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Chapter 40: Chapter 40: No Action, No Death
Si Chen fell silent for a while, but he secretly noted down what Tong Yao had said.
"What do you want for lunch?"
"I bought some meat and I’m afraid it might stink if left for too long, so I boiled it earlier." Tong Yao opened the bag on the table, rummaged around, and took out a few chilies and a large potato. "Let’s have stir-fried meat with chili and potatoes for lunch! My arm scab has healed, so I can eat spicy food."
Worried that Si Chen might refuse, Tong Yao added, trying to coax him, "The chilies are already bought, they will spoil if we don’t eat, and they are not that spicy."
For Tong Yao, who loved spicy food, not having it for a few days was nothing short of a disguised torture, everything else tasted bland without it.
Si Chen didn’t respond immediately and moved a step closer towards Tong Yao. "Let me check your wound."
At his words, Tong Yao immediately rolled up her sleeve for his inspection. His towering figure enveloped her like a mountain protecting her. He was so close to her that she could feel his breath tickling her hair.
Turning her head, Tong Yao discreetly observed him. She saw familiar details: his long, heavy-lidded eyes; his thick eyelashes, which were as attractive as a small fan; his perfectly straight nose, better than those that had undergone a hundred-thousand-dollar surgery. As she admired his side profile, she couldn’t help marvelling: how can someone be so handsome, scholarly, and gentlemanly? No wonder the dean’s divorced daughter didn’t mind him.
Si Chen noticed that Tong Yao was observing him. A fine layer of sweat formed in his palm. He looked at Tong Yao’s arm. The hideous wound had formed a black scab; it was healing well. However, the ugly black scab was particularly striking against Tong Yao’s fair skin. If the wound leaves a scar, she, who loves beauty, might not accept it.
Although they hadn’t spent much time together, Si Chen noticed that Tong Yao had a habit of checking herself in the mirror every night, multiple times a day—more often than he did in a year. From this, he inferred that she was a girl who cared about her appearance and loved looking beautiful.
"The bandage is not necessary anymore. Go to the department this afternoon, apply some antiseptic, and when the scab falls off, apply some scar removal cream."
Tong Yao blinked, "I don’t want to go to the hospital. Can you bring home some antiseptic when you’re off work tonight?"
Si Chen nodded, murmuring agreement, and after helping her pull down her sleeve, he picked up the vegetables on the table and went to the kitchen. His fingertips still held the touch of her arm, feeling somewhat tingly.
He had come into contact with many patients, among which were plenty of young women. To him, they were all patients, regardless of gender, so he never had any special feelings. He assumed it was a professional problem that all doctors had: treating all in the same way, until he met Tong Yao...
As per Tong Yao’ request, Si Chen prepared the stir-fried meat with chili and shredded potatoes. However, he didn’t put all the chilies Tong Yao had provided into the pot. After cutting the first chili, he found out it wasn’t as bland as Tong Yao had mentioned. Since her arm only recently developed a scab, eating too much spicy food wouldn’t be conducive to wound healing. Though it’s alright to enhance the taste with some spicy food, eating too much would be detrimental.
As the chili went into the pot, a spicy aroma wafted out. Tong Yao smelled it even from inside the room, and her appetite was already stimulated before tasting it. When the food was served, she didn’t even notice that there were fewer chilies, and ended up eating two big bowls of rice.
While eating happily, Tong Yao showered him with praises, "With your cooking skills, you could open a restaurant."
"If you like it, eat more." Si Chen ate his food as slowly as his speech, like a gentleman who was disciplined both inside and out. "The dean’s daughter’s birthday is in a few days. They are inviting everyone, including family members, to a party in the canteen. Do you want to go?"
A thought flashed through Tong Yao’s mind, "It’s Yu Shiya’s birthday?"
"Yes." Si Chen nodded. Since they all live in the staff quarters, Tong Yao had heard of Yu Shiya’s name before, so Si Chen didn’t think much of it.
After observing Si Chen’s facial expression and seeing his nonchalant look, Tong Yao secretly sneered. What an actor; he even dared to invite his wife to meet his mistress. Wasn’t he afraid that she might cause a scene after hearing some rumors?
Even the mistress wasn’t afraid to meet her, let alone her who was the legal wife. She wasn’t scared of Yu Shiya at all.
Tong Yao was happy with her appearance right now. Whether it was her skin, looks, or figure, she didn’t think she was any less than Yu Shiya. If one talked about family backgrounds, she was the daughter of an old factory director of a national enterprise in Kyoto. Although her father had retired, his pension was not meager, and her mother was a university professor. Both of them, even though retired, still had significant prestige in Kyoto. Tong Yao didn’t feel like she was lacking in any way compared to Yu Shiya.
If there was one thing she lacked, perhaps it might be that she didn’t hold a place in Si Chen’s heart, and professionally, she didn’t have as much help as the Yu family provided.
Seeing Tong Yao hesitating without saying anything, Si Chen said, "If you don’t want to go..."
"Who said I’m not going?" Tong Yao interrupted him, "It will be fun to join the banquet! Of course, I should go. Do I need to prepare a gift?"
"No, showing up is enough." A hint of surprise flashed in Si Chen’s eyes as he had thought Tong Yao disliked such occasions.
Tong Yao wore an expression as though she had just secured a big bargain, "No need for a gift and I can enjoy the banquet, I must go."
Si Chen gave a soft laugh, his eyes reflecting a hint of joy that even he wasn’t aware of.
As usual, Si Chen cleared up the dishes after dinner. However, after tidying up the kitchen, instead of heading directly to the department, he sat on the bed and took off his shoes. Tong Yao, who was sitting on the bed reading, was dumbfounded, watching him with vigilant eyes.
"What are you doing?"
He suddenly took off his shoes and lay on the bed. Was he going to ’do the deed’ with her before they divorced?
Si Chen said, "I didn’t sleep well last night, I need a nap." In reality, Si Chen hadn’t slept well these past few days. He, too, was a young and energetic man. Having his wife lying beside him for a few days, even a monk couldn’t help develop some impure thoughts.
He had a surgery in the afternoon that would last three hours. He had to be well-rested to keep the surgery risk to a minimum. This was his responsibility as a doctor and to the patient.
Tong Yao thought to herself: Serves you right, if I hadn’t messed around last night.
Knowing that a doctor’s profession required utmost precision without room for any mistakes, Tong Yao, being reasonably understanding, scooted towards the head of the bed, "You should sleep."
Si Chen hadn’t had a good sleep these days and had conducted a few minor surgeries. Each surgery might have only taken one or two hours, but the amount of energy consumed was significant. He was indeed somewhat tired, and it didn’t take long after lying down on the bed for his breathing to become steady.
Tong Yao cast a sidelong glance at him and saw that he seemed to have truly fallen asleep. Only then did she put down her medical book and observed Si Chen attentively for the first time. His face, flawless from every angle, was still very good looking even when he was lying down. He resembled a prince from a fairytale.
