Two months later.
The meeting room’s large screen displayed the final slide. Holding a laser pointer, Shen Fangyu smiled and said, “That concludes my report. Any questions?”
Director Cui gave a few comments, then turned to the other attendees. “This series on post-cesarean uterine pseudoaneurysms was presented very well by Shen Fangyu. If any of you have something to add, feel free to speak.”
Almost as if by tacit agreement, everyone’s eyes landed on a figure sitting in the front row.
“What are you all looking at me for?”
Sensing the stares from every direction, Jiang Xu raised his head, completely unaware of how deeply his past history with Shen Fangyu had scarred their colleagues’ impression of them.
“Dr. Jiang… don’t you have anything to say?” The attending physician sitting next to Jiang Xu nudged him, hesitating as he spoke.
Every time Shen Fangyu or Jiang Xu gave a report, the two of them would dissect it relentlessly, throwing out question after question. If the presenter didn’t have a thorough grasp of the case or literature, they wouldn’t survive the onslaught. Because of this, everyone had silently prepared themselves for yet another marathon meeting today.
However, Jiang Xu only twirled his pen once before saying to Shen Fangyu, “Last Thursday, C City reported a case of pseudoaneurysm in a double uterus with double vagina after a cesarean section. You can add that.”
After that, he closed his notebook, clipped the pen onto it, and looked as if he had nothing else to say.
Even Shen Fangyu on stage was baffled.
Director Cui gave Jiang Xu a glance and then said, “Alright, let’s end the meeting here. One more thing,about the H Province academic exchange conference that everyone’s been following.” Her gaze shifted back and forth between Jiang Xu and Shen Fangyu before finally settling on Shen Fangyu. “Fangyu, prepare well and bring a few people with me.”
When the meeting ended, as usual, Director Cui was the first to leave. As soon as she was gone, the meeting room instantly came alive with chatter.
The conference Director Cui had mentioned was one of the top academic exchange meetings in obstetrics and gynecology. Experts from around the world would be attending. This year, H Province was the host, and A Medical University had also received an invitation to attend and present.
“You and Dr. Jiang have been fighting over this spot for ages, haven’t you? I remember you both applying to Director Cui for it two months ago.”
Shen Fangyu’s friends and students were delighted. On one hand, they were happy for Shen Fangyu; on the other hand, it meant a greater chance for them to tag along, since Shen Fangyu would definitely pick people from his own team.
“Tomorrow morning’s coffee is on me,” Shen Fangyu told his team. “Come to my office to get it.” Then he lightly tapped his fingers on Jiang Xu’s desk and raised an eyebrow. “Well then, I’m off, okay?”
Jiang Xu didn’t even bother responding. He picked up a file folder and headed out, with Yu Sang hurrying after him. Behind them, a chorus of cheers erupted. Yu Sang rolled his eyes. “What’s there to be so smug about? Last year Director Cui took us, this year she takes them. It’s perfectly reasonable.”
Still, after saying that, he glanced at Jiang Xu and added, “Brother Jiang, I think you haven’t been yourself lately.” He almost mentioned that even Director Cui seemed to have noticed.
Jiang Xu himself didn’t know what was wrong. At first, it was excessive sleepiness, he could doze off standing if he had a moment’s rest. Then came the loss of appetite. He went to neurology and gastroenterology for an MRI and endoscopy, and eventually even visited psychiatry, worried that he might have developed anorexia.
But all the tests came back normal.
Although Jiang Xu often pulled all-nighters and had erratic eating habits because of his job, he was always very alert to any unusual symptoms in his body.
Dr. Jiang’s motto was: If it’s detected early enough, there’s no disease that can’t be treated.
But now, with no appetite and constant fatigue, he initially forced down coffee to stay awake, but later even the smell of coffee made him nauseous. Aside from performing surgeries and seeing patients, where sheer willpower and professionalism kept him functional, he was listless and sluggish at all other times.
Especially after work, if he didn’t have a night shift, he would skip dinner entirely, collapse into bed, and sleep straight through until the next morning, only to wake up nauseous and dry-heaving.
This kind of strange, unexplained illness usually had only two outcomes: either it was nothing serious… or it was something incurable.
Jiang Xu didn’t want to be pessimistic, but he couldn’t help his thoughts drifting toward terminal illness. As a result, he couldn’t even be bothered to argue with Shen Fangyu anymore. He thought, if he only had a few months left to live, and he spent half of that time bickering or fighting with Shen Fangyu, he’d die with regrets.
But while Jiang Xu was wallowing in gloom, others were celebrating.
Just before the end of the workday, an attending physician who was a few years older than them suddenly beamed with joy. Holding his phone, he looked at it over and over, then announced to the whole office:
“Don’t rush home tonight, everyone. I’m buying McDonald’s! Call the people next door to join us in the lounge. For those on duty, tell me what you want, I’ll bring it straight to your desks.”
“Brother Wu, is there good news?” Shen Fangyu asked.
Wu Rui used to be a student at A Medical University as well. He was not only Jiang Xu and Shen Fangyu’s senior in age but also their senior in training. Though his promotion was slower than those two competitive maniacs, he was patient and had once personally guided them early in their careers. Because of this, both Jiang Xu and Shen Fangyu had a good relationship with him.
“Keeping it a secret for now,” Wu Rui said with a grin so wide his eyes almost disappeared. “I’ll tell you later.” Then he pulled out his phone to place the order. “Come on, tell me what you want, miss this chance and you won’t get another.”
Doctors rely on their physical stamina, especially those who perform surgeries, standing for hours without eating or drinking, so they’re particularly fond of high-salt, high-fat, high-calorie junk food like fried chicken and cola.
Wu Rui patted Jiang Xu on the shoulder, and Jiang jolted awake. Wu Rui didn’t realize he was dozing off and instead assumed he simply didn’t want to eat with Shen Fangyu, so Wu Rui gave him a warm, friendly smile and said, “Do me a favor, don’t start a fight today.”
Jiang Xu blinked in a daze for a moment before he remembered they had been talking about dinner. He had no idea how it happened, he’d just spaced out for a moment, and it was as if he’d been bewitched and drifted off again.
Although he truly didn’t want to see Shen Fangyu, Wu Rui was such a good-natured guy. Since their senior spoke so sincerely, he wouldn’t refuse him. “Alright, senior. I promise, as long as he doesn’t provoke me first.”
“…” Wu Rui thought to himself, That’s probably a little too much to hope for.
He glanced at Shen Fangyu, who was chatting and laughing with others while ordering food. Handsome, sure, but what a shame he had to open his mouth. Dr. Shen never seemed to antagonize anyone else; it was always just Jiang Xu. With everyone else, he was polite and even sweet-tongued. Who knew what went on in his head?
There were a lot of people at this dinner, and just picking up the takeout required several people. They first delivered the portions for the on-duty doctors, then brought the rest into the break room. Red boxes filled the table, golden fried chicken and roasted wings paired with chilled, fizzy cola. The rich aroma spread through the room, making everyone’s appetite stir.
Shen Fangyu sat right next to Wu Rui. Without hesitation, he pulled a fried chicken drumstick from the red paper bag in front of him, the crispy skin paired perfectly with the tender meat. After a bite, he asked Wu Rui, “So what’s the good news?”
Wu Rui smiled mysteriously. “Something worth celebrating, my wife is pregnant.”
“Wow—!”
It was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, setting off waves of excitement.
The usually reserved doctors clapped, pounded on the table, and cheered. Thankfully, Jihua Hospital had its own separate building for staff recreation and fitness, so no one had to worry about disturbing patients or keeping up a “professional” image.
Even though they were all used to seeing new life being conceived and born, hearing such news was still joyful—, especially when it came from a close colleague. And the thought of that little baby being so eagerly awaited made everyone genuinely happy.
“Congratulations!”
“Congrats, Wu-ge!”
…
The chorus of cheers and blessings filled the room.
“Thank you, thank you—” Wu Rui rubbed his hands together, his face flushed with excitement as he gratefully accepted everyone’s congratulations.
Jiang Xu also raised his cup of cola and saluted Wu Rui. “Congratulations, senior,” he said. “If you ever get overwhelmed, just let us know.”
Jiang Xu was usually quiet and cold-faced, but he was attentive. His words hit Wu Rui right in the heart.
Wu Rui shot him a grateful look, then addressed everyone else: “Actually, there’s another reason I’m treating you all today.” He hesitated a little, embarrassed. “My wife’s job is also demanding, and I’d like to spend more time with her. So, in the future, I might have to trouble all of you a bit more with department matters. I just wanted to apologize in advance.”
This was a touchy subject, no one liked extra workload, but thankfully, their department had always had a good atmosphere. Plus, Wu Rui had always been generous in helping others, so his words were met with nothing but smiles and reassurances.
“Don’t worry,” someone said. “If you need help, just ask.”
“I just… ah…” Wu Rui was moved by how supportive everyone was, and in the warmth of the moment, he suddenly covered his face, his voice catching slightly. “I’ve been so busy… I barely had time to be there for her.”
The mood was on the verge of turning sentimental when Shen Fangyu, quick-witted as ever, unwrapped a chicken wing and stuffed it straight into Wu Rui’s mouth. He patted his shoulder and said, “It’s alright, Wu-ge. We get it, work is important, but your wife’s more important. But for now, nothing’s more important than the fried chicken in your mouth.”
As soon as he finished, he noticed Jiang Xu staring at him.
Sure enough, Wu Rui’s emotional moment was abruptly cut short by the chicken wing. His eyes were still a little red, but a laugh slipped out as he grabbed the wing from his mouth and chuckled, “You brat.”
The laughter that followed dissolved the awkwardness, filling the room with warmth again.
Jiang Xu, seeing that Shen Fangyu noticed him watching, casually looked away and remarked, “Quick thinking.”
It was praise, for diffusing the tension.
Shen Fangyu, riding the high, grabbed another chicken wing and held it right up to Jiang Xu’s mouth.
The heavy, greasy smell hit him instantly. Jiang Xu took a sharp step back, his expression darkening.
He’d been feeling off ever since he got there. Normally, he didn’t mind fried chicken, but lately, just the smell of anything oily made him nauseous. That’s why he’d only sipped some cola and nibbled a single fry all evening.
But now that greasy chicken wing was practically touching his nose, the overpowering smell crashing mercilessly against his fragile senses.
He shot a look at Shen Fangyu, then abruptly bowed his head and covered his mouth.
“Urgh—”
A stifled retch.
Dr. Jiang did not want to embarrass himself like this, but he couldn’t hold it back. Clutching his mouth, he hurried straight to the restroom, leaving Shen Fangyu standing there, frozen, still holding the chicken wing.
“…Is this his new way of insulting me?” Shen Fangyu muttered stiffly, still holding the wing in his hand.
After a pause, he turned to Yu Sang, who’d been sitting beside Jiang Xu. “Do I really look that nauseating?”
“You’d better ask Dr. Jiang,” Yu Sang replied dryly. “Maybe it’s because you stole his spot for the conference. He’s probably just mad every time he sees you.”
Forget it. Shen Fangyu knew better than to expect anything else from Jiang Xu’s crew. Nothing but sharp tongues.
He silently lowered his hand holding the chicken wing and acted like nothing happened. But Wu Rui, thoughtful as ever, said, “You know, my wife was the same. She was gagging constantly but could hardly ever throw up. We didn’t think much of it at first, we even thought she was sick. Turned out she was pregnant.”
Shen Fangyu considered this, then leaned forward in mock seriousness after Jiang Xu came back from his third trip to the bathroom, looking pale and exhausted.
“Jiang Xu,” he said, “throwing up like this… don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”
Author’s Note:
Wu Rui: “Good news, my wife is pregnant.”
Shen Fangyu: “I’ve got good news too, my wife is also, hey, stop hitting my face!”
Jiang Xu: “I’m your dad.”