Hu Xiu squirmed under the covers for a long while before finally crawling out to stare intently at the small patch of ground outside her window downstairs.
She traced the characters "Diao Zhiyu" crookedly on the fogged windowpane with her breath. How could Qin Xiaoyi even have such a distinctive name!
Here she was, awake in the middle of the night, nursing a schoolgirl crush at home—she was, after all, the woman Qin Xiaoyi had personally escorted home on his bicycle!
Yet sleep remained elusive. Her nerves were as stimulated as if she'd overdosed on coffee, each one sketching outlines across her blank-paper mind.
Like a rough sketch taking shape: beginners can outline facial features, intermediates position them accurately, masters capture their form—but the hardest part is filling in the character's texture.
It isn't something you can complete with mere pencil strokes. Where are the moles positioned? What formed those tear troughs? How has time carved its path across his body, altering his appearance? These are accumulations built over years, each detail carrying its own significance.
Just like the tangible intimacy in Li Ai's love, Hu Xiu secretly hoped Qin Xiaoyi would possess similarly rich layers for her to discover.
The Qin Xiaoyi she saw up close had fair skin and delicate features, sharp cheekbones and translucent eyes—yet his qualities felt distinctly different.
At the very least, she, Hu Xiu, had detected that penetrating quality—the kind that sees through a girl's heart, understands everything yet remains silent. He was far more complex than he appeared.
To commemorate this magical evening, Hu Xiu posted an overly sentimental moment: "Have you ever seen Shanghai at 5 AM?"
The attached photo showed the view from her sixth-floor window, focused on the spot where Qin Xiaoyi had bid her goodbye.
After barely two hours of fitful sleep, a comment from her senior colleague stood out: "Still reviewing conference materials this late? Giving you a thumbs-up!"
More terrifying was Zhao Xiaorou, whose messages flooded three screens worth of chat bubbles demanding progress updates.
Hu Xiu certainly didn't dare reveal she'd learned his real name this early. Otherwise, Zhao Xiaorou's follow-up messages would likely include planning their children's birth charts, selecting postpartum care centers, and choosing kindergartens.
Better to focus seriously on work and debrief Zhao Xiaorou about the "battlefield situation" during their evening meeting.
Besides, seeing Zhao Xiaorou mention meeting with lawyers at dawn confirmed her matters weren't resolved. The first rule of adult friendships is maintaining boundaries while handling each other's priorities.
The immediate concern was the upcoming conference. In her two months since joining, Hu Xiu had already interpreted for various specialized meetings: oncology forums, international rare disease volunteer conferences, hospital partnership signings...
Each required extensive preparation, leaving her restless until the event concluded. Her favorite way to unwind was visiting Snowpiercer to see Qin Xiaoyi after interpretation assignments. But the materials for this upcoming conference—"Stem Cell Research in Diabetes and Obesity Treatment"—were thick as academic literature.
And she'd already used up her post-conference Snowpiercer quota early in her eagerness to see Qin Xiaoyi.
Now she faced a week of dedicated work without being able to see Qin Xiaoyi the following week.
Damn! Why did she impose such rules on herself! Staring at her four-digit bank balance after paying rent and credit card bills, her frugal entertainment life revolving solely around Qin Xiaoyi left her with virtually no savings.Hu Xiu recalled Qin Xiaoyi riding his bicycle while telling her to save money, suddenly finding it somewhat amusing—he had probably seen right through her... that she was broke.
As long as she wasn't assaulted by her father's relentless calls, her mood would remain quite pleasant.
After all, following the last encounter with Qian Jinxin, her father's phone call had irritated her for days—
Qian Jinxin had indeed become more smitten with the Shanghai girl from last time and recounted the events aboard the Snowpiercer from his own perspective to her father, portraying Hu Xiu as a frivolous and slick woman seeking validation through the Live Action Role Playing Game.
This resentment only eased when she saw Qin Xiaoyi. As Zhao Xiaorou put it, it was like an unfaithful person using temporary relief outside to compensate for the suffocation felt at home.
People always need an outlet to breathe and wash away unpleasant memories from life. Qin Xiaoyi, to some extent, had become a painkiller for her troubled family.
On the way, Hu Xiu thought, her peaceful utopia had been invaded, and she hadn't even gotten upset about it, yet Qian Jinxin had the nerve to bite back.
She had been hanging up on recent calls and sending stored photos from the summit forum instead. Her father, being the type who admired strength, fell silent upon seeing those images, leaving only some lofty, instructive remarks.
Hu Xiu set her messages to Do Not Disturb, planning to ignore them and continue enjoying the bliss of her one-sided crush. She already knew Qin Xiaoyi's name—what was there to worry about for the future?
At 8:20, her senior colleague arrived at the office and quietly pulled Hu Xiu outside.
The emergency exit on the second floor of the administrative building was often busy, making it unsuitable for private conversations. Hu Xiu was dragged to a convenience store to accompany her colleague in buying breakfast while listening to her advice.
The hospital was a public institution where every step required caution in speech and action. Hu Xiu, who never liked talking much, often found herself as the listener for her married colleague, who had an endless stream of things to share.
Walking against the flow of patients, her colleague secretly mentioned an insider tip: there were two slots for converting to permanent staff this year, but one had been taken by a direct transfer from Dahua Hospital, leaving the remaining one uncertain. A male intern had been at the hospital for three years, also in administration, and was well-liked by doctors and head nurses alike. If this continued, it would be hard for Hu Xiu to secure the position.
Hu Xiu knew she was referring to Chen Yang next door, the head nurse's favorite.
He was efficient in his work, having switched from a nursing undergraduate degree to a master's in classical Chinese, which left him in an awkward position at the hospital, relegated to being a plain, good person in an administrative role.
She picked up a bread roll at the convenience store, queued to pay, and stepped outside. Her colleague, nearly finished with her soy milk, asked, "What do you think?"
Hu Xiu replied calmly, "I'm actually fine with it. If I don't get the permanent position, I'll just switch to another company."
Her colleague tossed the soy milk cup into the trash with a thud: "Xiao Hu, are you crazy? If you don't get converted now, you'll have to wait another year. Your salary won't increase, and you won't get translation fees—one job can earn you ten or twenty thousand."
Ten or twenty thousand—converted, that was twenty rounds of Snowpiercer. Hu Xiu's ambition ignited fiercely.
She kept her composure and only asked, "But don't the head nurse and the surgery director really like Chen Yang?"
"He once helped the oncology department translate a paper but made a critical error in describing the pathology. There have been quite a few such minor mistakes. How to put it? He lacks spark and is too indecisive.""I truly admire you—you're diligent and full of energy. Youth really does mean better stamina. After having a child, I can barely handle six-hour meetings anymore. I'll have to rely on you in the future. However..."
"However?"
"I don't have the final say in this matter. It ultimately depends on the higher-ups. But based on your capabilities, you definitely stand a good chance."
"If you can get approval from one or two department doctors, it'll be even more secure. After all, in a hospital, doctors carry more weight in decision-making."
"And I genuinely respect you. You usually sit quietly without a word, yet you handle tasks efficiently without unnecessary chatter. How can someone have such a perfect personality?"
When they reached the office door, the senior sister lowered her voice: "One last piece of advice—the safest bet in a hospital is to have a doctor as a husband. I'm not saying you should find someone to rely on."
"But many things... when they know your spouse is a doctor, you'll get promoted faster. They'll see you as more professional, and having connections within the system helps."
"Chen Yang's girlfriend is a magazine editor. They've been in a relationship for seven or eight years—what good does that do? When it really matters, she can't provide any support. Someone who's only focused on romance won't get far in their career."
Post-it notes with to-do lists surrounded the computer screen. Hu Xiu quietly glanced around. Compared to advertising agencies, hospital colleagues were much more meticulous and serious in their work. The atmosphere was formal, with colleagues already settled into their careers—baby photos or family portraits decorating their desks.
She secretly wanted to put up a photo of Qin Xiaoyi too, but that donation photo hanging nearby had a QR code next to it...
Better not embarrass herself in front of colleagues by revealing she's secretly chasing a Script Murder NPC.
Her phone vibrated—a message from Zhao Xiaorou. "Come sleep at my place tonight. Emergency."
On the bus, Hu Xiu seriously contemplated that if she got the opportunity, she should work harder.
After all, once she became a regular employee, she could take on interpretation work from other hospitals—each assignment paying over ten thousand yuan.
It was already 10 PM when she arrived at Zhao Xiaorou's place carrying thick stacks of materials. After Wang Guangming moved out of Xiafei Court, the room felt more spacious—
Though still cluttered with belongings, the absence of people indeed made it feel less lived-in. It made sense that Zhao Xiaorou, who hated loneliness, would reach out to her.
Zhao Xiaorou's face looked more beautiful than before, with defined features like a movie star's, her jawline smooth and clean.
She handed Hu Xiu a document: "Help me understand what this actually means. Wang Guangming sent it."
Hu Xiu glanced at it: "It's a lawyer's letter. How can you not understand Chinese... It basically says he's suing you for defamation. So, that Weibo post—he's taking legal action?"
"Yeah. We have an apartment in Shenzhen. When he qualified for talent residency back then, he had the quota, but my family paid the two million yuan down payment."
"Now that we're splitting up, he's at a disadvantage. Since we both paid the mortgage, he's trying to make trouble to get half the property."
"I think his mother's behind this too. She didn't contribute anything when we got married—just gave us two red floral quilts as wedding gifts. Now she's egging Wang Guangming on to claim half the apartment. Is a Shenzhen household registration really that valuable?"
"I regret not flipping their dining table back then to show his mother my family's principles."
"What will you do now?"
"Fight the lawsuit. Li Ai's lawyer has taken my case. I can earn money again, but I need to stand up for myself this time.""I should thank my parents for not being as fond of psychological pressure as your dad. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have the courage to divide the property now—I'd be practically handing it over with both hands."
It didn't sound like a compliment. But Hu Xiu saw no need to confront Zhao Xiaorou while she was still upset, so she just bent down to scoop ice from the machine into her cola. "I found out Qin Xiaoyi's real name—it's Diao Zhiyu, with the character for 'childish'."
Zhao Xiaorou, who had turned around, remained silent, intently typing on her phone. Hu Xiu grew slightly anxious. "Did you hear what I said?"
"I heard. I'm searching it up."
"That fast?"
"Found it..." Zhao Xiaorou crossed her legs. "Shanghai Theatre Academy, Class of 2014, acting major. Interesting, Hu Xiu. He graduated not long ago, so when you met him he was probably still in school."
"Doing the math—born in 1996. Unbelievable, Hu Xiu! He's five years younger than you. What a steal!"
"Sounds like you're implying we're dating, Zhao Xiaorou. Don't read too much into it."
"What happened yesterday at Snowpiercer?"
"Nothing much. I waited for him to get off work, then walked back along the main road instead of taking a taxi. He rode his bike after me and escorted me home..."
"Are you kidding?! That doesn't count? Why would a guy see you home if he wasn't interested?"
"Maybe he was worried about my safety?"
"At 3 a.m., even if you were streaking naked in inner Shanghai, no one would dare touch you, sis."
"This says a lot about Qin Xiaoyi. Being so attentive, going home after work to get his bike just to catch up with you... Wait, how did he know where you live?"
"He helped me book a ride on my phone before..."
Zhao Xiaorou took a deep breath and roared, "What else are you two hiding from me? Hu Xiu, you've gotten bold—keeping dating details from me. Do you think you can handle this without my guidance?"
"To think you kept this from me! How many times have you met? Did you go upstairs? How far did it go?"
After struggling to get a word in, Hu Xiu finally managed, "Your nosiness matches Ning Zechen perfectly."
"I don't care. Hu Xiu, I've been busy with my divorce lately and haven't been looking after you properly. That's my fault."
"But from now on, you have to discuss everything with me, okay? That time you were kicked out left a deep impression, even though it was your ex and your dad's fault."
"But with a young, unblemished guy like Qin Xiaoyi, we need to take it seriously and not mess it up."
"Dating a fresh young thing like him would be a dream—he's so handsome."
"Maybe by winter you'll be together, and a half-naked Santa Diao Zhiyu will appear in Room 301 at Snowpiercer. Trust me, just go for it then. Even an unplanned pregnancy wouldn't matter..."
Hu Xiu quickly covered her mouth. "That's enough."
Damn this vivid imagery! It wouldn't fade! Hu Xiu shook her head hard, trying to change the subject. But Zhao Xiaorou wasn't giving up. "Did you get his WeChat?"
"No. They deduct wages for private contact—two thousand per instance..."
Zhao Xiaorou massaged the back of her neck. "You're really something. He was already at your building. Does the Snowpiercer boss check your neighborhood surveillance?... You let the duck that flew right into your hands get away..."Zhao Xiaorou, who always went straight for the goal, had no appreciation for the pleasures of a slow-burning ambiguity. After just a few exchanges with Hu Xiu, she was already making plans, evoking the same feeling as when they had schemed to intercept K-pop stars at Beijing's airports and hotels years ago. Back then, they were all self-proclaimed "wives of Lee Donghae" in private, and a fleeting glimpse of their idol could fuel an entire night of fantasies.
Both she and Zhao Xiaorou had built up formidable stamina during those days—chasing concert tours meant pushing themselves to the limit, surviving on just two hours of sleep with dark circles hanging like shadows under their eyes, yet still managing to apply BB cream and step out looking radiant.
Zhao Xiaorou wasn’t done yet: "This is different from Lee Donghae. That was something you couldn’t see or touch. But Qin Xiaoyi can hail you a cab and even see you home—that proves he’s someone you can sleep with, someone you can date.
Damn it, once I’m done with this lawsuit against Wang Guangming, I’m going straight into a carefree romance."
"Did you call me here just to talk about Wang Guangming? You don’t seem the least bit worried," Hu Xiu said, stifling a burp from her cola as she thought of Qin Xiaoyi, carefully keeping her reaction subdued.
"Of course it’s not about Wang Guangming." Zhao Xiaorou furrowed her brow and set both feet flat on the ground. "Li Ai’s wife has been fighting this lawsuit for two years, and it’s been tough. Her family doesn’t support her continuing the fight.
The lawyer told me that lately, she’s almost run out of money. The rent for her café is due soon, and REGARD might have to close down."
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