136.Housewarming

When Ling Ling returned to the hospital to complete some final paperwork for Sheng Nan, she found Zhong Mingtong and wanted to thank him profusely. He was the only glimmer of light in her dark days. "Actually, there's something I haven't had the chance to tell you," Ling Ling thanked him and was about to leave, but Zhong Mingtong stopped her hesitantly and said, "Didn't I tell you before that the cardiologist upstairs wants to move?" Ling Ling thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I've been asking you to keep an eye out for houses in your neighborhood!" "So, do you still want to buy it now? They're ready to sell, and I've been asking them to wait for you, because you were with Sheng Nan at the time and didn't feel like buying a house." Ling Ling looked into Mingtong's eager and sincere eyes. She was grateful for his silent support, but she also realized that if she bought the house upstairs, she would have to live with him every day. Choosing a new place to live, a new lifestyle, and even a new person. "Dr. Zhong, thank you for always thinking of me. I want to buy that house. Please help me contact them," Ling Ling said to him firmly. With Zhong Mingtong's help, the house purchase procedures were completed quickly and smoothly. The cardiologist's house was still semi-newly decorated, so Ling Ling was able to move in right away. When Ling Ling first moved in, their schedules didn't often overlap. Ling Ling didn't have to work at Tuo Wu, while Mingtong was often on duty or had patients with emergencies, so the two of them wouldn't see each other for two or three days. It was only on weekends that he came upstairs and knocked on her door for the first time. Ling Ling opened the door and saw Mingtong holding a bouquet of flowers in his left hand and a basket of fruit in his right. She was pleasantly surprised, but didn't have a chance to exchange pleasantries. She gestured apologetically to her headphones and the computer she was holding in her arms. Mingtong immediately understood, "It's okay, you can continue with the video conference." Ling Ling nodded gratefully and let him in. She ran back to the sofa and continued chatting with her colleagues in Group A about the new product plan that was going to be pitched on Monday. Zhong Mingtong stood at the doorway, scanning the rather sparsely furnished house Ling Ling had inhabited. Several large cartons of belongings, brought in last week, were still sealed in the middle of the living room; the kitchen showed no signs of use; the bedroom, while somewhat occupied, was only the bed's quilt disheveled. Ling Ling abruptly ended the video conference and hurried over to greet the bewildered Zhong Mingtong. "Sorry, sorry, I haven't packed at all since moving in. It's not a lot of luggage, but I've been away from the office for the past three weeks, leaving behind...

When Ling Ling returned to the hospital to handle some final paperwork for Sheng Nan, she found Zhong Mingtong and wanted to thank him. He was the only ray of light that had come through her dark days.

"Actually, there's something I haven't had the chance to tell you." Ling Ling was about to leave after thanking her, but Zhong Mingtong stopped her hesitantly and said, "Didn't I tell you before that the cardiologist upstairs wants to move?"

Ling Ling recalled and said, "Yes, yes, I have been asking you to help me keep an eye on the houses in your community!"

"So, do you still want to buy it now? They're already planning to sell it. I've been asking them to wait for you because you were with Sheng Nan during that time and didn't have the mood to buy a house."

Ling Ling looked at Ming Tong's eager and sincere eyes. She was grateful for all he had done for her, but she also realized that if she bought the house upstairs from him, it would mean living with him day and night. Choosing a new place to live, a new lifestyle, and even a new person.

"Doctor Zhong, thank you for always thinking about me. I want to buy that house. Please help me contact them again." Ling Ling said to him firmly.

With Zhong Mingtong's help, the house purchase process went smoothly and swiftly. The cardiologist's house was still fairly new, so Ling Ling was able to move right in.

When Lingling first moved in, their schedules didn't often overlap. Lingling didn't have to work shifts at Tuowu, and Mingtong was often on duty or had a patient emergency, so the two of them wouldn't see each other for two or three days.

It was not until the weekend that he went upstairs and knocked on her door for the first time.

Ling Ling opened the door and saw Ming Tong holding a bouquet of flowers in his left hand and a basket of fruit in his right. She was pleasantly surprised, but didn't have a chance to exchange pleasantries with him. She gestured apologetically to her headphones and the computer in her arms. Ming Tong immediately understood, "It's okay, you can continue the video conference."

Ling Ling nodded gratefully, let him in, and ran back to the sofa to continue chatting with her colleagues in Group A about the new product plan that was to be pitched on Monday.

Zhong Mingtong stood at the door, looking around the rather shabby house where Ling Ling lived: the several large cardboard boxes she had brought in when she moved in last week were still sealed in the middle of the living room; the kitchen showed no signs of having been used at all; the bedroom was somewhat occupied, but the quilt on the bed was messy.

Ling Ling hastily ended the video conference and hurried to entertain Zhong Mingtong who was standing there in a daze.

"Sorry, sorry, I haven't packed a thing since moving in. It's not a lot, but I wasn't at the office for the past three weeks and left a lot to do. These days, I've just been home, sleeping in a coop." Ling Ling frantically brushed the sofa and invited him to sit. There wasn't even any hot water in the house, so she had to get him some bottled water from the refrigerator.

Zhong Mingtong didn't rush to sit down, but asked her: "So what have you been eating these days? Takeout?"

Ling Ling smiled shyly and nodded reluctantly.

Mingtong sighed helplessly and said, "If you don't mind, I'll help you clean up, especially the kitchen. You go ahead and do your thing."

"Oh, then - okay." Ling Ling was so slow that she forgot to say thank you. Seeing that he had already carried the fruits into the kitchen, she quickly opened a few large cardboard boxes, carried the clothes into the bedroom, and packed them up neatly.

After she finished tidying up her bedroom, she came out and saw that the Chibi Maruko-chan figurines she had collected for many years were already on display on the display shelf in the living room. The bouquet of flowers Mingtong had bought was also placed in an antique ceramic vase, which looked very charming on the dining table.

"When I just threw away those old cardboard boxes, I took some pots and bowls from my house. You can use them first. I also ordered a new set, and it will be shipped tomorrow. This vase was given to me as a gift from our hospital union activity. I didn't expect it to come in handy here." As Zhong Mingtong spoke, he brought her a bowl of cut fruit.

Ling Ling was too embarrassed to answer the call, and stammered, "Well, how much did you order? I'll transfer it to you now."

Seeing her take out her phone to transfer money, Mingtong pressed the button, "Think of these as my gifts to you, to celebrate your housewarming. A lot of bad things have happened recently, I hope this celebration can bring you more luck."

Ling Ling took the fruit bowl, picked up a fork for herself, and handed him one, saying somewhat dejectedly, "Dr. Zhong, thank you."

Zhong Mingtong said in a casual tone, "We'll always be neighbors from now on. You can even stomp your feet and summon me from upstairs, and I'll come running up. So - don't call me Doctor Zhong anymore. It makes me feel like I'm never off work. Just call me Mingtong."

Ling Ling smiled happily and nodded in agreement. They began to eat and chat.

Mingtong asked her, "You have a meeting every Monday, right? What time do you go to work tomorrow? Can we go together?"

"I plan to leave at 7 o'clock tomorrow." Ling Ling said.

"Okay, I'll wait for you at my door. If you get off work too late next night, tell me and I'll pick you up at the subway station. There's a section of road from the subway station to the community where the street lights are very dim, and you might be scared walking at night." The tone of his voice was so natural that it went beyond ambiguity.

Ling Ling put down her fruit fork, gathered her emotions, and said, "Mingtong." It was the first time she called him by his name, and she felt a little uncomfortable. "Actually... you don't have to spend so much time and effort on me."

"Why not? I like you, so I like to spend time and thought on you. If I don't, I'll feel uncomfortable." Mingtong said this very naturally. It was understandable that his words and actions hadn't been formed overnight. He had never concealed his love for her for a long time, but this was the first time he blurted it out.

"But, I... you know, I just broke up some time ago, and I just had an abortion." She said these words with difficulty, and also wanted to solemnly alert him.

Mingtong smiled calmly and said, "I don't mind these things at all, and you don't have to worry about them. I'm a surgeon and I see human bodies being dissected every day. In my mind, the human body is just a collection of organs, bones, tissue cells, and so on, so I don't care about membrane structures at all. Besides, I think humans are very much controlled by hormone levels. Falling in love with someone out of loneliness, sympathy, or fantasy is essentially the same. True love is often an illusion. What matters most is whether two people are comfortable with each other after getting along. I feel happy and comfortable when I'm with you, and this is the kind of love that suits me best."

"You're truly clear-headed." Ling Ling admired his emotional stability and clear mind. "But..." Ling Ling still had some concerns. "After all, Yu Chuanbei and I just broke up. I just broke up, and it's not a good idea to start another relationship before I've even had a few days to myself."

"The length of the gap after a breakup is not a measure of the degree of loyalty in your original love. Moreover, when you break up with him, it is not from the time you officially break up, but from the moment your love dies."

Mingtong's words startled Lingling for a moment. "From the moment their love died." Which moment was that? Or, was their love dead now?

Seeing Ling Ling was confused, Ming Tong said again: "But it's okay. I'm not in a hurry. I'm already very happy to see you every day. Let's take it slow."

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Every day with Zhong Mingtong was peaceful and steady. When their working hours were similar, they would meet up to commute to work together. During the morning and evening rush hour, when the subway was so crowded that it made people question their lives, he would hold her close and protect her. When walking among the endless stream of people, he would naturally hold her wrist, without the throbbing of a storm, but with the sweetness of a gentle breeze and drizzle.

Sometimes Ling Ling would think, why not just walk hand in hand with him forever. No matter what the future holds, the present peace is a blessing.

They went to a sports park in Wukesong together on the weekend. Climbing and jumping were supposed to be relaxing, but in Mingtong's eyes, it was fraught with danger.

"Let's go play the air mattress project. It must be so exciting to jump from a high place!" Ling Ling pulled him excitedly and said.

But Mingtong said awkwardly, "It's better not to go. If you don't jump well and hit your thoracic spine, your lower limbs will be paralyzed."