Fang Yan and Cheng Zheng did not walk far. Cheng Zhen was still wearing his work clothes. The two of them found a seat at the water bar in the rest area.
Cheng Zheng bought some warm milk and pushed it in front of Fang Yan. "This is for you."
Fang Yan looked at the glass of ice beside her. "Then this is?"
Cheng Zheng took out a handkerchief, smoothed it out, and laid out the plastic paper that he had gotten from somewhere. Then, he poured the ice cubes on it.
"It's for your eyes. They'll swell up later."
"Thank you." Fang Yan was so engrossed in the argument that she did not realize that she was crying.
"But why are you looking for me at this time?" Fang Yan asked.
Cheng Zheng: "Didn't you want to talk to me? Xiao Song told me."
Fang Yan looked at her cell phone. It was almost eleven o'clock. "I'm sorry. Actually, I don't have anything urgent. Dr. Xiao Song said that you usually get some sleep after a surgery."
Cheng Zheng smiled. "No, sleep isn't as important as you. You're the patient's family."
On the way out of the Lunar New Year's Garden, Fang Yan had been thinking about how to tell Cheng Zheng about what happened during the day and where to start. But now, for some reason, Fang Yan's mind was filled with the sentence "Dating the doctor."
Perhaps it was because she had been with Cheng Zheng for a long time, but Fang Yan realized that it was difficult to refuse Cheng Zhen's kindness. It was a gentleness that did not have any force.
Like now.
Cheng Zheng wrapped the ice cubes cutely and tied one end of the handkerchief with a rope. Seeing that Fang Yan was thinking about something, he did not interrupt or urge her. Instead, he placed it beside her hand and did not forget to put a piece of paper under it. Then, when Fang Yan came back to her senses, he explained softly, saying that he usually slept for five hours and would not be able to sleep if he went back so early.
Fang Yan had an impulse to ask Cheng Zheng if he liked her.
"Director Cheng?"
Cheng Zheng leaned back in his chair. "Why are you suddenly so serious? Calling me director… Do you need my help?"
"Haha, that's right." Fang Yan smiled. "I want to ask you, on the night my grandmother first came out of the operating theater, you couldn't finish what you were saying, right?"
That night, they ate noodles together and even talked about marriage.
"What did you want to ask me back then?" Fang Yan asked.
Cheng Zheng naturally had a deep impression of Fang Yan. However, he understood Fang Yan's question, and the fire in his heart burned even more fervently.
"I wanted to tell you that my family has been forcing me to get married recently."
Fang Yan: "Really?"
Cheng Zheng nodded. "They said that I'm not young anymore. My classmate who studied with me has already given birth to two children."
"Cheng Zheng!"
Cheng Zheng waved his hand and begged for mercy, explaining, "I really didn't eavesdrop. The two of you are too loud, and there's no one in the building. What's the difference between this and public broadcasting?"
"Cheng Zheng!"
Fang Yan did not expect to be teased by the same person twice in just a few sentences.
Cheng Zheng's eyes lit up with a smile. "Alright, alright. I'm not joking anymore. To be honest, I don't understand why my family is worried about my marriage. Look, I have a high education level, a good personality, and a stable job. Isn't this the perfect persona in the eyes of the elders? I'm also a good doctor who can take care of the health of the family. Most importantly, I'm very busy with work."
Fang Yan was puzzled. "Is that a merit? How busy are you?"
Cheng Zheng was calm and composed. "I'm so busy that I don't have time to cheat."
Fang Yan almost choked on her milk.
"Have you ever thought about what your future wife looks like?" Fang Yan asked.
"No."
Cheng Zheng thought that he'd never considered things like that before, until he met her.
"Then what are your requirements for marriage?" Fang Yan asked again.
Cheng Zheng: "No, but whatever she asks me to do, I'll try my best to satisfy her."
Fang Yan: "One last question. If you have a candidate now, but you don't like her that much, would you still consider marrying her?"
Cheng Zheng: "How did you know?"
Fang Yan: "Huh?"
Actually, Fang Yan wanted to say "but she doesn't like you that much", but she was afraid of being beaten up. Now that she heard Cheng Zheng's question, she felt awkward as if she had been seen through.
However, Cheng Zheng quickly continued, "Actually, I've never been on one of those arranged marriage dates, but if I were to find the right person before that happens, I'll definitely cherish it."
Fang Yan: "You haven't? What about now, don't you feel like you're on an arranged marriage date?"
Cheng Zheng smiled helplessly. "Teacher Fang Yan, I thought I was doing an interview."
The man was very deeply in love, feeling in pain whenever they were apart. The woman, on the other hand, was always on guard. Even if they decided to go together, would she even fall in love?
What kind of arranged marriage date would be so unfair?
But it didn't matter. Cheng Zheng waited for the words "Congratulations, you passed the interview!"
"I'll walk you home. Get up early tomorrow. We'll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau."