Meng Yang brewed some tea, brought it from the kitchen to the living room, and sat down next to Liu Zhi.
For a moment, Dr. Jiang felt like a naive student visiting his master and mistress.
She briefly explained her purpose to Liu Zhi, expressed her colleagues' concern for Liu Zhi, and then sat there quietly drinking tea.
“My back might be…” Liu Zhi looked at Meng Yang.
“I also received an invitation,” Meng Yang said, looking at Liu Zhi.
"Then let's go?" Liu Zhi's tone sounded like a cautious inquiry.
Meng Yang hummed in agreement and said nothing more.
Later that evening, Meng Yang and Dr. Jiang returned to the affiliated hospital. The journey was so dull that Liu Zhi became their only topic of conversation.
"Is Liu Zhi sometimes particularly taciturn?" Meng Yang asked with a smile.
"Professor Liu is a man of action, the kind who talks little but is highly skilled," Dr. Jiang replied.
Being with Meng Yang lessened the sense of oppression; in her eyes, Dr. Meng was more like a friendly older sister.
"Actually, she just doesn't know how to talk," Meng Yang joked. "She's too boring."
Dr. Jiang was too embarrassed to say it, but she felt that Dr. Liu was not boring at all when he was with Dr. Meng.
"Professor Liu is so kind to us resident trainees," Dr. Jiang said. "I made several silly mistakes along the way, and I almost cried because of my stupidity."
Meng Yang hummed in agreement, the last syllable rising in pitch.
“Once I forgot to write a prescription, and it was Dr. Liu who checked it in the morning and made it up for me,” Dr. Jiang said. “I thought I was going to be scolded to death, but Dr. Liu emphasized the seriousness of the medical profession to me many times, just like a teacher to a junior.”
"She's very thoughtful and has a good temper," Meng Yang said.
The weather was nice today; sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell on Meng Yang.
Meng Yang shaded his eyes with his hand and gazed into the distance.
"Teacher Liu is also very capable," Dr. Jiang whispered. "Director Shen often praises her."
“You have no idea how serious she is behind the scenes,” Meng Yang sighed. “She has absolutely no leisure life. When she has free time, she just reads and reads and reads some more.”
"No one can become this excellent without hard work," Dr. Jiang sighed. "Sometimes I really want to be a doctor like Teacher Liu."
Meng Yang adjusted his bag strap and said earnestly, "Then we must keep working hard."
Just as Dr. Jiang was about to nod, Meng Yang added, "I can't do it, I'm too lazy."
As soon as he finished speaking, they both laughed.
Liu Zhi, who was cleaning up the pots and pans at home, suddenly sneezed and stopped what she was doing.
...
Dr. Gu's wedding was held on the evening of the Lantern Festival.
The format was a combination of Chinese and Western styles—the newlyweds took their vows on stage, while the audience was filled with banquet tables.
Liu Zhi and Meng Yang were seated at the table with the man's colleagues.
There were many things to do at the hospital, so very few colleagues came. Dr. Gu invited so many people, but when they actually showed up, neither table was full.
Director Shen is here today, and he's sitting right across from Liu Zhi and Meng Yang.
"Xiao Liu, remember to come to work early after your three-month break," Director Shen said. "I'm still waiting for you to be my assistant."
Liu Zhi smiled, unsure how to respond.
"Uncle Shen, my dad's been asking you to go fishing these past few days," Meng Yang chimed in. "Are you free this weekend?"
Director Shen waved his hand, "Let your dad wait for me for two more years, until I retire."
"Hello, hello, hello," the emcee's voice rang out as he tested the microphone. "Is there any sound?"
The entire hall fell silent.
Liu Zhi and Meng Yang turned around and faced the podium.
"Distinguished guests, we are gathered here today in joy..."
After a brief introduction, a clip of the newlyweds' introduction was projected onto the big screen.
The wedding planning team that Dr. Gu hired was very conscientious, and the editing was excellent, especially the segments about Dr. Gu's profession.
On screen, the lover wanted the doctor to stay for dinner, but the doctor held up his phone, showed it to her, and said anxiously, "I have an emergency."
This clip resonated with the medical workers in the audience.
Meng Yang tightened his grip on Liu Zhi's hand.
Dr. Gu, standing on the stage, wiped away his tears as he looked at his wife, who was wearing a wedding dress.
"After a long courtship of more than half a year and overcoming many difficulties, they have finally entered the wedding hall," the emcee announced loudly. "Let's give a round of applause to congratulate the newlyweds!"
Immediately, thunderous applause erupted.
Meng Yang clapped her hands and whispered in Liu Zhi's ear. Liu Zhi was very close to her, and could hear what she was saying with just a slight tilt of her head.
"Without me, at your current work pace, you'd probably be lonely for the rest of your life."
Liu Zhi clapped her hands, ignoring her.
Dr. Gu's wife is a high school teacher who spends a lot of time working on the front lines of teaching senior high school students, and she is also one of those people who are busy all the time.
As the introductory video played, Director Shen and his colleagues praised Dr. Gu's wife.
Exchanging rings, parents' speeches, entertainment and interaction... Meng Yang had seen this routine before, but each time he saw it, he had different insights.
When it came time for the newlyweds to toast, Dr. Gu, beaming, sidled with his beautiful wife to his colleagues' table and downed most of a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) in one gulp.
The medical staff at this table all drank beverages, because they were all afraid that drinking alcohol would interfere with their work.
Of the two tables of people, only Meng Yang and Liu Zhi were not married. When the conversation turned to wedding-related issues, everyone's attention naturally shifted to the two of them.
"It's better to find a partner in the same industry, because you can understand and tolerate each other."
“I think it’s better not to hire someone from the same field.” Director Shen looked somewhat sad. “My wife is a neurologist and I am a neurosurgeon. When we’re busy, we can’t take care of our child at all. My child has missed so many parent-teacher meetings as he’s grown up.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur rippled across the table.
"Xiao Liu and Xiao Meng, you must be careful when looking for a partner in the future. Make sure you find someone who understands you and is family-oriented!"
Meng Yang and Liu Zhi exchanged a glance and then buried their heads in their drinks.
Chapter 33 Escape
“I still remember it to this day.” Director Shen sighed. “When I first started working, the virus outbreak happened right around the time, and the entire hospital was operating beyond its capacity.”
“There’s a couple in the hospital, the husband works in the respiratory department and the wife works in the infectious disease department. When they get busy, they live on different floors and haven’t seen each other for a whole month,” Director Shen said. “I heard that their child was crying and asking if his parents were okay at home.”
Director Shen crossed his legs, rested his arm on his knee, and glanced around after speaking.
Amidst the festive and noisy surroundings, Liu Zhi and Meng Yang's table was unusually quiet.
Director Shen slapped his thigh. "I made a fool of myself again. I shouldn't have said those things today. Come on, everyone, pretend you didn't hear anything."
After a while, the atmosphere became more lively.
"What are Dr. Liu's plans for the future?" a colleague leaned forward and asked. "I know several single male colleagues. Would you like me to introduce you to them?"
Liu Zhi held her cup and said calmly, "I don't have any plans. I'll just let things take their natural course."
Colleagues' gazes shifted to Meng Yang, who put down his chopsticks and tightened his grip on Liu Zhi's hand under the table.
Meng Yang smiled and said, "I'm the same as her."
Since neither of the two young people were interested in this, the colleague who had been speaking did not continue the topic.
When the interactive segment began, the children rushed onto the stage to play games and win prizes.
Meng Yang had little appetite and turned to look at the stage. Liu Zhi also put down her spoon, her gaze following Meng Yang's as it landed on the same spot.
“That shark plush toy is quite cute,” Liu Zhi said.
Meng Yang lowered his head, held Liu Zhi's palm, and said sadly, "Don't you think you look familiar?"
"Um?"
"It looks a lot like the one you caught for me before."
Liu Zhi remembered.
The stationery store near the north gate of Qianyan used to sometimes have a claw machine. Meng Yang would try it every time she went, but after a week of going, she hadn't won a single toy. Liu Zhi couldn't stand it anymore and tried twice, winning her a small shark toy.
Meng Yang held the shark like it was a rare treasure, not allowing anyone to touch it.
Liu Zhi only remembered this incident, but forgot what the doll looked like.
"Later, when we moved, we lost the shark," Meng Yang said.
Liu Zhi snapped out of her reverie and turned her gaze to Meng Yang.
Do you still want this?
"Are you going to go up and bully the child?" Meng Yang chuckled and patted Liu Zhi's hand.
Liu Zhi shook her head.
"I was just saying," Meng Yang lowered his voice. "The person who delivered the gift is already with me. Do I really need another plush toy?"
"I'll switch places with you," Liu Zhi said.
Although Meng Yang was puzzled, he did as instructed.
Before long, the emcee started throwing dolls down onto the stage.
When the shark was tossed to the small shark, Liu Zhi kept a close eye on its movements.
The emcee first tossed a Peashooter doll down to the side. The doll was positioned close to the stage and landed directly in Liu Zhi's arms, which she caught instinctively.
The shark plush toy was thrown far by the emcee and landed on the woman's table, where it was caught by a little boy.
Liu Zhi's expression didn't change, but Meng Yang could still see her disappointment.
"Alright, don't fight with other kids over toys." Meng Yang ran his fingers along Liu Zhi's thumb and forefinger a few times. "I like this one too."