Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Age of Wolves
"Take it, it’s not like it’s worth much, not enough to be considered a bribe."
Zhang Hao frowned, feeling that what Tu Ya had just said was somewhat disheartening.
"I already have one of these, and I won’t need another. Better give it to someone who does."
"Alright then, I’ll take it back. But I owe you a favor. If you ever encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me."
Tu Ya took back the electric shaver and then pulled out a business card from her wallet.
Zhang Hao glanced at it and raised an eyebrow, "A limited company?"
"My family runs a small business, quite well-known around here. Give me a call if you need anything, and if you don’t, just throw it away."
Zhang Hao took the business card and then put it into his desk drawer.
"Maybe we’ll meet again in the future. I should go now."
It was clear that Tu Ya was a straightforward person; since the shaver she had brought wasn’t accepted, she simply took it back.
No sooner had she left than a colleague came in, making sure to pass in front of Zhang Hao’s desk.
Zhang Hao wasn’t impressed by whatever the colleague was trying to show off and kept his head down, continuing to eat.
"Man, being handsome sure is different. A beauty can just waltz right into your department."
"We’re not so lucky. Look at us, balding on top, unlike Doctor Zhang who still has such thick hair."
Facing his colleague’s sarcastic comments, Zhang Hao ignored them, finished his meal, washed his hands clean, and continued to see patients.
That afternoon, the department didn’t see any serious injuries, just minor ones that could be easily treated with simple dressings.
When it was time to get off work, Zhao Qing came to the surgery department again, blocking Zhang Hao’s path.
"I’m off work now, and you still won’t let me leave?!"
Zhao Qing crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes emitting a chill, "Zhang Hao, are you playing hard to get with me or something?"
Zhang Hao was completely confused by her words and couldn’t figure out what she meant. Was his previous rejection not clear enough?
But Zhao Qing’s expression and demeanor didn’t seem like she was joking.
"Or do you think that because my divorce proceedings with He Chao haven’t been finalized, it’s risky to get involved with me prematurely?"
Zhang Hao’s mind erupted like a volcano. The old saying goes ’a man chasing a woman is like climbing a mountain, while a woman chasing a man is like breaking through a layer of mist.’
In modern society, it doesn’t matter who chases whom. If you like someone and there’s a spark, you must strike fiercely, making the first move is key.
However, Zhao Qing’s method of pursuing without considering the other person’s feelings wasn’t what he appreciated.
"Nurse Zhao, I want to emphasize again that helping you that day was simply because I couldn’t stand to see a man bullying a weaker woman, not to show off in front of you."
As soon as he spoke, the other male doctors in the department let out ’tsk tsk tsk’ sounds.
That made an already chaotic scene even more disorderly.
Zhang Hao also knew that Zhao Qing came here specifically to make him acknowledge in front of so many people that he liked her!
But that was purely fictitious, an unfounded claim. How could he acknowledge it?
"Nurse Zhao, you’re really making this difficult for me. Actually, there are other nice male colleagues in the hospital. You don’t have to keep hitting the wall with me."
Zhang Hao thought his words were quite clear, and given Zhao Qing’s cleverness, she should understand.
Unless she was deliberately playing dumb, pretending to be confused despite understanding everything. Then whatever he said would be useless.
"Nurse Zhao, I really have to hurry home now, or I’ll miss dinner!"
Insisting further seemed pointless, so he made a random excuse to make a quick getaway.
After Zhang Hao left, the few male doctors who had not yet left the department gazed at Zhao Qing for a long while.
Her face was full of disappointment, but even as a beauty who had been divorced a few times, she would still be in high demand.
They didn’t have Zhang Hao’s good fortune, or they would have claimed the spot of her fiancé long ago.
"What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a failed confession before?"
Zhao Qing finished speaking, shoved her hands in her pockets, turned around, and left. Given the time they had worked together, mockery was unlikely in such situations.
But the hospital gossip that would spread tomorrow was inevitable.
Zhang Hao had just left the hospital when he received a phone call.
The voice sounded familiar; after asking, he realized it was Tu Ya!
Zhang Hao was puzzled about how this woman got his number; Tu Ya on the other end of the line had already begun to explain.
"I got your phone number from a colleague. Have you finished work for the day, Doctor Zhang?"
Whether she got it from a colleague or not wasn’t important because there was no way to verify it.
"Just finished, what’s up?"
As Zhang Hao spoke on the phone, he walked toward the parking lot.
Before he could open the car door, a black sedan pulled up in front of him.
Tu Ya leaned out from the driver’s side, impeccably groomed; her white silk blouse was tight across the chest.
The black high-waisted trousers outlined her slender waist. Zhang Hao hadn’t had much contact with Tu Ya, but she was tall, probably over 170 cm.
Now that they had met, the phone call was no longer necessary.
"Miss Tu, did you need something from me?"
"Get in the car first, I’ll take you somewhere."
Zhang Hao opened the passenger door, got into the car, and fastened his seatbelt. The car then set off.
As they drove past the hospital’s main gate, Zhang Hao kept his eyes straight ahead.
Zhao Qing stood behind the glass doors, watching the car go by. At first, she thought she was mistaken, but after a few more glances, she confirmed that the person in the passenger seat was indeed Zhang Hao.
No wonder he rejected her. It turned out he had a better option.
It used to be other men chasing after her, but now the tables had turned.
On the way, Zhang Hao wanted to ask where they were headed, but Tu Ya was seriously driving, and it was the peak of rush hour.
If she didn’t concentrate on driving, accidents could easily happen.
Tu Ya was driving a nice car, too.
After passing through the most congested area, Tu Ya finally spoke, "My male companion canceled at the last minute, so I need you to step in for the time being. There’s compensation involved."
From Tu Ya’s tone, it didn’t seem like a joke. Eventually, the car stopped in front of a grand restaurant.
Tu Ya got out, handed the car keys to the valet, and then entered with Zhang Hao’s arm in hers.
Taking the elevator directly to the third-floor banquet hall, they were greeted the moment the doors opened by the buzzing sound, like countless flies swarming around their ears.
"What’s this occasion?"
"A fairly casual friend’s second marriage; we’ve just come to add to the liveliness."
Zhang Hao acknowledged with an "oh," and didn’t ask further, assuming they would just greet and leave.
In any case, there was a bonus involved, and it would be a waste not to earn it.
"Be sharp when the time comes; don’t stand there looking dumb."
Zhang Hao nodded. Ever since he was little, he had been clever. Knowing what to say and when was in his genes.
Upon arriving at the scene, Zhang Hao instantly spotted the bride adorned with a big red flower in the crowd.
The man following the bride must be her second husband; he looked to be in his fifties.
"How old is your friend?"
"Thirty, the age of a wolf!"
That description was rather interesting.
All along the way, Tu Ya’s face was stern, but once she reached her friend, she switched to a beaming smile.
