Whenever Director Ni was faced with questions in his professional field, he was so serious and exacting that he could be called downright finicky.
At any other time, however, he was very easy to get along with.
Seeing how listless Zhong Yu looked, he simply told her to go home and rest.
Zhong Yu was not the sort to put on a brave front or refuse to admit defeat, so she did not object.
She did not know whether it was because of the Rebirth Vine, but she always felt as though her body was under too much strain. Mentally, she also needed some time to adjust.
After greeting the others in her department, she left the hospital directly.
Along the way, she still felt somewhat unaccustomed to the streetscape, with its distinctive features of the era.
She was momentarily bewildered, but she could still remember where she lived.
She shared a dormitory with Liao Sha, one of only two female students in their class. There were so few girls in their class that even the four-person dormitory was never full.
Though there were only a few of them, they were very close.
She had also entered university at sixteen, making her younger than all her classmates. Everyone called her Youngest and took especially good care of her.
Later, after injuring her hand and staying at the university to teach, they continued to look after her.
Following her memories, she found the dormitory. When she pushed open the old, rusty door, it gave a creaking groan.
The noise woke Liao Sha, who had been sleeping soundly. She poked her head out and asked hoarsely, “Huh—Youngest, why are you back at this hour?”
Liao Sha had been catching up on sleep in bed. Her short hair was neat and practical, and she had dark circles under her eyes. Even without makeup, however, she still looked spirited and sharp.
Zhong Yu unconsciously smiled.
“Something happened at the hospital. Teacher Ni told me to come back and rest.”
Zhong Yu’s voice carried the soft, sweet lilt characteristic of southerners. No matter when she spoke, she was never hurried.
Liao Sha was startled by this and immediately climbed out of bed.
“What happened? Why do you look even worse than I do after a night shift? And how did you hurt your hand?”
As soon as Zhong Yu returned to the dormitory, she felt her body and mind relax. Afraid that Liao Sha would examine the injury on her hand, she quickly explained, “There was a fire in the building where our department is. I only scraped the skin and suffered a minor superficial injury. It’s already bandaged, and I’ll be fine after resting for a couple of days.”
Liao Sha had returned to the dormitory a little after seven, and it was already past two in the afternoon. It was perfectly normal that she knew nothing about what had happened at the hospital.
“I had a woman come in for a vaginal delivery last night. Her cervix opened slowly, and the placenta wouldn’t come out either. I was kept busy all night, came back, and fell straight asleep. I didn’t know anything that happened. There were so many male doctors and nurses at the hospital—what were you rushing in for?”
The two of them had been friends for decades, and they had always spoken casually with each other. They had never had a quarrel while living together; they had made it this far by encouraging and supporting one another.
“It’s fine. I can take the chance to get some rest and prepare properly for the attending physician assessment.”
Those words successfully put an end to Liao Sha’s nagging.
Both of them were still undergoing standardized residency training, so they rarely had any free time that coincided.
They had not even had time to discuss their future career plans. This assessment held tremendous significance for the medical students in their cohort who were undergoing training.
Liao Sha’s family had some connections, and she said frankly, “I’m definitely staying here. What does your supervising teacher say?”
Zhong Yu pulled over a chair and sat down, answering as she changed her shoes.
“It wouldn’t be difficult for me to stay, but I’m more inclined to return to Hai City.”
Every family had its own difficulties, and Liao Sha knew about Zhong Yu’s family situation. She did not say anything inappropriate, though she did feel it was a pity for her.
“All your connections are in the capital. What will you do if people bully you after you go back to Hai City?”
Zhong Yu burst out laughing.
“It’s not as though I’m going out to join a gang fight. In our field, what matters is genuine ability.”
Liao Sha of course understood that, but concern had made her lose her composure.
“Fine, then. Just don’t forget to come back and visit me in the future.”
Zhong Yu nodded. Returning to Hai City to work did not mean she would never come back to the capital.
“Let’s go eat ground-pot chicken at East Gate tonight. I’m craving some teppanyaki tofu.”
The commercial street outside Capital Medical University’s East Gate catered specifically to university students. It was lively and prosperous, and the prices were within their means.
Liao Sha nodded enthusiastically. “Then I’m treating today!”
This was not the first time Zhong Yu had let herself be treated, and she did not refuse. She accepted the offer with perfect ease.
There was still plenty of time, so Zhong Yu first took a shower in the dormitory. She changed out of her sweat-soaked clothes and washed them, then slept for about an hour. Only after that did the two of them leave arm in arm.
The Capital Medical University campus covered a vast area. They lived at the far western end, and it took about half an hour to walk to East Gate.
It was rare for them to steal some leisure from their busy lives and have such a carefree moment. Liao Sha wore a white short-sleeved shirt with overalls, while Zhong Yu wore a ginger-yellow dress.
Once they took off their white coats, they were youthful and lovely university students. Walking arm in arm through the campus, they naturally made a striking sight.
A change in identity brought a different feeling—at least, that was how Zhong Yu felt.
Watching the boys on the basketball court freely sweat through their game, while the girls whispered and judged them, sometimes exchanging knowing looks and sometimes bursting into laughter, she could only feel that youth was at its finest.
The moment they reached East Gate, the aromas of all kinds of snacks filled Zhong Yu’s nose.
She headed straight for the teppanyaki tofu stall. The tofu was crisp and fragrant on the outside and soft and tender within, and paired with the owner’s special seasoning, every bite was deeply satisfying.
Unfortunately, the husband-and-wife owners later returned to their hometown to accompany their child through school, and Zhong Yu never got to taste that familiar flavor again.
The two of them bought food and ate as they walked, occasionally running into junior schoolmates they knew.
There were only twenty students in their direct-entry doctoral program, most of them top scorers from the university entrance examination in their respective regions. They were all academic elites, so it was only natural that the junior students looked up to them.
By the time they reached the small ground-pot chicken restaurant, business was so good that there were no empty tables inside.
Liao Sha looked around and spotted someone familiar at the table farthest inside. She grabbed Zhong Yu and squeezed her way over.
Zhong Yu was nearly pulled hard enough to knock her leg against something.
“Cheng Yuan, Old Jiang, you’re here too! The two of us are joining your table.”
Old Jiang cheerfully welcomed them to sit down.
“Don’t be polite. I’m treating today. Only the two of us came back to the dormitory.”
Cheng Yuan was tall and handsome. There was warmth in his gaze as he looked at Zhong Yu, and he considerately pulled out a chair for her.
“Youngest, is your hand all right? I had surgery this afternoon. By the time I went to your department, you had already left.”
The male classmate who was now several decades younger was especially handsome and pleasing to the eye. Zhong Yu smiled and nodded.
“Thank you for your concern, Class Monitor. I’m fine now.”
Everyone at this table would have brilliant futures ahead of them.
Cheng Yuan would become a renowned respiratory specialist in China. Jiang Dalian would become a tycoon in the medical-equipment industry, while Liao Sha would become a famous specialist in obstetrics and gynecology.
How fortunate she was to have become their classmate—and how proud she was to know them.
Jiang Dalian waved over a server and asked her to bring two more sets of bowls and chopsticks. He thoughtfully handed the menu to the two women.
“Order whatever you want. The food in the hospital cafeteria is so bland and tasteless. You both need to make up for it properly.”
Jiang Dalian’s family was wealthy, and he had always been generous toward his classmates, so they did not stand on ceremony.
After they finished ordering, Jiang Dalian began listing complaints in a rush:
“You two came at just the right time. Cheng Yuan actually isn’t planning to stay in the capital. Hurry up and talk some sense into him.”
Liao Sha was somewhat surprised. Staying behind was difficult for the others, but the hospital director had specifically asked Cheng Yuan to remain.
Cheng Yuan calmly poured a cup of water and handed it to Zhong Yu before smiling and explaining to them, “I want to gain more experience in a smaller place first. Capital Medical University has so many talented people that I might not get a chance to stand out here.”
Cheng Yuan had always been ambitious. In her previous life, he had made the same choice, advancing steadily and solidly until he climbed to the very peak.
Liao Sha patted Jiang Dalian on the shoulder and said in a pompous, old-fashioned tone, “Old Jiang, everyone has their own path to take. The class monitor isn’t even from the capital. Staying here may not necessarily be better for him. The sky is high enough for birds to fly wherever they wish. Just go visit him when you have time. You’re not short of money anyway—treat it as traveling.”
Jiang Dalian was both amused and exasperated. Having money was no excuse to flaunt it like this, was it?
“What are you planning to do, Youngest?”
Jiang Dalian was the one who asked, but Cheng Yuan looked at her with a deep gaze.
Zhong Yu instinctively turned her head aside and said lightly, “I’m planning to return to Hai City. I want to spend a few more years with my mother.”
Under the table, Jiang Dalian kicked Cheng Yuan. Cheng Yuan acted as if he had not noticed and said casually, “Hai City is developing very well and is connected to the international community. I’m also considering whether I should go to a hospital there. Do you think I’d be suited to working there?”
Even someone as straightforward as Liao Sha could hear that there was something unusual in his words.
She immediately fixed her blazing gaze on Zhong Yu.
Zhong Yu felt her scalp prickle under that stare.
She was not good at dealing with emotional matters. She always felt that she lacked the ability to maintain an intimate relationship.
In her previous life, she had remained alone. In this life, she planned to let things take their natural course and did not want to consider such matters too early.
But Cheng Yuan was different. He needed a stable home base so that he could devote himself wholeheartedly to his career.
In her previous life, Cheng Yuan had confessed to her before they left university. She had been very surprised, but she had clearly rejected him.
At that time, she had suffered a devastating blow and had no room in her mind for any other thoughts.
Cheng Yuan had also respected her choice. The two of them remained in contact for many years, keeping a neither-distant-nor-close relationship that had never caused her any trouble.
“Class Monitor, there are better places for you. I heard that a hospital in Guangzhou has extended an offer to you. That’s your hometown, and it would be more suitable for your development in every respect.”
Cheng Yuan seemed not at all surprised by her rejection. He smiled in relief.
“You’re right. Then let’s leave it at that. But, Youngest, when are you finally going to figure things out?”
Zhong Yu put on a foolish smile. Just then, the ground-pot chicken was served, so she hurriedly urged everyone to start eating.
There would not be many more chances for them to eat together in the future. Their specialty was unusual, and they could not even easily gather everyone for a graduation farewell dinner.
It was rare for them to relax like this. Junior students from other tables even came over to toast them. Other than Zhong Yu, whose hand was injured, everyone else drank quite a lot.
By the time Liao Sha returned to the dormitory, she was already so dazed that she could barely walk steadily. Zhong Yu had to support her the entire way.
Liao Sha had another full day of outpatient consultations the next day and had no chance at all to interrogate Zhong Yu.
With the constant rush of night shifts, evening shifts, and outpatient rounds, she ended up forgetting the matter herself.
Zhong Yu was only too happy to have things pass so easily. Before she knew it, the day of the attending physician assessment had arrived.