Jun-Yu lay unconscious on a spotless white bed. Seated beside him was Dr. Chuang, while Shin-Yue stood anxiously at the doctor's side.
After examining Jun-Yu's eyes, checking his blood pressure, and taking his temperature, Dr. Chuang began packing his medical equipment back into his bag.
Breaking the heavy silence, Shin-Yue asked nervously,
Shin-Yue: "Doctor... there's nothing seriously wrong with him, is there? Why hasn't he regained consciousness yet? Does he need to be admitted to the hospital?"
Seeing the stream of anxious questions, Dr. Chuang could clearly tell how worried Shin-Yue was about Jun-Yu.
Dr. Chuang: "I can't say for certain at the moment. His fever is 105°F. Tell me, how long has he been running such a high fever? More importantly... why is he intoxicated?"
The moment she heard the doctor's words, Shin-Yue was completely stunned.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Shin-Yue: "His fever is that high? Doctor... did he lose consciousness because of the fever? Or...?"
Shin-Yue hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.
Her response left Dr. Chuang visibly puzzled.
He looked at her in surprise and asked,
Dr. Chuang: "What do you mean? Do you think there could be another reason?"
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Shin-Yue lowered her voice.
Shin-Yue: "Doctor... he almost got into an accident with my car. Fortunately, I managed to brake in time, so he wasn't hit. But... I don't know when his fever started."
Hearing her explanation, a question arose in Dr. Chuang's mind.
Since he knew nothing about Shin-Yue's relationship with Jun-Yu, he couldn't help but think to himself,
"How irresponsible."
It was obvious that he had become irritated with her.
After taking a slow breath to compose himself, he spoke in a stern voice.
Dr. Chuang: "Are you out of your mind? He was running a fever this high, yet you let him leave the house? And you don't even know when the fever began?"
He frowned before continuing,
Dr. Chuang: "What kind of girlfriend are you? Forget taking proper care of your boyfriend—you didn't even seem concerned about his safety."
"He needs to be admitted to the hospital immediately. We have to run several tests before we can determine what's wrong."
Shin-Yue could clearly hear the anger in the doctor's voice.
She understood why he was upset.
A doctor's duty isn't limited to treating illnesses—they are also responsible for protecting their patients' lives.
Given Jun-Yu's alarming condition, it was only natural that Dr. Chuang would react this way.
Shin-Yue: "Doctor, I'd actually prefer to take care of him personally. What tests does he need? Can't you collect the samples now and take them with you?"
Dr. Chuang looked at her in surprise before replying,
Dr. Chuang: "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. This is your home, not a hospital or a diagnostic center. I've already performed every examination that can reasonably be done here. Besides, he doesn't appear to have suffered any major external injuries that would explain his loss of consciousness. It's possible that the combination of his high fever, alcohol intoxication, and the shock from the near accident caused him to pass out."
He continued,
Dr. Chuang: "Since he's intoxicated, if you don't want to admit him to the hospital right away, then keep cooling him down. Pour cool water over his head if necessary and continue applying cold compresses until he starts responding."
Shin-Yue: "Alright, I'll do that. But you mentioned some tests. What kind of tests does he need?"
Dr. Chuang: "We'll need to check whether he has any internal injuries. That would include blood tests, an ultrasound, an ECG, and X-rays—those kinds of examinations."
Shin-Yue: "Can't any of those be done here at home?"
Dr. Chuang: "Don't worry. His pulse is gradually becoming stronger, so I don't think all of those tests will be necessary right now. I can collect his blood sample here and start him on an IV drip. If his condition doesn't improve within an hour, however, he'll need to be admitted to the hospital."
After a brief pause, he looked at her curiously.
Dr. Chuang: "But may I ask you a question?"
Dr. Chuang's words reassured Shin-Yue a little, but another thought suddenly crossed her mind.
"I don't even know Jun-Yu's blood type. What if he ever needs a blood transfusion in an emergency? Since the doctor is already drawing his blood today, I should find out."
She looked up and asked,
Shin-Yue: "Oh, Doctor... if you're doing a blood test, will I be able to find out his blood type as well?"
Dr. Chuang: "There are different categories of blood tests. I'll mainly be checking his blood sugar and cholesterol levels. But if you'd like, I can tell you his blood type once the tests are complete."
He paused, then added with a curious look,
Dr. Chuang: "But why do you keep avoiding my question, Miss?"
Shin-Yue: "What question?"
Dr. Chuang: "How did Jun-Yu—the son of Jun-Kai, the CEO of Xin-Xing Company—end up unconscious in your house? And on top of that, he almost got into an accident with your car. What's really going on? What exactly is happening between the two of you?"
Hearing the doctor's question, Shin-Yue finally came back to her senses.
She had assumed that Dr. Chuang didn't know who Jun-Yu was.
All this time, her eyes had remained fixed on Jun-Yu's sleeping face.
Her entire mind was occupied by a single thought—
When will Jun-Yu open his eyes?
The turmoil inside her, the desperate longing to see him recover... hadn't the doctor noticed it all this time?
Shin-Yue hadn't even realized that Dr. Chuang had repeatedly referred to them as boyfriend and girlfriend.
She also hadn't realized that he had recognized Jun-Yu from the very beginning.
Now it was obvious to her that he had deliberately used the word boyfriend to gauge the nature of their relationship.
Shin-Yue: "I don't think you need to concern yourself with our relationship. Your job is to treat your patient, whether he's the son of a CEO, the Prime Minister, or an ordinary beggar. But since you're asking questions like this, it's clear you're not just asking out of casual curiosity."
At her response, Dr. Chuang leaned in slightly and spoke in a calm, lowered voice near her ear.
Dr. Chuang: "Miss, there's no need to make this so complicated. You and Jun-Yu are both well-known people. Who doesn't recognize you?"
He gave a faint shrug before continuing,
Dr. Chuang: "Anyway, if you don't want to answer, you don't have to. I only want to make sure that Jun-Yu is safe here with you. You don't intend to admit him to the hospital, and judging by his condition, he needs constant, specialized care right now. I just want to know whether you'll be able to look after him properly."
Although the doctor's words reassured her somewhat, Shin-Yue remained cautious.
Shin-Yue: "Go ahead and collect Jun-Yu's blood sample. I want to know his blood type."
She paused before adding,
Shin-Yue: "And one more thing. First, I need you to trust me—I have no intention of harming Jun-Yu."
Her gaze sharpened.
Shin-Yue: "Second... how much would it take to keep this matter between us?"
She held the doctor's eyes.
Shin-Yue: "I believe you understand exactly what I mean."
Deep down, Shin-Yue was worried.
What if the doctor told someone where Jun-Yu was?
Although she still didn't know everything that had happened to him, she did know one thing—
The entire city was desperately searching for Jun-Yu.
Although Shin-Yue's heart was still weighed down by doubt, Dr. Chuang paid little attention to her anxiety. A faint smile appeared on his face as he said,
Chuang: "You don't need to pay me to keep my mouth shut. Money can't buy silence. I'm sure you've heard the saying, 'The one who has the most always wants more.' The more you offer me, the greedier I'd become."
He looked at her thoughtfully before continuing,
Chuang: "From what I can see, even though Jun-Yu belongs to your rival company, you don't wish him any harm. You love him very much, don't you? You're only afraid of what the future might bring."
Dr. Chuang's words shattered the wall around Shin-Yue's emotions.
Her voice trembled, and tears rolled down her cheeks. It felt as though the floodgates of a monsoon rain were about to burst open.
Shin-Yue: "You're not a psychologist... so how did you understand?"
Dr. Chuang smiled again.
Chuang: "Just because I'm a doctor doesn't mean I'm not human, Miss. If I can understand the illnesses of the body, why wouldn't I be able to understand the heart?"
For the first time, Shin-Yue trusted him completely.
Even so, she looked at him earnestly and pleaded,
Shin-Yue: "You're a very perceptive person. I'm asking you... please don't tell anyone about this. As soon as Jun-Yu recovers, he'll leave."
She hesitated before adding,
Shin-Yue: "And please don't misunderstand. Jun-Yu was drunk. It was purely an accident—he stumbled in front of my car and lost consciousness."
Dr. Chuang nodded reassuringly.
Chuang: "Miss, I know what kind of person you are. I haven't misunderstood you."
He smiled gently before adding,
Chuang: "But may I give you one piece of advice? If you never tell him how you feel, don't keep those feelings buried forever. Otherwise, one day you might regret it and think..."
> 'I kept meaning to tell him... but I never did.'
He picked up his medical bag with a smile.
Chuang: "Anyway... now, about my consultation fee."
Shin-Yue lowered her gaze before speaking softly.
Shin-Yue: "Doctor, since you've already understood everything, I'd like to ask you for one more favor."
"Even if I never find the courage to tell Jun-Yu how I feel... I still want to protect him and help him from the shadows for the rest of my life."
"So... please don't tell anyone."
Hearing her heartfelt request, Dr. Chuang let out a warm, hearty laugh. Shaking his head with amusement, he replied,
Chuang: "Hmm... I'll agree."
"But I have one condition."
Before he could finish, Shin-Yue instinctively frowned in confusion.
Then Dr. Chuang smiled warmly and said,
Chuang: "Become my friend."
The moment she heard his condition, the tension in Shin-Yue's heart finally eased, and a sense of relief quietly settled over her.