Chapter 182: A Distant Love Letter

Luo Yixia had a lot of things she wanted to say, but in the end, she kept them to herself.

"I was just asking casually," Luo Yixia smiled, dropping the subject.

"Don't take what happened this time to heart. You lack experience, but you'll accumulate some once you start your internship later on."

"Okay."

The next morning, when Song Chengyi left for work, Luo Yixia followed him to the hospital.

Yanyan's parents had already been moved to a regular ward, and when they arrived, Yanyan was eating breakfast.

Seeing Luo Yixia, his eyes lit up: "Pretty big sister!"

"Yanyan." Seeing Yanyan looking lively and well, Luo Yixia finally felt a sense of relief.

"Yanyan woke up yesterday and didn't see the pretty big sister. Where did you go?" As soon as he spoke, Yanyan started questioning her.

"I'm sorry, big sister went back home yesterday." Luo Yixia deeply regretted not going in to check on Yanyan.

At that time, she was trapped in her own mental struggle and lacked the courage to face it, spending the whole time in remorse.

"Well, alright then, Yanyan forgives you." A child's temper flares up quickly and fades just as fast.

Luo Yixia gently stroked his head.

She then quickly greeted Yanyan's parents. Upon learning that Luo Yixia was the one who helped care for Yanyan the night before, they were extremely grateful.

Yet Luo Yixia felt undeserving of such thanks, especially since she hadn't taken good care of Yanyan after all.

When Song Chengyi came around with the doctors and nurses for ward rounds, he found Luo Yixia laughing happily with Yanyan.

Initially lying in bed, Yanyan had soon crawled right into Luo Yixia's arms.

Chubby little children are naturally adorable, and Luo Yixia adored him.

Song Chengyi stepped forward to measure Yanyan's temperature once more.

His temperature was completely normal.

"You have classes today, don't you?" Song Chengyi asked without lifting his head.

"I have classes in the afternoon, so I'll head back then," Luo Yixia answered obediently.

A doctor immediately asked with a hint of alertness, "Is this Dr. Song's girlfriend?"

Nurse Cai chimed in instantly, "Not only is Dr. Song himself outstanding, but his girlfriend is equally brilliant."

Luo Yixia felt she couldn't bear to listen any longer...

"I heard you're also from A University. Would you consider coming to our hospital after graduation?" the lead doctor joked.

"I'm only a sophomore; I still need to keep learning," Luo Yixia neither accepted nor refused.

Suddenly, Yanyan piped up from the side, "Does the pretty big sister have a boyfriend?"

Everyone in the hospital room turned to look at Yanyan.

Yanyan's mouth drooped, and his eyes turned red: "The pretty big sister can't have a boyfriend! When I grow up, I'm going to marry the pretty big sister. The pretty big sister is mine."

After a brief silence, the room erupted into laughter.

"Yanyan, you're still little. The pretty big sister already has an older brother," Yanyan's mother said, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"No way! Mom, you clearly said boys and girls shouldn't touch hands when greeting, but I hugged the pretty big sister, so I have to marry her!" With that, Yanyan clung to Luo Yixia to prove his point.

Luo Yixia thought this little darling was simply too cute.

She played along with a teasing smile, "Alright, when Yanyan grows up, big sister won't want that other brother anymore, okay?"

Song Chengyi, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, instantly changed his expression.

"Okay!" Yanyan immediately broke into a wide grin.

The whole room burst into laughter once more.

"Little fellow, do you know that this big brother here is extremely exceptional? He gets first place on every single exam, which is why big sister likes him. You'll have to become very exceptional in the future and surpass this big brother, alright?" Dr. Cai crouched down and said to the little cutie.

Yanyan nodded, looking as though he half-understood.

The group chatted and laughed as they moved on to the next ward.

Yet Luo Yixia always felt that Song Chengyi had shot her a sidelong glance as he left.

She hadn't stayed in the ward long, and feeling it inappropriate to keep disturbing their rest, Luo Yixia prepared to leave.

"Yanyan, big sister is leaving now. Rest up well, and once you're discharged, big sister will come see you again, okay?"

Though unhappy, Yanyan nodded obediently. As she left, he called out, "Pretty big sister, you have to come see Yanyan, okay?"

Along the way, several doctors treated her with great warmth. Before she could even open her mouth, they were pointing the way and telling her that Dr. Song was in his office...

Luo Yixia offered a sheepish smile.

The door to the surgery department office was wide open.

Song Chengyi was seated at his desk, while Xiang Xingluo leaned over, bending down as she spoke to him.

Luo Yixia noticed that Xiang Xingluo's hair hung loose, with strands falling behind her ears and long locks trailing all the way onto the desk, right next to Song Chengyi's hand.

Both of them acted as if they were entirely unaware of it.

Truthfully, the two of them really did look quite well-matched. Song Chengyi was exceptional, and Xiang Xingluo was equally brilliant.

A talented man and a gifted woman...

It was Song Chengyi who noticed Luo Yixia standing by the door first.

"Why are you just standing blankly by the door? Come in."

Only then did Xiang Xingluo notice Luo Yixia.

She carefully looked her up and down.

She certainly looked quite pretty, but Song Chengyi didn't need a mere vase; he needed someone matched to him, someone who could assist him in his career.

She herself wasn't lacking in appearance, and clearly, she was far more accomplished than this girl.

She had only been here for a single day, and in just one day, everything had changed.

It had taken her only a single day to win everyone over to her side.

To make everyone feel that Song Chengyi and she were a true match.

A perfect pairing of beauty and intellect.

No, it shouldn't have been like this. It clearly wasn't supposed to be like this.

"Alright, let's leave this matter at that for now. I'll write the report tonight, you can go back first."

There wasn't a trace of reluctance in his tone.

"Okay," Xiang Xingluo forced a smile in Luo Yixia's direction.

"I'm really regretting something right now," Luo Yixia suddenly blurted out, completely out of context.

"What?"

"I regret cutting my hair into a short bob. How wonderful long, flowing hair would have been," her tone reeked of jealousy.

Song Chengyi was quite something else; he caught her meaning instantly.

With a smile, he said, "It's not long hair or short hair that I like. The one I have loved from the very beginning until the very end is simply you."

Oh, this cheesy pickup line...

She loved it so much!

"Song Chengyi, tell me the honest truth. Have you ever had a girlfriend before, or liked any other girl?" Luo Yixia asked, full of gossipy curiosity.

"Why do you care so much?"

"I need to know if you have any ex-girlfriends lying around. If one of them ever shows up looking for you, I need to prepare my counter-strategies in advance."

"As far as I know, haven't you already asked my mom about these things countless times? You probably know whether I've liked anyone better than I do myself," Song Chengyi looked at her with amusement.

"Uh... but if you had a secret crush on someone, Mom wouldn't necessarily know..." Luo Yixia wasn't flustered in the least even after being caught.

"Do you think someone like me needs to have a secret crush?" Song Chengyi raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curving into a frivolous, lazy arc.

Luo Yixia rolled her eyes at him.

She felt thoroughly looked down upon.

"Alright, now it's your turn. Did you like anyone else before me?" Song Chengyi closed in on her step by step, radiating an imposing aura.

"Ever since I was little, I've only ever liked you!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Song Chengyi wore an utterly incredulous expression.

"It's true! I've poured my heart and soul entirely into you since I was a child. Do you think I had any spare energy left to like anyone else?" Luo Yixia retorted hotly.

"Really? Didn't you like Song Zeming?" The sourness in Song Chengyi's tone was palpable.

"Huh? What? Brother Zeming? No way! Song Chengyi, what nonsense are you spouting?" Luo Yixia burst out laughing.

"Didn't you even write him a love letter?" Song Chengyi spilled the beans right then and there.

Luo Yixia's smile froze as she desperately tried to recall: when on earth had she ever written a love letter to Brother Zeming?

A love letter? Love letter???

Seeing Luo Yixia's utterly bewildered expression as if she genuinely couldn't remember, Song Chengyi grew somewhat indignant and snapped, "Back in high school."

Flashbacks instantly crossed Luo Yixia's mind, making her want to unleash a string of curses.

"That love letter wasn't written for Brother Zeming! I just asked Brother Zeming to pass it along for me—it was written for a pig!"

Once Song Chengyi heard that, if he still didn't understand, he truly would have been a pig.

The atmosphere became awkwardly silent for a moment...

He sheepishly rubbed his nose. So, all those years of jealousy had been entirely self-inflicted?

"Back then, someone told me I shouldn't go around ruining other people's lives. I thought it made total sense—I figured I definitely shouldn't ruin your life. Don't you agree?" Luo Yixia's tone was haughty, flippant, and even carried a hint of triumph.

With that, her petty temper flared up, and she made to get up and leave.

Just as she reached the door, she was yanked right back by Song Chengyi, who then closed the office door behind her.

Song Chengyi cornered her against the wall, bracing his arms on either side.

"So, it was written for me?"

"No, I wrote it for a pig."

Song Chengyi chuckled softly: "So, do you like pigs?"

"No, I like Brother Zeming," Luo Yixia stubbornly persisted.

"Why didn't you give it directly to me?" Song Chengyi leaned in closer until their noses almost touched.

"Weren't you always giving me the cold shoulder back then?" Luo Yixia turned her head away, asking back with dissatisfaction.

"Uh..." Song Chengyi was genuinely stumped by that, though he quickly changed the subject, "Is the love letter still around?"

"Threw it away ages ago," Luo Yixia pouted.

"Alright, you'll have to make it up to me when we get back. I'll inspect it once I return," Song Chengyi smiled.

"On what grounds?"

"Be a good girl." Song Chengyi leaned in and planted a light peck on her lips.

The stubborn little girl immediately blushed bright red.

Luo Yixia lingered there all the way until dinner time before finally boarding a car back to school.

After two days of sweet attachment, suddenly finding herself without Song Chengyi by her side made her feel terribly unaccustomed to it...

However, Luo Yixia quickly adjusted her mindset.

Each day continued in its orderly routine, though occasionally, stray thoughts would bubble up in her heart. She constantly felt she wasn't suited for studying medicine.

Yet what was she suited for, exactly? Everyone else had ideals and knew what they wanted to do.

What about her? What did she like? What did she actually want to do?

Song Chengyi was so resolute; he only ever wanted to be a doctor, wanting to save lives and heal the wounded.

And herself? Whenever she recalled the scene from that day in her mind...

Those bright red pools of blood would churn her stomach and make her want to vomit.

Aside from this nagging doubt, everything else remained as usual. They maintained their regular phone calls every day, narrating every bit and piece of their daily lives.

Only, Luo Yixia found herself missing Song Chengyi all the more.

Yearning rolled in like roaring floodwaters, endless and unstoppable.

And Song Chengyi was no different. Ever since discovering he had misunderstood her before, while not feeling particularly guilty, he missed her all the intensely.

He wished he could rush back right this instant just to see her.