Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The instant I recognized the painfully familiar figure behind the kindly specialist, my fingers clenched around my medical record.

Oh, God.

If I had known, I would never have written down “pain during sex” just to hide the fact that a toy had caused the problem.

The professor looked elderly, but she was surprisingly quick and strong. She plucked the record straight out of my hands, adjusted her reading glasses, and announced in a clear, ringing voice,

“Chief complaint: pain-during-sex.”

Clatter!

The pen in the intern’s hand hit the floor.

My head buzzed. The professor had given every word perfect projection and dramatic emphasis, and now they echoed around the silent consultation room.

I wanted the tiles to split open and swallow me.

She looked up from the record. Seeing me rooted to the spot, face scarlet and awkward as a frightened quail, she offered a gentle smile.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed, young lady.”

“People your age are full of energy. Sometimes passion gets the better of you. It’s understandable.”

“Come, sit down. You mustn’t avoid a doctor because you’re shy, all right?”

I nodded stiffly and sat, stealing a glance at He Shiyu.

He had retrieved the pen and was crushing it in his palm so hard his knuckles had gone white. His profile was drawn taut.

And his eyes… were freezing.

Someone save me. Please, someone save me.

All I wanted was to get out of there as fast as possible.

I forced myself to speak. “Doctor, you can just prescribe me something. I’ll follow the instructions when I get home-”

Before I could finish, my voice had already turned tearful.

It wasn’t my fault. The moment I got nervous, my tear ducts stopped obeying me.

The professor cut me off sternly.

“Absolutely not! Medicine is not something you play around with.”

“Don’t worry, young lady. I’ll make sure we get to the bottom of this.”

Then she suddenly remembered the student behind her. In the mood for an impromptu quiz, she asked,

“He, what usually causes pain during intercourse?”

He Shiyu looked past his silver-haired mentor and stared straight at me.

After a long silence, he answered in a voice cold enough to splinter ice, each word striking like a blow.

“Rough movements.”

“A lack of restraint.”

“Excessive frequency.”

“Mechanical injury.”

The professor nodded approvingly. “Good. And what else should we ask the patient?”

He Shiyu seemed to think. Then his hoarse voice broke loose, trembling with accusation.

“Meng Yin, these past two months… who exactly have you been with?”

The professor was about to nod again when the meaning of her star pupil’s question finally registered. Her brows snapped together. She removed her glasses and turned on him.

“He, what has gotten into you?”

“How many times have I told you not to address patients by name, much less pry into their private lives? Even when it relates to the condition, a consultation needs warmth. You cannot question someone so harshly.”

“Look at her. The poor girl was already shy and nervous. You’re interrogating her like a criminal. How is she supposed to speak now?”

He Shiyu pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes.

The professor turned back to me, her face kind once more.

“Please don’t take it to heart. My student isn’t very good with words, but he means well. He only wants to understand the situation so it doesn’t worsen and affect your relationship with your boyfriend.”