The little cat seemed to think Liu Zhi was playing a game with it, and stayed in Liu Zhi's arms for about ten seconds before crawling out.
The screen went black, reflecting Liu Zhi's face.
The somber hues blurred Liu Zhi's facial features as she tucked her hair behind her ear and gazed at her reflection.
On the way back, Meng Yang praised her all the way.
She talked about their high school encounter and their long-awaited reunion, and every sentence she uttered was filled with praise for Liu Zhi.
Liu Zhi's face remained relatively calm, but his inner emotions were churning.
Chapter 17 New Year's Eve (Part 1)
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Liu Zhi happened to be on duty at the affiliated hospital. Meng Yang, holding a cat, sat on the sofa watching her.
Having to stay at the hospital on New Year's Eve was a very miserable thing in Meng Yang's eyes. Liu Zhi, on the other hand, didn't react much; she was used to working on holidays.
"We'll still be outside on New Year's Eve..." Meng Yang said.
"I'm fine, no one's waiting for me to come home," Liu Zhi said casually.
Meng Yang stopped her from speaking, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. "I'll bring you food tonight."
"No need, the hospital's New Year's Eve dinner is very plentiful. Spend some quality time with your parents." Liu Zhi wrapped her scarf around her neck and rested her knuckles on the doorknob. "I'm leaving."
The little dumpling hurriedly took its short legs to the door and meowed once.
Liu Zhi bent down, patted the child's head, and pushed open the door to go out.
Meng Yang propped himself up on his arms and stood by the window, watching.
Three minutes later, Liu Zhi passed by the poplar tree. Meng Yang peered further ahead.
Liu Zhi suddenly stopped in her tracks. She looked up and her gaze met Meng Yang's.
Meng Yang stood there dumbfounded for a while before remembering to draw the curtains.
She hesitated for a moment, then drew back the curtains, only to find Liu Zhi still standing there.
Meng Yang felt utterly humiliated.
Liu Zhi waved to her, and unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth.
The streets were filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year, decorated with lanterns and banners, creating a vibrant and festive scene.
This morning, Liu Zhi's hair wasn't tied up very well, and she felt like something was pulling at her head. While waiting at a traffic light, Liu Zhi untied her hair tie and redid her hair.
I arrived at the affiliated hospital at exactly eight o'clock.
When the bosses meet, their eyes well up with tears.
One is on duty on New Year's Eve, and the other is on duty on the first day of the Lunar New Year. They're evenly matched.
After completing the handover, Liu Zhi took out a jar of pear syrup from her bag.
Meng Yang forbade her to eat it directly with a spoon, and only gave her a small jar to soak in water and drink.
Liu Zhi examined the jar, held it in his palm and twirled it around, unable to figure out where Meng Yang had gotten such a small vessel.
Liu Zhi then touched a small golden medicine spoon in the bag containing the small cans. It was the first time Liu Zhi had ever seen such a small spoon.
She scooped two spoonfuls of pear syrup into her coffee cup and dissolved it in warm water.
A busy day begins with scheduling.
Departmental scheduling, surgical scheduling, internship arrangements, consultation arrangements...
The morning passed by in a rush.
Meng Yang had originally planned to deliver lunch to Liu Zhi, but after what happened this morning, he was too embarrassed to come.
Today's work lunch was indeed plentiful; the cafeteria even served dumplings at noon.
Liu Zhi likes pork and celery filling, but the cafeteria doesn't have it.
While the customs for the same festival are largely the same across different regions, they also vary in their own unique ways.
The same goes for making dumplings; the way they're made in the capital is different from the way they're made in my hometown. The kind Liu Zhi likes is rolled up like a ball with both ends connected.
What you think about comes true.
Liu Yi video-called Liu Zhi. In the video, the family was sitting around a table, eating the kind of dumplings that Liu Zhi had been longing for.
“Sister, we also ate dumplings.” Liu Yi dipped a little vinegar in the camera and showed it to Liu Zhi. “If you want to eat them, remember to come home early next year.”
Liu Zhi put down her chopsticks and looked at her phone screen.
"Grandma's here too!" Liu Yi turned to his grandma's side with his phone in hand.
Liu Zhi covered her eyes, then removed them after a moment.
"Grandma," Liu Zhi called out to the old lady in the camera's view.
Grandma's eyesight is poor, and she's holding her phone but doesn't know where to look.
“My sister is here, Grandma, look here.” Liu Yi pointed to the screen.
"Little Zhi?" Grandma called out to Liu Zhi.
That familiar local accent struck Liu Zhi's already fragile mental defenses like a heavy hammer blow.
Liu Zhi couldn't hide her tears any longer, and she covered her eyes again.
"Xiao Zhi, you must come home next year." Grandma could only see a blurry figure. She said to Liu Yi, "I can't see your sister clearly, can you zoom in a bit?"
"I will definitely go back next year," Liu Zhi said, her voice choked with emotion.
Liu Zhi took the white coat from the entrance and hurriedly returned to her office.
"Xiao Zhi, you must eat well over there and go to bed early," Grandma instructed.
“I eat and sleep well every day,” Liu Zhi said. “I’m doing very well here.”
"That's good, that's good." Grandma nodded. "Are we having dumplings today?"
"I just finished eating, pork and shepherd's purse filling." Liu Zhi's eyes were red.
Grandma speaks very slowly, and it takes Liu Zhi a long time to understand each word she says.
"Sis, can we video chat tonight?" Liu Yi leaned closer to the camera. "I'll show you the fireworks."
"I have surgery tonight, and I don't know how long it will take," Liu Zhi said.
"I'll call you then, if you have time it would be best." Liu Yi smiled and scratched his head. "Actually, I also wanted to livestream the New Year's Eve dinner for you."
"Has Xiaozhi not rested yet today?" Grandma asked.
"I'm on duty today, and I'll have tomorrow off."
"Why do you still have to work on the eve of the Lunar New Year?" Grandma said with concern.
“It won’t be like this next year,” Liu Zhi said. “Grandma, my colleague called, I don’t know if it’s something urgent. I’ll hang up now and video chat with you tomorrow.”
"Okay, okay, you go ahead with your work." Grandma held her phone, her gaze lingering on the screen, reluctant to hang up.
Liu Zhi steeled her heart and pressed the red button.
During the years Liu Zhi worked away from home, she rarely video chatted with her maternal grandmother.
She can stay busy, numbing herself with the daily grind.
She could put on a flawless act in front of her parents and younger brother, but her emotions would break down as soon as her grandmother opened her mouth.
When you're alone and wandering far from home, who doesn't miss their family?
Liu Zhi washed her face with cold water to suppress the bitterness in her heart.
...
Meng Yang called her around 1:00 PM.
Meng Yang tucked his phone to his ear and cracked eggs. "Are we having New Year's Eve dinner tonight?"
Actually, Meng Yang was already preparing when she said this. Her parents were helping her.
Mencius' mother put down the celery she was holding, moved closer to her teacher, and whispered, "Is something going on?"
Mencius' father was washing vegetables, and the sound of the running water was so loud that he couldn't hear what Mencius' mother was saying.
What did you say?
"Is something going on?" Meng's mother leaned closer. "Are you dating someone?"
"How would I know?" Meng's father said. "Doesn't she always tell you when something's wrong?"
Meng Yang noticed that Liu Zhi was in a bad mood, so he put down his chopsticks and went out.
"Look, look, they're going outside to talk now." Meng's mother gestured for Meng's father to look in that direction.
"Why are you meddling so much in the children's affairs?" Mr. Meng turned off the tap and let the vegetables sit for a while. "Have you finished preparing your vegetables?"
--------------------
Author's Note:
Updated ahead of schedule~
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all my friends!
Chapter 18 New Year's Eve (Part 2)
On New Year's Eve, the Spring Festival Gala was playing in every ward.
Liu Zhi walked around the corridor, the anchor's voice echoing in her ears.
Liu Zhi's phone vibrated, and she opened it to check.
The screen displayed a text message of condolence from the hospital leadership. Liu Zhi glanced at it briefly, then stuffed it back into her pocket, feeling a sense of emptiness.
Today is quite quiet; basically no one chooses to have surgery or see a doctor at this time.