There were quite a few people eating in the cafeteria. He was about to find a random seat when he spotted Wu Xiaofeng.
Without much thought, he walked straight over.
Wu Xiaofeng was listlessly eating the food on his plate, having lost his appetite.
The incident with Xu Qinghe this morning had ruined his mood, leaving him feeling stifled all morning.
Not even the head of the orthopedic anesthesia team, let alone Anesthesiology Department Director Zhao Mingde, had ever disrespected him like that.
One Xu Qinghe had made him lose face in front of his team members.
Any other anesthesiologist in the department would have accepted that morning's surgery sheet—only she wouldn't.
When Shi Wenli sat down, he couldn't help but complain: "Does Xu Qinghe think the patient's thank-you letter from last time will always be her shield?"
Shi Wenli said honestly: "She was probably too busy to even remember that thank-you."
Wu Xiaofeng: "..."
If he didn't know Shi Wenli's character, he would have suspected he was deliberately trying to provoke him.
Today, Shi Wenli had taken the initiative to sit with him for the first time, presumably to put in a good word for Xu Qinghe.
In all the years he'd known Shi Wenli, the only people he'd ever sit with in the cafeteria were his own neurosurgery colleagues or Xu Qinghe.
Wu Xiaofeng wasn't among them.
Unless there was something particularly important, like now.
If Shi Wenli pleaded Xu Qinghe's case, should he give face or not?
If he didn't, there was their years-long friendship to consider.
If he did, he'd still be fuming inside.
After some internal conflict, Wu Xiaofeng finally convinced himself that if Shi Wenli asked, he would give him the courtesy.
But he waited and waited. Shi Wenli talked about everything from this year's Spring Festival duty to the medical annual meeting after the New Year, even about how difficult it was to defrost car windshields in cold weather, but he never brought up Xu Qinghe.
By the time they were almost finished eating, he was still skirting around the topic.
Wu Xiaofeng couldn't stand it anymore and decided to bring it up himself: "We've known each other for over a decade. Just say what you want to say. No need to beat around the bush with me."
Shi Wenli paused for a moment: "You thought I was going to plead for Dr. Xu?"
Wu Xiaofeng countered: "Why else?"
Shi Wenli said bluntly: "There's no need to smooth things over between you two."
Wu Xiaofeng didn't understand.
Shi Wenli explained: "Even if I mediated and you two made up, she might stop one of your surgeries tomorrow, and the relationship would be back to square one."
Wu Xiaofeng: "..."
"That's just her personality. She doesn't need anyone to mediate for her, and she wouldn't want it either."
Wu Xiaofeng was puzzled: "Then why did you deliberately choose this moment to come sit with me?"
"..."
Shi Wenli smiled, unable to explain.
When he sat down, he hadn't thought that far ahead. He was still affected by Xu Qinghe's words about 'missing him' and, seeing an acquaintance, he just went over.
After leaving the cafeteria, Shi Wenli decided to go see her anyway.
He didn't know which OR she would be in that afternoon, so he stopped at the nurses' station to ask.
"Director Shi, Dr. Xu is in OR 8 this afternoon."
"Okay, thanks."
"You're welcome."
After he walked away, they whispered among themselves, envying Xu Qinghe's good fortune in having such a friend. No matter what, Shi Wenli never hid his concern for her—this had been the case for years.
Shi Wenli treated everyone with respect and patience, even a new intern.
If anyone asked for his help, as long as it was within his ability, he would do his best and never brush them off.
No one else in the hospital had a better rapport with people than he did.
But privately, he didn't have many friends he actively cared about.
Shi Wenli quickly reached the door of OR 8. Through the small glass window on the door, he saw her instructing Zhang Xun.
The circulating nurse noticed him first.
Almost without thinking, she reminded Xu Qinghe: "Dr. Xu, Director Shi is looking for you."
Xu Qinghe whirled around to look at the door.
She had told him on the phone that he didn't need to come, but he came anyway.
Shi Wenli didn't mean to stay. Through the door, he pointed in the direction of the neurosurgery OR where he needed to go.
Xu Qinghe immediately understood, smiled, and made an 'OK' gesture at him.