Chapter 1: A Secret Glance

“I’m going to sue all of you!”

As Jiang Ying stepped out of the ward with Senior Brother Qin, she immediately noticed a towering patient causing a commotion at the far end of the corridor painted in pale green. Two security guards, masked and gloved, were struggling to restrain him near the elevator entrance.

Tan Shui Shan Hospital was established long ago. To prevent patients from losing control and causing accidents, the corridor windows were made narrow and small, resulting in poor ventilation. The scorching May sunlight only intensified the molecular activity, and after just a few steps, Jiang Ying was overwhelmed by a fetid stench.

“Damn, another patient is digging something explosive in the latrine,” Senior Brother Qin said, his face turning pale as he covered his mouth and nose, dragging Jiang Ying toward the side stairwell.

It was Jiang Ying’s first encounter with such a situation, and she glanced back.

A male nurse was trying to wipe the filth off the patient’s hands with a wet towel, only to be slapped hard across the face. The nurse gagged and began crying loudly.

By the time they reached the parking lot, Professor Lin Xuwen and the other seniors had already arrived. Everyone knew what had happened. Seeing the distressed expressions on Jiang Ying and Qin Yuting’s faces, the others quickly grew serious and kept a one-meter distance from them.

Only Professor Lin remained in place. “Is this how you act as seniors?” he asked, turning to them. “Are you both unharmed?”

Still shaken, Senior Brother Qin replied, “Teacher, the moment I saw that patient, my sensory central lobule and primary motor cortex went into overdrive. I immediately grabbed the junior sister and sprinted for the stairs.”

Professor Lin looked at Jiang Ying.

“We’re fine,” she said. “We bolted as soon as we saw him and only caught a whiff of the stench.”

Once assured no harm had come to them, everyone got into the car and sat down. Professor Lin began to soothe the group.

“Small incidents happen frequently in psychiatric hospitals. Sometimes, inexperienced new nurses unfamiliar with patients’ moods or habits can inadvertently trigger a loss of control. In such moments, quick reactions are essential. But our psychology department rarely encounters these situations. Even if you become counselors, you’ll mostly meet patients in interview rooms. Meanwhile, colleagues in the medical school studying psychiatry and nursing have much more eventful experiences.”

Senior Sister Zhang, sympathizing with the two who had witnessed the ordeal, pulled out a bottle of perfume, handed them each a small spray.

The sweet and sour plum scent diffused through the air, lifting everyone’s spirits.

“Jiang Ying, you’re meeting your boyfriend later, right? Now you smell sweet and fresh; he’ll have to kiss you three times before speaking!” Senior Sister Zhang teased with a smile.

Gossip being human nature, Professor Lin immediately joined in. “Oh? Jiang Ying has a boyfriend?”

“You’re behind on the news,” Senior Sister Zhang said. “They’ve been together a while. He’s got big eyes, fair skin, looks better than a celebrity.”

Professor Lin, an advocate for students enjoying their youth through relationships, eagerly asked about Jiang Ying’s boyfriend.

Jiang Ying smiled. “He’s from our university, a freshman in the finance school.”

Professor Lin chuckled. “Not bad! Looks like our university’s male students are holding their own, not letting all the female students get stolen away by Tsinghua University next door. Zhang Wei, what do you say?”

Senior Sister Zhang’s boyfriend was a doctoral student in applied psychology at Tsinghua, often driving her to group meetings. Professor Lin jokingly called him “the spy from next door.”

“I’m contributing to the friendship between the two schools,” Zhang Sister said with a playful grin.

The car stopped at the south gate of the university. Some had afternoon classes, others homework to finish. Seeing that a meal gathering was impossible, Professor Lin dismissed everyone.

Senior Sister Zhang, free in the afternoon, invited Jiang Ying to eat at the cafeteria. Jiang Ying declined regretfully, saying she needed to first buy desserts at a pastry shop at the end of the street, then catch the subway to the CBD in Chaoyang District.

Senior Sister Zhang, familiar with the shop, was surprised. “Isn’t that out of the way?”

“My boyfriend likes it,” Jiang Ying answered, her smile softening.

Senior Sister Zhang immediately showed a maternal smile. Young love—she understood well.

No shared bikes were available along the way, and the bus route was inconvenient. Jiang Ying walked more than forty minutes before reaching the pastry shop. After buying the cake, she purchased a dozen pink roses from the flower shop next door, then took a shortcut through an old residential area to the subway station.

The neighborhood consisted of six five-story gray-brown buildings arranged in two rows. The peeling walls were covered with ivy; the weathered air conditioners clung to the walls like yellowed parasites.

She skirted around a half-human-high black trash bin emitting stale food odors, passed a closed print shop, crossed a rusty iron gate, and reached the equally rundown subway entrance beneath an overpass.

Monday at noon, the subway was uncrowded. A half-hour ride later, stepping out of the station felt like entering a different world.

To the right stood a large upscale mall, its exterior adorned with a massive advertisement for Alexander McQueen’s latest collection. To the left was a discreetly luxurious Hermès boutique. Several expensive-looking cars exited the mall’s parking lot—Jiang Ying only recognized Mercedes and BMW logos.

Jiang Ying had spent her first eighteen years in a small county town near Chengdu, where houses were uniformly low and rustic. Later, the county government enforced uniform storefront renovations, making everything not only low and rustic but also monotonous and dull.

Only after entering university in Beijing did she realize a city could be both dilapidated and dazzlingly luxurious. After three years here, she was used to it.

She walked along the clean, spacious street, turned right, and arrived before an exclusive apartment building.

The building’s exterior was dark gray, surrounded by tall bamboo. The contrast of lush green and heavy gray exuded an unspoken aura of prestige. Two young women in Lululemon emerged from the elevator, casting a quick glance over her from head to toe.

Jiang Ying calmly approached the elevator, took out her card, swiped it to enter, pressed the button for the 19th floor. The closing elevator doors blocked the surprised gazes of the two women.

Possessing a key card here meant at least being a resident or tenant, and no tenant here would carry a canvas bag that looked like it cost thirty yuan.

Jiang Ying had been here many times and was accustomed to such looks.

The elevator numbers changed steadily before coming to a smooth stop.

From the 15th floor upward, the building had one apartment per floor. Jiang Ying stepped out and was immediately at the door. She pressed her fingerprint and pushed the door open.

Inside, the decor was minimalist in gray and white tones. At the entrance, a pair of men’s tennis trainers sat neatly; on a nearby counter lay a tennis bag and wristbands. The farthest room in the hallway was ajar, muffled voices coming from within.

Lu Zhixi was in the study, on a video call with his academic advisor.

Every Monday at noon, he met with his advisor for about an hour.

These advisors, graduates of world-renowned universities, meticulously planned Lu Zhixi’s studies day by day according to his career goals. Besides academics, he had other professional mentors managing his lifestyle and training. Since enrollment, he had quickly demonstrated his abilities: a high GPA, awards in prestigious business competitions, exceptional athleticism—each achievement worthy of admiration.

By contrast, Jiang Ying herself had only felt confused and overwhelmed during her freshman year, struggling just to keep up with classes and with no clear future plans.

People tend to compare themselves to those similar to them, but when the gap is too large, admiration and awe remain.

Jiang Ying deeply admired Lu Zhixi, even though he was younger.

The study fell silent for a second before Lu Zhixi suddenly glanced toward the door.

Jiang Ying, peeking quietly, met his gaze unexpectedly.

They held eyes for two seconds, and Lu Zhixi gave her a gentle smile.

His features were delicate, his eyes a light amber that shimmered like a clear, sparkling lake in sunlight. When he smiled, it felt as if a tiny hook was tugging at one’s heartstrings.

Jiang Ying’s heart fluttered, and she blushed involuntarily. But Lu Zhixi quickly averted his gaze and resumed his conversation.

She quietly stepped away from the doorway, placed the sliced cake in the fridge, put the flowers in a vase, and went straight to the bathroom.

The shower floor still bore some water traces, and the air carried a refreshing scent of aftershave. The housekeeper usually came at four in the afternoon to cook and do chores. The clothes Lu Zhixi changed into after his morning tennis practice were still in the laundry basket.

Jiang Ying glanced at a black pair of underwear on the top layer, recalling some intimate memories that made her cheeks flush. She quickly looked away, undressed, and took a swift shower.

When Jiang Ying emerged from the bathroom drying her hair, Lu Zhixi had finished and was standing by the door, hanging up her bag by the entrance.

“I remember you didn’t like perfume before. Is this a new favorite?” he asked, smelling the plum fragrance on her bag. “I can take you to buy more. I’ve heard girls like collecting different brands.”

“Please don’t buy any more!” Jiang Ying hurriedly replied.

Lu Zhixi was extravagant with money. Seeing her carry only a canvas bag, he had silently bought her over ten luxury bags. When she started following beauty product reviews, he bought all the lipsticks she mentioned in one go.

Since she mostly accompanied her mentor to counseling rooms and psychiatric hospitals, usually going barefaced, those items rarely got used and just gathered dust.

Worried he might overspend again, Jiang Ying briefly recounted the incident at Tan Shui Shan Hospital.

When she mentioned the quick-reacting senior brother who dragged her to the emergency exit, Lu Zhixi squeezed her hand. “You never mentioned him before.”

“He just joined Professor Lin’s research group,” Jiang Ying said. “By the way, I bought that cake you like. Want some now?”

“That shop is so far from campus. You went all that way just to buy it?”

She smiled brightly. “Buying things for you, distance doesn’t matter.”

Lu Zhixi stared at her for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed her.

His lips were soft, the kiss gentle.

Jiang Ying was caught off guard, eyes open, clearly seeing his long eyelashes.

Her heart raced as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Lu Zhixi suddenly paused.

Feeling his hesitation, Jiang Ying looked down and was startled.

His pale fingertips were damp, tinged with a faint pink.

“Your period came two days early this month.”