In the ninth operating room, preparations for the first surgery were underway.
Xu Qinghe finished checking the anesthesia machine and was about to prepare the anesthetic when Zhang Xun, the student she was mentoring, arrived.
Today was the second week of Zhang Xun's internship. He thought he had come early enough, but Xu Qinghe was even earlier.
"Senior sister, why are you so early?"
Xu Qinghe smiled and said, "I'm used to it."
Zhang Xun volunteered, "Senior sister, let me draw the medication?"
"Sure." Xu Qinghe stood nearby, focusing on checking his technique.
"Propofol." Zhang Xun called out as he drew the drug.
He wanted to be steady, but his fingers trembled slightly, and the force of drawing was a bit strong. Xu Qinghe noticed but said nothing.
Zhang Xun calmed himself and then drew the analgesic.
Xu Qinghe said gently, "No need to be nervous. Take it slow. Be careful with the needle, don't prick yourself."
Zhang Xun: "..."
Being watched made him so nervous he almost couldn't draw the medication.
Finally, the drugs were drawn. Xu Qinghe began preparing the equipment for general anesthesia intubation.
Just then, the sliding door of the operating room suddenly opened, and voices from the corridor outside came in—
"Wow! I thought I was seeing things. When did you get back?"
It was Wu Xiaofeng, the deputy director of orthopedics, his voice tinged with surprise and excitement.
A reply came: "I got home last Friday evening."
A warm, gentle voice with a hint of a smile.
Xu Qinghe was momentarily stunned. Wasn't that Shi Wenli's voice?
He was back from his overseas training?
It was only December; wasn't he supposed to return next month?
She subconsciously turned her head to look at the operating room door. The circulating nurse had opened it, but she couldn't see the two people talking in the corridor.
The circulating nurse came in, and the sliding door slowly closed, cutting off all outside sounds, and she couldn't hear what else they said.
Xu Qinghe slowly withdrew her gaze, but her mind was still on the door.
The circulating nurse casually asked her, "Why did Director Shi come back early?"
Xu Qinghe snapped back to reality and shook her head. "I'm not sure. I only just found out he was back."
If the door hadn't opened just now and he happened to be in the corridor, she wouldn't have known he had finished his training.
The circulating nurse said, "You two are so close; I thought you would know."
In reality, she and Shi Wenli weren't as close as others thought.
They lived in the same residential complex. She had caught a ride with him a few times after work, they would eat together when they met in the cafeteria, he had helped her translate references, and she had treated him to a meal once.
Most of their conversations were about work.
But in the eyes of others, their relationship was out of the ordinary.
He went abroad for training at the beginning of the year. Over the past year, they had contacted each other only a few times.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been completely in the dark about his early return and that he was already in surgery today.
Before he left, he was usually the one to initiate contact.
After he went abroad, what with his busy schedule, the time difference, and nothing important to discuss, she didn't feel comfortable messaging him often, so they essentially lost touch.
Having not heard from him for so long, she knew nothing about his current situation.
The circulating nurse teased, "Now that Director Shi is back, the neurosurgery department won't lack coffee or milk tea again."
Xu Qinghe smiled in agreement.
Shi Wenli had many admirers, including some in the hospital who had a crush on him. Often people would buy coffee for those on his team.
He was the youngest associate chief physician in the field of neurosurgery in the country to date.
Whether with patients or colleagues, he was always courteous, gentle, and full of patience, maintaining a record of zero complaints throughout his career.
With his superb medical skills, caring nature, and impeccable character and appearance, it was only natural to be attracted to him.
Over the past few years, he had turned down all suitors, focusing entirely on his work, excelling in both research and clinical practice.
Just then, the patient was brought into the operating room.
Everyone became busy.
The circulating nurse checked the patient's information and connected the monitors while Xu Qinghe prepared for anesthesia induction.
The patient was a 61-year-old male undergoing a thoracoscopic lobectomy.
After completing the preoperative check, Xu Qinghe asked, "Uncle, did you take your blood pressure medication this morning?"