Chapter 35

◎ Don’t doubt me. ◎

Even though Yu Ran was only dressed in casual clothes, she sat opposite with an air of stern solemnity. She seemed to naturally exude a sense of oppression, making it impossible to resist her commands when she wasn’t smiling.

Du Qiuyan moved her laptop closer, occasionally glancing at Yu Ran, whose gaze never left her face.

The difference now was that this gaze carried coldness and disgust—no longer the tenderness of the past.

Lowering her head, Du Qiuyan felt a surge of resentment. She was almost consumed with jealousy towards Shen Suhui.

Unaware of what Du Qiuyan was up to, Yu Ran stood and walked behind her, watching as she opened her Weibo account and began typing.

“Hello everyone, regarding today’s incident at Rainy Day Café, I feel it’s necessary to apologize to the owner, Shen Suhui, and everyone…”

Du Qiuyan typed slowly, mostly because she was watching Yu Ran out of the corner of her eye.

The laptop’s edge could reflect the shadow of the person behind her. Du Qiuyan tried to catch something from that shadow, but Yu Ran’s cold voice rang out above her.

“Hurry up, I don’t have time to waste on you.”

Du Qiuyan laughed.

Yu Ran already hated her, didn’t she?

Yu Ran had already said she wouldn’t come back to her, hadn’t she?

So why not go crazy, crazy, crazy!!!

Or turn into a madwoman—if Yu Ran got scared, she might give up.

Du Qiuyan released all the negative emotions inside her. Suddenly, she screamed and pushed the laptop away. It crashed heavily to the ground, breaking and going dark.

Du Qiuyan stood up, kicked over the sofa, her hair a mess, glaring hatefully at Yu Ran.

“Why? Why?! You want me to apologize, so I have to apologize? Who does Shen Suhui think she is?!”

“…”

Yu Ran squinted her eyes, watching her calmly and indifferently.

She said slowly, “You have the nerve to say Shen Suhui is crazy, but you look more like a lunatic!”

“Du Qiuyan, how did you get the Best Actress award acting like this…” Yu Ran said lightly, “I think this matter won’t stand up to scrutiny. Did you survive in the entertainment industry by drinking and going crazy?”

“Shut up!!! Anyway, I won’t write it, I won’t write it, I won’t write it. I just think the coffee is terrible, so what? Why do you take away my right to speak? Posting on Weibo was just a kind reminder to others not to step on a mine! Yu Ran, don’t go too far!”

“It’s fine if you think it’s terrible, but why do you have to exaggerate?”

Yu Ran suddenly rushed over, grabbing her by the collar and pressing her down on the sofa. Du Qiuyan’s lower back ached from the bottle, but Yu Ran no longer cared.

“I don’t care what tricks you’re playing, or if you really think it’s terrible. In any case, you must post this apology on Weibo today. Don’t test my patience.”

Yu Ran’s eyes were full of disgust, “Don’t think that every time I make a threat, I’m just scaring you, Du Qiuyan. I don’t want to have any connection with you.”

“…”

After saying this, Yu Ran let go of Du Qiuyan’s collar. Du Qiuyan slowly sat up, moving sluggishly, her gaze vacant as if she had been frightened by Yu Ran’s actions.

“Hurry up and write.”

Yu Ran urged her coldly again.

Du Qiuyan picked up the laptop, but it wouldn’t turn on. She looked at Yu Ran.

“Write it on your phone.”

Du Qiuyan complied.

Five minutes later, Yu Ran opened Du Qiuyan’s initial Weibo post and carefully read through it. Du Qiuyan had done everything she was asked to do.

“Thanks for cooperating. Also, I hope you never set foot in Rainy Day Café again in your life.”

Yu Ran picked up her bag and left the Du family villa without a second thought.

Du Qiuyan collapsed onto the messy sofa, shedding two tears before opening a bottle of red wine and downing it all in one gulp.

Yu Ran drove back to her apartment complex. As soon as she parked the car, she saw a familiar figure downstairs.

Shen Suhui was squatting at the entrance, her face buried in her knees, making herself as small as possible. She might have been sleeping or crying.

Yu Ran rushed over and stood in front of Shen Suhui.

“Why did you come downstairs? How long have you been waiting?”

Her voice was anxious. Shen Suhui suddenly looked up at her, eyes filled with sorrow.

Shen Suhui stood up abruptly and hugged Yu Ran tightly around the neck.

Yu Ran wrapped her arms around her waist, holding her close, and kissed her on the cheek.

Tasting the salty bitterness, Yu Ran’s heart ached, “Were you crying?”

Shen Suhui shook her head repeatedly, “I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore if you went…”

“Silly,” Yu Ran’s voice was gentle, like coaxing a child, “I always keep my word.”

It was already three or four in the morning, and the sky was beginning to lighten. Yu Ran didn’t dare delay any longer and took Shen Suhui home.

The quiet hallway and empty elevator were cold and eerie. Shen Suhui had curled up earlier because she hated the darkness and danger, yet she waited downstairs for Yu Ran despite her fear.

Yu Ran understood her thoughts, holding Shen Suhui tightly the whole time to give her a sense of security.

Once home, after locking the door, Yu Ran lifted Shen Suhui in a princess carry. She didn’t move, just held her like that, quietly looking at her.

Shen Suhui, seemingly startled, looked at Yu Ran with wide eyes, tears still hanging on her eyelashes.

Yu Ran shifted her hold slightly; Shen Suhui was very light.

“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered, “I won’t drop you. See, I’m strong!”

“…”

Shen Suhui didn’t speak, tentatively wrapping her arms around Yu Ran’s neck, slowly leaning into her embrace.

“You still want to be with me, right? I was really scared…”

“Shen Suhui, can you try to trust me?”

Yu Ran’s voice was full of pleading.

She begged Shen Suhui to believe she wouldn’t leave her.

Shen Suhui cried, shaking her head, “Yu Ran, you used to really, really like Du Qiuyan.”

Maybe you don’t remember clearly, but Shen Suhui remembered everything.

So if Du Qiuyan said more about her miserable past, Yu Ran might leave her and go back to Du Qiuyan.

Yu Ran, however, asked something else, “You used to really understand me, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Shen Suhui…” Yu Ran asked word by word, “Did you like me since I started pursuing Du Qiuyan?”

“…”

Shen Suhui turned her head to avoid Yu Ran’s gaze.

Yu Ran wasn’t impatient, leaning over to kiss her cheek and the tears on the corners of her mouth.

“It doesn’t matter…” Yu Ran’s voice even trembled a bit, “We still have a lifetime…”

They didn’t kiss for long. After a day and night of turmoil, they needed rest. Yu Ran laid Shen Suhui on the bed, then got under the covers herself.

Even after Shen Suhui fell asleep, Yu Ran wasn’t tired. She opened Weibo, and although the reviews had improved, the mark of the original post couldn’t be erased. It had brought some negative impact to Rainy Day Café.

After checking Weibo, Yu Ran took a nap. Before long, dawn broke, and she got up to start preparing breakfast.

Yu Ran made some Western-style breakfast. There were ready-made items in the fridge, most of which just needed to be heated in the microwave. By the time she was done and ready for work, Shen Suhui was still asleep.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains into the bedroom, casting a warm glow on Shen Suhui’s peaceful and adorable sleeping face. Yu Ran gently pinched Shen Suhui’s earlobe and whispered, “Wake up and have breakfast!”

Shen Suhui, who hadn’t slept deeply, sat up and looked at Yu Ran, “Why are you up so early?”

“I have to go to work. What’s your plan for today?”

Shen Suhui shook her head, “I don’t know yet.”

“Then just rest at home, okay?” Yu Ran said. “We’ll discuss the specifics when I get back from work tonight.”

Shen Suhui thought for a moment and agreed, “Okay.”

“I’ve prepared your medication. It’s in this box. Make sure you take it after breakfast,” Yu Ran reminded her.

Shen Suhui stared at the medicine box, lost in thought, “How did you know…”

“Because I’m a doctor too…” Yu Ran stroked Shen Suhui’s face. “Why hide it? I know who you are, so no matter how you change, I’m not afraid… Let me spend my life healing you, slowly but surely. So Shen Suhui… don’t doubt me, okay?”

After hesitating for a moment, Shen Suhui nodded firmly.

Yu Ran was about to leave but turned back, still worried. She told Shen Suhui, “Call me if you need anything.”

Shen Suhui replied, “There’s a camera in the living room. Do you want to check it?”

Yu Ran intended to refuse but ended up saying, “Okay.”

Shen Suhui didn’t expect someone as gentle and intelligent as Yu Ran to agree. She was stunned and stammered, “Okay, you… you need to download an app… How about I send you the steps on your phone after you go to work?”

“That works.”

Before leaving, Yu Ran reminded her one last time, “I’m not using the camera to monitor you, but because I want to see you whenever I miss you.”

“…”

This made Shen Suhui blush, and she muttered something under her breath. Yu Ran found her adorable and finally left.

Today was a relatively calm day at the hospital. During her breaks, Yu Ran napped on her desk. Occasionally, she checked the camera to see what Shen Suhui was doing, and sometimes she chatted with her while writing medical records.

Shen Suhui was not in good shape, feeling listless, eating little, and sleeping lightly. This depressive episode caught Yu Ran off guard, and she wasn’t mentally prepared for it.

It’s often said that a good lover is like an excellent psychiatrist. Yu Ran knew that when Shen Suhui was unhappy and depressed, she needed to shower her with lots and lots of love.

Yu Ran had the day shift today. At night, Jian Ming was supposed to take over. This was the first time Yu Ran had seen Jian Ming in two weeks, as she had been taking frequent leaves recently for some unknown reason.

At the end of her shift, Yu Ran changed her clothes, determined not to let anything delay her from going home.

As she entered the elevator, she ran into Jian Ming, who looked haggard, as if she hadn’t slept for days.

Around Jian Ming’s neck were obvious hickeys.