Chapter 70 - Department

Su Xiang woke up the next day; the sun had dimmed into a pale-yellow blended with orange and marigold. Her eyes squinted, adjusting to what time of day it was through the light that escaped past the drawn curtains.

Sunset.

After her 16-hour call shift, she arrived home after the dawn broke and passed out on the bed without changing from her work clothes.

She stirred out of bed, heading to the washroom to shower and change.

She put on a pair of dark blue jeans and a pine-green turtleneck sweater. She braided two strands of her golden hair into the shape of a halo and left the rest of her hair down, loose and wavy.

She then heard voices come from below. But what made out to her most, was the voice of Su Chen. She opened the door excitedly when she made out another voice—Yu Haoran.

Su Xiang exhaled before straightening her body and descending the stairs.

In the foyer, she found her parents greeting Su Chen and Yu Haoran.

Yu Haoran wore a modest baby blue dress that ended between her knees and ankles. She wore her dark hair down, loosely over her shoulders.

Su Xiang wore a thin smile, one broad enough that it didn't seem fake.

Yu Haoran grasped her hand in hers, wearing a smile herself. "Xiang. Your brother tells me that we will be hanging out after dinner. I look forward it," she said genuinely.

Su Xiang glanced at Su Chen briefly before looking at Yu Haoran again. "Yes," she answered gently. She owed it to both of them to get to know Yu Haoran more.

The three of them had dinner with her parents. Yu Haoran spoke mostly about herself—she's charitable and spends most of her weekends at orphanages, visiting children who are yet to be adopted.

In the end, Su Xiang couldn't pick out any of her flaws. She was perfect.

After dinner, Yu Haoran locked arms with her. Yu Haoran waved at Su Xiang's family goodbye before guiding her out of her own home. "Let's do some light shopping," she suggested.

Su Xiang nodded and let Yu Haoran lead her to where she wanted to go. They both went to the shopping mall, where they picked up some dresses and outfits.

Su Xiang felt quiet and awkward, but she noticed that Yu Haoran didn't seem that way at all, as she kept a subtle smile on her face the entire time she scanned the clothing racks.

"Chen tells me that you will be graduating this year from Med school. What department are you planning to specialize in?"

Su Xiang picked up a soft pink shirt that caught her eye; she gazed at it. "Oncology," she answered.

"Oh?" replied Yu Haoran. "The same department as Chen?"

"Mhm," Su Xiang said. "Why?"

Yu Haoran shook her head. "Nothing. But I expected you to be doing something different to cover all grounds between you two," she said.

Su Xiang chuckled briefly. "My company specializes in medicine. Therefore, Chen and I gravitate towards it."

Yu Haoran smiled again but didn't answer. She walked away from her at a slight distance; her heels clicked on the ground.

She looked at some formal dresses before saying, "I hope that the two of us can get a better understanding of each other, as I really do like Chen."

Su Xiang glanced at her.

"You can say I've liked him when he started studying medicine. I met him at a social party, and thought that he was incredibly kind and funny, charming even," Yu Haoran finished saying.

"I understand," Su Xiang replied. "Chen has a way with people."

Yu Haoran smiled. "Yes, certainly. Even with you," she said.

Su Xiang paused.

Yu Haoran approached her carefully and slowly. She picked up a strand of Su Xiang's golden hair. "You don't look like him," she said while gazing at the threads of her locks. "Has anyone told you that?"

Su Xiang whirled out of her grasp slightly by picking up another shirt that caught her eye. "I've had people say so in the past. But genetics is an interesting subject. Family members don't have to be identical, and sometimes they don't need to resemble at all," Su Xiang responded.

It was true to some degree. The only thing that made Su Xiang resemble her cousins were her eyes—brown, ringed with gold. But with Su Chen, there weren't any similarities at all. From the colour of their hair and eyes to the shape of their noses and mouths; they were different.

"You're right," Yu Haoran said before approaching the counter to purchase the clothes she picked up. Su Xiang did the same thing.

Afterward, they went back to the main house. Su Chen then dropped her off.

Su Xiang sighed in relief. She told her parents that she would be up studying. Since she wasn't tired, Su Xiang felt that she could revise with the time she had.

In the study room, she closed the door and opened a textbook to review, while jotting down and highlighting notes.

An hour later, she heard the door open, and Su Chen slipped in, locking the door shut behind him.

He approached her, dropping a bag of what looked like treats in them on her desk. She quickly took it to see the contents inside: chips, strawberry pocky, and strawberry milk.

She took out the strawberry pocky and began munching on them. "What is this for?" she asked, not expecting him to return.

Su Chen laughed shortly. "We haven't spoken much outside of work," he said.

Su Xiang nodded while chewing some more food. "You're right."

"How was spending time with Yu Haoran?" he asked.

Su Xiang smiled firmly. "Just fine."

Su Chen didn't say anything more. He then picked up one of her snacks and began to eat it, joining her.

"Do you love her?" Su Xiang blurted out the questioned.

Su Chen stilled. His eyes locked on hers. "Do you want the honest answer?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"No," he replied. "But it doesn't matter."

Su Xiang gritted her teeth. "I just think that you should wait a bit longer," she suggested.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because it doesn't seem like you to marry—" She couldn't finish speaking.

"Why does it matter?" Su Chen asked sharply, but he was genuinely curious.

Su Xiang's lips thinned. She didn't answer.

Su Chen sighed. He began to speak softly to her, "If there is any other reason that you don't want me to go through with this marriage, then speak now."

Su Xiang glanced at him. It was hard to look at him; it had always been hard to look at him. He was a blinding person, wickedly and achingly beautiful. But that wasn't supposed to be something that crossed her mind, and yet it did.

He looked at her unwaveringly, waiting for an answer.

She didn't have one.

"There isn't any reason. I hope you two cherish each other," she said.

Su Chen stood up abruptly, almost as if he was disappointed in hearing her answer. But what did he want to hear?

He put his hands in his pockets. "I'll see you at work," he said, not waiting for a response. He left the room as his coat billowed against the air that escaped.

Su Xiang slumped on her desk, crossing her arms over her books.

'Am I stupid?' she thought. 'Why am I trying so hard to make him realize that he shouldn't go through with it? And why does it hurt, or why am I hard of breath when he's with her?'