L'homme du loup

Chapitre 1

Chapter 1 Long Time No See

Liu Zhi is running.

The ambulance followed behind her with its siren blaring, driving along a rough, gravel road with many side streets.

Her shoes came off as she ran, and her feet left bloodstains of varying depths on the gravel.

"Grandma..."

Liu Zhi's eyes were blurred with tears; she couldn't feel the pain of her skin tearing open on her feet. Only those two words remained in her mind.

The path that usually only took a few minutes to walk became incredibly long, so long that it seemed she could never reach the end.

The small house receded further and further away from her, until it was just a tiny black dot.

...

"Dr. Liu, Dr. Liu," Nurse Jiang patted Liu Zhi's shoulder, "Why are you asleep here?"

Liu Zhi opened her eyes, leaned on the armrest and sat up a little higher. Her voice was a little hoarse when she spoke, "I stood by the head surgeon for a surgery and came out of the operating room at 4:30."

Nurse Jiang looked up at the clock and sighed, "You've worked hard. You should have been off work long ago."

Liu Zhi nodded and said, "You go ahead with your work, I'll be back in a bit."

At 4:50 a.m., the hospital was still relatively quiet. Liu Zhiku sat on a rest chair outside the emergency room, looking down at the long corridor, still lost in the dream he had just had.

She has a splitting headache, especially in her temples, where it feels like someone is stabbing her with fine needles.

This dream unlocked her long-sealed memories, and the passing years poured down like a flood, instantly engulfing her.

The pain that had been dulled in my dreams was now incredibly clear.

Liu Zhi propped her forehead up with her arms on her knees, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples.

The doctor on duty had arrived long ago. Liu Zhijing paused for a moment, then went back to her office to tidy up her things.

"Dr. Liu, are you on the day shift tomorrow?"

"day shift."

"I'd like to switch shifts with you; tomorrow's a better day..." Dr. Gu pushed up his glasses and smiled apologetically.

"Go get your marriage certificate?" Liu Zhi straightened up and looked at him.

"Um."

"Congratulations, congratulations." Liu Zhi smiled sincerely. "I have no problem, as long as the director agrees."

Dr. Gu is 34 years old and has worked in the emergency room for a long time. He found a girlfriend through a blind date this year, and after more than half a year, they are finally getting married.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"fine."

Liu Zhi stayed in the emergency room until the nurses changed shifts before returning to her dormitory, where she packed her luggage until almost one o'clock.

At 1:00 PM, Liu Zhi, dragging her suitcase and carrying a shoulder bag, came out of the Capital Medical University Affiliated Hospital and stood at the east gate waiting for a ride-hailing car.

Winters in the capital are too cold; the biting northwest wind, carrying sand and dust, seeps straight into the seams of our clothes.

Liu Zhi pulled her mask up a bit, covering most of her face.

Exhaustion lessened the bone-chilling cold, and drowsiness dulled her perception of temperature.

At this moment, all Liu Zhi wanted to do was find a place to lie down and get a good night's sleep.

The driver honked his horn, and Liu Zhi waved at him.

"Hello, are you going to Nan Jing Royal Garden?" The driver rolled down the window, his breath steaming in the air as he spoke.

Liu Zhi nodded, and the driver got out of the car to help her with her suitcase.

Just as I got into the car, Zhang Wenyi called.

"Liu Zhi, have you arrived yet? My friend is waiting for you at the North Gate. She has to go to work at 1:30. Hurry up."

The vehicle slowed down more and more, and after passing the traffic light, it moved forward at a snail's pace.

Liu Zhi leaned against the car window, looking at the desolate scenery outside, feeling a terrible headache.

She listened to Zhang Wenyi speak with her fingers pinched between her brows, her voice low and soft.

"There are a lot of cars on the road right now, it'll be a while. If she has something to do, let her do it. I'll find a hotel to stay in."

"I have something to attend to here, so I'll have to go now. I'll give you her number so you can communicate with her," Zhang Wenyi instructed. "She has a very good personality and is worth getting to know better."

Liu Zhi hummed in agreement, but her interest was not high.

She saved the number Zhang Wenyi sent to her contacts, but halfway through the process, she suddenly realized that she hadn't even asked her roommate's name.

After passing through the congested section, the vehicles sped up and soon arrived at Nanjing Royal Garden.

Liu Zhi got out of the car and headed towards Building No. 9, following the address given by Zhang Wenyi.

She rested her knuckles on the screen, pondering as she walked, and only after organizing her thoughts did she dial her roommate's number.

The call was answered as soon as it was dialed, and a gentle, clear voice came through.

"Hello."

Liu Zhi was stunned for several seconds after hearing the voice before she came to her senses.

This voice is unique in Liu Zhi's heart, and she will never forget it in her lifetime.

Liu Zhi's heart was pounding. She couldn't believe that such a coincidence could really happen in the world.

"Hello, I'm Zhang Wenyi's friend," Liu Zhi said hesitantly. "My name is Liu Zhi, may I ask your name?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Liu Zhi took the phone away and looked at the screen carefully.

The white numbers changed, and after a long while, the other person finally said, "I am Meng Yang."

Hearing that name, Liu Zhi felt as if she had been punched in the chest. She stopped in her tracks, her knuckles tightening around her phone.

Liu Zhi lowered his head and murmured, "Meng Yang..."

Her voice was so soft that it was blown away by the cold wind before it even reached the other end of the phone.

Withered leaves drifted from the flowerbed path onto the sidewalk, continuing to brush against it. Liu Zhi followed their path, her gaze landing on a pair of black snow boots.

"Look up," the person on the other end of the phone said. "I see you."

Liu Zhi looked up and saw a woman wearing a long beige down jacket.

"Don't stand by the roadside anymore, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Liu Zhi wanted to go forward, but her feet seemed to be glued to the spot, unable to move.

Meng Yang put down his phone and waved to Liu Zhi.

Looking into Meng Yangming's bright eyes, Liu Zhi finally took a step, but with each step she took, a sense of trepidation grew within her.

In just a few dozen meters, Liu Zhi covered a distance of ten thousand meters.

Finally approaching, Liu Zhi looked at the woman standing on the steps at eye level, and after a long while said, "Long time no see, Meng Yang."

Meng Yang stepped back a step, standing half a head taller than Liu Zhi, before saying, "Long time no see, Liu Zhi."

Liu Zhi adjusted her bag strap, unsure how to break the awkward silence. She stood there uneasily, waiting for Meng Yang's next words.

"It's so cold, and you came out wearing just a coat?" Meng Yang looked Liu Zhi up and down, his tone slightly reproachful.

"The hospital has heating all day, so I basically don't go out and I'm not cold." Liu Zhi subconsciously tightened her grip on the suitcase handle.

The male homeowner, carrying a briefcase, looked at the two young women standing in the stairwell, enjoying the cold wind, with great curiosity.

Meng Yang disliked the way he looked at Liu Zhi, crossed his arms, and gave him a cold glance. The male homeowner reluctantly looked away.

"Go upstairs, I'll help you with your suitcase." Meng Yang glanced at the person and then spoke to Liu Zhi again, his tone gentle.

Liu Zhi had just noticed Meng Yang's micro-expressions. After not seeing him for several years, she felt Meng Yang had become fierce. A fierce yet adorable fierceness.

"No need, I can manage on my own." Liu Zhi lifted her suitcase up the steps, her knuckles turning red.

Meng Yang ignored her and reached out to help her up.

Once on level ground, the height difference between Liu Zhi and Meng Yang became obvious; the top of Meng Yang's hair was just level with the tip of Liu Zhi's nose.

Meng Yang's white woolen hat was pulled up to his eyebrows, and his plaid scarf covered the tip of his nose. The only thing visible was his eyes, which would occasionally glance over his handbag and land on Liu Zhi.

Liu Zhi pushed her suitcase and followed behind Meng Yang. From her perspective, Meng Yang really looked very petite.

Inside the elevator, Liu Zhi and Meng Yang stood side by side, their silence terrifying.

When they reached the ninth floor, Meng Yang lent a hand and helped Liu Zhi carry her suitcase inside.

When they grabbed each other's hands, Liu Zhi's cold fingers touched Meng Yang's, and both of them quickly moved away as if they had been stung by fire.

The room was heated, and as soon as Liu Zhi entered, his glasses fogged up. The warmth that enveloped him made him squint.

The room was covered with a blanket, and Liu Zhi, wearing cotton socks, stepped on it and looked around the living room.

“That’s your room,” Meng Yang said, pointing to the room facing the sun. “I’m going to be late for work, so I’m leaving now. You can rest.”

Liu Zhi nodded.

It was well past 1:30 when Meng Yang hurriedly left, the sound of the door closing sounding like a short sigh. She stood outside the door, her hand still on the handle, reluctant to leave.

She was terrified that it was all just an illusion.

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Author's Note:

All medical expertise is derived from online resources and oral accounts from relevant professionals… Please point out any errors, and I will verify and try my best to correct them! Thank you!

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[Text] First published on February 1, 2022.

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