The gathering of Feiyang's beautiful women had created an atmosphere of subtle allure; every man lingered a little longer, savoring the charm. While Guan Xing was pulled into conversation by Xi Hengsheng, a few middle-aged vice-chairmen and other men had already begun dancing the latest social dances with the company's stunning managers.
"Dr. Guan, I truly thank you this time," Xi Hengsheng said when it was just the two of them left. His words carried an unusual tremor of emotion that Guan Xing didn't fully understand. After all, he had only saved one of Feiyang's employees—not his family—so such heartfelt gratitude seemed excessive.
Perhaps seeing Guan Xing's expression, Xi Hengsheng lifted his glass and took a long sip, a faint sadness lingering on his face—the pale, weary look of a man revealing his true self.
"My wife also passed away from cancer. That year, little Lian'er was only ten. Watching her gradually anticipate that final moment of closure… you can't imagine how many times I felt life and death intertwine."
Guan Xing understood. As a doctor, he could empathize with the profound sorrow of life and death, especially for such a loving couple. A decade ago, he had been just a high school student, powerless to change anything.
"Thank you, because you have shown me hope. Cancer patients can still live courageously. I don't want anyone else to endure the pain I experienced—that feeling is unbearable."
He smiled bitterly, a century-old man carrying the weight of two losses alone. Perhaps it was this deep love for his late wife that made him so indulgent toward his only daughter, fostering her spoiled, headstrong nature.
Behind every halo of success lies memories of deep affection—true treasures. For Xi Hengsheng, Feiyang was merely a part of life, but his love for his wife was eternal.
Listening to these fragments of life and love, Guan Xing felt as if he were hearing a beautiful, haunting song. Where was his own love? His future? His memories were filled only with cold corpses and bloodied wounds. Moments of passion came and went, leaving no lasting impression—faces blurred, names forgotten. Over five years, only the gleam of his scalpel had been constant; he had possessed nothing else.
Perhaps some matters were now ready to be confronted.
When he returned home, it was past midnight.
As the elevator opened, Guan Xing was startled to find someone sitting by his door—a woman, drunk and half-asleep. Her stylish, revealing dress clung to her form, her hair tousled, radiating a heavy scent of alcohol and sensuality. Though her face was partially obscured, her refined elegance was unmistakable.
He checked her pulse—she was indeed drunk. Moving closer, he finally saw her full face: a stunningly beautiful woman, voluptuous and radiant, her features naturally designed to stir desire. Her body was perfect—not just in shape, but in proportion and movement. Even compared to the glamorous Feiyang general manager Cheng Yun'Ya from earlier, she exuded a more provocative allure.
Guan Xing chuckled. Tonight, fate seemed to have delivered him from the company's gathering only to this seductive goddess. Half a year without passion, and now it appeared providence had intervened.
Seeing a key in the door, he realized she had the wrong apartment. Sober, she would be confused, so he didn't waste time arguing. He wiped her face gently and laid her on the bed, spending the night on the sofa himself.
Though temptation was present, Guan Xing had never taken advantage of such situations. A man may be charming, but he would not stoop to depravity.
The next morning, the woman still slept. Her drunken flush had faded, leaving a delicate rosy glow on her lips and cheeks, her expression calm and content. Even her sleep posture was alluring. Guan Xing did not disturb her; he left for work.
He had no habit of cooking, so breakfast was taken outside. Today, with Du Juan starting her internship, he needed to prepare in advance.
Upon arriving at the infirmary, he found a figure already working diligently, having cleaned everything spotless and organizing the medicines.
"Good morning, Dr. Guan!" Fang Jie greeted him with sparkling eyes.
Fang Jie, the sisterly friend of the employee he had saved, had once been a brash young woman, but now she had applied to transfer to the infirmary.
"I requested the transfer myself. I used to hold a nurse's license, so I can handle the work," she explained quickly, noticing his questioning gaze.
Guan Xing asked, still unsure, "The work here is lighter, but the salary is much lower." Nurses in the infirmary earned barely over two thousand yuan.
Fang Jie's expression softened with a mix of resignation and warmth. "I need to care for my daughter. A lower salary helps me live simply."
Her gentle tone suggested a life lived with gratitude. Though she was an attractive woman with a child, her family life was her husband's responsibility. Guan Xing smiled faintly, accepting her choice without interference. Compared to her initial brusqueness, Fang Jie's attitude had become much more cooperative, more suitable as an assistant.
Perhaps motivated by gratitude, the once fiery woman worked with meticulous care, nearly managing all the infirmary tasks alone. She even reviewed the medicine inventory left by Du Juan, demonstrating the precision and patience of a trained nurse.
Unlike Du Juan, Fang Jie was outgoing and forthright. Patients liked interacting with her, though she remained modest in speaking with Guan Xing—perhaps seeing him as a near-divine healer in her eyes.
Xi Lian'er did not appear all day. By the time the workday ended, Fang Jie mentioned she had already left for her studies at Tsinghua University, leaving Guan Xing with a touch of melancholy.
With his only companions gone—Du Juan and now Xi Lian'er—he felt an unexpected loneliness. After five years of seclusion and indulgence, he had never considered the emptiness of returning home.
Home? What home had he ever had?
No welcoming voice awaited him. Home was colder than his heart. Guan Xing didn't return to his apartment, nor did he take a cab—he walked, wandering until night had fallen, eventually arriving at a youth-oriented bar.
The lively atmosphere was palpable even at the entrance; lonely souls naturally gravitate to such places to vent their fatigue. Slowly, he stepped inside.
Even a predator can be hunted. Guan Xing's tall, cold figure immediately attracted the attention of mature women. Loneliness touches all, men and women alike, seeking a harbor for their restless hearts.
Drinking was the beginning of indulgence, an excuse to release restraint. Only when intoxicated could one find reason for missteps; drunkenness was the natural admission of human vulnerability.
A glass of strong liquor, the scent drifting through the air, and the throbbing music created a dreamy, frenzied scene on the dance floor. Everyone here came to escape—Guan Xing included.