After Liang Jueyun left, Zhang Jikang and Mai Shining arrived at the hospital one after the other. The three of them caused a ruckus for quite a while before things finally settled down.
Finding an excuse to send Zhang Jikang away, Xia Yinuo asked Mai Shining, "How are things going between you and Jikang? You’ve been back for a while now."
Mai Shining leaned lazily against the bed, poking at the cast on Xia Yinuo’s arm. "What do you mean 'how'? It’s just like this. Nothing’s happening."
"You two are idiots," Xia Yinuo gritted out.
"I think our current state is pretty good. As the saying goes, what joy is left for a person who already has everything? What else in this world is worth his struggle and effort? What would he be living for then? Is it just to 'live' for the sake of living? A person's life must have goals worth fighting for to have meaning."
"Mr. Gu Long, please take your obsessed fan home."
"Ahem, my point is, I’m giving him—and myself—a little bit of meaning in life."
"How very meaningful."
"It’s called *romance*. You’re just a kid; you don't understand."
"Fine, I don't understand."
But did Xia Yinuo really not understand?
As a medical student, she had taken "Introduction to Sexology," knew about Queer Theory, had read Li Yinhe, understood the significance of the rainbow flag, and had seen famous LGBT films like *Farewell My Concubine* and *Brokeback Mountain*. That was the extent of it, yet it wasn't exactly a little. If anyone were to ask Xia Yinuo her stance on the matter, she would certainly answer: respect and understanding.
After starting her doctorate, although Xia Yinuo didn't live in the dormitory, she still kept a bed there. The room held some of her professional books and materials left over from her undergraduate years. It was a double room, and her roommate was from the same year and department but a different major—not a best friend, but a familiar acquaintance she could talk to. One afternoon a few years ago, on a whim, Xia Yinuo had returned to the dorm to retrieve some old records, only to accidentally walk in on her roommate and her girlfriend kissing against the wall. Three people, six eyes, all staring at each other. Xia Yinuo had felt awkward, regretting her reckless entry into someone else's privacy. After a few seconds of composure, she had expressed her apology and understanding politely, her expression barely changing. It was the roommate who felt embarrassed; she later made a point of taking Xia Yinuo out to dinner with her partner, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Xia Yinuo never mentioned the incident to a fourth person.
Aside from that, girls had occasionally dropped subtle hints of affection toward her. Xia Yinuo would calmly signal back, *Sorry, I’m not,* and the matter would drift away without a fuss.
That night, Xia Yinuo lay alone in the dim hospital room, indifferent to the characteristic smell of disinfectant. Because of the cast, she could only lie flat on her back, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
So, did Xia Yinuo understand? As a diligent doctoral student, perhaps she could stand to understand a little more.
The next day, the college issued a notice regarding the fire at the animal facility. It stated that the fire in the storage room was caused by aging electrical wiring; fortunately, the fire alarm had been timely, the evacuation was smooth, and only one student had sustained minor injuries. It was a good thing Xia Yinuo didn't see the notice; it was embarrassing enough as it was.
Liang Jueyun went to the lab early that morning, gave a brief overview of the day's tasks, and then headed to the affiliated hospital. When she reached the ward, she found it quite lively; Li Qinglan and Li Xiuheng were both there.
Seeing Liang Jueyun, Xia Yinuo greeted her happily. "Senior, you're here." She turned and added, "You met my mom yesterday. This is my brother, Li Xiuheng. Brother, this is Teacher Liang. She’s here to take me back."
Liang Jueyun politely greeted the mother and son.
Li Qinglan said, "We were just talking about this. We don't want your grandmother to see you like this and get all worked up, so you should stay at your uncle's house. Your aunt can look after you, and Mumu isn't home right now. During this time, your Uncle Li and I will try to adjust our shifts. Or else, I’ll call your father and have him pick you up to stay with him."
"Mom, I’m an adult. It’s just a minor injury, it’s not like I can’t take care of myself. Why involve so many people? There are still things to do at school, and Uncle’s house is too far; commuting would be inconvenient. Your work is important. And things are even more chaotic at Dad’s place; taking care of Xiaoyan alone is enough of a headache," Xia Yinuo argued logically, winking at Li Xiuheng. "Besides, Brother isn't as busy as you two. He can come see me after work, can't he?"
"I live nearby, so I can look after Xiao Xia as well," Liang Jueyun offered.
Li Qinglan could only compromise. "Sigh, you really are as stubborn as an ox. Fine, I’ll cook some soup and have your brother bring it over. You’d better remember to drink it."
"Yes, I know, I know!" Xia Yinuo nodded like a chick pecking at grain.
Li Xiuheng stepped forward to pick up the packed bags, supporting his sister. "Alright, Mom, don't worry. I'll go to the school to see Xiaobao after work. Don't change your shifts; work comes first." He then rubbed his sister's hair with his large hand. "Little girl, let's go! Back to school."
Li Qinglan pulled Liang Jueyun aside for another round of grateful words. Liang Jueyun didn't say much, only smiling and nodding in agreement.
Before they left, Li Qinglan cautioned again, "Keep your arm across your chest. Don't take the sling off except for sleeping. You know this yourself."
Xia Yinuo bowed respectfully. "Yes, Mother Dear."
Li Qinglan shook her head with a smile, clearly pleased by the gesture.
At the entrance of the inpatient department, Li Xiuheng said he would go get the car. When the car pulled up, the person in the driver's seat was actually Qi Qian. Li Xiuheng got out of the passenger side and said to the two women, "I still have a shift, but Qi Qian was on the night shift and just got off. He can drop you off on his way."
Xia Yinuo gave Li Xiuheng a subtle pinch and whispered in his ear, "You did this on purpose! I'll let it slide this once, but I'll settle the score with you next time!"
Li Xiuheng gave Liang Jueyun a somewhat awkward smile. Liang Jueyun’s eyes signaled back: *I sympathize with you, but I can't help you.*
Qi Qian rolled down the driver's window and invited them in. The two of them sat in the back.
As the car pulled away from the bustling hospital entrance and onto the wide main road, Qi Qian looked at Xia Yinuo in the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "I told you, we’d meet again soon."
Xia Yinuo thought to herself that this man was certainly overfamiliar, but she said, "Thank you for driving us back."
Liang Jueyun smiled knowingly.
"Teacher Liang, teaching at the university at such a young age—you’re truly young and promising! I heard Xiaobao call you 'Senior'?"
Liang Jueyun replied politely, "I don't actually teach them much; I just hold a faculty position. Since we're close in age, calling me 'Teacher' would be too formal."
"Then Teacher Liang must take very good care of Xiaobao?" Qi Qian continued the conversation.
"Doctor Qi, we aren't that close. 'Xiaobao' is what my family calls me; it feels very strange when you say it." Xia Yinuo finally lost her polite facade and interrupted him.
Qi Qian remained smiling. "It’s fine. Xiuheng’s sister is my sister."
"So Xiuheng’s father is your father, and Xiuheng’s wife is your wife?" Xia Yinuo muttered under her breath.
Liang Jueyun secretly curled her lips into a smile.
Qi Qian glanced at Xia Yinuo in the mirror and laughed. "Haha! Alright, you’re right. Then what should I call you?"
"Anything but Xiaobao."
"Xiaonuo?"
"..."
"People at school call her Xiao Xia," Liang Jueyun interjected.
"Then I'll call you Xiaonuo."
"..."
After that, none of the three spoke. Liang Jueyun’s phone vibrated; it was a text from Xia Yinuo, who was sitting right next to her: *Senior, if you don't mind, you can just call me Xiaobao.*
The reply was a single word: *Okay.*
They looked at each other and smiled.
Once they reached the school, under Xia Yinuo’s direction, the car smoothly turned into the faculty residential area. After getting out and retrieving their things, Xia Yinuo said politely, "Thank you for the ride, Doctor Qi. You’ve worked hard."
Liang Jueyun also said, "Thank you, Doctor Qi."
"You're welcome," Qi Qian smiled magnanimously, seemingly unbothered by Xia Yinuo’s aloofness. "Goodbye, then."
"Goodbye."
As Qi Qian’s car slowly drove away, a blanket of silence fell over them. Golden plane tree leaves lay scattered along the roadside, not yet cleared by the sanitation workers. Xia Yinuo stood in front of the apartment building, looking down and nudging the fallen leaves with her shoe.
City C had a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. In late November, the air was crisp and the breeze was gentle. In a little while, when the cold front arrived, winter would truly begin. San Francisco, on the other hand, had a typical Mediterranean climate—spring-like all year round, cool and pleasant. In her dozen or so years in San Francisco, she had only seen snow once. For some reason, Liang Jueyun found herself looking forward to this winter in City C.
Xia Yinuo wore a coat draped over her shoulders, with only her left arm in a sleeve. Liang Jueyun stepped forward to straighten the coat for her and asked, "It’s almost lunchtime. What are your plans for food?"
Xia Yinuo gestured with her right arm in its cast. "I was forced to eat so much this morning that I don't have much of an appetite. I’ll drop my things off and head to the lab first."
"Is it delaying your experiments?"
"A bit. I’ve been administering drugs to mice every day lately. I didn't have time to notify Professor Tang yesterday, so I called him this morning to ask for leave. I need to go back and hand over some tasks." This was the self-discipline of a PhD student: bones may break, but experiments must not be disrupted.
Liang Jueyun nodded and accompanied Xia Yinuo home. After a quick tidy-up, the two of them headed out together, walking toward the lab.
When Xia Yinuo appeared at the lab looking like the one-armed hero Yang Guo, it still drew a chorus of gasps. Her fellow students stopped their experiments to offer their condolences, their voices overlapping in a noisy chatter. Xia Yinuo gave a brief explanation, omitting the part where Liang Jueyun had turned back for her, and then waved her hand helplessly. "It is what it is. Just an accident."
The eldest senior, Liu Zhe, stepped forward and patted Xia Yinuo on the shoulder. "Guo'er, take care!"
Immediately after, Ke Dinghao lowered his head, cupped his fists, and said in a deep voice, "Divine Condor Errant, have mercy!"
The junior sister, Wang Meng, stood with her hands behind her back, smiling cutely. "Big Brother, my name is Guo Xiang—Xiang as in Xiangyang!"
Xia Yinuo fought back a laugh. "This humble one must go find his Auntie now." With that, she strode away.
***
