The presence behind her stepped forward, and Li Xiyan instinctively moved aside to give him space.
Shen Rui's pout deepened, her expression shifting from guarded to expectant. It was clear that she was much more comfortable with the man who had just arrived.
"Why did you take so long? I don't have anyone to talk to," she complained, crossing her small arms.
The man—tall, composed, and exuding an air of quiet authority—let out a light chuckle.
His dark eyes, sharp yet gentle, softened as he leaned down, pressing a light kiss to her forehead.
"I had something to handle," he said in a calm, steady voice, one that carried an undertone of warmth despite his otherwise cool demeanor. "But I'm back now."
He straightened and gave her an indulgent look. "Now then, where were we?"
Shen Rui's eyes lit up. "You still haven't answered my question—why do entangled particles affect each other instantly, even across vast distances? Doesn't that violate the rule that nothing can travel faster than light?"
Li Xiyan's mouth twitched.
Quantum entanglement?
Of all things, that's what they'd been discussing?
A topic that could leave even professors debating for hours—let alone high school students.
She exhaled quietly, a mix of exasperation and something more complicated settling in her chest.
Some things never changed.
He was still the same—unshaken, sharp, brilliant.
And now, his daughter was following in his footsteps.
Deciding it was time to leave, she turned toward the door. But before she could step out, his voice stopped her.
"Excuse me."
Li Xiyan hesitated, her fingers unconsciously tightening.
She didn't want to turn around.
A part of her was afraid—afraid that if she met his eyes, he would recognize her instantly.
But she was here as an intern. She had a job to do.
She couldn't afford to hesitate over something so trivial.
Taking a slow breath, she turned around, forcing herself to meet his gaze head-on.
Dark eyes. Steady, piercing, unreadable.
It took all her courage to hold his gaze, to keep her expression neutral despite the way her heart clenched unexpectedly.
He looked… different.
Older. More refined.
The sharp angles of his face had matured, his once-youthful features now carrying a quiet strength. His jawline was defined, his nose straight, his thin lips pressed into a neutral line.
His black hair was neatly styled, shorter than she remembered, with a few stray strands falling slightly out of place—just enough to soften his otherwise sharp demeanor.
Dressed in a crisp, tailored black suit, the fabric smooth and expensive, he exuded effortless authority.
His white dress shirt was immaculate, the top button undone, just enough to keep him from looking overly rigid.
A sleek wristwatch glinted against his cuff, the only accessory he wore, understated yet unmistakably high-end.
Time had changed him.
Yet, at the same time, he was exactly the same.
She fixed her masked before asking politely, "Do you need anything?"
His sharp eyes flickered downward, landing on the name tag clipped to her coat—the standard issue for interns, marked with her name and the words 'Medical Student Intern'.
His frown was subtle but unmistakable.
"Never mind," Shen Yuze said coolly.
Then, after a brief pause, his tone shifted—cool, distant, and unmistakably professional.
"Tell your supervising physician to stop sending interns into this room. My daughter doesn't like strangers invading her space."
His words were crisp, not unkind but firm enough to leave no room for debate.
Li Xiyan nodded, understanding his point. "I understand."
Satisfied, he shifted the topic. "Have the lab results come in yet?"
Li Xiyan steadied her voice and answered professionally, "The blood culture results will take another four hours, but the white blood cell count with differential should be available in an hour."
Shen Yuze gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable as he processed the information.
Then, without another word, he turned back to Shen Rui, as if dismissing her presence entirely.
Shen Rui, still watching her, didn't say anything.
Li Xiyan met the little girl's gaze one last time and offered a polite, professional farewell.
"Take care, Shen Rui," she said as she walked toward the door, not expecting a response.
But just as she reached for the handle, a small voice murmured, "Goodbye."
She paused for a brief moment, a faint smile tugging at her lips before she pushed the door open and stepped out.
Only when it clicked shut behind her did she finally exhale.
That had gone better than she expected.
More importantly, now that she was no longer assigned to his daughter's case, she wouldn't have to see him—or be reminded of everything all over again.