Running Towards You - Chapter 48.2

Both Le Qin and Li Chenyao were surprised, their gazes toward Ji Yin shifting noticeably.

“Quite impressive standing up for what’s right. But fighting a man usually puts you at a disadvantage. Next time you run into this kind of problem, it’s better to call the police first,” Le Qin said with a laugh.

Ji Yin looked at her in surprise and couldn’t help but laugh. “You sound just like Dr. Lu!”

“Who’s Dr. Lu?”

“My friend,” Ji Yin and Li Chenyao answered in unison.

Le Qin glanced at Li Chenyao in confusion, and Li Chenyao explained, “She’s the doctor I introduced to you before.”

“Oh, her! Is she still as busy as ever?” Le Qin asked with a smile.

“It’s a little better now, but winter is always her busiest season,” Li Chenyao said.

As they talked about Lu Jiahe, the smile on Ji Yin’s lips gradually faded. She studied Le Qin her simple yet elegant outfit, her beautiful face, the radiant smile on her lips and thought of her kindness, as well as how her answer had mirrored Dr. Lu’s.

A phrase suddenly flashed through Ji Yin’s mind: a match made in heaven.

She had always said she wanted to help Lu Jiahe vet potential girlfriends, but this blind date candidate before her eyes was clearly an excellent choice.

“So what kind of person is she?” Le Qin asked though this time, she wasn’t asking Li Chenyao, but Ji Yin.

Ji Yin hesitated for a moment before replying, “You’ve met her before she was the one sitting next to me last time.”

Le Qin thought for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, “It was her?”

“Yeah.”

“How have you met both of them already?!” Li Chenyao said, incredulous.

“Mhm, we ran into each other by chance last time. But I guess she wasn’t interested in me,” Le Qin said with a laugh.

“How do you know?”

“At that time, she should have already known who I was, yet she didn’t reveal her identity to me. Clearly, she wasn’t interested in me that way,” Le Qin said.

Li Chenyao thought to herself, Well, your analysis is spot on.

She had originally hoped that when Lu Jiahe met Le Qin, there might at least be another option. But now, it seemed that wasn’t happening either.

Ji Yin, however, blinked and asked, “Really?”

“Mhm. Unless, she was secretly observing me. But she didn’t really look at me much back then. Or maybe she didn’t realize I was the colleague Li Chenyao had introduced.” Le Qin leaned forward slightly and inquired, “Did she know?”

Footsteps sounded at the door. Lu Jiahe arrived at the entrance and saw the ward was unusually lively several women were gathered around the bed.

There was Li Chenyao, one of Ji Yin’s colleagues, and a potential romantic rival, sitting suspiciously close to Ji Yin.

“Ji Yin.”

Ji Yin immediately looked up, her lips curving into a smile. “Dr. Lu, off work already?”

Le Qin turned around, staring intently at Lu Jiahe as if seeing her for the first time. She stood up with a smile. “Hello, I’m Le Qin. Last time we met, I had no idea you were the person Li Chenyao introduced.”

“Hello, Lu Jiahe.” Lu Jiahe nodded slightly, then glanced at Li Chenyao.

Li Chenyao felt as if she had been sliced apart by that look. She couldn’t quite understand it’s just Le Qin coming to meet her, why is she so unhappy?

“Why did you come to the hospital with Li Chenyao?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“I was in the area and heard Ji Yin was hospitalized, so I came to visit.”

“Thank you for making the trip. Her condition doesn’t require surgery just some rest and she’ll recover.” Lu Jiahe smiled and walked straight to the bedside. “Have you taken your medicine yet?”

“I haven’t eaten yet,” Ji Yin said. “I’ll take it after.”

“When is Yanzi coming?”

“She’s already on her way.”

Lu Jiahe nodded and fell silent.

Ji Yin, unaccustomed to the quiet, spoke up. “I finished Rural China. I asked Yanzi to bring another book over.”

“What book?” Le Qin tilted her head. “You’re still reading while hospitalized? I have plenty of books, want me to lend you a few?”

“No, no need!” Ji Yin quickly shook her head. “I already have more books from Dr. Lu than I can finish, and some I bought myself are still unopened. I really can’t keep up.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll bring another book from home. You should read more,” Lu Jiahe said.

“Okay,” Ji Yin agreed readily.

The corner of Lu Jiahe’s lips lifted slightly. She turned to Li Chenyao. “Alright, let’s not disturb the patients any longer. Time for dinner.”

“Mhm. Le Qin, you should come too.”

Le Qin smiled at Lu Jiahe. “May I join?”

Lu Jiahe returned the smile. “Of course. Her friends are my friends too.”

The three of them left the ward, chatting and laughing, but Li Chenyao, sandwiched in the middle, couldn’t shake the feeling that the atmosphere was a little off.

Once outside the inpatient building, Li Chenyao went to get the car while the other two waited.

A light drizzle began to fall, uncertain whether it would turn into rain. Le Qin lifted her hand to catch the raindrops, then looked at Lu Jiahe and asked, “Dr. Lu, do you already have someone you like?”

“Yes,” Lu Jiahe answered bluntly.

“Is it Ji Yin?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, I thought so. Actually, I’ve taken a liking to her too.”

“I know.”

Le Qin sighed with regret, “So, does she like you?”

Lu Jiahe lifted her gaze to the person standing by the window. The moment their eyes met, the other person ducked down abruptly, disappearing below the windowsill.

She couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Only she knows that for sure.”

“Which means I still have a chance, right?”

“You do, but not much.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Because my odds are better than yours.”

Le Qin laughed. “Kind of regret not meeting you sooner you’re so straightforward. Don’t worry, a gentleman doesn’t take what others cherish. I won’t interfere.”

“Thanks,” Lu Jiahe replied with a smile.

“Let’s be friends. I don’t know many people like us.”

“Sure, but I don’t know many either.”

The two exchanged a smile as raindrops began to fall on their faces. Le Qin withdrew her hand. “It’s really going to rain now.”

Lu Jiahe took out an umbrella and held it over both of them as they walked toward Li Chenyao’s car.

Ji Yin watched their retreating figures, the umbrella blocking her view entirely. Yet the smiles on their faces from moments ago still seemed dazzlingly bright.

They must be getting along well, right?

Are they about to get together?

“I’m here! Guess what delicious treat I brought you today!” Yanzi strode into the ward cheerfully, only to freeze at the sight of Ji Yin crouched beneath the windowsill. “Why are you sitting there? Get up!”

No matter how hard she tugged, Ji Yin wouldn’t budge.

Yanzi tilted her head, then crouched down in front of her. Suddenly, she was reminded of over a decade ago, the day their mother passed away, Ji Yin had sat on the ground just like this, lost in thought, unmovable no matter how hard anyone tried to pull her up.

“Sis…” Yanzi set down her things and cupped Ji Yin’s face in her hands. “What’s wrong? I’m grown up now. Whatever it is, can’t you tell me?”

Ji Yin slowly furrowed her brows, her lips trembling as she murmured a few indistinct syllables.

“What did you say?”

Yanzi leaned closer, pressing her ear to Ji Yin’s mouth, and heard her whisper, “I feel a little unwell.”