Chapter 1

 In early January, during the coldest time of the year, the sycamore trees along the road had shed all their leaves, and the branches were burdened with a heavy layer of white snow, causing them to bend under the weight. The asphalt road was covered in a blanket of white snow, marked by tire tracks left by passing vehicles.

An Nuo stepped out of the pharmacy, pulling her loose scarf a bit higher to ward off the cold. She crossed the road and entered the Waterfront Flower City complex.

This apartment was a gift from her father when she was admitted to Parkville University four years ago, as he was concerned that she, being used to a pampered life from a young age, wouldn't be able to handle the university's accommodation conditions. However, An Nuo preferred to stay in the university dorms, making the apartment largely forgotten.

After graduation, An Nuo chose to remain in Parkville, and it was then that she remembered the apartment, which had been neglected for four years. It became her sanctuary.

Upon entering her home, An Nuo tossed her belongings onto the coffee table and retrieved the medication she had just bought. She sniffled, swallowing the medicine with lukewarm water. Then, she lay down in her room and slept for the entire afternoon.

When she awoke, it was already dark outside. The curtains were drawn open, and the glow from the lights outside was the only source of illumination. An Nuo's throat felt dry and parched, and drinking water caused her pain. She coughed a few times, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, then rose from the couch.

Covering her feverish face with her hands, she picked up her phone and checked it. The room was dark, and the phone's light was somewhat blinding. On WeChat, Ying Shuhe had sent a few messages.

— Nuo Nuo, I have a toothache. It hurts so much.

— It seems like it's infected...

An Nuo immediately retracted her initial thought of asking her to accompany her to the hospital and calmly replied: "I'll go with you to the dentist tomorrow."

Ying Shuhe: "I've already scheduled an appointment, and it's at a clinic near your place."

An Nuo responded with a groggy "Mmm" and then stared into space before taking several more pills.

Wrapped in a blanket, she curled up on the couch and thought about home. She missed it.

The next day, An Nuo's fever had mostly subsided. Her face still appeared pale, and she felt somewhat weak. She applied some makeup haphazardly before leaving her apartment. Ying Shuhe was already waiting downstairs at her building, concerned as she noticed the fatigue in An Nuo's eyes.

"Are you not feeling well?" she inquired.

An Nuo, with a hoarse voice, casually responded, "I stayed up late last night."

Ying Shuhe wasn't convinced by her words and reached out to touch An Nuo's forehead.

"Did you have a fever?"

"No," An Nuo said, her gaze fixed on Ying Shuhe's slightly swollen face, impatiently adding, "Come on, it's just a toothache, isn't it?"

Unable to detect anything unusual about her, Ying Shuhe assumed that she was just in a bad mood and refrained from further probing.

The dental clinic they had an appointment at was located just across the street from their complex. Upon reaching it, they saw the clinic's sign: "Wensheng Dental Clinic," written in elegant brown cursive on a white background.

As they approached, the glass automatic door slid open, and a rush of the scent of hydrogen peroxide met them. Several gray sofas were placed beside the front desk, and a few people sat scattered around.

An Nuo and Ying Shuhe walked to the reception desk. One of the nurses at the front desk raised her eyes and inquired with a gentle smile, "Hello, do you have an appointment?"

Ying Shuhe replied, "I have an appointment with Dr. He."

After providing the nurse with her name, she clicked her keyboard and then gestured toward the waiting area.

"Okay, please wait over there."

"Thank you," Ying Shuhe replied. Both of them made their way to the waiting area.

An Nuo used one hand to support her throbbing temple, closing her eyes to rest. Ying Shuhe sat beside her, still feeling that something was off with her. She suddenly realized what might be bothering An Nuo when she considered her hoarse voice and pale complexion.

"Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?" she asked.

An Nuo responded lazily, "I told you; it's nothing."

Ying Shuhe insisted, "We should go to the hospital in a while."

An Nuo hesitated, furrowing her brows, and then immediately opened her eyes. She saw Ying Shuhe's displeased expression.

"Okay, fine. We can go."

Shortly afterward, a nurse came to escort them into a treatment room.

Dr. He, a middle-aged man with a slightly rotund figure, wearing a mask that obscured his full face, prepared to begin treatment. Ying Shuhe settled into the dental chair and observed his every move.

Dr. He switched on the surgical light and carefully examined her teeth, capturing images of her dental condition on a screen. Ying Shuhe's decayed tooth was quite severe, reaching the nerve, causing inflammation, and consequently, severe pain.

Dr. He used dental equipment to project images of her teeth onto the screen, explaining her situation calmly, "This decay is already quite severe, and in such cases, we generally perform a root canal treatment..."

After discussing the price, Dr. He prepared to start the procedure. Ying Shuhe noticed An Nuo standing at a distance, so she said, "Why don't you wait outside while I get this done?"

An Nuo nodded and mumbled in agreement. She continued to stand by, lost in thought.

After applying the anesthesia, and waiting for five or six minutes, Dr. He asked, "Is your lip numb now?"

Ying Shuhe hesitated for a moment, and then nodded affirmatively.

Seeing that the anesthetic had taken effect, An Nuo quickly stepped away, heading toward the waiting area's couch. As she passed by another treatment room, she noticed an open door and caught sight of the scene within.

Beside the dental chair was a tall man, bathed in the bright surgical light. He had fair skin that appeared to be glowing, wearing a light blue medical mask that revealed a straight and elegant nose. His eyes, from this angle, looked elongated and gently upturned, with sparkling irises that gleamed brilliantly. His white coat was tailored, accentuating his clean and composed demeanor. He bent over, and as he did, his coat swayed slightly, revealing a glimpse of his pale blue sweater underneath. He was meticulously examining a patient, the medical instruments in his hand.

An Nuo found her unexpected reaction difficult to understand. She shifted her gaze away, shrugged her shoulders, and turned back to continue walking toward Ying Shuhe's vacant treatment room.

"What on earth was that?" she thought. "Why did I run away, and was it even necessary? And how did I end up back here?"

Annoyed, she scratched her head and thought no more about it. She continued to stand by without venturing back outside.

After some time, the lingering buzz in her ears subsided. Dr. He applied the medication and sealed the tooth with zinc oxide. He gently advised Ying Shuhe, "You're all set. Do not eat anything for the next three hours, which is roughly when the anesthetic will wear off. And, remember to avoid using this part of your mouth to bite things for the next few days. Please come back on the 13th, and we'll proceed with removing the dental nerve."

Ying Shuhe nodded in acknowledgment, accepted the prescription, and expressed her gratitude. She walked over to An Nuo, who stood in the corner lost in thought.

"You're done," she said, waving her hand in front of An Nuo's face.

An Nuo barely reacted, but she did turn her head toward Ying Shuhe and licked her lips, running her fingers through her hair.

Passing another treatment room on the way to the exit, An Nuo stopped and peered inside. There she saw Dr. He who was looking back at her, but their eyes quickly broke contact as she noticed him glancing at her. She felt breathless for a moment and was immobilized.

She couldn't resist the allure of his eyes, deep black at their core, yet shining brightly, like a calm lake reflecting a sky full of stars. The air seemed to freeze.

An Nuo held back her nervousness, her gaze locked onto his face. He didn't show any emotion on his face except for a slight furrowing of his delicate eyebrows. His eyes narrowed at the edges, tinged with impatience.

"Who told you to move aside? Can I leave?" she asked.

His reaction was barely discernible due to the mask covering most of his face. An Nuo could tell he hesitated for a moment before parting his lips. His voice was a bit lazy, slightly hoarse, but carried a soothing quality.

"No need to be afraid."

The voice was as smooth as flowing water, and it enveloped her in an instant. She was rendered defenseless, just like the moment when she inexplicably halted in her tracks.

When she noticed his gaze starting to shift in her direction, An Nuo quickly took a step back, turning around and walking back to the treatment room where Ying Shuhe was waiting. 

What was that about? Why did she run away? Did she need to run away? And how did she end up back here?

An Nuo was filled with confusion and anxiety. She rubbed her head, deciding to stay where she was rather than leave. 

After some time, the murmuring noise in her ears finally stopped

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This is my first time translating a novel So, please leave a review if you can of my translation. Feel free to complain and help me find any shortcomings of this translation.