Chapter 121: Longing to Possess That Warmth

Before Xi Junle could formulate a response, Nangong Ao dropped another bombshell: "Even if your grandfather were to accept Xianyu Qing, your grandmother would never agree. Because she and Xianyu Qing’s family are sworn enemies!"

Xi Junle froze in place, stunned. "What did you say?"

His grandmother had always been such an intellectual and elegant woman; how could she possibly have a feud with Xianyu Qing’s family?

Nangong Ao had no intention of elaborating. He simply warned him: "There is a deep-seated grudge between your families standing in the way of you and Xianyu Qing. It would be best for you to abandon these thoughts and draw a clear line between you two. Furthermore, even if you have no feelings for Xin-xin, do not hurt her!"

Xi Junle was still reeling from Nangong Ao’s previous statement. After a long moment, he murmured, "That news story about Xin-xin... it wasn't my doing."

Nangong Ao, of course, already knew whose handiwork it was; he simply didn't want Xi Junle to bear a grudge against Nangong Xin because of Xianyu Qing.

After chatting with Nangong Ao for barely a few minutes, Xi Junle descended from the top floor and walked with a faltering gait toward the parking lot to find Nangong Lü.

Seeing him looking dejected and downcast, Nangong Lü asked, "Did your confession get rejected?"

Xi Junle looked up. "Senior, do you know about the history between Xianyu Qing’s family and our Xi family?"

Nangong Lü was surprised. "There’s a history?"

How could he possibly know? He and his mother had been investigating for quite some time and had barely turned up any information on Xianyu Qing. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have gone to the rare trouble of trying to get Xi Junle to approach her! He just hadn't expected that while Xianyu Qing wouldn't take the bait, Xi Junle would end up falling in deep. Emotions were truly a strange and wicked thing.

Nangong Lü consoled himself: *Thank goodness! Thank goodness I never get involved with such things!*

Unaware of the chaotic thoughts running through Nangong Lü’s mind, Xi Junle was busy contemplating whether he should speak to his grandmother to get to the bottom of the matter.

"Alright, don't be so gloomy!" Nangong Lü patted Xi Junle on the shoulder, attempting to comfort him. "In this world, while girls like Little Qing might be rare, they aren't the only ones. Just go find someone else!"

"There won't be another," Xi Junle said with a bitter smile.

"How can you say that? I’ll help you find one!"

Nangong Lü did not understand. To Xi Junle, Xianyu Qing was like a small, warm lamp that had illuminated the once dark and desolate corners of his heart. Xi Junle craved the warmth of that lamp. Perhaps there were plenty of girls like her, but they could never replace the position Xianyu Qing occupied in his heart.

***

In the afternoon, while Ning Wenyan was taking her nap, Xianyu Qing went to the Research Department alone.

Access to the Research Department required facial recognition, and since Yuan Man was the only person she knew there, she went to find her to lead her to the patient ward.

As she led her upstairs, Yuan Man chattered away: "Little cutie, did your mom give you a lecture when you went back yesterday?"

Yuan Man had received a more Western education and was quite liberal when it came to romantic matters. However, she had heard that social norms back home were still relatively conservative, and Ning Wenyan’s reaction the previous day had confirmed this.

Xianyu Qing didn't want to discuss it. "Dr. Yuan, does everyone who works in the Research Department understand the 'others'?"

Yuan Man shrugged. "Our departments don't interact much, so I wouldn't know." She then tapped Xianyu Qing on her petite nose and laughed. "I only got close to Dr. Qiao and the others because of you."

This was somewhat unexpected for Xianyu Qing. She had always been guarded around doctors, but she felt that Yuan Man was different from those who always treated her like a patient; she treated her like a friend.

"Thank you."

To Xianyu Qing’s expression of gratitude, Yuan Man tossed her hair in a sultry manner and said dismissively, "What’s there to be polite about? Besides, Young Master Ao will be paying my salary on your behalf anyway!"

Xianyu Qing: "..."

*Fine, my gratitude was wasted!*

When they reached the floor where Jiang Mohe was staying, Gao Zhi had just finished a check-up and was heading back to his office. Upon seeing Yuan Man’s graceful figure, he immediately froze in his tracks.

He asked shyly, "Dr. Yuan, are you free later? Could I treat you to a cup of tea?"

Yuan Man curled her lips at him. "Sure, we in the psychiatry department are the least busy."

Delighted by her acceptance, Gao Zhi became tongue-tied. "Th-then I’ll go input the patient data, you... please wait for me."

Yuan Man winked at him. "Okay, see you in a bit!"

*Ah, a direct hit to the heart!* Gao Zhi felt he needed to perform a cardiac assessment on himself.

While Gao Zhi was distracted, Yuan Man led Xianyu Qing to Jiang Mohe’s ward. Through the glass window, they could see that the monitors had been removed from Jiang Mohe’s arm, and he had changed from his hospital gown into simple casual clothes. He was standing by the bedside, looking gloomily at a pink-clad figure who was hovering incessantly in front of him.

Yuan Man clicked her tongue in distaste. "Why is this little fan-girl here again?"

The figure in the pink coat with a head full of ringlets was none other than Chen Shasha! She was standing so close that her slim, delicate body was almost pressed against Jiang Mohe’s arm.

Yuan Man clicked her tongue even louder. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, truly unbearable to watch!" She then turned to ask Xianyu Qing, "Right, little cutie?"

"..." Xianyu Qing pursed her lips and remained silent.

Yuan Man prodded her again. "Darling, if you don't make a move, watch out—that dazed boy might be snatched up by someone else. You’ll be filled with regret then!"

Before Yuan Man could finish, Xianyu Qing pushed the door open with a *click*.

Jiang Mohe had been preparing to throw the woman in front of him out, but when he turned his head and saw Xianyu Qing, he forgot what he was doing.

"Why are you two here again?" Chen Shasha demanded rudely. "This isn't visiting hours!"

Yuan Man found Chen Shasha’s interrogation laughable. "Little assistant, why are you here? Hasn't your father taken you back yet?"

"Hmph!" Chen Shasha retorted angrily. "Yuan Man, don't think that just because you brought someone along, you can pass her off as a young lady from the Nangong family to intimidate me. I won't be fooled again today!"

After she had gone home feeling wronged the day before, she had asked her father and learned that the third young lady of the Nangong family had never come to the hospital, leading her to believe that Yuan Man had been playing a trick on her. Since returning to work, she had managed to get Qian Xiangxiang and another female assistant transferred away from this floor, and she spent all day hovering around Jiang Mohe, much to his annoyance.

"Ha!" Yuan Man scoffed. "Little assistant, do you not read the entertainment news? Do you not know which young lady of the Nangong family is the most popular right now?"

"..."

Although Chen Shasha was a junior assistant in the Research Department, her family was considered part of the elite social circle in the Imperial City. As a lady from a wealthy family, she didn't follow celebrities, so why would she read entertainment news? Regardless, no matter who the girl was, as long as she wasn't the third young lady of the Nangong family, there was nothing to worry about!

Not wanting to waste more breath on Yuan Man, she turned to Xianyu Qing. "The Research Department is not a public place where people can come and go as they please. Even if you are the patient’s employer, please comply with our work regulations."

Xianyu Qing glanced at Chen Shasha’s low-cut top and said coldly, "Is it part of your work regulations for an assistant to dress revealingly and wear heavy makeup while caring for a patient?"