couple of steps and you’ll reach the end.” Su Qiao agreed readily, naturally taking Chi Jue’s hand and leading her into her bedroom.

‘Little Bear’s’ room was different from what Chi Jue had imagined. A single bed, neatly made, stood against the wall, with a computer desk at its foot. On the desk, shelves were stacked with Su Qiao’s old textbooks from her student days, yellowed with age.

She pulled out a biology book and flipped through a few pages. The title page was neatly inscribed with her class and name, and the notes were meticulously taken. ‘Little Bear’ must have been a diligent student, her grades likely never a cause for concern.

“Let me show you this.” Su Qiao mischievously pulled a rusty tin box out from under the desk. “My little treasure chest.”

The two sat side by side on the edge of the bed.

Su Qiao opened the tin box, revealing an assortment of quirky little trinkets. There were collectible cards of the Water Margin heroes from snack packages, handwritten greeting cards from classmates, certificates for being a ‘Three Good Student,’ and notebooks she had won as prizes but never used. The most surprising were the stickers that came with chewing gum, so many that they were bundled together with a rubber band.

Among all the items, Chi Jue found an old photograph. The colors had faded, but fortunately, the faces were still clear.

The woman in the photo had an elegant posture, her eyes gentle as water, captured in a fleeting, warm smile. She possessed a classical beauty that was unforgettable at first glance.

Su Qiao leaned close to her shoulder and explained with a smile, “That’s my mom. Beautiful, isn’t she?”