Zhu Zixiao's words seemed to carry some inexplicable magic.
As he muttered to himself, a figure appeared beside them. Gu Tao, clad in a white lab coat, hurried past the two of them. When his gaze landed on Fang Zhiyan, he instinctively flinched and turned his head away, as if trying to avoid recognition.
"Hey, isn't that Senior Brother Gu?" Zhu Zixiao deliberately called out loudly.
Gu Tao only quickened his pace, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Fang Zhiyan shook his head slightly, too indifferent to bother with him.
Right now, Gu Tao meant nothing to him. After all, Luo Yun was still in the hospital, and Gu Tao wouldn't dare show his face, afraid of drawing the attention of Mayor Luo and Director Tang. If that happened, his career in the hospital would be over.
Still, Fang Zhiyan couldn't help but feel a little curious.
Today's surgery had gone smoothly, but he wondered whether Director Tang's promise—to let him take this year's medical licensing exam—still held.
It was already June, and the practical exam was just around the corner. Without the proper qualifications, he couldn't register himself. But if she had registered for him, he might still have a chance.
Opportunities weren't handed out—they had to be seized.
Rather than sitting around speculating, he might as well go straight to the source and ask.
With that thought, Fang Zhiyan turned on his heel and headed straight for Luo Yun's private ward.
"Hey? Wait! Where are you going?" Zhu Zixiao called after him, scrambling to catch up.
But when he saw Fang Zhiyan entering the VIP ward, he froze in his tracks.
"Damn… This isn't Little Fang anymore—this is Brother Fang. From now on, I'm calling you 'Brother.'"
Zhu Zixiao shook his head, his expression complicated.
Meanwhile, Fang Zhiyan knocked on the door. Only after hearing a response did he push it open and step inside.
Inside the room, Luo Yun lay resting on the hospital bed, while Tang Ya sat beside her.
Tang Ya looked up when she saw Fang Zhiyan. "Oh, it's you. What brings you here?"
"Nothing much. I just came to ask about the thing you promised me last time," Fang Zhiyan said bluntly.
He was in a hurry, so he didn't bother with pleasantries.
Tang Ya blinked, then smacked her forehead. "Ah, right! I almost forgot."
She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a stack of forms. "The registration's already done. Here—fill these four forms out and hand them back to me when you're done."
Fang Zhiyan exhaled in relief, taking the forms and skimming through them. They were standard application materials—nothing missing.
"Got it. Thank you, Director Tang."
He bent down, fishing a ballpoint pen from his pocket, and began filling them out swiftly.
On the bed, Luo Yun studied Fang Zhiyan with curiosity.
She was deeply intrigued by the doctor who had saved her life. According to the newspapers, her condition had been critical—if not for him, she wouldn't have made it.
Yet unlike other doctors, he never lingered around her, never sought her out.
This was his first visit, and even then, it was only about the licensing exam.
Unable to hold back, Luo Yun asked, "Are you really just an intern?"
Fang Zhiyan didn't answer, finishing the forms and handing them to Tang Ya.
Tang Ya glanced them over and nodded in approval.
Luo Yun grew even more impatient.
What? He's ignoring me?
No doctor had ever dared ignore her before. How absurd!
"Hey, you still haven't answered me. Are you really just an intern?"
Only then did Fang Zhiyan seem to register her question.
"Me? Yeah, just an intern."
"Then how are you so skilled? How did you save me?"
"The other attending physicians said my condition was extremely complicated—most wouldn't have been able to handle it."
"And I heard from bystanders that another doctor tried to save me but ended up pressing on my trachea wrong. Is that true?"
Fang Zhiyan nodded. "You have a petite frame. The way he was pressing was incorrect for your anatomy. You have to adjust downward slightly."
Luo Yun let out an "Oh."
"Then tell me about how you saved me."
"I was the one being saved, but I was completely unconscious. I'm really curious about what actually happened."
"I've been reading the newspapers, but they don't give me the full picture."
Not enough?
Fang Zhiyan gave her a puzzled look.
This girl was strange.
Reading newspaper accounts of her own rescue and still wanting more?
What exactly did she want?
But under her expectant gaze, he sighed.
Fine. It wouldn't hurt to tell her.
Since they were in a private ward, he might as well take it easy.
He glanced out into the hallway—Zhu Zixiao and the others had already started rounds with Dr. Cao.
Perfect timing to slack off.
"Honestly, it wasn't as dramatic as they made it sound."
Then, Fang Zhiyan recounted the events in detail, describing the rescue from his own perspective.
It really was quite thrilling.
Luo Yun listened, her eyes sparkling with fascination. Even Tang Ya nodded along in approval.
"I heard you graduated from Donghai Second Medical University. Why didn't you continue your studies?" Tang Ya asked.
Fang Zhiyan paused before answering plainly, "No money."
Such blunt honesty left Tang Ya momentarily speechless.
Well, at least he was straightforward.
Once the story was over, Fang Zhiyan turned to leave the ward, rejoining the group for rounds.
Zhu Zixiao sidled up to him, looking like he was about to say something mysterious.
But the moment he opened his mouth, Fang Zhiyan dodged away.
This guy was bad news—a walking jinx.
Better keep his distance, or else trouble would inevitably follow.
Zhu Zixiao clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't pursue him.
Soon, it was time to clock out. Fang Zhiyan packed up his things and prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to head out, a voice called to him.
"Oh! Dr. Fang, what a coincidence! You're here too?"
"Are you heading home?"
Fang Zhiyan turned and was momentarily stunned.
Standing across from him was none other than Xu Qiushuang.
Huh?
Why had he been running into her so often lately?
He nodded politely in greeting.
"Yeah, my shift's over."
"Perfect timing, then. We're going the same way—I just brought dinner to my little brother."
Xu Qiushuang waved the lunchbox in her hand.
Fang Zhiyan understood.
The two walked together to the bus stop to wait for their ride.
Xu Qiushuang kept trying to make conversation, but Fang Zhiyan remained mostly silent.
Yet his cool, aloof demeanor only seemed to charm her even more.
"Teacher Xu, you're taking Bus No. 7 too?"
Fang Zhiyan was surprised when she boarded the same bus as him.
Xu Qiushuang smiled sweetly. "Yeah, I'll transfer later. It's all the same—just happens to be on your way."
Fang Zhiyan nodded in realization.
Just as he was about to say more, his phone rang.
He apologized and answered.
It was his mother, Jiang Xu's number—but the voice on the other end belonged to Fang Zhixia.
His little sister sounded terrified, her voice choked with sobs.
"Second Brother, come home quick! Dad's here—he's going to hit Mom! Hurry!"