Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Ms. Nan Lan's opportunistic behavior truly shocked Shen Qingyuan, and Shen Qingyuan later discussed it with her mother.
Nan Lan said, "I've inquired about it. With the current housing prices in Jicheng, even a small apartment in the East Third Ring Road requires a down payment of over two million yuan. Without some financial resources, it's definitely impossible."
Ye Chuyang's set cost well over a million. And it was paid in full. If Ms. Nan Lan knew, she would be even more satisfied.
"Mom, aren't you being a bit snobbish?"
Nan Lan rolled her eyes. "Your mother wasn't materialistic enough to marry your father back then. If I had been smart enough to marry someone else, you would have a rich or powerful father now."
Shen Qingyuan laughed in astonishment and stuck out her tongue.
This is old news; it's something that Shen's parents occasionally bring up when they argue. Shen Qingyuan had heard a bit about it; apparently, back then, there was a second-generation official who was pursuing Nan Lan. He later went into real estate and became quite well-known in Chenyang.
For thirty years, Mr. Shen's income has been lukewarm, bringing home only a limited amount. Living a normal life isn't charity; as time goes on, one experiences the ups and downs of life.
Nan Lan: "Young girls are prone to being love-struck, thinking that love is enough to sustain them. But in real life, it's not that simple."
Shen Qingyuan muttered to herself: Ms. Nan Lan, you've got it wrong this time. Realistically speaking, they might not even be interested in your daughter.
-
Mr. and Mrs. Shen finally finished their trip and took the high-speed train back home this Sunday.
It's one thing if she doesn't deliver it on weekdays, but on weekends, Shen Qingyuan has to deliver it no matter what.
Ye Chuyang had originally planned to hire a tour guide to take the two elders to visit the sights, but upon hearing Shen Qingyuan's suggestion, he immediately said, "Then, I should also go and see them off."
Then, not only did the others arrive quickly, but they also brought large bags of gifts, including cordyceps, dendrobium, and donkey-hide gelatin.
"Uncle and Aunt, here's a small gift, please accept it." It's never a bad thing to be a good gift.
Nan Lan: "Thank you, Xiao Ye. Please give my regards to your parents. When you return to Chenyang, you must come to my house as a guest."
The four of them said their goodbyes at the high-speed rail station. Shen Jing'an patted Ye Chuyang on the back and said, "Little Ye, work hard and strive for excellence." He wasn't sure if this kid could keep winning his daughter's heart, and he was quite worried for him.
Shen Qingyuan glanced to the side and saw a huge poster on two large pillars. On the poster, Ye Chuyang was smiling at the audience while holding a beverage he was endorsing. She quickly turned her face away. Why was this guy everywhere…?
Nan Lan also noticed, "I think the boy in that advertisement looks a bit like Xiao Ye."
Ye Chuyang wore a mask and hat, and dared not utter a sound.
Shen Jing'an said, "It does look somewhat similar. His name is... Su Liao."
However, neither of them deduced that it was the same person. Shen Qingyuan quickly said, "Mom and Dad, it's almost time, you need to go into the station."
After seeing the two elders off, Shen Qingyuan breathed a long sigh of relief. Every day felt like she was filming a spy drama set in the Republican era.
It felt a little empty, though. My parents were there, so it was lively. And I still felt like I had the right to be a child.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?" Ye Chuyang was sometimes incredibly perceptive.
Shen Qingyuan looked up at him, pouted, and didn't say anything.
"On my first day of kindergarten, I was just like you. I cried my heart out watching my mom's back as she walked away!"
Comparing her to a kindergarten child, Shen Qingyuan glared at him, and taking advantage of the crowd, quickly pinched the flesh on his side waist.
Ye Chuyang recalled the kiss from the day before yesterday. "This little girl is getting her revenge," he thought. "Fine, as long as I don't suffer any loss."
"You're always showing your face in public, aren't you afraid of being photographed by paparazzi? Hey, why hasn't anyone photographed you these past few days?"
Shen Qingyuan was suddenly puzzled. He was quite popular in Hengdian, and there was even an incident where he was rear-ended by a scalper's cart. Why was no one following him after he came to Jicheng?
Ye Chuyang smiled and said, "I have a brilliant plan."
"Let's be careful, lest someone take a picture of us."
"If you've taken the photos, then so be it. If you want to make them public, I will; if not, we can talk about it quietly."
In the bustling high-speed rail station, only this sentence is clear; the background noise fades away and can be ignored.
He said they could be in a public relationship if she wanted. To announce it publicly, in broad daylight, to the whole world. If she was willing. For an entertainment star, this is quite difficult.
Some people want to cultivate a single persona, always needing to give their fans a glimmer of hope—the logic of the celebrity-fan economy. This is a game played by capital, and Ye Chuyang isn't so naive as to be ignorant. However, he's willing to take certain risks for her, such as losing followers.
Shen Qingyuan lagged behind, and he turned around to look for her in the crowd.
"Here, come here." He handed her his hand. "There are too many people, let's hold hands and walk."
Shen Qingyuan took two quick steps and took his hand. He grasped her hand in return, their fingers naturally interlacing perfectly.
-
The halo of the operating light, like a cold moon, hovered above Shen Qingyuan's head.
Having been at Tan Hospital for half a month, Shen Qingyuan was already proficient in administrative tasks. Soon, she was about to perform her first surgery as a third assistant in a level-three surgery.
Take it slow, progressing from Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 surgeries, from third assistant to first assistant, and finally to chief surgeon for Level 3 and 4 surgeries. She is patient.
Her hands, clad in sterile gloves, hung slightly in front of her, her fingertips uncontrollably cold. Shen Qingyuan hadn't slept well last night; she had something on her mind, and the more she tried to get a good night's sleep, the harder it was for her to fall asleep. She finally managed to drift off after taking sleeping pills.
The patient was under general anesthesia and lay quietly on the operating table. Today's surgery was a thoracic and lumbar spinal canal tumor resection. The chief surgeon was Director Ma, who had interviewed Shen Qingyuan.
The air, the layout of the operating room—everything was so familiar, so familiar that it made her nose sting and her throat tighten.
The scene of her last surgery at the People's Hospital six months ago flashed before my eyes again. An uncontrolled slip, blood spurting, massive hemorrhage. My vision was instantly flooded with red.
She remembers the persistent tinnitus and the surgeon yelling at her angrily and fearfully. But the sound didn't reach her ears; it was as if it were in a vacuum. She stood there, frozen, cold sweat pouring down her back.
Someone gave her a push, and a junior assistant stepped in, handing the hemostat to the surgeon, who repaired the blood vessel with remarkable composure.
"Dr. Shen?" The scrub nurse's voice pulled her out of her cold memories, carrying a hint of inquiry that was barely perceptible.
Shen Qingyuan took a deep breath, the smell of disinfectant filling her nostrils, bringing a sharp, sobering sensation. She nodded and took a step forward. It was all in the past. She made mistakes; no one is perfect. The important thing was to learn from them and reduce the likelihood of future errors.
The chief surgeon, Director Ma, glanced at her, his gaze calm, devoid of any doubt or encouragement, only one of utter focus—on the life at hand. This, ironically, calmed Shen Qingyuan somewhat.
Following the surgeon's instructions, she began passing instruments, her movements textbook perfect. Countless times, she rehearsed in her mind; during her most depressed period, the surgical procedure would spontaneously unfold before her, muscle memory and a hidden resentment compelling her to practice in the air.
"Insufficient exposure."
Shen Qingyuan gripped the hook even tighter, securing it firmly.
Time ticked by in the operating room.
Director Ma: "Dr. Shen, please suture it."
"yes."
Shen Qingyuan's hands, those hands once praised by her mentor as "born for the scalpel," still remember how to do it. The speed is fast and even.
Director Ma suddenly spoke up, his voice muffled by his mask but clearly reaching Shen Qingyuan's ears: "Remember the feeling you just had."
Shen Qingyuan was taken aback.
“It’s not about remembering the feeling of fear,” Director Ma continued without looking up, as if he could read her mind. “It’s about remembering the feeling of being in control, of having a steady hand and quick reflexes.”
After the suturing was completed, Director Ma announced the end of the surgery.
The success of the surgery depends on the patient's reaction after waking up, and there is still a long recovery period. Success is far from being achieved. However, Shen Qingyuan saw a glimmer of hope.
The heavy sense of powerlessness that had plagued her for half a year seemed to loosen. The fear remained; it might never completely disappear, like a faint background sound in an operating room. But something more solid was quietly peeking out from the ruins of fear.
She's back.
As Dr. Shen, I am an indispensable member of the operating room.
It was already 8 p.m. when she got off work, and she felt excited, as if all the blood was rushing to her brain. Despite being tired all day, she felt no fatigue.
She made a phone call to Ye Chuyang: "Ye Chuyang, I want to see you."
Right now, at this moment, the person she most wants to see is him. He is the first person she wants to share her joy with.
She was once trapped in endless darkness, unable to escape. Then, she saw a ray of light.
Some people carefully cherish the brilliance of her youth, even with a touch of admiration. They encourage her, telling her that it's not time to give up yet.
Ye Chuyang, Ye Chuyang, Shen Qingyuan murmured to herself.
Ye Chuyang drove over. He doesn't drive his car in Jicheng often; he bought it this year, and the paparazzi don't really recognize it. He only drove it out recently after it was serviced.
Get in the car.
"I had surgery." Shen Qingyuan couldn't help but laugh. "Ye Chuyang, I had surgery. Although it was as a third assistant. It's been a long time since I've had surgery, but my hands still remember. You know, every finger remembers what it's supposed to do."
She was unusually talkative and excited, almost like she was possessed. Ye Chuyang turned to look at her; he had never seen Shen Qingyuan like this before, she looked a bit like her when she was drunk.
Shen Qingyuan leaned back in her seat and looked at him, then took his right hand and looked at him as if seeking praise.
Ye Chuyang felt a pang of jealousy. Of course, he was proud of her. However, her work seemed to be her true love. He'd have to ask her another day: "Shen Qingyuan, if I and your job fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?"
"It was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm not surprised at all who Dr. Shen is."
Shen Qingyuan paused for a moment, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said slowly, "Even I don't have the confidence to stand on the operating table again. Thank you, Ye Chuyang. Thank you for believing in me!"
"You're welcome. Let's celebrate! Little Yuanyuan, what do you want to do most right now?"
In life, there are actually very few moments of true indulgence; the national character is characterized by diligence, hard work, and perseverance. A "good student" like Shen Qingyuan pushes herself to the limit.
She suddenly had an idea: "I want to walk barefoot on the beach and run in the sea breeze."
Thinking about it again, it seemed impossible. Jicheng isn't by the sea; where would you find a beach? By the time I finally had a vacation and went to the beach, the feeling was long gone.
She smiled and said, "Never mind, I was just thinking about it. If I really want to go, I'll have to find a vacation time."
"It's not impossible." Ye Chuyang tapped the steering wheel lightly with his fingers, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's set off now."
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