Chapter 29 : First Impressions and Second Glances

Meanwhile, Tang Zhen had just returned to the main office. Before she could even sit down, she pulled open a drawer and took out a box of digestive tablets, popping two into her mouth.

Liu Sisi across from her tilted her head over. “You’re eating this so early in the morning?”

Tang Zhen chewed the tablets with a crunch, her hand on her stomach. “I feel bloated.”

As soon as they finished speaking, the office door was pushed open, and Zhao Qin walked in—

“You’re both here. That’s good. Director Chi has surgery this morning. If you two are free, you can both go and observe.”

With that, she took a cup of hot water, turned around, and left.

It wasn’t that easy to get into the operating room at Renhua. You had to know that behind them were not only the resident and intern students, but also a large number of junior doctors with low seniority.

This spurred Tang Zhen on, and her stomach immediately felt better. “Sisi!”

“I can’t go.” Liu Sisi looked troubled. “Bed twenty-seven can’t be left alone. I have to watch him. You go.”

Before she could finish, a nurse came in, pushing the door open a little and sticking half her body in. “Dr. Liu, bed twenty-seven is pressing the call bell again. I’ve been there, but he insists on seeing a doctor again.”

“Alright, I’ll be right there.”

After replying, Liu Sisi pulled Tang Zhen over and nudged her shoulder—

“Oh, you’re so lucky. Watch carefully, and you have to tell me all about it when you get back.”

With that, Liu Sisi left.

Tang Zhen tidied up the things on her desk, put the box of digestive tablets back in the drawer, and then also left the main office.

By the time she arrived, Chi Yuqin was already there, her well-fitting white coat looking particularly good on her.

Tang Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. She still couldn’t completely control herself. Even if Chi Yuqin’s icy face could freeze people to death, for the sake of her absolute beauty… even the coldest iceberg was insignificant.

Seeing her arrive, Chi Yuqin lowered her crossed arms and walked straight toward her, her gaze fixed on her face—

“You…”

“Hmm?”

“You’re sober, right?”

Her cool and cold voice was deliberately lowered a few decibels, landing by Tang Zhen’s ear. The voice seemed to carry a layer of static electricity, and Tang Zhen was instantly jolted, her back straightening up.

She was a smart girl and immediately understood the meaning behind Chi Yuqin’s words.

Chi Yuqin wasn’t teasing her. She was asking very seriously.

“I’m sober, I’m sober! I’m very sober! I swear!” Tang Zhen held up three fingers to the sky, her eyes wide. “Director Chi, I can go into the operating room! I promise I absolutely, absolutely will not throw up!”

Only then did Chi Yuqin take a step back and tap her arm with the case history in her hand—

“That’s good then. Get ready.”

Although Tang Zhen was only observing the surgery, the sense of participation still made her excited. She could feel her heart pounding and her adrenaline rising, a warm current flowing through her body, making her feel hot.

After getting permission, Tang Zhen immediately went to wash her hands, scrubbing every nail crevice carefully with a small brush. When she was completely done, she turned around and only then realized that Chi Yuqin had already finished washing and had been standing there for a while.

Chi Yuqin looked at Tang Zhen. Even with her face covered by a mask, this person’s cute and innocent appearance couldn’t be hidden—

“Dr. Tang, if you’re a chief surgeon in the future, you’ll have to come an hour early to wash your hands.”

Tang Zhen’s two hands were held high in front of her chest. She suddenly felt like a deflated balloon, her voice trembling slightly—

“Director Chi, I’m nervous…”

Chi Yuqin smiled. It was as if the girl who had just bravely sworn to the heavens for fear of not being allowed into the operating room was not her.

The hard shell this person had been wearing all morning had automatically fallen off without her even having to peel it off herself.

It was just that Chi Yuqin’s smile was hidden under her mask, and Tang Zhen didn’t see it.

The two of them entered the operating room. The anesthesiologist was preparing inside.

Every hospital has its own rules, and Renhua was no exception. The patient is received at seven, anesthesia is administered at seven-thirty, sterilization and draping at eight, and the knife must touch the skin by nine.

Tang Zhen glanced at the clock in the operating room. Even if this clock was faster than the one outside, it was still a long way from nine o’clock.

“Watch carefully.” Chi Yuqin stood next to Tang Zhen. “You’ll have to rotate eventually. It’s not a bad thing to learn early.”

The bad mood that Tang Zhen had been bottling up all night was washed away by Chi Yuqin’s simple words. A certain part of her heart began to soften and grow warm again, and her eyes stung a little—

“I know.”

At nine o’clock sharp, the knife touched the skin.

Chi Yuqin stood at the operating table, with a shadowless lamp shining above her head. She was dressed in a light blue surgical gown, wearing surgical magnifying glasses on her face, and holding a scalpel. The moment she cut through the skin, her whole person was glowing.

“Change the biological valve to a twenty-three, and dismantle the bovine pericardium.”

“Five-oh line, small needle.”

“Reduce the flow rate, and open the aorta.”

“Be careful not to let the heart get too swollen, and don’t let the blood pressure get too high.”

…

Three hours later, the surgery was over.

Chi Yuqin sent the patient to the ICU for observation.

Tang Zhen had been following her the whole time. Just now in the operating room, her eyes were fixed on her hands. Now that she was out of the operating room, her eyes were fixed on her person.

Her legs were sore after three hours, but her eyes were still not tired.

“Any questions?” Chi Yuqin crossed her arms and leaned against the white wall in the corridor.

The walls in the cardiac surgery inpatient department were all white. Someone disinfected them every day because every patient who had just had surgery would hold onto this white wall and walk slowly forward during their initial recovery.

Tang Zhen thought this person’s posture was particularly cool. She couldn’t help but take two steps forward, as if this would bring her closer to her.

“Why not use a twenty-five?”

“Where does heart rupture mostly occur?”

“The free wall of the left ventricle.”

Seeing that she had no follow-up, Chi Yuqin glanced at her again. “You already know where the problem is? Still can’t figure it out?”

With this reminder, Tang Zhen instantly understood, her eyes lighting up—

“The tissue is fragile. If the diameter of the biological valve is too large, it will rupture the posterior wall!”

“Not bad, not too stupid. There’s still hope.”

That was just how Chi Yuqin was. She would praise you a little and then knock you down a little. In short, she wouldn’t let you be completely happy, but you would still be inexplicably pleased by her words.

“It’s all because you taught me well,” Tang Zhen quickly added.

“Less flattery, you might end up flattering the wrong person.” Chi Yuqin turned to leave, but after two steps, she stopped again and threw back a sentence, “This bed is yours. If you’re not sure about anything, come and ask me anytime.”

“Got it!”

Even after Chi Yuqin had walked far away, Tang Zhen’s gaze still hadn’t left her back—

So cool…

When can I be her assistant?

A second assistant would be fine too.

****

At noon, two people walked into the inpatient department entrance.

“Little Shu, just take the elevator from here to the twenty-third floor. I just asked her teacher. She’s already out of surgery and in her office now.”

Liu Yi led Qin Shu to the elevator. Her finger poked the button, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, she pushed Qin Shu in, but she herself stood outside and didn’t come in.

“Auntie, aren’t you going?”

“I won’t go. You young people can eat and chat. An old woman like me will just make you feel constrained. You go ahead. I’ll go find my old friend. Don’t worry about me.”

With that, Liu Yi waved at Qin Shu again, smiling as she watched the elevator doors close, and then left with a satisfied heart.

At this moment, the girl in the elevator’s face was slightly flushed, as if a layer of rouge had been applied.

In the office, Chi Yuqin made a cup of hot tea, the steam swirling around it. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a short nap.

She had spoken a lot today and just wanted to be quiet for a while now.

Just as she was about to doze off, someone knocked on the door—

“Come in.”

Chi Yuqin had a few candies in her mouth and was too lazy to even lift her eyelids. The door was pushed open, and a soft, gentle voice floated into her ears—

“Hello, Dr. Chi. I’m Qin Shu.”

Chi Yuqin was stunned and immediately looked up.

“You…”

“It’s really not easy to see you.” Qin Shu’s smile was gentle. She walked from the door to Chi Yuqin’s side in just a few steps. She saw the clock on the office wall and smiled again.

“It’s after work now, so I won’t call you Dr. Chi. It seems too formal.”

“Chi Yuqin, let’s have a meal together.”

—

Liu Sisi was delayed for a while because of bed twenty-seven. Even though she took a shortcut with Tang Zhen, they were still a little late. By the time they reached the cafeteria, it was packed with people.

“I never felt that our hospital was so crowded during work hours, but at mealtime… my goodness! It’s terrifying!”

“Why don’t we get it to go?” Tang Zhen was also afraid she wouldn’t be able to find a seat.

“No! The on-call room was just sprayed with disinfectant. The smell is terrible.”

Liu Sisi took two trays from the counter. “I’ll get the food. You go find a seat. I’ll find you later.”

“Alright.”

Tang Zhen handed her meal card to Liu Sisi and turned to find a seat. Her sharp eyes spotted an empty table, and she immediately made a hundred-meter dash for it.

Before she could reach the empty table, her steps suddenly halted.

“It’s really hard to get a date with you.” Qin Shu’s elbow rested on the table, the back of her hand lightly touching her chin.

“Work is very busy.”

“Is that so? I thought you didn’t want to see me.” Qin Shu smiled. “Chi Yuqin, you’re the first person I’ve ever pursued.”

This… this voice is a little familiar…

Tang Zhen felt that the person’s face in her peripheral vision was also a little familiar…

She turned her head as if there was a mechanical gear in her neck, slowly and creakily. Unexpectedly, her eyes met Chi Yuqin’s.

It’s over!

Her heart sank!

The more you know, the worse you die!

Tang Zhen quickly turned her head back. She held her breath and shuffled her feet, moving toward the empty table in front of her like a thief. Then she shrank into her chair, her back stiff and straight.

She could feel someone looking at her from behind.

The hair on the back of Tang Zhen’s neck and spine stood on end, a cold chill running down her. But the back of her head was burning. She was mentally cursing Liu Sisi’s slowness when Liu Sisi arrived—

“Why didn’t you wave to me? I had a hard time finding you!”

“Sisi!”

“What’s wrong?”

Tang Zhen suddenly stood up—

“Let’s go to the front. Someone just finished eating over there.”

“Huh?”

“It’s sunny by the window over there. I… I’m cold…”

Before Liu Sisi could understand what was going on, she was dragged away.

She had been in too much of a hurry just now. Now that she was seated, Liu Sisi finally saw Chi Yuqin over there, but she didn’t think much of it. After all, no one wanted to stick with their leader during a meal.

“I just don’t get it. Where does she get so many pretty girls from all day?”

“There are others?” Tang Zhen stopped her chopsticks and looked up at Liu Sisi.

“Look at your gossipy expression. It’s the short-haired one from last time.”

“That… that doesn’t count…”

“Why not?”

Tang Zhen was stunned… why? She couldn’t possibly tell Liu Sisi that she was pursuing her roommate—

“Sisi… hurry up and eat. We have to go back and write the major case histories after we’re done. I don’t want to work overtime.”

Liu Sisi looked at Tang Zhen, also a little puzzled—

“Are you sure you’re cold?”

“I…”

“You’re sweating all over your head!”

***

Chi Yuqin’s eyes had been following Tang Zhen, watching her as she wished she could shrink her head into her neck. She couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

She had only heard two sentences, and she didn’t dare to listen anymore?

And she even pretended to pull Liu Sisi away. Such a big commotion, as if she was afraid she wouldn’t be seen.

“What are you laughing at?” Qin Shu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She was a southerner, and her appearance was as gentle and soft as her name.

“Am I laughing?”

“You are, and it’s a very subtle laugh. Do you mind sharing?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I understand.”

She didn’t say, and Qin Shu didn’t press. She brought the topic back to the meal.

“Auntie Liu has told you, right?”

“She has.”

“Then… what do you think of me?”

“Very good, but we’re not a good match.”

Qin Shu’s expression showed no surprise. She nodded. “I guessed as much.”

Chi Yuqin felt that since they had both been open about it, there was no need to waste any more time. She was about to get up and leave when she heard Qin Shu say again—

“You’re not in such a hurry to leave, are you?”

“Do you have anything else?”

“If not as lovers, we can at least be friends, right?”

Qin Shu’s unhurried voice gave Chi Yuqin another feeling. This girl was probably a soft knife.

Sure enough—

“Can you tell me why we’re not a good match?”

Chi Yuqin leaned back in her chair, her expression as usual, a lazy and scattered air about her. Her chin was slightly raised, and she glanced at the person across from her.

Good makeup, shiny lip gloss, slightly curved lips, neither humble nor arrogant, confident and poised.

Logically, she should be her type, but Chi Yuqin couldn’t say why… it seemed like something was missing. Not that Qin Shu was lacking something, but that she was.

This person’s beauty didn’t arouse the slightest urge to crack her knuckles. On the other hand, the person by the window, wolfing down her food, made her palms itch a little.

Eating so fast? In a hurry to leave?

“No reason. I don’t like you.”

“You haven’t even tried.”

“I trust my first impression, so there’s no need to try.”

This was probably the most uncomfortable meal Qin Shu had ever had in her life.

Until they finished, the two of them didn’t say another word.

As they were about to part, Qin Shu asked again—

“When can we meet again?”

Chi Yuqin was expressionless. She glanced over and saw that the table by the window had already been taken by someone else. Her brow suddenly furrowed—

“Is there a need for that?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I mean as friends.”

“Sorry, I don’t make friends with my blind dates.”