Chapter 43: Entwined

"I really have no idea where they get all that energy," Luo Yixia said, stretching her legs. Fortunately, she was wearing sneakers; if she'd been in stilettos today, her legs would surely have given out.

"Are you very tired?" Song Chengyi, sitting beside her, asked.

Luo Yixia shook her head. "I'm not that tired. You must be more exhausted, though, carrying all those things for us."

"It seems you're not used to much physical activity. Once you become a doctor, you might have to spend over ten hours at a time in the operating room. How will you handle that?" Song Chengyi frowned, genuinely concerned.

Luo Yixia scrunched up her face. "Is being a doctor really that exhausting?"

She grumbled absent-mindedly, but seeing Song Chengyi's chilly expression, she quickly revised her words. "Well, there's no choice. Since I've decided on this path, I'll just have to gradually get used to it."

Song Chengyi had been worried about Luo Yixia, but seeing her energetic spirit, he relaxed a little. She was full of enthusiasm.

Eventually, Luo Yixia, sleepy and drowsy, collapsed onto Song Chengyi's shoulder. She burrowed for a while, found a comfortable spot, pouted her lips, and slept soundly.

Her loose hair cascaded down Song Chengyi's shoulder, most of it resting against his chest.

Unable to resist, Song Chengyi gently picked up a small lock, feeling its smoothness, letting it wrap around his fingers.

A strange sense of joy welled up inside him... and a smile tugged at his lips.

Luo Yixia didn’t sleep for long. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, instinctively sat upright.

Song Chengyi watched as a small cluster of hair slipped from his fingertips.

Then Luo Yixia shrieked, "Ouch!"

Song Chengyi turned to see Luo Yixia clutching her hair. "It’s stuck."

He glanced down and saw a small bundle tangled around the button of his shirt.

"It hurts!" Luo Yixia cried.

"Don't move," Song Chengyi said, reaching to untangle her hair. After a moment, he managed to pull it free.

A few long, dark strands remained caught on the button, which Luo Yixia looked at mournfully.

She took such good care of her hair; just this morning, she'd spent ages trying to brush it out.

Song Chengyi freed the hair, gathered it, and tossed it out of the car window.

Luo Yixia sighed, glancing around. "Why aren’t Mom and the others back yet?"

Song Chengyi checked his watch. It was already half past two.

They’d been gone for an hour and a half, which should be about right.

"They probably haven’t finished shopping."

"It’s just a few days’ trip! Is all this really necessary?" Luo Yixia pouted.

Bored, she decided to play a game.

Song Chengyi watched as Luo Yixia took out her phone.

He said with disdain, "What a waste of time."

Luo Yixia ignored him, eventually pulling Song Chengyi in to play with her.

The game was one of those popular stacking games.

Song Chengyi couldn’t resist Luo Yixia’s persistence; eventually, he logged in.

He’d played before, found it too easy and boring, so he hadn’t played since. Medical studies kept him busy, with no time for games.

As soon as Luo Yixia logged in, she was invited by others. After repeated invitations, she finally accepted.

Four players, including herself, entered the game.

As soon as they joined the voice chat, it erupted. "Who’s this? Haven’t seen you online for over half a month—I thought you’d vanished from the face of the earth!"

Others chimed in, their voices loud and boisterous.

Luo Yixia glanced awkwardly at Song Chengyi.

She turned on her mic and whispered, "I have a friend here. Please wait a moment."

Someone joked, "Is your friend any good? If he’s awful, we don’t want him."

Luo Yixia didn’t respond, silently checking Song Chengyi’s game profile... Gold rank... seemed a bit low.

She was Diamond herself, but he’d reached Diamond in a previous season, so he should be competent.

She watched as Song Chengyi logged in and invited him to join the game.