Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Shen Qingyuan declined, saying she preferred practical work to scientific research. Yes, she admitted that she still preferred being a surgeon and would continue practicing medicine given the right opportunity.

Dai Ying wrote her a letter of recommendation, and suggested she try the best at the top-tier hospitals in Jicheng.

"Jicheng University's medical school boasts top-tier talent cultivated independently in China, so even if they encounter some setbacks, they're not afraid of not finding a job."

The old lady encouraged her, and of course, she spoke with great enthusiasm, but it wasn't an exaggeration; it was the truth.

Lately, Shen Qingyuan has indeed cheered up and started to muster the courage to submit her resume. It's like climbing out of a well little by little, almost reaching the top, and she can already vaguely feel the warmth of the sun.

I was still uneasy, but gradually I gathered a lot of stabilizing forces and my heart calmed down.

After sending the email, Shen Qingyuan hugged a large pink plush toy, pounced on the bed, and rolled around.

The doll is the currently popular Labubu, which was given to Ye Chuyang by the organizers at the last business event.

Labubu was pink, and he said it was really inappropriate for a boy to hold it, so he handed it to Shen Qingyuan. At the time, he also said, "This ugly-cute little thing has a furrowed brow and wide eyes, it actually looks a lot like Dr. Shen."

Once, during a video call with Song Ting, she immediately spotted the doll and said it was a limited edition, worth several thousand yuan on the market.

Wow, several thousand dollars, just for this weird doll?

In a moment of bewilderment, Shen Qingyuan felt she had struck gold and should seize the opportunity to put it on a secondhand website; perhaps she could sell it. However, she didn't sell it yet, thinking it over and unable to bear the thought. This was the first plush gift Ye Chuyang had given her.

Just as she was feeling lazy, Xiao Chao called and asked Shen Qingyuan to help her pick up a few packages from the front desk.

It took Shen Qingyuan three trips to carry several large boxes into their room.

She sent a WeChat message to Xiao Chao: All moved! There's so much stuff!

Xiao Chao: Thank you so much, Sister Chen. Yang's birthday is coming up soon, and brands and his friends have started sending gifts. There will probably be many more in the next few days. But we're not at a loss; anything Yang doesn't need will be given to us.

Shen Qingyuan: Birthday? Which day?

Xiao Chao: The 28th, I think it's next Wednesday.

If it's a birthday, you need to receive birthday gifts, so what should you give? Before Shen Qingyuan could even think of anything, she received a reply three days after sending out her job application.

A top-tier orthopedic hospital in Jicheng took an interest in her and scheduled an interview for next week. It went incredibly smoothly; Shen Qingyuan felt like she was dreaming.

She kept delaying her farewell to Ye Chuyang until the night before her departure, when she casually said, "Um... I have an interview next week, and I'm leaving for Jicheng tomorrow."

Ye Chuyang said he supports her return to the workforce, even if it means terminating the contract sooner.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chuyang was taken aback, her face blank for several seconds before she said lively, "As expected of Shen Qingyuan, she already has an interview so soon."

His voice was slightly lower, with a barely perceptible hint of disappointment. Then, suddenly, he feigned cheerfulness and said, "Next Wednesday is my birthday. The crew gave me half a day off and might throw a small party to celebrate. Will you be able to come back?"

After becoming an adult, he almost never celebrated his birthday with his family. He was usually on set for his birthday every year. In recent years, he would do a live stream for one or two hours on his birthday to chat with fans or do business promotions.

Chatting with fans is fine, but other activities feel more like work. My company used to organize offline fan meetings, which involved flying around a lot, and to be honest, it was quite tiring.

So, I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday, but I thought it would be better this year with Shen Qingyuan by my side. But unexpectedly, she also had something to do.

Ye Chuyang paused, "You'll come back, won't you, Shen Qingyuan?"

Shen Qingyuan nodded, a gentle smile on her face, and said, "Even if they want me, there are all sorts of approvals and procedures before I can start working. It won't be that quick. It's more complicated for doctors to start working, and even then, I might not pass the interview."

"It will definitely pass," Ye Chuyang said immediately. "You must believe in your abilities!"

I wanted to hug her and kiss her, but I was afraid of being too forward. I put my half-raised forearm back down.

"Then, shall Xiao Chao take you tomorrow?"

"No need, I'll call a car myself."

Ye Chuyang did not insist any further.

Although they suppressed their feelings and refused to express them, a slight sense of sadness at parting had already begun to spread in their hearts.

Shen Qingyuan, who had never given Ye Chuyang a positive answer, remained an elusive figure. He dared not press her for answers or push her too hard. Since they had been entangled for so many years, she would naturally give him a signal once she made up her mind.

-

More than half a year later, Jicheng was still the same. Shen Qingyuan came out of the high-speed rail station and took the subway, which was crowded with people all the way.

Although it's autumn, the air in the subway is still humid and hot, with a slightly stale smell.

Suddenly, Shen Qingyuan had a feeling of "being home".

When I first came to Jicheng to study, I wasn't used to it; there were too many people, and it was crowded everywhere. Later, I went to work in a hospital and gradually got used to the crowds.

"Jicheng has excellent medical care, attracting patients from all over the country. As a result, doctors there are very knowledgeable and develop quickly. Those who are ambitious should stay, while those who want a more relaxed life should return to their hometowns. Make your decision sooner rather than later."

She still remembered what her mentor said when she first joined the company. The other trainees in her cohort were all top graduates from prestigious universities, having studied diligently for twenty years, all eager to make a name for themselves. Who cared about the hardship? Who wasn't working hard?

Shen Qingyuan checked into a hotel near the hospital where she was interviewing and rested for a while. The interview was tomorrow afternoon, and she hadn't booked a return ticket yet, so the time was uncertain, and she didn't know if the hospital had any other interview arrangements. She also wanted to meet with Professor Dai Ying.

The day after tomorrow is Ye Chuyang's birthday, so there's a high chance I won't be able to make it.

Shen Qingyuan lay on the unfamiliar bed, exhausted from a day's travel, but not particularly sleepy. It felt like she was back in the days of graduation interviews, rushing from one interview to another, attending recruitment talks, and preparing for her thesis defense. Some of her classmates were pursuing master's degrees or preparing to study abroad; everyone was giving their all for a better future.

When I first enrolled, I thought I was a chosen one, but in reality, there are too many talented people in Jicheng. Even if you have a bachelor's or master's degree from Jicheng University's medical school, you are not guaranteed to get a job at the hospital you want.

During that period, I was really tired, but I was full of fighting spirit.

When the HR manager interviewed her, Shen Qingyuan realized that they had asked her to come because it was the director's idea, and it was through an internal referral process.

The six-month gap in employment was quite noticeable. If Professor Dai hadn't spoken to the head of orthopedics, Shen Qingyuan might not have even passed the resume screening.

Next was an interview with Director Ma from the orthopedics department. Director Ma was a very thin, slightly short middle-aged man with graying hair, who smoked heavily and looked tired.

“Professor Dai called me, and I have to respect my teacher.” Director Ma looked down at her resume. “I did two years of residency training at Jicheng People’s Hospital before I left before completing the three-year residency training period. It’s okay, come here to continue your residency training and complete the three years.”

He didn't ask Shen Qingyuan why she left the People's Hospital. He guessed that Professor Dai had already told him about the medical dispute. Shen Qingyuan felt a little relieved; not having to prove herself made her feel less embarrassed.

"Any other questions?" Director Ma looked up at Shen Qingyuan.

Shen Qingyuan felt like she had forgotten to breathe, and tentatively asked, "Do you mean I passed the interview and the hospital plans to hire me?"

"Yes, judging from her resume, she's a pretty smart young lady."

She was still a little worried that there might be some undisclosed information. "Director Ma, I'm not sure if Professor Dai told you about my experience at the previous hospital. One patient's family member had some misunderstandings about me, but the hospital has checked my medical practices and they are completely in compliance with regulations. If your hospital has any concerns, I will fully cooperate with the investigation."

Director Ma said, "It's alright, I know. I've also asked the director of the People's Hospital. Taking a break is good. If you're willing to come to our hospital, then work hard. There are all sorts of people out there, and being a doctor isn't an easy job. Young lady, be more open-minded, get some experience, and over time, you'll toughen up and become more resilient."

Shen Qingyuan was so moved that she almost burst into tears. She tilted her head back slightly to hold back her tears, but her eyes were already red.

“I do,” she said quickly.

"HR will contact you regarding the onboarding process. Salaries are all standardized, but one advantage of our hospital is that there are plenty of good restaurants nearby."

Shen Qingyuan gave a wry smile. Not having to eat takeout every day was truly a great benefit.

"If you encounter such unreasonable family members again, young lady, don't be afraid. If there's a problem, come to the leader."

"Yes." Shen Qingyuan nodded vigorously.

Her mind settled down, and she returned to her original place contentedly. The faint smell of disinfectant in the office made her feel safe and familiar.

Soon, HR contacted Shen Qingyuan, saying they would issue a formal offer within three business days. Afterwards, the hospital would conduct a comprehensive review of her professional qualifications, requiring Shen Qingyuan to provide relevant documents. This process might take a while, and the staff told her to be patient; it usually only takes one or two weeks.

After hanging up the phone, Shen Qingyuan was still a little dizzy, feeling as if she were in a dream.

She sent Song Ting a WeChat message to share the good news.

As for her parents, since she hadn't received a formal offer yet, Shen Qingyuan didn't want to say anything for the time being, lest there be any complications and everyone's hopes be dashed.

As for Ye Chuyang... she wanted to tell him in person.

Shen Qingyuan sent a WeChat message to Professor Dai, wanting to arrange a meeting the next day, mainly to thank her for her help. She also had other teachers, classmates, and colleagues she wanted to see in Jicheng, but since she was going back to work anyway, she could see them gradually.

It just so happens that Professor Dai is not in Jicheng; she has gone abroad to attend an academic conference. She was quite happy to hear that Shen Qingyuan had received a tentative offer. The two chatted for a while and agreed to meet again when they returned to Jicheng.

After completing all of this, Shen Qingyuan opened Ye Chuyang's chat window.

Their last conversation was a few days ago; he didn't send her any new messages. He didn't ask how the interview went, nor did he say anything else.

Shen Qingyuan knew he didn't want to disturb her.

She thought for a moment and sent Ye Chuyang a message: Everything is going well. Don't worry. I'll be back tomorrow.

He replied: Okay, I'll wait for you to come back.

The earliest high-speed train back to Hengdian is at 11 a.m., with a transfer in Hangzhou. The total journey takes a little over six hours, which is already quite fast. At this moment, Shen Qingyuan feels that six hours is a very long time.

The flight is faster, taking a little over two hours, followed by a transfer at Yiwu Airport. However, she doesn't really like flying; the ear pressure during takeoff and landing makes her uncomfortable.

As if she had finally made up her mind, Shen Qingyuan opened the ticketing website and bought a ticket for the next day.