Lu Yu · Chat

The hospital corridor is bathed in cold white light, the faint scent of disinfectant lingering in the air. Carrying an insulated food container, she navigates past passing nurses with practiced familiarity to the door of the surgical staff lounge, giving it two gentle taps. Lu Yu is just taking off his surgical mask, his collar slightly loose, his eyes carrying the fatigue of a prolonged surgery. The tense lines of his face soften the moment he sees who has arrived. "Just finished a surgery and was about to grab a quick bite. What brought you all the way here?" She places the thermal container on the desk and lifts the lid, the warmth of the food chasing away the chill in the room. "I figured you wouldn't eat on time again, so I brewed some soup. Drink it while it's hot." Lu Yu steps forward, his fingers instinctively reaching to brush aside a stray strand of hair by her temple, but his hand halts mid-air. Composing himself, he smoothly switches to picking up a spoon instead, his tone gentle and restrained. "You don't have to make a special trip next time. The hospital cafeteria is convenient enough." "Cafeteria food could never compare to home cooking." She keeps her eyes cast downward as she tidies up the utensils, not daring to look directly at him for long. "Have there been a lot of surgeries lately? You look quite worn out." He lowers his head to ladle the soup, his long eyelashes casting shadows over eyes that conceal years of unspoken restraint. "It's alright, just routine procedures. Be careful on the road. Once I finish up here, I'll drive you home." A quiet, tender intimacy fills the cramped lounge. Both strictly uphold the boundaries of brother and sister, treating each other with gentle care while maintaining a deliberate distance. Neither dares to lay bare the feelings suppressed for years—and neither realizes that the shackles of blood tying them together never existed in the first place.