Accidentally Marked My Ex’s Crush, the Ice-Cold Goddess O - Chapter 38: Blind Date

Chapter 38: Blind Date

Jiang Ci drove to the hospital entrance, picked up the two, and for the first time, the three of them didn’t say a word in the car, each staying silent.

At Dr. Gu’s neighborhood, Jiang Ci slowly pressed the brake, parked the car, turned to the back seat, and said, “Get out slowly.”

Gu Feiran said, “Hmm, I’m going back.”

Jiang Ci replied, “Okay.”

Jiang Lan also turned around, smiling gently and waving, “Dr. Gu, see you at the hospital tomorrow, bye-bye.”

Gu Feiran politely responded, “Bye-bye.”

After Dr. Gu got out and reached the neighborhood entrance, Jiang Ci looked away, restarted the car, entered the road, and asked, “Little Aunt, what did you want to talk to me about? You can say it now; Dr. Gu is gone.”

Jiang Lan immediately became serious, her voice heavy, “About your gland issue, these past few days, I pulled some strings and contacted a top domestic expert on glands to treat you, but her appointments are booked two months out. I’ll try again these few days to see if I can get you in this month. Dr. Zhao said your condition is special and might not respond to medication, so I had someone collect information on omegas and top-tier omegas who can reverse-mark. Take a look, and if you like any, try getting to know them.”

Jiang Ci gripped the steering wheel tightly and said, “Little Aunt, didn’t you say before that you didn’t want me to affect someone else’s life?”

Jiang Lan replied, “Yesterday, I asked Dr. Zhao again. As long as an omega who can reverse-mark marks you, it’ll work. You don’t need to mark them. We can pay them afterward, so it’s not really delaying or affecting them. It’s a mutual benefit.”

No need to mark an omega, but with Dr. Gu…

Even if she wanted to back out now, it was too late.

“Xiao Ci, there’s one more thing I want to talk about.”

Jiang Lan had thought about this for days, “If omegas don’t work, we can keep looking for top-tier omegas. If top-tier omegas don’t work, we’ll look for S-grade omegas. But no matter who we find, don’t get involved with Dr. Gu. Also, keep some distance from her lately and don’t contact her too much.”

Jiang Ci understood her aunt’s meaning and said, “You’re worried that if I get closer to Dr. Gu, even if I don’t say anything, she’ll keep thinking about this?”

Jiang Lan replied, “Hmm, Dr. Gu is a good person. I don’t want to morally pressure her. Needing an S-grade omega and Dr. Gu being an S-grade omega are two different things. So this weekend, make time to meet the omegas on the list. If you feel a spark with any, add them on WeChat and chat. Try to start something soon and attempt marking. I’ll casually mention to Dr. Gu that you’ve found an omega who can reverse-mark and that you’re dating.”

Jiang Ci understood her aunt’s intentions, but her relationship with Dr. Gu wasn’t something she could just step back from.

Besides, Dr. Gu had already helped her test once.

“Did you hear me?”

Jiang Ci hadn’t answered, so Jiang Lan raised her voice slightly.

Jiang Ci responded, “Hmm, I understand.”

They arrived at the neighborhood. Jiang Lan told Jiang Ci to stay at her place, prepared the guest room for her, and after Jiang Ci showered, pulled her to the living room to look at the detailed profiles of the omegas she’d meet for blind dates that weekend.

Jiang Lan put her favorite omega’s profile on top, flipped it open, and said, “This one’s my top pick, Chen Wei, a top-tier omega, 25 years old, 167 cm tall, 100 pounds, with a graduate degree. She studied in France and just returned. Her requirements are simple: if there’s chemistry, she’s ready to marry.”

Jiang Ci glanced at it briefly and said, “Marry just because of chemistry, Little Aunt, isn’t that a bit unreliable?”

Jiang Lan replied, “What are you saying? For alphas and omegas at 25, don’t most just marry casually? The law says if you’re over 25 and unmarried, you either go to jail for three months or pay a five-million fine. She’s turning 25 in two months, so wanting to marry is normal.”

“It is normal,” Jiang Ci said, having forgotten about this.

Jiang Lan patted Jiang Ci’s shoulder and said, “She’s turning 25 in two months, and you’re turning 25 next month. Perfect timing. Meet her this weekend, get married, get the certificate, and you won’t have to go to jail. I won’t have to visit you through bars.”

Jiang Ci frowned, “It’s still too rushed.”

“Rushed?” Jiang Lan said bluntly, “Do you think you can get married before you turn 25 next month, or that Grandma would give you five million to pay the fine so you don’t go to jail? You had some money in your account years ago, but after your Mother, Mommy, Xiao Xi, and Xiao Ning left home, you sent them hundreds of thousands or millions each year. Though your Mother, Mommy, and Xiao Xi later stopped you from sending money, you’re still sending Xiao Ning 500,000 a month. Do you even have money left?”

Jiang Ci felt guilty, “Uh, a little.”

Jiang Lan pressed her, “How much is a little?”

Jiang Ci didn’t dare tell the truth, “Just a little.”

Jiang Lan scoffed, sat up straight, and said, “Your monthly salary is 100,000, with a year-end bonus of a few hundred thousand, totaling less than two million a year. After food, socializing, and sending Xiao Ning 500,000 a month, Jiang Ci, you’re spending more than you earn. If Xiao Ning hadn’t graduated and returned this year, you’d probably run out of money to send her soon.”

Jiang Ci lowered her head, rubbed her nose with her index finger, and admitted her aunt was right. Her account balance was indeed not enough to cover Xiao Ning’s living expenses for the month after next.

Jiang Lan sighed, “If I had five million, I wouldn’t rush you like this.”

But asking Xi Ting for help was something she couldn’t do.

“I’ll handle it, don’t worry,” Jiang Ci comforted, stacking the profiles on the table and saying, “I’ll look at these myself. It’s late, Little Aunt, go rest.”

Jiang Lan knew she was obedient, and the weight in her heart eased slightly. She stood, looked at her, and said, “No matter what, even if not for marriage, think about your health, okay?”

Jiang Ci replied, “Hmm, I know.”

“Then I’m going to bed. The contact info is all there. If you want to meet them, contact them yourself,” Jiang Lan said as a final reminder.

Jiang Ci said, “Got it, go sleep.”

Jiang Lan went to bed; she had surgery the next morning.

After her aunt went to her room, Jiang Ci didn’t look at the profiles again. She returned to the guest room, stacked the profiles, put them in her bag, took out her laptop, and started working.

In two days, she had to meet with the Qiao family to discuss details, so she needed to prepare plans and proposals.

The next morning, just after 7 a.m., Jiang Ci got up early, went downstairs to buy breakfast for her aunt, and when Jiang Lan came down ready, handed it to her, saying, “Little Aunt, didn’t you used to drink coffee?”

Jiang Lan yawned and said, “Aunt Liu said coffee’s bad for me. To help me quit, she made me breakfast every morning and wouldn’t let me leave until I ate. Over time, I lost my taste for coffee and switched to soy milk and porridge.”

Jiang Ci smiled; Aunt Liu was really nice.

Jiang Ci drove to the hospital entrance, watching her aunt get out, when a familiar figure caught her eye—Dr. Gu.

“Hey, Dr. Gu, morning,” her aunt greeted her.

Gu Feiran stopped, looked over gently, her bright eyes shining like the warm sun, “Dr. Jiang, morning.”

Jiang Lan walked with her toward the hospital, “Have you eaten?”

Gu Feiran replied, “Yes, I’ve eaten.”

Jiang Lan asked, “How’s the patient who was stabbed three times?”

Gu Feiran said, “Recovering okay, but liver function is damaged. Even after discharge, their metabolism will be affected.”

Jiang Lan said, “These days, young people are too impulsive.”

Gu Feiran agreed, “True.”

They chatted as they walked farther away.

Beep beep, a car behind honked to urge her.

Jiang Ci looked away from the distant Dr. Gu, released the brake, signaled, and lightly pressed the gas to leave the hospital.

These past few days, Jiang Ci had been working overtime at the company and had no time to visit the hospital. On Saturday night, she was still on a business trip out of town, not returning until Sunday. She sent Dr. Gu a message in advance.

Jiang Ci: Dr. Gu, sorry, I broke our plan again.

Jiang Ci: I’m in F City now, back tomorrow.

Gu Feiran: I’m on duty too, off tomorrow.

Jiang Ci: Okay.

Jiang Ci: Take care of yourself.

Gu Feiran: Hmm.

After replying, Gu Feiran put down her phone, continued reviewing lab reports, and checked the medical records of patients for rounds.

Two patients were recovering well and could be discharged next week.

One patient in the ICU could be moved to a regular ward, but the medical instructions needed to be explained clearly to the family.

Gu Feiran was focused when her eyes landed on a string of numbers, and a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

Twenty-two, that person’s birthday.

Next month, July 22, she’d turn 25. If she wasn’t married by then, she’d be sent to jail, but with a five-million fine, she could probably pay it.

The Jiang Group was a notable company, after all.

Gu Feiran thought, gripping her pen tightly, her knuckles pale, her gaze slowly dropping to the money tree on her desk.

Her own account, though…

Knock knock, someone knocked on the office door. A new resident intern pushed the handle, opened the door halfway, leaned in, and said, “Dr. Gu, it’s not too busy now. Want to grab dinner together?”

Two more heads peeked out behind her, also new interns.

Gu Feiran thought for a moment, put down her pen, and said, “Okay.”

“Yay! Dr. Gu’s joining us for dinner. Dr. Gu, we’ll wait at the entrance,” she said, closing the door.

Gu Feiran stood, put away the pathology reports and films, turned to take off her white coat, hung it on the rack, then grabbed her phone and keys and walked out.

“Dr. Gu,” they called.

Gu Feiran smiled and nodded, “Hmm, let’s go.”

The three surrounded her as they headed to the cafeteria. Li Ruijia, who had opened the door, walked on Gu Feiran’s left, staring at her with starry eyes. Halfway, she suddenly started a conversation, exaggerating, “Dr. Gu, your shirt is so pretty, such great texture.”

Gu Feiran said, “Bought it online, a few dozen bucks.”

Li Ruijia gasped, her eyes fixed, almost reaching out to touch it, “A few dozen bucks! Wow, you can get such a nice shirt for that? Dr. Gu, can you send me the link? I want to buy the same one, it’s so nice.”

Gu Feiran gently said, “Okay.”

Her soft “okay” made Li Ruijia purse her lips, grab Zhou Minyi’s arm, and say with her eyes, “Dr. Gu’s voice is so cool, did you hear that!”

Zhou Minyi was much calmer, nodding, “I heard.”

Li Ruijia said, “So cool!”

Zhou Minyi pulled her arm free, pressed her excited shoulder, and soothed, “Calm down. You’ll be working overtime every day and see Dr. Gu all the time. No rush.”

Li Ruijia’s face fell, “…”

How could she say something so painful when she was happy?

The four reached the cafeteria, got their food, and sat at a six-person table by the window, joined by two other doctors.

Dr. Jiang and Dr. Ma from cardiology.

Jiang Lan and Dr. Ma were discussing a patient when she looked up, saw Dr. Gu and the three interns with their trays, and said, surprised, “Dr. Gu, how come you’re with them?”

Li Ruijia spoke up, “Dr. Jiang, it’s not busy, so we invited Dr. Gu to eat.”

Dr. Jiang said, “Oh, I see. Dr. Gu usually keeps to herself and rarely gets invited to the cafeteria. You guys… I get it, Dr. Gu looks out for newbies.”

Dr. Ma ate a piece of rib and said to the three, “In General Surgery, Dr. Gu’s the nicest. The rest are all bad-tempered, stubborn as mules, including your Dr. Jiang here. She’s no saint either. I’m saying this to your face, so don’t say I’m gossiping behind your back, you old chatterbox.”

Jiang Lan scoffed and kept eating.

The three forced a smile and nodded, “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Dr. Ma continued, “But while Dr. Gu’s nice, there’s a limit. She’s not kind to everyone, especially you newbies. Right now, she’s extra caring because she wants to nurture you. Once you’ve been here longer and know the hospital’s work, Dr. Gu won’t be so gentle.”

The three listened, wanting to grab their trays and leave.

They’d just come to greet Dr. Jiang, not to get lectured by the cardiology doctor. What a mess.

Jiang Lan said, “Alright, alright, you’re giving a lecture during dinner. Eat up, we’ve got night shifts. Save your energy.”

Dr. Ma hushed, lowered her voice, “Fine, I’ll shut up. You General Surgery folks are protective.”

The table finally quieted, but many doctors eating in the cafeteria started glancing their way.

Gu Feiran noticed but kept eating focusedly.

Higher-ranking alphas and omegas around could smell a refreshing scent, unlike the heavy perfume, fresh and natural.

This was the unique scent of S-grade alphas and omegas’ pheromones, and also why Gu Feiran didn’t like eating with others.

Dr. Ma, an alpha, could smell it but didn’t care much. She remembered something and asked Jiang Lan, “Dr. Jiang, I heard your little niece was rushed to the hospital’s emergency room? Something about abnormal pheromones. How’s she now? That case is medically valuable for research.”

Jiang Lan and Gu Feiran froze at the same time.

Research value…

Those words stung.

Jiang Lan glanced at Dr. Gu across from her before saying casually, “She’s fine now, everything’s normal lately. She’s going on a blind date tomorrow, maybe getting married next month. I’ll have a niece-in-law soon. You can come to the wedding.”

A blind date?

Gu Feiran’s eyes dimmed.

“A blind date? That’s great. I’ll definitely come to the wedding. Save me a seat,” Dr. Ma said.

Jiang Lan nodded, “Good, good.”

After speaking, Jiang Lan lowered her head, no longer in the mood to eat.