Don't Give Your Heart to Your Nemesis - Chapter 19

The day after the race ended, Yan Ruixing was heading to the airport with his luggage, only to be forcibly dragged to a theme park, suitcases and all, by Wen Xiaomian.

Standing amidst a sea of children, looking at the vibrant, colorful gates, Yan Ruixing’s anger was at eighty percent capacity. “Find someone else for your childishness. I do not have time to play with you.”

Wen Xiaomian ignored him, simply handing over an ice cream cone. “Here, strawberry flavored.”

Yan Ruixing took a lick, his anger softening slightly. “I am leaving as soon as I finish this.”

Wen Xiaomian bit off half of Mickey Mouse’s head. “Since we are already here, let us at least take a photo with Nick and Judy before you go.”

“You could not even sit through the movie. Why take a photo?” Yan Ruixing not only thought he was being boring but suspected he was actually ill.

“It is a dying wish. Is that not allowed?”

Yan Ruixing: “…”

You certainly have a lot of dying wishes.

Yan Ruixing’s attitude improved a fraction. “One photo, then we leave.”

A 186-centimeter tall handsome man squeezed in among toddlers and women, ate ice cream and popcorn, bought balloons and headbands, and posed with giant humanoid rabbits and foxes. He even kept dragging Yan Ruixing over to take pictures for him.

The 186-centimeter man had absolutely no burden of image. He did not care about his status or net worth; his only concern was whether Yan Ruixing had made him look ugly in the photos.

After the photos were done, the man shamelessly went on the merry-go-round, the Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, and the Woody’s Roundup. He ate chicken cutlet rice and pineapple pizza at the themed restaurant, and still, Wen Xiaomian refused to leave.

Yan Ruixing’s fury had accumulated to 9.9 out of 10. Just before the explosion, Wen Xiaomian shoved a plush dog in his face.

“Calm down, Doctor Yan.”

Yan Ruixing took the plush dog, patted its soft head, and swallowed the insults he had ready for Wen Xiaomian.

Wen Xiaomian stood with his hands in his pockets, squinting at Yan Ruixing’s expression as he looked at the toy. “It is so ugly. I have no idea what you like about it.”

“I would not say I like it, but it reminds me of you.”

Wen Xiaomian looked pleased, reaching out to pinch the dog’s ear. “And so?”

Yan Ruixing slapped his hand away. “When I am in a bad mood, I can punch it to vent.”

“Should I buy a few more so you can rotate them?”

“No need.” Yan Ruixing walked ahead, clutching the dog. “I prefer to focus on bullying just one.”

Wen Xiaomian laughed and followed.

After the fireworks show, as they approached the exit, Wen Xiaomian looked back at the castle and turned to Yan Ruixing. “You did not take a single photo.”

“I do not have as many dying wishes as you.”

“But I have one more.”

Yan Ruixing stopped. “What else?”

“A photo together.” Wen Xiaomian pulled out his phone.

Wen Xiaomian was half a head taller and much stronger. Yan Ruixing could not struggle free as his neck was hooked in a strong arm, and their only joint photo was snapped.

Yan Ruixing adjusted his wrinkled collar, looking fierce. “Let me see it.”

“In your dreams.” Wen Xiaomian clicked the screen off and kicked the phone back into his pocket. “You look so ugly in it that if I gave it to you, you would delete it instantly.”

“WEN! XIAO! MIAN!”

“Let us go! Time to go home!”

Three days after returning from Shanghai, Wen Xiaomian left his company and drove to the provincial hospital’s garage.

Just as he parked, Guo Hao called. “Boss, the restaurant is asking if they should start stewing the dried abalone, fish maw, and shark fin yet?”

Wen Xiaomian checked his watch. “In twenty minutes.”

“Understood, Boss.”

Wen Xiaomian reminded him, “Have the kitchen soak an extra portion of dried ingredients. If it gets too late, restew it.”

Normal clock-out time was 6:00 PM, but given that a certain someone frequently worked overtime, these high-end ingredients would lose nutritional value and taste if stewed for too long.

Wen Xiaomian held his phone, editing a text several times: “What a coincidence, right? I just happened to open a restaurant near your hospital. I remember a certain someone likes soup? Do you want to come over for a free poison test?”

He edited the message but hesitated and did not send it. Yan Ruixing never replied to messages during work; it was faster to just corner him. If he refused, Wen Xiaomian could always use physical persuasion.

Instead, he texted Hu Xiaona: “How much longer until work is over?”

Hu Xiaona: “Already off! Hahahaha!” Hu Xiaona: “As of today, Hu the Ox and Hu the Horse are no longer beasts of burden, but a Hu the Ox and Hu the Horse who got off work early hahahahahaha!”

“Is he off too?”

Hu Xiaona: “No, I think he went to the Equipment Department.”

“When is he getting off?”

Hu Xiaona: “Emmmmm.”

“Speak up, stop writing children’s literature.”

Hu Xiaona: “Doctor Yan left with Director Chen.”

“Doing what?”

Hu Xiaona: “How would a beast-of-burden student dare to ask about the mentor’s business? Anyway, they left together.” Hu Xiaona: “Go for it, handsome! I will always support you!”

Yan Ruixing’s location was still at the hospital. Wen Xiaomian dialed him directly. “When are you getting off work?”

Before Yan Ruixing could speak, another man’s voice came through the receiver: “Ruixing, come look at this.”

“Okay, coming.” Yan Ruixing turned back to the phone. “I will probably be late. Go home early and do not wander around. I have work, goodbye.”

The call disconnected with a series of beeps.

Wen Xiaomian stared at the disconnected call, his ears ringing with that other man’s voice: “Ruixing, come look at this.”

Look at my foot!

Equipment Department, 11th floor. Yan Ruixing was calibrating an instrument newly arrived from Germany, his excitement palpable.

Thanks to Wen Xiaomian’s sponsorship, an additional two million, they had secured the second-generation instrument, which offered even higher precision.

Chen Wen pushed his glasses up and smiled. “It seems Doctor Yan is very satisfied with the equipment.”

“Yes. Suddenly, I have even more confidence.”

“Then, do you still need a first assistant?”

Yan Ruixing looked up. “Huh?”

“Or, let me put it another way.” Chen Wen’s tone was gentle, his gaze serious and steady. “For this surgery, the first of its kind in the country, I wonder if I might have the opportunity to serve as Doctor Yan’s first assistant?”

Usually, a first assistant is an assistant physician or a trainee. When Yan Ruixing was an exchange student in Germany, he had been Chen Wen’s first assistant.

In terms of status, a Deputy Director does not serve as a first assistant to an Attending Physician. But this surgery was profoundly significant, and Yan Ruixing desperately needed Chen Wen’s expertise.

Yan Ruixing’s eyes lit up. “I do need you.”

“I am honored to witness this surgery with you.”

“Thank you.” Yan Ruixing bowed deeply. “Thank you, Director Chen.”

“Do not be so formal with me.” Chen Wen checked his watch. “It is late. Shall we grab dinner together?”

Yan Ruixing nodded. “Whatever you would like. My treat.”

“I have already booked a restaurant. It is a new Cantonese place on West Street, near the hospital,” Chen Wen said. “You can treat me next time.”

Wen Xiaomian fell asleep in his car and was jolted awake by Guo Hao’s call. “Boss, if we do not pull it out of the pot now, the shark fin is going to turn into shark porridge.”

Wen Xiaomian checked the location. His heart skipped a beat; Yan Ruixing was already at the restaurant. Did he get word of it?

I have not even arrived yet, and he could not wait?

Feeling the excited pulse of the wristband, Wen Xiaomian spoke into the phone. “I am almost there. Get it on the table.”

Two minutes later, Wen Xiaomian arrived at the restaurant entrance.

After parking, he looked through the glass window and immediately identified Yan Ruixing by the window. There was another man sitting across from him.

It was a high-end restaurant with a beautiful environment. The two sat on opposite sides of a square table, the atmosphere warm and soft.

Chen Wen looked at the menu. “I heard the sea cucumber here is good. I remember you like it? Want to try?”

“Okay.”

Chen Wen told the waiter, “One serving, please.”

“Director Chen, you do not want any?”

“Did you forget? I am allergic to seafood.”

“I am sorry.” Yan Ruixing flipped through the menu, but it was a seafood restaurant, and the prices were incredibly expensive.

Yan Ruixing closed the menu. “Director Chen, let us go somewhere else. Do you want German food? I know a good place.”

“No need. If you like it, we stay here.” Chen Wen continued, “Would you like a little wine? A small amount of alcohol is good for your health.”

Yan Ruixing found it hard to refuse and nodded.

When the delicacies arrived and the wine was poured, the atmosphere was just right.

Chen Wen’s gaze followed him the entire time. “It seems this restaurant suits your taste?”

“It is alright. Every dish seems to understand me, and the flavors are very light.”

“As long as you like it.”

Before long, a waiter approached with a menu and said to Yan Ruixing, “Hello, sir. To celebrate our opening today, the owner is specially gifting a serving of Five-Year Dried Fish Maw stewed with Hartz Abalone. Would you like to try it?”

Yan Ruixing had seen the price when flipping through the menu earlier. This soup was the signature dish, priced at 1,888 per serving.

Suspecting he had misheard, Yan Ruixing asked specifically, “Are you sure it is a gift?”

The waiter smiled. “Yes, absolutely free. You can rest assured.”

Yan Ruixing looked at Chen Wen and said, “Then we will have two.”

“Certainly, sir.”

A few minutes later, the waiter brought a single serving of soup to Yan Ruixing.

Yan Ruixing: “I am sorry, I said two servings.”

The waiter maintained a professional smile. “I am sorry, sir. Our owner hates men who wear glasses, so there is none for the one wearing glasses.”

Yan Ruixing: “…”

“It is fine.” Chen Wen pushed his glasses up, easing the awkwardness. “Ruixing, you forgot. I am allergic to seafood; I cannot drink it anyway.”

The waiter left, and Yan Ruixing took a sip.

Chen Wen: “How does it taste?”

Yan Ruixing took another sip. “It is delicious.”

“If you like it, I will order another one to go.”

“No need. One is enough.”

Chen Wen swirled his wine glass. “Ruixing, I am curious. Why are you so obsessed with this surgery?”

“I want to give acoustic neuroma patients some new opportunities.”

In his years of practice, Yan Ruixing had seen too many patients troubled by after-effects, young girls in their prime and children who had not yet reached adulthood.

Under current craniotomy techniques, nerve damage was unavoidable, but they could not simply remain stagnant. Only by trying new techniques could they break the decades-long dilemma of acoustic neuroma treatment.

He did not just want to save lives; he wanted to preserve the patients’ appearance and dignity.

“What about yourself?” Chen Wen looked at him. “Have you not thought about your own future?”

Yan Ruixing was stunned. “What about me?”

“I know a bit about your family situation. So, have you still not found a bone marrow match?”

Yan Ruixing shook his head. Such things depended on luck and could not be forced.

“Ruixing, have you ever thought about returning to Germany?”

Although the domestic population base was large, match opportunities were limited by policies.

Chen Wen continued, “The medical level in Germany has always been at the forefront of the world, and targeted drugs are cheaper. Even if no match is found, there are more options.”

“I have not thought about it for now.” Yan Ruixing bit his lip. “It is an unfamiliar place.”

“I will go with you. My parents and friends are all there. You are excellent; you would have more and better development in Germany.”

Yan Ruixing gripped his soup spoon. “I am sorry, I only want to finish the surgery right now.”

“We will go after the surgery is over, okay?”

“Director Chen, you do not need to do this.”

“Ruixing, outside the hospital, we are no longer superior and subordinate. Can you call me A Wen, or call me Senior Brother like you used to?”

Yan Ruixing kept his head down and did not call him that.

“Ruixing, you understand my feelings.” Chen Wen reached out, attempting to grasp the other hand on the table.

Yan Ruixing’s reaction was swift; he pulled his hand back. “Director Chen, I am sorry. I thought I had made things clear to you.”

Chen Wen looked through his lenses. “Is there still no chance?”

“I am sorry, Director Chen.”

“Does it have to be a girl? Can you not accept this?”

“No.” Yan Ruixing corrected himself. “I do not know.”

Chen Wen smiled bitterly. “I thought your willingness to come to me for help meant you had changed your mind.”

“I am sorry, I may have misunderstood. In my heart, you are a respected senior and a trustworthy friend.”

The conversation ended there, but Chen Wen understood the subtext; a senior and a friend, but only a senior and a friend.

“I understand. Rest assured, regardless of our relationship, I will give my all to the surgery.”

“Thank you, Director Chen.”

Chen Wen had given up verbally, but his eyes and heart were still lingering. “Can I ask you a private question?”

“What?”

“What type of person do you like?”

Yan Ruixing did not know how to answer.

Chen Wen’s expression was like someone throwing a stone into calm water. “I really want to know. For a heart as cold as yours, what kind of person is qualified to warm it?”