Chapter 87 Between Bandages and Provocations: The Friendship of Li Xin and Zuo Qinghuan

Chapter 87 Between Bandages and Provocations: The Friendship of Li Xin and Zuo Qinghuan

The bandages could finally come off. Li Xin entered Zuo Qinghuan's hospital room, trailed by a rather attractive intern. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that the young woman harbored more than just professional admiration for Dr. Li.

"You must be terribly busy. Surely, such a minor thing doesn't require the esteemed Dr. Li's personal attention. Your little shadow there could handle it," Zuo Qinghuan remarked with exaggerated politeness. Joking aside, Li Xin knew she was here for the entertainment value, and Zuo Qinghuan wasn't about to give her that satisfaction for free.

"Senior, I can do it," the intern offered eagerly.

Li Xin frowned, annoyance flickering across her face. "Why are you always underfoot?" Like a persistent shadow, the intern's constant presence was truly irritating. She silently cursed her father for insisting she take this girl under her wing.

"I want to learn from you, Senior, to become a great doctor like you, a medical genius!" The intern, Lu Ling, Li Xin's junior, practically vibrated with enthusiasm. Coming from a well-connected family, Lu Ling had pulled every string imaginable to land a position at this hospital, finally achieving her dream of working alongside Li Xin.

In terms of sheer competence, Li Xin had to admit the girl possessed a certain talent. But her relentless pursuit was becoming a daily nuisance. Lately, Yan Ruozhe had made her displeasure at Lu Ling's constant attachment quite clear. While a little jealousy from Yan Ruozhe was always amusing, too much was definitely not ideal.

"Lu Ling, go fetch the report for Patient Number Three and draw blood from Patient Number Six," Li Xin instructed, dispatching Lu Ling on errands. The girl had an almost unsettling, mad-scientist level of zeal for medicine.

"Okay, right away!" Lu Ling glanced back at the radiant Dr. Li, reluctantly retreating from the room.

"Such blatant adoration, envy, and… love!" Zuo Qinghuan teased, a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Being admired, envied, and loved is hardly a novelty for me," Li Xin said with a dismissive shrug. Even without seeking it, people seemed magnetically drawn to her. But her devotion to Yan Ruozhe was unwavering, as certain as the sunrise.

"Yan Ruozhe should lock you away at home to stop you from attracting all these admirers," Zuo Qinghuan chuckled. Li Xin possessed a natural magnetism that drew people in like moths to a flame. Even though her sexual orientation was no secret, men still pursued her relentlessly. And since coming out, the number of women admirers had also surged, making her a magnet for all sorts of unwanted attention.

"I wish she would. I'd happily be chained to her bed 24/7," Li Xin sighed wistfully. Sadly, such a scenario remained firmly in the realm of fantasy. Even on the rare mornings she considered shirking work and lingering in bed, Yan Ruozhe would practically boot her out, delivering a stern lecture in her serious tone about the responsibilities of a doctor and the weight of human life. To prove herself a dutiful and conscientious professional, Li Xin had no choice but to abandon her beloved bed and return to the hospital to play the role of the esteemed physician. Truthfully, Li Xin wasn't entirely content with her current life balance. The demanding and unpredictable hours of a doctor often meant limited time with Yan Ruozhe, who was perpetually busy herself. Li Xin, by nature, was someone who lacked ambition and preferred the comfort of her lover's side, but Yan Ruozhe disdained clinginess. Yan Ruozhe firmly believed that one's worth was measured by their contributions, constantly urging Li Xin to prioritize her career for mutual growth and advancement. This philosophy had, ironically, earned Yan Ruozhe the deep approval of Li Dongdong, who now treated her almost like a third daughter. Li Dongdong had always been frustrated by Li Xin's lack of drive, but he'd discovered that Yan Ruozhe's influence was far more effective than his own ever could be.

"Sounds like you're quite dissatisfied," Zuo Qinghuan concluded, spotting the flicker of genuine resentment in Li Xin's expression.

"Dissatisfied or not, I'm still better off than you. At least I get a taste of the good stuff every night, even if it's not quite enough. Unlike you, stuck here on hospital food and celibacy," Li Xin retorted, teasingly. Zuo Qinghuan had been confined to the hospital for so long, enduring a forced vegetarian diet, she must be even more frustrated than Li Xin.

"Once I'm discharged, I'll indulge in all the 'good stuff' my heart desires," Zuo Qinghuan countered. Compared to Yan Ruozhe's unwavering rigidity, Qin Wanshu was infinitely more accommodating. And knowing how utterly Qin Wanshu doted on her, she was certain her cravings would be more than satisfied. It seemed her prospects for future happiness were considerably brighter than Li Xin's.

"Miss Qin, if your woman gets a little too frisky once she's recovered, do you think you'll be able to handle it?" Li Xin directed her question to Qin Wanshu, who stood quietly nearby. It seemed to her that Zuo Qinghuan was a wolf in sheep's clothing, just waiting to pounce.

Qin Wanshu wished she could become invisible and melt into the wall. She had absolutely no desire to participate in this wildly inappropriate conversation, but Li Xin was clearly expecting an answer.

"It's… manageable," Qin Wanshu stammered, her cheeks flushing.

"Actually, women are often said to have a higher libido after thirty. Perhaps Miss Qin is the one with the heartier appetite, and it's Zuo Qinghuan who'll struggle to keep up," Li Xin continued, completely oblivious to Qin Wanshu's discomfort, lost in her own 'logical' train of thought. This pronouncement caused Qin Wanshu's blush to deepen dramatically. Li Xin was as reliably outrageous as Shi Yunyang, and Qin Wanshu decided firmly to avoid her at all costs in the future.

Zuo Qinghuan cast a sympathetic glance at Qin Wanshu. Li Xin was clearly projecting her own desires onto others. After all, Li Xin herself was already thirty, and Yan Ruozhe thirty-three – peak 'insatiable hunger' years. While Qin Wanshu was also nearing thirty, her own appetite was likely far more… modest than Li Xin's. Well, perhaps she would have to work on that.

"Don't mind her. She's always been a walking disaster," Zuo Qinghuan said, attempting to reassure Qin Wanshu, though truly, Qin Wanshu's flustered expression was rather adorable. She couldn't let Li Xin bully her like this.

"You're not exactly a picture of composure yourself," Qin Wanshu retorted, gently scolding Zuo Qinghuan for even engaging in such a conversation with Li Xin in the first place.

"Exactly!" Li Xin chimed in, agreeing with Zuo Qinghuan for once.

Zuo Qinghuan gave Qin Wanshu an exaggeratedly innocent look, so utterly pure it almost made Li Xin physically recoil. Zuo Qinghuan was such a skilled actress; it was a wonder Qin Wanshu put up with her.

"Fairy Maiden, enough stalling. Time to unveil your true form," Li Xin declared, advancing on Zuo Qinghuan with a mischievous grin.

"Fine, let's get it over with. Who's afraid?" Zuo Qinghuan said, bracing herself. It had to be faced sooner or later.

Qin Wanshu, for her part, was genuinely thrilled. She was eager for Zuo Qinghuan to recover fully as soon as possible.

With practiced ease, Li Xin unwrapped Zuo Qinghuan's bandages. Contrary to her earlier pronouncements, Zuo Qinghuan's head wasn't completely bald. Fine wisps of hair had begun to sprout, though it was still incredibly short and prickly to the touch.

"Looks like our Fairy Maiden has returned to the mortal realm," Li Xin announced, a hint of disappointment in her voice that she hadn't witnessed Zuo Qinghuan completely bald. Still, it was enough to visibly irritate Zuo Qinghuan, which Li Xin found immensely satisfying.

"Mirror," Zuo Qinghuan snapped, glaring at Li Xin and then requesting a mirror from Qin Wanshu.

Qin Wanshu hesitated for a beat before handing over a small compact mirror.

Zuo Qinghuan gazed at her reflection. While not entirely bald, her hair was so short it was practically nonexistent. Ugh, she still couldn't quite accept this reality. With a small, defeated sigh, she buried her face in Qin Wanshu's chest. "I look so awful. I don't want anyone to see me…"

"It will grow back soon," Qin Wanshu murmured soothingly, gently stroking Zuo Qinghuan's slightly prickly head, comforting her. The texture under her palm was indeed different, but Zuo Qinghuan's delicate features still possessed a unique, captivating charm. A Fairy Maiden returning to the mortal world – only Li Xin could come up with such a ridiculous description.

Zuo Qinghuan's soft, almost whiny tone sent shivers down Li Xin's spine. She truly couldn't abide such cloying behavior. She glanced at the gentle Qin Wanshu and thought, to each their own. She still loved her own Yan Ruozhe the most. Yan Ruozhe would never act coy, not in a million years. But… if she were to act coy, how would Yan Ruozhe react? She'd probably be utterly bewildered. The mental image of a coy Yan Ruozhe sparked a sudden, almost irresistible urge in Li Xin to try and elicit just such a reaction.