Chapter 27: Lucky

◎ Jiang Shiluo stood not far away, observing everything from a distance. ◎

Back at home, Yu Ran opened all the windows to let the sunlight flood in, and the scent of spring flowers and green leaves filled the whole house, a vitality that had never existed before.

Shen Suhui turned on the TV in the living room, which had been gathering dust for a long time, selected a foreign road movie, and turned up the volume.

The atmosphere was lively and warm, and for the first time, it felt like home.

Yu Ran, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen, washing and chopping vegetables. Although her cooking skills were not exceptional, her knife skills were impressive, and even slicing fruit was done with precision, the kind you’d expect at a bar for a fruit platter.

“I used to procrastinate when cooking in the U.S., I hated stir-frying in hot oil, but when it came to chopping vegetables, I took it very seriously, almost like crafting an art piece. That’s why I’ve always been confident in my knife skills…”

The carrot strips were cut with perfect uniformity, as if done with a tool. Yu Ran handed a piece of sliced sausage to Shen Suhui’s mouth.

The sausage was fatty but not greasy. Taking a bite, the sizzling sound of oil bursting from it filled the air, and the taste was incredibly fragrant.

“You really have reason to be confident. But I think it might also have something to do with your profession,” Shen Suhui said.

Yu Ran asked, “How so?”

“Performing surgery requires a lot of skill and patience. Your hands need to be steady, and your emotions need to be stable. So, doesn’t this professional habit carry over to your vegetable chopping skills?”

“That’s very likely,” Yu Ran said as she arranged everything on a plate. “What do you think? Can I start cooking now?”

“Great!” Shen Suhui encouraged. “You’re really capable!”

“Then how about a kiss?”

Shen Suhui stood on tiptoe and kissed Yu Ran on the cheek.

The two didn’t eat much. Shen Suhui made mushroom and rib soup, stir-fried two dishes of vegetables, and stir-fried squid with a spicy sauce.

These were simple home dishes, but their aroma spread everywhere. Even though Yu Ran had been pampered since childhood, she had never been surrounded by such simple happiness before.

“Mm! So delicious!”

The stir-fried spicy squid had the perfect texture and just the right amount of heat, fresh but not greasy.

Shen Suhui poured her a bowl of rib soup.

“Eat more,” she said.

“Okay!”

Yu Ran usually controlled her diet and wasn’t particularly interested in food, but today she ate a lot. While she was eating, she watched the TV, where the movie A Perfect World was playing.

It was nearing the end, and the most emotional part had come.

Shen Suhui liked this movie and could watch it many times; she always cried at the same part, but Yu Ran was different. She focused intently on the screen, appreciating the movie without becoming emotionally involved.

“Wasn’t it moving?” Shen Suihui asked. “I cry every time I see this part!”

Yu Ran turned to look at her. “Not really, I’m watching with my eyes, but my mind is elsewhere.”

“What’s wrong?” Shen Suhui asked.

Yu Ran smiled. “The food is just too good…”

“And, I’ve seen so many life-and-death situations in the hospital, my emotional threshold has just gone higher.”

“What about before?” Shen Suhui asked curiously. “Would you have cried before?”

“You mean when I just started my internship?”

“Yeah.”

Yu Ran smiled. “Are you really that curious?”

Shen Suhui said, “I want to know everything about you.”

She wanted to know what Yu Ran was like in the past, what she was like after the college entrance exam, and what she was like when she wasn’t by her side.

Yu Ran was patient, smiling gently as she reminisced.

“When I first entered the operating room, I definitely felt something—whether it was emotional or physical. Seeing blood felt uncomfortable, and when a surgery was successful, I was happy, but if it failed, I’d be upset for several days and couldn’t eat.”

“When I had my first failed surgery, I spent months reviewing it, discussing different surgical approaches with my mentor. Some situations could have been avoided, but my mentor thought I was too young, lacking experience, and many of my ideas were unrealistic.”

“Later, I gradually understood that for every surgery, as long as you give your best, it’s enough. Not just in medicine, but in any field, many good results are achieved through the experience and sacrifices of those before us.”

Shen Suhui took her hand. “So…”

“So, it’s not that I lack compassion, but that I’ve become numb to these emotions,” Yu Ran answered.

Hearing her answer, Shen Suhui laughed. She thought Yu Ran was just too cute.

“What are you doing? I wasn’t blaming you for not crying!”

Yu Ran deliberately glared at her. “Really?”

“Yes!!!”

Finally, Shen Suhui let out a laugh, and Yu Ran playfully ran over to her. Shen Suhui was ticklish, so she couldn’t stop laughing as Yu Ran kept tickling her. Their clothes got messy, and Yu Ran finally scooped her up and threw her onto the sofa bed.

“I’m going to wash the dishes.”

She leaned down and kissed Shen Suihui on the forehead.

After dinner, both of them were tired and decided to take a nap before going to pick up the little tabby cat.

The blackout curtains in the master bedroom were very good. After pulling them shut and turning off the lights, it was pitch black—during the day, this felt very secure.

Of course, Shen Suhui usually doesn’t fully open up; she likes a dark atmosphere. During many depressive episodes, she would close the curtains and wrap herself in the blanket. This was the time when she felt safest.

She used to be very lonely, but today, she felt warm and secure.

After changing into their pajamas, Yu Ran lay down in bed and pulled Shen Suhui into her arms. Soon, they both smelled each other’s scent.

Shen Suhui hugged Yu Ran’s waist tightly, with a slight smile on her lips, happily inhaling the scent on her.

“I can’t breathe with you squeezing me like this.”

Shen Suhui feigned grievance, “It’s only just started, and you’re already complaining about me…”

“Little troublemaker.” Yu Ran kissed the top of Shen Suhui’s head, “Let’s sleep.”

When they opened their eyes again, it was already 3 p.m.

They quickly got ready and set off to the pet hospital to pick up the cat.

Shen Suhui thought Yu Ran’s Koenigsegg was too flashy, so she decided to drive her own Ora Good Cat.

“Have you thought of a name for the cat?” Yu Ran asked as she sat in the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt.

“Not yet. No rush.”

Yu Ran smiled, “We’re bringing it home, so think about it.”

“Hmm…” Shen Suhui acted coy, “You think of one for me.”

“I’ll think about it, and we’ll come up with one together.”

They spent the next 40 minutes thinking, but didn’t come up with a name. After seeing the cat, Shen Suhui seemed much happier, and it seemed like she wasn’t so shy anymore.

“The cat is doing well, its recovery is great.”

The little tabby wasn’t afraid of people at all. When Shen Suhui petted her, the cat rubbed against her hand. Shen Suhui picked her up and kissed her furry little head.

“This smell is quite nice…”

“We just gave her a bath with gardenia-scented pet shampoo. If you like it, I can give you one later…”

Yu Ran looked at Shen Suhui, then at the pet doctor, wondering if this person was too familiar. Did they not address customers as ‘you’?

“Thank you, if it works well, I’ll buy it again.”

Shen Suhui was focused on cuddling the cat and didn’t think much of it.

“That’s great! We have your contact info, so feel free to consult me if you have any questions.”

“Okay.”

“Now, let’s go over the discharge details. There are some forms that need your signature…”

“Sure.”

Shen Suhui turned around, handing the cat to Yu Ran. The little tabby was obedient, lying on Yu Ran’s shoulder with her round, wide eyes.

Yu Ran’s expression wasn’t very good.

“Do you not like cats, or are you allergic to cat hair?” Shen Suhui seemed to misunderstand and said apologetically, “We can put her in the cat carrier.”

“No, I’m not allergic. I like cats a lot.”

Yu Ran glared at the pet doctor in a somewhat vengeful manner. The doctor hadn’t even looked at her.

“Ms. Shen, this way, please.”

The pet doctor, who looked to be in her early thirties and was well-maintained, had an elegant, intellectual demeanor. Yu Ran, though also calm, appeared somewhat more youthful in comparison.

“By the way, have you decided on a name for the cat?”

Shen Suhui honestly replied, “We haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Is that so?” The doctor smiled gently. “If you don’t mind, I can help you come up with one.”

“No need, I’ve already thought of one,” Yu Ran said coldly.

Shen Suhui awkwardly smiled and asked Yu Ran, “What’s it called?”

“Lucky.”

“Lucky… Lucky,” the doctor nodded, “Okay, Ms. Shen, please come over to sign.”

“I’ll do it.”

Yu Ran pulled Shen Suhui behind her and walked to the doctor’s side.

“All done.”

“Great, now for the payment, the total is 23,500.”

—-

After scanning the QR code, Yu Ran grabbed Shen Suhui’s arm as they left. Once in the car, Shen Suhui said, “I’ll transfer the medical fees to you.”

“No need. Lucky is also my child.”

“Ha—”

Shen Suhui laughed out loud, “Were you jealous just now?”

“The female doctor clearly has an interest in you, and you didn’t even notice.”

Shen Suhui asked, “How do you know? Don’t misunderstand her.”

“Am I that kind of person?” Yu Ran said, irritated, “Shen Suhui, you’ve already started speaking up for others.”

Yu Ran, holding the cat carrier, looked both serious and flustered, showing another side of herself that Shen Suhui hadn’t seen before.

“I get it, I’ll pay more attention next time,” she leaned closer, “I really like the name Lucky, thank you, Yu Ran.”

“…”

Yu Ran softened, her expression melting from the irritation, “Next time, I’ll go with you to these situations. You’re too innocent.”

“Okay, but do you have that much time to cling to me, Dr. Yu?”

“If it’s something I can do on my day off, then I’ll do it.”

“Okay.”

Shen Suhui felt extremely happy. She didn’t find it annoying at all. She liked Yu Ran being clingy. The more clingy, the better.

Yu Ran loved Lucky, and along the way, she kept teasing the little cat. The kitten curled up her paws, playing through the transparent part of the carrier with Yu Ran.

“Have we prepared cat food, treats, and freeze-dried snacks? Should we stop and buy some?”

Shen Suhui asked, “The pet hospital has them. Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

Yu Ran pulled a face and pretended to be angry, “Don’t bring it up again!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Tonight, I won’t let you go.”

“Okay, okay.”

Once Yu Ran said those words, Shen Suhui knew she had to give in. She had experienced what it was like when Yu Ran said she “wouldn’t let her go.”

“Don’t worry, everything’s ready.”

“Mm.”

Yu Ran unzipped the cat bag, and the little cat poked its head out. She played with the cat’s ears, laughing as she called the cat’s name, “Lucky,” over and over again.

As soon as Shen Suhui parked the car, Yu Ran received a call from Yu Haowei.

“My dad’s home. I have to go.”

“Okay.”

The two stood downstairs at the apartment building. They hadn’t even had a chance to go upstairs yet, and as soon as they knew they were about to part ways, they turned to face each other with an unspoken understanding. Their gazes were filled with reluctance, unease, and a sense of panic.

It seemed like every couple experienced this—feeling insecure about the first date’s parting, full of uncertainty. And from each other’s eyes, they saw the reluctance, anxiety, and confusion.

Yu Ran suddenly grabbed Shen Suhui by the back of her neck, leaned down, and kissed her.

“Wait for me.”

Shen Suhui looked up at her, her eyes misty with emotion.

“Mm-hmm.”

Yu Ran lowered her head and couldn’t help but kiss her again.

This kiss lasted a minute, and Shen Suhui began to urge, “Okay, go home now.”

“Okay.”

Though they had said they would leave, Yu Ran pulled Shen Suhui tightly into her arms, holding her close.

Eventually, it was Shen Suhui who pulled away first. She pushed Yu Ran, turning her around. For a moment, Yu Ran stood frozen in place.

Yu Ran followed her gaze, and her expression darkened.

Jiang Shiluo was standing not far away, watching everything that had just happened.