Today, Director Gu was also present, so Jiang Yang didn't dare to act rashly. He had originally planned to use this opportunity to ask Xu Qinghe about her requirements for a future boyfriend's education level. Recently, whenever he had free time, he'd been mulling over introducing a boyfriend to her.
Lately, she'd been in constant friction with various surgical departments. Even he found it troublesome, let alone Brother Shi. As her best friend, Brother Shi must be very concerned about her; otherwise, he wouldn't have invited her to his home for dinner alone. Jiang Yang decided to help share Brother Shi's burden. If he could actually help solve her major life event and help her out of her emotional slump, he'd feel much more confident about mooching meals at Brother Shi's place in the future.
Jiang Yang occasionally glanced at Xu Qinghe across from him. She seemed in a good mood now, chatting and laughing with Director Gu. But it was only on the surface.
Gu Changshen was teasing Zhao Mingde: "Yesterday, your director heard you got another complaint from orthopedics and got so angry he said he wouldn't eat. I told him to give me the food if he didn't want it, since it'd be a waste, but he wouldn't."
Xu Qinghe almost laughed out loud.
The five or six people at the table asked her what exactly happened yesterday with Wu Xiaofeng. Xu Qinghe briefly explained.
Gu Changshen noticed Jiang Yang's silence. Usually, Jiang Yang was the most eager when it came to gossip. He glanced at the man who was burying his head in his rice: "Why so quiet today?"
Jiang Yang swallowed the rice in his mouth before speaking: "I haven't started yet. I will."
"..."
Jiang Yang took this opportunity: "By the way, Dr. Xu, I want to consult you about something." In front of the director, he tried to act proper, lest he be accused of not being serious.
"For elite women like you with high education, strong professional ability, and good family background, do you have any requirements for a future boyfriend's education? I want to introduce a boyfriend for someone. Except for the educational mismatch, they are very compatible in every other aspect."
For some reason, Xu Qinghe thought of Qi Ru. His description perfectly matched Qi Ru; he was probably trying to set her up with him. That day at Shi Wenli's house, he had asked about her requirements for a boyfriend's education, likely just for reference.
Gu Changshen interjected: "How old are you that you're already taking up your father's career as a matchmaker?"
Jiang Yang: "..."
His father's failure as a matchmaker was known throughout the hospital.
Xu Qinghe replied to Jiang Yang: "As for education, how should I put it? Everyone has different requirements. My ideal type must have postdoctoral work experience, so my future partner can't have less than a doctoral degree."
Jiang Yang's heart trembled. That scumbag had a doctoral degree? And postdoctoral experience? The person he wanted to introduce to Xu Qinghe only had a master's degree. It was a bit embarrassing. But aside from education, everything else was good. He originally planned to introduce them on the day of Brother Shi's housewarming. He wanted to learn from his father's failed matchmaking and not reveal all the cards before they even met. Maybe if they met and hit it off, education wouldn't be a problem.
"Thank you. I'll think more about how to set them up." Jiang Yang immediately sent a message to Shi Wenli: [Brother Shi, have you set the date for your housewarming? How about the 28th of the lunar year? That day is good for moving, and we'll be on holiday—double happiness.]
Shi Wenli was in surgery and didn't see the message in time.
--
After lunch, Xu Qinghe hurried to the orthopedics operating room. She never expected to be working her first shift with Wu Xiaofeng under these circumstances. Luckily, neither of them brought their emotions to work. Despite the conflict, they communicated as needed during surgery, just without any expression.
Today's patient was 82 years old, undergoing knee replacement with ultrasound-guided nerve block anesthesia. Wu Xiaofeng was experienced and completed the surgery within an hour. When he left the table, he didn't even glance at Xu Qinghe and strode out expressionlessly. He had already spoken to Zhao Mingde at noon, saying he didn't want Xu Qinghe scheduled for his surgeries anymore; conflicts could affect emotions and were unfair to patients—he had to be responsible to them. If he couldn't afford to offend Xu Qinghe, he could at least avoid her.
After work in the evening, Zhao Mingde talked to Xu Qinghe. He had reminded her during the morning handover to resolve the complaint and not drag it out. Now, she had been blacklisted again by Wu Xiaofeng.
"What did I tell you before? I asked you to steadily complete your surgeries. And what did you do? You don't even care about your promotion?"
Xu Qinghe did care about promotion. She still wanted to invite Shi Wenli to dinner one day when she became a chief physician. But since things had come to this, she'd let nature take its course. She comforted the director: "Actually, I've wanted to blacklist orthopedics for a long time. Isn't this just right?"
Zhao Mingde: "..."
It seemed she was giving up. There was no way she would take the initiative to reconcile with orthopedics.
"Director, you should go home early."
Because she also wanted to go back and see Shi Wenli.
As usual after work, Xu Qinghe bought a roasted sweet potato from the stall at the entrance of the opposite alley. Before she could eat it, Shi Wenli sent her a message. It was a screenshot of a chat—Jiang Yang had asked him when his housewarming was.
Shi Wenli asked her: [Which day would you like to choose?]
Xu Qinghe replied with a voice message: "Let's go with what Jiang Yang said, the 28th of the lunar year. He knows more about these things."
Shi Wenli had colleagues nearby, so he couldn't use voice, only text: [Alright.]
He also asked: [Are you home yet?]
Xu Qinghe took a picture of the street view and sent it to him, along with a photo of the sweet potato in her hand.
Shi Wenli laughed: [You love roasted sweet potatoes that much?]
Xu Qinghe: "Mm, this stall has been with me for many years."
As long as she had secretly loved him.
Shi Wenli: [I'll go to Shi Miao's place first; I'll be home around 9:30.]
His sister and brother-in-law had returned from their honeymoon. They were originally supposed to arrive home in the middle of the night, but considering his sister was too tired, the brother-in-law changed the flight and they landed in Beijing in the evening.
Xu Qinghe guessed what he was going for: "If I run into Shi Miao tomorrow, I won't even know how to greet her."
Shi Wenli: [It's fine. If you meet in the operating room, you'll both be wearing masks. Even if it's awkward, no one will know.]
Xu Qinghe smiled.
Shi Wenli: [We'll talk when I get home. You've been holding your phone, and your hands will get cold.]
Xu Qinghe: "Okay."
Shi Wenli put away his phone. Ding Qihang noticed that his superior seemed to have taken a liking to typing messages recently. He used to reply with voice messages, whether to patients' families or in work groups.
At 7:50, Shi Wenli left the hospital and headed to his sister's house. Even during rush hour, the trip only took a little over ten minutes.
Perhaps he hadn't gotten used to the upscale environment of the new neighborhood; he preferred the atmosphere of the old community where his rental was—full of life, lively yet quiet. Although the house was rented, in a sense it was another home for him and his sister. Since their grandparents passed away, only he and his sister had celebrated the New Year together. They had spent many festive reunion days in that rented apartment in the old neighborhood—putting up Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, cooking a lavish New Year's Eve dinner—none were missed.
Now, both he and his sister had their own homes and partners they wanted to spend their lives with.
Arriving at his sister's top-floor duplex, the housekeeper opened the door and said they were having dinner. Shi Wenli changed into slippers and went straight to the dining room. His sister was having hotpot tonight. The soup pot in the middle of the table was bubbling, steam rising. Min Ting wasn't eating; there was no tableware in front of him. He just leaned lazily against the chair back, focused on listening to his sister. She was saying something, speaking energetically, with animated expressions.