Chapter 29: Torrential Gossip (1/2)

Once she understood what he was saying, metaphorical black lines streaked across Cheng Xi’s face. “Why?”

Had her story made him misunderstand something?

Lu Chenzhou’s expression was innocent. “Aren’t we a couple?”

...Cheng Xi’s only response was to be more innocent than him. “But a couple doesn’t need to ask each other beforehand when doing something like that. Asking implies that the feelings between us aren’t deep enough, and suggests that we should return to being regular friends.”

After hearing Cheng Xi’s explanation, Lu Chenzhou looked at her, deep in thought, not saying anything.

Cheng Xi thought that this episode was over with that, and didn’t pay it any mind. The next day, she went to the hospital immediately. Surprisingly, Chen Jiaman wasn’t buried under her blanket, and was actually sitting straight up in bed, her gaze dully inspecting the sunlight that was filtering in through the window blinds.

Cheng Xi tried to get close to her. When she was about five steps away from the bed, Chen Jiaman turned around. Her expression was frightened, her spine taut, her eyes wide, and her mouth was grinding her teeth hard, almost as if she were about to turn violent at a moment’s notice.

Cheng Xi didn’t approach any further. She passed the sketchbook that she had bought on the way to the hospital to Chen Jiaman and said, “Can I give this to you?” She opened the sketchbook, and drew as she explained, “It can produce many things that you want, just like that little bunny who just wants a hug.”

Her drawing skills left much to be desired, but while critically inspecting the four unseemly bunnies that she had drawn, Cheng Xi blinked, hoping that Chen Jiaman had a vivid enough imagination to look past her drawing skills. “Look, the little bunny is waiting for you to hug it.”

Chen Jiaman was expressionless, and seemed completely wooden. However, her body hadn’t loosened up at all, remaining anxious and fearful. Cheng Xi’s trip to her hometown made Cheng Xi somewhat able to understand her gut reaction, and so she left the sketchbook and pencil on the far side of the bed before slowly leaving.

When Cheng Xi returned to the nurse’s office, she looked at Chen Jiaman via the security camera. In the camera feed, Chen Jiaman didn’t move. She completely ignored the sketchbook and instead turned her head to look outside the window, her mouth mumbling something that Cheng Xi couldn’t quite make out.

After realizing that they weren’t going to make much progress today, Cheng Xi decided to head over to the clinic area. However, before she could open the door, someone stopped her. That person’s hand held a recording pen, and she asked, “Excuse me, are you Dr. Cheng Xi from the psychiatry department?”

Cheng Xi looked at her warily. “Sorry, who are you?”

“I’m a reporter from XX website for the XX department. May I interview you for a moment with regards to the incident in which your wealthy boyfriend booked all of your appointment slots?”

Fuck! As soon as she heard the reporter introduce herself, Cheng Xi, who never cursed, couldn’t help but do so in her mind. How long were they going to harass her for this incident?

Cheng Xi rejected her brusquely. “Sorry, I can’t.” Turning around, she quickly walked towards the exit.

The reporter followed behind her. “You’re the female lead implicated in the incident, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“But, it has to be a young, pretty doctor in the psychiatry department of Renyi Hospital. I checked, and the only person who matches that description is you…”

……

“Seriously, it’s you, isn’t it? I don’t have any bad intentions. It’s just that the netizens are quite curious and want to understand more details.”

“If you’re willing to be interviewed, then I can also conduct the interview anonymously…”

“Sorry, you can’t enter this place.” Shocked, Cheng Xi quickly walked into a restricted area that the public couldn’t enter, leaving the reporter behind.

Finally she had some peace and quiet. Cheng Xi released a breath that she had been holding for a long time. She thought that these people were making a mountain out of a molehill, as reporters were even beginning to crowd around her…… When she turned her head around, she suddenly found herself facing a slightly pale face. She was startled and stepped back unconsciously.

Standing in front of her was a female doctor in her forties. She was tall and skinny, and her face was stark white.

“He- hello!”

The female doctor frowned. “Which department are you from?”

“The psychiatry department.”

“The psychiatry department… Cheng Xi?”