Professor Tang frowned unhappily upon hearing Xia Qingtian’s words.
He had asked Er Ya to call Xia Qingtian over because he thought Xia Qingtian was clever and could persuade the stubborn one to have surgery as soon as possible.
But the result?
Xia Qingtian actually sided with Gou Wen.
How tiresome…
Seeing Professor Tang like this, Xia Qingtian remained silent, waiting patiently.
“I can’t be bothered with you all. It’s not me who’s going to die or live. As the chief surgeon, I can’t manage your affairs so much.” With a huff, Professor Tang turned his head to continue his research.
“Sigh…” Xia Qingtian sighed silently. Just as she was about to turn and check on Gou Wen in the cubicle, she saw Gou Wen and Tang Rui Yang standing at the cubicle entrance.
Tang Rui Yang’s expression was complex. His eyes gazed at Xia Qingtian, as if he were thinking about something.
Gou Wen, on the other hand, smiled at Xia Qingtian.
She had always considered Xia Qingtian a formidable rival.
If it were in the past, she certainly wouldn’t have believed it.
The person who understood her best was her enemy.
Xia Qingtian walked towards Gou Wen and asked, “How are you now? Do you remember?”
“I remember, I remember a lot.” Gou Wen replied, reaching up to touch the area below her collarbone.
There, a name was etched, one she could never forget in this lifetime.
“Can you hold on?” Xia Qingtian observed Gou Wen’s complexion.
“Have I not come this far? Whether I can or not.” Gou Wen smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t die.”
“It’s fine if you won’t die. It’s not good to be too greedy when one is alive,” Xia Qingtian responded.
Tang Rui Yang, standing beside them, opened his mouth, then slowly closed it, appearing as if he had something to say but stopped himself.
Not long after, Li Xiaoxiao returned with lunch, also bringing a portion for Professor Miao across the way.
Professor Miao had been dining with Professor Tang frequently lately. Although the two still couldn't help bickering, the atmosphere had clearly eased considerably.
While eating lunch, Da Ya looked around and then asked in a low voice, “Where’s Er Ya?”
They had been inseparable lately. The sudden absence of Er Ya made her feel that something was not quite right everywhere.
“She slipped away early,” Professor Tang sighed, shaking his head. “She can’t sit still, like a wild rabbit.”
“She went to prepare a surprise for you.” Although Xia Qingtian found Professor Tang’s analogy quite apt – Er Ya’s personality was indeed like an unrestrained, fierce wild rabbit – she spoke to comfort the somewhat uneasy Da Ya, “She’ll be back this afternoon.”
“A surprise?” Hearing Xia Qingtian say this, Da Ya nodded in satisfaction and began to guess what good things Er Ya would prepare for her.
“Qingtian, look at this,” Li Xiaoxiao handed her phone to Xia Qingtian. “Wanyun Entertainment announced they are investing in a new drama called ‘I Am the Great City Lord,’ and they say it will cost tens of billions! Oh my… they’re really going all out!”
“Is that so? Hehe.” Xia Qingtian glanced at the screen, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Song Junhan and Yu Linwan were indeed walking further and further down the path of self-destruction.
“It says below that the female lead will definitely be Mo Jianing again, calling her Wanyun Entertainment’s darling daughter or something. Mo Jianing also posted some ambiguous remarks, saying she needs to prepare for the competition and also for the casting of the character song for ‘The Moon Cherishes Spring the Most.’ I’m so busy this month, I can barely get a good night’s sleep…”
Seeing Mo Jianing’s overly boastful, essay-like post, Li Xiaoxiao’s lips turned down.
“Let her be. She’ll find it hard to be this busy in the future,” Xia Qingtian was adopting a wait-and-see attitude now.
The more arrogant Mo Jianing was now, the higher she climbed, and the harder she would fall later.
She just needed to smile and watch.
“I don’t understand you young people, doing all this fuss. Talking about billions and tens of billions right from the start. If this money were invested in scientific research, imagine how many breakthroughs there would be.” Professor Miao, with his rigid personality, had always been dissatisfied with this pervasive trend of “entertainment first.”
“You wouldn’t understand this. Only when life is prosperous can one pursue spiritual fulfillment. The development and products of entertainment culture are based on the pace of social development, and these are all inevitable historical trends,” Professor Tang was more open-minded. “You see his grand buildings rise, and you see them collapse. You just listen to the noise. You, with half your life in the earth, still manage to interfere so much.”
“Who interferes more than you? You can’t even manage yourself properly, yet you’re always thinking about others. Look at those dark circles under your eyes; you’re an old man, how many nights can you stay up?” Professor Miao couldn’t help but retort to Professor Tang again.
“I’ll live longer than you!” Professor Tang naturally refused to yield. “Look at your own complexion, pale as a ghost. What? Did they plaster the white wash from your laboratory on your face?”
“You…” Professor Miao had disliked sunlight since childhood, hated crowded places, and was somewhat prone to coldness, so how could he be as pale as a ghost?
“Professors!” Xia Qingtian felt that if she didn’t say something, this meal would be ruined.
Professor Tang and Professor Miao both looked at Xia Qingtian.
“Here, have some soup!” Xia Qingtian immediately placed the two bowls of soup in front of them. “To moisten your throats.”
Only then did Professor Tang and Professor Miao snort, glare at each other, and stop arguing.
Li Xiaoxiao held her phone, biting her chopsticks, not knowing for a moment how sharing a bit of gossip with Xia Qingtian had triggered an argument.
“It’s okay.” Xia Qingtian also noticed Li Xiaoxiao’s embarrassment and gave her a piece of drumstick, indicating she should eat her own food first.
Li Xiaoxiao was deeply touched by Xia Qingtian’s gesture. Qingtian was truly good.
Da Ya ate with concentration, her mind filled with what surprise Er Ya would bring her.
In the cubicle, Tang Rui Yang and Gou Wen, accustomed to eating alone, sat facing each other. Three dishes and one soup were on the table, along with two bowls of rice.
“The food at this school isn’t great at first, but after eating it for a while, you get used to it.” Gou Wen said casually.
Tang Rui Yang ate his meal silently, not responding.
“What? Still angry?” Gou Wen looked up at Tang Rui Yang, her tone gentle in a way she herself hadn’t noticed.
“Professor Tang clearly said the more your surgery is delayed, the more dangerous it becomes. How can you still…” Tang Rui Yang was truly angry. He was angry that Gou Wen didn't cherish herself, and he was angry that Gou Wen didn't take matters of life and death seriously.
“Professor Tang said my central nervous system damage is irreversible, and this surgery might cause me to lose all my memories.” Gou Wen ate her meal, her tone light as if she were discussing a trivial matter. “I want to see her one more time.”
“Her again!” Tang Rui Yang knew who Gou Wen was referring to. “You’ve been looking for her for so many years, and the moment you met, she stabbed you, almost taking your life!”
“I stabbed you too,” Gou Wen said, looking at Tang Rui Yang.
“That’s different!” Tang Rui Yang frowned. “You wanted my life, and I was willing to give it to you. Without you, I would have died countless times already!”
“You’ll give me what I want?” Gou Wen suddenly smiled, her eyes looking at him like a petulant child. “What? Aren’t you going to avenge your own hatred?”