Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 141 The Most Bitter Love in the World is Unrequited Love

Han Tingting stopped at the doorway, the basin of water she was holding trembling slightly, some warm water spilling out, but she was completely unaware of it.

Her nose suddenly stung, and tears welled up without warning. She hurriedly wiped away the tears with her shoulder, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Was she feeling wronged? Yes, the sadness of being clearly rejected by him welled up in her heart again.

Was it joy? Yes, it was. It turned out he wasn't entirely indifferent to me.

But more than anything, there was an indescribable bitterness.

The most painful thing in the world is unrequited love.

After a moment of hesitation, Han Tingting came in carrying a basin of water.

"Auntie, the water's here, the temperature's just right. Let me help you wipe yourself down."

Han Tingting kept her head down, avoiding direct eye contact with Wu Zhiyuan.

Wu Zhiyuan stood up and said, "I'm going out for a bit to call my dad."

Zhang Huilan followed her son's advice and said, "Go ahead and tell your dad that I'm doing fine here, so he can stop worrying and focus on his work."

Only two people remained in the ward.

Han Tingting wrung out the hot towel and began to carefully wipe Zhang Huilan's body.

"Tingting, I'm so sorry to have put you through this."

With just that simple sentence, Han Tingting almost burst into tears again.

She forced back her tears and shook her head: "Auntie, I'm not wronged, really. I feel at ease being able to take care of you."

"Tingting, I just asked Zhiyuan, and he has something on his mind and has to wait."

He speaks very highly of you. Some things cannot be forced.

If you have a boy you like, I can understand.

If not, waiting is possible, but it might not yield any results.

Han Tingting was silent for a few seconds, then said softly, "Auntie, thank you for speaking so frankly to me."

I understand what you mean. You're worried that I'll be held back, and you're doing this for my own good.

But Auntie, liking someone is a personal matter. Whether to wait or not is also my own choice.

I know it might not work out, and I know it's a bit foolish, but I just can't let go.

Han Tingting made up her mind: "Auntie, as long as Zhiyuan doesn't get married, I'll wait for him."

"Silly child, why are you doing this to yourself! Auntie will remember your kindness."

No matter what the future holds, Auntie will always treat you like her own daughter, just like she treats Kexin.

"Okay, thank you, Auntie." Han Tingting forced a smile. "Don't worry about me. Taking good care of yourself is the most important thing. Getting better soon is more important than anything else."

That night, Wu Zhiyuan planned to sleep in another hospital bed, but Han Tingting objected: "Brother Zhiyuan, I'm not on duty tonight, so I can stay with Auntie. You can sleep in my dorm."

Wu Zhiyuan insisted, "Tingting, if I'm not here, please take care of my mother. I rarely have time at the hospital tonight, so let me stay with her."

Han Tingting smiled and said, "You're a grown man, do you know how to take care of people? For example, if Auntie needs to pee, could you help her?"

Han Tingting's straightforward and honest question immediately stumped Wu Zhiyuan.

He then realized that he hadn't thought things through; it was indeed inconvenient for him, as the son, to handle such private matters as his mother needing to relieve herself.

Seeing Wu Zhiyuan speechless, Han Tingting said with a smile, "Brother Zhiyuan, don't argue with me. I'm a professional at taking care of patients."

I know exactly when my aunt gets up at night to get water.

You're a grown man, so clumsy and incompetent. It's a miracle you can even take care of yourself. Besides, you won't get any rest sleeping here.

My dorm is upstairs, and the bedding is clean, so you can go to sleep without worry.

Zhang Huilan chimed in, "Yes, Zhiyuan, Tingting is right. You can't really help much here."

"Just listen to Tingting, go to her dorm and get a good night's sleep. Tingting's not an outsider."

Zhang Huilan emphasized her words, specifically stressing that Tingting "is not an outsider."

Wu Zhiyuan had no choice but to compromise, and gratefully said to Han Tingting, "Alright then, Tingting, thank you for your hard work tonight. If anything comes up, feel free to call me anytime."

"Come on, Zhiyuan, I'll take you to my dorm."

The dormitory is located on the top floor of the inpatient department of the health center, and it is a single room specifically provided for single employees.

This was Wu Zhiyuan's first time visiting Han Tingting's dormitory.

The room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Han Tingting, dressed in a pink nurse's uniform, stood tall and graceful with a curvaceous figure.

The room was cozy, and Wu Zhiyuan immediately noticed several photos of him and Han Tingting on the bedside table.

Looking at the background, he suddenly remembered.

That time on the island in the middle of the lake, Han Tingting said that a boy was bothering her.

In order to "fight off the enemy," Han Tingting asked him to pretend to be her boyfriend and take several photos with her.

Unexpectedly, Han Tingting turned these photos into small picture frames.

Seeing Wu Zhiyuan's strange look, Han Tingting felt shy and embarrassed, and explained, "Brother Zhiyuan, I just thought the scenery that day was pretty good, and the photos turned out alright, so I couldn't bear to throw them away..."

"Oh, I remember now, the filming was very natural. By the way, did that boy stop bothering you afterward?"

Han Tingting said shyly, "I was firm at the time, so he gave up. Now he's dating a female teacher who's quite pretty."

As Han Tingting spoke, she bent down to tidy up the already neat bed: "Brother Zhiyuan, you can sleep here."

There's no private bathroom in the dorm, which is inconvenient, but there's a communal shower room at the end of the corridor. Just make do for one night.

"You should get some rest. I'm going downstairs to keep Auntie company."

After giving her instructions, Han Tingting turned around and prepared to leave.

"Tingting!" Wu Zhiyuan called out suddenly as he watched her departing figure.

Han Tingting turned around and took a few steps back.

"Tingting, I'm sorry, I've made you suffer."

These words were like a key, instantly unlocking the emotional floodgates that Han Tingting had been desperately trying to maintain.

Her tears flowed like a broken string of pearls.

"Don't apologize to me! Brother Zhiyuan, the thing I fear most is you apologizing to me!"

"I'm sorry" means distance, it means you're pushing me away. I don't want your apology!

Seeing Han Tingting suddenly break down in tears, Wu Zhiyuan felt a pang in his heart and quickly explained, "Tingting, don't cry, okay? That's not what I meant."

I didn't mean to push you away, nor did I mean to hurt you. I just felt it was very unfair to you, and I felt really bad about it...

To Wu Zhiyuan's surprise, Han Tingting suddenly buried her face in his chest, tightly hugging his waist and burying her tear-streaked face in his chest.

Wu Zhiyuan was somewhat at a loss.

He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had hugged this little sister like this.

Throughout her childhood and adolescence, he had held her like this countless times, comforting her when she fell or when she was wronged.

But now, the meaning of this hug is completely different from what it used to be.

He gently patted Han Tingting's back, just like he used to comfort her when she was a child.

"Don't cry, Tingting, be good. Waiting might not bring any results."

I don't want you to waste your youth, foolishly waiting for a "what if" that may never come true...

"I do!" Han Tingting lifted her head from his embrace, looking at him with teary eyes, her tone unusually firm, "Brother Zhiyuan, I don't care about fairness. Waiting for you is my own business, and it's my own choice!"

As long as you don't get married, I'll wait, one year, two years, ten years... I'm willing to wait.

I don't care about the outcome, I just want to be true to myself...

Then, she broke free from Wu Zhiyuan's embrace and fled as if she were running away.