They were discussing something serious when she suddenly dropped that line.
Qin Yuhe laughed. "What nonsense are you talking? We're trying to conceive, why would I be drinking?"
Song Xinya said, "Some men can't resist drinking even when they're trying to conceive, sneaking it behind their wives' backs."
Qin Yuhe replied, "I'm not that kind of man."
Song Xinya said, "Good. In any case, no drinking, and definitely no getting drunk."
Qin Yuhe said, "I've engraved that on my heart."
Song Xinya said, "Sweetheart, you're so well-behaved."
Qin Yuhe was speechless.
A thud sounded as the ceramic cup in his hand dropped onto the table.
Song Xinya asked, "Did my words startle you?"
Qin Yuhe flexed his wrist. "No, when I hold something for a long time, my hand feels tight and stings, so the cup slipped from my grip."
Song Xinya paused for a moment, then asked, "Have you been doing hand rehabilitation and scar treatment regularly while in Magic City?"
Qin Yuhe said, "I've been doing it all along."
Song Xinya said, "Take a photo of your palm and send it to me."
Qin Yuhe's wrist movement froze. "No need, there's nothing much to see."
Song Xinya raised her voice slightly. "I want to see it."
Qin Yuhe used his broad shoulders to block the light, held his hand in the shadows, took a photo of his palm, and sent it to her.
In the dim light, his palm seemed to be veiled in gray gauze, unclear.
His attempt to cover up did not escape her eyes; she still saw the scars on his palm.
"It feels like the recent treatment results have plateaued, the scars are the same as before, no change."
Qin Yuhe said, "Like how weight loss hits a plateau after a certain point, a stale phase?"
Song Xinya said, "How is that the same? Patients should only get better over time until they recover, not stop halfway."
Perhaps that was just how it would be.
Those scars would remain forever.
Qin Yuhe had also thought of that outcome and said to her, "It's okay, it's just a few more scars. My hand can move, I can write, and I can work and live normally."
Song Xinya's heart ached.
The cup was so light, yet after holding it for only a short while, his hand started to hurt. How could it be okay?
She bit her lip, a firm light in her eyes. "Qin Yuhe, I will find a way to heal your hand."
Qin Yuhe heard the unwavering seriousness in her voice. Worried she might put pressure on herself—and that she might be disappointed if things didn’t work out—he said, "It would be great if it heals, but if it doesn't, that's fine too. Don't force anything."
Song Xinya said, "On this matter, I insist on forcing it!"
I won't allow you to become incomplete because of me.
I want you to be fine.
I want your hand to return to how it was before!
………
The next day, Song Xinya arrived at the company early and began doing everything she could to get close to the international burn surgery expert, Sheng Changpu.
She had a client file: a seventeen-year-old male high school student, Sheng Tianjun, who was looking for a tutor.
Sheng Changpu was Sheng Tianjun's father.
At 7:30 in the morning, her colleagues filed into the office one by one.
"Hey? Why is there a cup of coffee on my desk?"
Song Xinya walked over and chatted with them. "I ran into a coffee shop promotion this morning, so I brought you all a cup of coffee."
Her colleagues cheered.
"Treating us to barbecue the night before last and coffee this morning—most people go to work like it's a funeral, but for us, it's a feast. This is way too nice."
"A colleague this good deserves an award. A 'Moving China' award without you? I'm not watching."
"Archimedes could move the Earth, but he couldn't pry open my eyelids. I was so sleepy, and then the coffee arrived. Teacher Song, you’re my savior."
After some light chat, Song Xinya naturally steered the conversation. "I didn't sleep well at all last night."
Her colleagues asked, "Why not?"
Song Xinya said, "I get the feeling the client I'm meeting today is going to be extremely difficult."
Her colleagues asked, "Who's the client you're seeing today?"
Song Xinya said, "Sheng Tianjun. Has anyone met him before? Share some tips with me."
As it turned out, someone had indeed visited Sheng Tianjun before.
A female colleague said, "I remember this Sheng Tianjun. When he was look for a tutor before, he always requested female teachers."
"But then, about a year ago, something must have happened, because he suddenly switched to requesting only male teachers."
"Back when he only wanted female teachers, I went to his house once. He just gave me a glance, didn't even let me give a trial lesson, and kicked me out, saying I wasn't the one he was looking for."
The female colleague recalled that visit and shuddered.
"That Sheng Tianjun is really creepy..."
Song Xinya asked, "Creepy in looks or in behavior?"
The female colleague said, "He doesn’t look creepy—clean-cut, a handsome high school student. It’s his behavior that’s creepy."
Song Xinya pressed, "What do you mean specifically?"
Recalling the way Sheng Tianjun had sized her up, she shivered again.
How to describe that look?
Not like a student looking at a teacher, but like a man looking at a woman.
It had been a year since that encounter, but the memory of that look still made her uncomfortable.
Still, they had only met once, and it might have been her own misinterpretation or bias. Making a harsh judgment about a minor would be unfair.
The female colleague said, "Teacher Song, the Sheng Tianjun case used to be handled by President Zhao. She knows him especially well. You could ask her for some materials."
Song Xinya replied, "Thanks."
The female colleague said, "No need to be polite. I've eaten so much of your food and drunk so much of your coffee, I should be thanking you."
Song Xinya returned to her desk and saw Chen Siyan walking over.
"Morning, Teacher Song."
"Morning, Manager Chen."
As Chen Siyan sat down and turned on the computer, Song Xinya rolled her chair over. "Manager Chen, have you ever heard of this client, Sheng Tianjun?"
Chen Siyan said, "I don’t really know the kid. I only remember he used to only hire female tutors."
"A tutor, not a wife—what's with the gender discrimination? Us male teachers?"
Chen Siyan offered advice. "This client was always handled by Zhao Yinian. She has all the info on the kid. Go ask her."
Song Xinya asked, "Do you think Abbess Miejue will give them to me?"
Chen Siyan said, "No."
Song Xinya’s eyes said: Then why did you tell me to ask?
Chen Siyan said, "You’ve got to have a dream, right? What if it works out? All you're doing is asking with your mouth; it doesn't cost anything."
Just then, Zhao Yinian arrived and walked straight into her office.
Chen Siyan said, "Internal friction is eating shit. Anxiety is eating tomorrow’s shit in advance. Depression is eating yesterday’s shit over and over. Chant this every day: I don't eat shit! Whatever you want to do, go for it boldly. Go!"
Song Xinya stood up and walked into Zhao Yinian's office.
One minute later, she came out.
Chen Siyan asked, "How did it go?"
Song Xinya said, "Abbess Miejue said the files on Sheng Tianjun were lost."
Chen Siyan said, "Fake. She’s lying to you."
“Although Zhao Yinian’s character is pretty questionable, she does things in an organized manner. She sorts and files every client’s information carefully.”
Song Xinya said, “She just doesn’t want to give it to me.”
Chen Siyan replied, “If she won’t give it, we can steal it.”
“Zhao Yinian keeps all her client files on the second shelf of the bookcase. As long as she’s out for half an hour, we can find Sheng Tianjun’s file, make a copy, and put the original back without anyone knowing. Sneaky, huh?”
Chen Siyan added, “The key is how to get Zhao Yinian out for half an hour without her locking the door.”
Song Xinya said, “It has to be something urgent that suddenly happens, so she gets flustered and forgets to lock the door.”
Chen Siyan frowned, “That’s really hard. How can we coincidentally have something urgent happen out of the blue?”
Song Xinya grinned, “I have an idea!”
