Chapter Nine No Hindrance!

Mo Qinghan shared some amusing stories from school with Mo Qingyu, making him burst into laughter. Their noise soon drew a nurse over, who gently reminded them to keep their voices down so as not to disturb the other patients. Only then did the two quiet down for a while.

After chatting a little longer, Mo Qingyu began to feel tired and lay down to rest. Mo Qinghan turned off the lights, closed the door, and walked toward the hospital’s garden. She found a pavilion, sat down, and, feeling the chill of the winter night, pulled up the hood of her down jacket before taking out her phone.

“Have you returned home yet?”

As soon as she sent the message, Sanye’s profile picture lit up with an immediate reply: “No, I’m still abroad.”

“Is it day or night there?”

“Night.”

“So we’re on the same hemisphere, more or less the same time zone.”

“He sent me a message asking me to join him abroad. He’s already booked the ticket.”

“You’re hesitating.”

“I’m not! It’s just that so many things lately feel beyond my control. His niece is my good friend. The person I secretly love is his brother-in-law, and now he’s become my friend’s boyfriend. It feels as if all the world’s most tangled relationships have found their way to me. Honestly, I’m scared.”

“Scared of what? Afraid your crush will realize you’re not as innocent as he thought?” Mo Qinghan could sense a trace of anger behind Sanye’s words.

“You still don’t understand me. From the moment I stepped into his room, I gave up any thoughts of developing feelings for anyone else. What I fear is that Yuruo will learn about what happened between her uncle and me, and our friendship will be forever changed. If his fiancée finds out about me, who knows what methods she’ll use to retaliate. And if Qingyu ever discovers the truth, how should I even…”

After sending the message, Mo Qinghan turned off her phone. She didn’t need Sanye’s sympathy or comfort, nor was she willing to admit she was the weaker one.

Lin Mo, having finished his rounds and ready to head home, noticed Mo Qinghan sitting alone in the pavilion, lost in thought. He walked over and called out, “Qinghan, what are you doing sitting here so late? Don’t catch a cold.”

As Mo Qingyu’s attending physician, Lin Mo was quite familiar with Mo Qinghan. She stood up and said, “Dr. Lin, you’re just getting off now?”

Lin Mo noticed her slightly red eyes and asked, “Have you been crying?”

Mo Qinghan steadied her breath and replied, “No, something just got in my eye.”

Lin Mo chose not to expose her lie and motioned for her to sit. He sat beside her, adjusted his glasses, and said, “You really shouldn’t put so much pressure on yourself. You’ve already done so well. Honestly, I don’t think I was as outstanding as you at your age.”

“You flatter me, Dr. Lin.”

“It’s true. Looking back at myself at nineteen, I was on a much worse path.”

Mo Qinghan didn’t respond to that. Lin Mo continued, “There are many things in life we can’t control, especially the final outcome. But at the very least, we can try to delay it. As long as you’ve done your best, it’s enough. No matter how much I say, it’s better for you to come to terms with things yourself. It’s late. You should go back and rest. I’ll head out first.”

“Alright. Take care.”

As Lin Mo got up to leave, he glanced at Mo Qinghan, who showed no sign of moving, shook his head, and left the pavilion. Before getting into his car, he sent a message to He Zheyun: “All is well.”

He Zheyun replied, “Thank you!”

Seeing the simple “thank you,” Lin Mo could hardly believe his eyes. After a moment, he smiled, as if something had suddenly become clear to him.

Just as Mo Qinghan reached the stairwell of the inpatient building, Zhao Qingwu called out, “Mo Qinghan, why is your phone switched off?”

Mo Qinghan looked at Zhao Qingwu, puzzled. After a moment, she replied weakly, “The battery died.”