C18 Do Not Leave Behind Any Regrets

Chen Shaoyang gently patted Lu Yiting on the shoulder. When she turned to look at him, she was met with his reassuring smile. "Don't be too upset. Kids are pretty sensitive. I heard his parents might be getting a divorce soon."

"What?" Yiting gasped, quickly covering her mouth in surprise. Her eyes widened as she looked at Shaoyang, and after a moment, she released a sigh. "Divorce... What about Anran? He's only twelve!"

Shaoyang shook his head. "His family's well-off. He'll find out soon enough. I talked to him a bit earlier; he's a smart kid and probably already knows."

Yiting felt a pang of sadness, almost bringing her to tears. Her father had passed away when she was young, and she soon moved with her mother to the Lu family, where she met a stepfather who had no affection for her. Even now, thinking back on it was painful. Moreover, her mother... didn't like her either. She never expected Anran would face a similar situation.

Shaoyang quietly excused himself, "I have a couple of patient files to organize. I'll be heading out."

As Shaoyang glanced at Yiting's neck, he noticed something odd. She was wearing a high-collared shirt, unusual for the summer. Upon closer inspection, his eyes widened.

It was... a hickey!

Though he had no personal experience, he recognized it immediately. His eyes twitched slightly. "Nurse Lu... do you have a boyfriend?"

Yiting was taken aback, unsure why Shaoyang would suddenly ask such a question. She thought for a moment. She had a husband, but no boyfriend. With that in mind, she gently shook her head. "No, Dr. Chen, I don't have a boyfriend."

Shaoyang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he must have been mistaken, yet a sense of unease lingered, and he didn't dare look again. "I'll be off then!"

Yiting found it odd; she suddenly thought Shaoyang was acting a bit strange.

Shaoyang returned to his office, feeling unsettled. He tried not to dwell on it, but the image of the mark on her pale neck lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

"Hey, Dr. Chen, did you see Nurse Lu today? Doesn't she look stunning?" Dr. Liu couldn't resist gossiping the moment Shaoyang walked in.

Shaoyang felt a pang in his heart but forced a smile. "What do you mean by that, Dr. Liu?"

Dr. Liu gave a knowing smile. "Well, Dr. Chen, since you're not married, you might not get it. Nurse Lu looks like she's been having a great time lately. Her face is glowing, which clearly means her boyfriend is treating her well..."

Shaoyang sat there, stunned. It was true. He couldn't focus on the files in front of him. He had been smitten with Yiting ever since he heard her crying outside the restroom. At first, he thought it was just a melodramatic moment, but those sobs, broken and heartfelt, had pierced his ears, his mind, and his heart, leaving an indelible mark.

He had stopped in his tracks, waiting for her to come out. When her tear-streaked eyes met his, he knew he was a goner. He must be the fastest man in history to fall head over heels—just a few cries and a glance, and he was hooked.

That's why he had said those words to her back then. Life's seven hardships: birth, aging, illness, death, parting from loved ones, meeting those you hate, and unfulfilled desires. Yet, it seemed she still hadn't learned how to see through them.

"Dr. Liu, stop it. She's a good girl. I asked her earlier, and she said she doesn't have a boyfriend!" Shaoyang interrupted, catching Dr. Liu off guard.

Dr. Liu chuckled knowingly. "Oh, Shaoyang, she might not have a boyfriend, but did you ask if she's married? You young folks love your secret marriages. My wife was just watching some show about secret marriages the other day!"

Thud!

Chen Shaoyang's heart skipped a beat. Even though he tried to convince himself that Dr. Liu was wrong, his rational side told him it might be true.

A husband... that's even more devastating than a boyfriend!

A husband means they're legally bound, that man legally has her.

Shaoyang felt a pang in his heart. No, he couldn't panic. She hadn't said anything, so he had to trust her. The girl he had loved for so many years!

Dr. Liu finally noticed Shaoyang's troubled expression and his eyes twinkled. "Dr. Chen, I know you like Nurse Lu. How about this: tonight, the doctors and nurses in our building are having a get-together. You and Nurse Lu can stay on duty. You can ask her anything you want."

Shaoyang initially wanted to refuse, but his heart had already decided for him. "Got it, I'll be on duty tonight."

He wanted to ask her, even if it meant facing rejection, just so he wouldn't have any regrets.