Chapter 27

"Ellie." Just as Qin Chuan and Jiang Lingling were walking out of the hospital's main gate, a black Audi stopped in front of them. The front window of the Audi slowly rolled down, and Gao Zhe poked his head out.

"Secretary Gao, what brings you to the hospital?" Jiang Lingling asked.

"You didn't come home last night, and Teacher Zhou was very worried about you," Gao Zhe said.

"There was a major traffic accident yesterday, and all the doctors and nurses in the emergency department had to work overtime," Jiang Lingling explained.

"I see. And this is?" Gao Zhe's gaze shifted to Qin Chuan.

"He's my colleague, Qin Chuan. Secretary Gao, we're going shopping. We won't chat anymore. Tell my parents that I won't be home for dinner tonight because I have to work the night shift. I'll have dinner with my colleagues outside," Jiang Lingling said.

"Alright." Gao Zhe rolled up the window, but soon rolled it down again, sticking his head out to ask, "Where are you going? I can give you a ride."

"We're just browsing around Jijian Street. It's not on your way, so you should go ahead. Qin Chuan, let's go." Jiang Lingling said.

Gao Zhe nodded. This time, he didn't even roll up the window before driving off. He stopped not far away, turned his head to look at Qin Chuan and Jiang Lingling walking side by side, and muttered softly, "Qin Chuan."

"This is the first time I've gone shopping with a boy. It really feels great," Jiang Lingling said, skipping along like a little girl.

Qin Chuan, of course, wasn't the first time he had gone shopping with a girl. He used to go shopping with his girlfriend frequently in college, so he had plenty of experience in this area.

Seeing that Qin Chuan didn't say anything, Jiang Lingling asked, "Doctor Qin, have you ever gone shopping with a girl before?"

Qin Chuan nodded, "Yes, I have."

Qin Chuan's response made Jiang Lingling's expression darken. Men want to be a woman's first, and women naturally want to be the first to be loved by the man they like. The significance of being the first is never as simple as it sounds.

"Do you still keep in touch with your ex-girlfriend?" Jiang Lingling asked cautiously.

"No, we broke up. We split before graduation," Qin Chuan said.

"Oh." Seeing that Qin Chuan was unwilling to talk about the past, Jiang Lingling quickly changed the subject, "Hey, there are a lot of people gathered over there. There must be something good. Let's go check it out."

At the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanya University, obstetrician Shang Wenxiu had just completed a cesarean section. The surgery went perfectly, and when she lifted the baby out of the mother's body, the little life was waving its limbs in her hands.

The baby's father had been waiting anxiously in the corridor outside the obstetrics department, both excited and nervous. As soon as he saw Shang Wenxi come out, he rushed over, "Doctor, how is my wife?"

"Congratulations, mother and daughter are both safe. Go in and see your wife and daughter," Shang Wenxiu said.

The young father, now a new dad, jumped with excitement, "I'm a dad!"

Shang Wenxi looked at the excited new father with a hint of envy. She really wanted to run up to that person and ask why he chose to give up at the last moment, becoming a heartless man who abandoned his responsibilities. Shang Wenxi always felt that something must have happened that she didn't know about.

"Wenxiu, it's time to go home. Why haven't you changed your clothes yet?" the obstetrics department's midwife, Zhang Caiqin, asked.

"I'm just about to leave. There were so many cesarean sections today, it's really tiring," Shang Wenxiu said.

"You're new here. You'll get used to it over time. Nowadays, people usually have their first child when they're at least 27 or 28, and many are in their early 30s. Their physical condition isn't great. If they all had natural births, it would be very dangerous. The best age for childbirth is around 24 or 25. When I had my child, I was only 21. I had my child a year after getting married. It was so quick. Young people nowadays don't have it so easy. Wenxiu, go wash up and go home quickly," Zhang Caiqin said.

"Okay." Shang Wenxiu nodded.

Shang Wenxiu didn't really want to go home. Her mother, Wang Xiaoli, was very concerned about her lifelong happiness and often introduced her to some young talents. Although her daughter was still young, Shang's mother believed that it was never too early to prepare for marriage.

Shang Wenxiu had just stepped out of the hospital when Wang Xiaoli called, "Daughter, why are you so late coming home?"

"I just finished a cesarean section. I just stepped out of the hospital," Shang Wenxiu said.

"I've told you before, being a doctor is exhausting. It's also very dangerous nowadays. Daughter, listen to your mother. Quit your job and come work at my company. You're so smart, you'll definitely be a big help to me," Wang Xiaoli said.

"No way. Being a doctor is my dream. You manage your company yourself," Shang Wenxiu said.

"This company will eventually be handed over to you. Even if you don't manage it now, you'll have to in the future. We only have you as our daughter, and in the future, not only your mother's company but also your father's business will be handed over to you. Can you bear to see your parents work so hard to manage such a large business? If you take over, your father and I can retire early and enjoy life. When you have children, your father and I will take care of them for you," Wang Xiaoli said.

"I don't need your wealth. I can support myself," Shang Wenxiu pouted.

"You child. Come back quickly. We're going to a dance tonight. Your Aunt Zhao's son, Yongqing, has just returned from abroad. You young people should get to know each other," Wang Xiaoli said.

"I did several surgeries today and I'm exhausted. I want to rest early tonight," Shang Wenxiu said.

"Are you still thinking about Qin Chuan? Let me tell you, you and he are from different worlds. Even if you were together, you wouldn't be happy. Since you've already broken up, don't think about it anymore," Wang Xiaoli said a bit more than she intended.

Shang Wenxiu immediately became wary, "Mom, did you go to see Qin Chuan when I graduated?"

"No, no, why would I go see him? I don't even know him," Wang Xiaoli stammered.

Shang Wenxiu suddenly understood everything, and tears streamed down her face. No matter how much Wang Xiaoli talked on the phone, Shang Wenxiu felt a deep resentment towards Qin Chuan. Why couldn't he have been more persistent? Why did he still let himself be constrained by societal norms? Shang Wenxiu had always had this suspicion, but she never thought that a plot from a novel would actually happen to her.

"What kind of person do you think I am?" Shang Wenxiu looked at the crimson sunset, the afterglow still so beautiful.