Chapter 108 The Morning After: Intimacy and Professionalism
Yan Ruozhe's internal clock habitually woke her at six. Though awake, she still felt a lingering tiredness. Their lovemaking had continued until two or three in the morning. She'd never indulged like that overnight before, even though working until that late was common.
An instinct to get up surfaced, but Yan Ruozhe suddenly remembered she was currently unemployed and settled back down. She gently shook Li Xin, who was still snuggled against her, awake. It was a workday, and Li Xin needed to get to the hospital. Even though the workaholic Yan Ruozhe wasn't working herself, she still felt the urge to make sure others were.
"Do you have to work today?" Yan Ruozhe asked Li Xin.
"What time is it?" Li Xin mumbled sleepily, glancing at Yan Ruozhe. The thought of a full day of work instantly banished the remaining sleepiness. "Ugh," she groaned inwardly, "I really don't want to go."
"Six oh five." Yan Ruozhe didn't need to check a watch; she'd always had an acute sense of time.
"It's still early. Work starts at eight, and the hospital is only a ten-minute drive." Usually, this was around the time Li Xin would be getting up to exercise, but she'd recently discovered a much more appealing alternative. The thought of their recent activity sparked her interest again.
"Then sleep for another hour, and I'll wake you at seven." Yan Ruozhe swung her legs out of bed. She wasn't one for sleeping in. Even with nothing planned, she preferred to get up and be productive.
As Yan Ruozhe stood, her fair, slender back was revealed, along with the alluring curve of her spine. Li Xin couldn't take her eyes off her. She reached out and hugged Yan Ruozhe from behind, her fingers tracing the contours of her body.
Yan Ruozhe stiffened slightly. In the past, she'd never allowed Li Xin to fool around in the morning, and today would be no different.
"Don't mess around; you have to go to work soon," Yan Ruozhe said firmly. Their lengthy lovemaking the night before had drained a lot of their energy. Li Xin had only slept for a little over three hours. Doing it again now would definitely be too much. She didn't want Li Xin going to work feeling exhausted.
"But there's still an hour. Plenty of time. They say desire is strongest in the morning..." Li Xin whispered suggestively behind Yan Ruozhe's ear.
"You need to work and be in the best mental state," Yan Ruozhe lectured. Work should be taken seriously, especially for surgeons, as it involved people's lives and couldn't be treated carelessly.
"If you give me some fuel, I'll have even better energy," Li Xin countered, feeling that some morning intimacy would only energize her for the day ahead.
"Li Xin, I don't want any mistakes happening because you're not fully alert. As a doctor, any error can be fatal," Yan Ruozhe said, turning around to face Li Xin sternly and gently pushing her hand away. Yan Ruozhe was meticulous about work and couldn't tolerate irresponsibility. She even had a reputation for making a new secretary cry once.
"Is my professional ethics really so unbearable in your eyes?" Li Xin felt a pang of hurt when Yan Ruozhe's hand brushed hers away, even though the touch was light.
Yan Ruozhe remained silent, hoping Li Xin would adopt a more rigorous attitude towards work and life, especially given the serious nature of her profession.
"I don't have any surgeries scheduled for today, and even if I did, I'm confident I'd have enough energy. While being a doctor isn't my greatest passion, I would never joke with a patient's life. I'm just really disappointed that you see me as so irresponsible." Li Xin felt like she was failing. After all this time, why did Yan Ruozhe still have such a negative perception of her?
Seeing Li Xin's sad expression, Yan Ruozhe felt she might have gone too far. She still harbored an ingrained prejudice against Li Xin, which wasn't easy to shake. She needed to try to trust her more.
"I..." Yan Ruozhe hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
"Forget it. You go back to sleep for a bit; I'll get up and make you breakfast." Feeling the sting of rejection, Li Xin dismissed the earlier impulse. Yan Ruozhe probably would never understand the intensity of desire that followed deep affection.
"No need to trouble yourself," Yan Ruozhe said, her tone softening with a hint of helplessness. She hadn't expected Li Xin to not only take her rejection in stride but also offer to make breakfast, which made Yan Ruozhe feel quite awkward.
"I like taking care of you," Li Xin said casually. If she took every little thing Yan Ruozhe said to heart, the emotional toll over the years would be immense. As long as she loved her, Li Xin could often overlook the unintentional hurt Yan Ruozhe inflicted. In front of her lover, she was vulnerable, but in love, she was surprisingly resilient.
Yan Ruozhe gently pulled Li Xin back as she started to get up, taking the opportunity to draw her into a hug. "It's still too early; let's sleep a little longer." It was a rare and somewhat clumsy display of affection from Yan Ruozhe, but Li Xin cherished it.
"Then you sleep with me," Li Xin replied, knowing Yan Ruozhe's lifelong habit of early rising. It was understandable when she had work, but even now, without obligations, she wouldn't allow herself to truly rest.
Yan Ruozhe hesitated for a moment before nodding. They both settled back into the warmth of the bed. Li Xin rested her head on Yan Ruozhe's chest, and Yan Ruozhe let her snuggle in. After a brief pause, she placed her hand on Li Xin's smooth shoulder and back. Li Xin loved this closeness. She contentedly inhaled Yan Ruozhe's unique scent. Her earlier sadness vanished, replaced by a surprising lightness of mood. Li Xin realized how easily Yan Ruozhe influenced her emotions.
Perhaps her body was indeed still very tired. Yan Ruozhe drifted off to sleep unconsciously, while Li Xin remained awake. She loved watching Yan Ruozhe sleep. In the past, when she'd wake up suddenly in the middle of the night, she would gaze at Yan Ruozhe's sleeping face in a daze. In those moments, Yan Ruozhe seemed the gentlest and most approachable.
When Yan Ruozhe finally woke up, it was nearly noon. Li Xin had already left for work but had left a small note.
"Call me whenever you want. Breakfast is ready; remember to eat it." Yan Ruozhe looked at the note. It actually felt nice to have someone care about her. A small smile touched her lips.
"Doctor Li." The nurses in the hospital greeted Li Xin proactively whenever they saw her. Doctors and nurses throughout the hospital knew her well. Li Xin was the hospital director's daughter and also the most beautiful female doctor. If she were just a pretty face, that would be the end of it, but she was also the most promising rising star in the surgical field. Her sexual orientation was openly lesbian, and her high-profile relationship with Yan Ruozhe had been the talk of the hospital for a while, making Li Xin's popularity rival that of any celebrity. She was always the center of attention. Humans were strange; they might feel jealous of someone slightly better, but when someone was consistently above them, a true genius, jealousy often turned into admiration. Li Xin possessed some of those latter qualities, setting her apart. There were few who envied her, but many who admired her. Although her sexual orientation was public, it didn't diminish her attractiveness to men. After all, such a beautiful woman was simply pleasing to look at. The open acknowledgment of her being a lesbian also attracted many female admirers. Li Xin was much gentler with women than with men, and her captivating eyes often held a spark. Even the straightest junior nurses couldn't help but feel a flutter in their hearts when Li Xin looked at them. One very straight junior nurse even declared that if Doctor Li pursued her, she would be willing to change her sexual orientation for her. Li Xin was simply enchanting.
"Hmm," Li Xin responded to the junior nurses with a smile. She was in a particularly good mood.
Everyone who saw Li Xin's charming smile unanimously thought that Doctor Li seemed exceptionally happy. Usually, her greetings were polite nods, not these enchanting smiles that even slightly upturned the corners of her eyes. But it was undeniable that Doctor Li was three times more beautiful than usual at that moment. Just as Zuo Qinghuan had said, Li Xin was a woman born for love, who blossomed even more alluringly in love and withered without it.
Who could have made Doctor Li so happy? The junior nurses in the hospital were a little curious.
Sitting in her office, Li Xin had checked her watch countless times. It was already noon. Hadn't Yan Ruozhe woken up yet? Li Xin had been waiting for Yan Ruozhe's call. Just then, her phone rang.
"I just woke up. Is something wrong?" Yan Ruozhe's voice came through the phone, accompanied by a very formal question.
"You have to call me even if nothing's wrong. Call me every three hours. This is also an obligation of being a mistress." Li Xin was constantly adding to the list of rules Yan Ruozhe had to follow as her "mistress," and she had no intention of stopping. Someone as rule-oriented as Yan Ruozhe would definitely comply. Li Xin naturally wanted to take this opportunity to make more requests that pleased her. If she didn't ask, waiting for this woman to call her voluntarily would probably take forever. Phone calls were essential for any couple, and she and Yan Ruozhe were no exception.
Yan Ruozhe frowned slightly. Did being a mistress really require such specific details? In Yan Ruozhe's mind, a mistress's only purpose was in bed.
"What else does a mistress need to do?" Yan Ruozhe felt it was necessary to have a clear understanding.
"To be determined. Whatever else needs to be done, I'll tell you when I think of it." There were many things, but Li Xin wasn't naive. If Yan Ruozhe let her list all the requests, with her personality, she might create a formal outline and stick to it rigidly. Anything outside that outline would be rejected. Li Xin felt this was entirely within the realm of possibility for Yan Ruozhe. Yan Ruozhe hated ambiguous task objectives the most.
Yan Ruozhe's frown deepened. She was a strong person and disliked this one-sided dynamic intensely. But she felt trapped within the walls she herself had built.