She wanted to ask Jiang Yichen what he was doing here, but the words died on her lips. They were in a public place; he wouldn’t want anyone to know they were acquainted. Catching the mask of indifference on his face, she feigned nonchalance and slipped past him into the operating room. After scrubbing in and sterilizing, she approached the operating table. Her eyes fell on He Yan, already mid-surgery, but she felt no surprise. The moment she’d seen Jiang Yichen, she knew the new transfer had to be him. He Yan and Jiang Yichen went back years. She even remembered him guest-lecturing at her university when she was a student. A venerable figure in their field, his transfer to this hospital was a godsend for everyone. And he was the only one in Jiang Yichen’s circle who knew about her. During the procedure, He Yan was the consummate professional, but once it was over, he finally had a moment to greet her. “Long time no see. How are you and Yichen doing?” Shi Yu froze for a second. He'd asked about *them*—her and Jiang Yichen—not just her alone. The implication was heavy. “Um… we’re both… doing fine.” He Yan rolled his shoulders, stiff from holding the same position for hours, and smiled. “Yichen and I are grabbing a bite later. Why don't you join us?” Shi Yu was quick to decline. “No, it’s okay. I have other plans. You two go ahead.” A wave of frustration washed over her. It would be a cold day in hell before Jiang Yichen willingly had a meal with her. How could He Yan, his friend for years, be so completely oblivious to the tension between them? He Yan, oblivious to her reaction, continued, “These past three years have been rough on Yichen. His father's death was so sudden, and the overseas branch was just getting off the ground. He was torn between wanting to come back and not being able to.” Shi Yu couldn't fathom why He Yan was telling her all this, so she remained silent. “If I were him,” He Yan added suddenly, “I wouldn't have been comfortable leaving you at home all by yourself either.” Shi Yu’s eyes narrowed. Looking at He Yan's guileless grin, she decided that, for all his surgical genius, the man was an absolute fool. Such a waste of a handsome face; all that charm and not a lick of sense. Jiang Yichen looked at her like he wanted to rip her apart, and He Yan had somehow missed that for years? Or had he seen it and just completely misread the situation? Just then, Jiang Yichen approached them. He Yan beamed, oblivious as ever. “So, are we all heading out to eat?” Shi Yu tried to slip away, but He Yan grabbed her arm. “Where are you going? You’re not scared Yichen’s going to eat you, are you?” Shi Yu’s head felt like it was about to split open. How did she get stuck with such a clueless oaf? To her utter disbelief, Jiang Yichen spoke, his voice cool and even. “Let’s all go.” Shi Yu froze. In all these years, it was the first time she would be eating out with him—and with his explicit consent. His face was a blank slate, impossible to read. She could only assume he was doing it for He Yan’s sake—sparing her the embarrassment. They drove to a Cantonese restaurant. When they were seated, Shi Yu instinctively chose a seat next to He Yan. Sitting beside Jiang Yichen would only provoke his irritation. Years of learning to read his moods were ingrained in her, a second nature. She found herself instinctively glancing at Jiang Yichen, only to see that his expression had iced over. Her mind went blank for a second. What had she done wrong now? He Yan, completely oblivious to the subtle shift in the atmosphere, started talking to Jiang Yichen. “So, did you get that thing sorted out? The one thing I still don’t get is why you brought Li Mengxi to Hua Ren Hospital of all places…”