The hospital rooftop was quiet that evening, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. Lin Chen leaned against the railing, gazing at the city lights below. Su Xiaoyu approached, her footsteps soft, yet deliberate.
"You never relax, do you?" she asked, teasing but gentle.
Lin Chen shook his head slightly. "Relaxation comes after duty," he said. His voice was calm, measured, yet it carried a warmth he rarely allowed himself to express.
"Emotional bond detected," the system noted. Lin Chen ignored it, though he felt a small flutter in his chest.
Later, a minor emergency brought them together again. A patient was in distress, and Lin Chen guided Su Xiaoyu and the team with precision. Their hands brushed briefly as she passed him a syringe. The contact was brief, but it left a lingering warmth.
He looked at her, a subtle thought crossing his mind: perhaps companionship was not a weakness, but a strength.