At seven o’clock sharp, the alarm clock jolted Zhang Yuze awake. Shivering, he reluctantly emerged from the warmth of his quilt and stumbled over to the wardrobe. Standing in front of it, he stared at the rows of neatly hung clothes, unsure of what to wear.
He mulled it over for a moment. Since he was meeting a new colleague today… Maybe it was better to dress a little more formally.
“Wear my clothes,” a voice suddenly spoke behind him.
Startled, Zhang Yuze jumped, his heart racing. “Can you not sneak up on me like that?! You nearly scared me to death!”
“Wear my clothes,” Xu Li repeated with a grin, clearly unfazed. He tossed back the quilt and got out of bed, rummaging through his suitcase before producing a dark gray sweater.
“Why would I wear your clothes?” Zhang Yuze frowned, eyeing the sweater. He recognized it immediately since it was something Xu Li often wore.
Leaning casually against the wardrobe, Xu Li crossed his arms and smirked. “That way, you’ll remember me all day and won’t abandon me for your shiny new surgical assistant.”
“You’re crazy.” Zhang Yuze muttered, exasperated.
But under Xu Li’s insistent gaze, and with little actual resistance, Dr. Zhang finally relented. Pulling on the sweater, he completed his look for the day with Xu Li’s pants and coat, effectively becoming a walking advertisement for his boyfriend’s wardrobe.
Xu Li’s grin grew impossibly wider as he admired the result. There was something deeply satisfying about seeing Zhang Yuze wrapped in his clothes, both inside and out.
“You know…” Xu Li teased, “You look really sexy in my stuff.”
“Stop talking nonsense.” Zhang Yuze grumbled. “Next thing I know, you’ll ask me to wear your underwear.”
Xu Li tilted his head thoughtfully. “That doesn’t sound impossible.”
“…”
“Let me go.” Zhang Yuze said, rolling his eyes and grabbing the car keys. He turned toward the door, muttering: “I have work to do.”
Trailing after him, Xu Li called out playfully: “Don’t forget to get along with your new colleague! Though I give it a few days before you come crying back, saying, ‘Xu Li, I can’t do this without you! I need you!'”
Expressionless, Zhang Yuze replied dryly: “I’m sorry, but that’s not gonna happen. I’ve got two arms, and surgical assistants are everywhere. Oh, wait, I forgot you only have one arm.”
Xu Li gasped in outrage and lunged to slap him, but Dr. Zhang dodged smoothly and shut the door, locking him inside with a smirk.
With Zhang Yuze off to work, Xu Li fully intended to enjoy the rest of his morning. He crawled back under the quilt, prepared to savor his perfect day off. But just as he was about to drift off, his phone buzzed with a new chat notification. Groaning, he reached for it.
Ah Huo: Brother Xu, did Dr. Zhang offend Old Bi?
Xu Li’s sleepiness vanished instantly. His expression darkened as he sat upright and typed a response.
Xu Li: What happened?!
Ah Huo: Yesterday, after Old Bi got back to the bar, he looked angry. We asked him what was wrong, but he didn’t say anything. Later, after drinking, he started ranting about Zhang Yuze, calling him shameless.
Ah Huo: Oh, and he also insulted you. Said you’re just a pretty face with no real value. Poor and pathetic.
Xu Li stared at the screen, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Xu Li: … Thanks for relaying the insult. Really appreciate it.
Closing the chat, Xu Li leaned back against the headboard, his thoughts racing… It really didn’t seem to be connected to Shen Mo. Frowning, he opened another chat and messaged Zhao Xiaole to dig for more information about what had happened yesterday. It took some back-and-forth, but eventually, he pieced it together. It turned out that Old Bi had caused trouble at the hospital, making inappropriate comments and being his usual unpleasant self. Xu Li’s eyes narrowed as he processed the details, his face dark with anger. Without a second thought, he threw on some clothes and stormed out of the apartment.
…………
Less than an hour later, Zhang Yuze arrived at the hospital. As he took the elevator upstairs, his mind drifted to the clothes adorning his body… From head to toe, everything he wore clearly belonged to Xu Li, standing out unmistakably. To be frank, he could already imagine the questions Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie would bombard him with.
Why are you wearing Xu Li’s sweater?! Is that his coat too?! Are you two sharing a wardrobe now?!
Fully prepared for their relentless teasing, he was surprised to find the nurse’s desk uncharacteristically quiet upon his arrival. Usually, Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie would be chatting over breakfast, but today, the desk was empty.
He glanced at his watch, only to realize that it wasn’t time to clock in yet.
However… Where was everyone?!
As he pondered on that question, the sound of footsteps drew his attention. Turning around, he saw a man walking toward him, smiling brightly as he extended a hand.
“Hello, Dr. Zhang!” The man greeted him. “My name is Li Chao. I’m your new colleague.”
For a moment, Zhang Yuze was stunned. How could this Li Chao recognize him so easily?!
As if reading his thoughts, Li Chao smiled wider while adding: “I’ve heard so much about you. Your mother’s medical skills are legendary, and I’ve admired her for a long time. I’m excited to have the chance to work with her son.”
It wasn’t the first time someone had brought up the Empress Dowager in a professional context, but it still made Dr. Zhang’s expression falter. He forced a polite smile and shook Li Chao’s hand. Though outwardly cordial, he couldn’t help but form a strange first impression in his mind. Something about Li Chao’s demeanor didn’t sit right.
From a logical perspective, human facial expressions were a complex combination of muscle movements and features working in harmony. For instance, a genuine smile engages both the eyes and the mouth, using the surrounding muscles to convey true emotion.
Take Xu Li as an example. Every time he leaned in close to his ear to tease him, his grin was so animated that it involved his whole face. His eyebrows arched mischievously and the corners of his mouth pulled wide.
But Li Chao’s smile? It never quite reached his eyes. The corners of his mouth curved upward mechanically, but the expression felt flat, almost as if it was previously rehearsed.
Shaking off his initial judgment, Zhang Yuze reminded himself to be objective. Maybe the Empress Dowager’s earlier critique had biased him… Perhaps Li Chao was a competent surgical assistant despite his off-putting demeanor.
“In the future, I hope we can work well together!” Li Chao said politely.
“Sure.” Zhang Yuze replied. Then, curious, he asked: “Are you staying here long term, or is this just for Ge Haoran’s case?”
“For now, I’m here temporarily.” Li Chao explained. “After this assignment, we’ll evaluate whether I’ll stay on permanently or not.”
That didn’t make much sense for Dr. Zhang. Why would someone from the prestigious Rocket Military Hospital transfer to the Artillery Hospital?! The two facilities weren’t exactly on the same level.
“Dr. Zhang,” Li Chao interrupted his thoughts, “could you help me get familiar with the department?”
Reluctantly, Zhang Yuze agreed, showing him around the department and pointing out the basic layout and processes. Finally, he concluded: “For more specific details, you can ask Zhao Xiaole. She’ll be able to help you better with day-to-day procedures.”
It wasn’t laziness. There simply wasn’t much overlap between his role and Li Chao’s. Their tasks would rarely intersect, making an in-depth explanation unnecessary.
Li Chao nodded, but as they walked back, he suddenly asked, using quite a soft tone: “Dr. Zhang, you don’t like talking much, do you?”
Caught off guard, Zhang Yuze blinked before nodding. “That’s… True.”
Li Chao smiled again, this time more gently. “That’s okay. I understand. I won’t bother you too much.”
“No, it’s not like that…” Zhang Yuze hurried to explain.
But Li Chao waved it off with a soft chuckle. “It’s fine. Everyone has different personalities, and it’s important to respect that.”
That single comment instantly elevated Dr. Zhang’s opinion of this new colleague. As someone who wasn’t particularly chatty, he appreciated people who didn’t take his quiet nature the wrong way. Maybe he and Li Chao could get along better than he initially thought.
…………
The morning went smoothly, and soon it was time for lunch. As usual, Dr. Zhang joined Zhao Xiaole and Xiao Jie in the cafeteria.
However, something felt off. The two young people, usually so lively and talkative, were uncharacteristically quiet.
“There are chicken legs today.” Dr. Zhang remarked, glancing at the menu.
Normally, those words alone would spark a cheerful scramble to the serving line, but now… Zhao Xiaole trudged forward with a sigh, while Xiao Jie shuffled behind her, looking equally deflated.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Zhang Yuze asked, puzzled.
Neither answered immediately. Then, as they settled at the table, Zhao Xiaole finally looked up. “Dr. Zhang, what do you think of your new colleague?” She asked.
Thinking back to his morning with Li Chao, Dr. Zhang replied: “He seems fine so far. Why? Did something happen?”
The two exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
“Is there something you’re hiding from me?” He pressed, growing more confused by their reluctance.
“It’s nothing.” Zhao Xiaole muttered, poking at her food. “I just miss Xu Li.”
“Me too.” Xiao Jie added, his voice barely above a whisper.
The cryptic responses left Dr. Zhang increasingly frustrated. What the hell was going on?!
As if on cue, Li Chao entered the cafeteria, carrying a tray of food. Spotting Dr. Zhang, he nodded politely but didn’t approach, opting instead to sit at a nearby table.
Dr. Zhang watched him for a moment, appreciating the low social interaction. He wasn’t sure what upset his colleagues, but so far, Li Chao seemed pleasant enough to him.
…………
On the other side of the town, Xu Li kicked some bar’s door open, the sound reverberating through the quiet morning. Ah Huo, who had been polishing wine glasses lazily at the counter, nearly dropped one in shock.
Seeing Xu Li’s stormy expression, something he’d never witnessed before, Ah Huo scrambled over to stop him.
“Brother Xu, Brother Xu, calm down! Don’t do this!” Ah Huo pleaded, his voice urgent.
“Where’s Old Bi? Get him out here!” Xu Li’s voice was cold, his tightly furrowed brows radiating frustration. He shoved Ah Huo aside, kicked a barstool out of his way, and sat down with his legs spread arrogantly.
As for Ah Huo, he had known Xu Li for a long time. No matter the situation, Xu Li always carried himself with an easygoing, careless smile. But today, he looked completely different. His posture radiated anger, and his glare could cut glass.
“Brother Xu, there’s no need for this…” Ah Huo tried to reason with him. “Old Bi’s just acting on a whim. If you go to him now, won’t Dr. Zhang—”
But before he could finish, a commotion from the back interrupted him. Old Bi, who had been drunkenly sleeping in the lounge, stumbled out, groaning loudly as he pushed his new little lover out of the way. His disheveled clothes and unkempt appearance made him look even more sleazy, bearing testament to what he’s been doing behind the bar.
“Who the hell’s making all this noise so early?!” Old Bi grumbled, scratching his head.
His bleary gaze landed on Xu Li who was sitting at the bar, his demeanor completely unrecognizable. The Xu Li in front of his eyes leaned back against the counter, chewing gum with calculated arrogance. His legs bounced idly, but his narrowed eyes carried a sharpness that sliced through the cold air.
“Old Bi,” Xu Li said, his voice dangerously calm. “Did you go and harass Zhang Yuze yesterday?”
At the mention of Dr. Zhang, Old Bi’s half-asleep expression vanished, replaced by anger. Remembering the humiliation of being rejected back at the hospital, his face twisted.
“Yeah, I did!” Lao Bi spat. “What’s it to you?”
Xu Li’s knuckles tapped rhythmically on the counter. “Bi Long,” he said coldly, “I seem to recall warning you that Zhang Yuze was my boyfriend. Did you forget, or are you just stupid?”
Old Bi sneered, leaning forward. “Cut the crap, Xu Li. Who the hell do you think you are, acting like this?! Weren’t you the one playing around like a dirty stray not long ago? Acting all high and mighty now doesn’t suit you.”
Xu Li didn’t flinch. Straightening up, he met Old Bi’s glare head-on. “I’m not denying my past,” he said calmly, “but don’t you dare drag Zhang Yuze into it. He’s a decent man, and just the thought of you insulting him makes me sick.”
Those words managed to hit a nerve back in Old Bi’s small brain. Still half-drunk, his temper flared and, with a snarl, he swung his fist toward Xu Li.
But Xu Li didn’t back down. In one smooth motion, he grabbed a wine bottle off the counter and smashed it against the bar, sending shards of glass flying everywhere.
Crash!
Old Bi stumbled back, clutching his arm as blood trickled from where a piece of glass had sliced him.
“Damn it!” Ah Huo gasped, instinctively stepping back from the chaos.
Xu Li, unfazed, grabbed another bottle with his good arm, holding it casually as he tilted his head, a cold smile playing on his lips. “What’s the matter? Scared already? You think you can just walk all over me?”
Old Bi glared at him, but the earlier bravado had drained from his face. He swore under his breath, clearly weighing his next move but knowing better than to push further.
Xu Li stood up slowly, his long legs brushing aside the shards of glass on the floor as he approached Old Bi. He raised his gaze, his voice dropping to an icy tone. “Listen carefully, Bi Long. I don’t care what you think of me or what I’ve done in the past. But Zhang Yuze is off-limits. He’s mine, and no one touches him. Got it?”
Old Bi ground his teeth, his hands clenched into fists. But despite his anger, he didn’t dare meet Xu Li’s eyes.
Xu Li turned around, brushing off his jacket as though nothing had happened. “Good,” he said coolly, walking past the bar. “I hope this is the last time we have to talk about this.”
As Xu Li disappeared out the door, Ah Huo finally exhaled, slumping behind the bar, his heart still racing. Pulling out his phone, he typed a quick message in the group chat.
Ah Huo: I just witnessed Xu Li’s sincere heart firsthand. Gonna sleep now. This is too much for me.
