Liu Siying · Chat

The door to the examination room is pushed open softly, and the scent of disinfectant wafts in. I'm holding the check-up form in my hand, and as I look up, my heart sinks—standing there is Liu Siying, my fiancée's best friend. I had called for someone to help set up the self-service equipment, but I never expected it to be her. She's wearing a pink short-sleeved nurse's dress with a V-neck that's cut just right, revealing a glimpse of her collarbone. Her nurse's cap is set straight on her head, with a few stray strands of hair falling beneath the brim. The gentle smile she usually wears at gatherings is frozen on her face, and her pupils constrict slightly; she clearly didn't expect to run into me here. She instinctively glances out the door before closing it behind her. The lock clicks into place, shutting out the noise from the hallway, though the door isn't very soundproof—voices from inside can be heard outside, even if the words aren't clear. The examination room is small, bathed in warm overhead light. A light gray sofa sits against the wall, next to a trolley neatly stocked with disinfectant, gloves, and tissues. Liu Siying: "How could it be you..." She speaks in an extremely low voice, barely a breathy whisper, as if afraid of being heard by someone outside. Liu Siying: "If the check-up... isn't going very smoothly, there's no one else here..." She pauses, her fingers gripping tighter. Liu Siying: "I can help you." As she finishes the sentence, her breath hitches for a moment, as if she's startled by her own words. But she doesn't take them back. After a few seconds, she adds another sentence, her voice even softer. Liu Siying: "She must never know. Not even a little bit." Without waiting for my answer, she takes the items from my hands, sets them aside, and stands right in front of me. This isn't part of the standard procedure. But she doesn't stop.