Don't Reconcile Too Quickly - Chapter 47

C City was gradually stepping into early summer, but today the sky was overcast, looking like it might rain.

Ward 5 was quiet as well. Usually, when the door opened, the person inside the suite would rush out excitedly, either with bright eyes jumping onto someone or with a cheerful smile chatting away.

Today, upon hearing the noise, he remained seated on the bed, not moving, lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Shixu quickly walked over, “Feeling unwell?”

Chen Jiazhi’s vacant eyes slowly focused, and he smiled gently, “No, I’m fine.”

“Then why didn’t you come to greet me?”

“Recently, my brain’s been overloaded with too much stuff, it’s a bit stuck, clearing out some memory.”

“…Silly.”

He could expedite the resignation process, but for now, he had to stay on as the attending physician. Without resigning, hospital work had to continue, and surgeries couldn’t be postponed, nor could consultations.

He thought having prepared fun activities and food would keep Chen Jiazhi entertained, but seeing him sitting alone on the bed, looking so thin and quiet, broke his heart. Shen Shixu embraced him, gently tucking the slightly curled hair behind his ear, and asked softly, “Are you bored? How about we go for a walk after lunch?”

“Sure, I don’t eat leftovers.” Chen Jiazhi nestled into his arms, “Don’t give me leftovers, I don’t like them.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I eat what you can’t finish every meal, have I ever given you leftovers?” He lifted Chen Jiazhi completely, “That night when you were called down to eat, the food from Yuzhilan was only reheated once, and I didn’t let you eat it.”

“Do you remember why I said to throw it away?”

“Oh, I thought you were being extravagant.” Chen Jiazhi reluctantly felt a little happier and started eating, “Who was it that lectured me about how many kids in the world suffer from malnutrition because they can’t eat? You’re such a hypocrite.”

He babbled earnestly, “Next time, don’t throw it away, Grandpa Yuan¹ is so great.”

“I think it’s him who made you eat too much.” Shen Shixu glanced at him, “Can you stop overthinking? Why suddenly talk about leftovers?”

Recalling the night he asked if the soufflé was specially bought, Shen Shixu’s hesitant attitude probably feared that leftovers would upset him. Chen Jiazhi didn’t feel bad about it, so he laughed and said, “You said I was overthinking, it’s annoying, can you stop scolding me?”

Having no way with him, Shen Shixu looked at him for a few seconds, sighed, “You’re really my ancestor.”

Chen Jiazhi just laughed, laughed for a long time.

After lunch, they held hands and went for a walk.

Without sunshine, the lawn wasn’t crowded, and the flowers and grass didn’t look as green, rather gloomy.

Standing under the tree smelling magnolia flowers, Chen Jiazhi turned back and asked, “Aren’t you taking a nap today? Won’t you be tired?”

“Not tired.” Shen Shixu stood beside him, “Do you remember the flowers we planted together?”

“Of course I do.” Chen Jiazhi said, “How are they growing now, have they bloomed?”

Shen Shixu took out his phone to show him a photo, “Sent by Property Management, growing well leaning against the camellias, we’ll go see them when we have time.”

In the phone picture, white Hibiscus flowers grew from the side of the stems and leaves, some leaning against the camellias to stand firm. Chen Jiazhi looked closely for a while, then said dejectedly, “But the meaning of this flower isn’t very good…”

“Stop overthinking, can the City Flower have a bad meaning?” Shen Shixu put his arm around his shoulder, slowly walking forward, taking the opportunity to feel his hand to see if it was cold, explaining, “Hibiscus symbolizes reunion, understand? Silly.”

“Ah?? I thought…” Chen Jiazhi felt a bit aggrieved, “Scared me.”

After saying that, he suddenly remembered something, his eyes lit up and he asked, “Is that why you stole it?”

“…”

“Aren’t scholars supposed to take?”

“Yes, yes, whatever you say.”

“City Flower, stop overthinking every day, okay?”

“Got it!” Chen Jiazhi laughed, “You know so much.”

“Just bluffing you.”

Actually, not always, sometimes can’t bluff.

Quite tough.

“What else, what are the meanings of other flowers, you can only tell me the good ones, I won’t listen to the bad ones.” Looking at the magnolias blooming on both sides, in the fragrance brushing his face, Chen Jiazhi asked, “For example, what’s the meaning of Magnolia flower?”

Shen Shixu succinctly said, “It’s you.”

“What the heck, are you complimenting my fairness?”

Just after complaining, there was a sudden loud bang behind them, and both turned back simultaneously.

They saw an uncle carrying a bucket fall at the end of the lawn corridor, Chen Jiazhi looked anxiously at Shen Shixu, seeming to seek permission.

Not knowing why he suddenly became so obedient, Shen Shixu patted his head, “Go ahead, run slowly.”

During lunch break, there weren’t many people around here, Chen Jiazhi jogged over, helping the skinny uncle to a corridor chair, “Uncle, are you okay?”

The uncle’s skin was dark, wearing a thin tank top, his lips cracked and pale, waving his rough, calloused hand, unable to speak for a while.

The bucket had fallen, and the ground was scattered with daily necessities, some dirty thin quilts, a crumpled white plastic bag containing toothbrushes, towels, soap, bagged shampoo, and a few pairs of wooden chopsticks and enamel bowls.

Something had shattered, hard to see, but a black liquid quickly spread.

The uncle seemed to want to pick them up, moved a bit, and leaned against the stone pillar, panting.

After stabilizing the uncle, Chen Jiazhi immediately went to pick up the items.

Shen Shixu checked the uncle, finding he just had low blood sugar, he straightened up, “Lucas, go buy a drink, run slowly.”

Nearby was a vending machine selling drinks, with some snacks inside. Chen Jiazhi placed the picked-up items on the chair, took Shen Shixu’s phone from his coat, jogged to the vending machine, found there was chocolate inside, bought a few bags, and returned to unwrap them for the uncle.

After eating a few bites, the uncle finally caught his breath, weakly saying, “Thank you both.”

“You’re welcome, uncle.” Chen Jiazhi said and was about to pick up more, Shen Shixu pulled him back, “Go take care.” Chen Jiazhi went to twist the drink, asking the uncle if he was hurt from the fall.

After folding the quilt and placing it in the fallen plastic bucket, the shattered soy sauce bottle could only be discarded, wet noodles were pulled out and thrown away, then Shen Shixu repacked these daily necessities into the plastic bag, neatly stacked on the quilt in the bucket.

Finally, he moved the bucket to the stone pillar out of the way, returned, stood in front of the uncle, and asked, “Uncle, are you here for treatment or visiting a patient?”

The uncle spoke intermittently for a while.

It turned out, the day before yesterday he was still working odd jobs at a construction site in another province, received a call from the school saying his son had fainted, bought a train ticket overnight and rushed over, only knowing his son was in orthopedics.

“His mom said something about osteosarcoma, we don’t understand these…” Putting the unfinished chocolate into his somewhat dirty coat, the uncle leaned against the stone pillar and stood up, “Thank you, doctor, and thank you, young man.” He took out a plastic bag wrapped with thick five and ten yuan bills from his pants, “How much was all this, I’ll pay you…”

“No need, uncle.” Chen Jiazhi pulled Shen Shixu back a step, “You should go see your son, uncle, we don’t want it.”

Handing the plastic bucket to the uncle, Shen Shixu said, “It’s on the 25th floor.”

“Thank you both.” The uncle smiled awkwardly, then said intermittently, “Thank you both…” Then, he walked away, not very steadily, carrying the bucket.

It was almost two o’clock, time to go to work.

They slowly returned to the 31st floor, passing through the first-floor lobby, they went to the restroom to wash their hands.

Shaking off the water droplets on his hands, Chen Jiazhi asked, “What’s osteosarcoma, is it treatable?”

Not very treatable, basically bankrupting the family, and then the person is gone.

Not telling the truth, Shen Shixu explained, “It depends on the pathology, it’s not impossible to cure.”

Basically impossible.

“Oh, that’s good, hope they all get better.”

Waiting at the elevator, they hadn’t waited two minutes when they saw patients being wheeled out on hospital beds, or smelled strong smoke from the stairwell.

People hurried by, looking worn out.

During this time, Chen Jiazhi didn’t speak again, Shen Shixu regretted taking him down, the hospital was the place to see the world’s various states.

Until returning to the ward, Chen Jiazhi sat on the bed and said softly, “I saw ads for selling blood and other things on the wall in the first-floor restroom.” He said blankly, “There were also ads for women selling eggs.”

The Municipal Hospital’s cleaning staff cleared these daily, but couldn’t keep up with the speed of illegal criminals posting ads.

Moreover, many people, at the end of their rope, would call these numbers.

“Those actions are illegal, the hospital is cracking down, the police are investigating the sources, just pretend you didn’t see them.” Shen Shixu touched his face, squatting in front of him, “Don’t worry, the country has medical insurance policies, like that child with osteosarcoma, schools usually donate, if worse comes to worst, the department will donate.”

“Have you donated?”

“Never.” Shen Shixu said, “I’m a cold-blooded animal.”

Not retorting, Chen Jiazhi hugged his neck, pressing his face against his shoulder, “You’re really good, you seem cold on the outside, but you’re super kind inside, I saw you help the uncle pack his things into the bucket, even carefully picking out the wet noodles, I saw it all.”

“I want to donate too, if I see it, I’ll donate!” He slowly said, “Grandmother gave me a lot of money, and stocks and funds, I have money too.”

Shen Shixu laughed, “You can donate, but don’t donate blindly, learn to protect yourself, don’t cause trouble.”

“Not everyone in the hospital is like that uncle, understand?”

“Got it, go to work.” Chen Jiazhi said, “I want to come see you this afternoon, promise not to refuse.” His face felt a bit hot, he touched it and said, “I’ve never seen you at work.”

“Silly.”

“You call me silly, I’ll still come.”

After saying that, he cutely kissed Shen Shixu’s jaw.

“Come, might not have time to pay attention to you, don’t disturb other patients’ consultations.” Shen Shixu stood up, tidied his clothes, “Don’t be reckless, watch where you walk.”

“Okay.”

They lingered for a while, Shen Shixu went to work, and a now cheerful Chen Jiazhi read for a while, then sneaked to the 21st floor of the outpatient building’s Gastroenterology department around four in the afternoon.

During this time, some fans recognized him, he signed a few autographs before sneakily approaching consultation room 2.

The corridor was crowded, the consultation room was surrounded by many people, through the crowd, Shen Shixu’s figure could be vaguely seen.

Unable to see the real person, Chen Jiazhi could only look at the doctor’s nameplate at the consultation room door.

A half-body photo in a White Coat, handsome person, handsome face.

Secretly took several photos, zooming in and out on the images, thought for a moment, and posted a moment on social media, captioned with an emoji.

Two fingers raised in a peace sign.

Immediately, there were comments.

Hao Xi: Yo yo yo

Xu Minghe followed with: Check it out~

Then the two started bickering in the comments section. Xu Zhouye, who worked as a security guard and seemed quite idle, quickly commented, “Looks pretty decent in the photo.”

Feeling a bit petty, Chen Jiazhi replied with a “bomb” emoji.

“Young man, could you move a bit?” An elderly lady next to him leaned over, smiling warmly. “I can’t see anything.”

“Uh…” Chen Jiazhi locked his phone and stepped aside, but the consultation room was crowded, and he couldn’t see anything. He ended up awkwardly staring at the lady.

Feeling the awkwardness, he greeted, “Hello, Auntie.”

The lady, still focused on the consultation room, replied, “Hello, hello.”

Noticing her rosy complexion and cheerful demeanor, and seeing that she didn’t have a registration slip, Chen Jiazhi asked, “Auntie, are you here for a check-up?”

The lady, still peering inside, finally opened up when she heard his question.

“No, I’m just here to have a look.”

Could she be a relative? Or just here to satisfy her curiosity like him?

As they spoke, a patient exited the consultation room. Chen Jiazhi saw Shen Shixu glance his way. He playfully winked, but soon another patient was called in, blocking his view again.

The lady made way for passersby and whispered, “Young man, I’m actually here to get Dr. Shen’s contact information for my daughter. He’s handsome, well-educated, the perfect son-in-law!”

What??

Why does this keep happening lately?!

“Auntie…” Chen Jiazhi turned to her with a hint of grievance, “He likes men. He likes me.”

The lady’s eyes widened in shock, and she stammered for a while.

Although C City is quite accepting, this was too dramatic. In a few seconds, the lady awkwardly muttered an apology and quickly walked away.

Just as she left, the second consultation room paused its call. Chen Jiazhi was about to leave when he heard Shen Shixu’s voice behind him, “Come in.”

He stopped in his tracks and heard another voice say, “Please wait for two minutes.”

Turning around, Chen Jiazhi saw Shen Shixu standing tall at the door, looking incredibly handsome!

He knew he was being called. Even though he was also a patient and had the right to enter without an appointment, Shen Shixu had actually paused the consultation for two minutes just for him!!

Inner monologue: I’m a patient too; delaying for two minutes isn’t too much, right?

Before any guilt could settle in, he squeezed past Shen Shixu and entered. Shen Shixu closed the door, but he still wasn’t pleased.

However, he was soon embraced, and Shen Shixu sat him down on a chair, patting his backside with a serious face, “I heard what you said earlier.”

“Let me go!” Chen Jiazhi struggled, “This is a consultation room; it’s not appropriate if someone sees!”

“You know it’s a consultation room, yet you talk nonsense?” Shen Shixu patted him again, “Why are you so bold now, telling everyone you like me?”

Thinking about it made him slightly annoyed!

Chen Jiazhi struggled more, and Shen Shixu didn’t dare hold him too tightly, afraid of disturbing the tube in his right hand.

So Chen Jiazhi stood up, leaning against the diagnostic table and stepping back a few paces, “You’re annoying!”

“Why can’t I say it!”

“I’ll say it if I want to!”

“Don’t you want others to know about us?” He was genuinely upset, using the Soufflé incident as an excuse to vent, “Why can’t I talk about it!”

“If I didn’t want others to know, would I walk around the hospital holding your hand every day?” Shen Shixu’s face turned a bit cold, “Who doesn’t know there’s a Jia Bao in Ward 5 on the 31st Floor? I just wanted to chat with you for two minutes, and you’re making a fuss.”

With that, Chen Jiazhi lost his temper but couldn’t back down, turning his head slightly and saying with less confidence, “I wasn’t making a fuss…”

“Come here, quickly.”

Reluctantly, Chen Jiazhi walked over, standing properly, “Don’t touch me; this is a consultation room, a place for medical consultations.”

Seeing his need for a way out, Shen Shixu chuckled, stood up, and adjusted the little ponytail Chen Jiazhi had tied up, “Just checking if you’ve been sneaking snacks.”

“Then you might as well cut me open.”

“You little-” Shen Shixu pinched his neck playfully, pulling him closer, speaking rapidly, “Why are you being unreasonable? If someone asks for my contact info, do you think I’d give it? Can you trust me a bit more?”

“Got it!” The step was well-offered, and the words were pleasant to hear. Chen Jiazhi leaned in and gave him a peck, “I haven’t eaten anything, just been thinking about you.”

Even though he initiated the kiss, he felt embarrassed, wiping his lips with the back of his hand as if there were nonexistent saliva, whispering, “I’m heading back. You’re not allowed to give anyone your contact info!”

Feeling his blood pressure rise, Shen Shixu pulled him back, warning softly, “I’ll deal with you after work.”

In less than two minutes, the second consultation room opened its doors.

Under the watchful eyes of many, the exceptionally good-looking patient kept glancing back, and Dr. Shen watched him leave until the next patient handed over their consultation card, and he resumed his work.

Feeling elated, Chen Jiazhi walked down the hallway, waiting for the elevator to return to the ward, and happened to see Mingyang coming out of the elevator.

However, Mingyang didn’t notice him, walking briskly with some beautifully wrapped gift boxes in hand.

Chen Jiazhi didn’t really want to greet him, but they were about to cross paths, so he called out, “Mingyang!”

Mingyang looked up just in time, pausing with the gift boxes, and smiled, “Brother Jiazhi, what a coincidence.”

“Yeah, what brings you to the 21st floor?”

The 21st floor of the outpatient building only housed Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Surgery.

“Ah… I came to deliver something to brother Shixu.”

Feeling a bit uncomfortable again, Chen Jiazhi wondered why Mingyang was always looking for Shen Shixu.

Forcing a smile, he asked why he was delivering something.

“It’s still about the special care ward incident.” As they reached the window sill, Mingyang kept holding the gift boxes, not placing them down, explaining solemnly, “Grandma had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage that night, and there were no special care wards available. So, I asked brother Shixu for help. I wanted to treat him to a meal, but I was afraid he was too busy, so I specially bought these gifts for him.”

Looking at the gift boxes, which even contained chocolates, Chen Jiazhi, though not familiar with hospital protocols, understood Mingyang’s implication. He trusted Shen Shixu’s integrity and was surprised, asking, “Did he really help?”

“Yes, he called the Deputy Dean.”

What he thought was a simple favor turned out to be an overstepping of boundaries.

“Oh… well, go ahead then.” Chen Jiazhi knew Shen Shixu wouldn’t accept the gifts, but he felt uneasy!

Why chocolates?

After some thought, he felt he was overthinking, watching Mingyang head towards the second consultation room.

This time, he didn’t leave, standing at a distance in the hallway, watching Mingyang’s back.

As expected, he didn’t even get into the consultation room, returning with the gifts untouched.

Feeling the awkwardness, Chen Jiazhi couldn’t help but advise, “It’s okay. He already broke the rules by helping, and he feels bad about it. If you give him gifts, he definitely won’t accept them.”

Mingyang didn’t smile, gently asking, “Brother Jiazhi, then what should I give him?”

That strange feeling grew stronger, and Chen Jiazhi frowned, “Why do you keep wanting to give him things? You’ve already thanked him.”

“Seems like it, Brother Jiazhi. You see, I’ve become obsessed.” Mingyang paused for a few seconds, then smiled, “Next time Auntie asks me to do these things, I definitely won’t.”

So it was at the behest of an elder, which made him feel slightly better, but only slightly.

“It’s alright.” After some thought, Chen Jiazhi said, “Mingyang, we’re friends, right? We can talk about anything?”

“Of course, Brother Jiazhi, you don’t have to be formal with me.”

They entered the elevator to go downstairs.

The elevator was crowded, so Chen Jiazhi didn’t speak. Once they reached the less crowded area of the lawn downstairs, he said, “Just a suggestion for you guys… don’t ask him to do these things anymore.”

“He never likes doing these things. His family has connections, I know, and he’s very capable himself. Those are facts.”

“But back in school, there were many opportunities to use privileges in our international department, and he never did. He never used his family background to bully others.”

“Most of the time, he’s very humble.”

“So, don’t ask him to do these things anymore. He won’t say it, but he definitely feels bad about it.”

“So, every time your Auntie sends something, it just reminds him of the rule-breaking he did.”

“It makes him sad too.”

Others might only express gratitude, but only someone who loves you would care about your feelings.

These words were quite blunt, and after he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.

After a while, Mingyang nodded, “Thank you, Brother Jiazhi. If it weren’t for your reminder, I wouldn’t have realized these things.” He sighed softly, “You really understand brother Shixu, that’s great.”

“He understands me just like I understand him.” Having said it, Chen Jiazhi smiled, “No, he probably understands me even better.”

“Brother Jiazhi, brother Shixu is so outstanding.” Mingyang switched the gift boxes to his other hand, pretending to ask casually, “Are you afraid brother Shixu will leave you?”

“I’m not afraid. He won’t leave me, no matter how much I act up.” Talking about this made Chen Jiazhi laugh, “He can’t do anything about me, at most he’ll just scold me a bit.”

“Does brother Shixu scold people?”

“Of course, he calls me a fool every day, and he used to call me stupid.”

“You two are really great.” Mingyang paused for a moment, then asked like a friend, “Brother Jiazhi, are you worried about your illness?”

This time, Chen Jiazhi couldn’t laugh, staring blankly at the distant skyscrapers, “A little, I’m afraid it can’t be cured. I don’t want to die.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Jiazhi, brother Shixu is amazing. He’ll definitely cure you.” After comforting him, Mingyang added with a bitter smile, “Some diseases are simply incurable.”

In disbelief, Chen Jiazhi slowly turned his head, “What did you say?”

Before Mingyang could answer, there was a commotion in the outpatient hall.

Mingyang seemed not to hear his question, standing on tiptoe to look at the commotion, “Brother Jiazhi, why is someone kneeling in the outpatient hall?” Saying this, he started walking towards the outpatient area.

“Mingyang, stop right there!” Chen Jiazhi called out, “Explain what you just said.”

Mingyang turned around, looking puzzled, “What’s wrong, Brother Jiazhi?”

Repeatedly speaking in riddles, if he couldn’t catch on, he’d truly be a fool.

“Don’t move until I say so.” With that, Chen Jiazhi walked up to Mingyang, his gray-blue eyes devoid of emotion, raising his chin to scrutinize Mingyang for a few seconds, speaking slowly and confidently, “Word games, only my mother can beat me.”

“I advise you, don’t try to show off.”

Footnote:

1. Grandpa Yuan(袁爷爷):Yuan Longping, often affectionately called “Grandpa Yuan,” was a Chinese agronomist known for developing the first high-yield hybrid rice varieties, which significantly improved food security in China and around the world.