Before heading home, Zhang Yuze stopped by the market. He picked up a bag of pork hearts that the butcher shop owner hadn’t managed to sell and left, hugging a bag of bloodied meat.
He needed to practice.
Even though diaphragm muscle suturing was a skill he’d mastered in school, the complexity of the upcoming surgery weighed heavily on his mind. Repetition and precision were the only ways he could alleviate the mountain of anxiety that was on his head.
When he arrived home, he found Shen Mo sitting cross-legged on the sofa, phone pressed to his ear. It seemed Shen Mo hadn’t gone out that day.
“I got turned down again.” Shen Mo said to the person he was talking to, his tone dripping with frustration. “That private hospital outright rejected me. My reputation’s so trashed from what happened at the Rocket Military Hospital, no one’s willing to hire me.”
Ignoring the conversation, Zhang Yuze slipped off his shoes and set the pork hearts down in the kitchen. He then washed his hands and planned to change into comfortable clothes. As he opened the bedroom door, a large plush rabbit greeted him from the bed. For a moment, he stared at it in surprise. He remembered that toy… It was a prize that Little Bottom, that stupid novel’s original protagonist, had won years ago at a festival… And something he himself had given Xu Li on a whim. He’d assumed Xu Li had long since lost it, but apparently, he’d kept it all this time.
As for Xu Li, he was crouching near the closet, busy tidying up and transferring his clothes into Zhang Yuze’s wardrobe. Hearing the door open, he glanced up with a grin. “I went back home today and brought over a bunch of my stuff.”
“You ran into Little Rainbow again?”
“I did.” Xu Li replied with a heavy sigh, not sounding very pleased about it at all.
“What did he say?”
Xu Li hesitated, then shrugged. “I originally planned to tell him to move out as soon as his mother recovers. But when I saw them looking so pitiful, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.”
“You’re too soft.” Zhang Yuze said, pulling off his trousers. They no longer hid from each other when changing clothes. In fact, there was a comfortable familiarity now, with both of them acting like an old married couple.
“I know.” Xu Li admitted with a pout. “But his mother cried. I can’t handle seeing old women cry. It felt like if I pushed too hard, I’d drive them into a corner. I figured, what’s the harm in letting them stay a little longer? It’s not like I’m using the place right now.”
“There’s no saving you.” Dr. Zhang said, shaking his head as he changed into his pajamas.
“Oh, don’t start.” Xu Li retorted. “You didn’t kick Shen Mo out either. We’re both spineless.”
“Alas!”
“Alas!”
They sighed in unison, exchanging defeated glances.
Dressed in his pajamas, Zhang Yuze sat cross-legged on the bed. He glanced at the wardrobe, now filled with Xu Li’s colorful and stylish clothes taking up half of his space. Strangely, he didn’t feel annoyed by the lack of privacy. If anything, the presence of Xu Li’s things made the room feel more like home. In a good mood, he picked up the plush rabbit from the bed, holding it loosely in his arms. “Why’d you bring this thing back?” He asked.
Xu Li turned around, flashing him a playful smile. “Of course, I brought it back. It’s the first gift you ever gave me. How could I not keep it?”
Suppressing a sort of weird warmth creeping into his chest, Dr. Zhang rolled his eyes. “You’re way too sentimental.”
Xu Li shut the wardrobe door, walking over with a grin that could charm anyone. “I’m sentimental and sexy. Aren’t I the perfect boyfriend?”
“Stop flattering yourself.” Dr. Zhang muttered, his tone light but tired. Still, the tension in his chest wouldn’t fully dissipate. Whenever he sat still, his mind wandered back to the impending surgery, rehearsing every possible scenario.
Xu Li noticed immediately. “Boyfriend, do you know you were tossing and turning all night? You barely slept.”
“You’re a creep for watching me sleep.” Dr. Zhang replied weakly. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind lately.”
“The surgery for that little patient?” Xu Li guessed, leaning over to pat his shoulder. However, his expression turned to tease as he pointed at Dr. Zhang’s pillow. “Boyfriend, I hate to break it to you, but your hair loss has been pretty bad lately. Keep this up, and you’ll end up with our dean’s hairstyle.”
Dr. Zhang’s mouth twitched. “Less hair means patients trust you more. It’s fine.”
“As if!” Xu Li shook his head in disbelief. “You’re really overthinking this.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Dr. Zhang said, standing up abruptly. “I’m going to practice.”
Under Xu Li’s confused gaze, Zhang Yuze retrieved a scalpel and a suture practice kit that had been tucked away at home. He slipped on a pair of disinfectant gloves, carried his supplies to the dining table, spread out a sterilized cloth, and resolutely prepared to face the pork heart.
Xu Li nearly doubled over with laughter.
“Seriously, Dr. Zhang?” He chuckled. “How many years have you been working? You’re still practicing this?”
“Better safe than sorry.” Zhang Yuze replied without looking up, his focus entirely on the pig’s heart. “I need to keep busy. If I don’t, I’ll just overthink everything.”
Still grinning, Xu Li stood and grabbed a pair of gloves. Sliding them on, he moved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Zhang, mimicking the setup of an operating room.
“What are you doing?” Zhang Yuze asked as Xu Li joined him.
“Opening the chest cavity.” Xu Li said matter-of-factly. “You know, in reality, this is where a lot of blood would gush out.”
As if they were truly in surgery, Xu Li timed his assistance perfectly—handing over hemostatic gauze, then the forceps. Their hands moved seamlessly over the small pig’s heart, barely needing to communicate.
“Not bad, right?” Xu Li said with a slight smile. “Don’t forget, I’m still your surgical assistant.”
Back on the sofa, Shen Mo had just ended his phone call. Turning his head, he caught sight of the two of them working closely together, their expressions serious and synchronized. Sourness rose in his chest, and he sauntered over, his tone deliberately mocking.
“What are you two doing?” Shen Mo sneered. “So impressive…”
However, both men looked up simultaneously, their gazes carrying volumes of unspoken thoughts.
Xu Li smirked. “Shen Mo, I’m genuinely curious… How exactly did you manage to get your diploma back then?”
Shen Mo froze, at a rare loss for words. Back in school, he hadn’t focused much on self-improvement since his goal had always been to secure a stable job quickly and start making money. Content with being an ordinary nurse, he had avoided in-depth study, preferring the routine tasks of injections and medication changes. Now, faced with the clinical tools and precision work before him, he couldn’t find anything to say.
Meanwhile, Dr. Zhang remained focused on carefully opening the heart valve. This was a critical step in Ge Haoran’s upcoming surgery. A procedure that required the reopening of a previously sutured valve.
Xu Li held the hook, gently enlarging the incision to improve visibility. From his angle, he had a perfect view of Zhang Yuze’s sharp profile… Calm, focused, and strikingly handsome. His boyfriend’s skillful hands moved quickly yet deliberately, exuding a confidence that was mesmerizing.
Caught in the moment, Xu Li’s smile widened. Beautiful and capable—what more could a man ask for?
“What are you staring at? Is there something on my face?” Dr. Zhang asked, catching Xu Li’s gaze out of the corner of his eye.
“You just look good.” Xu Li replied without hesitation.
“There’s something wrong with you.” Dr. Zhang muttered though the faint smile tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement.
Xu Li kept watching Dr. Zhang’s hands as he worked. With medical skills that had already placed him among the best in his age group, there was little reason for the chief physician to feel insecure. But Xu Li understood the immense pressure he was under.
“You’re amazing, boyfriend.” Xu Li said softly. “Don’t stress yourself out too much.”
Dr. Zhang sighed, his focus unwavering. “Pass me the suture.” He then paused before adding: “The procedure itself isn’t the issue. It’s the post-return sutures I’m worried about. I’m not sure if I’ll have the stamina and hand speed to keep up.”
Xu Li’s teasing demeanor vanished as he grew serious. “How large is the suture area? How many stitches?”
“About a thousand.” Dr. Zhang answered, his voice tinged with despair.
“A thousand?!” Xu Li leaned forward, his eyes widening in disbelief. In most cardiac surgeries, even a few hundred stitches would be considered extreme.
Dr. Zhang nodded grimly. “We’re essentially reconstructing the heart. Ventricles, diaphragm, the works. A thousand stitches might not even be enough.”
“That’s six hours of just suturing…” Xu Li murmured, clearly concerned.
“Yes.” Dr. Zhang agreed. “I’ll get a two-hour break during the middle phase when Liu Hongbo operates, but the rest will rely entirely on physical endurance.”
“I’m starting to feel sorry for you.” Xu Li said, his tone earnest.
Dr. Zhang didn’t respond, instead focusing on the task at hand. With practiced ease, he began stitching the pig’s heart, using it as a stand-in for the complex procedure ahead.
True to form, Xu Li supported him perfectly, handing over needle holders, scissors, and gauze precisely when needed.
The technique Dr. Zhang practiced was a simple intermittent suture, commonly used for organ repair. However, the complexity of reshaping the heart required intense collaboration between surgeon and assistant to maintain tension and ensure precision.
Their movements were synchronized and honed from countless surgeries together. Without a word, Xu Li instinctively anticipated every adjustment Dr. Zhang made, his own hands moving in perfect response.
In the end, they were so absorbed in their work that neither noticed the knock at the door until Shen Mo got up to answer it. At the entrance stood Li Chenghong, who didn’t bother waiting for an invitation before pushing the door open.
“Hey, Second Bro, why haven’t you been replying to my messages?” He called out, walking inside. “I had a huge fight with my wife, so I’m crashing here for a while—”
He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze sweeping over the room. Spotting Shen Mo, Dr. Zhang’s ex, standing near the door, and Xu Li, his current boyfriend, working beside a table full of surgical equipment, Li Chenghong froze. The pig’s heart on the table and the scattered instruments only added to his confusion.
“Uh… your place is… lively.” He said awkwardly.
“Don’t start with that.” Dr. Zhang said, poking his head out briefly, his gloves and hands stained with blood. “Come in and sit down. I’ve been busy, so I haven’t checked my phone.”
Li Chenghong entered cautiously, taking a seat opposite the dining table.
“What’s with the pig heart? Are you doing overtime at home now?”
Dr. Zhang smirked and explained the details of Ge Haoran’s surgery while continuing his suturing.
“I’ve heard about that case.” Li Chenghong said. “It’s all over the medical circles. Even Liu Hongbo, who’s been retired for years, is coming back for this one. I can’t believe you’re taking it on. It’s not exactly an easy task.”
Dr. Zhang’s lips curved faintly. “What can I say? My family expects great things from me.”
While they spoke, Xu Li quietly continued the suturing, since he wasn’t familiar with Li Chenghong. When Dr. Zhang paused for a break, they switched roles seamlessly, with Xu Li taking over the primary work while Dr. Zhang assisted him.
Watching them, Li Chenghong couldn’t help but sigh. “If only I had that kind of understanding with my surgical assistants. But the turnover rate at my hospital is so high, there’s no time to build that kind of rapport.”
“It’s not about time.” Dr. Zhang said with a small smile. “It’s about talent.”
Xu Li smirked but stayed silent, his hands moving deftly over the pig’s heart.
As he observed Xu Li’s work, Li Chenghong’s initial surprise turned into genuine admiration. “Wow,” he finally said. “With skills like yours, how come you’re still an assistant and not yet a surgeon yourself?”
