After Shi Wenli posted on Moments, he immediately liked Xu Qinghe's post. The timing of their posts was just when everyone, after a long day, could finally lie in bed and scroll through their phones. Some sharp-eyed doctors who had been shipping the CP found sugar in the sequence of their posts, and it wasn't forced.
[I think I've discovered a huge secret in our hospital (sunglasses)]
[No discussing extramarital affairs in the group!!! (shut up)(shut up)]
[(laughing and crying)(laughing and crying)(laughing and crying)]
[To prevent rumors and misunderstandings, this is a group rule. Don't forget!]
[What I'm discussing is a legitimate couple.]
[Then what huge secret could there be?]
[Jiang Yang is in a relationship with an older woman?]
Everyone laughed.
[Didn't you see the Moments? Chief Shi and Dr. Xu's Moments are really worth reading.]
[You mean the crystal cake?]
[Right! Dr. Xu said she also ate the crystal cake tonight, and Chief Shi only posted a close-up of the crystal cake. Isn't that sweet enough?]
[And Dr. Xu's first photo is Chief Shi's back view.]
[You're delusional from shipping CP. Dr. Xu has a boyfriend!]
[Didn't Fang Yu already clarify? That's Dr. Xu's childhood friend, not a boyfriend! Dr. Xu herself said it was a blessing from a childhood friend. The person involved and her closest colleague both clarified one after another. Why don't you believe them? Why do you insist on believing rumors?]
[There's definitely something between Chief Shi and Dr. Xu! Tonight was like sprinkling sugar!]
[Don't worry about whether I survive, just keep sprinkling!]
Others: [...]
[Sorry to say this, but none of the CPs you've shipped over the years have been real.]
[...]
Just then someone else chimed in: [Maybe this time it's real. I heard from someone in neurosurgery that Chief Shi looks at Dr. Xu differently.]
The person who had never shipped a real CP perked up instantly: [Really? After the New Year, when I see them in the cafeteria, I'll observe Chief Shi carefully!]
The group owner reminded: [There should be a limit to shipping CP. If Chief Shi's partner isn't Dr. Xu, spreading this could harm both their reputations.]
[Don't worry, I'm only talking in our small group.]
She also @ed the group owner: [Zhang Zhang, why did you change your signature back again?]
A couple of days ago, Dr. Zhang's signature was changed to: XXX, SB!
Today it's back to: Love and Peace!
Group owner: [The chief reminded me not to curse, as it damages the image of our medical profession.]
Group owner: [Wishing everyone a happy New Year's Eve in advance, may you get rich in the new year, and may those who ship CP finally ship a real one.]
[Haha, thank you, thank you!]
She refreshed Moments again and saw that Dr. Xu had just liked Chief Shi's post.
--
Two seconds ago, Xu Qinghe liked Shi Wenli's post. He used a close-up of the cake to respond to her. It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. She put away her phone and continued watching Shi Wenli's cards.
Before she knew it, it was half past twelve. The people playing cards were still energetic, but she was starting to struggle. Shi Wenli finished his current round, gave his seat to someone else, and stepped down from the card table. He ruffled her hair: "Tired?"
Xu Qinghe never wanted to spoil the fun: "Not tired. I'll make coffee for you all." Shi Wenli told her to go to sleep: "I'll make it later." He gently pushed her back, guiding her toward the master bedroom. "You sleep. They're planning to play all night." Xu Qinghe stopped pretending: "I'll go to sleep first. Oh, by the way," she said just as she was about to close the bedroom door, remembering something, "Song Xintan said he doesn't need psychological counseling during the New Year. He'll try to recover on his own. If it doesn't get better, he'll come to you."
Shi Wenli: "He can come to me anytime." For some reason, he intuitively felt that Song Xintan would definitely 'not get better.' Every time Song Xintan came under the guise of 'psychological counseling,' he never talked about himself, only about Xu Qinghe. Of course, he was happy to listen.
Xu Qinghe said goodnight to him and locked the door.
When Shi Wenli heard the 'click,' he knocked on the door. "What is it?" Xu Qinghe quickly opened it again.
Shi Wenli told her to remember to unlock the door after she showered, and he smiled: "Otherwise, I'll have to sleep next door." Xu Qinghe smiled and made an OK sign at him.
Shi Wenli held the doorknob and stepped inside. He had been busy from waking up until late at night, and he hadn't kissed her even once. He bent down and kissed her. The cake he had ordered for her today was rose-flavored. While kissing her, he asked, which was better, today's or the sea salt cheese one?
Psychologically, Xu Qinghe thought the rose-flavored one was better. Maybe because it had appeared in his Moments. Shi Wenli said: "Then I'll buy you this flavor more often." Xu Qinghe said no need: "It's too sweet." And expensive. Shi Wenli: "Buying it once a month isn't often. Don't you have cravings for sweets every month?"
Xu Qinghe asked: "Song Xintan told you that?" "Yeah." "He's talking nonsense." Shi Wenli laughed: "Even if he's talking nonsense, I can take it seriously. It doesn't matter."
They kissed intermittently for almost two minutes, neither wanting to stop. Shi Wenli went all the way into the room and closed the door behind him. He leaned down, wrapped one arm around her waist, and with the other hand cupped her bottom, lifting her up to kiss her. Xu Qinghe had never been able to resist his kisses or his embrace, let alone being held and deeply kissed. Driven by instinct, she wrapped her long legs tightly around Shi Wenli's lean, strong waist. She had done that before in bed, but only loosely. She had been too shy to hold on tight back then.
When she was tired from kissing, Xu Qinghe rested her head on his shoulder to catch her breath. Shi Wenli put her back on the bed and kissed her cheek: "I'll go make coffee for them." Even after saying that, he didn't immediately let her go. "We're married. You can do anything. There's nothing you can't do." Xu Qinghe understood immediately: he meant she could freely wrap her legs around his waist.
After he left the bedroom, she locked the door again to shower. It wasn't just some intimate acts in bed that she still couldn't do naturally; there were also many things she wanted to do outside of bed but had never done. For example, sitting on his lap.
When she came out of the bathroom, she lay face down on the bed and reached up to turn off the light. She didn't know when those people left.
The next day, she woke up at half past nine. The house was exceptionally quiet. The covers on Shi Wenli's side hadn't been disturbed. She jolted awake, fully alert. She had forgotten to unlock the door after showering last night, locking him out.
Jiang Yang and the others had left at around seven. Shi Wenli had slept in the guest room for a few hours and got up in the morning to make wontons for them. He had already cleaned the house and put up the couplets.
Song Xintan had sent him New Year's greetings early, writing a long line earnestly: [While I'm still sober and clear-headed, I'll send blessings to you and your wife. This should be the happiest Spring Festival for Qinghe, no longer spending it alone eating dumplings in the on-duty room. Wishing you and Qinghe a happy and peaceful new year. May your new year be better than the last.]
Shi Wenli replied: [Thank you.] He also typed a few New Year's greetings and added with concern: [How is your headache now?]