Chapter 32

After leaving the conference room, Zhou Wangchuan returned to his clinic. He patiently answered a patient's question, picked up the plant on his desk, and left work on time.

In the first month after reconciling with Shang Mu, Shang Mu came to the hospital with him every weekend. In his free time, he helped decorate his clinic. Four more potted plants were added to the room.

Zhou Wangchuan was holding a pot of rich, green and white oil-painted arrowroot. This was Shang Mu's favorite pot, and he'd ask him to take photos every few days to check its health.

Walking over the dead leaves on the ground and arriving at the parking lot, Zhou Wangchuan carefully placed the arrowroot on the back seat, then started the car and drove to Shang Mu's company.

In the middle of the meeting, he called Shang Mu, his tone calm and steady, completely unlike the excitement in the conference room.

"I'll be there in about twenty minutes. Remember to wait for me in a heated area of ​​the building. Don't leave early or you'll get cold."

Shang Mu, who was standing opposite him, said "Oh" with a hint of teasing in his tone, "Hey, how come Dr. Zhou got off work on time today?"

Zhou Wangchuan said, "It's over."

"Is this true?"

"If you told me not to be such a pedantic scholar, I would have flipped the table over with him." Zhou Wangchuan said with a smile, "It feels good."

Shang Mu said, "You should have done this a long time ago. Ever since you changed this boss, you've been working overtime every day. You don't have time to take me out for a midnight snack, or to the movies or go shopping."

When Zhou Wangchuan heard the elevator bell, he knew that he had already gone downstairs, and hurriedly said, "Just wait for me in the building. Don't go to the street so early. I still have ten minutes to arrive." As he spoke, he increased the speed of the car.

Shang Mu tutted his words and complained, "It's annoying, you're meddling in other people's business."

Zhou Wangchuan said good-naturedly, "It's getting colder today, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."

Afraid that the other party would not listen, he threatened: "The wind is very strong today. If you stand on the street early to wait for me, what if the passing vehicles raise dust and dirty your clothes and shoes? Besides, the sand will fly into your hair, and what will happen to your new hairstyle?" He understood Shang Mu's cleanliness too well.

Sure enough, Shang Mu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, then don't hang up the phone. Tell me two minutes before you arrive and I'll come over."

Zhou Wangchuan agreed with a smile.

After picking up Shang Mu downstairs at the company, Zhou Wangchuan switched to soothing music and drove him to the restaurant.

The restaurant was one they frequented, and the dishes were the usual ones they ordered. However, Shang Mu was acting a bit strangely. He only casually picked up a few dishes with his chopsticks, then propped up his chin, staring at the bowl, wondering what was going on.

"What's wrong? Are you worried?"

Zhou Wangchuan asked him, and picked up another piece of his favorite dish with chopsticks and put it into his bowl.

Shang Mu came back to his senses, shook his head absentmindedly, and pressed his abdomen lightly with his hand under the table.

Zhou Wangchuan had long noticed his silence and distraction, and had assumed it was a work annoyance, but when he saw his movements, he asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Shang Mu shook his head again, his expression a little strange, and moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Zhou Wangchuan was worried, so he moved from across to sit next to him, took his wrist and checked his pulse, but found nothing unusual.

"I told you it's okay." Shang Mu pulled his wrist back and clenched the tablecloth in annoyance. He looked like an ant before a storm, whirling around in anxiety but trying his best to suppress it.

Zhou Wangchuan looked at the bulging blue veins on the back of his hand and guessed something.

"Baby." Zhou Wangchuan put his arm around his shoulders, gently stroked his back, and coaxed him in a soft voice, "Eat something first. We can discuss other matters slowly after we get home."

With the comfort, Shang Mu's stiff back gradually relaxed.

Zhou Wangchuan picked up some dishes, took them in his bowl, and passed them to his mouth: "Eat some, you can't not eat."

Shang Mu stared at the chopsticks at his mouth in resistance, but under Zhou Wangchuan's persuasion, he reluctantly opened his mouth and ate some.

After a while, Shang Mu nodded and signaled that he didn't want to eat anymore. He calmed down a little and started a new topic: "After you go to the hospital tomorrow, remember to water the green radish on the table. It's time to water it once every two weeks. Tomorrow is the time to water it."

"Okay." Zhou Wangchuan agreed, but then asked curiously, "Baby, didn't I just tell you that I told the dean and Director Xu that I wanted to resign? How did you know I was still going to work?"

Shang Mu sneered: "Come on, even if pigs fly in the sky and fish run on the ground, you can't resign from this hospital."

Zhou Wangchuan: “…”

Shang Mu said, "Didn't you say that the old doctor who performed the surgery on Aunt Cheng retired from this hospital? That's why you went to this hospital after graduation."

Zhou Wangchuan was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect Shang Mu still remembered the casual chat they had many years ago.

Shang Mu stretched out two fingers to pick up a piece of banana crisps, chewed it and ate it, then said: "So you are just trying to scare them, you won't really resign."

Zhou Wangchuan sighed, his eyes somewhat helpless, yet somewhat doting: "Yeah."

He spoke gently, "Many years ago, there was a case of this type of surgery. Because it was the first open-source case of its kind, it received widespread attention from academia, the medical community, and major media outlets before the operation, but the surgery failed. Afterwards, under the biased guidance of the family and the media, public opinion quickly fermented, the department was ordered to close for rectification, and the attending physician was forced to resign. This incident had such a huge impact that the relevant departments strictly prohibited its dissemination, and all files were transferred. Almost no information remains online. Almost twenty years later, and few people know about this incident."

"I used some means to find out the whole story of this incident." Zhou Wangchuan said slowly, "The surgeon in charge back then was Xu Yong."

Shang Mu was a little surprised, then frowned and said, "Since he has also undergone this kind of surgery, why is he still holding you back?"

Zhou Wangchuan said, "The closure of the entire department for overhaul would be a major event that would have shocked the industry even today. I understand his concerns. But times have changed. Theory and medical conditions have advanced significantly. I believe with a little push, he'll be able to relax. Furthermore, I'll need his help during the operation."

Shang Mu was not in the mood. He supported his chin with one hand and played with the exquisitely carved white radish flowers on the plate: "How many times have you pushed it?"

"I went crazy today and made my position clear. He knows he can't stop me from doing this surgery, so he will definitely carefully review the preoperative evaluation I submitted. But..."

Zhou Wangchuan smiled mysteriously. "I deliberately left an ambiguous loophole in the theoretical part. This loophole is exactly the theoretical gap he had when he performed the surgery. I believe that in the past twenty years, he has conducted deeper research on this area. I don't believe he can resist the temptation."

When he said this, there was a smile on his lips and his whole body exuded ease and composure.

"Furthermore, if this succeeds, it will clear the injustice of twenty years ago and resolve his emotional issues."

"You're still so considerate of others." Shang Mu began to get irritated again. He pursed his lips tightly, leaning against the chair as if trying to stand up, but then slumped back down. He clenched his fists, bent over, and pressed hard on his abdomen.

"Baby." Zhou Wangchuan put his arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry. Let me help you."

Shang Mu's breathing became a little rapid. He raised his head and stared at him silently.

"Relax, be good." Zhou Wangchuan slowly pried open his hand that was against his abdomen, replaced it with his own, and with a little force, he clenched his fist and crushed it against his abdomen.

It had been over two months since they reconciled in October, and Shang Mu hadn't looked for anyone to torture him with. Firstly, his stomach ailment hadn't healed, and he often felt uncomfortable and listless. Secondly... he didn't want to look for anyone else.

But... this thing can't be quit. It's more unbearable than smoking or even drug addiction.

When an attack occurs, he feels like ants are crawling all over his body, and he is restless and unable to concentrate on anything.

Zhou Wangchuan looked up a lot of information and read many records and replies from "like enthusiasts" on the forum. He came up with a solution - whenever Shang Mu couldn't help it, he would press Shang Mu's abdomen with his fist. The force was greater than usual, but it was within his control and would not hurt his internal organs.

Shang Mu survived the past two months with this method. However, it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause, and the attacks had become more frequent recently.

Soft music echoed in the restaurant. In the private room, Shang Mu leaned in Zhou Wangchuan's arms with his eyes closed, holding his wrist and thrusting hard into his abdomen.

Zhou Wangchuan looked at his trembling eyelashes, knowing that he was in pain, so he didn't stop him. After about half a minute, Zhou Wangchuan raised his wrist to offset the force and whispered, "Are you feeling better?"

Shang Mu opened his eyes and looked at him, his pale lips moving: "Press a little longer, harder."

Zhou Wangchuan added some strength, but still kept it within the precise control range.

After a while, Shang Mu regained his composure. He pushed Zhou Wangchuan's hand away, stood up expressionlessly, opened the door of the private room, and walked out without looking back, leaving behind only an indifferent back.

This was the first time Shang Mu had walked away since their reconciliation. The conflict that had been brewing for years wouldn't suddenly resolve; it still remained a hurdle between them.

Zhou Wangchuan picked up the coat he had forgotten on the chair and quickly followed.

Shang Mu had already left the restaurant. He stood by the roadside, the cold winter wind blowing. His back, clad only in a single layer of clothing, looked frail and desolate, like a weary wanderer with nowhere to turn.

"I have two wishes. I hope you abuse me, and I hope you don't leave. But if I can only choose one, I hope you don't leave."

Zhou Wangchuan remembered the message on the school hospital app. He quickly caught up with her, draped his coat over her thin shoulders, and said gently, "I'll take you to buy some cake. Are you hungry?"

Feeling the warmth on Shang Mu's shoulders and waist, the tension in his heart loosened. His stiff waist gradually relaxed, and he stared at the person in front of him, his eyes softening little by little. But his voice was still cold and hard: "Who cares?"

Zhou Wangchuan put his arms around his waist under his coat and gently rubbed and kneaded it: "I'm worried that you will be hungry at night."

"Then won't you cook for me in the evening?" Shang Mu was still unhappy. "What's the use of you?" He said with a double meaning.

The two of them were pressed together, and Zhou Wangchuan could clearly feel the other person's body tense up when he said this. He smiled and said, "Well, you can teach me slowly."

As they stared at each other, Shang Mu softened. He leaned forward slightly, nudging Zhou Wangchuan's cheek inconspicuously. Then, with a cold expression, he opened the passenger door and got in.

He caught a glimpse of the green in the back seat and asked, "Why did you put this pot of arrowroot in the back seat?"

Zhou Wangchuan fastened his seatbelt and started the car: "I brought it back for you to see. Isn't this your favorite?"

Shang Mu said "oh", looked at his phone and stopped talking.

Passing by Tingzhu Dessert Shop, Zhou Wangchuan got off the car to buy a strawberry mille-feuille and also took home a bright rose.

On the way back, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. When they arrived at the downstairs of the residential complex, Shang Mu got out of the car with a small cake and roses, and watched Zhou Wangchuan open the back door and pick up the pot of white oil-painted arrowroot.

Shang Mu recalled the conversation in the restaurant and asked, "Have you ever thought about what would happen if Xu Yong refused to take your case? What if he's really stubborn and refuses to approve it?"

Zhou Wangchuan closed the car door and walked side by side with him towards the elevator. He smiled and said, "Of course I have thought about it."

Shang Mu raised his head and looked at him lightly: "Oh?"

He said, "So I brought back this pot of oil painting arrowroot."

His words had been spoken; if Xu Yong didn't accept, he would be forced to resign. As a young man with a strong sense of ambition, he certainly wouldn't stay in the hospital much longer, leaving him with little time to clean up his office.

So, he took back the green plants his lover bought for him in advance.