Chapter 123 He Clearly Also Admitted He Likes Me

For several days, Song Jingmo had clearly noticed that Leng Keyan was acting strangely.

Normally, he would dash around the department, charming the nurses and always sneaking over to him, subtly asking about Yin Siyao.

But these past few days, he had wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant—listless, distracted while working, and almost grabbed the wrong medical file.

That night during his shift, with few patients around, Song Jingmo called Leng Keyan into his office.

“Sit.”

He gestured to the chair across from him, his gaze calm. “You’ve been so absent-minded these past few days. What’s going on? Does it have anything to do with Dr. Yin?”

Leng Keyan hung his head, fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of his white coat.

After hesitating and stammering for a long while, he finally muttered the news about Yin Siyao having a childhood sweetheart and plans to get engaged when he returned home for the New Year.

After speaking, he lifted his head; his eyes were slightly red, but he forced back tears.

His voice, however, was full of frustration and confusion: “I just don’t understand… he clearly also admitted he likes me…”

Song Jingmo listened quietly, then went to the water dispenser, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to him.

“Yin Siyao grew up in the mountains. He’s not only the hope of his parents, but also of the village. The burden he carries is far heavier than you can imagine.”

Seeing his confused and hurt expression, he softened his tone. “Liking someone and being together are two different things. Especially in his situation, responsibility outweighs personal feelings.”

Leng Keyan held the warm cup in his hands, but the warmth from his fingers couldn’t thaw the chill in his heart.

After a long silence, he forced out a smile, uglier than crying: “I don’t have a compulsion to force love. In the future, I won’t disturb him anymore. Anyway, my internship is almost over; even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”

Watching him leave with a brave front, Song Jingmo let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

Matters of the heart are like drinking water—one knows the warmth or coldness oneself. No amount of advice from others can help; one must find the way out on their own.

The next day at noon, the hospital cafeteria was bustling.

Leng Keyan ran into a few classmates from his school also interning there. Laughing and chatting, they went to the food window together.

Sitting around one table, they excitedly discussed their holiday plans after the internship ended.

“I’m going home to sleep for three days straight, making up for all the sleep I missed this year!”

“I plan to go to Changbai Mountain to fulfill a delayed ten-year promise!”

“I’m going to Sanya—sun, sand, bikinis! That’s the life!”

Bai Youyu’s face turned slightly red, and shyly she looked at Leng Keyan. “Keyan, what about you? Any travel plans?”

“Want to come travel with me to K City? I hear the scenery is beautiful, and the food is amazing…”

The surrounding classmates immediately made teasing “Ohhh” sounds, making Bai Youyu’s cheeks flush even more as she lowered her head, embarrassed.

Leng Keyan was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t planned anything, but seeing everyone else so excited—and remembering his uncle was filming in K City—he nodded enthusiastically.

He turned to Bai Youyu with a bright smile: “Sure, we can go together.”

Bai Youyu’s eyes lit up instantly at Leng Keyan’s agreement.

Not far away, at another table, Xiao Zhiyuan was digging into a chicken leg while asking Liao Xubai, “Dr. Liao, any plans for the New Year?”

Liao Xubai ate slowly, his tone calm: “Going home to visit my parents.”

Dr. Liu sighed: “It’s good being young, with endless energy. Look at those interns—all planning to travel and enjoy themselves.”

He turned to Yin Siyao: “Dr. Yin, what about you? Any New Year plans?”

Since hearing Leng Keyan agree so readily to travel to K City, Yin Siyao felt as if a wad of cotton was stuck in his chest—stifling and heavy, leaving him without appetite.

He pushed at his bowl of rice, replying in low spirits: “Going home to be with my parents.”

Dr. Liu complained: “I also want to go home, but every time I go, relatives start pressuring me to marry before my butt even warms on the seat. Adult life isn’t easy!”

Xiao Zhiyuan laughed: “Easy to go bald, easy to get fat, easy to go broke, and easy to end up single!”

Everyone at the table laughed heartily.

Xiao Zhiyuan turned to Liao Xubai jokingly: “Dr. Liao, won’t your parents pressure you to go on blind dates when you go home?”

Liao Xubai wiped his mouth: “My parents are in business and relatively open-minded. They respect my choices and usually don’t interfere in my private life.”

Dr. Liu cast an envious glance, then suddenly slapped his thigh: “Hey, Dr. Yin, isn’t your home in K City?”

The voice carried clearly, audible to everyone at nearby tables.

“Some interns are also planning to travel to K City; could you recommend a few good places to visit?”

In an instant, Leng Keyan turned sharply toward Yin Siyao’s table.

K City?

Yin Siyao’s hometown is also K City?

The world felt impossibly small.

Bai Youyu heard the conversation too. She immediately smiled sweetly, stood up, and walked over to Yin Siyao’s table.

With confidence, she introduced herself: “Hello, Dr. Yin, hello teachers. I’m an intern from Neurosurgery. Since Dr. Yin is from K City, could you recommend a few must-visit places?”

Yin Siyao’s fingers tightened slightly on his chopsticks. He could feel the scorching gaze from behind almost burning holes into his back.

Forcing himself not to look back, he raised his head and met Bai Youyu’s enthusiastic eyes, speaking in a flat tone: “I haven’t been to K City. My home is in a very remote town.”

Bai Youyu froze, clearly not expecting him to say that, and felt slightly awkward.

Liao Xubai said: “Even if you haven’t been, you’ve probably heard of some places. Just mentioning a few familiar ones is better than them wandering aimlessly.”

“Go see the ancient city wall, also Cien Temple—it’s popular for prayers for romance. Luosha Mountain has nice scenery.”

Yin Siyao revealed everything he had heard, without hiding anything.

“Thank you, Dr. Yin.”

Bai Youyu thanked him happily, cheeks flushed.

She asked further: “Any special local foods you’d recommend?”

Yin Siyao poked the fried egg in his bowl: “Local dishes are mild. You can try Wu Ji’s morning tea.”

“That’s perfect, thank you, Dr. Yin. I’ll remember that.”

Bai Youyu returned to her seat, satisfied, excitedly planning her holiday itinerary with Leng Keyan.

But Leng Keyan’s mind was completely elsewhere.

Yin Siyao’s hometown is the same place he was planning to go.

And he knew his thoughts, yet still recommended a temple famous for helping with love…

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, forcing a small smile.