BEEP BEEP—

It seemed like whenever a scene like this played out, a cell phone would always ring at the most inopportune moment.

Shen Yu was jolted back to her senses.

Jiang He, too, seemed to wake from a dream, his movements a bit stiff as he straightened up.

He reached into his pocket, his gaze slightly evasive. "...Uh, I’ll get this call."

Shen Yu buried half her face in the blanket and nodded repeatedly. "Mhm, yes, go on, get it."

Jiang He walked to the window, glanced at the caller ID, and sighed. "...Xiaolin? What’s up?"

On the other end of the line.

Lu Xiaolin could tell Jiang He’s tone was a little off, but he didn’t dwell on it and got straight to the point.

"Jiang He, didn’t you say you were coming to the Capital City for the holiday? Are you free these next couple of days? Could you swing by Peking Union Medical College Hospital? I have to give a report to the director tomorrow morning, and I could really use your help."

"Sure."

"That’s great! To be honest, I’m not confident about this one. The interference from inflammatory cells in the slides is too severe. I tried observing it with the polarity reversal you mentioned, but the structure in the marginal zone is still a bit blurry..."

"Don’t just focus on the margin. Look for a back-to-back glandular structure. Also, if MUC1 shows strong, full-circumference positive expression on the cell membrane, you can make a definitive diagnosis. I’ll be there tomorrow morning, so don’t worry."

"Alright, I’ll wait for you in the conference room tomorrow, then. Also..."

The two of them began discussing professional matters.

Shen Yu couldn’t understand a word.

Right now, she was covering her scalding cheeks with both hands, endlessly reprimanding herself.

’Oh my god! Shen Yu, what were you doing?!’

’Thank goodness the phone rang.’

’Thank goodness Jiang He went to answer it!’

It belatedly dawned on her:

’If that phone hadn’t rung, if I had really just acted on impulse and kissed him... the consequences would have been unimaginable!’

’This is the very first day we’ve met.’

’For a girl to take the initiative and kiss someone on the first day they’ve met... isn’t that way too forward?’

’What would Jiang He think? Would he be scared off? Would he think I’m some incredibly frivolous and shameless girl?’

’No, no, absolutely not. That’s just too embarrassing...’

Shen Yu shook her head wildly in her mind, feeling more and more mortified the more she thought about it.

Just as her thoughts were running wild, Jiang He finished his call.

Shen Yu quickly lowered her hands and rushed to speak first. "Dr. Jiang, um... the dorm supervisor just sent me a message. She said she’s on duty now, so I can go back."

Jiang He said, "Oh, okay. Then I’ll carry you back on my back."

"Oh, no, you don’t have to!" Shen Yu frantically waved her hands, hastily refusing. "Don’t trouble yourself. I can get back on my own. You go do what you need to do!"

Jiang He crouched down, his tone firm. "Get on."

Shen Yu was out of options.

After hesitating for another two seconds, she finally climbed obediently onto his back.

On the way back to the university, the two didn’t talk much.

Shen Yu rested obediently on Jiang He’s back, pressing her burning cheek tightly against the thin fabric of his jacket, not daring to look at him at all.

Only the clean scent she caught, slowly settling in, transformed into an indescribable craving...

「Downstairs at the Normal University’s women’s dormitory.」

The dorm supervisor laughed. "Well now, Yu’er! Are you in a relationship now? Did your boyfriend carry you back?"

"Ma’am, you’ve misunderstood," Jiang He explained. "I’m a doctor. She sprained her ankle this afternoon trying to save a cat and can’t walk. I’ll have to ask you to help her back to her dorm."

Upon hearing this, the gossipy look on the dorm supervisor’s face instantly turned to concern.

She hurried out of her duty office and asked, "Oh dear, how did you sprain it? It’s not serious, is it?"

Jiang He said, "It’s not serious, just a ligament strain. As long as she doesn’t put weight on it, it’ll heal after a few days of rest."

The supervisor said, "Alright, as long as no bones are broken, that’s good. You can hand her over to me. I’ll help her upstairs. Thank you for all your trouble, young man."

"Thank you," Jiang He said with a nod.

After the handover, Shen Yu leaned against the supervisor.

Jiang He stood in place, watching her.

Shen Yu raised her head and looked back at Jiang He.

Downstairs from the dormitory, the two of them just looked at each other.

Both had something to say, yet both hesitated.

’He wanted to ask his wife to meet again tomorrow, to spend a little more time with her, to take her out for a nice meal.’

’But he was afraid that if he acted too eagerly, he would seem too forward and scare off the fragile connection they had just built.’

’So he could only force himself to hold back and say nothing.’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Shen Yu felt the exact same way.

’She didn’t want to just say goodbye. She wanted to ask if he would be back tomorrow, if he’d be free after he was finished at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.’

’But her girlish reserve kept the words stuck in her throat.’

And so they remained downstairs, lingering, neither leaving nor staying.

The dorm supervisor had lived for the better part of a century; what kind of scene hadn’t she witnessed?

She saw right through the little dance these two young people were doing in an instant.

So, enjoying the sweet spectacle, she deliberately said, "You know, sometimes a boy has to take the initiative. Girls like it when you’re open and direct, right, Yu’er?"

Shen Yu blushed and muttered, "Ma’am..."

Prompted by her comment, Jiang He decided to just come out and say it. "Teacher Shen... if you’re not busy tomorrow, would you... like to have dinner together?"

"I’m free, I’m free!" Shen Yu replied at the speed of light.

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt she’d answered too quickly and hastily added, "I just so happen to not have anything to do tomorrow."

Jiang He nodded. "Oh, okay. See you tomorrow, then."

Shen Yu nodded emphatically. "Yes, see you tomorrow."

With that, she turned and left, leaning on the supervisor for support.

Jiang He watched her go.

After taking a dozen or so steps inside, Shen Yu couldn’t resist.

She furtively glanced back over her shoulder.

She was surprised to see that Jiang He was still standing right where she had left him.

Startled, Shen Yu whipped her head back around as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, thinking:

’Oh my, why hasn’t he left yet!’

But then she felt her own reaction had been too obvious, so she stopped and turned back around again.

Feigning a casual air, she raised her hand and waved at Jiang He, her voice crisp as she called out, "Bye-bye—"

Jiang He raised his hand and waved back. "Bye-bye~"

Even after her silhouette had completely disappeared, he remained standing there, unable to tear his gaze away.

’I love her so much.’

’Even though they had been husband and wife for so many years, the love he felt at this moment still overwhelmed him like a tsunami.’

’He so badly wanted to marry her right now, to take her home as his wife immediately.’

’He would never let her suffer the slightest grievance again, never let her shed another tear...’

Jiang He took a deep breath and slowly retracted his gaze.

The northern autumn wind on his face gradually cooled his heated mind.

The intense love settled, replaced by a rock-solid determination.

He never wanted to—and absolutely could not—lose Shen Yu again.

Pancreatic cancer.

’I have to find a way to beat it, no matter what.’