Jian Fei suffered from low self-esteem.
From the time she started school, seeing Jiang Chuan made her feel so inadequate.
She had known for a long time that Jiang Chuan's father was a leader in a county institution, and his mother was a doctor.
For their county, this was already very good.
Coupled with his current good job, she always felt she wasn't good enough for him.
Yet, she held a faint hope, so she didn't refuse her father's suggestion again, merely shyly changing the subject.
"I'll go get some hot water."
The hot water room was at the end of the corridor to the left of the ward, and passing it meant going by the public restrooms.
Halfway there, Jian Fei suddenly heard Jiang Chuan's familiar voice from the entrance of the men's restroom.
"Why are you asking about this?"
"Do you have to be so dramatic? You only met her a few hours ago and you're already investigating her?"
"I know her father is disabled, her sister has hearing problems, and she has an elderly grandmother. What does that have to do with me?"
"That's not what I meant. I mean, even if I like her and want to pursue her, what do those things matter?"
"I don't care about what you're saying! Stop talking to me about this!"
"What? You even found out what illness her mother died from? You're really something!"
"Medically speaking, there's a possibility of inheritance, not a certainty. How can you be so sure?"
"Alright, alright, stop talking. We only met today, we have no connection. Whether she likes me or not is still undecided. Can you stop overthinking?"
A string in her mind snapped with a "bang" as she heard these words.
Dazed, she stood at the doorway for several seconds until she heard Jiang Chuan's footsteps approaching. Jian Fei quickly fled.
When she returned to the ward with the water, looking lost, Jiang Chuan was already sitting by his father, chatting with him with a smile.
It was as if the phone call had never happened.
But Jian Fei couldn't pretend it hadn't.
She had heard it all clearly.
So, the person she had a crush on for so long also had feelings for her.
What a huge joke.
After waiting for so many years, hearing him say he liked her, but at the same time, accompanying it were the voices of his family looking down on her.
In today's society, besides looks, it was only material conditions that allowed one to be overbearing.
Jian Fei knew she was plain-looking and lacked material wealth, making her unworthy of love.
Fortunately, she had never spoken of her secret crush, or it would have just become a joke.
Poor people wanted to rely on the rich to make their lives easier.
Similarly, rich people wanted to rely on other rich people to make their lives even easier.
No one wanted to find a pauper to dilute their wealth. Jian Fei could understand his mother's concerns.
The little bit of unbridled affection she had just felt for him was slowly buried again as she calmed her emotions.
"It's getting late, and it might not be good for you if we stay here any longer. I'll walk you downstairs."
Jiang Chuan had been idle all afternoon and was afraid of being too obvious and causing gossip.
They weren't leaving the hospital in a day or two, so seeing her tomorrow would be fine. The two then headed downstairs together.
In the elevator, they stood in opposite corners. Jian Fei was in front. Although she was seeing him off, she remained silent.
Looking at the smooth elevator walls, she could see Jiang Chuan constantly looking at her in the mirror-like surfaces.
Her lips parted and closed, as if he had something to say to her.
Jian Fei was proud and didn't want to put herself in a passive or awkward position.
If Jiang Chuan wanted to say something to draw a line between them, she would rather be the one to initiate the conversation.
"I don't see a ring on your hand. Are you not married yet?"
Jiang Chuan was taken aback by the sudden question but quickly broke into a smile.
"Not yet. I haven't met the right person. How about you?"
She said faintly, "Me neither, but I have a boyfriend."
The surprise and disappointment in Jiang Chuan's eyes were palpable. He stared at her for several seconds before slowly asking,
"Is that so? How long have you been together?"
"Several years. We were college classmates."
"But I heard..."
"I'm not someone who likes to share everything."
Jiang Chuan gave a slightly bitter smile and nodded.
"I understand. So, is he your colleague?"
Jian Fei stared at the floor in front of her, like a novelist fabricating a plot for herself.
"Something like that. He's already proposed. We plan to get married when our jobs are more stable."
Jiang Chuan looked at her with bitterness, "Is that so? Will you invite old classmates then?"
She quickly shook her head, "No."
"I haven't attended anyone else's wedding. Asking people for money out of the blue is just asking for trouble, isn't it?"
"I was planning to go to our old class monitor's reunion, but I can't go in this situation. Please tell him for me."
Having extinguished the spark of love, Jian Fei would now work even harder.
She knew that for people like them, there was no other way but to work hard, perform well, and strive for promotions and raises.
So, after staying with her father in the hospital for two days, she returned to her post.
An ordinary Monday, an ordinary job. She meticulously checked every document she had handled, ensuring not the slightest error.
She was busy until four in the afternoon when the director suddenly called her.
"Jian Fei, are you in the office?"
"Yes, Director. Is there something?"
"Go to Zhang Yaya's workstation and look for a document regarding the research building application. I'm in a meeting outside, and one document is missing. Hurry and bring it to me."
This was the first major disruption in her calm administrative work. She quickly grabbed her phone and searched everywhere, finally finding a piece of paper under the chair.
"I found it, Director. Where should I send it?"
The director sent her an address on her phone.
"Take a taxi. I'll reimburse you later. Quickly."
Jian Fei rushed out of the hospital, hailed a taxi, and went to the most bustling club in the city.
However, her ordinary appearance made it obvious she wasn't there to patronize the establishment, and she was stopped at the entrance.
"I'm here to deliver a document. I forgot my phone. If you don't believe me, you can call Mr. Du in room 6608."
The staff member, half-believing, took out his phone and asked her to state the number. Jian Fei froze; she didn't remember it!
Who remembers phone numbers these days, except children?
"Could you please go up and ask? Or I can go with you. You can watch me deliver it. I'm really looking for someone!"
Guests were arriving at the entrance, and the staff member didn't have time to waste with her. He pushed her aside and went to greet two men getting out of a car.
"Get up, get up, don't block the way. We'll deal with your matter later."
"Hello, sir. How many people?"
The one leading looked like an assistant. "We have a reservation. Mr. Ke."
"Alright, please follow me."
Mr. Ke?
Jian Fei glanced at the man behind him.
That familiar, handsome face – who else could it be but Ke Teng!