I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 78

It was five o’clock in the afternoon, and the doctors on the day shift at the outpatient department were preparing to leave. Si Nan finally managed to send away the ‘patient’ named Jiang Chun’er. She was gathering her things to head back when she stepped out the door and saw someone sitting with their head lowered on a chair in the corner. Her chestnut-colored long hair was distinct in the setting sun, seeming to absorb all the warm sunlight.

Mang Ke was looking down, playing on her phone. She lifted her head and stretched her neck, likely because it was stiff. Seeing Si Nan walking toward her, she quickly raised a hand and waved.

“Si Nan~”

Si Nan couldn’t help but smile as she walked over, looking down at her. “Why are you sitting outside in the cold? Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes,” Mang Ke said, standing up and twisting her neck. “It’s not really cold; the heating in the hospital is good. But my phone is almost out of battery after playing on it all day.”

“Do you want to come to my office to charge it?”

“No, let’s ask the boss for a charger when we go out to eat later.”

Si Nan was momentarily surprised when she heard that, then asked with a smile, “Are you treating me to dinner?”

“Of course,” Mang Ke said happily. “Lately, I’ve been running back and forth to Xun Fangyun’s side. It feels like it’s been ages since we ate together.”

Si Nan nodded and walked side-by-side with her toward the elevator, speaking as they went. “It has been a long time. I’ve been quite busy lately, too.”

“I also didn’t make it to your place for dinner last time, as we discussed. Your mother wasn’t angry, was she?”

“She wouldn’t get angry over something like that, but she was quite disappointed that you haven’t contacted her for so long.”

Mang Ke knew Si Nan’s parents treated her like their own second daughter. When she first moved here, she was alone, without relatives, and a student. Although she had some financial aid and a monthly allowance, she was still just a child. The couple, as neighbors, frequently looked after her, and Mang Ke often stayed over at their house.

Over time, Mang Ke even spent more time at Si Nan’s house than at her own.

Later, when Si Nan was away studying for postgraduate exams, Mang Ke often accompanied the elderly couple for chats, walks, and household chores, almost like their second daughter.

Mang Ke felt nostalgic thinking about those days. Once Xun Fangyun’s situation was sorted out, she would buy the house she used to rent next to Si Nan’s home. She didn’t have anywhere else to spend her money anyway.

The two went to eat malatang (spicy hotpot) in the alley opposite the hospital. It was the kind of business with no storefront, just a few tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk in the evening. The place was packed during dinner hours. Mang Ke held her bowl and waited a long time before finally finding a two-person seat.

Si Nan couldn’t help but chuckle watching Mang Ke run around with her bowl. She sat down across from Mang Ke and asked, “You said you were treating me—is this what you’re treating me to?”

Mang Ke snapped open a pair of disposable chopsticks with a pop and laughed. “This doesn’t count. I just suddenly had a craving for it today. I remember when you first started working here, you brought me here every day, but now you haven’t been here in ages.”

Si Nan also unwrapped her chopsticks and said, “I was poor back then. Poor and busy. The flavor here was pretty good, so I often brought you. Now that I have money, naturally I want to take you to eat something better.”

While the food here tasted fine, it was still a street stall, and Si Nan, as a doctor, was quite concerned about the hygiene.

The malatang was spicy and hot in the winter. Mang Ke loved the flavor. After quickly finishing her bowl, she let out a satisfied burp. Now that she was full, she felt energetic.

Si Nan looked at her and asked, “Didn’t you say your phone was dying? How are you going to charge it here?”

“I won’t charge it,” Mang Ke pulled out a tissue and wiped her mouth. Seeing that Si Nan was also finished eating, she said, “Let’s go for a walk. It’s too early to go home now. Besides, there’s nothing to do but play games.”

Si Nan exhaled a puff of air and suggested, “How about we walk around District 1?”

“Sounds great~”

The two hailed a taxi and headed to the city center. Full and content, they weren’t bothered by the traffic jam. Mang Ke borrowed the driver’s charging bank to charge her phone for a while. When she got out of the car, Mang Ke felt completely rejuvenated.

“The New Year is coming soon! This area is decorated so beautifully!” Mang Ke couldn’t help but exclaim as she looked at the street district at night. “It’s so pretty. She must like it very much.”

As she spoke, she picked up her phone and quickly took a few pictures, ‘Ka-ka-ka.’

Si Nan stood behind her, watching her take photos. After Mang Ke finished and sent the photos to someone, Si Nan turned her face away and tugged her scarf, hiding half her face inside it so Mang Ke couldn’t see her expression.

“Little Ke, let me ask you something.”

Si Nan did not look at her, but instead watched a nearby elementary school student who was being scolded for playing with sparklers. She said faintly, “Do you… have someone you like?”

Mang Ke paused, then put away her phone and smiled. “Yes, I haven’t had a chance to introduce you yet. Actually, you know her. She is…”

“It’s Xun Fangyun, isn’t it?”

Si Nan’s statement was a declarative one, not a question. She had already noticed that Mang Ke’s attitude toward that patient was unusual, yet she could not figure out how she was connected to a vegetative person who had been in a coma for several years.

Seeing Si Nan’s indifferent expression, Mang Ke felt inexplicably that she seemed very sad. After a long silence, Mang Ke asked, “Do you… not like her?”

Or, perhaps, did she look down on her for liking a person of the same sex?

Si Nan glanced at Mang Ke, finding the girl looking down at her toes in disappointment. She sighed, reached out, and rubbed the top of her head. “Oh, you silly girl…”

She looked down at Mang Ke: “If I had known you liked girls, I wouldn’t have cared for so many years.”

Mang Ke was confused.

Si Nan cleared her throat and asked, “Does she treat you well?”

Mang Ke smiled. “Yes, she does. She’s especially cute when she gets jealous; she gets so mad she hits her wheelchair, you know~”

The thought of Xun Fangyun being speechless and pounding her wheelchair made Mang Ke’s eyes curve into smiles. She thought Xun Fangyun was truly adorable in that state.

Seeing Mang Ke’s smile look so genuine, Si Nan couldn’t help but smile too. “As long as she treats you well. You are like my younger sister. If she ever treats you badly, you can always come to me.”

“Hehe, thank you, Elder Sister Si Nan~”

Mang Ke couldn’t help but take Si Nan’s hand and say, “Let’s go shopping. I feel like it’s been ages since we went shopping together.”

Si Nan was about to speak, but the corner of her eye caught a familiar figure, and she couldn’t help but frown.

That bothersome girl who keeps popping up like a ghost.

Jiang Chun’er emerged from the shopping center carrying many shopping bags. She immediately spotted Si Nan and the chestnut-haired girl with her back turned. Her eyes lit up as if she had spotted a meat bun, and she hurried toward them, her bags clanging.

Si Nan told Mang Ke, “Your trouble is here. I’ll block her; you go ahead and leave.”

Mang Ke turned around and saw Jiang Chun’er. She was so scared her face changed color. If it were Yue Yin or Jia Yun, she could handle them, but this girl was too clingy. She would hug her arm and call her ‘Elder Sister.’ If Jiang Chun’er got stuck on her, she probably wouldn’t be able to go home tonight!

“O-okay, I’ll hide for a bit…” Mang Ke clutched her bag and told Si Nan, “Block her for me. I’ll see you next time!”

With that, she dodged around Si Nan and quickly ran away.

Jiang Chun’er, carrying her large bags, saw Mang Ke running so fast that she couldn’t catch up. She stood in front of Si Nan, gasping for breath. “Why didn’t you help me stop her?!”

Si Nan glanced at her, taking in her appearance after shopping. She couldn’t help but say, “You spent all day bothering me. Do you really still have time to go shopping?”

Jiang Chun’er saw that Mang Ke had already run far away and stomped her foot in frustration. “What kind of doctor are you? Why do you always ruin my plans?”

Si Nan was expressionless. She exhaled a cold breath and said, “Do you know that women who constantly harass people are very annoying?”

Jiang Chun’er looked up, examining her for a long time before asking in bewilderment, “Are you heartbroken?”

Si Nan was taken aback, then let out a light laugh. “You seem careless usually. I didn’t expect you to be so observant.”

“Yes, I am heartbroken,” Si Nan looked at her. “The person you like already has someone she likes.”

She had been heartbroken before even confessing. This feeling truly hurt down to the bone.

Seeing the typically refined and elegant female doctor looking distressed, Jiang Chun’er tried to comfort her. “Don’t take it too hard. Who hasn’t experienced a broken heart?”

Si Nan shook her head. “It’s different. At least you all confessed to the person you liked. But I…”

She didn’t even have the courage to say it out loud. She was afraid that if she did, the two of them wouldn’t even be able to remain friends. Yet, was this the result Si Nan had hoped for?

Having known each other for ten years, Si Nan had thought she would look after Mang Ke for a lifetime, until they were both old women neighbors who still greeted each other. She had never imagined that one day she would be leaving Mang Ke’s world.

They had drifted apart without either of them knowing when.

The cold night wind blew, making Si Nan shiver. She looked up at the neon lights filling the sky, which were so beautiful they seemed to be celebrating the joy of the world, making her laugh again involuntarily.

“Miss Jiang, are you alright?”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Chun’er looked at her, puzzled, holding her bags. “I’m fine. I just finished shopping and was planning to put the stuff in the car and go home.”

“Don’t go home,” Si Nan held out her hand and took all the shopping bags from her. “Come have a drink with me.”

“Huh?” Jiang Chun’er looked at her with distaste. “I drove here. How can I drink?”

“Then I’ll drink, and you drink juice.” Si Nan didn’t mind. The wind blew her trench coat and scarf, making her complexion look somewhat pale.

Jiang Chun’er said worriedly, “Are you okay? It’s just a broken heart. Even if you don’t become lovers, you can still be friends.”

Si Nan gave a bitter smile. “Friends? That might be the only title I’m left with now.”

She was even left with only this one identity. The thought made her feel miserable and deeply aggrieved.

Si Nan sighed deeply, taking Jiang Chun’er’s things and walking ahead. “I’ll take you somewhere. They have wine and soft drinks. Consider it compensation for harassing me all this time.”

Jiang Chun’er said angrily, “Why should I go with you? I have a thesis to write at home! Give me back my shopping bags!”

Si Nan held her hand up high and said, “No.”

“Tch. I’m not interested in flirting with you. Give me my things back!”

“Why are you being so petty? Let me see what you bought… Hiss, you really are a rich second generation! Buying face cream that costs over ten thousand?”

“Mind your own business! Give them back!”

“Keep the Elder Sister company for a drink, and the Elder Sister will grant you anything.”

“Shameless!”

In the end, Jiang Chun’er still accompanied Si Nan and drank several bottles of alcohol, listening to her rambling on and on about hundreds of cases of neurological disorders, repeating the steps for brain development and cranial surgery over and over. Jiang Chun’er covered her ears, unable to block the mind-numbing noise.

After drinking, she was also responsible for getting the woman home. Jiang Chun’er was so annoyed that she opened the sunroof of her convertible, intending to irritate the drunkard in the passenger seat by making her endure the cold wind all the way home.

The next day, early in the morning.

As soon as Si Nan sat down in the clinic, she saw Jiang Chun’er sitting across from her with a look of bitter resentment.

Is she here to ask for Mang Ke’s phone number again today?

But Jiang Chun’er looked at her, fuming. “I drove you home yesterday and was exposed to the cold wind the whole time. My head hurts so much today. I skipped school and came straight to the hospital. You smelly doctor, hurry up and examine me.”

Si Nan lowered her head, writing and drawing on the medical record, and couldn’t help but smile. “Serves you right.”