[After a Few Days – Anxin POV]
After a few days, life at the hospital had returned to its usual rhythm, but somehow Anxin felt like she had started noticing details she normally ignored, like the way time felt slower when her shift ended, or how she would unconsciously look toward the entrance before leaving, even when she told herself she wasn't waiting for anyone.
She adjusted her coat as she finished her last case, rolling her shoulders slightly, letting out a small tired breath, and as she walked out of the emergency wing, she saw him.
Wang Hedi.
Standing exactly where he always seemed to appear.
Like he didn't arrive.
Like he had already been there.
[Hedi POV]
He noticed her the moment she stepped out.
Not because of movement.
Because of presence.
Even in a crowd, she was always the only thing that felt aligned with his attention.
He straightened slightly, expression still controlled, but his eyes softened just enough to notice change in her posture.
"You're late again," he said.
Anxin tilted her head slightly.
"I'm a doctor. Not your schedule."
A pause.
Then she added lightly, "You're becoming very demanding."
"I am consistent," he replied.
That made her smile faintly.
"Same thing, different wording."
As they walked toward the car, Anxin suddenly stepped slightly ahead of him, then slowed down on purpose, matching his pace again, like testing something.
Hedi glanced at her.
"…what are you doing?"
She looked forward.
"Walking."
"You were ahead."
"I know."
Another pause.
Then she added casually, "I wanted to see if you would notice."
"I always notice."
That made her smile a little more openly this time.
"Even that?"
"Always."
Inside the car, the city lights blurred past the windows, and for once, there were no files between them, no hospital urgency, just quiet movement and a rare kind of stillness that didn't feel empty.
Anxin leaned her head slightly against the window, then glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"You don't talk much when we're alone."
"I talk when necessary."
"That's a very boring rule."
"It is efficient."
She smiled again.
"…you always say that."
"I always mean it."
She turned slightly toward him.
"Do you ever do anything unnecessary?"
A pause.
Then he said calmly,
"Yes."
That made her blink.
"…like what?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his eyes stayed forward.
"…this," he said quietly.
And didn't elaborate.
The car stopped at a quiet rooftop space overlooking the city.
Wind moved softly.
Lights stretched far into the distance like scattered stars.
Anxin stepped out first, looking around.
"This is not hospital territory," she said.
"No," Hedi replied.
"Then why here?"
He looked at her for a second longer than usual.
"…because you needed air."
Anxin raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I didn't say that."
"I know."
That made her pause.
Then she smiled softly.
"You really don't wait for permission, do you?"
"No."
They stood near the edge for a while without speaking.
Not awkward.
Just calm.
Then Anxin suddenly leaned forward slightly, placing her elbows on the railing.
Hedi stood beside her, slightly behind.
Always slightly behind.
But always there.
She glanced up at him.
"Do you ever get tired of being serious all the time?"
"I am not serious all the time."
She smiled.
"You are."
A pause.
Then she added softly, "Even when you're quiet, it feels like you're thinking too much."
He looked at her.
"…and you?"
"I think too, but I talk more."
That made him glance away slightly, trying to hide his smile.
Almost.
Suddenly, Anxin picked up a small pebble from the rooftop edge.
She looked at it.
Then at him.
Then without warning, she lightly tapped his arm with it.
Hedi looked down at her hand.
"…what was that?"
"Testing reaction."
"…to what?"
"If you would move."
He didn't.
Not even slightly.
That made her smile wider.
"Too stable," she said.
"You were expecting instability?"
"Maybe a little."
He paused.
Then said,
"You will not get it."
That made her laugh softly.
The wind picked up slightly.
Anxin instinctively leaned a little closer toward him without realizing it fully.
Hedi noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
But he didn't move away.
After a few seconds, she adjusted his coat sleeve again, casually, like earlier in the day.
"You always stand like this," she said.
"Like what?"
"Like you're guarding something."
A pause.
"…I am."
She looked up at him.
"Me?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Just looked at her.
Longer than usual.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The city light reflected softly between them.
Then Anxin, almost naturally, tilted slightly closer and lightly kissed his cheek.
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't loud.
Just simple.
Soft.
Casual in the most dangerous way.
Hedi froze for half a second.
Just half.
Then looked at her.
"…what was that?"
Anxin blinked.
"Human reaction."
"…to what?"
She shrugged slightly.
"You were too quiet."
That made him pause again.
Then, unexpectedly, he looked away slightly.
Not embarrassed.
Just… processing or trying to control.
[Hedi POV –]
It wasn't the kiss itself.
It was the fact that she did it without hesitation.
Without fear.
Without calculation.
Like it was normal.
Like he was normal.
That part stayed longer than expected.
After a few seconds of silence, Anxin suddenly leaned forward and hugged him lightly.
Not tight.
Not emotional breakdown.
Just… natural.
Like she was cold.
Or bored.
Or simply decided to.
Hedi didn't react immediately.
Then slowly, his hand moved and rested lightly on her back.
Not holding tightly.
Just there.
"…you're strange today," he said quietly, trying to control his smile.
"I'm always strange," she replied against his shoulder.
"…not like this."
She pulled back slightly, smiling.
"Is this bad?"
"No."
A pause.
"…just unexpected."
They stayed there for a while longer, standing near the rooftop edge, city glowing below them, wind moving gently between silence and speech.
Anxin leaned slightly back on the railing again.
Hedi stood beside her.
Closer than before.
Not touching.
But not distant anymore either.
After a long pause, Anxin spoke softly without looking at him.
"You know…"
"…what?"
She smiled faintly.
"I think you bring me places you don't know how to explain."
Hedi looked at her.
Silence.
Then quietly—
"…and you stay in them."
That sentence lingered between them longer than either of them reacted to.
Not confession.
Not yet.
But something close enough to start becoming one.