My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 16

“Doctor Xie, Doctor Xie!”

Jie Xiangyi snapped out of her daze only after the nurse called her name twice.

With an apologetic smile, she returned the pen to the nurse. “Sorry.”

The nurse quickly retrieved the last remaining pen that hadn’t been pilfered, glanced at Jie Xiangyi, and asked, “Why are you so distracted today, Doctor Xie?”

The nurse, Li Li, had met Jie Xiangyi during her dermatology rotation last year.

Li Li, a social butterfly and a sucker for good looks, was drawn to Jie Xiangyi like a mouse to rice. She constantly sought out Jie Xiangyi for casual chats and had become the nurse closest to her in the hospital.

She was genuinely curious about Jie Xiangyi’s frequent zoning out today.

Jie Xiangyi cleared her throat and offered a casual excuse, “Nothing, just a bit tired.”

This was all Zhang Yueqi’s fault.

Now, as soon as she finished her work, her mind was flooded with the phrase “Your wife misses you,” making it impossible to focus on anything else.

Li Li didn’t detect Jie Xiangyi’s evasiveness. She nodded sympathetically. “That’s right, I forgot you worked a night shift yesterday. No wonder you’re exhausted.”

“Still, you should find ways to relieve your stress,” Li Li added. “I’m genuinely worried you’ll end up like Dr. Liang from the neighboring department, writing papers until you’re vomiting. That’s not an exaggeration—he really did throw up.”

Jie Xiangyi looked surprised. “Vomited?”

She knew Dr. Liang from the adjacent department; they were in the same year.

Li Li nodded. She had once accidentally seen Dr. Liang hiding in the stairwell, crying, but she decided not to mention it to Jie Xiangyi.

With a sigh, she urged, “Remember to take care of your physical and mental health.”

Medical professionals needed to be resilient under pressure.

Jie Xiangyi nodded with a smile. “I know. I’m doing fine. Just a few more months left. I can tough it out.”

“True,” Li Li agreed, nodding. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly reached out to Jie Xiangyi, winking playfully. “Almost forgot to ask, Doctor Xie—do you have any wedding candy?”

Jie Xiangyi’s expression froze momentarily. She awkwardly avoided Li Li’s gaze, her voice sounding strained as she replied, “I’ll grab you a handful next time you’re here.”

Li Li chuckled at Jie Xiangyi’s rare display of shyness.

“I thought Doctor Xie was just trying to show off by tagging you in the group chat. I didn’t realize you were so sensitive!”

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

Jie Xiangyi didn’t want to argue about her sensitivity anymore. She had come to see Li Li not just for work-related matters, but also to ask about something personal.

She glanced around, cleared her throat loudly, and adopted a slightly more serious tone. “You’re the most well-connected nurse here. Do you know how the rumors about me started spreading?”

Li Li leaned back dramatically, covered her mouth in mock shock, and exclaimed, “Doctor Xie, how did you know I was secretly investigating this for you?!”

She then winked furiously, as if afraid Jie Xiangyi wouldn’t understand her hint.

Jie Xiangyi opened her mouth, genuinely wanting to curse.

But it was clear Li Li knew something.

She pulled out her phone, opened the food delivery app, and handed it over. “Order yourself a milk tea. Hurry up.”

“Yes, Doctor Xie! You’re so kind and beautiful!”

After Li Li returned the phone, Jie Xiangyi said, “…Spill it.”

Li Li blinked innocently. “I already told you.”

Jie Xiangyi looked puzzled. “Told me about who?”

Li Li clutched the clipboard to her chest, her face innocent. “Have I ever talked about anyone else with you, Doctor Xie?”

Jie Xiangyi froze for a moment, then quickly realized who Li Li was referring to.

Dr. Liang?

Jie Xiangyi frowned slightly. “What does his stress have to do with me?”

She’d barely interacted with him, exchanging polite nods at most. Their paths rarely crossed.

Li Li glanced furtively around before lowering her voice. “Envy, jealousy, and resentment, that’s what it is.”

“He wanted to stay at the hospital after graduation, but there was no chance.”

“And you…”

Li Li pursed her lips, leaving the rest unsaid.

Jie Xiangyi understood immediately. Her mentor had recently mentioned she could stay at the hospital after graduation. But she planned to pursue a doctorate and hadn’t given a definitive answer, saying she needed time to consider.

Jie Xiangyi was still torn about the decision and hadn’t told anyone yet. Dr. Liang must have his own sources to know.

Her expression darkened. “So it’s purely out of jealousy?”

Li Li hesitated before nodding. “Pretty much.”

Jie Xiangyi rarely showed emotion, but she couldn’t help but complain, “I haven’t even spoken to him.”

Li Li shrugged. “Jealousy doesn’t need a reason.”

Being envied only proved how exceptional Jie Xiangyi was.

Having clarified the situation, the weight in Jie Xiangyi’s heart finally lifted.

She couldn’t help but marvel at Li Li’s uncanny ability to gather information; she truly seemed to know everything.

Jie Xiangyi glanced at the time and then at the delivery status of her milk tea. “It should arrive in about fifteen minutes. I’m heading home now.”

Li Li waved with a smile. “Doctor Xie is leaving right on time today.”

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

Without looking back, Jie Xiangyi hurried away from the nurses’ station, afraid she’d lose her composure if she lingered any longer.

Meanwhile, at home, Tang Jinzhi wore a troubled expression.

Zhang Yueqi was watching TV and crying, frequently checking to see if Tang Jinzhi was paying attention.

Tang Jinzhi had spent the entire day watching TV with him, her eyes aching.

The drama was quite good and very emotionally charged, but every time Tang Jinzhi started to feel moved, Zhang Yueqi’s sobs would interrupt her.

Zhang Yueqi’s eyes were swollen from crying.

Tang Jinzhi had spent the entire night handing him tissues, and she couldn’t help but marvel at his extraordinary empathy.

He’d be perfect for a murder mystery game, she thought.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard a click.

Jie Xiangyi was finally home!

Tang Jinzhi pressed the tissue she’d just pulled out onto Zhang Yueqi’s forehead, then hurriedly got up and rushed to the door.

“Jie Xiangyi!”

Jie Xiangyi paused mid-shoe change, hearing Tang Jinzhi’s excited voice before even seeing her.

That phrase involuntarily resurfaced in her mind again.

Jie Xiangyi closed her eyes briefly, then bent down to finish changing her shoes.

By the time she straightened up, Tang Jinzhi had already run over to her.

“Are you tired from work? Did you skip dinner? Are you hungry?” Tang Jinzhi asked solicitously, taking Jie Xiangyi’s coat. She continued to murmur, “You barely replied to my messages today.”

Jie Xiangyi glanced at Tang Jinzhi, then at the jacket Tang Jinzhi had taken.

She felt that Tang Jinzhi was adapting to their relationship even faster than she was.

“I’m fine, not very hungry. I had a lot to do today.”

Tang Jinzhi nodded, then reached out to stop Jie Xiangyi from heading to the living room, pulling her toward the bedroom instead.

“What’s wrong?” Jie Xiangyi asked, letting herself be led a few steps. She glanced at Zhang Yueqi, whose eyes were fixed on them, a hint of confusion in her gaze.

Tang Jinzhi tugged at Jie Xiangyi’s sleeve and whispered, “I need to talk to you about something. Let’s go to the room first.”

Seeing them whispering, Zhang Yueqi narrowed his red-rimmed eyes and stood up, leaning closer. “Hey! Are you talking about me behind my back?”

Tang Jinzhi pushed Jie Xiangyi toward the bedroom. “Don’t be ridiculous. This has nothing to do with you.”

Zhang Yueqi scrutinized them from head to toe, then suddenly clapped his hands together.

“I get it now! I’m interrupting your… intimacy!”

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

When she looked up, she saw Jie Xiangyi giving her the same knowing look.

Damn it! I give up.