Chapter 54

Chapter 54 4. The Game-09

When Liu Yi and Qi Shanyu entered the doctor’s office, it was the busiest time of the day. Doctors and nurses came and went, children cried, and family members shouted, all blending into a chaotic din, like a pot of boiling porridge—truly lively.

Liu Yi stood at the door, scanning the room. In the corner by the window sat a young doctor, typing furiously at a computer, seemingly recording medical notes.

“Ah, Fang Xia.”

Liu Yi walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

The young doctor named Fang Xia turned his head, revealing a delicate and gentle face, very refined—the popular “good neighbor’s boy” type. Unfortunately, his myopia was severe; he wore thick glasses and squinted when looking at people. Dark circles under his eyes gave him the unmistakable look of a bookish student who stayed up all night studying.

“Senpai, you’re here!”

Fang Xia gave a very likable, obedient smile, then without much small talk, pulled a medical file from a stack on his desk, extracted a request form, and handed it to Liu Yi. “The electrophysiology room on the fourth floor of the outpatient building has already been booked. You can go straight there once it’s ‘ready.’”

Qi Shanyu, sensitive to words, wondered what the doctor meant by “ready.”

Liu Yi, however, clearly already knew the plan. He accepted the form, thanked Fang Xia, and left the office with Qi Shanyu.

As they exited, Qi Shanyu glanced back at Fang Xia, who was already immersed back in his medical notes, not lifting his head.

Liu Yi noticed the glance and raised an eyebrow, giving Qi Shanyu a meaningful look.

He remembered Qi Shanyu’s ex-boyfriend, the intern surnamed Li, who was also gentle and delicate, fitting the standard “easy-to-topple submissive” template.

“You like the Fang Xia type?”

Liu Yi squinted. “Though Fang Xia is indeed our kind, unfortunately, he’s already taken.”

“What are you talking about? This is the first time I’ve met him! I haven’t even said a word!”

Qi Shanyu’s look at Liu Yi screamed “wronged.” “How could I just casually set my sights on a stranger?”

Liu Yi chuckled. “By that logic, it wouldn’t count if it’s the first meeting?”

Qi Shanyu was exasperated by his twisted logic.

“Alright, Liu, stop teasing me…”

He pressed his temple, thinking: the one he truly cared about is right beside him, but although that person flirts and teases him, it’s like a thin veil of ambiguity—no one dares to lift it.

“So, why did you bring me here?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll see soon enough.”

Liu Yi led him down the long hospital corridor and stopped at a door at the far end, pushing it open.

Unlike other rooms, this one was quiet and empty, with no anxious family members coming and going.

They drew back the curtain to see two small beds inside. On the left bed lay a sleeping infant—the little boy Mai Zi had left behind.

A middle-aged caretaker sat in a chair by the window, engrossed in her phone. Hearing Liu Yi and Qi Shanyu, she immediately put the phone away.

“Ah, Mr. Liu, you’ve come to take the baby for a checkup, right?”

The caretaker recognized Liu Yi and quickly stood.

“Yes.”

Liu Yi nodded, taking Qi Shanyu to see the baby.

Qi Shanyu noticed that the baby looked much healthier than when found at the crime scene—slightly rosy, still thin, with the only baby fat on his cheeks. His bright eyes were wide open, focused on sucking his thumb, calm and obedient, evoking a pang of tenderness.

Liu Yi picked up the baby.

At two months old, the baby’s neck was just firm enough to hold up. Leaning against Liu Yi’s shoulder, he raised his head, eyes wide with curiosity, hands still in his mouth, silent.

“Here, the baby is for you.”

Liu Yi handed the infant to Qi Shanyu.

“Just rock him to sleep,” Liu Yi instructed.

Qi Shanyu, confused, replied, “Huh?”

“He’s going to undergo a brainstem auditory evoked potential test, which accurately assesses his hearing and can pinpoint any problem along the auditory pathway. But he must be asleep for the test; otherwise, sedatives or sleep aids are needed.”

Liu Yi touched the soft hair on the baby’s head. “I’d rather he sleeps naturally than use sedatives.”

Qi Shanyu realized Liu Yi brought him just to lull the baby to sleep.

Although Qi Shanyu had never cared for a child before, he responsibly cradled the baby, walking back and forth along the long corridor, gently patting the baby’s back.

To outsiders, it looked like a young, handsome father tenderly putting his sick infant to sleep.

Passersby women couldn’t help but glance, and a young nurse nearly collided with a cart because she kept turning her head.

After half an hour, Qi Shanyu returned with the baby.

“Is this okay?”

Qi Shanyu opened his coat slightly, revealing the baby’s curled, rosy face.

Liu Yi gently poked the baby’s cheek with a fingertip.

The infant didn’t react, still pouting and sleeping soundly.

Satisfied, Liu Yi nodded. “Good, let’s go.”

…

Qi Shanyu stayed with the baby throughout the auditory evoked potential test.

He watched doctors carefully clean the baby’s forehead, temples, and behind the ears, then attach electrodes. The preparation alone took fifteen minutes. The baby woke once but didn’t cry, soothed by Qi Shanyu rocking him back to sleep.

The test showed the baby’s ears responded normally at 80 dB, with a threshold of 30 dB, indicating normal hearing and no inherited disability from his mother. He could live just like a normal child.

Liu Yi breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Although modern medicine can help children with hearing impairments, it was best that the baby was healthy.

After returning the baby to the ward and greeting Dr. Fang Xia, Liu Yi and Qi Shanyu left the Women and Children’s Medical Center around five in the afternoon.

Liu Yi cheerfully invited Qi Shanyu to dinner, and Qi Shanyu eagerly agreed, insisting on paying.

Without cars, they walked to a nearby trendy creative noodle shop.

Although the New Year approached, a cold wave kept the temperature near zero.

Light rain fell, carried by the northern wind, stinging their skin.

Qi Shanyu opened an umbrella. Liu Yi instinctively stepped under it without being asked.

Sharing the small umbrella, Qi Shanyu leaned it toward Liu Yi, leaving his own shoulder exposed, soon dotted with fine raindrops.

“If I could, I’d really like to adopt that baby,” Liu Yi said.

“But with my current situation, it would be very difficult to apply.”

Qi Shanyu nodded, having considered the same thought, though single and unmarried, adoption would be nearly impossible.

“But it’s okay. I’ll think of another way.”

Liu Yi smiled, adjusting the umbrella to cover himself more.

“At least, the baby should find reliable adoptive parents, right?”

…

The noodle shop’s food was good, and they enjoyed the meal.

When Qi Shanyu poured four full spoons of chili oil over his noodles, Liu Yi’s expression was like seeing a UFO.

He daringly tasted a bite from Qi Shanyu’s bowl, immediately choking, eyes tearing and nose running.

Learning from the mistake, Liu Yi didn’t touch Qi Shanyu’s food again.

Afterward, Qi Shanyu, as agreed, paid the bill. The cashier handed him a stack of cards for a draw.

“This is our lucky draw,” the cashier said with a bright smile. “Good luck.”

Qi Shanyu, a true lucky type, picked a card casually, tore the seal, and read:

“…Four-day, three-night couple suite at H City Bailin Hot Springs Resort?”