Five Years of Studying Medicine, Three Years of Flirting With Guys - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Tang Linsheng pressed his palm to his forehead. It was over. The Senior had even brought out his “serious face” (the dreaded WeChat smile emoji). Ah! His image was completely ruined!

Tang Linsheng: Sorry, my hand slipped and I clicked the wrong one. Professor Tang, you… just ignore it, ignore it! [Hahahahahaha.jpg]

Future Partner Big Tangtang: It’s fine. It’s quite cute.

Quite… quite cute?? Was he talking about the emoji or about him?

Tang Linsheng felt a mix of inner turmoil and a strange sense of hope. Maybe the Senior had already discovered his sparkling points and was starting to take an interest in him! A sudden wave of heat surged through his body, rising steadily, a sensation particularly noticeable in the cool October air. Could the Senior be speaking with a double meaning? His face turned slightly red as he locked his phone and headed toward the subway station.

The WeChat notification sound rang again. Tang Linsheng whipped out his phone immediately. After reading it, he couldn’t suppress the growing grin on his face.

Future Partner Big Tangtang: Go back and rest early to recover your energy. There are many patients scheduled for angiograms on Thursday.

The Senior is caring about me!!

Oh my god! It looks like his previous “pursuit techniques” were working! He could continue using them next time!

He quickly typed a short reply, asked a friend for a new emoji, and made sure to look at it clearly before sending it over.

Tang Linsheng: Will do~

Tang Linsheng: [Animated Sticker]

…

Tang Linsheng (the senior) looked at the animated sticker Tang Linsheng (the junior) had sent: a GIF of the Teletubby Po lifting her skirt in a courtesy. His eyes filled with amusement.

It really is quite cute.

The tea break was almost over. He put his phone in his trouser pocket and threw the disposable paper cup into the recyclable bin.

“Professor Tang, I heard you were an expert in heart transplantation at the Hope Medical Center?”

Tang Linsheng (the senior) turned around. The speaker was a short, slightly plump man who looked both wise and steady. The person talking to him was one of the main committee members of the B-City Heart Association, and he was the one who had given the final speech before the tea break.

“Director Xu, you flatter me. I have only done some research into heart transplantation in the last two years.”

Director Xu handed him a business card and said with a smile, “Professor Tang is too modest. Although I haven’t personally seen you operate, the fact that Wei Yun asked you to participate in the B-City Heart Transplant Seminar today is enough to show his trust and regard for you. I heard that although you only began in-depth research into heart transplants two years ago, the few heart transplant surgeries performed at Hope Medical Center were all entrusted to you, and your failure rate as lead surgeon is zero.”

Tang Linsheng (the senior) accepted Director Xu’s card and placed it in the outer pocket of his suit jacket. He listened to Director Xu’s praise with a humble expression, responding neither haughtily nor humbly, “I still need to work harder and learn from seniors like yourself. What you just discussed on stage regarding perioperative cellular immune function monitoring in orthotopic heart transplantation…”

The Senior’s attitude was modest, looking very much like a junior eager to seek guidance. Director Xu saw that although this man was young, his surgical skills and professional expertise were comparable to those of the “old fossils” in the group, yet he remained entirely humble and studious in his presence.

Director Xu and Tang Linsheng (the senior) talked very congenially. This young man was patient and meticulous; as they discussed clinical experiences and research results, the two felt like old friends meeting for the first time. While Director Xu felt greatly relieved, he also felt a bit of sorrow: This talent that Old Man Wei had scouted from abroad was a true gem he must be made to stay in the country!

The two walked toward the meeting hall while chatting, the atmosphere harmonious. Other doctors nearby saw this and were secretly astonished: Director Xu, an old man with such a notorious temper, actually had a day where he chatted so happily with someone?

As the meeting was about to resume, Tang Linsheng (the senior) asked with a composed manner, “Director Xu, I have recently developed a research interest in end-stage multi-valvular disease. I wonder if you have any relevant data research on multi-valvular patients from the past two years?”

Director Xu thought seriously for a moment and nodded. “The year before last, there were several data records provided by resources covering most multi-valvular disease patients nationwide. If you want them, I’ll send them to you when I get back.”

The Senior’s lips curled into a polite smile as he replied, “Then I shall trouble Director Xu. I look forward to your guidance in the future.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all.” Director Xu laughed heartily and patted the junior on the shoulder. Seeing his elegant demeanor and extraordinary aura, he was truly satisfied in his heart.

There are over a million patients with multi-valvular disease in our country, and the literature recorded on his end alone included tens of thousands of cases; such research was no small undertaking. Director Xu thought to himself that he would help out more when the time came, and if Professor Tang needed it, he would arrange some staff to assist.

Tang Linsheng (the senior) sat in his seat and casually flipped through the conference brochure, but his thoughts had already drifted far away: I hope I’m still in time to find you.

====

Tang Linsheng (the junior) walked toward the subway station against the flow of commuters. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw a familiar figure crouching in a corner.

As he got closer, a side glance revealed it was the daughter of the patient who had the myocardial infarction while drunk last time. The girl was already thin and weak; seeing her huddled in a ball on the ground crying was both pitiful and heartbreaking. Passersby hurried past, though some stopped to offer comfort. The girl just kept crying; after bowing in thanks to those who comforted her, she turned to hide in a deeper, narrower alleyway.

Tang Linsheng (the junior) found it strange. Wasn’t the surgery on this girl’s father quite successful? He was supposedly staying in the Cardiology ward on the East Wing of the 8th floor. Why was she here crying like this?

Although he felt it was odd, he also felt he shouldn’t meddle in other people’s business, so he headed toward the subway entrance. But after walking a few steps down the stairs, he couldn’t help but turn around and walk back out.

The surgery was done by the Senior; logically speaking, everything should be fine.

He stood in front of the girl and asked softly, “Are you okay?”

The girl looked up, but seeing him only made her cry harder.

Seeing that he had inadvertently made things worse, Tang Linsheng (the junior) was at a loss. He asked hurriedly, “You… don’t cry. Is your father’s condition okay?”

The girl nodded while hiccupping and said through sobs, “It’s… it’s okay. I remember you. You were the one… who sent my dad to… to the hospital. I… I haven’t thanked you yet.”

Tang Linsheng (the junior) had never expected her thanks, especially not now! He didn’t dare let her thank him.

He quickly waved his hand and handed her a tissue, saying, “That… that’s good then. Professor Tang is very skilled at surgery. Your father’s surgery was successful at the time. If there’s any discomfort later, just tell the nurses or doctors directly.”

The girl took his tissue and covered her red, swollen eyes. The tissue was instantly soaked with tears.

She said brokenly, “My dad… his condition is stable now. I’m crying… not because of that…”

Perhaps it was because Tang Linsheng (the junior) had waited with her for the surgery results when her father was in the operating room, or perhaps because the pain in her heart had been suppressed for too long, she grabbed Tang Linsheng’s hand and wailed.

“I really… I really have no other way!”