Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Doesn’t Need Him?

The warmth and strength emanating from his grip on her wrist made Su Tang feel a little uncomfortable.

She tried to pull away but couldn’t, so she met his gaze. “It’s really nothing. She was just so loud she gave me a headache.”

Su Tang paused before adding, “She also tried to get everyone to pressure me, saying I was heartless for not forgiving her.”

“But Sister-in-law Zhang Cui helped me out.”

The look in Lu Xiao’s eyes turned cold in an instant. His grip on her hand tightened, and the air around him grew heavy. “She dared?”

“It’s fine now. Director Li handled it.”

Su Tang could sense his suppressed anger and quickly said, “I have to go. The dean is still waiting for me.”

Only then did Lu Xiao release her hand, but his gaze remained heavy on her face, filled with scrutiny and an emotion Su Tang couldn’t decipher.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked like he wanted to say something but, in the end, only managed, “Be careful on your way.”

“Okay.”

Su Tang responded before practically fleeing the scene, hurrying away.

Lu Xiao stood rooted to the spot, watching her hasty retreat until her figure vanished at the corner. Only then did he look away.

He turned his head toward their small courtyard, and the gentle look in his eyes vanished in a flash.

A few nosy neighbors who had been peeking out from the courtyard gate, hoping to see what happened next, were met with his glacial stare and immediately flinched back in fright.

’So scary! That Lu Xiao is like a walking icicle. He could freeze a person to death with that look.’

He strode into the courtyard, his long legs carrying him forward with purpose.

Zhang Cui was just about to head home when she saw Lu Xiao and called out, “Oh, Brother Lu, you’re back! I was just about to burst with anger! That Hu Lili…”

Lu Xiao listened, his face impassive, as Zhang Cui indignantly recounted the recent spectacle.

After she finished, the corner of his tightly pressed lips twitched. Deep in his eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of… appreciation?

“I understand, Sister-in-law. Thank you for looking out for Su Tang.”

There was little emotion in Lu Xiao’s voice, but the earnestness of his tone was enough to please Zhang Cui.

“Of course, of course! Sister Su is a good person. You should head inside!”

With that, Zhang Cui left. She and Su Tang were friends now, so of course she was going to stick up for her.

’Besides,’ she thought, ’Su Tang was in the right, and Hu Lili was in the wrong and still acting shamelessly. When you’re in the right, you can’t afford to lose.’

Lu Xiao nodded and pushed the door open, stepping inside.

The faint, pleasant fragrance of Su Tang seemed to linger in the room.

He walked to the window and gazed in the direction Su Tang had gone, a complicated look in his eyes.

’He hated how she always spoke with such politeness and distance, hated how she treated him like a temporary partner.’

’But just now, when he heard how she had single-handedly faced Hu Lili’s harassment and the crowd’s judgment…’

’…calmly defusing the crisis, even cleverly using the rules to her advantage…’

’…the strange mix of anxiety and heartache he felt had actually overwhelmed his annoyance.’

’This woman was more resilient and clever than he had imagined.’

’She didn’t need his protection. Maybe she… didn’t need him at all?’

The realization made Lu Xiao’s chest tighten.

He irritably undid the top button of his collar, his gaze sinking.

’How could she not need him?’

…

Meanwhile, Su Tang arrived at the hospital, her heart still racing.

It was partly from rushing and partly from the drama that had unfolded at her front door.

And then there was… the searing touch of Lu Xiao’s hand on her wrist and the intensity of his gaze.

She took a few deep breaths to compose herself before knocking on the dean’s office door.

When the dean saw her, his attitude was even warmer than the day before. “Comrade Su Tang, you’re here! Please, have a seat. We had a meeting to discuss your case. Your professional knowledge and theoretical foundation are exceptionally solid, far exceeding our expectations.”

“Your knowledge of Western emergency medicine, in particular, is a rare asset. Therefore, we’ve decided to make an exception and hire you as a medical intern.”

Su Tang’s heart leaped with joy, and a weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying lifted. “A medical intern?”

The dean nodded, but then his tone shifted as he smiled at Su Tang.

“However… considering you have no prior practical work experience, and given the special circumstances… we’ve decided to give you a three-month probationary period.”

“You’ll mainly be assigned to the pharmacy and assisting in the outpatient clinic to get familiar with our procedures. This will also give us a chance to assess your practical skills. Your salary will be set at the probationary rate. What do you think?”

’A probationary period? That’s fine. It’s not like she was short on money anyway.’

Su Tang was more than happy to do the work she loved.

“No problem, Dean. I accept.”

Su Tang agreed without hesitation. “I’ll cherish this opportunity and get up to speed as quickly as possible.”

“Excellent. Then it’s settled. You can report for duty tomorrow.”

The dean was clearly even more pleased. Su Tang’s expertise and insights were a rare treasure.

’This Su Tang,’ he thought, ’is definitely going to bring some pleasant surprises.’

Stepping out of the dean’s office, Su Tang felt as if the sun was shining a little brighter.

Her job was secured. This was the foundation she needed to establish herself in the Northwest.

When she returned home that evening, there was food on the table, clearly brought back from the cafeteria.

The atmosphere in the room was subtly quiet.

Su Tang took the initiative to break the silence, speaking as she normally would. “The dean said I’m hired. There’s a three-month probationary period, though. I’ll be helping in the pharmacy and the outpatient clinic.”

The hand Lu Xiao was using to scoop rice paused. He looked up at her, his gaze profound. “Mm, that’s good.”

He paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. “About what happened today… you handled it well.”

Su Tang was taken aback. She hadn’t expected him to praise her, and her face grew warm. “It was nothing. I just didn’t want to get tangled up with her.”

Lu Xiao placed the bowl of rice he had filled in front of her, his voice low. “Forcing someone to forgive you by kneeling is her fault. You were right to stick to your principles.”

It was rare for him to say so much. “Some people just can’t tell right from wrong. Don’t pay them any mind.”

His words were like a warm current, flowing quietly through Su Tang’s heart.

’He doesn’t think I’m heartless. He’s a reasonable man.’

She lowered her head, taking small bites of rice and giving a soft “mhm” in response.

The table fell silent again, but much of the earlier awkwardness seemed to have vanished.

In its place was a sense of… peace that was hard to describe.

After dinner, Lu Xiao took the initiative to wash the dishes. Shortly after, the light outside went out, and he came into the bedroom after washing up.

A kerosene lamp glowed by the bed in the inner room. Su Tang held a book, but she found it hard to focus.

She stole a glance at Lu Xiao, who was already lying down beside her.

His eyes were closed and his breathing was even. The lines of his profile looked especially sharp in the dim light.

“Lu Xiao…”

Su Tang began softly.

“Hm?”

Lu Xiao responded without opening his eyes.

“Thank you.”

Su Tang’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

’She wasn’t even sure what she was thanking him for. His words at the dinner table?’

’Or for not pressing her about the awkwardness of the previous night?’

In the darkness, the corners of Lu Xiao’s mouth seemed to curve upward almost imperceptibly.

“Go to sleep.”

His voice carried a trace of gentleness.

Su Tang put down her book, turned off the lamp, and lay down in the darkness.

This time, she didn’t deliberately turn her back to him.

The room was quiet, filled only with the sound of their soft breathing.

After a long while, just as Su Tang was drifting off to sleep, she thought she heard a very soft whisper from beside her, tinged with amusement.

“I underestimated you. For a paper tiger, you’re pretty fierce.”

Su Tang’s eyelashes trembled. She pretended not to hear, burying her face deeper into the covers.

’What was that about? How could he give people nicknames behind their backs!’

’If he’s calling me a paper tiger, what does that make him? A big bad wolf in sheep’s clothing?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep