Melodies of Love and Loss

"The pressure on your arm will restore blood circulation," Zhou Lu's voice, deep, cool, and distant, flowed from behind him. He was dressed in a white coat that accentuated his stark, detached demeanor, as if he were a great Buddha devoid of desires.

Although Zhou Lu led a rather colorful private life, he was always serious and responsible at work, meticulous in every detail.

Su Jian really wanted to respond, "Can you just leave me alone?"

But as soon as she opened her eyes, she indeed saw the back of her hand beginning to bleed back where the needle was inserted—as if he had jinxed it!

Eventually, she pressed the call button and had a nurse come to reinsert the needle.

Zhou Lu didn't forget to make a veiled comment, "Don't forget to remind patients not to move around during an IV drip. It's basic common sense."

Having said that indifferently, he left the ward.

Su Jian thought it was all because of him and then apologized awkwardly to the nurse, "Sorry to trouble you."

Soon after, her colleague Li Shanshan came to the ward.

"Manager Su, you're awake? Feeling any better? I just went to arrange your hospitalization and surgery."

Su Jian was hospitalized due to a fever caused by overwork and a weakened immune system, necessitating a few more days of observation.

"I'm fine, thank you for your efforts. You should head back to the office and get busy," she said.

The company was just starting up and was already short-staffed.

"Manager Su, how about I find a caregiver for you? It's not good for you to be alone in the hospital," Li Shanshan said, worried.

Su Jian insisted she was fine alone. Unable to persuade her and with the company indeed needing her back, Li Shanshan had to leave first.

In the afternoon, having finished her IV drip, Su Jian, restless, decided to take a walk and began photographing the hospital scenery, a habit from her job.

She was taking pictures when her camera accidentally captured a young couple getting intimate under a big tree, startling Su Jian so much she nearly dropped her phone. As she bent over in a fluster to pick it up, a coquettish voice rang out, "Are you taking pictures of us?"

Su Jian pursed her lips, then stood up straight and said, "Sorry, I didn't see there was anyone around."

Ye Nuannuan clearly recognized Su Jian. She clung to Zhou Lu's arm and leaned on his shoulder, smiling at Su Jian, "Oh, it's you! We've met before."

Su Jian also smiled back at her.

Zhou Lu had an impassive face, perhaps due to being in the hospital; he looked quite stern, embodying a kind of righteous dignity.

"Alright, I need to work now. You should leave," Zhou Lu said without a change in expression, his tone neither warm nor cold.

With a smile in her eyes, Ye Nuannuan's voice soft, replied, "Understood, Doctor Zhou."

Just as Su Jian was about to leave, Zhou Lu suddenly called out to her, "Miss Su, wait."

Su Jian reluctantly turned back to look at him, her tone hardly familiar, "What is it?"

Ye Nuannuan looked curiously at Zhou Lu as well.

Zhou Lu, expressionless, said, "Please delete the photos you just took."

Ye Nuannuan languidly spoke, "Oh, don't delete them. Miss Su, can I add you on WeChat so you can send me the photo?"

Su Jian's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "I didn't take any photos."

Who would bother taking such photos? She hadn't even pressed the capture button when she realized there were people around.

Zhou Lu narrowed his eyes, obviously skeptical. "Since you didn't take any, then please allow me to check your phone."

The request made Su Jian laugh out of irritation, "Why should I let you inspect my phone? That would be an invasion of privacy."

Zhou Lu fixed his gaze on her, implying something with his tone, "After all, people these days would do anything for money. Please be understanding, Miss Su."