Falling for a Doctor

"There's someone else..."

As I said this, Ethan Clark's cold hand had already slipped under my clothes. I felt dizzy and was feverish, and I felt embarrassed when I noticed people around us. I reached out to grab his hand.

"Where does it hurt?"

Ethan shielded me from the view of others, pressing his knuckles against my lower abdomen, causing me to sob from the pain. The sound was so embarrassing, especially in front of Ethan, that I felt utterly mortified and couldn't bear to look at him.

Part 1

I was diagnosed as a fever caused by appendicitis, and I needed surgery. While waiting alone in the ward, my hands trembled uncontrollably from the anxiety.

"Change into the hospital gown. Have you informed your family?"

Ethan walked in wearing a white coat, revealing his long legs. I bit my lip and whispered, "Their flight is tomorrow."

Ethan nodded slightly, turned his head to look at me, and said softly, "It's okay, I'll stay with you tonight."

If it weren't for the fact that I was in the hospital and about to enter the operating room in fifteen minutes, I might have felt touched. But now, I was too frightened to move because the doctor performing the surgery was none other than Ethan.

Part 2

Ethan and I used to be contemporaries at university. We knew each other during our university days, but our relationship was never harmonious. We often argued over the matters of the departments of the students' union, and eventually, we both quit the department.

Thinking back, if I hadn't got sick today, I might have never got in touch with him again.

"Ethan."

My heart pounded as I thought about the aftereffect of the surgery and scars I had just searched for on my phone.

"Scared?"

Ethan bent down to look at me, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement as if he was teasing a child. I frowned and mumbled, "Can you make the stitches look nicer?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow and casually replied, "The scar is on your stomach; no one will see it."

"Who says no one will see it!"

I was so accustomed to arguing with Ethan that I quickly retorted, but then I grew timid under his gaze. It was definitely unwise to offend the doctor before the surgery.

"What if my future boyfriend sees it..."

I insisted.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I forgot, you're a girl and don't have a boyfriend yet."

I was rendered speechless.

Part 3

The bright light shone on my face. After the anesthesia, I suddenly panicked. I felt the nurse standing beside me and couldn't help but nervously bite my lip.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm scared..."

My voice was very low, but as soon as I heard Ethan's voice talking to someone as he entered the room, I immediately shut my mouth and covered myself with the cloth. I was completely naked and almost covered in the cloth, with only my abdomen exposed.

However, that jerk Ethan pinched the flesh of my stomach, making me so annoyed I wanted to angrily mutter his name.

Ethan said, "It's quite chubby."

I didn't know what to say.

The people around were chatting and laughing, creating a light-hearted atmosphere, but I lay there in a panic until the anesthesia took effect, and I gradually became unconscious.

Part 4

I began to dream. I dreamed of taking graduation photos at the same location as Ethan and the other medical students were. While my classmates were joking around, I unintentionally bumped into Ethan. He was so tall and he just glanced at me with a half-smile, making me feel slightly awkward.

That was probably the only time we met after quitting the department of the students' union.

Actually, I did have a bit of a crush on him. But Ethan was too domineering, always doing exactly as he pleased and not allowing others to disagree, a total male chauvinist.

"Charlee Miller, wake up, don't sleep."

Ethan's voice echoed in my ears again. I drowsily tried to move but felt exhausted just trying to open my eyes.

"Charlee, you failed in passing your exam again."

I was pissed off.

I nearly woke up immediately, frowning and wanting to talk back to Ethan, but I was too sleepy. After a brief moment of anger, I fell into a deep sleep under the influence of the anesthesia.

I knew there was a reason for not sleeping after anesthesia, but the process was really torturous. If Ethan hadn't been there saying those things and annoying me, I might have actually fallen asleep.

Part 5

If being forbidden to sleep was already torturous, being forbidden to eat until I broke wind was truly unbearable.

"Why are you looking at me?"

A little kid on the bed next to me asked as I bit my lip, watching enviously as him ate, swallowing hard.

Ethan chuckled, lowering his head and playing with his phone without saying a word, but his face clearly showed that he was laughing at my greedy look.

In order to eat, I tried my hardest to break wind, but I never expected that just as I was about to succeed, Ethan came in after making the rounds of other wards and suddenly asked, "Do you feel it?"

The moment he spoke, all my attempt to break wind came to nothing...

I really hated his guts...

Part 6

I never imagined I would hate someone because I couldn't break wind.

By one in the afternoon, I was starving, and Ethan only allowed me to drink plain porridge and eat broccoli!

"Can I have some more pickles?"

I looked at the tiny bit of broccoli in the porridge, frowning angrily.

Ethan smiled, took off his white coat, hung it on the rack, revealing a white shirt, and lay down on the cot next to mine. He casually closed the curtains and, looking very tired, closed his eyes and said softly, "Don't eat something too salty."

I bit my lip, still craving more broccoli, but seeing how tired he looked and knowing he had kept vigil at the bedside of me and worked today, I bit back the words I would like to have said...

Part 7

As Ethan slept, his sharp features relaxed, his delicate face and fair skin attracting me. The curtains waved in the breeze, and a warm light crept under them occasionally, shining on his face.

I blinked, lowered my head, and continued eating my porridge, casually draping a small blanket over Ethan.

Ethan, with his eyes closed, said, "You're still a little grateful."

I bit my lip, "If you don't need it, give it back."

Ethan ignored me, turned over, and continued sleeping. I couldn't help but look at his toned waist and abdomen.

I really wondered if I was here for treatment or just to admire his figure...

Part 8

When my parents arrived, I was still asleep, and Ethan hadn't waken up either. When I opened my eyes, I saw my mom smiling at Ethan, whispering to my dad, who also looked at Ethan with admiration.

I had a bad feeling and decided to close my eyes again and pretend to be asleep.

"Awake but still pretending?"

My mom was sharp enough to notice it, immediately sitting down and whispering, "Did you get yourself a boyfriend as soon as you were hospitalized? My daughter is really something."

I was stunned for a moment.

"No! He's not my boyfriend!"

My mom raised an eyebrow, "Then why is he sleeping right next to you? Doctors have their own offices."

I was confused.

I didn't know how to refute that.

My mom continued, "This kid looks good, and he's also a doctor. You've finally got yourself a boyfriend. I'm very satisfied."

I was speechless.

My dad chuckled, saying nothing, but his expression said it all.

Seeing that I had someone to take care of me, my parents left my change of clothes and announced they wouldn't stay with me at the hospital, leaving for their happy life instead. From the moment I woke up to their departure, they moved so quickly that they seemed to make a guest appearance in a film.

Pouting, I turned to see when Ethan would wake up, only to find him yawning.

"You're awake?"

Seeing his clear eyes while he was pretending to be sleepy, I realized he had been awake for a while. I asked helplessly, "Were you pretending to sleep?"

"Yeah."

Ethan, seeing it was exposed, answered without a hint of embarrassment, got up, folded the cot, and smiled, "From what your mom said, you've been single until now, huh?"

I took a deep breath, instinctively thinking about how to retort, "You have an office, but you sleep here?"

Ethan paused, smirking, "I wanted to sleep on the cot, is that a problem?"

I was speechless.

"You just want to sleep next to her."

The kid in the same bed, with big eyes and a candy in his mouth, said seriously.

Both Ethan and I were speechless now.

The kid's mom walked in, quickly stepped forward to cover his mouth, smiling apologetically, "Sorry, just a slip of the tongue. He meant playing with each other. Please don't misunderstand, well..."

So the kid meant Ethan wanted to play around with me?

I didn't know what to say.

In the end, the child's mother felt something was off and quickly explained with a smile, "No, no, it's not what he means. You don't have to feel awkward."

"Uh, well, we're not embarrassed..."

Ethan and I were so awkward that we almost spoke in unison. After speaking, we glanced at each other and then quickly looked away in tacit agreement.

Damn it, we were certainly embarrassed... And I was so embarrassed I wished I could disappear immediately.

Part 9

Fortunately, the child and his mother were discharged from the hospital, and Ethan also left in a hurry. I was the only one left in the ward, lying there lazily, waiting for my food to be delivered.

Well, it was another embarrassing day. I was really insensitive, just hoping to get discharged soon.

My phone buzzed. I looked at the sudden message from my editor and suddenly remembered my novel that I hadn't finished.

Valerie Wall said, "Charlee, where is your new manuscript?"

I blinked at the letter "manuscript" and didn't dare to reply.

Valerie sent another message, "I know you're reading my messages. Today is Valentine's Day, are you on a date with your boyfriend?"

I almost laughed out loud at Valerie's message. Probably only my cute editor and my readers thought I had a boyfriend because I was so good at procrastinating.

My readers would say at the comment section of my novel, "There is still no new chapter today, I don't believe you're still single."

"Hey."

I didn't know when Ethan had appeared by my bedside, tilting his head and staring at me with a displeased expression.

I was startled and instinctively covered my phone, protecting my identity.

With a click, Ethan threw two lunch boxes on the table, glanced at me, and snorted, "Do you think I want to look at it?"

I blinked, glanced at him, and continued to cover my phone. "You can leave now."

"I'm hungry."

Ethan replied casually, sitting by my bed and starting to unpack his lunch box.

His hands, which usually held a scalpel, looked even more striking without the rubber gloves on them-distinct, fair, and slender. Even picking up the box looked elegant.

I watched for a while and suddenly thought his hands looked like those of a romance novel's hero. Hesitating, I took out my phone, planning to take a picture of it as a subject for a book.

But... The flash wasn't turned off.

Part 10

When the flash lamp lit up, I hoped I could disappear from the world right now.

Ethan squinted. Before he could speak, I quickly explained, "I pressed the wrong button by accident!"

Ethan glanced at me, lowered his head, and continued eating with his spoon, snorting, "Lying will never help you get a boyfriend."

My mind went blank for a moment, and I suddenly remembered my roommate's teasing words.

"If Charlee likes Ethan but doesn't issue the declaration of her love, she'll stay single for four years."

And I really did stay single for four years.

This time, I was really angry, but I finally pouted and said, "I wanted to take a picture of your hand."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, probably not expecting me to be so straightforward. He raised his slender, jade-like hand and stretched it out in front of me.

His hand was truly beautiful.

When he stretched it out, I inexplicably had the urge to put a ring on it...

"What's the point of taking a picture of this?"

Ethan seemed puzzled by my behavior.

"I just want to take a picture of it. Move your hand like this."

I adjusted the filter on my phone, made a gesture with my hand, and asked Ethan to imitate it.

Ethan had that half-smiling expression again, but he eventually made a pose like that with his hand.

"The greatest distance in the world is between me and your manuscript."

Valerie's message popped up on my phone screen.

I couldn't help but laugh. I took a couple of photos and then stopped to reply to her message.

Part 11

"Have you finished photographing?" "Yes, I'm done."

Ethan fell silent.

I continued chatting with Valerie until Ethan suddenly placed his spoon on the table with a loud snap.

I raised my head to glance at him and then continued chatting.

Ethan said, "If you don't eat soon, your food will get cold."

I replied, "It's okay, I just like eating cold food."

Ethan fell silent again.

I was about to continue chatting when someone stretched his hand out to me, grabbed my phone, and placed it on the table.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

I instinctively tried to grab my phone back, but Ethan, with a stern face, just shoved the spoon into my hand.

I was stunned.

"I haven't finished chatting yet!"

"Eat first. Follow the doctor's orders, understand?"

Listening to Ethan's commanding tone, I pouted, moved over, and tore the package of the spoon. Sneaking a glance at Ethan's expression, I suddenly felt like I was back in school.

Part 12

That time, because I couldn't win an argument with him and was hungry, I had no choice but to hold back my anger and sit in the corner of the cafeteria, eating while crying, getting angrier the more I thought about it.

I thought the cafeteria was less crowded that day, and I sat in a secluded seat where no one would notice me. I could cry freely, but then I saw Ethan as I raised my head.

Sitting across from me, Ethan stared at me.

I pulled a long face, wiped away my tears, and continued eating, pretending I hadn't seen anything.

But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ethan kept looking at me.

His expression was calm, with a slight smile at the corner of his lips.

I almost instinctively felt he was there to take malicious pleasure in watching me.

I thought angrily that no wonder every girl who chased someone like him eventually gave up!

"What are you looking at!"

Noticing Ethan's eyes had been fixed on me, I shouted angrily.

Ethan replied, "If you don't look at me, how do you know I'm looking at you?"

If it weren't for my dad teaching me from a young age never to cry in front of enemies, I would have been unable to control myself and cried again.

I never wanted to see him again.

But now, not only did I see him, but we even ate at the same table instead of sitting across from each other.

Part 13

Just as I was lost in my memories, Ethan's voice made me come down to earth.

"Bell peppers?"

He stared at the bell peppers in my lunch box, his lips twitching as if he was about to teach me a good lesson.

I pretended not to hear and tried to discreetly move the box away, but Ethan immediately covered it with the lid.

I was stunned for a moment.

Then I tried to pull it away.

Ethan didn't let go, keeping his hand firmly on the lid.

"Then I can't eat without peppers! It tastes like nothing!"

In the stalemate, I finally broke the silence, my tone ready for a quarrel, just like old times.

Ethan looked at me, his face tense, hesitating as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. Finally, he actually spoke like a normal person.

"I'll take you out for a big meal once you're discharged from the hospital. Just bear with it for a few days."

"A big meal?" My eyes lit up, but then I frowned, "Don't try to fool me! If you lie, you'll never find a girlfriend! And if you get married, she'll be a vixen!"

Ethan seemed on the verge of losing his temper. He casually took out his phone and opened Whatsapp. "If you're afraid I'll run away, you can add me on Whatsapp. I'll transfer 140 to your account first."

I was taken aback.

So generous!!?

Part 14

I successfully added him on Whatsapp.

I was about to reply to Valerie's message when Ethan spoke up, "Let me see what you saved my name as."

Raising an eyebrow, I casually showed him the screen, "Of course, it's your name. What else would it be..."

Ethan stared at the screen, his gaze wandering as if he was thinking about something.

I suddenly felt tricked, quickly took back my phone and checked the screen, asking warily, "What are you looking at?"

Ethan's slender fingers held the phone, and for a moment, a hint of sadness appeared in his eyes but quickly vanished.

Just then, a nurse called him, and he got up and left.

I was silent.

Valerie sent a message at this time, "Babe! I miss..."

I looked down at Valerie's message, about to reply, when she added two more words-

"Your manuscript."

I blinked, a bit confused.

Looking at Valerie's youthful profile picture, I felt something was off. An inappropriate thought appeared in my mind but was quickly dismissed by me.

After all, I was a novelist. I could distinguish between reality and novels.

How could Ethan be jealous because of this...

I was not his type, right?

I had questioned this many times in the dead of night.

Ethan's roommates all said he liked girls with long, straight black hair, while I had natural curls.

So, he definitely wouldn't have a crush on me.

Seeing how he always loved to argue with me, I just gave up the idea of going out with him.

Then my phone received a message that Ethan had transferred 143 to my account.

Leaning against the bed, I noticed the extra 3 dollars and felt a pang in my heart.

It was the first time a guy had sent me 143 dollars.

Even though it was a deposit for a meal, didn't he say he'd transfer 140 initially?

I didn't dare ask.

Opening Facebook, I saw girls with boyfriends showing off their transfer record of 143 for dinner, and some even posted the photos of 143 roses given by their boyfriends.

Part 15

Every year on Valentine's Day, I watched others' public displays of affection. This year, I was still watching, even in a ward.

It was not that I like roses; I just envied those who had someone to give them roses.

Valerie sent another message again, "Babe, there are still three days left before the deadline!"

I looked at Valerie's message, feeling a bit melancholic. I replied briefly and then opened the comments section of my novel.

As expected, the comment doubting my single status appeared again. I couldn't help but laugh and replied, "Alright, to prove I'm single, I'll work harder to write!"

I got to work immediately.

But just as I was filled with determination, a news notification on Twitter distracted me. I started browsing the news and soon felt sleepy.

Maybe it was because I had just had surgery that I got tired easily. Thinking about the fact that I hadn't washed myself up yet, I felt uncomfortable and got up to head to the bathroom.

In a hurry, I stripped off my clothes, turned on the hot water, and wrung out a towel to wipe my body.

Looking at the three gauze patches on my abdomen, I couldn't help but poke them, ready to complain when suddenly I had a blackout.

Part 16

If there was a limit to embarrassment, I must have reached it.

Because before I passed out, I heard Ethan's voice...

Now I didn't even have the cloth to cover my body...

If there was one, I hoped it could cover my face instead.

Why was I so unlucky...

"Don't move, let me check if the wound has been affected."

I lay on the bed, wrapped in a hot towel, feeling so embarrassed that my body shivered. I mumbled, "You didn't see anything just now."

"It's not that I haven't seen it before."

Ethan nonchalantly tore off the gauze, dipped a cotton swab in antiseptic, and gently cleaned the wound, his voice low, "To me, you're just a guinea pig in the lab."

I was stunned, pursing my lips and staying silent. I had always known I was flattering myself.

To a doctor, I'm just another piece of meat on the table.

The difference was that it was my opinion, and he was not just a doctor. He was Ethan.

I would get more nervous, more embarrassed...

Therefore, I couldn't sleep at night, thinking I'd never talk to Ethan again, but then I started writing a doctor-themed story...

I put my expression into the story.

I told the strange readers that I still liked Ethan.

It turned out when I met the one I first loved, I would still fall in love with him.