It was two o’clock sharp and the scheduled time for the surgery had arrived.
In the operating room, Zhang Yuze stood by the operating table, his hands raised after scrubbing them, dressed in sterile surgical clothes. Everything had been prepped: the patient, undergoing a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass, was already under general anesthesia. The vital signs were stable.
The only problem? His surgical assistant was missing.
Xiao Jie, stationed as the fourth assistant, was busy organizing the equipment trays. He glanced up when Dr. Zhang addressed him.
“Where’s Li Chao?”
“I don’t know.” Xiao Jie answered honestly, his wide eyes peeking over his mask. “I went to remind him right before I came in. He told me to go ahead and said he’d be here soon.”
“Late to surgery?” Dr. Zhang repeated in disbelief. Such behavior was unthinkable to him. When Xu Li was his assistant, he’d always arrived half an hour early to prepare meticulously, often double-checking every detail to ensure everything went smoothly.
“Ring the call bell.” Dr. Zhang instructed, irritation creeping into his voice. “Get someone to find him. The patient’s already under anesthesia. This isn’t the time to be fooling around.”
Xiao Jie nodded and quickly pressed the call button, relaying the situation to the staff outside the operating room.
Five more minutes passed before Li Chao finally showed up, hurrying in with an air of nonchalance. He disinfected his hands, changed into surgical attire, and took his place beside Dr. Zhang as if nothing was wrong.
“Sorry!” Li Chao said, his tone casual. “I was caught up with something. It completely slipped my mind that we had this minor surgery scheduled. Let’s begin.”
Dr. Zhang’s gaze turned icy. “Even a minor surgery is still performed under general anesthesia,” he said sharply. “I don’t want a patient waiting under sedation because of you.”
Li Chao’s expression faltered, but he masked his discomfort with a tight-lipped smile, not responding further.
As for Dr. Zhang, he decided not to waste time arguing and turned his focus to the patient. And so, the procedure began.
The surgery itself wasn’t particularly complex. The patient’s condition was favorable, and everything proceeded smoothly on a technical level.
However, working with Li Chao quickly proved to be a challenge.
Unlike Xu Li’s seamless and intuitive style of assisting, Li Chao lacked the experience and situational awareness needed in the operating room. Every request for tools, adjustments, or assistance had to be explicitly communicated by Dr. Zhang.
“Clamp.” Dr. Zhang said.
There was a pause. Li Chao hesitated before reaching for the correct instrument.
“Retractor.” Dr. Zhang said, his tone more sharp this time.
Li Chao fumbled briefly before passing the tool over.
“…”
Dr. Zhang exhaled silently, keeping his focus on the task at hand. Still, the flow of the surgery felt muddy, disrupted by Li Chao’s lack of foresight. Dr. Zhang had to break his rhythm repeatedly to guide him.
By the end of the procedure, the patient was stabilized, and the operation could be considered a success. Yet, for Dr. Zhang, the frustration of constantly compensating for his assistant’s inadequacies lingered like an unspoken tension in the room.
As he removed his gloves and stepped away from the table, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the effortless teamwork he’d once shared with Xu Li.
Everything about Li Chao left much to be desired, especially his surgical habits. His movements were large and unnecessary, and the light he was using swung frequently, disrupting the flow of the operation. At one point, he nearly slapped Dr. Zhang’s hand, which was completely unacceptable.
Poor Dr. Zhang’s patience wore thin. He could no longer overlook these glaring issues. Didn’t his mentor correct these problems back in medical school?! He thought irritably.
Then again, it wasn’t hard to guess why Li Chao had never been held accountable for his mistakes. With his father’s influence as the dean, he must have skated through his training without facing real scrutiny. The Empress Dowager’s assessment was proving accurate. Li Chao lacked not only skill but also the respect and dedication the profession demanded.
By the time the operation was over and Dr. Zhang left the operating room, he felt a headache brewing. Thinking about performing Ge Haoran’s highly complex surgery with someone as unreliable as Li Chao made his stomach churn.
I’ve never wished for Xu Li’s return more than I do right now, he thought bitterly. Xu Li might be a fool in other respects, but his technical abilities were impeccable.
…………
Later, as the end of his shift approached, Xu Li arrived at the hospital, perfectly timing his visit to pick up his boyfriend.
“Where’s Dr. Zhang?” Xu Li asked, glancing around.
“He’s still in the outpatient clinic.” Zhao Xiaole replied, pointing in the right direction.
Unbothered, Xu Li perched himself at the nurse’s station to wait.
A short while later, a man Xu Li hadn’t met before came striding toward the desk. His expression was impatient, and his movements brisk. Without so much as a greeting, he slapped a few papers onto the desk in front of Zhao Xiaole.
“Here! Take these to the office!” The man ordered curtly, his tone as dismissive as if he were addressing a stray cat.
Xu Li’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze fell to the ID badge on the man’s chest: Li Chao. Ah, the infamous new assistant, he thought. And what’s this? Acting like a big shot already?
Li Chao glanced at Xu Li briefly, likely recognizing him from the department bulletin board. He must have figured out that Xu Li was the previous surgical assistant, now sidelined due to his injury. But he didn’t care since Xu Li wasn’t someone he needed to worry about. Without acknowledging him, Li Chao turned back to Zhao Xiaole.
Timidly, Zhao Xiaole picked up the forms and murmured: “Mr. Li Chao, I’m a little busy right now. Could it wait just a bit longer?”
Li Chao barely concealed his irritation. “Make it quick,” he snapped. “Just don’t forget to hand it in before the next surgery.”
“Okay.” She replied softly, her head lowered.
Xu Li, who had been leaning lazily against the nurse’s desk, found the entire scene increasingly unpleasant. Sure, Zhao Xiaole was young, but she was a full-time staff member and didn’t deserve to be treated like an errand girl.
Reaching out, Xu Li grabbed the documents from her hand and threw them back onto the desk, his lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.”Hey!” Xu Li said evenly, though his tone carried an edge. “The office is on the top floor, right? Why don’t you take these up yourself? She’s obviously busy.”
Li Chao froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden challenge. Recovering quickly, he sneered. “She’s a nurse. Running errands like this is part of her job. What’s it to you? Do you like her? If you’re so concerned about her, why don’t you take them?”
Xu Li’s smile disappeared. “Buddy, let me clarify something. A nurse’s job is to care for patients, not to run errands for you. If you have tasks that need to be done, handle them yourself. Don’t dump them on others.”
Li Chao waved a hand dismissively. “It’s a simple task. Nothing worth getting worked up over. Anyway, I’ve got more important things to do.” He then pushed the documents further towards the little nurse and walked away, without waiting for Xu Li’s response.
Xu Li watched him leave, his expression dark. So that’s the guy Dr. Zhang has to work with now?! What a joke!
Xu Li watched Li Chao’s retreating figure, his lips curling into a sneer. “The only word that comes to mind for that guy is pathetic,” he said, shaking his head.
Beside him, Zhao Xiaole sighed, holding the discarded documents in her hands. “Forget it, Assistant Xu,” she said softly. “Thanks for standing up for me, but I’ll take care of it later.”
Xu Li’s sneer deepened. He raised a hand and waved dismissively. “Don’t bother. There’s no point in tolerating someone like him. If anyone asks about those documents, tell them I was the one who threw them away. That’s it.”
Despite his words, Zhao Xiaole hesitated and kept the papers in her hand.
A short while later, the outpatient clinic doors opened, and Zhang Yuze emerged. His gaze swept across the room and immediately landed on the documents bearing Li Chao’s name in Zhao Xiaole’s hands. Soon enough, his brows furrowed.
“Aren’t those the surgery receipts? Why haven’t they been submitted yet?” He asked.
“Mr. Li Chao asked me to hand them in for him…” She explained, her voice timid.
Dr. Zhang didn’t hesitate. Annoyance flashed across his face as he snatched the papers from her hands and, without a second thought, tossed them into the trash can.
“You don’t need to deal with this.” He said firmly. “If anyone asks, tell them I was the one who threw them away. That’s all there is to it.”
Hearing his words, Xu Li, leaning casually against the nurse’s desk, couldn’t help but laugh. Watching his boyfriend handle things with the same flair he had just moments ago made him grin. “Look at you!” Xu Li teased. “Acting just like me now.”
Zhao Xiaole stood frozen, staring at the discarded papers in the trash. After a beat, she gave both men a thumbs-up. “You two really are a perfect match!” She said, her tone caught somewhere between awe and amusement.
With their support bolstering her courage, she straightened her posture. “Assistant Xu, when will your arm heal? Dr. Zhang, Xiao Jie, and I all miss you. Come back soon!”
Dr. Zhang scoffed lightly, looking away. “Don’t exaggerate. You and Xiao Jie just don’t want to deal with Li Chao.”
Xu Li smirked knowingly but chose not to call out the obvious truth. After all, his hard-headed boyfriend was still so predictable.
“I’m almost healed.” Xu Li replied, rolling his injured arm experimentally. “Still a little shaky when I try to hold things, so I’ll need some more time. I’ve got half a month of leave left, so I’m going to take it slow.”
Just then, Li Chao strolled toward the nurse’s station, his backpack slung over one shoulder. He stopped in his tracks when his eyes fell on the trash can, stopping right on the documents he had tasked Zhao Xiaole with delivering.
“What’s going on here?!” Li Chao snapped, his voice sharp and accusatory as he turned on her. “Why hasn’t this been submitted?!”
The sudden outburst made Zhao Xiaole shrink back instinctively.
“What are you yelling about?” Xu Li’s voice cut through the tension. He stood up straight, his gaze cold and unwavering as it fixed on Li Chao. “Who taught you to speak to girls like that?”
Caught off guard by the confrontation, Li Chao’s eyes flicked to Zhang Yuze, hoping for support. But Dr. Zhang’s expression was even colder. This time, there was no intention to spare Li Chao’s feelings. “Li Chao,” he said evenly, his voice laced with quiet authority. “I need to talk to you.”
Li Chao hesitated but stepped closer, his curiosity piqued. “What is it?”
“I’ve tolerated a lot,” Dr. Zhang began, his tone firm but calm. “But let me be very clear: when you’re assisting me in surgery, I expect you to arrive early to prepare everything. Ensure that the equipment is in working order and ready to go. You don’t need to outperform Xu Li, but you do need to meet the minimum standard of professionalism.”
Dr. Zhang’s piercing gaze locked on Li Chao as he continued: “I’m the head surgeon. Do I really need to explain why this is a reasonable expectation?”
Xu Li, standing nearby with his arms crossed, couldn’t hide his grin. Seeing his boyfriend assert himself like that was deeply satisfying.
Li Chao, however, was less pleased. His shoulders stiffened, and his expression soured. “Understood.” He said quickly, though his tone betrayed his frustration.
Before the situation could escalate even further, the stairwell door creaked open, and Xiao Jie stumbled out, his face flushed and sweat dripping down his brow, while struggling to carry five or six large packages.
“Mr… Mr. Li Chao,” Xiao Jie whispered, out of breath. “Your deliveries arrived. Do you want me to put them in your office?”
Xu Li’s eyes narrowed. “What’s this now?!” He asked, turning to Zhao Xiaole. “Did you and Xiao Jie sign up to be errand runners while I was gone?! Why are you working so hard on tasks that have nothing to do with your jobs?!”
Dr. Zhang’s frown deepened. “Xiao Jie, drop the packages.” He instructed firmly. “You’re not doing any more of his personal errands. That’s not part of your responsibilities.”
Xiao Jie froze, unsure of how to react. From behind the nurse’s desk, Zhao Xiaole waved him over, whispering urgently: “Come on, just listen to them! Mom and Dad are here to protect us!”
Dr. Zhang turned back to Li Chao, his voice cutting through the tension like a scalpel. “Let me make this clear: Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie aren’t here to cater to you. They’re employees of this hospital, not your personal assistants. If you need something done, do it yourself. Their work is not to deliver your paperwork, make your coffee, or handle your packages. Understood?”
“That’s right.” Xu Li added, his tone icy. “I may be on leave because of a work injury, but that doesn’t mean you get to treat my children like servants in my absence.”
Both Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie were stunned into silence, overwhelmed by the firm support from their two seniors. It wasn’t every day that someone so openly challenged the son of the Rocket Military Hospital’s dean.
As for Li Chao, his face twisted with barely contained anger, but in the end, he gritted his teeth, picked up the discarded documents himself, and walked away without another word.
As his retreating figure disappeared down the hall, Xu Li smirked. “Well, well, well…” He said, leaning back against the counter. “It looks like life’s about to get a lot more interesting around here.”
Dr. Zhang sighed, pressing a hand to his temple. “Great. Even more headaches.”
…………
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie sang in unison, dramatically clasping their hands as if performing a theatrical homage.
“Thank you for existing, Dr. Zhang! Accompany us for the rest of our lives! Let us have the courage to raise our heads!”
Both of them were drawing far too much attention in the skewer bar near the station, their animated gestures and exaggerated delivery earning curious looks from neighboring tables.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yuze’s face had turned several shades darker. He stared at the duo with a mix of disbelief and exhaustion, thinking that if someone handed him a pistol, he wouldn’t hesitate to end their performance right then and there.
Across the table, Xu Li lounged comfortably, sipping juice with one hand and enjoying the absurd display like it was his favorite sitcom. His amused smirk only deepened when he saw the vein twitching on his boyfriend’s temple.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, Dr. Zhang opened his wallet and slapped some cash on the table. “I’ll pay the bill! Just shut up and let me enjoy what’s left of my sanity!”
Zhao Xiaole’s face lit up as she grabbed a skewer of barbecue. “Dr. Zhang, you were so cool today! Xiao Jie and I are your number-one fans now!”
“You say that like I should be flattered…” Zhang Yuze groaned, leaning back in his seat. “Thanks to you two, I’ve probably offended the crown prince of the Rocket Military Hospital. When I get home, my mom’s going to lecture me into oblivion.”
Xiao Jie, usually quiet and reserved, found the perfect moment to chime in: “But Dr. Zhang, if it weren’t for you today, that guy would’ve walked all over us! You saved us from being completely bullied by that jerk!”
Zhang Yuze blinked, momentarily caught off guard. It was always startling to hear such venomous words come out of Xiao Jie’s usually mild-mannered mouth.
Xu Li, on the other hand, found the whole situation wildly entertaining. “What’s got you so deep in thought, boyfriend?” He asked, leaning closer with a mischievous grin.
Dr. Zhang sighed heavily. “I was wondering if I should apply for a ‘Gold Medal Mediator’ award from the neighborhood committee. Ever since I met you, I’ve been dragged into everyone else’s problems. It’s exhausting.”
Xu Li laughed. “But isn’t that what makes life interesting? One day, you’re arguing with this person. Next, you’re brawling with that one. A little chaos here, a little drama there… It’s what makes life full.”
“Full of trouble, you mean.” Zhang Yuze muttered darkly, already bracing himself for the inevitable phone call from the Empress Dowager.
Xu Li picked up a skewer of grilled meat and shoved it into his boyfriend’s hand. “Oh, come on. Don’t be so boring. Your bland, straight-laced life ended the day you met me. Now, you’ve got barbecue, drinks, and a reason to indulge in life. You’re not a robot, Zhang Yuze. Live a little.”
He then raised his juice cup for a toast: “Here’s to being human!”
Dr. Zhang rolled his eyes but clinked his glass half-heartedly. “Fine. To being human.”
In the distance, Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie were devouring barbecue like a pair of small tornadoes, their mouths shiny with grease as they gestured wildly. They turned to invite Dr. Zhang to join in their antics, only for him to wave them off with a faint grimace.
This is new. He thought to himself while watching the scene. Once upon a time, the idea of spending time with his colleagues outside of work would have been unthinkable. He’d built his life around solitude and professionalism, carving out a pristine but ultimately lonely existence.
Now, everything felt different. And as much as he hated to admit it, Xu Li had been the catalyst for that change.
“You stupid dog!” He muttered under his breath, glaring at the man responsible for his newly chaotic life.
Without missing a beat, Xu Li pointed to the plate of grilled shrimp in front of him and said: “The dog wants grilled shrimp, boyfriend. Be a dear and peel one for me.”
Dr. Zhang gave him a long-suffering look, but in the end, he still picked up a shrimp and began peeling it.
“Open your mouth!” He said with anger, holding up the shrimp.
“Ahhh~” Xu Li opened wide, leaning forward to accept the offering.
It was at that precise moment that Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie looked up from their feast, catching the scene just as Xu Li happily devoured the shrimp.
Leaning his head against Dr. Zhang’s shoulder, Xu Li flashed them a smug, self-satisfied smile: “See that?” He said. “That’s what true love looks like.”
And for once, Dr. Zhang didn’t bother arguing with him.
Well… that’s satisfying… *nods like an old man*