OFBL chapter 26

Zhang Yuze wasn’t really shocked. After all, he was the only qualified young doctor at the Artillery Hospital, so naturally, he was the one chosen for the operation.

 

Xiao Jie, on the other hand, seemed more nervous than him. After hearing the details, he exhaled sharply and looked at the reporters and all the experts in the room. The upcoming surgery was bound to be difficult, and with the media coverage, the pressure would be immense. It was the kind of psychological strain that could break anyone.

 

On the podium, Liu Hongbo noticed Zhang Yuze’s calm demeanor and gave him a look of approval. He paused before continuing: “In light of Xu Li, your Cardiology Assistant, being on sick leave, we’ll be transferring a new surgical assistant from the Rocket Military Hospital tomorrow. I hope you all get along and work together to overcome the challenges ahead.”

 

After the meeting, Zhang Yuze walked back to his department, lost in thought. Xiao Jie, still reflecting on the meeting, mumbled: “Wow, they’re bringing someone from the Rocket Military Hospital. That’s impressive.”

 

There were only a handful of top cardiac surgery hospitals in the country, and most of them were in Yanjing. The Rocket Military Hospital was the best among them all, to the point where any doctor who mentioned being from Rocket Military was met with immediate respect.

 

Even Zhang Yuze’s mother had been an expert surgeon at the Rocket Military Hospital before he was born. As for him, he had chosen to work at the Artillery Hospital instead, unwilling to use her connections to take a shortcut. Having a new surgical assistant being specially transferred from the Rocket Military Hospital could only mean that the stakes were high for this surgery.

 

………….

 

It was almost time for work to end when Xu Li rushed to the hospital to pick up his boyfriend.

 

Not even Xu Li himself was sure why he came to the hospital everyday. Life at home was boring, especially with Shen Mo around. It was better to come to the hospital, even if it meant enduring endless scolding.

 

At the nurse’s station, Zhao Xiaole saw him and said: “Sit and wait for a while. Dr. Zhang’s in the middle of room checks.”

 

“Okay.” Xu Li nodded and sat next to Zhao Xiaole, pulling out the key from his pocket and tossing it onto the desk.

 

Zhao Xiaole immediately noticed the small yellow chicken keychain and exclaimed: “Dr. Zhang couldn’t have given birth to a more similar one!”

 

A few moments later, Xiao Jie finished his work and came by to hand over the shift. He also spotted the keychain and asked: “Why does Assistant Xu have Dr. Zhang as his keychain?”

 

Xu Li couldn’t stop laughing. The three of them waited for Dr. Zhang to finish work together. Zhao Xiaole lazily propped her chin, staring out at the sunset in the corridor. After a long pause, she sighed and said: “Xu Li, when will you be back to work? I’m so jealous of your paid leave.”

 

Xu Li stretched his arms and smiled: “I’m almost done with my vacation, but I still have a month left.”

 

Xiao Jie, still sorting through the meeting notes, suddenly remembered the latest piece of information and said: “Assistant Xu, if you don’t come back soon, your role as Dr. Zhang’s assistant will be taken away.”

 

Xu Li blinked in surprise: “What?!”

 

And so, Xiao Jie explained the meeting details to him. However, Xu Li could only chuckle: “Come on, you two really need to use your brains more. This new assistant is just being transferred temporarily from Rocket Military Hospital. After the operation, he’s gone. Why would they want to keep him here?”

 

“That’s true.” Xiao Jie nodded.

 

Zhao Xiaole, normally the ever-upbeat nurse, suddenly looked melancholy. She sighed: “I just hope this new colleague is easy to get along with. The department’s already so lively, I wouldn’t be able to stand someone too serious.”

 

Xu Li, ever indifferent to other people’s problems, smirked. “Don’t worry, things will always be peaceful around here since Zhang Yuze has the temperament for cooperation. I get along just fine with him.”

 

Xiao Jie and Zhao Xiaole exchanged a quiet glance. Zhao Xiaole, curious, asked: “Are you sure about that?”

 

Xu Li raised an eyebrow confidently. “Sure. No one gets under Zhang Yuze’s skin quite like I do.”

 

Quite unconvinced, Zhao Xiaole pulled Xu Li to his feet and walked him toward the cardiology clinic. “Just a reminder,” she said, pointing at the dent in the wall by the iron cabinet, “These two spots were wrecked when you fought with Dr. Zhang. I haven’t had time to get them fixed. What do you think?”

 

Xu Li just groaned.

 

When Zhang Yuze returned, Xu Li was distractedly gazing at the hospital’s bulletin board. From a distance, he saw Zhang Yuze striding back from the inpatient department, still focused on his work, with the room inspection records in hand.

 

Xu Li couldn’t help but smile. He had to admit it. Fate was indeed a curious thing.

 

Zhao Xiaole had said it before: before the Spring Festival, he and Zhang Yuze used to clash constantly. They’d fought every day, and Xu Li had even dreamed of quitting just to never deal with that guy again.

 

And yet, now, here he was—living together, in an inexplicable relationship, waiting for Zhang Yuze after work…

 

And, sometimes, he even found himself missing the fool.

 

…………..

 

Zhang Yuze was in a complicated mood, thinking about the new colleague who was about to come tomorrow. Maybe it was just his natural personality, but he hadn’t made many friends since he was young. He’d always been focused on his career, and his relationships at work were no different. Purely professional.

 

The “transmigrating into a book” incident forced him to talk more to people, like Zhao Xiaole, and he realized he enjoyed it, even if it didn’t feel entirely natural. Still, he couldn’t help but worry about this new colleague. He didn’t like dealing with unfamiliar personalities.

 

As he neared the Cardiology Department, he saw Xu Li standing near the notice board, smiling as he looked at him.

 

Zhang Yuze took off his white coat and teased: “Didn’t take your medicine today?”

 

Xu Li looked at him with a mocking expression: “No, just missing you too much. It’s incurable.”

 

Zhang Yuze groaned at the overly sweet words. “You’re insufferable.”

 

………………

 

After handing over his work to Xiao Jie, Zhang Yuze witnessed Zhao Xiaole racing downstairs for chicken legs like her life depended on it. He laughed as he turned off the lights in the office to wrap up the day.

 

Xu Li chuckled: “You should let Zhao Xiaole enter the Olympic 100-meter race. She’d break all records as long as a chicken leg was at the finish line.”

 

Zhang Yuze smiled, imagining the scene. It was indeed quite amusing.

 

As they made their way to the parking lot, Xu Li suddenly asked: “By the way, I saw the study abroad announcement for Switzerland on our department bulletin. Is it your turn this time?”

 

Zhang Yuze was caught off guard. He’d completely forgotten about it amidst everything else—his responsibilities, the surgery, and the new colleague coming in.

 

The dean had given him the paperwork for studying abroad some time ago, and Zhang Yuze had been debating whether to give up the spot for Xu Li. And yet, his pragmatic nature still made him cling to the opportunity.

 

It wasn’t until Xu Li mentioned it that he remembered.

 

Xu Li noticed his hesitation and continued: “The dean recommended you for this last time as well, right? You’re impressive. Honestly, you’re awesome.”

 

Zhang Yuze smiled faintly but then found himself asking: “How can you accept me leaving for three years?”

 

Xu Li shrugged and answered without hesitation: “What’s there to be upset about? I know you’ll choose your future. How could you, Zhang Yuze, stay just for me?”

 

Zhang Yuze frowned. “Are you serious?” He asked.

 

“No.” Xu Li sat up straighter. “But honestly, I get along with you because you’re a rational person. You never let emotions interfere with your decisions. That’s why I can treat you without any ulterior motive, and I know you’ll do the same for me. So, go ahead. Study abroad. I’ll support you.”

 

Zhang Yuze was taken aback. What Xu Li said was so simple, yet it felt so true. It sounded like something from a romance novel, but when Xu Li said it, it didn’t feel that way at all.

 

In the end, they were both adults. Interests and selfishness were inevitable, and sometimes, it was the equal balance between them that could sustain the relationship.

 

Smiling to himself, Zhang Yuze shook off his thoughts. “Alright, I’ll take you home now.” He smirked and teased: “Since I’m so good, are you really willing to let me go?”

 

Xu Li rolled his eyes but replied without missing a beat: “I’m willing.”

 

Zhang Yuze laughed. “I just can’t make you give me some face, huh?”

 

“Nope.” Xu Li grinned.

 

“…”