Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Gu Cong likely hadn’t overheard our conversation, and he still didn’t remember who I was.

In fact, Gu Cong and I had been desk-mates for half a year during our senior year of high school.

However, he wasn’t a man of many words, and I was simply too busy.

Busy studying, and busy making money.

At school, I spent almost every minute between classes with my head down, rushing through my homework.

I had to finish the day’s assignments before school let out. Only then would I have time to go home, do the laundry, cook, prepare ingredients, knead dough, and grind soy milk. Then, at four in the morning, I’d wake up to help my sister steam buns and scramble for a spot at the market to sell breakfast.

After being desk-mates for so long, we naturally developed a silent understanding.

For instance, I sat on the inside by the wall. Perhaps Gu Cong felt it was too much trouble for me to keep getting up, so every time he went to get water, he would bring some back for me too.

For instance, I knew Gu Cong had a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder, so when I helped collect his papers, I would fold them neatly for him.

For instance, when I was secretly rushing through homework during class, Gu Cong would quietly tap my desk to warn me whenever the teacher started walking down from the podium.

For instance, every morning, I would make an extra portion of sticky rice chicken-without mushrooms-for him…

But even then, we probably spoke fewer than five sentences to each other a day.

Aside from those six months as desk-mates and Gu Cong’s unexpected confession at graduation, the truth was that he and I weren’t particularly close.

So, when Dr. Zhao asked earlier, I was just telling the truth.

It was only natural that Gu Cong didn’t remember me.

“I just looked over the medical records.”

Gu Cong glanced at Ranran, who was asleep in my arms. Without a single word of small talk, he sat down and got straight to the point.

“Now, I need to understand some details.”

He asked a series of follow-up questions regarding Ranran’s medical history and previous surgeries, covering every minute detail. He was incredibly focused, recording everything on his computer as we spoke.

As we neared the end, Gu Cong scrolled through his mouse and suddenly asked a question.

“You’ve been looking after the child through her surgeries all by yourself?

“Where is your husband?”

I answered without thinking. “He’s quite busy.

“I’ve accompanied her through all her surgeries. If there’s anything else you need to know, you can ask me.”

Gu Cong’s hand paused. He lifted his eyelids and looked at me.

His eyes seemed much darker than most people’s.

“Busy?

“What could be so busy that it’s more important than his own daughter?”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

Fortunately, Gu Cong seemed to have asked only in passing.

He picked up the medical records again, his brow furrowing slightly.

“The child’s condition is indeed quite complex.”

My heart leaped into my throat instantly. I was so nervous that my ears began to ring slightly.

“She’s too young,” his voice came, sounding distant as if through a pane of glass. “The specific circumstances also differ from the patient I encountered before.”

As he spoke, Gu Cong seemed prepared to set the records down.

My heart skipped a beat. In a moment of panic, I instinctively reached out and pressed my hand against his arm.

“Doctor, I beg of you…”

I kept my voice very low, afraid of waking Ranran.

“Please, save my daughter… She’s only three years old.”

I had finally seen a glimmer of hope for Ranran’s illness. If even Gu Cong refused to take the case…

I quickly pulled out the envelope I had been carrying-neither too thick nor too thin-and shoved it into his hand.

Gu Cong froze, looking down at the object in his hand.

After a moment, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

He stared straight at me.

“Are you… trying to bribe me with a red envelope?”