Overdo

"This noon I borrowed three dollars and fifty cents from her, and now I’ve come to return it."

That sentence! That one sentence had sealed her doom! Utter doom! Because of his words, everyone was spreading the rumor that the top "Porcelain Beauty" of Jiangshan General Hospital—nicknamed so by her colleagues for her stinginess—had her iron-clad reputation shattered. She didn’t mind the nickname; it sounded much better than "Iron Rooster," after all. But now, the esteemed Porcelain Beauty of Jiangshan General Hospital had her impenetrable armor of thriftiness pierced by a handsome man. Her lifelong prestige was ruined, utterly ruined. She had actually been swayed by good looks and lent three dollars and fifty cents to a complete stranger. What other reason could there be? What other cause? Of course, it was because she was captivated by his looks! Dazzled by this handsome guy, she had abandoned her Porcelain Beauty nature and lent out the enormous sum of three dollars and fifty cents. Three—dollars—fifty!

Amid the suppressed laughter of her colleagues, she snatched the three dollars and fifty cents from his hand and said coldly, "You can leave now!"

But he just didn’t get the hint. "Thank you, Miss Fang. I was really embarrassed earlier. I’m so sorry. Could I treat you to some fruit ice after work?"

She rolled her eyes. "This young lady isn’t interested."

Xiao Zhou, standing nearby, chimed in, eager to stir up trouble. "Our Huayue saved you from a tight spot, and you think treating her to fruit ice is enough? If you’re going to invite her, it should be for Western food!"

Hmph! Brat, don’t think you can hit on me just because you’re good-looking. Lending him three dollars and fifty cents in a moment of weakness was already a huge mistake—how could she give him the chance to make it worse? If she actually accepted his invitation, she’d be the laughingstock of the entire hospital. They’d mock her for being so swayed by looks that she agreed to go out with a guy who didn’t even have three dollars and fifty cents on him? Whether he offered Western food or Eastern food, she wasn’t interested.

But that brat clung to her like sticky candy, popping up in the nurses’ station every now and then. Being handsome did have at least one advantage: he wasn’t annoying. No one could stay angry when they saw his dashing, handsome face. And he knew how to charm girls, always offering little treats and snacks. Hmph! The result? He won them all over. Every time he showed up, someone would call out meaningfully, "Huayue! Huayue! Three-Fifty is here again!" The nickname "Three-Fifty" was given to him by the nurses in her department, and it had always been a source of deep humiliation for her. Every time she heard it, it felt like a reminder that her lifelong reputation had been ruined by that brat. Hmph!

Like today, for instance—he suddenly appeared again. Despite the heavy rain, he’d calmly brought an umbrella, putting on the act of showing up just in time to shield her from the storm. Who did he think he was? Xu Xian? Too bad she wasn’t a love-struck Bai Suzhen. Or maybe it would be better if she were a snake demon, so she could bite him hard and poison him, making him fear any rope for ten years and never dare show his face again. She was immensely relieved that she was already off duty and didn’t have to listen to her colleagues’ chatter. Still, she shot him a fierce glare as usual. "Do you have nothing better to do? Hanging around our hospital all the time—what do you even do for a living? How can you be so free without a job?"

He replied, "I’m in the navy—I’m on leave right now. The ship is undergoing major repairs, so the whole crew is on break."They say the military offers excellent benefits, with full pay even during leave. She felt a surge of envy but quickly snapped back to her usual irritable tone, "If you're on leave, why do you keep coming to our hospital every day? Are you sick or something?"

He wasn't offended, though a trace of melancholy unconsciously crept into his smile. "I genuinely wish I were the one who was ill." His smile had always been as bright as sunshine, but now it seemed shadowed by clouds. Without thinking, she asked, "Is it a family member? Is it serious?" He nodded slightly. Suddenly, she found his demeanor deeply pitiable and couldn't resist adding, "Which department are they in at our hospital? Would you like me to introduce a familiar doctor for a thorough check-up?"

His voice dropped. "It's already confirmed as early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma."

A wave of compassion washed over her. The misfortune of a loved one is more heartbreaking than one's own—it's someone dear and cherished, yet you feel utterly powerless. She understood that helplessness all too well. Outside the umbrella, the rain poured down, pelting the ground and forming bubbles that burst one after another. Beneath the umbrella, a heavy silence fell.

She cleared her throat softly, fumbling for words of comfort. "Don't be too sad. Good people have their own blessings."

He quickly rallied. "Thank you. The specialists said everything has gone smoothly since the surgery, and there's hope it won't recur." Suddenly, he asked, "With such heavy rain, why didn't you bring an umbrella?"

She grumbled resentfully, "Heaven knows what's gotten into the weather today!" No sooner had she spoken than a flash of white light dazzled her eyes, followed by a thunderclap so close it seemed to vibrate through her eardrums, leaving a ringing in her ears.

He reacted swiftly. "Watch out!"

Stumbling, she was yanked aside by him. Just behind them, a massive branch crashed down from a nearby tree, filling the air with the smell of scorched wood. The lightning had struck terrifyingly close. If it had been any nearer... She didn't dare finish the thought, her heart pounding wildly. It took a long moment before she could exhale, still trembling with fear. Muttering to herself, she said, "I really shouldn't talk nonsense like that, or I might actually get struck by lightning." He chuckled, and the sound of his breath tickled her ear. Only then did she realize he was still holding her tightly against him. He carried the pleasant scents of aftershave and tobacco—a distinctly masculine aura she had never been so acutely aware of before. Her heart raced as if a hundred rabbits were darting about inside her, and her cheeks flushed as she pulled away. He seemed to realize it too and awkwardly released his grip.

For some reason, she felt a bit embarrassed. "I should head back."

Without hesitation, he handed her his umbrella. "Here, take this. You'll definitely catch a cold if you walk back drenched like this."

Her irritation returned. "Hey! It's my birthday today! Can you not jinx me?"

His eyes suddenly lit up. "Today's your birthday? How about I treat you to longevity noodles?"

She blurted out, "Of course not!"

He rubbed his nose. "Well, then I just saved five bucks."

Hmph, you jerk. She knew he was just being insincere. Why should she let him save money? He was always doling out little favors, winning over all their colleagues with his generosity. Why would she help him cut costs? A thought crossed her mind, and she beamed. "I want noodles with shredded pork and an extra egg."The shredded pork noodles with a poached egg added were indeed delicious. She took a deep breath—fragrant! So fragrant! Proudly, she told him, "I've tried every noodle shop within a five-mile radius, and this one has the most shredded pork, the best aroma, and the heartiest noodles!"

It truly was hearty. With a bowl of poached egg and shredded pork noodles in her stomach, she felt full, and her mood seemed to lift. Even the weather cooperated—the rain had thinned to a fine drizzle, misty and hazy like smoke. The cobblestones on the gravel street were all damp, and someone was selling orchid grass by the roadside, its subtle, distant fragrance drifting along the entire street. He stopped to buy a bunch and gave it to her. Overjoyed, she held it with a radiant smile. "So fragrant!" she couldn't help asking him, "How much was a bunch?"