All the Female Protagonists Who Have Been Saved Have Become Obsessed [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32.1

Half a month later, Zhou Xi finished checking wards and passed the nurses’ station. The nurses were gathered, giggling. Zhou Xi removed her medical gloves and asked, “What’re you all huddled up for?”

“Doctor Zhou, look! Someone sent you flowers!”

The group parted, revealing a huge bouquet of roses. Zhou Xi’s heart raced, “For me? Who sent them?”

A guess stirred, her cheeks warming. She adjusted her glasses to hide it.

The nurses shook their heads. The sender didn’t say, only that it was for Zhou Xi.

The head nurse strode over, barking, “What’re you all doing here? Not working? What a mess!” The group scattered like startled birds. The head nurse grumbled, “Dean, take your flowers. Everyone’s asking about them, disrupting our work.”

Zhou Xi pleaded, picking up the bouquet. Lowering her head, she spotted a card tucked inside.

Back in her office, she opened it. It listed an address.

“Eight tonight, Champs-Élysées Avenue, a restaurant, table 08, waiting for you.”

Zhou Xi flipped the card. No name. Could it be Chunshui?

She found it odd. Didn’t Chunshui say she’d be back by month’s end? Was she back so soon?

Zhou Xi considered calling her, pulling her phone from her white coat pocket, but huffed proudly, deciding not to. She’d see what Chunshui was up to.

That evening, after work, Zhou Xi lingered at her wardrobe.

A restaurant on Champs-Élysées Avenue sounded fancy. Should she wear a dress? She took one out, then put it back. Her usual clothes would do. Dressing up felt too formal, like she was making a big deal of it. It was just dinner with Chunshui, only in a different place.

At eight, Zhou Xi drove to the appointment.

Champs-Élysées Avenue was lined with tall, straight sycamores, warm yellow lights casting a sophisticated glow. Zhou Xi parked, gazing up at the building, heavy with history. The restaurant’s sign was embedded in the white facade.

Approaching, the doorman opened the door, softly asking, “Do you have a reservation?”

Zhou Xi gave the table number. A waiter led her to it. Someone was already seated. Seeing the slim, tall figure, Zhou Xi frowned. Not Chunshui.

“This way, ma’am.”

Hearing the sound, the person turned. Zhou Xi’s brows tightened.

It was Li Xia.

Why was she meeting her?

Zhou Xi resisted the urge to leave.

The waiter said softly, “Here we are, guest.”

Zhou Xi nodded politely, lifted her chin, and sat opposite Li Xia.

Li Xia signaled the waiter, “Serve the meal.”

The waiter poured wine. Li Xia’s eyes scanned Zhou Xi, who remained composed.

Zhou Xi hadn’t settled accounts with Li Xia, yet she’d sought her out. What was her game?

Waiter: “The meal is served. Anything else, guests?”

“No,” Li Xia said.

Once the waiter left, she looked at Zhou Xi, “Curious why I invited you, Doctor Zhou?”

Zhou Xi tilted her chin, reserved, “Want plastic surgery? We’d better discuss that at the hospital.”

Li Xia chuckled, her sharp chin looking lethal.

“Doctor Zhou’s quite the joker.”

The sisters’ tones were so alike. Litchi must’ve learned from her.

“Besides surgery, I don’t know why you’d invite me to dinner,” Zhou Xi said coolly, ignoring Li Xia, elegantly cutting her steak with the precision of a surgeon.

Li Xia watched Zhou Xi’s hands—long, fair, clearly well-cared-for, precious for a doctor.

“Seems you know me, Doctor Zhou. No need for introductions. I’ll get to the point,” Li Xia said.

Zhou Xi raised a brow, “Of course. Leading Entertainment’s famed executive president. We met at Guanyin’s opening ceremony.”

“Haven’t you heard about me from someone?” Li Xia hinted, “I know all about someone.”

Zhou Xi’s smile faded, her eyes icing over, “Speak plainly.”

Li Xia toyed with her fork, “I’ve known Chunshui a long time.” Her gaze grew distant, reminiscing, “She used to be wonderful…”

“No need for old stories,” Zhou Xi cut her off. “What do you want? I’m not here for grandma’s foot-binding tales.”

Li Xia’s brows knitted, her sharp features displeased, “Is this Doctor Zhou’s upbringing?”

“Depends on who I’m with,” Zhou Xi sneered. “I don’t need to hear a stranger’s life story.”

“Fine,” Li Xia sneered back. “Are you with Chunshui? I heard she cared for you a long time.”

“What’s that to you?” Zhou Xi shot back. “It’s our business. Too idle lately, President Li?”

Li Xia gritted her teeth, “Sharp tongue. Are you like this with her too?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Li Xia laughed, venomous, “All your skill’s in your mouth? Too scared to hear our past? Don’t you know what Chunshui was like? For a role, she’d beg producers, even go fully nude on screen. If not for me…”

“If not for you, my movie wouldn’t have been shelved,” Zhou Xi turned. Chunshui appeared behind her, splashing a glass of wine in Li Xia’s face. “We had no connection before, and we won’t now!”

She gripped Zhou Xi’s wrist, pulling her up.

Zhou Xi stumbled as Chunshui dragged her out of the restaurant.

The restaurant’s lights blazed. Li Xia sat still, wiping her face with a napkin, her eyes burning with deep hatred.

Tossing the napkin, she sneered, “Chunshui, you can’t love anyone.”

She wouldn’t let Chunshui be happy.

Outside, Zhou Xi yelped, “Ow, ow, ow!”

Chunshui let go, checking Zhou Xi’s wrist. No red marks.

Zhou Xi pulled back, grinning sheepishly, “Why so mad?”

Chunshui tapped her forehead, annoyed, “Why accept anyone’s invitation? What if it was a bad person?”

“I thought it was…” Zhou Xi stopped, switching topics to hide her mistake. “Why’re you back so suddenly?”

“If I didn’t, some little fool might’ve been sold off,” Chunshui teased, smiling, taking Zhou Xi’s wrist. “Where’s it hurt? I’ll rub it.”

Zhou Xi had faked it, seeing Chunshui’s anger. She mumbled, “Just the wrist.”

Chunshui massaged it, asking, “You stopped mid-sentence. Thought what?”

Zhou Xi’s eyes darted, evading, “Nothing.”

Chunshui didn’t press, seeing she wasn’t hurt, took her hand, sighing, “I wanted to surprise you, Doctor Zhou.”

Zhou Xi whispered, “It was surprising.”

“What?” Chunshui didn’t catch it, her voice too soft.

Zhou Xi smiled, “I’m hungry.”

“Didn’t you eat enough?” Chunshui huffed.

“No, I just had a bite before you showed up.”

“Then I’ll treat you to something good,” Chunshui laughed. “We don’t need her food.”

“Yeah, I don’t need it,” Zhou Xi mimicked her tone, making Chunshui laugh.

Hand in hand, they crossed the street. Chunshui had taken a cab, notifying no one of her return. She’d fly back tomorrow, a brief visit just to see the Doctor Zhou she missed.

At an open-air restaurant, the thick night hid their surroundings. After ordering, Zhou Xi recalled something, “When we were in Spain, why wasn’t the domestic news reported?”

Her words were vague, but Chunshui understood.

She realized, “Want to be in the news, Doctor Zhou? I couldn’t let them disturb you.”

Teasing again, Zhou Xi glared, annoyed. Chunshui soothed, “I’ll tell you, don’t be mad.”

Hmph! Zhou Xi grumbled, “I’m not mad. Say it or don’t.”

“I’ll tell you,” Chunshui covered Zhou Xi’s hand with hers, cool fingers gripping. “Leading Entertainment suppressed the domestic news. I don’t know Li Xia’s reasoning, but it must benefit her.”

Zhou Xi didn’t get it, “How’s it benefit her? It’s unrelated.”

Chunshui shook her head, “Her family likely knew she chased me. When I reported her, they took her back. Li Dong’s old-school, probably can’t accept Li Xia’s an outlier.”

Zhou Xi frowned.

Chunshui played with her hand, smiling, “Don’t think about others, Doctor Zhou. Think about us.”

Zhou Xi’s hand tingled like a shock. She pulled back, masking, “Where’s the food? I’m starving.”

Chunshui laughed.

No rejection was a good start.

After dinner, Chunshui strolled with Zhou Xi along the river. The night view was stunning.

At the riverbank, they stopped. Chunshui lowered her mask—she’d worn glasses to hide—took Zhou Xi’s hand, leaned closer, their frames clinking. Smiling, she whispered, “You look nice today, Doctor Zhou.”

Lights reflected on the river, a freighter’s whistle echoing. Chunshui rested her head on Zhou Xi’s shoulder. Zhou Xi felt the weight, looking down. Chunshui’s eyes were closed, her long, curled lashes brushing Zhou Xi’s heart like a tiny broom, making it unsteady.

Zhou Xi looked away, not daring to linger, murmuring, “If you’re so tired, don’t come.”

Chunshui’s lips curved, “You’re my energy station, Doctor Zhou.”

She rested a moment, then lifted her head, full of vigor, “See? You recharged me!”

“I’m not a power bank,” Zhou Xi muttered.

Chunshui couldn’t help laughing.

Zhou Xi blushed at her laughter, coughing, “Where’re you staying tonight?”

“Where do you want me, Doctor Zhou?” Chunshui teased.

Zhou Xi flushed, “If you’ve nowhere, the hospital has beds.”

“Didn’t you say I was discharged? Now you’re admitting me yourself?”

“Hmph, stay or don’t,” Zhou Xi was outmatched. Chunshui, the flirting fiend, made normal talk impossible.

Chunshui sighed, “Sadly, I can’t enjoy your personal service.” She ruffled Zhou Xi’s hair, “I came on a whim. Return ticket’s booked for tomorrow morning. I’ll sleep at the airport.”

Zhou Xi’s gaze grew complex. She looked down, toes grinding the ground.

“So rushed.”

Chunshui smiled, pinching Zhou Xi’s ear, “I’m leaving. You’re so unhappy?”

“Who’s unhappy?” Zhou Xi shook off her hand, stubborn. “Your comeback film—you should focus. Why run around? Director Zhang might get annoyed.”