Chapter 8: Discharged and Returning to Hua Residence

“What are you doing here again?” Xu Yueyao asked, exasperated.

“What’s for dinner tonight?” Chen Shen asked casually, sitting on the sofa and crossing his legs.

Xu Yueyao looked at the thick-skinned man in front of her and recalled the first time he came over for a meal. She had protested back then, but he shamelessly replied, “It’s not like I’m eating your food. I’m eating what our Young Master Zhan provides. If you don’t like it, why don’t you ask him whether he minds me eating here?”

Xu Yueyao was so infuriated that she was at a loss for words. How could she, a mere dispensable mistress, dare to question Young Master Zhan?

With an annoyed expression, she said, “I don’t know. Just wait.”

Chen Shen picked up a magazine beside him and started flipping through it nonchalantly. Seeing him like this, Xu Yueyao couldn’t help but recall the information she had read about him in a book.

Chen Shen was born into the prestigious Chen family, one of the top aristocratic families. However, at birth, the family’s maid swapped him with her own daughter’s child. The maid intended for her son-in-law to take the baby somewhere and kill him. But the son-in-law couldn’t bring himself to do it and instead left him at a remote orphanage.

Years later, an 8-year-old Zhan Rongxuan was kidnapped by the female lead An Zhiyi’s father, An Tai, and hidden in the same orphanage. The female lead was unaware of this and accidentally helped him escape. While running away, little Rongxuan saw An Tai assaulting an 8-year-old boy. Stealthily, Rongxuan grabbed a nearby fruit knife and killed An Tai. The two children then fled the orphanage, and Rongxuan took the boy to the Zhan family.

Since the boy was strikingly handsome and bore a strong resemblance to Madam Chen, the Zhan family investigated his background and discovered the truth. Once everything was revealed, he returned to the Chen family and was given the name Chen Shen.

His experiences at the orphanage made him cold and detached. Madam Chen, feeling sorry for what he had gone through, never forced him to do anything he didn’t want to do. Instead of joining the family business, he chose to become a doctor.

Perhaps because of his childhood experiences, he was indifferent to everyone except Zhan Rongxuan. Even Zhan Rongxuan’s close companions, Shen Yan and Duan Jingyi, had to spend years breaking through his defenses to become his friends.

He never had a girlfriend, and Xu Yueyao wondered if it was because of his past. Looking at him now, she thought he seemed quite pitiful. She sighed inwardly, deciding not to bicker with him anymore. She would let him eat a little more tonight.

Although Chen Shen was reading, he still noticed Xu Yueyao staring at him intently. It made him slightly uncomfortable, and just as he was about to say something, Aunt Wang walked in with a food container.

“Doctor Chen, you’re here too? Sorry, the traffic was a bit heavy,” Aunt Wang said as she placed two tall food containers on the table. There were eight dishes and one soup in total.

Xu Yueyao swallowed her saliva, quickly getting out of bed to sit across from Chen Shen. Aunt Wang’s cooking suited her taste perfectly. She picked up her chopsticks and went straight for the braised pork. Xu Yueyao was a carnivore—she couldn’t live without meat.

Coincidentally, Chen Shen also aimed for the braised pork at the same time. Their chopsticks clashed over a piece of meat. Just as Chen Shen was about to fight for it, Xu Yueyao let go and picked another piece instead, savoring it with delight.

Throughout dinner, Xu Yueyao was unusually accommodating, no longer bickering with him. This made Chen Shen feel oddly satisfied yet inexplicably uneasy. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off about her tonight.

After dinner, Chen Shen was about to leave when Xu Yueyao called out, “Wait a minute.”

He turned around just in time to catch an apple she tossed at him.

“Fruit after a meal,” she said with a smile.

Chen Shen looked at the apple in his hand, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Xu Yueyao clicked her tongue and shook her head. So rude. But then she reminded herself that all their roles existed to serve the main characters. Even his tragic childhood was meant to add depth to the heroine’s journey. With that realization, she let it go. Sigh, everyone here is just pitiful.

Back in his break room, Chen Shen stared at the apple in his hand, his handsome face slightly stiff. His sharp, dark eyes flickered with complicated emotions. Originally, he had been observing Xu Yueyao to see if she was trying to get close to Rongxuan with ulterior motives. But now, for some reason, he felt…strange.

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The next morning, Chen Shen came in for his rounds as usual. After checking Xu Yueyao’s wound, he said, “You can be discharged now. Go home and rest.”

Xu Yueyao was surprised. “I can leave already?”

Chen Shen raised an eyebrow. “What? Didn’t get enough of hospital life?”

Xu Yueyao glanced around the room, feeling a strange sense of reluctance. This was the first place she had stayed after arriving here, and now she had to leave.

Chen Shen chuckled. “I won’t say ‘come back anytime,’ because that would be unlucky. But if you really want to stay longer, someone else is paying the bill anyway.”

Xu Yueyao shook her head. “No thanks, I’ll leave.” Who would enjoy staying in a hospital?

“Alright, I’ll help Miss Xu pack up,” Aunt Wang said happily.

Xu Yueyao changed out of the loose hospital gown into an outfit Zhan Feng had prepared for her. Looking in the mirror, she saw herself dressed in a meticulously tailored beige Chanel-style suit. The fine craftsmanship and perfect fit gave her an air of elegance, making her look like a true wealthy heiress. Seeing her rosy complexion and smooth, radiant skin, Xu Yueyao sighed. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.

When she stepped out, Aunt Wang was momentarily stunned.

“Miss Xu, you look absolutely stunning,” she praised.

Xu Yueyao smiled, enjoying the compliment. Who doesn’t like being praised?

After taking one last look at the hospital room she had stayed in for the past few days, she turned and left. Outside, she hesitated for a moment, then decided that she should at least say goodbye to Chen Shen out of courtesy. After all, they had shared so many meals together.

“Aunt Wang, please take these fruits to the hospital staff. I’m going to say goodbye to Dr. Chen,” she said.

“Alright, Miss Xu.”

When Xu Yueyao reached Chen Shen’s office, she saw that he was with a patient. Instead of interrupting, she left a note with the receptionist, asking her to pass it to him.

Before leaving, she took one last glance at him working seriously and muttered under her breath, “Tsk, he actually looks pretty handsome when he’s focused.”

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“Miss Xu, this is Zhang Changtai, the driver Mr. Zhan Feng assigned to you. You can just call him Uncle Zhang,” Aunt Wang introduced.

“Uncle Zhang, I’ll be in your care,” Xu Yueyao said politely. Seeing his strong build, she guessed he had probably been in the military before.

“Miss Xu, are we heading to Hua Residence?” Uncle Zhang asked.

Hua Residence—the place Zhan Rongxuan had arranged for her to stay. Xu Yueyao nodded. “Yes, take me there.” There was no way she was returning to that dingy basement apartment.

Upon arrival, she was taken aback by the extravagant décor. A massive crystal chandelier sparkled in the grand hall, with priceless art pieces adorning the space. Every inch of the residence exuded aristocratic elegance.

“Miss Xu, Mr. Zhan Feng said the room was only minimally decorated. If you don’t like it, we can renovate it to your taste,” Aunt Wang said.

“No need,” Xu Yueyao quickly shook her head. She loved it—absolutely loved it.

As Aunt Wang went to prepare food, Xu Yueyao explored the luxurious bedroom, the spacious walk-in closet, and the perfectly curated collection of designer clothes, accessories, and shoes.

She had truly entered a whole new world.