During the first two days of freshman registration, Capital Medical University was exceptionally lively. The tree-lined paths were crowded with students dragging their luggage, large bags pressed against small ones, making foreheads break out in sweat.
In stark contrast, two people sat by the stone table in front of the Red Building.
The Red Building was a landmark of Capital Medical University, its history dating back to the last century. It had grown alongside the university from its early days to maturity, with its weathered walls bearing the marks of time.
Against this backdrop, Jiang Jingxing at the stone table stood out with an aura unlike ordinary people.
He seemed entirely unaffected by the summer heat, holding a smooth white game piece between two fingers. His well-defined knuckles complemented the jade-like chess piece perfectly. Coupled with the Red Building behind him and the slightly aged stone table before him, it felt for a moment as if he had traveled through a century of history.
Song Zheng watched his proud protégé across the board with a smile, no longer feeling the heat.
At 26, the Associate Chief Physician was among the best in the nation. Fortunately, he had acted quickly back then, taking Jiang Jingxing under his wing early. Seeing a few old colleagues frustrated at their inability to recruit him gave Song Zheng a sensation as refreshing as drinking ice water on a summer day—purely satisfying.
“Jingxing, any troubles at work recently?”
Though he was a hundred percent satisfied with his student, Song Zheng, as a teacher, could never help but worry about his students, no matter how excellent they were.
“No, teacher.” Jiang Jingxing replied while placing a piece on the board.
“Ah.”
After a few more moves, Song Zheng suddenly sighed.
A flicker of understanding passed through Jiang Jingxing’s eyes, but his expression remained calm, and his hand moved decisively.
Song Zheng waited a few beats, and seeing no reaction from the other side, he thought to himself: this trick doesn’t work as well anymore.
But perhaps it still could. He needed Jiang Jingxing to fully understand what “the old are more cunning” meant, and what it was like for a scholar to meet a soldier.
“Jingxing, you seem free of troubles, but my troubles keep coming one after another,” Song Zheng said, sighing, putting on a weary expression.
This time, Song Zheng didn’t wait for Jiang Jingxing’s reply. As if speaking to himself, he continued, “These past two days, freshmen registration has kept everyone busy at the college. The hospital keeps needing me too. The opening ceremony is coming up, and that Old Zhao insisted I go up to make some speech. Where would I have time to write it? I have to squeeze time in; I can’t just go up and blabber. Oh, and Old Zhao also said we need some outstanding upperclassmen to share experiences, to motivate the new students.”
At this point, Song Zheng’s gaze deliberately lingered on Jiang Jingxing, his voice louder and slower, clearly emphasizing the next part.
“I originally tried to find some people, but these freshmen this year are so difficult. They even petitioned on the official microblog to get Jiang Jingxing, an upperclassman, to come.”
By this point, Song Zheng had highlighted the subtext perfectly. Even someone dull-witted could understand what he meant—especially someone as smart as Jiang Jingxing.
Jiang Jingxing placed another piece, his eyes reflecting a trace of helplessness.
As expected, the teacher began by playing the victim, and then moved on to manipulating the student.
Yes, this trick had been used for many years, unchanged.
Seeing Jiang Jingxing’s expression remain unchanged, Song Zheng mentally chuckled and scolded: this kid has grown over the years; my ultimate trick doesn’t work like it used to.
Looking around, Song Zheng confirmed no one was nearby. Then he decided to use his trump card—he couldn’t believe it wouldn’t work on Jiang Jingxing!
Thinking so, Song Zheng reached up, first wiping away imaginary tears, then placing his hand on top of his head.
After a slight sound, Jiang Jingxing looked up and saw that a thick head of hair, flecked with silver but still dense, had suddenly lost more than half its volume.
“Cough.” Even Jiang Jingxing, who had witnessed many upheavals in the hospital over the years, was momentarily startled by Song Zheng’s move.
Seeing it had an effect, Song Zheng continued, “The past two years, both at school and the hospital, there have been many things. That Old Zhao always likes to dump miscellaneous tasks on me. Look at my hair—every day it falls out in handfuls. My hair loss is catching up to Old Zhao’s weight gain! Don’t think I don’t know—Old Zhao couldn’t beat me back then to become your mentor. Over the years, I’ve bullied him back. Really… sigh.”
The last sentence Song Zheng muttered quietly, almost like he was grumbling, yet his indignant expression showed it came from the heart.
After listening, Jiang Jingxing focused on Song Zheng’s head, somewhat at a loss for words.
Actually, he suspected the teacher’s thinning hair was the result of years of natural loss.
Recalling the years he had often met with his teacher, the hair atop Song Zheng’s head had barely changed, and even the silver streaks seemed constant.
Now, seeing Song Zheng remove his wig, Jiang Jingxing realized that the teacher had probably worn it for years, and only now, to ask him to speak at the opening ceremony for a few minutes, had Song Zheng gone to such lengths.
Jiang Jingxing had never been interested in serving as an outstanding upperclassman. He would rather spend the time performing another surgery. He had initially intended to refuse Song Zheng’s request, but seeing the teacher go to such effort made it difficult to refuse.
The teacher had truly sacrificed a lot.
A barely perceptible smile curved Jiang Jingxing’s lips, like a rare summer breeze, and in a clear, pure voice he said, “Alright, I’ll go on the day of the opening ceremony.”
Song Zheng, clearly enjoying this breeze, felt a single word permeate his entire being—“great”!
That Old Zhao insisted on betting that he couldn’t get Jiang Jingxing to attend.
Ridiculous!
He was Jiang Jingxing’s teacher!
With the teacher personally stepping in, how could he fail to get the student?
Now Old Zhao would lose to him. Song Zheng smiled, already imagining how wonderful the coming year would be.