Chapter 99: Split the bill from last time; she treated, yours... is separate

"... You doing this puts me in a difficult position. The medical expenses and hospitalization fees have been delayed for three months. If this continues, I won't be able to answer to the hospital leadership."

Yang Zhou followed behind, saying ingratiatingly: "You've seen our situation. It's really difficult lately. When I get my salary next month, I will definitely pay a portion first. See... if you can make an exception."

The doctor frowned: "The hospital has hospital rules. Even if the matching is successful, the surgery and treatment costs will be over a hundred or two hundred thousand. What are you going to do? How about this! I'll give you one more week. If you still can't raise the money to pay the remaining hospitalization and medical fees, the hospital will have to stop the medication, and you'll have to go back for conservative treatment."

"Dr. Xu, is there really no room for negotiation? Can you give me a little more time?"

"Old Yang! Although we were high school classmates, I didn't open this hospital, after all. You have to understand my difficulties. I've already lent you the money I could; the rest you have to find a way for yourself."

"Yes, yes, I know... I feel bad about always troubling you. Otherwise... you..."

"Don't talk to me about this. I don't have time now; I have to rush to a meeting..."

Before Yang Zhou could finish speaking, there was a sudden "bang" as the office door was closed. He was awkwardly shut out. Looking at the tightly closed door, the man grabbed his hair in frustration. A sense of powerlessness washed over him. He leaned against the wall, bending over, his spine looking as if it had been crushed by something.

Walking out of the hospital, the night had completely darkened, pitch black, and the wind carried a damp chill.

Shen Li's phone was in her bag, already out of power and shut down. She hailed a taxi on the side of the road and returned to school.

After spending the whole day in the hospital, it was already six-thirty in the evening when she reached the dormitory.

After getting out of the taxi, the cold wind blowing on the way back to the dormitory made her a bit more clear-headed, but her mood was not very good, and her low spirits were written on her face.

Shen Li lowered her head. A black shadow appeared in her line of sight. She slowly raised her head, and suddenly, not far in front of her, appeared the figures of Xie Qin and his group. Surrounded by them was Xu Zhouyuan and the others, walking together, chatting and laughing, very lively.

And that girl who confessed to Xie Qin yesterday was there too...

Coincidentally, Xie Qin's gaze also looked over.

Their eyes met, and Shen Li's lips pressed into a faint arc.

Should she say hello?

In the end, her feet were faster than her brain, and almost subconsciously, she changed direction.

She felt it was better to avoid suspicion.

That girl must have succeeded in her confession.

If they were dating, wouldn't it be a bit awkward if Xie Qin didn't greet her? If she greeted Xie Qin and he ignored her, that would also be strange. His girlfriend might even misunderstand.

Shen Li was afraid of trouble, so she simply pretended not to see them; it would be better to avoid them.

Being sick... actually felt pretty good.

She wouldn't let her mind wander.

During the National Day period, they were clearly fine, but after coming back, he changed.

Was it just because she didn't agree to be his girlfriend?

Shen Li pulled her thoughts back, walked into a convenience store, and took bread and milk from the shelf, preparing to deal with tonight's dinner.

Actually, she still wanted to drink the porridge from the hospital.

After taking the items and preparing to pay, she suddenly saw Xie Qin at the checkout counter. He was buying cigarettes alone, his head tilted, holding his phone with one hand, inputting a digital password.

Shen Li didn't rush forward. Xie Qin didn't seem to see her. After paying, he left.

Seeing him leave, Shen Li went to pay. She took cash out of her wallet and paid fifteen yuan—ten for the bread and five for the milk.

However, she didn't expect...

Just as Shen Li left the convenience store, at the corner, she didn't see clearly and suddenly bumped into someone. Her hair in front of her forehead was a bit messy. Looking up, she realized the person she bumped into was Xie Qin.

Just coming out of the hospital, her head was still dizzy, and she hadn't noticed him.

Xie Qin bent down to pick up the cigarette that had been knocked to the ground. He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow: "Learning to stage a collision?" His tone and pitch were the same as usual.

Looking at his appearance at this moment, Shen Li took a step back and apologized: "I'm sorry! I didn't notice you."

Then...

Silence.

A few seconds later, Shen Li didn't know what else to say to him. Her gaze flickered, she moved her eyes away from him, carried the plastic bag in her hand, and took a step, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, Xie Qin spoke in a lazy tone: "Perfect, I have something to ask you."

"Hmm?" Shen Li was puzzled.

Xie Qin took out his phone, not looking at her, and brought up the payment QR code: "Split the bill from last time; she treated, yours... is separate."

He thought for a while, probably calculating the bill, and then said directly to her: "I'll round it down for you, let's call it two hundred."

Last time?

Shen Li remembered.

It was the time his girlfriend scored eighty-nine on the math competition.

It was indeed her treat.

They ordered a lot of dishes, almost all of which were expensive seafood.

Although Shen Li didn't eat much last time, she felt... it really should be paid; she couldn't just freeload.

He said her portion was separate.

The implication was... did he want to draw a clear line with her, so they couldn't even be friends in the future?

Seeing her looking at him in hesitation, Xie Qin narrowed his eyes, his tone lazy: "Even if we're friends, we have to settle the accounts clearly."

"Want to welch on the debt?"

"No." Shen Li told him in a very flat tone, explaining: "My... phone is out of power. When I get back to the dormitory, I'll charge it and then give it to you, is that okay?"

"I don't have enough... cash on me."

Afraid he wouldn't believe her.

Shen Li even took her phone, which was already off, out of her bag to show him.

"If you're in a hurry, I'll go back to the dormitory right now to charge it and transfer the money to you."

Xie Qin hadn't said anything yet!

Shen Li hurried back to transfer the money to him.

Watching her back, Xie Qin wanted to say something, but in the end, he kicked the wall beside him in frustration: "Damn it!"

What is all this?

It's enough to drive someone crazy!

Back at the dormitory.

After her phone was charged and turned on automatically.

Shen Li found Xie Qin's contact information and transferred the money to him.

The thought that Xie Qin wanted to draw a line with her, that they couldn't even be friends, grew stronger and stronger.

She was already sick and a bit fragile.

She seemed...

A bit sad.

This wasn't the result she wanted.

The next day, Shen Li was slightly better than yesterday, but taking the medicine made her dizzy.

Walking into the classroom from the back door, Xie Qin and the others hadn't arrived yet. Their desks were still connected. Should she sit there?

Thinking about Xie Qin's attitude toward her yesterday, it didn't seem that cold and hard; at least they had spoken.

Just then, her shoulder was tapped.

Shen Li had things on her mind, and her brain was sluggish. She slowly turned her head to look.

Zhang Zixin: "Shen Li, what are you standing here looking at?" ===== CHAPTER 100 =====