Yaffe Qin doesn’t know how to continue the conversation with Genee.
Anne brings in a pile of medical cases, “Sis Qin, the case files you asked for”.
“Just leave them there.”
As Yaffe is about to say goodbye to Anne, she realizes the phone is already hung up.
Anne looks at the blank-ish expression on Yaffe’s face, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Please just leave the cases here. I’m going to visit the wards. Come with me if you’re available.”
“Okay.”
Yaffe and Anne go in their assigned ward and examine the conditions of several patients.
Anne watches carefully how Yaffe communicates with the patients.
She finds that Yaffe gives off a special feeling.
By just standing there, Yaffe shows confidence, yet it doesn’t feel too distant.
Yaffe’s composure, decisiveness, and professionalism are respected by doctors of decades of experience.
Anne secretly doubts if she could ever ease patients like this.
After they left the ward, Yaffe taps Anne’s head with a pen, “Were you daydreaming?”
Anne shamelessly hugs Yaffe in an instant, wailing “Sis Qin, you must take me as your apprentice”.
“Bugger off. My life expectancy will be shortened 10 years with an apprentice this stupid.
“Not until you walk over my dead body.”
“Why did I hire you at first?”
“Must have been how cute I am.”
Yaffe is amazed by Anne’s shameless mentality and says “I’m getting off work. Staying with you any longer will make me want to commit crimes”.
Anne smilingly lets go of Yaffe.
Although Yaffe may seem cold, Anne is never afraid of Yaffe and often jokes with her.
Appearing to be cold is entirely different from cold-heartedness.
And Yaffe just appears to be cold.
“Sis Qin, do you wanna hang out with Doctor Yang? Some people in their gynecology and obstetrics department were making trouble yesterday. Seemed like it was her patient too; she must have been scolded by their director.”
“Stop it you, even arranging my after-work life now huh,” Yaffe says without once turning her head.
Anne is happy being scolded and bounces off to organize files.
**
At the café,
Yaffe, with a fine teaspoon, occasionally stirs the coffee cup in front, listening to Rowie Yang’s grumble.
“Yaffe, I’m so envious of you. If I have your vibe, lots of cases will be much simpler. But when I see the emotional faces of the patients and families, my head will go blank. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not suited to be a doctor, I can’t control the patients at all,” says Rowie with a face of envy.
“Don’t belittle yourself. Your professional skills are not bad. You have good temperament and carefulness. No need to overthink on a small setback.”
“You really think so?”
“Mm-hmm. If the hospital is full of doctors like me, patients won’t even dare to come visit. It’s late already. Let me walk you home. You’ve got work tomorrow.”
“How about you?”
“I’ve got my few patients’ surgeries moved to next week. Got a weekend to relax.”
“I’m so jealous. I don’t have weekends anymore.”
“It’s only once in a while I get weekends. Every doctor in residence has to experience this,” Yaffe chuckles.
Rowie sees no signs of discontent or complaint on her face and says suddenly: “Yaffe, do you regret all these years?”
“What is there to regret for?”
“Giving away your study-abroad opportunity to Zeow Zhou that year. With your professional skills and practices, if you continue on to a master’s degree, you will immediately become a vice director once returned. You’d not have to work your way up from a resident doctor.”
Yaffe’s coffee-stirring hand pauses for a second and smiles: “It’s all the same even from overseas, if you don’t have what it takes.”
“Other people? Maybe. But for you? I believe in you with my all my heart.”
“Aww… thank you beautiful for your vote of confidence. I shall work harder,” says Yaffe smilingly.
“You’re kidding again.”
“I’m naturally humorous.”
“Piss off.”
“Hey, even beauty won’t get away with being vulgar.”
Rowie Yang lazily rolls her eyes: “okay, I’ll be straight with you. Zeow Zhou and Quaneisha Ye are coming back next week. The colleague group is hysterical about hosting a welcoming party. Are you going or not?”
“Next week? I’m not sure. I’ll if I’m available.”
“It’s better if you don’t go. A whole bunch of people is waiting to make fun of you.”
Yaffe raises her head and gulps the cup of coffee. She makes an indifferent smile: “What’s there to be made fun of? It was just giving away a state-sponsored opportunity to study abroad to the boyfriend and paying for him a large sum of living expense. And the boyfriend turned heartbreaker, under the baptism of the evil capitalist state, kicked me, an infatuated girlfriend, away. What a big deal! It’s being played on TV shows every single day.”
Rowie widens her eyes at Yaffe, “This is what you really think?”
“Or what should I think?” Yaffe asks the waiter for the bill, turns to Rowie fixed on her seat, and says: “Let’s go, Doctor Yang.”
Yaffe picks up her bag and stands up.
Before she stands steady on her feet, she is hugged by her legs.
Shocked, Yaffe looks down and finds Genee.
Genee, wearing a SpongeBob hoodie, looks up with a tender and delicate baby face. His black and shiny eyes stare at Yaffe, full of hopes and surprises.
This pure amazement is highly contagious.
Unknowingly, a cheerful smile takes over Yaffe’s face, “Hello dear, good evening. Are you here with your family?”
Genee nods twice.
His pair of short arms hugs Yaffe’s legs tighter, as if he was afraid that she might run away.
Rowie Yang is affected by Genee’s cuteness, smiles: “Baby boy, hello.”
Then, Rowie reaches out her hand to Genee.
Genee ignores without batting an eye.
Rowie, her hand freezes mid-air, feels little awkward.
Yaffe explains: “He’s a bit special.”
Then, she turns towards Genee and says: “Did you come here with your butler or your daddy?”
Genee, from his tiny backpack, takes out a mini-tablet and writes one word.
Daddy.
An image of Quinn He’s ice-cold face emerges in Yaffe’s mind, bashing off all the joyful surprises of seeing Genee.
On second thought, Yaffe says: “I and my friend have something to do later. How about we send you to the service counter and you wait for your daddy there okay?
Genee’s face instantly shows a dash of disappointment on hearing her words.
His tender lips pressed together.
His tiny face expresses much helplessness.
Seeing this, Yaffe feels a sense of guilt.
It is when Yaffe is unsure what to do with this kid, a steady pace is heard from behind.
Quinn He raises his elegant voice: “Genee, don’t bother Doctor Qin and her friend’s meeting.”
The appearance of Quinn He has drawn all attention in the café to him.
Everyone looks onto the direction he is walking towards, wondering who the lucky woman is that attracts a quality man like Quinn He.
Genee sees Quinn and immediately clings onto Yaffe like a thigh pendant.
Instantly, Yaffe feels very awkward.