When Zhang Yuze stepped out of the bar after dinner, a sudden call from Liu Hongbo stopped him in his tracks. The news was dire: little Ge Haoran’s condition had taken a severe turn. There was fluid buildup in his chest cavity and his situation had worsened, prompting him to briefly go into shock due to hypoxia. The surgery, originally scheduled for later, had to be brought forward by an entire week.
After sending Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie on their way, Xu Li caught up with his boyfriend by the roadside, only to be surprised by the sight. The prim and proper Dr. Zhang was now pacing in the snow, his hands gripping at his hair, and the ground beneath his feet stamped into a near-perfect circle by his incessant walking. There were countless snowflakes that clung to his coat, but he didn’t seem to notice.
Zhang Yuze’s anxiety was getting worse and worse.
Before trying to cooperate with Li Chao, he thought that the difficulties of the upcoming surgery only lay in his own lack of ability. However, he was now a little bit desperate. There was no way in hell he could complete an operation of that level by himself, working without an assistant and without a break for six hours straight.
Seeing him like that, Xu Li’s heart tightened at the sight. He approached quietly, a mixture of amusement and concern on his face. “What’s the matter?” He asked.
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the tense Dr. Zhang into his arms. Though hesitant at first, Zhang Yuze relented, lowering his forehead onto Xu Li’s shoulder. He closed his eyes, seeking a brief break from the mounting pressure.
“The surgery’s been brought forward.” He said, his voice subdued.
Xu Li let out a quiet hum of acknowledgment and steadied the weight leaning on him. “You’ll manage. You’re more than ready.”
“No, I’m not.” Zhang Yuze’s voice was uncharacteristically soft, laced with frustration. “Li Chao is not you. He doesn’t know how to handle the organ suturing. Those six hours… It’ll all fall on me. There won’t even be a second of relief.”
Xu Li smiled faintly. “So, you finally admit it, right? How useful I am. You really can’t do without me.”
Lifting his head, Zhang Yuze straightened up, tucking his hands into his pockets. He glanced at Xu Li, his usual defensiveness creeping back. “It’s fine. I’ll manage. He’s… Barely adequate.”
Xu Li let out a helpless sigh. “I swear, I’ll never understand why you’re so unwilling to just say, ‘I’m struggling,’ or even a simple ‘thank you.’ When will I ever hear those words from you?”
“I’m sorry.” Zhang Yuze said, the barest smirk tugging at his lips. “Probably never.”
“…”
Xu Li’s expression was one of pure exasperation.
…………
When they returned home, Zhang Yuze immediately washed his hands and changed into comfortable clothes. Then, without hesitation, he retrieved the leftover pig hearts from the refrigerator. Anxiety gnawed at him, and he sought solace in repetition, doing what he knew best: practicing his suturing over and over again.
Xu Li, though exhausted, slipped on gloves and stood beside him, ready to assist. This time, however, he stayed hands-off, allowing Zhang Yuze to complete the entire procedure on his own.
By the time Zhang Yuze had finished stitching one side of the ventricle, he glanced at the clock and frowned. The time it took was nearly double what it had been with Xu Li’s assistance.
“You’ll be faster than this during the actual surgery, don’t worry.” Xu Li remarked gently.
Zhang Yuze sighed heavily. “It could also be slower. If I can pull it through, I’ll consider it a miracle. With Li Chao as my assistant? It’s practically hopeless.”
Another round of practice passed, but Zhang Yuze still couldn’t shake the memory of Li Chao fumbling around like an idiot during that day’s surgery. His frustration bubbled over. “I swear, who hands out medical degrees to people like Li Chao and Shen Mo?! Do they even respect this profession?!”
Xu Li chuckled lightly, his voice tinged with empathy. “There are people in this world who see their jobs as just a means to make money. Not everyone feels the weight of responsibility like you do. Don’t let it get to you. Once I’m back, I’ll clean up the mess and make sure you’ll never be this annoyed again.”
That coaxed a small hum from Zhang Yuze, though his tension remained.
Changing the topic, Xu Li gestured at the pig heart on the table. “Are we having this for dinner again?”
“Yes. Otherwise, it’ll go to waste.” Zhang Yuze muttered, resigned.
Xu Li stared at the heart, his expression complicated. “Boyfriend…” He began, a hint of mischief creeping into his voice. “You do realize that pig hearts are supposed to be great for promoting blood circulation, right?”
Zhang Yuze’s brow furrowed. “What are you getting at?” He asked, feeling suspicious.
“Well…” Xu Li tilted his head innocently. “I’ve already eaten some today. Are you sure you want me to eat more tonight?”
They were both men, so Zhang Yuze obviously understood what he meant by talking about all that surplus “blood circulation”. Looking him up and down, Zhang Yuze shot him an unimpressed glare. “You’ll survive. Bear with it.”
Xu Li grinned. “I’m just saying, as a couple, don’t you think we should occasionally… Indulge in some activities that’ll ease all this tension?”
“I don’t mind cutting off your ‘indulgence’ entirely,” Dr. Zhang replied coolly.
That earned a sheepish laugh from Xu Li, who promptly slipped away. He really has that special ability, Zhang Yuze thought. No matter if they were living together or not, Xu Li knew exactly what buttons to press in order to drive him crazy.
…………
Later that night, Zhang Yuze thought his nerves had finally settled. Exhaustion pulled him into sleep, but when the alarm rang the next morning, he felt like he was made of lead. His muscles ached, his body was feverish, and his nose was completely blocked.
Xu Li turned off the alarm when it rang for the third time. Looking over at his flushed, sweat-covered boyfriend, he frowned. Bending down, he pressed his forehead to Zhang Yuze’s.
“You have a fever.” He said softly.
Zhang Yuze groaned. His voice was faint and congested while he struggled to whisper: “Looks like a cold…”
Xu Li wasted no time, fetching warm water and antipyretic medicine. By the time he returned, his boyfriend hadn’t even moved from where he lay. And so, Xu Li could only squat by the bed, gently patting Zhang Yuze’s shoulder. “Take these, and rest. We’ll go to the hospital later for a blood test. Just to rule out the flu.”
Zhang Yuze stirred weakly but couldn’t muster the energy to sit up. Xu Li sighed and carefully fed him both the pills and a couple of sips of water.
“Try to sleep.” Xu Li said, tucking the blanket more securely around him.
“Don’t forget to call in sick for me…” The serious Dr. Zhang mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ve got it covered.” Xu Li reassured him while gently massaging his boyfriend’s temple, his touch soothing. “Forget about work for now. Just rest, alright?”
Zhang Yuze didn’t respond, his breathing slowing as he drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Xu Li rose, preparing to step out of the room, but he was stopped by a faint call.
“Silly dog…”
Turning back, Xu Li smiled. “What now?”
“Stay.” Zhang Yuze murmured, still half-asleep. “I’ll feel anxious if you’re not here.”
Xu Li froze, his heart skipping at the unexpected vulnerability. This man… The one who was usually as distant and cold as a glacier was now asking for company. With a soft smile, Xu Li lay back down beside him. “Alright. I’ll stay. Call me if you need anything. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hm…” was all Zhang Yuze could manage to reply before succumbing to sleep.
…………
After sleeping until noon, Zhang Yuze finally felt like he had come back to life.
Xu Li, ever so considerate, had already prepared a meal of peeled eggs and lean meat porridge. After lunch, he even insisted on taking his boyfriend to the hospital for a blood test.
“It’s flu season.” Xu Li explained, packing up their things. “Better to be safe than sorry.”
Bundled up in a thick cotton hat, mask, and scarf, Zhang Yuze followed obediently behind him. He was already sensitive to the cold, and his current condition made stepping outside feel like braving an arctic expedition. If it weren’t for Xu Li holding his hand and guiding him forward, he might as well die in the snow, completely blind to the path ahead.
As a doctor, Zhang Yuze had certain privileges, including skipping the registration process. Xu Li led him straight to the inspection department, greeting the familiar staff inside with a friendly knock on the window.
“Hey, can you get me a needle and a tube? I’ll handle the blood draw for Dr. Zhang myself.” Xu Li said with a grin.
The technician on the other side looked surprised. “Dr. Zhang is sick? Should I call someone to assist?”
Xu Li waved off the offer. “No need. Did you forget what I do for a living? I’ve got this.”
With the materials in hand, Xu Li approached Zhang Yuze, who sat slouched in a chair, his skin’s pallor bearing witness to his exhaustion. Xu Li rolled up his sleeve with practiced ease. “Hold still. It won’t hurt.” He softly said.
Zhang Yuze watched as Xu Li disinfected the area and gently felt for a vein, his movements smooth and precise. If he wasn’t so out of it, he might have commented on how effortless Xu Li made it look. Compared to Li Chao’s clumsy fumbling, it was like comparing a master craftsman to an apprentice.
Xu Li tied the rubber strap, adjusted the needle, and smiled up at Zhang Yuze. “Bet you I’m faster and gentler than Shen Mo ever was.” He even had enough spirit to joke around.
“Why compare yourself with Shen Mo?” Dr. Zhang muttered, but before he could register the prick of the needle, Xu Li had already begun drawing his blood.
The process was seamless. No pain and no fumbling, making Zhang Yuze look down in mild amazement. “How’d you manage that? I couldn’t even feel it.”
Xu Li winked. “That’s the touch of a national champion.” He secured the cotton ball over the puncture site and pressed lightly before continuing: “Sit tight. I’ll send this off for testing. Once we have the results, we’ll grab your meds and head home.”
“Mm…” Zhang Yuze hummed, too tired to offer more than a brief acknowledgement.
As Xu Li disappeared with the sample, Zhang Yuze closed his eyes, hoping to rest. Unfortunately, his phone vibrated just as he was drifting off. Groaning, he fumbled to answer.
“Hello?”
“Dr. Zhang, it’s me, Li Chao.”
Zhang Yuze’s eyes snapped open. Of all people, Li Chao was the last person he expected to hear from. After yesterday’s fiasco, he couldn’t imagine why the man would call now.
“What is it?” Zhang Yuze asked, his tone edged with weariness.
“I’ve been reflecting on yesterday.” Li Chao began, his voice unusually gentle. “You were right. There are areas where I’ve fallen short as a surgical assistant, and I owe you and the team an apology. I’ve realized that my behavior with Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie was also inappropriate. I was used to a different dynamic at the Rocket Military Hospital, but that’s no excuse. I’ll do better moving forward.”
Zhang Yuze blinked, fearing he might already be imagining things. However, the unexpected apology indeed took the edge off his irritation. While he wasn’t feeling generous, he wasn’t the type to hold grudges unnecessarily.
“Fine.” He said curtly. “I trust you’ll keep your word. Is there anything else?”
“Yes, actually.” Li Chao continued. “Remember I mentioned my father wanted to invite our department for dinner? We’re thinking of doing that tonight. It’s short notice, I know, but my father’s schedule is tight. Your mother’s been invited too, along with the dean of your hospital. I think it’d be a great opportunity to connect outside of work. What do you say?”
Zhang Yuze hesitated since he wasn’t in any condition to socialize. All he wanted was to crawl back into bed and forget the world existed.
Sensing his reluctance, Li Chao added: “Your mother and my father worked together in the past. It’d mean a lot if you could join us.”
Well… That sealed it. With the involvement of both their elders and the dean, skipping out was no longer an option. Resigning himself to the inevitable, Zhang Yuze sighed heavily.
“Fine. Send me the address.” He said before ending the call, holding back a cough.
