DPT chapter 58

Three days before Zuo Chi’s birthday, Sheng Li left for Switzerland. He had a friend who was a doctor there, so on his first day, he treated his friend to a meal, seeking information about the doctor he wanted to visit and asking for an introduction.

His friend had studied and stayed in Switzerland, having his own network. Contacting the doctor named Alessio was not difficult.

Dr. Alessio was a Beta but renowned as a specialist for Omegas, having performed tens of thousands of gland repair surgeries with a success rate of 99%. While there were failed cases, most only resulted in unsuccessful repairs rather than further gland damage, with actual gland removal being very rare.

Sheng Li wanted to book an appointment with Dr. Alessio, but his schedule was always full. Therefore, he arranged a meeting through his friend.

Sheng Li’s goal was clear. He learned that Dr. Alessio was researching an Omega gland soothing solution, but due to insufficient investment—since investors deemed the solution not practical enough—the research had stalled. Sheng Li offered to fund the research, in exchange for understanding the pros and cons of gland repair surgery, its precautions, and suitable candidates, with the hope that Dr. Alessio would visit China.

Even if Zuo Chi opted not to undergo surgery, a thorough examination by a specialist wouldn’t hurt.

Dr. Alessio was surprised by this request: “Why can’t the Omega needing surgery come to Switzerland?”

“He just started a company and is very busy, likely unable to find the time.”

Dr. Alessio disapproved: “Omega gland damage is no small matter.”

“He never takes his health seriously,” Sheng Li recalled Zuo Chi’s bad habits of skipping dinner and drinking before meals despite having stomach issues. “If I asked him to come to Switzerland, he might not appreciate it, and he might delay considering it until much later.”

Dr. Alessio asked for a week to consider and exchanged contact information with Sheng Li.

Sheng Li stayed in Switzerland for three days and returned to S City on the morning of Zuo Chi’s birthday.

He knew this gesture was pointless. Last year, he hadn’t even wished Zuo Chi a happy birthday, and this year, he wasn’t the one to celebrate it with him.

He bought a birthday gift for Zuo Chi, another record player with records Zuo Chi liked.

Last year, he had also prepared a gift—an antique coffee machine, one of only seventy left in the world. However, due to their complicated relationship at the time, he never gave it to him.

Thinking about Qin Xu’s coffee-scented pheromones made Sheng Li even more uncomfortable.

He wrapped this year’s gift, sent it to Zuo Chi’s address, and locked himself in his study.

Sitting at his desk, he kept getting distracted, wondering if Zuo Chi was spending his birthday with Qin Xu and if they were happy together.

It had to be happier than being with him. After all, Zuo Chi didn’t like crowded places but watched fireworks by the river with Qin Xu.

The more he thought, the more agitated he became, imagining Zuo Chi and Qin Xu together until he felt like he was going crazy.

Around 8 PM, he couldn’t resist calling Zuo Chi, but no one answered.

Of course, Zuo Chi didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

Sheng Li felt heartbroken, holding his phone, unsure if he should call again.

…..

Zuo Chi’s birthday was no different from usual. He had a cup of coffee with two bacon toast slices for breakfast, watched the news, then went to work, held a management meeting, and only remembered his birthday when he glanced at the calendar around 4 PM.

He didn’t want to recall his last birthday. Apart from Sheng Li’s surprises, he had no special feelings about birthdays. Still, he messaged Qin Xu: “Want to have dinner tonight?”

Qin Xu replied: “Sure. What do you want to eat? I’ll book a restaurant and pick you up after work.”

Zuo Chi: “Western food.”

Qin Xu: “Okay, see you later.”

Zuo Chi: “See you.”

Around 6 PM, Qin Xu arrived. Zuo Chi got in the car and noticed a beautifully wrapped cake and a bouquet of fresh white roses in the back seat.

Qin Xu saw him looking back and said, “Before, Qin Yanren showed me your Wikipedia entry. I vaguely remember your birthday is in January. Today when you asked me out for dinner, it suddenly came to mind, so I checked again. Sorry, I haven’t been a good enough boyfriend, didn’t prepare in advance.”

“Thank you, I really like it.” Zuo Chi fastened his seatbelt. “I haven’t asked for your birthday yet, when is it?”

“I was born on July 1st, still half a year away.”

“Okay, I’ll remember.”

They entered the Western restaurant, and the waiter led them to their reserved table. They ordered their food, and just as a French chicken dish arrived, Qin Xu received a phone call.

He answered the call with a smile, and before picking up, he moved the plate of chicken towards Zuo Chi, “It’s my father… stepfather’s call.”

But then, his expression turned serious. He didn’t say much, just listened quietly to the other end.

Zuo Chi became tense, setting down his knife and fork.

“I understand, don’t worry.” Qin Xu finished speaking to the caller and stared at the table for two seconds before looking up to explain to Zuo Chi, “My mother fell at home alone, a neighbor took her to the hospital, the details are still unclear. My father is currently having trouble in England and can’t go back temporarily. And my brother is at school, about to face final exams, so I need to go back to Berlin as soon as possible.”

Qin Xu’s tone was very calm, but faster than usual. Zuo Chi knew he must be very worried about his mother. “Shall we go to the airport now?”

“Chi, I’m sorry. Today is your birthday, but I…”

“It’s unavoidable, you don’t need to apologize. The most important thing now is your mother’s condition.” Zuo Chi interrupted him, checking the flight tickets on his phone, “Let’s go, there are flights to Berlin Brandenburg Airport tonight. Do you have your documents with you? Do you need to go home to get anything?”

“No need.” Qin Xu said, “I happened to bring all the important documents today.”

“Then we have enough time.”

Exiting the Western restaurant, Zuo Chi got into the driver’s seat, “I’ll drive.”

“Okay.” Qin Xu smiled bitterly, “My mother’s health hasn’t been good since she gave birth to my brother. We used to have a nanny at home, but she got old and didn’t want to work anymore last year. My mother said she was idle at home, so she decided not to hire anyone else, never expected something like today to happen.”

Zuo Chi didn’t know how to comfort him, “Your mother will be fine.”

They drove smoothly to the airport, and Zuo Chi dropped Qin Xu off at the security checkpoint.

Qin Xu walked into the queue, then turned back to give Zuo Chi a hug, “I’ll text you when I land.”

“Okay.” Zuo Chi patted his back. Once Qin Xu passed the security check, he turned and walked out.

Qin Xu gave him the car keys, saying the car could stay with him for the time being.

Zuo Chi got into the car and sighed heavily.

It was still early, so he planned to go home first, cook himself a bowl of longevity noodles, and then eat the cake. Unfortunately, the cake was six inches, he couldn’t finish it in one go.

He took the road nearest to his home from the airport. At a junction, as soon as the traffic light turned green, a silver car suddenly rushed from the left side towards him.

Zuo Chi’s heart skipped a beat, he quickly turned the steering wheel, but it was too late. He soon heard a “bang”, his eardrums ringing, the car window shattered, and the airbag deployed.

His vision blurred, the shattered “spider web” occupied his sight.

His left hand hurt so much…

He lowered his gaze, in the midst of chaos, he saw glass embedded in the flesh of his left elbow, red blood continuously flowing out.

He uncomfortably turned his head, forcibly shifting his gaze away, fear surging in his heart.

Suddenly, his phone made a sound, the ringtone echoing in the car. Zuo Chi didn’t need to look to know who it was. He had set a unique ringtone for Sheng Li, and hadn’t changed it back yet.

Why was Sheng Li calling him now?

He reached out with his right hand to grab the phone on the center console, but couldn’t reach…

Zuo Chi didn’t know when the ambulance arrived, he felt like he had slept for a long, long time, sleeping very deeply. When he woke up, he found himself lying on a hospital bed, facing a slightly dazzling white wall. His senses returned, he felt weak all over, his hand both painful and numb.

“Awake?” A nurse happened to pass by the ward, “You had a car accident, ruptured tendons and fractures in your left arm, with some minor injuries elsewhere. A passerby called an ambulance and you were brought in time, after surgery to repair and suture, with a cast for about a month, you should be fine. The police also brought your phone from the car, someone called you, we thought to notify your family but didn’t know the screen lock password, so we answered it for you.”

The phone… Sheng Li had called him.

But the second call, maybe it wasn’t Sheng Li who made it, perhaps it was someone in business contact with him.

Zuo Chi asked, “Who?”

“What was his name again?” The nurse thought for a moment, “A two-character name… seemed to be Sheng something, yes, surname Sheng. He said he’ll be here soon.”

It was really Sheng Li.

Zuo Chi didn’t want Sheng Li to see him lying in this state on the hospital bed, but just like he couldn’t stop the accident from happening, he couldn’t stop Sheng Li from coming to the hospital.

There were three beds in this ward, the middle one was obviously occupied, but covered by curtains, Zuo Chi couldn’t see the person’s face.

Thinking that Sheng Li was coming, he felt a kind of inexplicable anxiety, sometimes staring blankly at his left hand, wondering how long until he could be discharged, sometimes looking out the window, guessing what time it was now.

Oh, there’s a clock on the wall. It’s past eleven. He felt silly.

Rapid footsteps sounded, Zuo Chi turned his head as if sensing something.

It was Sheng Li.

Sheng Li was still wearing flannel pajamas, wearing a pair of cotton slippers on his feet, completely devoid of his usual image-conscious posture, he looked flustered, lips pale.

“Zuo Chi…”

“Zuo Chi!” When he saw Zuo Chi awake, his lips quivered as if he was about to cry.

When the call connected, he was still happy, thinking that Zuo Chi finally agreed to answer his call. However, a stranger’s voice came from the other end, saying that the owner of the phone had been in a car accident.

Sheng Li couldn’t describe his feelings at that moment. It felt like the sky was falling down, his whole body went cold, trembling uncontrollably. He forced himself to stay calm, quickly asked about the hospital, and hurried over. On the way, he couldn’t help but wonder about Zuo Chi’s condition, fearing… fearing…

He was so afraid.

He walked towards Zuo Chi, tears didn’t fall, but his legs went weak, and he knelt by the bedside.