CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: LONGING

As soon as the video call connected, Qin Xiao answered, still in bed and obviously just awake, "Nini, haven’t you rested?"

His voice carried a hint of huskiness from just waking...

Earlier, when Qin Xiao woke, he was still a bit hazy and didn’t notice the time Xiao Li replied to his message. He thought it was another instance when he fell asleep and she responded after her shift. He assumed Xiao Li must be sleeping now, so he simply replied to the message.

Unexpectedly, just as he replied, Xiao Li’s video call came through.

Xiao Li looked at Qin Xiao in the video; since he was in his room, Qin Xiao wasn’t wearing a mask.

For so many days now, Xiao Li and Qin Xiao had mostly seen each other with masks on. It had been a long time since Xiao Li had seen Qin Xiao’s full face.

Suddenly seeing it now, she couldn’t help but have tears welling up in her eyes, so she quickly tilted her head and shook hers, "I’ve just finished handing over my shift, haven’t even gone back to the resting area yet!"

Qin Xiao watched Xiao Li’s movement, noticing the flicker of tears at the corner of her eyes, his heart stirred, "Nini... "

Xiao Li shook her head, "I’m okay, just missed you."

Qin Xiao nodded, "I know... Nini, I miss you too, soon, we will be reunited."

Xiao Li acknowledged, "Mm, I know...

The patients in our ward are down to just a few; once they’re discharged, I’ll start isolation.

After isolation ends, I won’t work, and I don’t want you to work either, I want you to stay with me."

Qin Xiao smiled and nodded, his eyes gleaming, "Alright, I won’t work either, just accompany you."

Xiao Li broke into a laugh hearing this, "But if you only accompany me, what about Mianmian and this little one in my belly?"

Qin Xiao sat up, "It’s alright... Our kids need to be aware from the womb that their parents are true love, and they are just bonus gifts."

Hearing this made Xiao Li laugh even more.

Xiao Li was planning to say a few more things to Qin Xiao when his work phone rang. Qin Xiao had two phones, one personal, and the other for work.

Upon hearing the phone ring, Xiao Li still reluctantly voiced, "Old man, go ahead and get busy! Once I’m back, I won’t let you go out to work anymore!"

Qin Xiao nodded, "Alright, I’ll listen to you. Once you’re back, I’ll give myself to you, do whatever you want!"

Xiao Li lightly snorted, "Hmm... get your facts straight, okay? You’ve long been mine already, what do you mean give yourself to me once I’m back? You better think of giving something else!

You were always mine, can’t give what’s already owned!

I won’t say more, I need to rest!"

With that, Xiao Li hung up the video, and the moment it disconnected, tears finally fell...

In the room, Qin Xiao looked at the now dark phone screen and exhaled lightly before picking up his still ringing phone, "Hello..."

Time flies, and ten days quickly passed. At the hospital entrance, since today is the discharge of the last batch of patients, even the head doctor came to see them off.

With their discharge, it signifies all H Virus infected patients have been discharged, clearing the cases.

The head doctor watched the patients board the vehicle, heading to the designated isolation area, then turned to all the healthcare workers present, "The patients have been discharged, you’ve all worked hard during this period!"

After saying this, the head doctor bowed to everyone.

Bai Yu, representing the caregivers, returned the gesture, "Head Doctor, we’re just doing what we’re supposed to do.

Now that the patients are discharged, we’ll head back to the ward to tidy up, once done, I’ll take them to the isolation point.

The ward’s disinfection can be left to the logistics team."

The head doctor nodded, "Go ahead!"

Bai Yu led everyone away, and as Xiao Li turned, she unexpectedly saw Qin Xiao just getting off the vehicle...

Qin Xiao knew the last batch of patients would discharge today, and knew Xiao Li would surely come to see them off, hence he hurried over.

He had just arrived and saw Xiao Li was about to turn back, luckily she saw him and paused.

The two looked at each other from afar, Qin Xiao noticed that aside from her belly showing slightly, Xiao Li had slimmed down everywhere else, and Xiao Li felt Qin Xiao had slimmed too.

Bai Yu walked a few steps and noticed Xiao Li hadn’t moved, then turned to see and followed her gaze to Qin Xiao, and said, "Aren’t you going to talk to him?"

Xiao Li shook her head, "No, I’ll wait until isolation ends."

Xiao Li dealt with patients every day, unlike Qin Xiao who, after the initial help with testing, had been in the lab most of the time.

Xiao Li didn’t want to risk exposing Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao took a few steps forward, and Xiao Li shook her head while retreating, before finally steeling herself and waving her hand at him directly as she left...

Qin Xiao stopped and watched Xiao Li’s departing figure, understanding her intention, not wanting to get too close, merely closer for a clearer view...

Once back in the hospital ward, Xiao Li picked up her phone to text Qin Xiao, "Old man, did you leave yet?"

Just getting into the car at the hospital entrance, Qin Xiao received the text and replied, "About to leave..."

Xiao Li read it and replied with two words, "Wait for me..."

Qin Xiao smiled after reading it, understanding what Xiao Li meant by ’wait for me’, soon, he could start counting down.

Having sent the message to Qin Xiao, Xiao Li joined her colleagues to tidy up the ward.

While organizing, they chatted about what they would do once isolation ended?

Some wanted to watch a movie, others eat delicious food, some go shopping for clothes, various plans were shared.

Li Mei was tidying up alongside Xiao Li, "Doctor Xiao, I have a wish after isolation, could you help me?"

Xiao Li had a guess about her wish but still smilingly asked, "What wish? Tell me, if I can help, I will."

Li Mei smiled embarrassingly, "Actually, I know I’m not worthy of Director Bai.

I didn’t dare hope for something with Director Bai.

I really like Director Bai though, I just wish that after the pandemic, I could ask Director Bai out for a meal.

Just this one meal, after this, I won’t have lingering feelings.

Doctor Xiao, could you help me arrange a meal with Director Bai?"

As Li Mei said this, she nervously looked at Xiao Li, who smiled, "Li Mei, you shouldn’t think like this.

Two people being together is only about suitability, not about worthiness.

You’re not lacking, and with Bai Yu, it’s not about worthiness, he’s just an ordinary person, what makes him more deserving than you?

He’s single, you admire him, it’s perfectly normal, nothing wrong...

About that meal, I’ll ask Bai Yu later and get back to you."

As soon as Xiao Li finished speaking, Bai Yu’s voice rang out, "Ask me what?"

Upon hearing Bai Yu’s voice, Li Mei immediately ran away bashfully.