The colleagues who had been gossiping heard this and silently withdrew their curious looks, continuing their work. So the cake wasn't from Shi Wenli.
"Airport, just landed"—it should be her childhood friend Song Xintan returning to China. Those familiar with Xu Qinghe in the Anesthesiology Department knew she had a childhood friend who came at any time, rain or shine. Not only handsome but also rich.
Song Xintan asked if she was free tonight: "I have family banquets for the next two days. If you're busy tonight, we can meet after the New Year."
Xu Qinghe was touched that he hadn't gone home after landing, had fulfilled her wish first, and sent a cake right away. No matter how busy, she had to make time to see him.
"I'll treat. You choose the place."
Song Xintan asked: "What time do you get off? I'll pick you up."
"I have no surgery this afternoon. I can leave at 5:30."
After setting the time, Xu Qinghe hung up, took the phone from her shoulder, and called Fang Yu and the others over to share the cake.
"Dr. Xu, have you ever considered your childhood friend? Even if there's no romantic love, he treats you so well, you could live comfortably after marriage."
Xu Qinghe smiled and said, "No, thanks."
She didn't say more. She didn't like lying. Too many lies, and you can't keep them straight.
"Hey, by the way, do you know who Chief Shi's blind date is? Someone introduced him again."
"Who introduced it? When?"
Everyone heard the concern in her tone and thought she also didn't know.
"You don't know Chief Shi posted a Moment?"
Xu Qinghe's heart skipped a beat: "What Moment?"
She had come from the recovery room, chatting with Zhang Xun on the way back, and hadn't checked her phone. She had no idea Shi Wenli had publicly announced having a blind date.
"...He posted it at noon, when you were in surgery."
Xu Qinghe quickly opened WeChat. They had many mutual friends, and the list of likes was longer than one screen could hold; she had to scroll down. She hadn't expected him to choose today to announce this.
She silently liked the post.
Fang Yu was standing beside her cutting the cake, so she didn't send him a private message.
"We discussed it all afternoon and asked around but no one knows who Chief Shi's blind date is."
Fang Yu handed the first piece of cake to Xu Qinghe. "We were hoping you might know a bit. Looks like it'll remain a mystery."
After learning the cake was from Song Xintan, everyone dropped the earlier suspicion that it was from Chief Shi and that his blind date was her. Colleagues never made jokes about each other's relationships without basis.
After the cake was divided, Fang Yu finally sat down: "So many people introduced blind dates to Chief Shi, but he never agreed to meet any. Yet he's willing to go public with this one. He must really like her."
A colleague added: "He must like her or find her suitable. At least one of the two."
Fang Yu was especially curious: "What type do you think Chief Shi's partner is?"
"Needless to say, must be very gentle."
Xu Qinghe didn't speak, focusing on eating her cake. While they were heatedly discussing Shi Wenli, she opened her phone and sent him a message: [Have you had lunch yet?]
Shi Wenli replied quickly: [Yes. You just eating now?]
Xu Qinghe: [Mm, I took an emergency surgery at noon.]
She was typing when Fang Yu suddenly stood up to grab a tissue, startling her. Everyone knew Shi Wenli's WeChat avatar—it was very distinctive. Xu Qinghe felt guilty, afraid of being seen chatting with him. She quickly ended the conversation: [Gotta go, colleagues all around me.]
Shi Wenli: [Eat quickly. We'll talk tonight when we meet.]
Xu Qinghe typed "See you tonight," but before sending, she added: [Missing Chief Shi. See you tonight.]
She had just finished the cake but hadn't eaten lunch when she got a call for an emergency consultation. After drinking some water, she grabbed her phone and left.
After the emergency, she did the handover with the night shift. By the time she finished, it was almost 5:30.
Song Xintan messaged that he was already downstairs.
Xu Qinghe: [Just finished. Haven't changed yet. Give me a few minutes.]
Song Xintan: [No rush.]
Xu Qinghe opened Shi Wenli's chat: [Still at the court? I was so happy at noon I forgot to tell you. I can't go shopping tonight. My childhood friend is back today, and I'm treating him to dinner. We'll go tomorrow night instead.]
Shi Wenli: [Okay, I'll go with you tomorrow night.]
Xu Qinghe: [Why did you suddenly go public? Dean Jiang must be frustrated.]
She sent it and put down her phone, quickly changing clothes while waiting for his reply.
Shi Wenli: [If I didn't go public, people would keep confessing. That's not good either.]
He told her not to worry: [Dean Jiang is fine. Jiang Yang will handle it. I told Jiang Yang.]
She didn't reply for a while, and he waited patiently.
At that moment, he was in his car in the parking space directly opposite the comprehensive building. He had come to pick her up for shopping, but she had other plans.
Xu Qinghe finally replied: [Jiang Yang must have been scared, right?]
Shi Wenli smiled: [Probably.]
He asked again: [Where are you eating tonight? I'll drive you.]