When Sisi was leaving school, the sun was already tilting west.

She carried her backpack out from the school’s entrance and immediately saw her dad’s car. That sedan was parked in the usual spot, her dad standing next to it, chatting with an acquaintance, with a smile on his face. When he saw her coming out, he waved.

"Sisi, over here!"

She ran over, opened the back seat door, and got in. Her dad got in the car, started the engine, and the car slowly drove out of the crowded street.

Sisi leaned against the seat back, watching the street scenes pass by outside the window, feeling an indescribable sense of solidity.

Her dad was off duty today, and ever since he started driving for Professor Yang, their family’s life has improved; they bought a house and a car.

"How was your day?" Her dad looked at her through the rearview mirror.

"Pretty good," she said, her tone as plain as if she were talking about something very ordinary, "still number one in school."

Her dad smiled, "Not bad."

She also smiled, leaning her head against the car window.

Being number one in school was indeed not bad. But to her, it was just a matter of course. Because she knew that every grade was a stepping stone toward those targets.

Cars flooded the roads, and pedestrians hurried along. The shops along the roadside lit up their signs; selling rice noodle rolls, selling roast goose, selling fruits, cries hawking rang out one after another. She liked the evenings in this city, liked this atmosphere of everyday life. Every time she saw these common scenes, she would silently say to herself: it’s good to be alive.

The car turned into a familiar street, and after a few minutes, the outpatient building of Sanbo Hospital could be seen. That gray-white building seemed particularly prominent in the twilight, and the glowing words "Sanbo Hospital" on the roof could be seen from afar.

She had lived near the hospital for more than three years. Her dad drove for Professor Yang, her mom worked as an aide in the ward of the Institute, and the three of them lived in the community nearby the hospital. From her window, she could see the building of Sanbo Research Institute, and sometimes at night she could see the office lights of Professor Yang still on.

She liked seeing that light.

Because when that light was on, she knew Professor Yang was still working. Every time she saw that light, she would recall many years ago, when she lay on the hospital bed.

At that time she thought: Once I’m better, I must repay him.

Now she thinks: When I grow up, I want to become someone like him.

The car drove into the hospital parking lot and came to a stop. She got out and ran toward the Institute. She had agreed with her dad that she’d pick up her mom today.

A person was standing at the entrance of the Institute building, wearing a White Gown, talking with a young doctor. That person turned around and saw her, smiling.

"Sisi!"

She hesitated for a moment, then ran over, "Professor Yang!"

Yang Ping bent down to look at her. His eyes were still so bright, his smile as gentle as when he first saw her many years ago.

"School’s out?" he asked.

"Mm!" She nodded vigorously.

"I heard you got number one in school again?"

She blushed a little and smiled, "Kind of."

Yang Ping patted her head and said, "Study hard, and you’ll get into a good university."

She said, "I definitely will."

Yang Ping nodded, bid her farewell, and walked toward the surgery building. She stood there, watching his figure disappear into the twilight, feeling a warm sense she couldn’t quite describe.

This person is the most important person in her life.

Picked up her mom and went home together. Her mom changes out of her work clothes and goes into the kitchen. She works hard in the Institute ward as an aide, but she always rushes back to cook dinner for Sisi.

Simple three dishes and a soup, all the ones she loves to eat. Sisi sat at the dining table, watching her mom’s busy figure, feeling a warmth in her heart.

"You saw Professor Yang today?" her mom asked, while scooping food into her bowl.

Sisi nodded, "Mm, met him downstairs."

Her mom said, "Professor Yang’s really good to you."

Sisi said, "I know."

After dinner, she returned to her room to start on her homework.

The room wasn’t big, but it was tidy and clean. The desk was against the window, the lamp was lit, and a pot with a cactus was on the desk. There was also a photo, taken on the day she was discharged, with her and Yang Ping standing together, she held a bunch of flowers and was smiling brightly. Yang Ping stood beside her, also smiling.

Whenever she got tired of studying, she would look at that photo. Then tell herself: Just keep going a little longer, you’re one step closer to your dream.

The homework wasn’t much, she finished it quickly. She sat by the window, looking at the night outside.

The building of the Institute was brightly lit, and the light in Yang Ping’s office was still on. She knew he was still working.

She wants to study Medicine.

This idea had been planted in her heart since the day she recovered. Over these years, it has slowly taken root and sprouted, growing into a big tree. She knows studying Medicine is hard, requires many years in school, doing many experiments, taking many tests, staying up many nights, but she’s not afraid.

She wants to be like Yang Ping, wants to become someone who can save lives, just as he saved hers those years ago.

She looked at that light and silently said to herself: Professor Yang, wait for me.

I must get into medical school, must become your student, must become someone you can be proud of.

She closed the window and returned to her desk, opening her textbooks.

There’s still class tomorrow, she has to listen carefully.

On weekends, she’ll visit the Institute, not to find Yang Ping, she doesn’t want to bother him, she knows he’s very busy. She only wants to catch a glimpse from afar, seeing him walk into that building, seeing him wearing that White Gown hurrying by, seeing him talking seriously with other doctors.