The man who had shouted the loudest just moments ago came running after them from behind. “Don’t go!”
He even reached out, trying to grab Gu Nianyi.
His arm was intimidating—twice as thick as her wrist—and his right forearm was covered in tattoos of dragons, tigers, and leopards.
His face looked downright menacing, the kind of guy you didn’t want to mess with.
Lu Jin’an instinctively pulled Gu Nianyi behind him, his jaw clenched tight, a dark shadow brewing in his ink-black eyes.
His voice came out ice-cold. “Try touching her. Just try.”
Under the dim corridor lights, Gu Nianyi gazed at Lu Jin’an. His tall, refined silhouette stood resolute, shielding her completely.
There wasn’t a trace of panic in him.
He was calm, radiating a profound sense of security.
Lu Jin’an towered a full head above the tattooed thug, his shadow pressing straight down from above.
It felt like being trapped in a cold, high-pressure zone, all the oxygen sucked away.
Gu Nianyi had no interest in wasting words on the man—arguing would be pointless. “Dr. Lu, let’s go.”
“You just wait,” the tattooed man spat, pointing at them before slinking off in frustration.
She took his hand and led him, one step at a time, toward the other end of the corridor.
Even if the whole world turned against him, she would pull him out of there.
It wasn’t until they slipped into the office that the fear hit Gu Nianyi. Her palms were slick with dense layers of cold sweat, and her legs felt like jelly.
She steadied herself against the desk and let out a long, shaky breath.
Her heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled back into place.
She had never faced anything like this before. She was truly terrified that the man might throw a punch—or worse, pull out a knife from somewhere.
Just like those scenes from TV dramas or the news.
“Afraid now? Then why’d you step in front of me?”
When Lu Jin’an had shielded her, he’d shifted his grip on her hand, and he hadn’t let go since. The sweat in her palm and the rapid thrum of her pulse didn’t escape his notice.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, offering reassurance.
Gu Nianyi’s gaze flicked to their intertwined hands, and she quickly tugged hers free. “I couldn’t just stand there and watch him hit you.”
Lu Jin’an recaptured her hand and led her to the sink, his tone softening. “Next time, think about yourself first. That was dangerous.”
The girl had dashed right in front of him without a second thought, blocking that fist.
And then she’d dragged him away from the trouble.
Gu Nianyi tilted her head and asked, “What about you, Dr. Lu? You did everything you could. You were in surgery all day, exhausted, and the outcome wasn’t what you wanted. Why let them curse you like that?”
She looked at the handsome man before her. Fatigue had crept into his features now, his eyes threaded with red veins.
To outsiders, they lived glamorous lives, but only their families knew the truth—one phone call, and they had to drop everything.
A single surgery meant standing for an entire day without a moment’s respite.
And then to be verbally abused, misunderstood, and blamed by the family…
Lu Jin’an shrugged it off. “Letting them vent a little eases their grief.”
The faucet sensed their hands and turned on. Gu Nianyi gave hers a quick, sloppy rinse, but Lu Jin’an caught her palm. “That’s not how you wash them properly.”
He was the doctor; she trusted him on this.
Lu Jin’an washed her hands for her, following the seven-step method meticulously, not skipping a single one.
Gu Nianyi tried to pull away again, but he didn’t give her the chance. He worked the liquid soap between her fingers.
It was slippery and a little ticklish, the sensation traveling straight from her fingertips to her heart. The fluttering she’d just calmed reignited with a vengeance.
He was thorough, not neglecting a single inch, cleaning with the utmost seriousness.
Just like he would in the operating room, determined not to miss any detail.
Gu Nianyi’s cheeks flushed red, like the sunset glow on a summer evening. “If Mom knew, she’d feel so bad for you.”
Her voice was barely audible, nearly drowned out by the rush of water.
Lu Jin’an asked softly, “And you?”
They were standing too close. His words felt like a whisper right against her ear. Gu Nianyi’s heart pounded like a drum as she stepped back—only to collide with his chest.
“I’ll feel bad too, because you’re my…”
Her voice trembled. The endearment on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back down.
Lu Jin’an pressed, “Your what?”
The hand-washing ordeal finally ended. Gu Nianyi grabbed a paper towel to dry her hands and escaped the overwhelming press of his breath.
Steadying herself, she said, “My meal buddy, bed buddy, and legal husband.”
Those terms fit their relationship far better.
The “my husband” that had slipped out in the heat of the moment? Now that she was thinking clearly, Gu Nianyi couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Lu Jin’an tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You mean roommates?”
“Yes, yes! Dr. Lu, that’s the perfect word for it.”
Worried he’d start nitpicking their relationship or labels, Gu Nianyi quickly added, “The food’s getting cold. Let’s eat first.”
She handed him a pair of chopsticks to shut him up.
The insulated box held a delicious meal prepared by the auntie, still at the perfect temperature.
Lu Jin’an knew full well that Ruan Zhixu was trying to play matchmaker, using any excuse to get Gu Nianyi to deliver meals.
“No need to bring food next time. I can grab something quick.”
But how could she refuse an elder’s request?
Gu Nianyi settled into another chair, a good two meters away from Lu Jin’an. “It’s just a short walk.”
She couldn’t handle the crisp, clean scent of him.
Lu Jin’an ate his dinner mostly in silence.
He polished off every bite, not leaving a single grain of rice behind—a shining example of the clean-plate initiative.
“Dr. Lu, I’ll head out now.”
Gu Nianyi’s shoulders finally relaxed. She reached for the lunchbox, eager to make a quick exit.
Lu Jin’an picked up his coat. “I’ll walk you out. I’m done here too.”
He was concerned the family might still be lurking outside. He couldn’t let her go alone—she’d gotten targeted because of him.
All the way out, Lu Jin’an kept her on the inside of the path, lagging half a step behind.
Gu Nianyi noticed the gesture clearly. “Dr. Lu, this is a society governed by law. We should be fine.”
The man gave her shoulder a light push. “Let’s go.”
Gu Nianyi didn’t tell Ruan Zhixu about the hospital incident—she didn’t want to worry the older woman.
If the roles were reversed, she wouldn’t tell her own family either.
The next day, Lu Jin’an went to work as usual. Difficult families and patients were par for the course in the hospital.
It was part of their duty.
Zhou Ziyu had heard about the operating room drama the night before and had already checked in on him.
“Dr. Lu, we looked into it. The old man was a cadre at the Tobacco Bureau before retiring—good pension and all. His two sons are classic deadbeats, living off him. This month, they wanted money for gambling. The old guy got so mad he had a heart attack. They thought he was faking it at first, and by the time they realized something was wrong, they’d missed the golden hour for rescue.”
“I know.”
Lu Jin’an had known it was too late when they brought him in, but he’d still given it everything he had.
Zhou Ziyu sighed. “The old man had only been retired a few years, barely collected any pension. Now he’s gone, so no more freeloading. Naturally, they want to squeeze the hospital for cash. Sigh, happens all the time.”
You saw daughters and sons-in-law visiting wards far more often than sons.
The saying was “raise a son to provide for your old age,” but too often it was “raise a son to be provided for in your old age.”
That family wasn’t one to back down. That very night, they posted online, accusing the hospital of being heartless.
The hospital responded immediately, laying out the facts with swift efficiency and solid evidence, doing everything possible to quell the backlash.
After a night, the mainstream opinion sided with the hospital. A few rhythm-stirred doubters aside, it was no big deal—would blow over in a few days.
Zhou Ziyu unwrapped a candy from his desk and popped it in his mouth. “This is a good chance for you to rest up. Though the dean’s not letting you off that easy—he’s sending you for training in North City for half a month. Wonder if Dr. Lu’s willing to leave the comforts of home?”
Sure enough, the dean’s call came through the next second.
Zhou Ziyu heard every word. “Go for it.”
Lu Jin’an pocketed his phone and headed straight for the administrative building.
Qin Xingjian, the dean of Municipal Hospital, was waiting in his office. The moment Lu Jin’an arrived, he got right to the point. “Jin’an, I wouldn’t normally send a newlywed on an out-of-town assignment, but you’re the youngest and most capable we’ve got.”
The usual flattery-first routine.
The training wasn’t a suspension—it was to protect Lu Jin’an, in case that family got desperate.
Qin Xingjian and Lu Shaopu had been high school classmates. Different majors in college hadn’t dulled their friendship.
Lu Jin’an didn’t stand on ceremony. He pulled up a chair, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea. “Uncle Qin, I’ll go. No need to beat around the bush.”
Qin Xingjian hesitated. “Your wife, she…”
Lu Jin’an took a sip of the tea—too strong and bitter for his taste. He lowered his gaze, pondering briefly. “She has no objections.”
Maybe Gu Nianyi was hoping he’d stay away.
“I’m off.” Lu Jin’an forced down the last of the tea.
“I’ll text you the details.”
Back in the office, Zhou Ziyu was still waiting, clearly itching to finish his gossip.
Medical disturbances were nothing new. They’d chosen this path knowing the risks.
Zhou Ziyu grinned. “Was I right? Man, I never expected your sister-in-law to be so badass—straight-up shielding you like that.”
He’d missed the show of the century, but at least there was video.
The nurses had recorded the whole thing to prevent any selective editing by the family.
The second he’d gotten the video last night, Zhou Ziyu had screenshotted, zoomed, slowed it down, and analyzed every frame—more focus than he’d ever given his studies.
Zhou Ziyu flashed a mischievous smile. “So, Dr. Lu, how’d it feel having a beauty save the hero?”