Chapter 672: The Vacancy
Chapter 672: The Vacancy
Hospital
Ruan Tang said she would help their daughter clean up, so Zhou Chengsen closed the ward door and left.
As their daughter grew older, it became less convenient for him, a man, to take care of her. He could only leave it to Ruan Tang.
Zhou Chengsen walked to the stairwell, stood by the window, took out a cigarette, bit the tip, lit it, and took a puff, then exhaled.
In the haze of smoke, he gazed through the branches of the magnolia tree at the crescent moon hanging in the sky, his thoughts drifting like the night air.
When he snapped back to reality, the cigarette in his hand was already spent, and the ash had been blown away by the night breeze.
Zhou Chengsen held the cigarette butt, left the stairwell, and went to the restroom to dispose of it.
Back in the ward, Ruan Tang was hanging up the clothes Zhou Ying had changed out of.
Seeing this, Zhou Chengsen quickly said, "Let me wash the clothes."
"It's fine, I can do it quickly", Ruan Tang replied as she hung up the last piece of clothing.
She had just helped Zhou Ying change into a clean hospital gown, cleaned her body, and massaged some acupoints. Zhou Ying had fallen asleep quickly.
After Zhou Ying was asleep, Ruan Tang washed the clothes, thinking they would be ready for her to wear when she was discharged.
Zhou Chengsen took the basin from her and returned it to the bathroom.
Ruan Tang smelled a hint of cigarette smoke and said, "Smoking is bad for your health, and secondhand smoke isn't good for Yingying's recovery."
Zhou Chengsen replied, "I know, I'll be more careful next time."
With that, he took the basin and went into the bathroom.
When he came out, Ruan Tang said, "You can go back and take a shower. I'll stay here and watch over Yingying."
"No, it's fine", Zhou Chengsen glanced at his watch; it was past eight. "It's late, I'll drop you off at the dormitory."
Ruan Tang shook her head. "No need. I'll stay at the hospital dormitory. You go take a shower. Your shirt is covered in blood. It's not good to take care of Yingying with dirty clothes."
Zhou Chengsen looked at his shirt, which was indeed stained with blood.
He glanced at Ruan Tang, who was already sitting by the bedside, and didn't refuse. "Thank you."
"It's no trouble. I always owe you favors. You've helped me so much, even taking me out to the sea and teaching me martial arts. No need to be formal."
"I'll go ask a colleague to borrow a bicycle. It'll be faster."
"Alright." The two of them went out to find a bicycle from the on-duty doctor.
Zhou Chengsen rode the bicycle to Zhao Cheng Lei's house to shower and change clothes.
On his way back, he picked up a set of clothes for the hospital, so he could shower there the next night without troubling Ruan Tang to watch the children.
She had her own work to attend to.
When he returned to the hospital, Ruan Tang was sleeping by the bed.
Zhou Chengsen opened the door and instinctively walked more quietly.
He had intended to wake her and ask her to go back to the dormitory, but hearing her soft snoring, he remembered she hadn't slept much the night before and decided not to wake her.
He hesitated, then carefully lifted her and placed her on the patient bed, took off her shoes, and covered her with a blanket.
After doing all this, he went to the balcony to get some fresh air.
He took out a cigarette, but thought better of it and just held it in his mouth, not lighting it.
The crescent moon still hung in the night sky, bright and cold in the autumn air.
Ruan Tang, lying on the patient bed, opened her eyes slightly and glanced at the man on the balcony.
She had woken up the moment he lifted her but didn't dare open her eyes, savoring the moment.
Suddenly, Zhou Chengsen turned to look inside.
Their eyes met.
Ruan Tang immediately closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
Zhou Chengsen: "..."
Seeing her tense up, he reluctantly averted his gaze and continued to watch the moon.
Ruan Tang was tense for a moment, but when Zhou Chengsen didn't shoo her away, she sighed in relief. She didn't dare open her eyes again, thinking about how to change their relationship. Before she knew it, she fell asleep.
After a long while, Zhou Chengsen, guessing she was asleep, looked back and returned to the ward. He saw Ruan Tang sleeping soundly, her arm hanging out of the blanket.
He gently placed her arm back under the blanket, then sat by his daughter's bed, leaning over to sleep.
He didn't realize he was lying in the same spot Ruan Tang had just been in.
*
The Next Day
Ruan Tang woke up just as Zhou Chengsen returned with breakfast.
Zhou Ying was still asleep.
He handed her a breakfast tray. "Dr. Ruan, have breakfast."
Ruan Tang glanced at the clock; it was already 7:30!
She had never slept in so late.
"No, thank you! You eat. I need to go back to the dormitory to brush my teeth and wash my face." Ruan Tang hurriedly left.
She didn't have time for breakfast; it was almost time for work, and she needed to shower and change clothes.
Zhou Ying woke up at that moment. "Dad, I'm hungry."
Zhou Chengsen, no longer concerned about Ruan Tang, began helping his daughter wash her face, brush her teeth, and eat breakfast.
While Zhou Ying was eating, Jiang Xia and Zhao Cheng Lei arrived with the triplets, accompanied by Zhou Fu, Zhou Mu, Tian Caifua, Zhou Chengxin, and the Second Aunt.
The family members showed their concern for Zhou Ying, and Zhou Mu took out a thermos to feed her breakfast.
Seeing his daughter well taken care of, Zhou Chengsen took a breakfast tray to the pediatric clinic to find Ruan Tang.
After confirming Zhou Ying was fine, Jiang Xia and Zhao Cheng Lei took the triplets to see Dr. Gao for a checkup.
It was a few days before the five-month mark, but they were returning to the capital city the next day, so they brought the children early for a checkup and vaccinations.
Dr. Gao had just started her shift and went straight to the pediatric clinic to find Ruan Tang.
Ruan Tang's parents had called her the night before, but she hadn't gone home, only calling to say that Zhao Cheng Lei's second brother's child had hit his head, and she was helping out at the hospital, sleeping in the dormitory.
When Dr. Gao arrived, she saw Zhou Chengsen delivering breakfast to Ruan Tang.
Zhou Chengsen put down the breakfast and politely greeted Dr. Gao before leaving.
Ruan Tang, holding the breakfast Zhou Chengsen had brought, felt a sweet warmth and smiled. "Aunt, why are you here?"
Dr. Gao, an experienced person, couldn't miss the signs.
She relayed her sister-in-law's message. "Tangtang, your mother called last night. There's a vacancy at the hospital in the capital city, and they've applied to transfer you back."
Ruan Tang: "..."
Zhou Chengsen, who had just left the office, heard this and paused before continuing on his way.
Inside the office, Ruan Tang was stunned by the unexpected news, her good mood gone. "Why did my mother apply without asking me? When did I say I wanted to go back? I'm not going back! I'll call her."
With that, she stood up and left.
Jiang Xia and Zhao Cheng Lei were just bringing the triplets to see Dr. Gao. Zhou Chengsen told them, "Dr. Gao is talking to Dr. Ruan in her office. She should be out soon."
His words implied they shouldn't disturb them.
Jiang Xia and Zhao Cheng Lei didn't go to the office and waited in Dr. Gao's office instead.
(End of Chapter)
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