Chapter 156: Chapter 154 Let’s Be Together
With colleagues still around, Zhang Hao couldn’t engage in too many subtle gestures with Lin Wan; after a look to convey his message, he acted as if nothing had happened.
Having understood the patient’s condition, Zhang Hao began his pre-surgery preparation. Considering he was still on vacation and was suddenly called back for such a major operation, the department head had to express something.
"Once the surgery is done, let’s go out for a drink together. We’ve been busy lately, with no time to enjoy life."
After dropping this remark, the surgical director turned and walked into the operating room with other doctors.
Zhang Hao hadn’t even figured out how to respond before the person had disappeared.
The entire operation wasn’t particularly difficult, but it required extreme precision, with no room for carelessness.
Surgeries that require such careful attention usually take multiple times the normal duration to be successfully completed.
Therefore, the surgical director’s suggestion of having a drink after work became an unfulfilled promise.
When the two surgeries were completed one after another, it was already past ten in the evening as he left the operating room.
Zhang Hao was so exhausted he couldn’t even straighten his back, but thankfully, Lin Wan was there to bring him tea and water.
"You’ve also been standing for so long, find a place to sit down and rest for a bit," Zhang Hao kindly reminded.
"I’m not tired. You’ve been under mental strain and standing for a long time; you must have expended more energy than I did."
"All I did was pass the surgical instruments by your side, which was much less work than yours; how about I give you a shoulder rub?"
Before Zhang Hao could respond, Lin Wan had already started.
Her delicate hands rested on Zhang Hao’s shoulders, pressing and kneading softly and effortlessly.
Just these few strokes had already provided Zhang Hao with immense relaxation.
Thinking back on the indulgence of his recent vacation, it seemed less relaxing than this moment.
"Why don’t you come to my place to rest tonight? I’m alone anyway, and it’s also close to the hospital."
Zhang Hao shook his head, "No need. I haven’t been home these past few days. I should go back and talk with my parents. Thanks for the massage, but I need to pack up and head home."
Zhang Hao patted Lin Wan’s hand, signaling that she could stop now.
Unexpectedly, Lin Wan didn’t stop at all but instead draped her arm directly over Zhang Hao’s shoulder.
"You want to leave as soon as you come back. Don’t you miss me, or is there someone else besides me that you need to be with? I think Uncle and Auntie have probably gone to bed by this time."
Zhang Hao smiled, "They’re not seventy or eighty years old, and besides, they may have stayed up the late shift and could be keeping a bowl of hot and sour wontons for me."
Hearing Zhang Hao’s earnest tone, Lin Wan no longer insisted on keeping him.
"All right, then I’ll get my things and go home too."
Two to three months flew by, and Zhang Hao’s traditional Chinese medicine clinic became increasingly popular.
It turned into the clinic with the highest consultation rate in the city, which caught the attention of other hospitals, especially the municipal hospital.
To secure their hospital’s standing, Lin Zhen tried every means to contact Song Xin.
The two hadn’t been in touch for a while, and he also knew that Song Xin had an abortion.
As to whether the child was his, it was now impossible to determine.
However, considering the unforgettable relationship they had, Lin Zhen felt she was the best choice for leading a charge.
Song Xin knew that Lin Zhen’s visit wasn’t with good intentions, insincere as a weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken.
She also knew that a future with Zhang Hao was impossible.
Even though she had done all she could in the past to get close to Zhang Hao, she had not captured his heart, not even his attention.
Love or heart, since she couldn’t get either, then she would simply go with whoever offered more money.
During their next meeting, Song Xin appeared quite composed.
However, once Lin Zhen opened his mouth, he started to mock her.
"The once illustrious campus belle, a goddess-level figure, has now become unwanted by anyone."
Looking at Lin Zhen’s detestable face, Song Xin didn’t hold much hope.
"So, what do you want, suddenly seeking me out?"
"Go find Zhang Hao, get into a relationship with him, sleep with him, and then tell me his current situation as well as his work details."
"Why should I get into a relationship and sleep with him? Who are you to me that I should listen to you?"
Lin Zhen knew that Song Xin wouldn’t agree to his request immediately.
"Name your price, and I’ll pay you."
"For real? I’m not the kind to catch a hare without seeing it first. How can I trust that you will keep your word?"
"Haven’t I given you enough money over the years? Which expense of yours hasn’t been covered with my money?"
"Even after we broke up, I gave you a sizeable amount of money. Aren’t you telling me you’ve squandered it all in such a short time?"
Song Xin sneered, "That was my money to begin with. How I use it is none of your business. In short, if you want me to do your bidding, you’ll have to pay up first, or else forget about it."
The two were at an impasse for a good while before Lin Zhen eventually backed down.
He got Song Xin’s bank account number and transferred one hundred thousand yuan to her first.
"Consider this a deposit. Once the job is done, I’ll give you another hundred thousand. With these two hundred thousand, you should have enough to open a small store to maintain your livelihood."
"But with your looks, you could actually trick quite a few naive guys. Just don’t use pregnancy as a trick next time. It’s disgusting."
Having taken the money, Song Xin was holding back her temper. Otherwise, she would have thrown the drink she had right in Lin Zhen’s face.
Knowing that Zhang Hao was now a famous young practitioner of traditional medicine, Song Xin stayed up for several nights to make herself look a bit more frail.
And during her menstrual period, she went to the hospital where Zhang Hao worked.
She let him take her pulse and assess her health.
No matter how healthy one might seem, to a doctor’s eye, there’s always something less than satisfactory.
What Song Xin didn’t expect was that to see him, she would have to wait for two weeks.
This surprised her as she had never thought much of that nerdy classmate before.
He had transformed into such a sought-after individual.
Although she didn’t have an appointment, Song Xin still went to the traditional medicine clinic.
The rows of chairs outside the clinic were all full, with men and women, old and young, all craning their necks to look inside.
Song Xin stood outside the clinic and glanced inside, just in time to see Zhang Hao taking someone’s pulse.
He looked genuinely charming with his serious demeanor.
Song Xin took out her phone and dialed Zhang Hao’s number.
But it rang for quite a while without an answer, and Zhang Hao, who was diagnosing a patient,
merely glanced at his phone lying on the desk and didn’t pick up.
Song Xin naively thought that perhaps Zhang Hao saw it was her calling and decided not to answer.
After hanging up, she tried again with another number, but the result was the same.
So, Song Xin walked straight into the clinic.
"Your pulse is weak and floating. I’ll adjust the previous prescription for you. Still, take it twice a day – one pack in the morning and one at night. You must abstain from smoking and alcohol, and you need to sleep early."
Zhang Hao was modifying the prescription, reducing some of the herbs, when he finished and looked up to see Song Xin’s arrival.
Surprised, he remembered that his phone had rung twice earlier, and he hadn’t had the time to answer.
Most likely, it was her calls.
"Zhang Hao, I like you. Let’s be together."
