Xu Qinghe answered the call.
Before she even heard his voice, she felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
"I'm fine," she said.
Shi Wenli knew that she didn't care about being reported or criticized by her superiors.
What she cared about more was whether the leadership would take the matter of non-emergency line-cutting seriously.
He had just finished surgery and was heading to the cafeteria, surrounded by colleagues. He nodded and smiled in greeting as he spoke into the phone: "It's good that the patient's family withdrew the complaint, or else it would affect your entire team's bonus."
Xu Qinghe joked: "I think that rule of the Medical Affairs Office is specifically targeting me."
She didn't care about her own bonus being docked, but she couldn't ignore the others.
Shi Wenli also laughed: "It's possible. Who told you not to care about money? Section Chief Wu can only tie individual complaints to the team."
"I do care, I need to save up for shoes."
"From now on, you don't need to save. I'll buy them for you."
Speaking of the Crocs, Shi Wenli joked: "Should I not have given them to you early? You ended up being reported twice today."
In the past, she would only buy shoes after being reported; the Crocs meant she'd been reported.
But this time, he gave her two pairs before she was even reported.
Then, first thing this morning, she was reported twice in a row.
Xu Qinghe laughed, leaning on him: "Then it might really be your fault."
Then she got serious, lowering her voice: "Even if I get reported, I'm still happy to receive them early."
Shi Wenli told her: "You should have a package arriving tomorrow."
Xu Qinghe's heart stirred, both surprised and not wanting him to spend: "Why did you buy me more? Two pairs are enough for me to alternate."
"They're newly released and the style is really good. A pair isn't that expensive. If it makes you happy to receive them, it's worth it."
Any gift from him would make her happy.
Especially shoes she liked.
"Three pairs are enough. Don't buy any more. In the past, I bought shoes after being reported because there were things I couldn't tell anyone. Now it's different; I can tell you what I can't tell others, so I don't need so many shoes."
Shi Wenli misunderstood: "You don't need to save me money."
In the past, when she was reported, if he knew about it, he would call her.
So he instinctively thought she said that to avoid making him spend.
Xu Qinghe said: "It's not about saving you money."
But this explanation sounded weak.
Shi Wenli still remembered her earlier words: "Once I start talking, I can't stop." He said, "Let's stop talking about shoes. Tell me what you wanted to say."
Before Xu Qinghe could speak, she heard noise erupt from his end—he must have entered the cafeteria.
She said: "There's so much I want to tell you; it can't be said in a short while. Eat first, and when you have time, we can talk slowly."
"It's fine, it won't affect my eating." Shi Wenli took a tray with one hand and went to get food. "I have a half-hour break at noon, enough for you to talk. If it's really not enough, just give me the gist now, and we can discuss it in detail tonight."
Xu Qinghe wanted him to eat and rest a bit; otherwise, he'd be too tired for afternoon surgeries.
Before hanging up, she said what she most wanted to say: "The gist is, I haven't seen you all morning, and I kind of miss Director Shi."
After saying it, she regretted being so tactful.
She had initially wanted to omit the word 'miss' and not call him Director Shi.
That way, it sounded more like a joke between colleagues.
Before he returned from his overseas training, everyone in the department said they missed him.
Some even posted on social media: "Director Shi, we miss you. When are you coming back?"
He was probably immune to such remarks by now.
Shi Wenli had indeed heard such words many times, but coming from her, it was different.
He took over: "Which OR are you responsible for this afternoon? I'll come see you later."
No wonder they say directness is most moving.
Xu Qinghe quickly said: "No need. I have several surgeries this afternoon and won't have time to talk."
Shi Wenli knew what she was like when busy: "Then we'll talk tonight."
He asked, "Do you still have time for lunch?"
"No time. I have to prepare for the next anesthesia as soon as I get back."
Xu Qinghe's heart was still racing from the earlier conversation, so she hastily found an excuse to hang up: "Eat quickly. I'm almost at the OR."
The call ended.
Shi Wenli looked at the screen, then gathered his thoughts and continued getting his food.