“I know quite a bit about Doctor Zhong. Whether it’s your scores in your specialized courses at school or your performance in clinical work, you’ve excelled across the board. Even more impressive is how well you handle doctor-patient relationships. That alone is remarkable.”
Director Tang’s lavish praise made Zhong Yu feel a little embarrassed.
“You’re flattering me, Director. I’m only doing my job. I learned all of this from the teachers at our hospital. They’re all much better at it than I am.”
Her humility and caution, along with her refusal to claim credit or rush ahead recklessly, made Counselor Wang feel proud to be associated with her.
Director Tang admired her as well. Since he had come in person, he was clearly sincere about recruiting her, and he continued his patient questioning.
“There’s something I don’t quite understand. Why did you choose the Plastic Surgery Department in the end? You performed excellently in all your rotations. Wouldn’t the other departments offer better prospects?”
Zhong Yu had not expected the director to ask about that. In terms of prospects, the Plastic Surgery Department had tremendous potential.
Cosmetic surgery alone could make a fortune, though it was not something she could say at this point.
Besides, earning money had never been the reason she chose plastic surgery.
A surgeon could hardly end up living poorly.
“To be honest, Director, my decision to choose plastic surgery came from my father, though he has already passed away.”
Director Tang understood at once. He was also somewhat familiar with her family situation.
“My father used to be an engineer at Haiying Machinery Factory. It was a military-industrial plant, and the work was exhausting. He injured his face while repairing a machine. Although the wound eventually healed, it left behind hypertrophic scarring. Since the scar was on his face, he was afraid I would be mocked because of him. He wouldn’t even go to my parent-teacher meetings.”
She had seen the lonely, evasive look on her father’s face. It had hurt her more than anything, and that was why she had resolved, from childhood, to pursue this path.
Unfortunately, before she could complete her studies, her father was gone.
Director Tang could not share her feelings firsthand, but he understood her choice.
“You may stay in the Plastic Surgery Department if you wish, but you should understand one thing: most of the people at our hospital are your fellow students. You certainly won’t be ostracized here. As long as you have the ability, more opportunities will be given to you. Other places may not be the same.”
There was no pure, untouched haven in this world. Outsiders were excluded and competition existed everywhere.
Zhong Yu had been mentally prepared for that. She smiled with easy confidence.
“I’m still young. I can take my time with everything.”
Having been given a second life, she still wanted to live a different kind of life.
Director Tang ultimately did not want to let such a promising candidate slip away, so he raised the stakes again.
“If you’re willing to stay at the hospital, I’ll consider giving you priority for housing. The newest batch of family residences is about to be made available. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once you have a home, you can bring your mother here as well.”
Zhong Yu felt somewhat embarrassed. She did not think she had the right to receive preferential treatment over more senior employees.
“Director, you mustn’t let anyone else hear you say that. One shouldn’t accept rewards without earning them.”
Director Tang sighed. He knew that she truly did not want to stay, so he stopped trying to force the matter.
“All right. Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t pressure you. I’ll introduce you to Nanshan Hospital. But if our hospital needs your help in the future, you can’t refuse us.”
Zhong Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Repeatedly refusing someone was difficult in its own way.
“Thank you for your kindness, Director. With your introduction, I won’t have to worry about Nanshan Hospital. If there’s ever anything I can do, I’ll do everything I can.”
After seeing Director Tang off, Counselor Wang was still somewhat dazed.
His reproachful stare seemed almost tangible, and Zhong Yu immediately felt unable to bear it. Before he could start lecturing her, she quickly slipped away.
Being so earnestly persuaded by the director to stay secretly delighted Zhong Yu.
Fortunately, she knew how to keep her composure and did not consider herself particularly extraordinary.
She still preferred to follow the path she had planned for herself. It was difficult for anyone else to sway her decisions.
Perhaps Director Tang was both efficient and influential. The very next day, she received a call from Nanshan Hospital.
The director expressed an enthusiastic welcome to her decision to join them.
Since Zhong Yu had taken the call in Counselor Wang’s office, he knew about it as well.
He had originally wanted to persuade her a little more, but now that everything had been settled, he said no more.
With the matter of her job essentially finalized, Zhong Yu finally felt at ease.
She made another trip to Capital Medical University Affiliated Hospital and bought plenty of fruit and snacks to distribute among the nurses.
Director Ni happened to have an outpatient clinic that day, so Zhong Yu conscientiously put on a white coat and followed him.
After seeing five or six patients, they finally had a little free time.
Zhong Yu ingratiatingly poured her teacher a cup of tea.
“Teacher, have some tea and catch your breath. If you don’t have anything to do this afternoon, shall we go out for a meal? I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Ni Hui cast her a disdainful glance.
“You haven’t even officially started working yet. Where would you get the money to treat me? Keep your few meager coins for yourself. Once you get to the new workplace, be smart. No one there will protect you.”
Zhong Yu’s nose suddenly stung, and she nodded firmly.
“I know. And remember to eat on time, too. Your stomach isn’t in good shape, so you mustn’t sneak spicy food.”
Ni Hui was also reluctant to part with her, but he pretended not to care and waved his hand.
“You’re so nagging. I have another surgery this afternoon. I’m just going to eat something simple in the cafeteria at noon, then take a nap and recharge. Don’t bother me. Write me letters and call me whenever you have time. If there’s a problem you can’t solve, come to me. Don’t be shy about asking.”
Zhong Yu was not the first student he had mentored, but she was the youngest and the one he felt most protective toward.
He always felt that, because she had no father, she needed a little more care.
How could Zhong Yu fail to see through her teacher’s show of strength?
In her previous life, when misfortune befell her, her teacher had grieved and worried over her until his hair turned white.
The bond between them had long since grown beyond that of teacher and student.
To Zhong Yu, Teacher Ni was like half a father. Naturally, she could not help worrying about him.
“I know. With my abilities right there for everyone to see, no one would dare look down on me.”
Ni Hui gave a cold snort. “You haven’t even been called fat, and you’re already panting. Be more cautious when you run into trouble. You need to know how to protect yourself in every situation.”
Zhong Yu nodded solemnly. She had always kept her teacher’s advice close to heart.
There was sadness in leaving the hospital, but there was even more joy in heading toward a new life. In the end, this life was different from her previous one.
She called home again, thinking that tomorrow was Saturday and her younger brother should have time to meet her.
Her younger brother had also been quite successful in her previous life.
He had entered the National University of Defense Technology with the highest score in the science stream, and after graduating, his career had continued to rise steadily.
Although they did not share the same father, he had always protected her as his older sister. Being able to remain by his side and watch him grow up would be a source of happiness.
That evening, Liao Sha also hurried back to the dormitory. When she saw how bare the room had become, her eyes immediately reddened.
“I shouldn’t have switched shifts just so I could come back to see you. Seeing this place like this makes me so sad.”
They had shared a dormitory for eight years. The affection that grew from living together day and night was not something superficial.
People always preferred reunions to partings, and Zhong Yu was no different.
“Don’t be so pathetic. It’s not as if we’ll never see each other again. Once you have a day off, come to Hai City and visit me. I guarantee I’ll take good care of you.”
Liao Sha nodded with tears in her eyes. Once she had composed herself, she asked, “What time is your train tomorrow? I’ll see you off.”
“Forget it. Get some proper sleep here in the dormitory. You’ve been working nonstop every day, so don’t waste your time on me.”
Liao Sha glared at her. “Are you asking for a beating? What kind of nonsense is that? Hurry up and tell your sister what time your train leaves.”
Zhong Yu was helpless. There really was no getting through to her.
“It leaves at four in the morning. I’ve already arranged a car, so it’ll take me straight to the station. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”
Liao Sha was about to insist, but then she thought of something and changed her wording.
“That works, too. I won’t see you all the way to the station. I’ll see you onto the train, then go back to sleep after you leave.”
Zhong Yu would inevitably make some noise when taking her luggage out. Letting Liao Sha see her off was fine.
“All right, then. Tonight is our last reunion in this dormitory. Let’s have a good talk.”
There were many things Zhong Yu wanted to tell her. She wanted to help her avoid the dangers that would arise in the future and keep her from taking so many wrong turns.
But then she thought of how Liao Sha had eventually risen to a high position in her previous life. Perhaps those experiences had contributed to that achievement.
People only grew after going through things. As long as those experiences did not cost her life, they would not be enough to crush her.
The two of them curled up together on the small bunk bed, reminiscing about the past and talking about the future. They continued late into the night, and neither of them knew who had fallen asleep first.
When the alarm rang at three in the morning, Zhong Yu woke instantly.
She climbed down from the bed as quietly as she could. Liao Sha rubbed her bleary eyes and sat up.
“Is it time? Go wash up first. I won’t change clothes. It’s pitch-black outside, so it’s fine if I see you off in my pajamas.”
Her voice was still hoarse with sleep, which gave it a strangely endearing quality.
Zhong Yu chuckled. “If you’re too tired, go back to sleep. I don’t have much luggage, so you don’t need to worry about me.”
Liao Sha slapped her cheeks hard a few times, then threw off the thin quilt and climbed out of bed, muttering, “That won’t do. I said I’d see you off. Go wash up; I’ll pack up the food for you.”
After all, she would be on the train for more than ten hours, and the food sold on board was both expensive and awful.
Zhong Yu had bought some biscuits and bread, while Liao Sha bought her fruit and canned food. Her luggage, which had not been particularly heavy to begin with, grew heavier still.
By the time the two of them quietly left the dormitory building, the driver was already waiting outside.
A taxi was somewhat expensive, but there were no other buses at this hour. Arriving safely was what mattered most.
Once Zhong Yu got into the car, Liao Sha’s eyes reddened again.
“Driver, please drive slowly. I remember your license plate number. I’m entrusting my classmate to you.”
The driver nodded repeatedly. He understood the girl’s feelings well enough.
Zhong Yu was both amused and exasperated. “Stop worrying about me. Once I’ve settled in, I’ll call you often. Go back and get some sleep.”
Liao Sha wiped her tears and said in a choked voice, “You’d better keep your word. Don’t go back on it.”
Zhong Yu nodded seriously. They had said everything that needed to be said, but when the moment of parting actually came, it was still painful.
She told the driver to set off, then looked up and waved at Liao Sha with a smile.
With this parting, she would truly be leaving the campus behind for good.
The train station was not far from the school, only about fifteen minutes away by taxi.
Zhong Yu arrived early. Just as she carried her luggage out of the car, someone snatched the things from her hands.
She looked up in surprise. Cheng Yuan was gazing at her with a smile.
“What are you doing here? Are you taking the train today too? Where’s your luggage?”
Cheng Yuan laughed. “Can’t I simply have come to see you off?”
Zhong Yu smiled as well and teased him, “I was nearly drowned in Shasha’s tears just now. You absolutely mustn’t cry.”
Cheng Yuan calmly took the luggage from her other hand and continued walking as he spoke.
“Men don’t shed tears easily. Besides, isn’t parting for the sake of an even better reunion?”
There was an ulterior meaning in his words, leaving Zhong Yu unsure how to respond.
Cheng Yuan had feelings for her at this point in time, didn’t he? He was simply too good at hiding them. In the end, he had even become unable to distinguish them himself.