No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 68

Shu Luo was enrolled in a seven-year integrated Master’s-Doctoral program.

The curriculum was rigorous: three years of general and basic medical education followed by four years of clinical medical education. During their time at school, a “two-stage mentor system” was implemented. In the basic medicine stage, students were assigned mentors to guide them through 8 to 12 weeks of scientific research training. During their clinical specialized internship, they were assigned a second mentor to oversee the completion of their Master’s thesis.

Securing an exchange opportunity with a medical university in Canada was incredibly rare. No matter what, Shu Luo was determined to go.

On the day of their departure, Chen Cheng was intimidated by the sheer size of Shu Luo’s send-off party.

Shu’s father, Shu’s mother, little Shu Yin, Jiang Qin, Casso, and Jiang Mu. Six people in total.

Shu Luo felt a bit helpless but went to each person one by one for a parting embrace. His final hug was for Jiang Mu. It felt bittersweet; for the first time, he saw an emotion in Jiang Mu’s eyes he had never seen before—true sadness.

“Bro, let’s stay in touch,” Shu Luo whispered.

Jiang Mu held him tightly, reluctant to let go. They had never been apart for long, and the prospect of four years was a difficult pill to swallow. However, in front of so many people, he couldn’t do anything too intimate. He settled for a soft kiss on Shu Luo’s forehead, his fingers lingering there in an affectionate gesture.

To an outsider, it might have seemed a bit too close, but everyone knew how bonded they were, so Shu’s mother and Jiang Qin didn’t think much of it. Shu’s father, however, had a dark expression—though he secretly thought going abroad was good, as the two needed some distance. Casso stood by with a knowing smile.

Chen Cheng, who had no family there to see him off, looked a bit lonely.

Finally, Shu Luo gave Jiang Mu a manly thump on the chest. “Wait for me to come back.”

Looking at the high-spirited Shu Luo, Jiang Mu managed a heartfelt smile. Time seemed to freeze in that moment, under the autumn sun. The temporary separation of these two young men was merely a prelude to a better future.

Outside, the sun was still blazing, warming everyone’s hearts. The airport was a flurry of people coming and going, the sound of rolling luggage sharp and clear.

When I return after my studies, everything will be even better. I’m sure of it! Shu Luo thought.

As Jiang Mu watched Shu Luo’s retreating figure, he felt the lean silhouette becoming even more captivating, making his heart race. Though he felt the ache of parting, he had no reason to block Shu Luo’s right to pursue his dreams.

Jiang Mu, dressed in his sharp suit, retracted his gentle gaze once Shu Luo disappeared from sight. From now on, he would store up all his tenderness, waiting to give it all back to his beloved the moment Shu Luo returned.

Chen Cheng quickly followed Shu Luo, feeling a bit wistful. Their mentor was already waiting for them at McGill University in Canada.

Both students had earned their place there through outstanding academic records. Being able to study at McGill—often referred to as the “Harvard of the North” and, along with the University of Toronto, one of the “twin stars” of Canadian higher education—was a prestigious honor.

The application process had begun a year in advance. They had provided excellent high school and university transcripts, and both had scored over 100 on the TOEFL, which secured their rare spots in the Faculty of Medicine.

The plane soared through the white clouds, heading toward a new country. During the flight, Chen Cheng leaned over to whisper something to Shu Luo.

“Shu Luo… actually, I don’t have a lot of money for this trip.”

Shu Luo blinked at him. “What do you mean?”

Chen Cheng looked a bit embarrassed. “I didn’t want to miss this opportunity, but I’ll probably have to find a part-time job once we get there to cover my tuition and daily expenses.”

Shu Luo’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you tell your parents?”

The cost of studying abroad was staggering, often requiring 200,000 to 300,000 RMB per year. It was a burden most average families couldn’t bear.

Chen Cheng was silent for a moment. “My parents gave me 400,000, but it’s not enough. I have to work my way through school.”

Shu Luo mentally calculated how much he had in his own bank account. Truthfully, he didn’t know; he rarely spent money and didn’t care for shopping. Before he left, Jiang Mu had pressed an international credit card into his hand.

“How about… I lend you some first?” Shu Luo offered.

Chen Cheng knew Shu Luo came from a wealthy background, but he couldn’t bring himself to borrow money from a friend. Seeing his expression, Shu Luo realized he wouldn’t accept. I’ll check my balance once we get to Canada, Shu Luo thought. I’ll help where I can; maybe we can even look out for each other while working.

It was early spring in Canada, and the temperature was only in the low teens (Celsius). When they stepped off the plane, both boys began to shiver. They looked at each other and immediately hailed a taxi to the university.

Since they didn’t speak French, getting a cab was a struggle, but the driver eventually understood “McGill University” in English.

Their mentor was a man named Lin Ruishen, a fifty-year-old doctor who had also graduated from McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and now taught at S-Medical University. After picking them up and taking them to the student apartments, he told them to rest before he gave them a tour of the campus.

The historic architecture seemed to radiate a thick, rigorous academic atmosphere. Even though it was the lunch hour, they could see many students lying on the lawns, absorbed in their books.

Professor Lin had arranged apartment-style dorms for them where they could cook for themselves, fearing they wouldn’t get used to the local cuisine. Shu Luo was very pleased with the room; it was completely different from the dorms back home. It felt like a small, fully-equipped apartment.

“Chen Cheng, do you know how to cook?”

Chen Cheng was silent for a long moment, then shook his head.

Shu Luo: “…” At least be honest about it; I won’t laugh.

It looked like they’d be eating at the cafeteria.

The university had many departments and was too large to see in one go, so Professor Lin gave them a general overview. Chen Cheng then took the opportunity to ask about part-time work.

Professor Lin frowned slightly but showed understanding. “Part-time work?”

“Yes,” Chen Cheng said honestly. “I’m worried my tuition won’t be enough.”

Professor Lin thought for a moment. “I do know of one opening, but I’m not sure if you’ll accept it.”

“I’ll take anything.”

“Dog walking.”

Chen Cheng: “…” That’s a bit unexpected. Dog walking counts as a part-time job?

Sensing Chen Cheng’s confusion, Professor Lin smiled. “This isn’t an easy dog to walk. Think about it. I believe the professor is offering $50 a day, with weekends off.”

“$50?!” Chen Cheng’s eyes lit up. That was over 200 RMB a day!

No matter how difficult the dog was, Chen Cheng nodded immediately. Professor Lin wrote down a name and phone number on a sticky note. “I’ll give him a call first and ask him to get back to you.”

“Great. You two should relax today. I’ll assign your tasks tomorrow.”

After Professor Lin left, the two began happily wandering around the campus. Shu Luo nudged Chen Cheng’s arm. “Hey, what are you thinking? You’re really going to take a dog-walking job?”

“I have to think about my family,” Chen Cheng said. “Studying abroad is expensive. A year here for tuition and living costs is at least 100,000 to 200,000 RMB. I have to save. Fortunately, the cost of living here isn’t too high. If I walk the dog for $50 a day, excluding weekends, that’s 22 days a month. 22 times 50 is $1,100—nearly 6,000 RMB! In a year, that’s over 60,000 RMB. That professor must be loaded!”

Shu Luo arched an eyebrow, watching Chen Cheng do the math. He began to wonder if he should find something to do as well. After all, he was going to be here for four years; he couldn’t just let the time slip by.