The interns in the neurosurgery department of Zhennan Central Hospital were buzzing with excitement.
"Is it true?"
"Oh my god! I’m so excited!"
"Is Professor Yan really coming here for a month-long academic exchange? That’s amazing!"
For any neurosurgery student in recent years, the textbooks they used almost certainly included one compiled by Yan Yan. His striking, handsome face was printed on the inner pages. Even when the students were being tortured to death by the sheer volume of memorization, one look at that photo was enough to give them a much-needed shot of adrenaline.
Students in the industry who had worked under Yan Yan spoke of him with nothing but praise, saying his personality was exceptionally kind and that he was even better-looking in person than in his photos.
It was no exaggeration to say he was the idol of many.
Even the usually composed Xie Bing changed her expression upon hearing the news. She grabbed the person sharing the insider information and stared intently at her. "Are you sure? Dr. Yan Yan is coming?"
She had chosen Zhennan back then for two reasons: first, because of its excellent faculty, and second, because Zhennan Central Hospital had the closest exchange ties with the hospital where Yan Yan worked. She had harbored the hope that she might encounter him here.
It wasn't that she didn't want to be his student; it was simply that Yan Yan hadn't taken on any new students in recent years, and the neurosurgery department at his hospital didn't accept interns without prior experience.
She had been forced to take a more roundabout route to her goal.
"Yeah, I overheard it when I was passing by the Director's office."
The colleague’s hand hurt from Xie Bing's grip, so she frowned and shook her off, asking, "You're so excited—are you a fangirl of Professor Yan too?"
"I'm not a 'fangirl.'"
Xie Bing disliked the term.
"I simply respect him very much."
As she recalled the figure from her memory—as clear as a breeze and as bright as the moon—a trace of fervor appeared in her eyes, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
She said softly, "He is the best person I have ever met, without exception."
Xie Bing had always believed this and had never wavered in her goal of chasing after that figure. Yet, for some reason, the image of a person busy in a kitchen with his back turned to her suddenly intruded upon her mind. She couldn't help but raise her hand to touch her forehead.
The patch of skin that had been cherished and secretly kissed the night before suddenly began to feel hot.
"And you say you're not a fangirl," the person beside her teased. Xie Bing didn't mind; she was lost in her own thoughts.
Why... why did Brother Qing kiss her?
Was it the care of an older brother for a younger sister?
Or was it...
"Ah, Dr. Xie, you're here."
A nurse poked her head in through the door.
"Someone just said they were delivering something to you. Did you see them?"
Xie Bing was puzzled. "Who? No one came looking for me."
The nurse looked around, confused. "A man. He said he was your friend and that you’d left something at his place, so he brought it over. I just pointed him in this direction. Where did he go?"
A man? Left something at his place?
Brother Qing!
For some reason, Xie Bing felt a sudden pang of anxiety. She rushed past the nurse and ran all the way to the information desk, but she didn't see that familiar figure. She took out her phone, intending to call and ask, when she saw a WeChat message from Li Qingliu:
*Xiao Xie, you left your ID badge at my house. I’ve left it on the information desk for you. Remember to pick it up.*
She turned to look at the desk behind her. Sure enough, her ID badge was lying there.
Xie Bing picked up the badge and gripped it in her hand, biting her lower lip.
Did Brother Qing hear what she just said?
Li Qingliu had indeed heard it, and he had seen her expression.
That girl, who usually maintained a polite distance from everyone and never seemed to have any particular preferences, had shown such a look of yearning.
She said he was the best person she had ever known.
Even though it might have been simple admiration, Li Qingliu found that expression on Xie Bing's face to be exceptionally piercing.
The person she looked up to was so outstanding that it prompted the normally stoic Xie Bing to offer such unreserved praise.
*What about me?*
A powerful urge to flee rose within him; he suddenly didn't dare to face her.
Last night, he hadn't been able to control his longing. He had shamelessly taken advantage of the person he liked while she was unconscious to steal a kiss.
Like a base thief, he only dared to peer at the treasure he yearned for from the shadows.
If Xie Bing had woken up then, would she have thought he was a pervert? Would she have stopped seeing him altogether?
Li Qingliu hid by the door, his mind flooded with too many chaotic thoughts. He had beaten a hasty retreat in a state of utter disarray.
Even that evening, when Xie Bing came to see him to ask about what happened during the day, he avoided the subject entirely.
***
"Lian Zhi, I heard today is Nannan's birthday. Keke has been making a fuss, saying she promised to celebrate with Nannan and treat him to MFC. Is it convenient for you to bring the child?"
Hua Yi was organizing files at the law firm. She glanced at the time and sent a WeChat message to Lian Zhi.
Lian Zhi took a long time to reply, likely because he was in class: "Would that be too much trouble for you..."
"It's fine. The children get along so well; we're just helping them fulfill their promise."
"Besides, it's just a snack. It's no trouble at all."
Lian Zhi looked at the message. He remembered that Nannan was never a picky eater and ate whatever he made. In the past, that man had never properly cooked for the child. In all his years, Nannan might truly never have eaten snacks like MFC. The thought made Lian Zhi feel uneasy.
He replied: "Alright then. I'll bring Nannan after school."
"Okay, I'll drive over to pick you both up."
Having received the reply she wanted, the expression on Hua Yi's face relaxed considerably.
But just as she was feeling pleased, the head of the law firm quietly approached from behind her and said leisurely, "Who are you messaging? Are you seeing someone?"
"!"
Hua Yi jumped and turned around.
"Mom, why are you sneaking up behind me? You scared me."
"What, can a simple message be that frightening?"
Her mother was a typical professional woman. Her well-tailored suit hugged her curved figure, and she saw through her daughter's unease at a glance.
"It's that client I mentioned." Hua Yi avoided her gaze, aligning the documents in her hand and tapping them against the desk.
"Oh, the one with the domestic violence case who wants a divorce but also wants custody of a non-biological child?"
"Yes. Keke is very close to that child and was insisting on taking them out to eat today."
Her explanation seemed flawless, but her mother went straight for the details: "Then what does that have to do with you?"
Keke wasn't her child; she naturally had her own parents to handle such things.
Hua Yi was left speechless.
"Xiaoyi, although feelings are free, you must remember basic human morality and professional ethics."
"You've liked helping vulnerable groups since you were a child. I know you're kind."
"That case of yours looks simple, but you should also try to understand the other party's situation. Don't fall into a thinking trap."
Her little secret had been ruthlessly exposed by her parent. She could only admit, "I know. I have it under control."
Later, as the four of them sat in the fast-food restaurant, the two children happily ate fried chicken and drank cola.
Hua Yi was still thinking about what her mother had said.
She knew the boundaries, so she would never cross the line.
Lian Zhi spent the time wiping the children's mouths, watching them eat with gusto. His expression was rare and relaxed.
Hua Yi pushed a portion toward him and said, "You should eat too. You've been teaching all day; you must be hungry."
Lian Zhi paused, looking a bit embarrassed. "This is all stuff the kids want to eat."
"It's okay, we ordered a lot and won't be able to finish it. Teacher Lian, please eat too," Keke chimed in immediately.
Nannan also stopped eating and looked at him with an expression that said, *If you don't eat, I won't eat either.*
Surrounded by the kindness of the three, Lian Zhi had no choice but to take a chicken wing from the tray. He put it in his mouth somewhat unpracticed and took a bite.
"It's delicious!" His eyes lit up.
"Has Lian Zhi never eaten this before?" Hua Yi saw his expression and frowned slightly. For fast food like this, anyone who wasn't from an extremely impoverished family would have tried it.
"Mhm." Lian Zhi nodded and gave a shy smile. "My family's conditions weren't very good growing up. I grew up in the countryside and never had the chance to enter a shop like this."
"Later... some things happened at home. I was working to earn money after the college entrance exams and couldn't bear to spend it on this. Until I was sold by my family..."
Realizing what he was about to say, Lian Zhi quickly shut his mouth and rephrased his words. "Anyway, thank you and Keke for bringing us to celebrate Nannan's birthday."
Hua Yi sensitively caught that specific word, but she didn't press him. She simply handed him a cola. "Then have a good meal today. But remember to save some room; there's a cake coming later."
"Cake!" The children grew excited.
"Auntie, you bought a cake too? How come I didn't know?" Keke asked in surprise.
"You can't have a birthday without cake. Since you didn't think of it, I'm making up for it."
"I wonder when Lian Zhi's birthday is? We can all have cake together again then."
"Yeah, yeah! I want to celebrate Teacher Lian's birthday too!"
Lian Zhi smiled and used his clean hand to pat Keke's head. "My birthday has already passed, but thank you anyway, Keke."
*It already passed.*
Hua Yi lowered her eyes. She suspected there hadn't been a proper celebration for it.
"Then let this cake also serve as our late blessing. Happy birthday, and may you always be happy from now on."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
严琰 | Yan Yan | A famous neurosurgeon and professor; Xie Bing's idol.
圳南 | Zhennan | The city/location of the central hospital.
MFC | MFC | A fictional fast-food chain (parody of KFC).
华意 | Hua Yi | A lawyer and Keke's aunt.
连枝 | Lian Zhi | A teacher and Nannan's father.
南南 | Nannan | Lian Zhi's son.
可可 | Keke | Hua Yi's niece.
小连老师 | Teacher Lian | A respectful way the children/Hua Yi address Lian Zhi.
