Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Meeting Lu Jiazhi Again

Back in the hall.

Gu Ning looked at Method, who was sitting there obediently waiting for his number to be called, and hesitated.

“Ahem.” Gu Ning, for once, felt a bit embarrassed.

Method inexplicably felt a sense of caution and looked at Gu Ning with a guarded expression: “What’s up?”

Ignoring the defensive look on his face, Gu Ning shamelessly said, “Method, can you lend me some money?”

“……” Method paused for a moment, giving Gu Ning a very subtle and strange look. If he hadn’t just come from Gu Ning’s house and knew her family background well, he might have suspected she was a scammer. He wanted to refuse, but looking into Gu Ning’s eyes, what came out of his mouth was: “How much?”

“Just a thousand!” Gu Ning quickly said, “I can pay you back tomorrow or the day after.”

Method had prepared himself to hear a large sum, so he was somewhat relieved when he heard this amount. He stood up helplessly and said, “Wait here, I’ll go outside to get it for you.”

“Okay. Thank you!” Gu Ning gratefully took her medical record book.

Watching Method’s retreating figure, she sighed in relief, feeling a bit more at ease. She had just sat down and was about to take out the list to double-check the items she needed when suddenly, someone called her name.

“Ningning?!” A surprised female voice rang out.

Gu Ning looked up in confusion toward the direction of the voice. When she saw who it was, her expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. She then stood up and smiled at the fashionably dressed middle-aged woman: “Auntie.” She nodded slightly at Lu Jiazhi beside her, barely acknowledging him, not even willing to let her gaze linger on his face.

These two were Lu Jiazhi and his mother, who had come to the hospital for a check-up.

Zhou Su affectionately held Gu Ning’s left hand and said, “Jiazhi only told me yesterday that you were back. I was planning to visit you after the check-up today. Why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?”

Gu Ning smiled and said, “It’s nothing serious, just a minor injury on my hand. I should be the one apologizing for not visiting you after being back for a few days.” Although she no longer had any feelings for Lu Jiazhi and even felt a hint of disgust, she still maintained proper etiquette toward Zhou Su, who had watched her grow up and had always been fond of her.

“That’s right,” Zhou Su chided gently. “It’s been so long since you visited. Your uncle and Jiazhi are always busy with work, and I get so bored at home without you to chat with. Jiazhi’s colleagues even gave us some cured meat, and I’ve been saving it for when you come over.”

Gu Ning felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.

In the past, it was because Zhou Su was so affectionate toward her that she had mistakenly thought she was close to Lu Jiazhi as well, believing that he would like her just as much as Zhou Su did. But now, having stepped out of that infatuation, she could see clearly that most of the time, Lu Jiazhi just stood by and watched Zhou Su shower her with affection, rarely even chiming in.

Gu Ning mocked herself inwardly but kept a smile on her face: “I’ve been a bit busy lately, but I’ll visit you when I have some free time.”

“Oh! That’s right!” Zhou Su suddenly realized something. “Are you busy looking for a job? Jiazhi, didn’t you say your department still has an opening? Why don’t you let Ningning join your company?”

A flicker of displeasure passed through Lu Jiazhi’s eyes, but he maintained a polite smile and said with a hint of difficulty, “That position…”

“Gu Ning, have they called your number yet?” Method ran over with the money and saw two people standing in front of Gu Ning, seemingly acquaintances, so he nodded politely.

Zhou Su looked at Method, her expression turning slightly微妙. She asked Gu Ning, “And who is this?”

“A friend,” Gu Ning introduced succinctly.

“Auntie, hello, I’m Method,” Method said, extending his hand to shake Lu Jiazhi’s hand, his smile bright and cheerful.

Lu Jiazhi’s eyes subtly scanned Method from head to toe, a flicker of something in his gaze. He shook Method’s hand and said, “Lu Jiazhi.” Then he turned to Gu Ning and said, “Don’t worry about your job. There’s still a position in my department. Once you’re settled, just come over to work. After you’re done here, come visit us at home. My dad also mentioned he hasn’t seen you in a while.” He naturally reached out and ruffled Gu Ning’s hair, his tone warm and affectionate, his eyes filled with a hint of fondness.

Gu Ning was momentarily stunned, caught off guard by Lu Jiazhi’s action. By the time she reacted, Lu Jiazhi had already withdrawn his hand. She smiled as if tacitly agreeing but didn’t respond directly.

Then they bid each other farewell.

Gu Ning’s smile quickly faded. She smoothed her hair, which had been ruffled by Lu Jiazhi, and took the money from Method, saying, “Thank you.”

Because of Lu Jiazhi, her voice still carried a hint of coldness, and her expression was quite indifferent. This made Method feel a bit off—her attitude before and after borrowing money had changed way too fast.

“Can you do me another favor?” Hearing the broadcast call the number before hers, Gu Ning suddenly spoke to Method again.

Before he could react, Method instinctively asked, “What?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself—why was he so quick to agree?!

“I need to go in to treat my wound soon, and there are some things I need urgently. Can you help me get them?” Gu Ning said, handing the money she had just taken from Method back to him along with the list.

Method looked at the ten red bills Gu Ning handed him and felt like turning around and leaving. He cursed himself inwardly—why didn’t he just stay home and space out instead of coming here to be at Gu Ning’s beck and call? But he still reluctantly took the list and the money, comforting himself that he was just doing a good deed.

Soon, her name was called over the broadcast.

“Then I’ll leave it to you,” Gu Ning said, taking her medical record book and following the nurse who was waiting for her.

Method sighed, looking at the list Gu Ning had given him. He frowned in confusion when he saw items like surgical scissors, suture scissors, and drainage strips. “What does she need these for?” he muttered. Seeing that Gu Ning had already been taken away, he resigned himself to his fate and left with the list.

“How did you get such a big cut?” The doctor, a middle-aged man with glasses, asked in surprise after removing the bandage from Gu Ning’s wound.

“I accidentally cut it with a watermelon knife,” Gu Ning replied.

“A watermelon knife made such a big cut? It’s almost down to the bone,” the doctor said, looking at Gu Ning’s calm expression with some confusion. After all, such a large wound would be painful, yet this young girl showed no reaction.

“Lie down on the bed. We’ll give you anesthesia first, then stitch it up,” the doctor said, instructing the nurse to prepare the necessary items.

Gu Ning paused, then frowned, “Do I have to get anesthesia?”

The doctor glanced at her, “You want to die from the pain?”

Gu Ning then asked, “How long does the anesthesia take to wear off?”

The doctor replied, “Local anesthesia usually takes two to three hours. Some people with special constitutions might take over ten hours.”

Gu Ning thought for a moment, then said, “Can I skip the anesthesia?”

The doctor paused, then said, “…Some people skip anesthesia to save money, but they usually regret it before the stitching even starts.”

“It’s not about saving money. I have a special reason,” Gu Ning said, gesturing to her wound. “I didn’t cry even with such a big cut. I can handle it.”

The doctor fell silent again, then looked at the gaping wound and said, “Fine, it’s up to you. But don’t regret it halfway through.”

Gu Ning finally felt at ease and lay down on the bed.

In the apocalypse, if her right hand was numb, how would she handle emergencies?

She closed her eyes during the stitching.

The young nurse, curious about Gu Ning’s insistence on skipping anesthesia, stood by, waiting for her to regret it.

To everyone’s surprise, Gu Ning didn’t make a sound throughout the entire process, her eyes closed as if she were asleep.

The doctor was also surprised and remarked, “You’re not surnamed Guan, are you?”

Gu Ning smiled, “No, I’m surnamed Gu.”

The doctor then said, “Be careful not to get the wound wet recently. Try not to use that hand, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. I’ll prescribe some anti-inflammatory medication for you to take on time. Come back in seven days to remove the stitches.”

When Gu Ning returned to the hall, Method was already waiting there with a plastic bag. He hurried over, “Did you get everything?”

“I got everything else, but the pharmacy wouldn’t sell me anesthesia without a prescription,” Method said, his face sour as he tried to hand the bag to Gu Ning but silently pulled it back when he saw her bandaged hand.

No anesthesia?

Gu Ning frowned slightly, then noticed a nurse pushing a cart nearby with what looked like anesthesia on it.

“Wait here, I need to use the restroom,” Gu Ning said to Method, then followed the nurse.

“You’re so troublesome,” Method muttered, sitting back down.

In less than ten minutes, Gu Ning returned empty-handed but looking relaxed. “Let’s go,” she said.

“What about the anesthesia?” Method asked.

“Don’t need it,” Gu Ning said casually.

With the remaining money, Gu Ning took Method to a nearby pharmacy to buy some nutritional supplements, then to a supermarket for some daily necessities.

Finally, Method carried two full bags back to the car.

Gu Ning took a pen and paper from Method’s car and pulled out the list. “Give me your bank account number. I’ll transfer the money to you by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

???

Method was momentarily stunned—was this her way of saying she didn’t want to see him again?

He found himself saying, “Ahem, I don’t remember my account number. How about you take my phone number, and we can meet to settle it?”

“……” Gu Ning almost pointed out that he had just withdrawn money, but then she thought that she might need his help again in the future, so she said, “Alright, give me your number.”

After Method gave her his number, he naturally added, “Give me a call so I have your number.”

Gu Ning said, “Oh, I lost my phone.”

Method: “……”

When the car stopped, Gu Ning tried to refuse Method’s offer to carry her things upstairs, but Method insisted, considering her injured hand. Along the way, they ran into several neighbors who were curious about Method’s identity.

After all, Gu Ning’s family had lived in the neighborhood for over a decade, and everyone was familiar with their relatives. Method, however, was a new face, leading to speculation that he might be Gu Ning’s boyfriend from her time away. Method’s car also drew quite a bit of attention.

Gu Ning’s parents were surprised to see Method and Gu Ning returning together.

They invited Method to stay for dinner, but he politely declined.

He gestured to Gu Ning to call him, then bid farewell to her parents with a smile.

Once back in his car, Method felt a bit dazed, as if he had been under some spell all afternoon. Why had he given her his phone number? He really must have had too much time on his hands.