Gu Cheng'an came through the door at seven twenty in the morning.
He was wearing a dark overcoat, the collar of his shirt slightly open, and his eyes behind his glasses were tinged red. Shen Nanxing was just setting the noodles on the table. Hearing the door open, she turned back and glanced at him. “You’re back?”
“Mm.” Gu Cheng'an changed his shoes, his voice very low. “An emergency surgery was added last night.”
Shen Nanxing nodded and asked no more. She understood the hardships of working at a hospital better than anyone. A doctor’s night shift was no easier than a nurse’s, especially in Gu Cheng'an’s surgical department. A surgery could drag on for several hours, and afterward, a person would feel as though every ounce of strength had been drained from them.
Understanding was one thing, but she still hoped he would notice her.
“The noodles are in the pot. Serve yourself,” she said. “I’ll go wake the children first.”
After washing his hands, Gu Cheng'an walked into the kitchen and casually asked, “Does Yiming have a math test today?”
“Mm. He worked on it until eleven thirty last night.” Shen Nanxing took her younger son’s school uniform down from the balcony and touched the cuff. It was still slightly damp. “What time are you going to the hospital today?”
“I have to be in the department colleagues’ area before eight thirty. The director is conducting ward rounds.”
Shen Nanxing paused. “Can you pick up the craft project materials for Xiao Bao's Kindergarten on your way? The teacher sent a notice yesterday asking for colored paper and a glue stick.”
Gu Cheng'an frowned, as though rapidly calculating his schedule in his head. “I won’t have time. Have Mom buy them.”
“Mom said her back hurt yesterday. She may not go out today.”
“Then buy them after work.” Only after saying this did he remember that she had just finished her night shift, so he added, “Or order a delivery runner online.”
Shen Nanxing placed the school uniform over the back of a chair and said nothing more.
At the dining table, Dabao lowered his head and ate noodles, while Xiaobao sat in his child’s chair, fussing and refusing to drink his milk. Gu Cheng'an sat to the side, looking at his phone as messages continuously popped up in the hospital group chat. His long fingers slid across the screen, and the crease between his brows never relaxed.
“Dad, are you coming to pick me up today?” Xiaobao suddenly asked.
Gu Cheng'an froze for a moment and looked up at him. “Dad has an outpatient clinic today. I may not be able to come.”
“What about Mom?”
Shen Nanxing was just about to answer when a message from the head nurse appeared on her phone: An emergency meeting at two this afternoon. Everyone should attend if possible.
She stared at those words for two seconds, then smiled at Xiaobao. “Mom will find a way.”
Gu Cheng'an finally looked up from his phone. “Didn’t you just finish your night shift? You still have to go this afternoon?”
“The head nurse sent a last-minute notice.”
“Why is your department always like this?” Fatigued impatience colored Gu Cheng'an’s voice. “Don’t they let anyone rest?”
Shen Nanxing’s heart stirred. She thought he was about to express concern for her, but in the next second he lowered his head to look at his phone again. “If you can’t pick up the children, tell Mom in advance. Don’t make a mess at the last minute.”
That faint glimmer of expectation quickly went out.
After breakfast, the family hurried outside as if time were chasing them. Shen Nanxing helped Xiaobao put on his coat, Gu Cheng'an handed Dabao his schoolbag, and her mother-in-law called again. Shen Nanxing glanced at the caller ID and pressed mute first.
Gu Cheng'an noticed. “Why didn’t you answer?”
“I’ll answer in a moment. Let’s take the children first.”
Gu Cheng'an said nothing more. They went downstairs together, but split in two directions at the entrance of the Residential compound. Gu Cheng'an headed to the subway station to transfer to the hospital, while Shen Nanxing took Xiaobao to kindergarten first, then sent Dabao to the school gate. Finally, she still had to hurry home to shower and change clothes before returning to the hospital in the afternoon for the meeting.
Both of them worked at a top-tier hospital, which sounded like they were fighting side by side.
But more often, they were merely two shift schedules living under the same roof.
A little after nine in the morning, Shen Nanxing swayed unsteadily on the bus. Sunlight flashed harshly outside the window. Leaning against the glass, she was so sleepy that her head nodded several times. On her phone, Gu Cheng'an sent a message: I may not come home for dinner tonight.
She replied with a single “Okay.”
After a long while, she deleted the words “I’m tired too” from the input box.