The next day when I woke up, my hand was hurting. When I looked at the wound, it had become quite big. I didn't know what had happened, so I decided to visit the hospital.
At the reception, I asked, "Where is Dr. Lu?"
The receptionist smiled and said, "Dr. Lu is in surgery. It'll take at least an hour. You can make an appointment or consult another doctor."
I felt a little disappointed. "It's alright. I'll come back tomorrow," I said softly. She nodded, and I turned around and left.
When I checked the time, I realized I was already late for school, so I rushed there immediately.
During class, while I was teaching, a staff member came in and whispered, "Someone wants to see you."
I blinked in surprise. "Who's asking for me?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "He just said he's here to see you."
Curious, I waited near the door. And then—Dr. Lu walked in.
As soon as the children saw him, they ran toward him excitedly, pushing past me and hugging him all at once. I blinked, half-jealous, half-amused. Is he stealing my cuties now?
Dr. Lu chuckled, patting their heads and hugging them back. When he finally looked up at me, he was catching his breath.
"Dr. Lu, why are you here?" I asked, trying to sound normal even though my heart had started racing.
"When I finished my surgery, the nurse told me you came to see me. But you left when you heard I was in the operating room… so I came to find you."
My face flushed. I quickly looked away to hide my blush.
One of the kids piped up, "Ma'am~~! Dr. Lu came running to see you! But you told us not to run away from school—and he ran all the way from the hospital!"
I grabbed the kid's hand, flustered. "Cutie, I will scold him later. But you should never run away from home, school, or hospital. Understand?"
All of them nodded. Dr. Lu squatted down and joined in. "Yes~ you mustn't run away."
Then he turned to me with a teasing glint in his eyes. "I'm not like someone I know… who runs just at the sight of an injection."
The kids erupted in laughter. "Who? Who is it, Dr. Lu?"
He grinned. "Someone you don't know~"
I gave him a playful slap on the shoulder.
Immediately, the kids gasped. "Ma'am! You're bullying Dr. Lu!"
And Dr. Lu, ever the child at heart, clutched his shoulder dramatically. "Ahh~~ it hurts~~!"
I rolled my eyes and hit him again lightly. "Cuties, go play!"
They all ran off, giggling.
I turned to him. "Can we talk outside?"
He nodded, still laughing.
We went to a nearby park and sat on a bench under the shade of a tree.
He looked at me seriously. "Why did you come to the hospital today?"
I held out my hand. "My wound… it's gotten worse."
Immediately, he took my hand in his. My heart pounded, and my face heated up. He examined the wound and sighed.
"Qin, are you turning into a child, playing too much with your students?"
I shot him an annoyed look.
He smiled. "Your wound got worse because you must've gotten it wet. But it's okay—just apply the ointment I gave you. You'll be fine."
I nodded.
He looked at me closely. "Why do you look uncomfortable?"
Lu, are you really this clueless? Every time you hold my hand, I feel like my heart will explode.
I quickly said, "It's… because of the wound."
A lie. But how could I tell him the truth?
Then, without warning, he brought my hand close and gently blew on the wound. My heart skipped a beat.
He seriously thinks I'm already his girlfriend…
I lightly shook my hand and said shyly, "Dr. Lu… that tickles."
Only then did he snap back to reality and let go of my hand.
Just then, a small child passed by with a staff member. The boy pointed at us and said, "Ma'am~~! Look, a couple!"
The staff quickly hushed him, "Don't disturb them. Quiet."
Dr. Lu turned away, and I could see his shoulders trembling. I turned too—my own hands were trembling.