Physical Examination

Perhaps the two keywords "medical check-up" had triggered Fu Nanzhi's awareness. She drowsily opened her eyes, forming an 'O' with her mouth as she yawned.

"Mmm... so sleepy..."

Fu Nanzhi murmured softly, lazily sprawled on the bed.

"What were you doing last night? Robbing a bank? You're this tired?"

Shen Yi reached out to brush away the strands of hair covering her face.

Tickled by the hair, Fu Nanzhi batted away Shen Yi's fingers, eyes still closed, and mumbled,

"Can we just not go?"

"No way."

Shen Yi shook his head, refusing. He coaxed her further,

"We already made the appointment. You have to go."

"Besides, skipping it just because you can't get up is way too embarrassing..."

Fu Nanzhi let out a delicate huff, squirming on the bed,

"Hmph..."

"It's my dad's private doctor anyway. I can skip it if I want..."

The reason for the check-up was Fu Nanzhi's recent physical changes, and a full-body examination would put their minds at ease.

Although the injections worked at the genetic level—even curing her previously untreatable face blindness—Shen Yi still wanted to confirm whether her long-standing infertility issue had truly been resolved.

He had been wanting to surprise Fu Nanzhi with good news, but without concrete evidence, he kept it to himself, afraid of getting her hopes up for nothing.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi softened his voice and coaxed her again,

"Be good, let's go."

"It won’t take long. I’ll go with you, okay?"

Fu Nanzhi’s eyelids fluttered. Truthfully, after their back-and-forth, she was already waking up.

She had been waiting for Shen Yi to say exactly this. Opening her bleary eyes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled,

"Fine, I’ll reluctantly go then~"

"Alright, go wash up. You’ve got sleep in your eyes."

Shen Yi tapped her forehead and gently peeled away her fair arms with a laugh.

"Wha—?!"

Fu Nanzhi immediately rubbed her eyes, only to realize she’d been tricked. She turned to swat at Shen Yi’s back, but he dodged effortlessly.

"You... you’re the worst."

"Hahaha."

Shen Yi sidestepped to the doorway, grinning as he looked back,

"Alright, no more jokes."

"Hurry up, don’t dawdle."

With that, he closed the door and headed downstairs.

Fu Nanzhi didn’t reply, only pouting silently before shuffling into the bathroom to freshen up.

Meanwhile, Shen Yi went down to the kitchen just as the water began to boil.

He dropped fresh noodles—store-bought, the kind he preferred over dried—into the bubbling water.

Setting out three large bowls, he began seasoning them: a splash of soy sauce, salt, chicken powder, and a spoonful of lard—the soul of the dish.

Pouring hot water over the seasonings released an instant cloud of fragrant steam.

A proper broth would’ve been better, but there wasn’t time to prepare it. Still, this was more than decent.

With one hand holding a bowl and the other chopsticks, Shen Yi portioned out the cooked noodles, finishing each with a sprinkle of scallions.

Carrying the bowls to the dining table, the aroma alone made his mouth water. This was the perfect breakfast—quick, hearty, and just rich enough without being greasy.

Back in middle school, his mom used to make this for him before school. Even with humble ingredients, he’d still crave it if he went too long without it.

"Smells amazing! What did you make?"

"Right? I could smell it from upstairs!"

Fu Nanzhi and Cheng Jun descended the stairs together, drawn by the savory scent wafting from the dining area.

Shen Yi, unable to wait, was already seated and digging in—slurping noodles between sips of broth, utterly content.

Cheng Jun draped her coat over a chair and sat down, teasing,

"Wow, the chef’s sneaking bites, huh?"

"Which bowl’s mine?"

Shen Yi gestured with his chin,

"Take any. They’re all the same."

Cheng Jun grabbed the nearest one.

Fu Nanzhi, now seated across from them, reached for the last bowl.

"Stop! That one’s for Yunyi."

Shen Yi quickly intercepted, sliding a glass of water toward her instead,

"Here, this is yours."

"Huh? But I want noodles too."

Fu Nanzhi took the glass with a pout. Plain water was bland and unsatisfying.

Normally, it wouldn’t bother her, but watching Shen Yi enjoy his meal while the aroma taunted her was pure torture.

"Just hold on. After the check-up, I’ll treat you to a feast."

Shen Yi tried to console her,

"Or you can wait in the living room—out of sight, out of mind."

"What’s the point?"

Fu Nanzhi slumped over the table, fiddling with her glass, dejected.

"I can’t exactly plug my nose..."

Cheng Jun covered a laugh, eating daintily to avoid rubbing it in.

Shen Yi didn’t respond, swiftly polishing off his noodles and downing the last of the broth.

"Jun, take your time. You’re on dish duty."

Wiping his mouth, he stood to rescue Fu Nanzhi from her misery.

"Mm, got it."

Once Cheng Jun acknowledged, Shen Yi turned to Fu Nanzhi,

"Done eating. Let’s go."

"Okay."

Fu Nanzhi’s stomach growled—she’d been starving and eager to leave. She sprang up and followed him out.

Shen Yi ducked upstairs to grab his coat, and by the time he returned, Shu Yunyi finally made her appearance.

She looked radiant today—cheeks flushed, eyes bright with a playful glint.

The three crossed paths in the living room, and Shen Yi pointed toward the dining area,

"Go eat before the noodles get soggy."

"I’m taking Nanzhi for her check-up, so we’re heading out."

"Oh, sure! Go ahead."

Shu Yunyi waved them off, tossing her laptop bag onto the couch before heading to the table.

Shen Yi drove Fu Nanzhi to the hospital.

The entrance was bustling—cars and crowds, as always. Hospitals never had slow days, but thanks to their appointment, they bypassed the line.

A quick call later, a staff member hurried over to escort them inside.

After brief introductions, the doctor led them upstairs.

The standard full-body check-up involved numerous tests. Fu Nanzhi was soon ushered in, leaving Shen Yi to wait outside.

Liver function, blood sugar, lipids, kidney function, abdominal ultrasound, blood tests, chest X-rays, ECG, ENT exams—the list went on.

It was exhaustive, but the private clinic ensured a streamlined process, sparing them the chaos of crowded public hospitals.

Shen Yi sat quietly, staring through the glass at the sterile white walls. The cold, clinical aesthetic gave him unsettling vibes—like something out of Umbrella Corporation.

Back when he was in school, the medical check-ups were pretty basic, and the conditions were rather crude. During certain tests, the smell was so strong it could knock you off your feet if you weren’t careful.

Shen Yi sat there playing with his phone, occasionally catching glimpses of Fu Nanzhi coming and going. After about two and a half hours, the entire process was finally completed.

Seeing Fu Nanzhi walk out holding a sheet of paper, Shen Yi stood up to meet her.

"All done? Did you get the results already?"

"The tests are finished, sure, but the results? No way they’d be ready this fast."

Fu Nanzhi nodded, then shook her head, waving the paper in her hand.

"It depends on the test. Some come back right away, others you’ll have to wait for them to notify you."

Shen Yi gave a slow nod in response.