Even a single tear clung to the tip of his small nose as he looked up.
For a mont, the two just stared at each other in silence.
Then, suddenly, a loud hiccup escaped from Rong Xingyu.
"..."
"..."
Dr. Ding quickly turned his head aside, covering his mouth as he coughed twice to hide his smile.
When he looked back, his expression was calm again, though his eyes still shimred faintly with amusent.
Rong Xingyu felt his face burn. Oh God... could I be any more embarrassing right now?
He hurriedly took a tissue from Dr. Ding’s hand and covered his face, wiping his tears in a flustered ss.
anwhile, Dr. Ding retrieved a dical kit and returned to kneel casually beside the bed.
His movents were so natural and practiced that it took a mont for Rong Xingyu to process what was happening.
He had just taken off Rong Xingyu’s left shoe.
"Huh?!"
Rong Xingyu blinked his eyes, startled. He opened his mouth to say sothing, but when he saw the calm and professional look on Dr. Ding’s face as if nothing was out of the ordinary he quickly closed it again.
Still, the tips of his ears turned bright red.
...Was Dr. Ding this gentle and attentive with every patient?
That day, Rong Xingyu had worn white low cut socks that left his slender ankles exposed.
His ankle was so fine and delicate that Dr. Ding could easily encircle it with one hand.
For a mont, perhaps it was just his imagination, Rong Xingyu thought Dr. Ding’s gaze lingered there a bit too long.
No... that must just be my imagination, he told himself.
Then Dr. Ding spoke in a calm, low voice. "That tattoo on your ankle, it’s unique. It suits you very well."
...Okay, maybe it wasn’t his imagination after all.
Rong Xingyu felt the fish tattoo on his ankle grow hot, as if it were burning under the man’s gaze.
Dr. Ding gently lifted his foot and resting it on his bent knee as he began to tend to the wound.
Then Dr. Ding dipped a cotton ball in iodine and carefully disinfected Rong Xingyu’s wound.
When Rong Xingyu couldn’t help but let out two small sobs, Dr. Ding slowed his movents, making them as gentle as possible.
In the end, Dr. Ding even leaned in and softly blew twice over the treated wound, as if to soothe the sting.
After finally finishing the cleaning and wrapping the wound, Rong Xingyu sniffled and, after hesitating for a long ti, he couldn’t stop himself from asking the question he had been holding inside.
"Dr. Ding, why are you so good to ?"
Dr. Ding’s hand paused for a mont as he was closing the dical box. Then he gave a quiet laugh and said, "Of course, it’s because I want sothing from you."
Rong Xingyu didn’t expect that answer. He looked up and confused.
"Is there anything I can even help you with...?"
Dr. Ding slowly shook his head. "Maybe not now. But if there ever cos a ti, I hope you’ll be willing to help then."
"Alright." Rong Xingyu nodded seriously, then mumbled in a small voice,
"But... I don’t think there’s anything I could help you with."
After all, Dr. Ding always showed up exactly when he needed help the most, he was calm and capable like soone who could handle anything. How could soone like that ever need his help?
"You will be able to help," Dr. Ding said suddenly, eting his eyes. His tone was steady and certain.
He didn’t stand up yet, still kneeling beside the bed, with Rong Xingyu’s foot resting on his leg.
Dr. Ding lifted his head slightly while Rong Xingyu sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at him. Their gazes t and for a mont, it felt as if sothing invisible had passed between them, sothing he almost grasped but couldn’t quite hold onto.
Then, suddenly, a rhythmic knock ca from the door outside, breaking the silence.
"Xiaoyu, are you in there?"
Both Rong Xingyu and Dr. Ding turned toward the door at the sa ti.
...
Half an hour earlier.
Rong Zhenqiao had arrived early at the finish line, waiting for his younger brother.
When he saw Rong Xingyu cross the line, a wave of pride, relief, and worry washed over him all at once.
He stepped forward while smiling warmly, ready to catch his little brother when he saw him stumbled.
But before he could even reach him, a tall figure in a white coat moved faster.
And his little brother practically fell straight into that man’s arms.
Rong Zhenqiao frowned when he saw the man’s white coat. The school doctor?
He knew logically that the doctor was only helping Xingyu up, supporting him like any professional would but sohow, the sight still bothered him.
Just as he was about to walk over, a loud, excited voice called out from behind him.
"Mr. Rong! Mr. Rong!"
Rong Zhenqiao’s steps faltered for a mont and in that brief pause, the students had already crowded around his brother in excitent.
"..."
Suppressing his irritation, Rong Zhenqiao turned his head.
A round chubby man in a suit pushed his way forward, his big belly leading the way as he hurried over with smile on his face.
The man’s overly formal outfit looked completely out of place in the casual atmosphere around the track.
"...Mr. Gao?"
"Yes, yes, it’s !" The round man’s awkward smile deepened, his small eyes squeezed together into thin slits. "I saw your post on social dia this morning, Mr. Rong, and thought I’d try my luck. I didn’t expect to actually run into you here..."
Rong Zhenqiao rembered this Mr. Gao vaguely. But when he noticed the man was about to steer the conversation toward their recent business cooperation, his expression instantly turned cold.
He glanced at his watch and said curtly, "This isn’t a suitable place to talk business, Mr. Gao. Soone from our company will handle the negotiations. I have sothing important to deal with now, so excuse ."
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