No one knew exactly what Chen Xiaoxi had whispered to her best friend, but when Zhang Yichen stepped out of the room, Li Yue had already agreed to let him take her pulse.
Even so, she looked uneasy, her fingers twisted tightly together until her knuckles turned pale.
"Are you ready?" Zhang Yichen asked softly.
Li Yue bit her lower lip, a flicker of embarrassment flashing in her eyes, and whispered, "I'm ready."
Her voice was so faint, as though she was afraid the walls might overhear.
"Give me your hand." Zhang Yichen smiled faintly, sitting down across from her and gesturing toward the coffee table.
After a moment's hesitation, Li Yue extended her slightly trembling right hand.
Yichen lowered his gaze and placed three fingers lightly against her pulse. Closing his eyes, his brows furrowed as though he was tracing the hidden rhythm of her body.
The room fell into utter silence, broken only by the ticking of the clock.
Sitting nearby, Xiaoxi's eyes darted nervously between them.
"Your other hand," Yichen said after a pause.
The process repeated, and then he released her wrist.
"Your condition is quite serious," he said calmly but firmly. "Dysmenorrhea, irregular periods, breast tenderness… and lately, you've also struggled with insomnia and mood swings, haven't you?"
Li Yue's eyes widened. She froze, wanting to deny it, but the truth was too precise. She lowered her head and gave a soft hum, barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"In the past, it was only painful cramps. But the other symptoms began about six months ago."
"Six months…" Yichen's gaze deepened.
And six months ago was exactly when Li Yue had begun her desperate search for Xiaoxi. Clearly, her anxiety had worsened her condition.
Now that Xiaoxi was found, the root cause was gone. Her body could finally be healed.
"Your pulse reading is remarkably accurate," Li Yue admitted, raising her head with a trace of awe.
Yichen's voice was steady. "Half a year ago, your qi flow became chaotic. Liver stagnation turned to internal fire, disturbing both your sleep and emotions."
"Then… can it be cured?" Her voice trembled with hope and fear.
"It can." His tone left no doubt. "I'll prescribe medicine. But you must also regulate your life—no late nights, no endless worrying."
"Thank you." Her gratitude was raw and sincere.
This illness had haunted her for years, yet as an unmarried woman, she had been too embarrassed to seek help. She endured it in silence. And now, Yichen had seen through her secret instantly.
It left her humiliated, but his earlier warning about infertility had shaken her to the core.
All her friends were already mothers. She too longed for that happiness.
"There's no need to thank me," Yichen said gently. "Your condition worsened because of Xiaoxi. I won't stand by and do nothing."
"Yue." Xiaoxi reached out, holding her hand. "Don't be afraid. Ah Chen's medical skills are excellent. He'll heal you."
Li Yue's eyes grew misty. She nodded faintly. "Mm… I understand."
"It's just a small ailment. Don't overthink it. I'll even prepare a medicinal dish for you—you'll recover soon."
Sensing her genuine fear, Yichen—rarely one for soft words—chose to comfort her.
"Alright. I'll pay for the herbs and ingredients," Yue insisted.
"There's no need. It won't cost much. Besides, Xiaoxi and I will eat it too—just think of it as rent." Yichen waved lightly.
"That doesn't feel right. I can't take advantage of you," Yue murmured.
Xiaoxi chuckled, patting her hand. "Yue, we're like sisters. And he's my… my…" Her face flushed. "Anyway, you don't need to be polite with him."
Yichen's lips curved upward. "I'm your what?"
"Go away, you're so annoying!" Xiaoxi snapped, cheeks blooming red as she looked away.
"Your mouth says no, but your heart says yes." His grin deepened, gaze burning like a flame.
Watching them bicker, Yue finally relaxed. "You two… it's obvious you care about each other. Why pretend otherwise?"
"Yue!" Xiaoxi's face reddened even more.
Their laughter carried them until the clock struck eight.
Fortunately, the baby had gone to bed early, quiet and obedient.
"I'm so bored! I really want to go clubbing!" Li Yue groaned.
"Did you forget what Ah Chen just told you?" Xiaoxi scolded.
"There's no TV here, and we can't go out… how about karaoke then?" Yichen pulled out a stack of sheet music. "Pick a song."
There was one piece in particular he wanted to sing for Xiaoxi.
Earlier in the kitchen, she had half-conceded their relationship, but not firmly enough. Tonight, he would seal it with a song.
"What is this?" Yue flipped through the sheets. "My god, all of these are scores? Did you write them?"
"Yes. I wrote them. Who's singing first?"
"The baby's asleep—you'll wake her," Xiaoxi frowned.
"You don't understand. Music after sleep can soothe the heart and improve rest. Otherwise, why do lullabies exist?"
She hesitated. "…Fine. You first."
"Alright." Yichen picked up his guitar. "This song is called Courage."
The moment he strummed, a soft melody poured into the air. His low, magnetic voice followed, sincere and steady.
Even when the night feels endless,
And the road ahead is blind,
I will walk beside your shadow,
Leave no one behind.
Your smile is the light I follow,
Your tears, the weight I share.
Even if the world turns silent,
I'll still be there.
It takes courage to love,
Courage to stay,
Courage to hold you
When hope slips away.
So take my hand, don't let go,
We'll face the storms as one.
For in your eyes, I've already won.
Even before the chorus ended, Yue nudged Xiaoxi, whispering, "Xixi! Can't you hear what he's trying to say?"
Tears shimmered in Xiaoxi's eyes. "Yue… is he really confessing?"
By the final chord, Xiaoxi's palm pressed against her chest, as though her heart's frantic beating ached.
Looking at the young man before her, she suddenly recalled his mischievous grin in the kitchen.
Annoying as he was… he was impossibly endearing.
Could this truly be what people meant by love that went both ways?