Chasing Storm

The first snow of the year in Rivertown arrived earlier than expected, with flurries in the morning that turned into ankle-deep accumulation by night. The initial snowfall often becomes a celebration for couples, and after work, faces were alight with happiness as they headed out for dates.

Feather, observing the joy around her, pondered for a moment as she took off her lab coat and asked her colleague, "June, you mentioned that new restaurant in Westfall, is it any good?"

June was hastily packing up; she was married with a four-year-old daughter in kindergarten and needed to rush to pick her up. However, she paused to smile at Feather, "Its pretty good. Going on a date with your boyfriend? You shouldnt be so proactive; wait for him to invite you!"

Feather leaned against the locker room, a touch of melancholy in her voice, "No, its just that Ive been so busy with work! Hes asked me out several times, but Ive had no time, so I wanted to make it up to him." She felt guilty about it.

Tomorrow happened to be her day off, and it was still early, so going out for a meal together would be nice.

Feathers full name was Tang Yuxia, her fathers surname was Tang, and her mothers was Xia. "Yu" meant encounter, and it was said that her parents had an exceptionally good relationship, which was why their daughter was raised so innocently!

June hesitated, "I cant help but feel... theres something off about your boyfriend. He always invites you out when youre on duty."

Doctors work in shifts, and sometimes even they cant remember their schedules without checking.

But every holiday and weekend, whenever Shen Jiahan invited Feather out, it coincided with her being on duty. June found it increasingly strange but didnt want to say more, only lightly reminding Feather with a smile.

Feather looked puzzled at June. She and Shen Jiahans relationship was... quite unexpected. They were set up by friends, met a few times, and found each other tolerable, so they confirmed their relationship and started dating officially.

But in three months since they confirmed their relationship, theyve only met a handful of times, not enough to be deeply attached. However, Feather had a good impression of him, so she thought June might be overthinking, "Freelancers like him probably dont have much concept of time! I showed him my schedule, but he always forgets."

June found it even stranger but only patted Feathers shoulder, "Just a casual comment, Im off now, I need to hurry to pick up my daughter."

"Goodbye, June!"

Feather had also changed her clothes. She touched up her makeup in front of the mirror, remembering when Shen Jiahan jokingly said last time: "Weve just started dating, why do we act like an old married couple?"

Feather smiled awkwardly at the time, "Sorry, I dont have much experience."

Shen Jiahan shook his head, "Im not blaming you, Im saying... were lacking in romance and surprises." He sighed, "Sometimes I want to prepare a surprise for you, but Im afraid youre too tired from work, and I dont want to disturb your rest."

Feather had just graduated from graduate school and was working in the emergency room of Rivertown Second Affiliated Hospital. She studied clinical medicine as an undergraduate and emergency surgery in graduate school, always studying in City A, but after graduation, she kept an eye on Rivertown and was eventually recommended by her mentor to take the exam and get in.

The emergency department was very busy, so for a freelancer like Shen Jiahan, it was probably indeed hard to accept.

Feather tapped her phone screen lightly, and after a moment, she decided to surprise Shen Jiahan by driving to his house to take him out for dinner.

He was a freelance illustrator, and his home was his studio. Except for regular outings for inspiration, he hardly ever went out.

When Feather changed her clothes and left, the night shift colleagues had already started work. The emergency building was always brightly lit, and it seemed that another drunkard had arrived, loudly shouting about something.

After working in the emergency department for so long, Feather deeply understood that she wasnt afraid of being busy at work, but of drunkards; they were a nightmare.

Feather touched her chest in memory, mourning for her night shift colleagues, hoping they could get through the night safely.

As she stepped into the elevator, her mothers call came through, "Oh, Feather sweetheart, have you finished work?"

"I just got off work, Summer Fairy," Feather pressed the basement level, looking at the mirror in the elevator to tidy her hair again. After a long day at work, she looked a bit haggard. She tried to smile, hoping that when Shen Jiahan saw her, it would be a pleasant surprise, not a shock.

She asked her mother, "Have you eaten? Is Dad at home? Are you happy lately?"

Mom laughed on the other end, "Why are you more nagging than me?"

Feather hummed lightly, acting coquettish: "Because I love Mom the most, Mom is my heart and liver treasure."

Summer: "...Hang up! Youre too noisy."

Feather squinted her eyes and smiled.

Summer didnt hang up, though, and wistfully reminded her, "Remember to eat well, dont stay up late, and take care of yourself outside."

Feather exited the elevator and headed to the parking lot to find her car. Her car was an ordinary Volkswagen, but its value had... become extravagantly enhanced because her father had modified it himself. It had just been shipped over a few days ago.

Feather smiled, "Alright, I know! Youre the one whos the most talkative."

Summer didnt hang up and continued to nag, "Who made you run so far away, making your dad and I worry all the time. By the way, have you seen Tang lately?"

Feathers hand, which was opening the car door, paused, and she lowered her eyebrows, whispering, "Brother probably... doesnt like me anymore."

She had been in Rivertown for half a year and hadnt seen her brother once, only having one phone call where he said he was busy and couldnt attend to her. He gave her a number, which belonged to his secretary, named Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan had shown concern for her a few times, and Feather tried to get some news about her brother, but he only smiled and said, "Mr. Xia is busy."

Feather thought that maybe her brother was avoiding her.

It wasnt fake to feel sad.

Summer didnt know why she thought so, "How could he not, he might be too busy recently."

Feather smiled, afraid to worry her mother, and didnt say more: "Maybe!"

But her intuition was always keen, and she didnt know why it had become like this. In her memory, her brother was still the stuttering and introverted child from her childhood. At that time, she always thought he was her own brother, and she liked and pitied her brother. But probably because she was a clingy person, and her brothers temperament was too cold, he should be quite annoyed with her.

She didnt spend much time with her brother. In her memory, her brother was always in the hospital. She often let the driver take her to the hospital after school, staying in her brothers ward to do her homework.

Her brother was the same age as her but always acted like a little adult, occasionally reminding her, "C-clothes, wear them properly."

"S-sit straight, Feather."

"R-rest, take a break."

Feather would always smile with her eyes narrowed, waiting patiently for her brother to finish speaking, and then nod. Her brother rarely spoke because of his stutter, so his speech was very brief. He didnt like going to school and preferred to be alone, but Feather was an exception; she could always disrupt him without restraint. She used to feel very proud of this!

But now...

Feather sighed, perhaps she was too ignorant before, and now she was suffering the backlash.

But she really wanted to see her brother, whom she hadnt seen for a long time. He used to be in poor health, and now with his busy work, she didnt know if he could take care of himself.

Lost in thought, Feather finally arrived at Shen Jiahans community. He lived in Unit B, Room 703, Building 2. Feather had been to his house once; he lived alone and kept it very clean.

Shen Jiahan was a person with a very good temper, gentle, polite,