Jiang Li finished washing her face. After drying it, she casually unlocked her phone.
Seeing the text message from Qiao Jinrun, she felt a strange sensation in her heart.
If it were a message of concern from another man, she would surely think he had ulterior motives. But coming from Dr. Qiao, it seemed more like a matter - of - fact reminder.
It was a kind of concern that stopped at the right point.
She pursed her lips, tapped her finger on the screen, and playfully replied, "Does Dr. Qiao show this much concern for every patient?"
The moment she sent it, Jiang Li realized it might be inappropriate. It felt a bit ambiguous, so she quickly recalled the message.
Unexpectedly, the other person had already seen it and quickly replied, "Occasionally. But Song Yu told me to pay more attention to your physical condition. I'm used to seeing things through."
Jiang Li was taken aback. She suddenly realized that she hadn't seen Song Yu for a long time.
"Has Lawyer Song been very busy lately? I haven't seen much of him."
"He's gone to another city for a case. He probably won't be back until next month."
So that's how it was.
The conversation between them ended abruptly.
Just as Jiang Li was considering what to say to end the conversation, the other person called her instead.
Looking at the name "Dr. Qiao" flashing on the screen, she was stunned for a second and quickly answered the call.
Qiao Jinrun said, "Sorry, I'm not used to staring at the screen for a long time, so I won't type. Am I disturbing you?"
"No, I've just finished washing up." Jiang Li replied with a smile, "Isn't Dr. Qiao busy tonight?"
"Yes, I'm on night shift today. There's a surgery early in the morning. It's quite eye - straining, so staring at the screen for too long will cause eye fatigue."
Hearing this, Jiang Li realized that she might have affected Qiao Jinrun's rest, so she quickly said, "Then I won't disturb you. You should grab some rest quickly."
Saying that, she was about to end the call.
"Wait." He suddenly stopped Jiang Li. "Are you free tomorrow afternoon? Do you want to go somewhere with me? Just to relax."
Jiang Li was silent for a few seconds, pondering whether to agree.
After all, her identity was special, and she had to consider many things.
"I mentioned to you once before that I have a younger sister." When talking about his family, Qiao Jinrun's voice softened noticeably. "She's been sick for many years, and she's a big fan of yours."
Hearing this, Jiang Li's heart suddenly tightened.
"I'm going to visit her tomorrow. If it's convenient for you, could you..."
Jiang Li immediately replied, "I'm free. What time shall we meet tomorrow afternoon?"
She answered firmly and decisively.
Qiao Jinrun's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he showed a relieved smile. "Let's meet around one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. I'll pick you up."
Jiang Li walked into the bedroom with her phone and lay down on the bed. Sleepiness soon came over her. She yawned, and her voice was soft. "Okay, see you tomorrow."
Qiao Jinrun heard the sounds on her end. His tone was calm. "You should go to bed early. Remember to take your medicine before going to sleep. Good night."
Jiang Li's eyelids were so heavy that she could hardly keep them open. She mumbled an "um" in a daze and fell asleep without even hanging up the phone.
Qiao Jinrun was still waiting for her response, but there was no more sound.
Holding his phone, listening to her even and steady breathing, Qiao Jinrun couldn't help but smile.
She fell asleep so quickly.
...
The next day.
Jiang Li slept in late. Remembering her promise to Dr. Qiao yesterday, she immediately rolled out of bed and into the bathroom.
She put on a slightly delicate makeup and chose an outfit with soft colors. Thinking that she was going to meet a little girl, she specially prepared a teddy bear as a gift.
She hoped that Dr. Qiao's younger sister would like it.
The weather was fine that day. The afternoon sun was warm on people's bodies.
Jiang Li slowly came downstairs. She stood in the corridor and looked around for a long time to make sure there were no paparazzi lurking.
There was an Infiniti parked by the roadside. The man in the driver's seat happened to turn his head and look at her.
Jiang Li's eyes lit up. She skillfully put on her sunglasses, pulled down her hat, and trotted all the way to the car door. She quickly and nimbly got in.
The series of actions were smooth and natural.
After getting in the car, it wasn't over yet. Jiang Li quickly scanned the surroundings with her eyes, repeatedly making sure that no suspicious people had noticed her.
Seeing this, Qiao Jinrun couldn't help laughing. "You seem like a scout on the battlefield."
"I have no choice." Jiang Li shrugged and took off her glasses and hat, revealing a charming face. "It's a requirement of my profession. Please forgive me, Dr. Qiao."
"I understand." There was a gentle smile on Qiao Jinrun's face. He rolled up all the car windows.
He knew Jiang Li's special identity and understood that since he was taking her out, he was responsible for protecting her.
Jiang Li looked grateful. "Thank you."
Qiao Jinrun shook his head. "It's me who should thank you for being willing to visit Ruru."
So Dr. Qiao's younger sister was named Ruru.
Jiang Li remembered this in her heart, thinking that when she met the little girl later, she could call her by her nickname to quickly get closer to her.
Qiao Jinrun was a meticulous person. He was equally focused when driving.
Jiang Li didn't dare to disturb him. She sat quietly in the passenger seat all the way.
Although the atmosphere in the car was quiet, it wasn't awkward.
After passing through the congested section and driving onto a relatively remote and spacious road, Qiao Jinrun relaxed his nerves and started chatting with Jiang Li.
"I didn't have time to ask just now. What's in the bag you're holding?"
Jiang Li turned her head and smiled, her eyes gentle. "It's a gift for Ruru."
"For Ruru?"
Jiang Li nodded. "Yes. If Ruru receives a gift from her favorite star, she will surely be very happy."
"All diseases start from the mind. Emotions greatly affect a person's state. You told me this yourself, Dr. Qiao."
She spoke eloquently. "As long as Ruru is in a good mood, maybe her illness will get better soon."
Hearing this, Qiao Jinrun's smile faded a bit. "Maybe."
Since the topic was opened, Jiang Li continued to ask, "How old is Ruru now? Is she in primary school or middle school?"
"My agent, Sister Chen, has a daughter named Xixi. She's going to junior high school this year. If they're about the same age, they can make friends and keep each other company."
Qiao Jinrun was silent for a few seconds before slowly answering, "She's fifteen, but she's no longer in school."
Jiang Li's breath caught in her throat.
Her original smile froze. She felt as if there was a stone pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"What... illness does Ruru have?" Jiang Li asked in a soft voice.
Qiao Jinrun tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He tried to look relaxed. "You'll know when you see her later."
"It's not too bad, but it's not too optimistic either." Qiao Jinrun frowned for a second and then quickly relaxed. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Relax."
Jiang Li forced a smile, but her mood didn't lighten much.