Running Towards You - Chapter 47.1

Lu Jiahe examined her wound and discussed with the department head about replacing her brace with a new one. After getting the head’s approval, Lu Jiahe scheduled the procedure.

“How was your sleep last night? Did you put any pressure on the wound?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“It hurt the moment I touched it, so I didn’t dare move at all,” Ji Yin replied.

“This afternoon, we’ll replace it with a brace that fits your body better. It’s a bit more expensive, but you’ll feel much more comfortable. Is that okay with you?”

“Sure, I’ll follow your advice,” Ji Yin agreed without hesitation.

Lu Jiahe left to attend to other patients, and Ji Yin immediately asked the caregiver to pour her some soup. After taking a sip, she grimaced. “So salty.”

The taste was clearly not from Teacher Liu Jia it had to be Dr. Lu’s handiwork.

The caregiver said, “If it’s too salty, don’t drink it. I’ll go downstairs later and hey, why did you finish it?”

“This is bone broth super nourishing. Not only does it replenish calcium, but it also tops up your sodium chloride levels.”

The caregiver was baffled. “I don’t understand you educated folks.”

Ji Yin burst out laughing, amused that she could pass for an intellectual.

Before long, Dong Xiang arrived with breakfast and updated her on the details of the commercial property.

He had already shown her videos and photos the night before. Based on the size and layout alone, Ji Yin was quite satisfied and had even spent time before bed thinking about the decor and setup.

“Although it’s on the outskirts, a major internet company opened a branch there last year, so property prices have risen. Purchasing power isn’t an issue. There’s only one large shopping mall nearby, so the market isn’t saturated yet,” Dong Xiang analyzed.

He touched on all the points Ji Yin cared about, and she was pleased with his progress. She asked, “Then why did the original supermarket go out of business?”

“The landlord said it was due to poor management, but I secretly found out that the owner was a live-in son-in-law who cheated on his wife with several employees. His in-laws kicked him out and shut down the supermarket,” Dong Xiang whispered.

“So this place is a hot potato. There should still be room to negotiate the rent. Give me the landlord’s number.” After getting the contact, Ji Yin said, “I’ll be stuck in the hospital for a few days, so put the pool hall on hold and scout the location for me a few more times.”

“Got it. I’ll head over this afternoon and video call you for a live look.”

“Good. If it’s viable, we’ll sell the pool hall and focus solely on the supermarket.”

“Okay.”

Ji Yin called the landlord and inquired about the rent. The quoted price was firm, with no room for negotiation.

“If you’re not willing to lower it, then I’ll have to think it over,” Ji Yin sighed.

The landlord hesitated. “What else is there to consider?”

“Of course, the business prospects. Your location is too remote the last owner couldn’t make it work, and I might not either. With rent this high, what if I fail too?”

“What do you suggest, then?”

“It won’t be easy to rent out such a large space quickly. Every day it sits empty is a significant loss. How about this we meet halfway. Lower the rent a bit, and I’ll extend the lease by another year. Sound fair?”

“I’ll have to think about it. You’re not the only one interested, you know.”

“Got it, let’s both take some time to think it over. For now, let’s exchange WeChat contacts.”

After adding each other on WeChat, Ji Yin was almost certain that the landlord’s claim about multiple potential tenants was just a tactic to drive up the price.

Fortunately, the current rental price was still within her budget. Every bit of savings counted, but the key was whether the place was worth it.

Lying in bed and scrolling through her phone, she began searching for nearby listings.

After browsing for what felt like ages, her eyes were nearly strained when she suddenly heard the nurse’s voice: “Bed seven, Ji Yin, please get ready. You’re heading to the operating room soon.”

“Oh, okay.” Ji Yin got out of bed and followed the nurse straight to the operating room. As soon as she entered, she saw Lu Jiahe standing by the operating table, reviewing scans on the screen.

“You’re here. Take a seat,” Lu Jiahe said, gesturing to the operating bed. “Take off your top.”

With the nurse’s assistance, she managed to remove her hospital gown, leaving only a thin undergarment as she sat there feeling somewhat exposed.

Though this was standard procedure doctors had seen all kinds of bodies during surgeries this time, she felt unexpectedly shy.

“Do I need anesthesia?” she asked.

“No, we’re not even performing surgery. Why would you need anesthesia?” Lu Jiahe replied with a chuckle.

“At this point, I’d rather have anesthesia and just sleep through it.” Ji Yin muttered, rubbing her arms and glancing down at her undergarment. If only she’d worn something nicer!

So tacky!

Lu Jiahe reviewed her scans once more, confirming the treatment plan before looking down at her. Noticing the faint blush on her ears, the corner of his mouth curled slightly beneath his mask. “You might feel some slight discomfort during the process. Let me know if it hurts.”

“Mm.”

Carefully, Lu Jiahe removed her old sling and replaced it with new material, meticulously adjusting it around her arm and underarm.

Ji Yin’s arm was lifted and lowered as he worked.

She kept her head down, watching his deft hands. Even through the gloves, she could tell they were elegant yet skilled, effortlessly shaping the medical device with a few precise movements.

She shifted slightly this new support was much lighter than yesterday’s splint.

“It’s a new material lighter and more flexible,” Lu Jiahe explained before adding sternly, “But that doesn’t mean you can go wild with movement. Understood?”

“Understood!” Ji Yin declared, lifting her chin.

The nurse nearby couldn’t help but laugh. “You two sound like you’re scolding a kid. It’s hilarious.”

“Help her get dressed,” Lu Jiahe instructed.

As the nurse brought over the gown, Ji Yin hesitated. “I can do it myself.”

The nurse raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Positive!” Ji Yin took the gown and managed to slip one arm in, but struggled with the other.

Having limited mobility was such a hassle.

“Let me.” Lu Jiahe stepped forward, guiding her arm through the sleeve before moving in front of her to fasten the buttons one by one.

Ji Yin’s ears burned even redder.

“All done,” Lu Jiahe said with a faint smile. “Why are you so embarrassed?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not.”

“Then go take a look in the mirror and see how red your face is right now,” he teased, poking her cheek.

“…”

Ji Yin walked out of the operating room with feigned composure, only to speed up and rush straight to the bathroom. Staring into the mirror, she couldn’t see any noticeable redness on her face.

Dr. Lu must have been teasing her again!

“Isn’t this just a normal skin tone? Can’t she naturally have that rosy glow?”

Just then, Dong Xiang’s video call came through, showing her the nearby routes and residential buildings along the way. Ji Yin chatted while watching, getting a rough idea, though it would still be best to visit in person.

In the evening, Yanzi came to visit with food and updated her about the supermarket: “That Li Fang is quite efficient, she’s already gotten the hang of things. Always smiling, you can tell she has great service attitude. Maybe we should transfer her to the membership department.”

“Not yet. She’s only experienced with checkout and isn’t fully familiar with other supermarket tasks. Besides, if she can make customers feel well-served even at the regular checkout, wouldn’t that earn even more praise?” Ji Yin replied.