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Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Is My Objection Useful?
Before Si Xiaohui could stop them, the words had slipped out of her mouth.
"Si Chen, you must be joking! Everyone knows Lijuan is into Boyi. How could she be in a relationship with you?"
Having grown up alongside Zhang Lijuan, Si Xiaohui knew her well. Zhang Lijuan was too proud and arrogant to be interested in someone like Si Chen.
"Xiaohui," Si Chen scolded, his brow furrowing in reprimand.
The colour had just returned to Si Boyi’s face when Si Xiaohui’s words made him blush crimson once again, casting an involuntary glance at Tong Yao.
Si Xiaohui realized she had misspoke only to stay silent, with her head down and eating in silence. She felt irritated, having been kept in the dark about such a significant matter. Was this how they treated her, like a fool?
In contrast, Tong Yao kept her composure as if the matter did not concern her at all.
The situation had escalated to a point where it had to be resolved. Si Boyi, mustering up the courage, confessed: "Boyi, sister-in-law, I’m sorry. I didn’t intentionally keep this from you. I just didn’t know how to bring it up." 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
His ineptitude with words left him stuttering uncomfortably, and after a long while, he finally managed to say that. Si Chen took a long look at him, then asked seriously, "Are you two planning to get married?"
"Yes," Si Boyi responded and nodded affirmatively. "Boyi, Lijuan and I genuinely love each other. Our family is in a bit of a bind, and I didn’t have a steady job before, which is why I was afraid that Chen Jinlan would object, so I kept it a secret from everyone."
Si Chen asked, "Are you sure she genuinely loves you?"
"..." Si Boyi choked and could not muster a reply.
Seeing his brother’s reaction, Si Chen understood. Si Boyi was a hard-headed and stubborn character. If Si Boyi decided to court Zhang Lijuan, no force would sway him unless he came to his senses.
Si Chen considered for a moment before replying, "This is a significant decision in your life. You handle it."
Si Boyi’s eyes lit up. "Boyi, you are not opposing it?"
He had not brought up the matter with Si Chen earlier partly because he was worried Si Chen would object. Now hearing Si Chen’s response, Si Boyi was instantly delighted.
Si Chen raised an eyebrow and asked, "Would it make a difference if I opposed?"
Si Boyi’s face turned red, and he lowered his head, staying silent.
Tong Yao, who had been silently eating her food, now understood the situation. Si Boyi had been entirely won over by Zhang Lijuan. Given that he was so head-over-heels in love, no advice would sway him. And so Tong Yao decided to spare herself the trouble.
When everyone had almost finished their meals, taking into consideration where to sleep that night, Si Boyi suddenly suggested, "Boyi, I’ll sleep in the shop tonight, and you can sleep in the inner room. We should let Xiaohui sleep in the hall."
Tong Yao had just swallowed a mouthful of food, and upon hearing this, nearly choked. Despite being someone who prided herself on her thick skin, she couldn’t help but blush at his words. She subtly glanced at Si Chen, who seemed composed, his chopsticks frozen in his hand.
"No need, I’ll sleep in the hall with you tonight." he replied.
"Oh!" replied Si Boyi, assuming that Si Chen was too tired from travelling to Qing City and didn’t pry further.
Now that big brother was back, they would definitely need to find a new house to move into in the next few days. Given his suggestion, they could stick to this sleeping arrangement for another two nights.
However, Tong Yao had other thoughts. She had absolutely no intentions of sharing the inner room with Si Chen tonight. There was no rush, she could wait a day or two. But why wasn’t he acting like the men in the novels, eager to be with their wives?
Could it be that he wasn’t interested in her?
That didn’t make sense!
She had the body figure and the looks to be desired. Surely Si Chen wouldn’t be uninterested in her?
Tong Yao felt the need to have a serious discussion with Si Chen.
In those days, everyone tended to turn in early, and the night was somnolent. With two sizable dampeners present, Tong Yao and Si Chen stopped their quiet conversation, retired to their sleeping quarters after washing up.
The following day, everyone was busy after breakfast and went about their businesses. Tong Yao thought Si Chen would only return in the evening. However, he returned from the hospital at noon, carrying a cardboard box.
In response to Tong Yao’s puzzled look, Si Chen calmly said, "I quit my job."
"You quit?" Tong Yao’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he had been fired because of her?
Tong Yao knew little about hospital protocols and procedures. She didn’t know if Si Chen could work at other hospitals after leaving the People’s Hospital, which made her anxious.
"Will you still be able to practice medicine?" she asked.
Si Chen placed the cardboard box on the counter. It was the time school was let out, so the shop was empty except for Tong Yao. He caressed Tong Yao’s face and assured her, "Don’t worry, it was my decision to resign. Before I left Kyoto, Professor Qu had invited me to work at the First Hospital of Kyoto. I hadn’t immediately accepted the offer. After considering it last night, I decided to resign and develop my career in Kyoto."
To be precise, this decision was made the moment he learned that Tong Yao had been expelled from the family dormitory by Yu Zhengxiong.
Even though he had been busy, being a Dean, Yu Zhengxiong chose to drive his wife away from home while he was absent. How could he entrust his peace to such a dean and stand on the operating table?
If he was to move to Kyoto sooner or later anyway, it was better to seize the opportunity and go earlier. The medical facilities in Kyoto were better, which would allow him to have greater medical development opportunities.
After hearing Si Chen’s explanation, Tong Yao heaved a sigh of relief. She patted her chest, "I was nearly scared to death by you. I thought you could no longer practice medicine."
"That won’t happen." Si Chen’s gaze settled on Tong Yao’s fair face, a tender look flickering in his eyes. "I have to report to the hospital in Kyoto the day after tomorrow. I want you to come with me. We will leave the shop to Boyi. He might be blunt in his ways, but he is sincere and dedicated in his work."
"So soon?" Tong Yao exclaimed in surprise. She was prepared for living in Li City for a year or two, but now she was told to leave in a few days. "Why don’t you go first? I will follow a few days later."
She couldn’t just up and leave the shop that had just started operating. At the very least, she needed to stabilize things before leaving for Kyoto.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Si Boyi, rather, the main issue was that she hadn’t taught him how to make many of the fruit drinks yet.
"One week." Si Chen’s lips thinned into a line. "At most one week. I will come to pick you up after that."
Considering the incident with Jia Qing, Si Chen was uneasy about leaving Tong Yao alone in Li City.
Tong Yao obediently nodded, "A week sounds settled then!"
After deciding on their trip to Kyoto, they chatted leisurely for a while longer. Tong Yao found out from Si Chen another big piece of news. Doctor Dai Liwen had also resigned and was preparing to open his own clinic.
Upon hearing this, Tong Yao joked, "Does that mean Mrs. Li has to break up with her lover?"
Speaking of this matter, she found it puzzling, "Many people know that Mrs. Li has an affair going on, but he doesn’t suspect anything? If his body isn’t up to the task, he should go see a doctor! He himself is a doctor, but now he chooses to bury his head in the sand?"
What Si Chen replied with next left Tong Yao startled for quite a while.
"Doctor Dai isn’t sick, he just doesn’t like women."
