Life is Like a Journey – Chapter 65
by Little PandaVolume 2: Inheritance
Partners
We are the best partners at the emergency scene
“Xiaoyu, are you done?” Xu Qiankun knocked on the bathroom door.
Yu Gui hastily tucked her phone into her pocket: “Y-yes… I’m done…”
She pushed the door open and stepped back into the world that made her uneasy.
The KTV’s lighting was dimmed low. Xu Qiankun had ordered some fruit platters, beer, and snacks, and invited her: “Have something to eat. Let’s sing.”
She had just endured a dinner that was hard to swallow. Not only was she unable to eat more, but even if she could, she wouldn’t dare.
“No, thank you. I’m quite full from earlier. Thank you for treating me, Director Xu.”
“Really? I noticed you barely ate anything,” Xu Qiankun sat down next to her. Yu Gui subtly shifted her hips away.
“Is it that you don’t like Western food? Next time, I’ll take you for authentic Chongqing hotpot. You young people should all enjoy that, right?” Xu Qiankun said as he opened the microphone and handed it to her. “Come on, choose a song.”
Having reached Xu Qiankun’s position in the government, he had seen all kinds of beautiful women – artificial and natural, countless ones eagerly vying for his attention. Only Yu Gui, with her air of unsophisticated simplicity, caught the eye of someone who had seen too much flattery. Thus, he was willing to invest some effort in her.
This girl was as fresh as a summer lily (a metaphor for purity and beauty). Especially seeing her up close, even the peach fuzz on her face was visible. Among all the women he had slept with, none had skin this good. (LP: F*ck, please lock up this creep!)
Xu Qiankun felt a surge of desire and put his arm around her shoulders: “As long as you’re obedient, there’s no achievement you can’t reach. Forget about the residency, even after it’s over, I can—”
The private room door was pushed open. Someone who shouldn’t have been there stood coldly at the doorway with arms crossed, wearing a well-tailored shirt, with a small suit jacket casually draped over his arm. He had long legs and a slim waist, his right index finger tapping his wristwatch intermittently.
“What’s this, Director Xu? Treating people to dinner and karaoke without letting us know? That’s a bit stingy, isn’t it?”
Hao Renjie popped his head out from behind: “Exactly! Why only invite Yu Gui? We’ve all been working hard.”
“Director Xu, that’s not fair,” Chen Yi also came in, holding onto the doorknob.
Liu Qingyun directly called the waiter to bring another dozen beers, grinning: “Don’t worry, it’s on Director Xu today. Drinks are on the house!”
Xu Qiankun’s face was contorted with anger. He had already withdrawn his hand when Lu Qingshi entered. Even though he inwardly wanted to tear these people to pieces, he maintained a friendly facade.
“Oh my, didn’t I ask Yu Gui to notify you all? This girl came quite early herself… Haha… Please, sit down, sit down. Is one dozen beers enough? Waiter, bring two more dozens. It’s my treat today!”
The not-so-large private room was suddenly packed. Hao Renjie squeezed himself between them, and Chen Yi sat close to Yu Gui’s side.
“How about that? Your brother’s got your back, right?” Taking advantage of the loud music, she raised her voice to speak.
Yu Gui had an expression like she was about to cry: “Thank you… Thank you, Teacher Lu…”
Seeing her wanting to speak but hesitating, wanting to cry but having no tears expression, Hao Renjie couldn’t bear it: “Alright, alright, let’s punish ourselves with three drinks.”
Crisis averted, Yu Gui picked up her glass and downed three drinks in quick succession.
This was the first time the emergency department had gathered outside the hospital. Everyone was a bit excited, cheering enthusiastically. Whatever the reason, only a fool would pass up free karaoke.
Liu Qingyun was already belting out a song with his tie loosened: “I love you, China…”
He had been in the university choir but had never performed on stage.
Chen Yi couldn’t take it anymore and snatched the microphone from his hand: “What’s with this ghosts wailing and wolves howling (terrible singing)? Don’t come out scaring people in the middle of the night. Listen to me instead.”
She cleared her throat: “The birds in the trees are in pairs…”
Lu Qingshi silently took out her earplugs.
Yu Gui almost spat out her drink. Glancing at Lu Qingshi sitting motionless beside her, she secretly marveled: As expected of Teacher Lu, her self-control is impressive!
“How did you manage to invite Teacher Lu?” she raised her voice to speak with Hao Renjie.
He shouted back in response: “Met her in the coffee shop downstairs. She seemed to be discussing something with someone.”
“Who was it?”
“Don’t know them.”
The private room door was pushed open again, and Qin Xuan fluttered in like a butterfly, throwing herself towards Lu Qingshi: “Oh my~ How could you have an Emergency Department gathering without inviting me~”
Lu Qingshi perfectly avoided her, and the sofa beside her sank a bit: “Director Xu is treating us.”
Qin Xuan’s gaze flickered subtly between Xu Qiankun and Yu Gui, the latter responding with an awkward smile.
The seasoned Qin Xuan immediately understood: “I see. I have some friends playing next door. Why don’t I call them over to liven things up?”
Looking at the table full of sunflower seeds and peanuts and drinks, Xu Qiankun quickly stood up: “You all enjoy yourselves. I’m going to the restroom.”
After he left, Yu Gui finally relaxed completely, joining Hao Renjie in shouting and yelling. Qin Xuan also joined the five tones incomplete (someone who can’t carry a tune) crew.
A group of usually dignified doctors, now stripped of their white coats, were in various states of abandon: some jumping on sofas, others standing on stools, some sitting on tables, and one spinning in place while waving smelly socks, all shouting at the top of one’s lungs singing:
“Another cycle of seasons has passed,
While I sit on the street with nothing gained,
Only ideals sustain this numb flesh and blood…”
Yu Gui sang with eyes brimming with emotion: “Ideals, how old are you this year…”
“You always tempt young friends,
You always wither and bloom again,
Giving me surprises,
Only to plunge me back into a life of disappointment.”
Perhaps this song wasn’t just for wandering singers, but also a true reflection of healthcare workers.
If it weren’t for that faint light of idealism in their hearts, who would willingly engage in this profession that’s exhausting, dirty, and life-threatening?
However, their singing… Although the emotion was sincere, Lu Qingshi still pushed open the private room door with a wooden expression.
If she stayed any longer, she might suffocate.
Xu Qiankun had long since urine escape (leaving under the pretense of using the bathroom) to who knows where. Lu Qingshi was at the front desk paying the bill with her wallet. As she put her bank card back in her bag, she caught sight of a few people stumbling out of the restroom.
One of them accidentally bumped her arm: “Sorry…”
Those amber eyes were full of dejected tears. Upon seeing her, there was a slight pause, and the smile at the corner of their lips became more bitter.
Lu Qingshi looked away: “It’s fine.”
As the smell of alcohol mixed with tobacco gradually faded away, Lu Qingshi quietly said: “Drink less.”
The person’s footsteps faltered for a moment, then they walked away with their arm around a friend’s shoulder.
In the quiet of the night, having eaten and drunk to their heart’s content, the doctors who had been singing for half the night are gradually leaving. They came out in small groups, arms around each other’s shoulders. Outside, a light rain had started falling at some point.
Lu Qingshi held an umbrella, with Qin Xuan hanging onto her, mumbling: “I want more… more drink…”
The doctor, with a cold expression, stuffed her into a taxi and gave the address: “Get going.”
Yu Gui, Liu Qingyun, and a few others headed back to the hospital dormitory to sleep. Before leaving, they came to say goodbye. The young doctor was slightly tipsy, with fine and fragmented light in her eyes.
“Thank you… Teacher Lu…”
This was the first time she had thanked her sincerely from the bottom of her heart. She was truly grateful; if it weren’t for her, who knows what might have happened tonight.
Lu Qingshi had one hand in her pocket, calmly watching the rain splash on the asphalt: “After tonight’s commotion, he probably won’t bother you again. If there’s a next time…”
She turned to look at her: “Tell me.”
Yu Gui’s eyes welled up: “Thank you.”
A designated driver arrived with headlights on in the rain. Lu Qingshi closed her umbrella and got into the car. After giving the address, she leaned on her arm, drowsy and ready to sleep.
The traffic light ahead turned on, its faint glow illuminating a solitary pedestrian crossing the zebra crossing.
The long street was desolate and devoid of pedestrians, and the rain gradually became torrential rain. The windshield wipers swept back and forth, yet still left winding streaks of water.
Lu Qingshi suddenly woke up: “Stop at the intersection ahead.”
A silver sports car pulled up beside her, honking its horn. Gu Yanzhi, oblivious, continued walking forward.
Lu Qingshi opened the car door, grabbed an umbrella, and got out. She grabbed Gu Yanzhi’s wrist: “Get in the car.”
Gu Yanzhi’s strength was considerable, shaking off Lu Qingshi’s grip: “It’s just a few steps away.”
Lu Qingshi held the umbrella over her, leaving half her own shoulder exposed to the rain: “Are you crazy? Why didn’t you take a taxi?! In such heavy rain…”
“This isn’t the hospital, and you’re not wearing a white coat. Don’t lecture me with your doctor’s routine.” Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps some prickly matter had put her in a bad mood, but unusually, the two found themselves at loggerheads (strong disagreement).
Lu Qingshi’s temple throbbed with anger: “Am I speaking to you as a doctor? I’m clearly…”
Gu Yanzhi looked up, her bangs wet from the rain, her face somewhat pale, but her eyes red. She stared at Lu Qingshi, waiting for her to finish the sentence.
Under her gaze, Lu Qingshi silently averted her eyes: “It’s just a rejection. Your behavior really disappoints me.”
Gu Yanzhi stepped back, leaving the protection of the umbrella and once again bathing in the cold rain. She felt as if all the warmth in her body had been washed away by this downpour.
“Lu Qingshi, you’re so arrogant. Did I say anything? I didn’t say a word. You think I’m like this because of you? I feel guilty about Ci’ertou’s injury. He’ll never stand again, while I can—”
The drenched fire instructor choked up. Lu Qingshi grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
“If it’s not because of me, that’s even better,” she said, opening the car door and pushing Gu Yanzhi into the back seat. “I did my best for Ci’ertou’s injury, but if I can make you stand, I can make him stand too.”
“Sometimes we have to believe in miracles.”
Back home, the rain-soaked person seemed fine, but as Lu Qingshi went upstairs, her face was extremely pale. Her hand trembled as she leaned against the door, fumbling with the key several times without managing to open it.
Gu Yanzhi looked at Lu Qingshi’s half-soaked shoulder, her shirt clinging to her body, revealing her graceful curves. She took the key from Lu Qingshi’s hand.
“Let me. What’s wrong with you?”
“It’s nothing…” Due to intense abdominal pain, she bit her lower lip, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead. She struggled to pour herself a glass of hot water.
Gu Yanzhi stood at the doorway, examining her for a long while: “Has that time come?”
“…” Lu Qingshi, holding the cup of hot water, was caught off guard and choked a bit. Her silence was as good as an admission.
The person standing at the door scratched her head, her clothes wet enough to wring out: “Wait for me a moment.”
Gu Yanzhi quickly ran back to her own home and turned on the stove. While waiting for the water to boil, she hastily took a shower. With a towel hanging on her head, she came out, took eggs from the fridge and cracked them into a bowl. She poured prepared fermented rice wine into the boiling water and added a few goji berries.
Five minutes later, she ran to Lu Qingshi’s place and knocked, placing a large bowl of eggs cooked in fermented rice wine in front of her.
“Drink this. It’ll stop the pain.”
Lu Qingshi held two Femiden pills: “Scientific research proves…”
Gu Yanzhi’s eyes immediately turned somewhat fierce and menacing, and Lu Qingshi obediently closed her mouth.
The soup bowl felt warm and cozy in her hands. The eggs cooked in fermented rice wine was sweet but not cloying, and Lu Qingshi unconsciously took a few more sips.
She thought she couldn’t refuse Gu Yanzhi’s kindness, but she didn’t want to have any relationship beyond friendship. Was that truly fair to her?
If Qin Xuan were here, she’d probably berate her: Occupying the toilet without using it. (implying someone is selfishly holding onto something without using it)
Though the expression was crude, the reasoning was sound. Lu Qingshi pondered for a moment and put down the bowl. Before she could speak, the person across from her began talking.
“I’ve been thinking these past few days. Maybe my enthusiasm has truly troubled you. Partly it’s my personality, and partly because I’m genuinely curious about you. In my twenty-some years of life, I’ve never met anyone like you. Though contradictory, you’re full of surprises, attracting me to draw closer…”
Gu Yanzhi sat cross-legged on the other side of the low table, a towel hanging around her neck, her hair tips still damp. Her eyes seemed somewhat troubled, but her expression was much calmer now.
“Plus, with the life-and-death crises that could erupt at any moment during emergency rescues, one unconsciously seeks support from those around… Hmm… Like you said, finding a spiritual pillar…”
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what kind of feelings I have for you. But I do like you a bit – more than a friend, yet less than a lover.”
The soft floor lamp cast a warm yellow glow over her, coating her in a gentle light. Those amber eyes, so determined, stubborn, and cold during rescues, became so beautiful when softened, drawing Lu Qingshi in deeper and deeper.
But faced with this confession, Lu Qingshi still couldn’t say anything, nor did she dare to.
“But I’ve come to terms with it. No matter what kind of ‘like’ it is, it doesn’t necessarily mean getting a response from the other person. You don’t need to feel troubled by it. At least, being with you is a very pleasant thing. Whether at rescue scenes or at home, I’ve found satisfaction and happiness because of you. That’s enough.”
She leaned in slightly: “Qingshi, can we still be friends in the future?”
As things developed in the direction she hoped for, Lu Qingshi let out a small sigh of relief. She didn’t have time to delve deeper into why she didn’t want to lose this friend. She just reached out and grasped the hand before her, as if to grasp at a lifeline.
“Of course we can. We’re the best partners at rescue scenes.”
Having resolved their misunderstanding, the two became open with each other again. That night, they talked about many things, from Gu Yanzhi’s glorious military service to Lu Qingshi’s amusing anecdotes. Each had areas of expertise unfamiliar to the other, so they listened with great interest.
Gu Yanzhi brought over a gaming console from her home, tossing Lu Qingshi a controller. The two teamed up to play Contra, enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Hamburger ran back and forth beside them, occasionally trying to tease French Fries nestled in Lu Qingshi’s arms. When scratched by French Fries’s little paws, Hamburger looked pitiful and wronged, burying his head in Gu Yanzhi’s arms for comfort.
“Shoo, shoo, don’t disturb my gaming,” the impatient owner quickly shooed the dog away. Soon after, Hamburger perked up again, wagging his tail and approaching French Fries curled up on the sofa.
Of course, the result was being swatted away again by the sharp-toothed, adorably fierce little kitten.
Lu Qingshi couldn’t help but laugh: “Hamburger’s size doesn’t match his fighting ability, huh?”
As a round ended, Gu Yanzhi hugged her dog and rubbed its head: “Our Hamburger knows how to be gentle with the ladies. He’s deliberately going easy on French Fries, right?”
Hamburger let out a “woof” in agreement.
Lu Qingshi clicked her tongue in disdain: “Let’s start. This time I’m definitely going to beat you.”
Gu Yanzhi frantically pressed the controller buttons: “What happens if you lose?”
“Three drinks as punishment.”
“Then prepare to meet your doom.”
“We’ll see who’s doomed,” Lu Qingshi hit the attack button. She had never played these games before, but being smart, she learned quickly. With a crisp “KO” sound, Gu Yanzhi’s character lay defeated on the ground.
“if you agree to bet, you must accept the consequences. Drink up.”
Gu Yanzhi picked up the beer can from the table and downed it in one go: “Again!”
Outside the window, the night was deep, rain washing over the banana leaves below. Two lonely and fragile souls slowly drew closer. The LCD screen’s light dimmed, the game fell silent, and the table was littered with half-empty beer cans. French Fries had fallen asleep in Hamburger’s embrace, the big dog not daring to move an inch.
Lu Qingshi lay face-up on the sofa, hugging a cushion. Gu Yanzhi sat on the carpet, leaning against her, fast asleep.
Their last conversation before falling asleep was about spotters and snipers.
She said: “You know, in our unit, every sniper is paired with a spotter. From the moment they enter the unit, they eat, sleep, and train together to build rapport. On the battlefield, the spotter becomes the sniper’s second pair of eyes. It’s a relationship of mutual dependence, living and dying together.”
Lu Qingshi, too sleepy to open her eyes, mumbled drowsily: “Oh… Isn’t that like us doctors and nurses? Neither can carry out missions alone…”
Gu Yanzhi snuggled closer, using Lu Qingshi’s arm as a pillow as she fell asleep: “I wish we could form such an intimate relationship too…”
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