Life is Like a Journey – Chapter 11

Volume 1: Rise

Confrontation

It was fun sparring with Dr. Lu

“I must say, you are really blessed with great fortune. I’ve never seen Dr. Lu lose her temper like that for anyone. Today, she argued so fiercely in the meeting room that Director Xu and Chief Liu were left speechless, and even the dean was alarmed in the end.”

Hao Renjie described the scene with added embellishments, making Yu Gui anxious. “So, how did they resolve it in the end?” she asked nervously.

Hao Renjie deliberately kept her in suspense, which made Yu Gui grip the corner of the blanket tightly. “Hurry up and tell me! I’ve never seen you dawdle like this before.”

Just as they were talking, Fang Zhiyou came in from outside carrying a lunchbox. Seeing her sit up, she tucked the blanket around her and then noticed Hao Renjie.

“Your colleague?”

“Yes, nickname ‘Good Person Sister,’ just call him sissy.”

Hao Renjie raised his orchid fingers and scolded, “Hey—you’re such a little girl, I came to see you out of goodwill, and you’re insulting my character. I’m a pure man, got it? Pure man!”

Fang Zhiyou couldn’t help but laugh, and Yu Gui also smiled. “Alright, alright, pure man. Is there anyone in the emergency department who can be more of a pure man than Teacher Lu?”

Hao Renjie rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, “That’s true…”

He then looked up at Fang Zhiyou, who was standing to the side. “Your friend? Aren’t you going to introduce us? Quite handsome, isn’t he?”

Fang Zhiyou’s handsomeness exuded a lazy aura from within. Her black hair, not quite reaching her shoulders, was tied up in a small bun at the back of her head, with the sides closely shaved. Dressed in casual hoodies and sweatpants, she had the vibe of a literary youth. In any case, she seemed completely mismatched with someone like Yu Gui, who had a gentle appearance and a timid personality.

However… hehe, maybe it was because of the lascivious smile on his face that Yu Gui paused for a moment, then looked up at Fang Zhiyou. “Um… my friend… we’ve been close since childhood!”

Fang Zhiyou felt a complex mix of emotions; it wasn’t the first time she introduced her this way, but the smile on her face grew a bit heavier.

Hao Renjie clicked his tongue twice and stood up to leave. “Alright then, you guys chat. I’ll get back to work. Oh, by the way, Sister Lu said you get two days off. Take a good rest and don’t come back to be an eyesore.”

Yu Gui, furious, was about to throw a pillow at him. “That last part was your addition, wasn’t it!”

The setting sun leapt into the high-rise buildings, and the evening glow painted the entire city with a layer of golden yellow. The wind on the rooftop was a bit strong, blowing her neatly arranged hair into disarray.

Lu Qingshi had maintained this posture for a long time, standing immovably. When this child is stubborn, she is truly a match for her grandfather.

Dean Meng looked at the medical empire he had built from the ground up, towering in the very center of the city like a dormant beast. Ambulances came and went, and the medical staff looked as small as ants.

After a long while, he sighed deeply. “I understand. You can go back now.”

Only then did Lu Qingshi get up. “Thank you.”

Having said this, she bowed slightly. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Dean Meng spoke again, “Qingshi, if you have time, go back and visit your grandfather.”

Lu Qingshi’s body stiffened slightly. She didn’t say anything, just nodded to indicate she understood, and quickly walked down from the rooftop.

“Come on~ Go drinking with me~ Today, Boss Bao’s friend is also there, a single and unmarried overseas returnee from a wealthy family! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You…” Qin Xuan kept shaking her arm and chattering incessantly.

Qin Xuan’s boyfriend is the owner of a startup company, a man in his early forties with considerable wealth, and very polite. But Lu Qingshi really wasn’t interested in their circle, so she brushed Qin Xuan’s hand off.

“Alright, you go ahead. I’m going home to sleep.” She got into her car, locked the door, and shut out the annoying noise.

Qin Xuan was hopping mad outside, “Serves you right for being divorced and still single for years. You might as well become a nun in a nunnery!”

The city lights were brilliant, and the cars moved very slowly during the evening rush hour. The streetlights cast chaotic shadows on her profile. Lu Qingshi skillfully shifted gears, driving her car off the main road and toward the direction of the Hongrui Archery Hall.

After every overnight shift, she would come here to clear her mind. She didn’t like socializing, drinking, or cooking. Archery was her only hobby. No, her only two hobbies, if there was another one, it would be surgery.

Both required intense concentration, patience, and the ability to hit the target with a single shot.

Of course, once the arrow leaves the string, there is no chance to do it over. Just like life, beautiful and fragile, once gone, it will never return.

Calm and composed, her eyes focused solely on the target paper opposite her. Lu Qingshi slightly released her fingers from the bowstring, and the arrow, like a meteor, flew straight to the bullseye.

Applause sounded from beside her. She thought it was the owner of the archery hall, but when she turned around, she realized it was an acquaintance.

Gu Yanzhi also held a compound bow in her hand and waved it at her. “Wanna compete?”

Her eager and competitive eyes sparked her own competitive spirit. Lu Qingshi nocked an arrow and drew her bow. “Bring it on.”

“Li Datou, come and be the judge,” she called out to her friend and the club owner. Li Datou frantically made eye signals at her.

“This is my VIP guest, so go easy on her for me!”

Gu Yanzhi understood, but her lips curled into a playful, nonchalant smile as she mouthed, “Depends on my mood.”

Despite her words, she shot a perfect ten. Li Datou rubbed his forehead, wondering how these two ladies could be so competitive!

On the other side, Lu Qingshi was already on her ninth arrow, and it was still a perfect ten. She put down her bow and glanced at Gu Yanzhi.

Gu Yanzhi’s stance when drawing the bow was very relaxed, not like someone who had undergone professional training. Yet she followed closely behind, with both speed and power right on point. From her shoulders to her firm forearms, her body formed a straight line, and the muscles that bulged were clearly visible—a result of long-term fitness. She wasn’t bulky like a man, but rather slender and strong, perhaps the very definition of being both lean and fit.

Gu Yanzhi released an arrow and then turned her head to look at her. “Dr. Lu, I also shot a perfect ten~”

Her ninth arrow was also a perfect ten, so the final arrow would decide the winner.

Lu Qingshi raised her arm, aligning her eye with the sight, holding her breath and calming her mind. Beside her, the sound of a sonic boom caused by a high-speed object slicing through the air could be heard.

At the critical moment, she also released her arrow, and both arrows simultaneously and steadily embedded into the target paper.

Two perfect tens, a tie. The first round was over.

Lu Qingshi put down her bow and glanced at her. “I didn’t expect you to be quite skilled.”

Gu Yanzhi picked up the iced water from the table and drank deeply, a towel draped around her neck. Transparent droplets slid from her chin down to her slender collarbones.

She nonchalantly wiped the water from the corner of her lips. “Dr. Lu can actually give compliments?”

Whether it was those two days in the hospital or at the emergency scene, Lu Qingshi had spoken very little.

Lu Qingshi pressed her lips tightly. “Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Gu Yanzhi stretched her muscles and bones. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a good time. Shall we go another round?”

Lu Qingshi naturally had no objections.

Thus, the competition stalemated through the fifth round, with each round consisting of ten arrows, and neither side gaining an advantage.

After the fifth round, Lu Qingshi was slightly panting, her chest rising and falling.

Gu Yanzhi glanced at her. “Want to go again?”

“Let’s go!” came the unwavering voice.

Seeing her draw another arrow and nock it¹, Gu Yanzhi naturally wasn’t willing to be outdone.

“Whoosh——” A hole was punctured in the center of the target paper, another perfect ten.

Gu Yanzhi glanced at the thin layer of sweat beading on her forehead. Suddenly, a wave of guilt washed over her. After all, the other party was an ordinary person without special training. Even if her stamina was better than most women, she was, at the core, still just an ordinary person.

She spoke softly, “Dr. Lu…”

Lu Qingshi looked over, her face expressionless, but the black and white clarity of her eyes unmistakably showed a trace of stubbornness.

Well, still an ordinary person unwilling to be outdone.

Lu Qingshi released the final arrow first. Although her posture and focus were impeccable, if one observed closely, it wasn’t hard to notice her hand holding the bow was slightly trembling.

Her stamina had reached its limit.

Sure enough, the final arrow scored a nine.

Lu Qingshi put down her bow, her lips still tightly pressed. Her chest was rising and falling, and she tilted her head to look at her, seemingly a bit concerned about her result. The way she pretended not to care for some reason made her feel a bit amused.

Li Datou kept frantically making eye signals. “Sis! Sis! I’m begging you! I still want to keep my business running!”

Gu Yanzhi pretended not to see, drew her bow and nocked an arrow, adjusted her breathing, and slightly squinted her eyes. She took especially long to prepare for this shot. Lu Qingshi watched her silently, also adjusting her breathing.

Finally——

“Whoosh——” The sound of breaking through the air echoed, and the target paper opposite was deeply pierced, wood chips flying everywhere.

Gu Yanzhi put down her bow and plopped down, saying, “Ah, I can’t do it anymore, I’m out of strength.”

After seeing her score clearly, Lu Qingshi’s lips pressed even tighter. On the boundary between eight and nine rings, someone who could clearly hit nine or even ten rings deliberately lost to her. Did she think she couldn’t tell?

“I don’t need you to let me win,” Lu Qingshi raised her bow again, her voice a few degrees colder.

Gu Yanzhi laughed, a light and bright smile, showing particularly white teeth. She walked over to her and gently pushed aside her arrow.

“Dr. Lu, aren’t you tired? Always so tense, it’s just archery, the point is to have fun.”

She extended her hand, “I’ve moved here for a while but haven’t officially introduced myself. I’m Gu Yanzhi, a frontline female firefighter. You are a great opponent, and I enjoyed competing with you.”

Under the bright lights of the archery hall, her smile was dazzling and radiant. Lu Qingshi was momentarily stunned, looking at the hand in front of her, still not used to this sudden breaking of distance.

She felt that she and Gu Yanzhi were just passing acquaintances, merely unexpected neighbors, only meeting briefly at an emergency scene, and engaging in a seemingly inexplicable competition. It didn’t seem like they were close enough to warrant a handshake.

So she took a step back to increase the distance, nodded in acknowledgment, “Your archery skills are excellent and precise. I look forward to learning from you in the future.”

Watching her departing figure, Gu Yanzhi rubbed her short hair somewhat puzzled and asked Li Datou, “Did I say something wrong?”

Li Datou hurriedly ushered her out like sending off a plague god, “I beg you, please don’t come again. Let’s find another place to drink, drink.”

While saying goodbye outside the shop, Gu Yanzhi suddenly became serious, “Datou, have you ever thought about coming back?”

Li Datou looked at the dark sky and the distant neon lights outside the alley, shaking his head, “Captain, I can’t go back.”

1. Nock it: The action of setting an arrow on the bowstring in preparation for shooting.