The Little Surgeon's Guide to the Wheelchair Iceberg Sister - Chapter 4

Jin City’s Emerging Technology Industrial Park, located right next to Jinda University, primarily hosts small tech companies. It offers numerous incentives and support for young entrepreneurs, with the slogan: “The Launchpad for Aspiring Dreamers.”

Tao Yuan’s father’s company, Xizhi Technology, was one of the first to move into the park. This year marked its twelfth anniversary. In the height of summer, the park was lush with shade, and the ceaseless chirping of cicadas filled the air.

Tao Yuan took Wu Shuang, who had said “anything is fine,” to a modern Sichuan restaurant in the park across from the hospital, a place she had visited many times.

The small restaurant was decorated in a modern, artistic style with a blue and white color scheme. The entrance was small, but thankfully, the floor was level.

Tao Yuan wheeled herself forward, skillfully leaning her upper body back to lift the small front wheels of her wheelchair over a three-centimeter-high threshold. Then, she pushed the large wheels forward, and the rear wheels glided smoothly into the restaurant.

Wu Shuang was impressed by Tao Yuan’s mastery of her wheelchair. She seemed like a character from a martial arts novel—someone whose physical disability in no way hindered her ability to channel her inner strength.

This made Wu Shuang feel that offering to push the wheelchair might have been a bit presumptuous. Although she had pushed wheelchairs for patients in the hospital, she knew that manually propelling one was an arduous task.

Led by a server, the two were seated by a window. Outside, a row of blue and purple hydrangeas were in full bloom, their beauty subtle and romantic under the glow of the setting sun.

The waiter handed them an iPad to order. Wu Shuang smiled. “You’ve been here before, so you should decide. I don’t have any dietary restrictions, I can eat anything.”

Tao Yuan didn’t insist. He ordered two of the house specialties—one mildly spicy, one not and a side of stir-fried vegetables.

“The portions here are huge, so I didn’t order too much. You can add anything else you’d like,” he said, turning the iPad and pushing it toward Wu Shuang. “I don’t have any restrictions either, as long as it’s not too spicy.”

As she leaned in, Wu Shuang caught the faint, elegant scent of woody perfume clinging to him. It made her heart flutter.

“Can we get a Basque cheesecake? For dessert,” she asked cheerfully.

“Sure,” Tao Yuan replied, his smile still lingering. “I love their Basque cheesecake.”

Wu Shuang noticed that when they were alone, Tao Yuan’s usual sharp aura from their group gatherings vanished, replaced by a gentle, approachable warmth.

“Is it tiring to wheel yourself around?” she blurted out.

The question was so abrupt that Tao Yuan’s brow furrowed in surprise. “Not really,” he answered.

There was no forced nonchalance in his tone, nor any hint of complaint or desire to explain his disability.

It was clear he didn’t want to dwell on the subject, yet he showed no awkwardness or embarrassment. He simply turned to look out the window, letting the silence cool the atmosphere.

Fortunately, the hot food arrived just in time.

Wu Shuang had spent her lunch break writing orders for newly admitted patients and hadn’t eaten a proper meal. By now, she was absolutely starving. When Tao Yuan picked up her chopsticks, Wu Shuang didn’t stand on ceremony and quickly grabbed a slice of meat, popping it into her mouth.

It was indeed fragrant and tender, with the characteristic flavors of Sichuan cuisine but without the intense heat.

“This is delicious!” Wu Shuang gave a supportive thumbs-up.

“Eat more if you like it,” Tao Yuan said with a smile.

“I can make Shuizhu Rou too, and I don’t use the pre-made sauce packets!” Wu Shuang’s mood lifted as she enjoyed the food, and she started chatting more.

“It sounds complicated to make,” Tao Yuan remarked.

“Yes, there are quite a few steps, but it’s not actually hard. You don’t have to watch the pot the whole time. You just need to plan each step in your head beforehand, then manage your time…”

“You make it sound interesting. You must be a good cook,” Tao Yuan said. Before she started eating, she had pulled out a hair tie from somewhere and bound her hair into a thick ponytail.

With her full face now visible, the person sitting across from her couldn’t help but shift their gaze from her beautiful eyes to her high, straight nose. She looked even more like a mature, sophisticated older sister now.

“I’m a pretty decent cook. Let me tell you, I can prepare a feast for eight people all by myself in a single morning! I don’t find it tiring at all, mostly because I enjoy it.” Wu Shuang felt a surge of pride, like a peacock spreading its feathers. “What about you, Taozi? Do you like cooking?”

“I’m not really into cooking,” Tao Yuan said. “Cooking and eating alone, then having to do the dishes… it takes so much time. It just doesn’t seem worth it.”

Wu Shuang suddenly remembered her past five “butch lesbians.” They must have been the ones cooking for Tao Yuan back then, she thought. Maybe they weren’t any good at it, which is why they broke up. The thought made her giggle foolishly.

“What’s so funny?” Tao Yuan asked.

“Nothing,” Wu Shuang replied, covering her mouth.

“Are you laughing at me for not cooking? Actually, I spend most of my day in this complex. Our company is right over there,” Tao Yuan said, pointing out the window. But the twilight had already settled in, obscuring the view.

“It’s too dark to see, but it’s not far from here, maybe a hundred meters. Sometimes I eat at the cafeteria, and other times I order takeout with my colleagues.”

“What exactly do you do? You seem so busy,” Wu Shuang asked curiously.

Tao Yuan gave a brief explanation. They were developing a companion AI for college students, focusing on literature retrieval, thesis assistance, and psychological support.

“To be more specific, what sets us apart from the popular AI on the market—the ones called sycophantic AI…”

“Sycophantic AI,” Wu Shuang interjected.

“Exactly. Sycophantic AI is often unsuitable for teenagers. While college students aren’t technically teenagers, they still retain some of those adolescent traits. If an AI just constantly panders to them, it’s not a good thing…”

Wu Shuang loved seeing Tao Yuan talk about his work. She beamed with delight. “What you’re building is so meaningful! I’d love to try it out sometime!”

“Thank you. It still has a lot of issues as a commercial product, though. When you’re free, I’d love to invite you to our office to see it!” Tao Yuan finished speaking and signaled the waiter to bring the pumpkin Basque cheesecake.

Wu Shuang didn’t overthink whether his invitation was just a polite gesture. The mere thought of spending more time with Taozi made her face flush red with excitement.

A slice of pumpkin Basque cheesecake was placed on the table. Wu Shuang laughed. “Haha, it’s so small! Let me see if it tastes better than the one I make!”

Tao Yuan blinked, encouraging her to take the first bite. Wu Shuang scooped up a large piece with her spoon and savored it slowly.

“Mmm, the flavor is rich and the texture is very smooth. But I still prefer my own version, it has more of a rustic, grainy feel!”

“You’re very confident,” Tao Yuan said, taking a bite himself and nodding in agreement.

After another long silence, Wu Shuang clenched her slightly sweaty palms and mustered the courage to ask, “Can I invite you to my place for dinner?”

“Huh?”

Tao Yuan’s attention was fixed on Wu Shuang’s hand, which she had unconsciously clenched.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t an exceptionally beautiful hand. It was just a bit paler than average, with well-defined knuckles and naturally light pink nails. There was a strange, inexplicable sense of familiarity to it.

“Huh? What did you say?” Tao Yuan asked.

“Oh? Nothing…” Wu Shuang suddenly lost her nerve.

Tao Yuan shrugged and didn’t press her.

Perhaps it was because the silence between them had been so prolonged, but Wu Shuang couldn’t shake the feeling that Tao Yuan was preoccupied. His stunningly beautiful eyes rarely met her face, instead drifting to the window, occasionally glancing at her hand, as if lost in thought.

“Are you usually busy? What do you do for fun outside of work?” Thankfully, Tao Yuan finally took the initiative to ask a friendly question, his gaze sweeping over her hand once more.

Wu Shuang’s face lit up. “Me? I love hiking, climbing mountains, and all sorts of outdoor activities! Xiao Shu and I actually met during a hiking trip to see the autumn leaves in the wild mountains. It was so much fun. How about you? Do you like the outdoors?”

Tao Yuan took a sip of water and said softly, “My health makes it difficult, so I rarely go out.”

Wu Shuang immediately regretted her words, her mood plummeting to a new low. “Sorry, did I…?”

“It’s fine,” Tao Yuan interrupted.

But Wu Shuang couldn’t let it go. “If you want to enjoy the scenery, most outdoor spots are accessible by car. You could just stay in the car, Taozi…”

“I said it’s fine.” Tao Yuan’s voice rose, and the same faint, mocking smile he’d worn at the party appeared on his face.

A sharp, commanding aura seemed to radiate from his spine, reminding Wu Shuang of a character from a martial arts novel.

Sensing the conversation had turned sour, she defeatistly scraped away the last bit of Basque cheesecake.

“Are you full?” Tao Yuan asked. “Anyway, thank you, Little Dr. Wu.”

“No need for thanks, it’s just my job,” Wu Shuang said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “If anyone else in your company needs help… I mean, everyone gets sick sometimes.”

“You don’t need to be so nervous,” Tao Yuan said, his eyes curving into a smile as the tension around him seemed to soften. “I’m not that sensitive.”

Wu Shuang smiled and leaned back into her chair. “Yes, what I meant was, if you ever need help with registration or prescriptions, I still have some connections here at the hospital.”

Tao Yuan shook his hair loose. The restaurant’s lighting cast a soft glow around him as his hair fell.

But his face wore a mocking smile. “Jinda First Affiliated Hospital is too big. Everything’s a hassle. The doctors are generally arrogant and lack any real sense of compassion. That’s why I go to the community clinic for my routine check-ups and prescriptions.”

Wu Shuang had graduated from Jinda University and had always been proud to work at this top-ten national hospital. Hearing Tao Yuan say this, she couldn’t help but retort, “The doctors at community clinics mostly handle simple cases. The experienced ones are fine, but the ones with less experience often delay diagnosis. I’m constantly receiving referrals from lower-level hospitals where the surgeries were a complete mess…”

Tao Yuan’s tone remained calm and unhurried. “Alright, I was just saying that my personal experience at Jinda First Affiliated wasn’t great…”

“What was so bad about it? I heard our Rehabilitation Department’s proposal this year was for accessibility upgrades, and they’ve already made improvements across all wards. If you have any suggestions, Tao Yuan, just tell me. We can all make improvements…”

Tao Yuan had initially thought Wu Shuang was just a junior doctor, fiercely loyal to her workplace, and though a bit dense, she possessed a rare kind of innocence. But at the mention of the “Rehabilitation Department,” Tao Yuan scoffed.

“Fine. I hope you guys keep improving,” Tao Yuan said. She usually avoided arguments, but seeing Wu Shuang’s face flush with embarrassment, she felt a sudden urge to tease her. “Your Rehabilitation Department is the worst one I’ve ever visited.”

Wu Shuang felt a wave of injustice wash over her. She had desperately wanted to make a good impression on Tao Yuan, but throughout the entire meal, she’d been so tongue-tied they couldn’t find a single common ground. Now, even the job she took so much pride in was being looked down upon.

Normally, Wu Shuang would have fought tooth and nail to defend her honor. But facing the girl she liked, she became exceptionally sensitive. A few sharp words were enough to break her defenses, and she no longer had the strength to argue.

“Our hospital does have a lot of problems,” Wu Shuang said, her head bowed.

Seeing her so utterly defeated, Tao Yuan lost interest. She paid the bill and said goodbye to Wu Shuang at the restaurant entrance.

Wu Shuang walked back to her rented apartment, her shoulders slumped in defeat. They say beautiful women are the best liars, and it’s true, she thought bitterly. Who insults someone’s workplace to their face? How low-EQ! Ugh, I’m so pissed!

Ding—

Her phone buzzed with a notification: this week’s Organic Ox-Horse video had been posted. The moment Wu Shuang opened the app, she saw over a dozen comments, some begging her to stay, others offering words of encouragement. The warmth of their messages pulled her out of her icy mood, bringing tears to her eyes.

“Madam, I just found your treasure of a blog, why are you taking a hiatus? (Crying face)”

“Go Little Cow, go! We’ll be waiting for your triumphant return! Oli Ge!”

Wu Shuang cheered up and replied to each comment with a thank you, pinning a message promising she would definitely return in a year.

Just as she was about to log off, she saw a comment from a fan named Qiyue Liuhuo under her pinned post: “Waiting for your return ^^”

Though Qiyue Liuhuo had been commenting on her videos since last year, and the profile picture looked familiar, Wu Shuang’s tear-filled eyes suddenly widened. She felt a jolt of recognition, sensing a strange similarity between this user’s profile picture and the background of Taozi’s Moments on WeChat.

She zoomed in on the profile picture. It was a cat with a “yin-yang” face, one side black and the other orange, looking as if it had been hastily patched together from scraps of fabric. The fur on its body was even more chaotic than on its face, a jumbled mess of black and orange that looked like it had been scorched by fire.

Wu Shuang opened her WeChat group chat, found TY’s Moments background, and compared the two carefully. However, she discovered they were still quite different:

First, Taozi’s cat had a black left face and an orange right face, while Qiyue Liuhuo’s was the exact opposite. Second, Qiyue Liuhuo’s kitten was tiny and frail, whereas Taozi’s cat was so fat that its flesh seemed to overflow from its face and body.

Wu Shuang had never kept a pet. If she ever did, she’d only want a large, friendly dog like a Golden Retriever that could guard the house. She didn’t know much about cats, and this particular coat pattern wasn’t her cup of tea.

Driven by curiosity, Wu Shuang replied to Qiyue Liuhuo’s comment: “Thanks, babe! By the way, what kind of cat is in your profile picture?”

Qiyue Liuhuo was still online and replied instantly: “A tortoiseshell. A Chinese domestic shorthair. ^^”

Wu Shuang sent another message: “Haha, it looks so different from other cats. It’s really unique.”

Qiyue Liuhuo replied: “Every cat is unique. Tortoiseshells aren’t considered beautiful by many, but she has a gentle, affectionate personality. The more you raise her, the more you love her.”

Not knowing what to say, Wu Shuang just sent a thumbs-up emoji.

Lying in bed that night, Wu Shuang thought about the tortoiseshell cat again, reminding herself that judging by appearances was always a mistake. For example, although Tao Yuan was handsome, he was flippant and his words were harsh. She really shouldn’t have let a single meeting make her so infatuated.

After figuring this out, Wu Shuang fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, she received an invitation from A Qing to meet up over the weekend. Wu Shuang also wanted to give them both a chance to get to know each other better.

Wu Shuang: Wow! Thanks for the invite, A Qing. I’m on call every weekend this year, but I can sneak away for a few hours during the day. How about we grab lunch and do some light shopping near Jinda First Affiliated Hospital this Saturday?

A Qing replied with a “thumbs up” emoji.

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