Ruan Liuzheng didn't show any particular reaction, it was she who first brought it up. After all, she would be working closely with these people in the department in the future and couldn't be so fragile that others couldn't even mention those three words.
Tan Ya had just finished speaking when the bell rang again, so she had to hurry off.
Yet Tan Ya's words kept echoing in her ears. She hadn't expected that he would know how to soothe a child and be so likable to them. Not to mention, in their marriage, he hadn't wanted children…
Thinking of children brought a wave of chilly memories flooding into her mind. If not for that period, she might not have had the resolve to divorce in the first place.
The surgery really took a long time, and he still hadn't emerged from the operating room even by six in the evening.
The night shift doctor had already taken over, and Ruan Liuzheng didn't know whether she should leave or stay. Fortunately, the night shift doctor was new, so exchanging a few polite words wasn't too awkward.
She sat at her desk, with a neurosurgery textbook laid out in front of her, but she couldn't concentrate on it. She had been fidgeting the whole time, starting from noon, naturally because of the person in the operating room.
He had a stomach ailment! Had it for many years!
Back then, he hadn't even started performing surgery as the lead surgeon, but accompanying complex surgeries in the OR meant being there for half or even a whole day. Her younger self would always make congee at home whenever she knew he had surgery, packing them in thermos flasks and bringing them to the hospital to warm his stomach after he came out of surgery.
Later, the doctors started to welcome her presence in the department because she would always bring a big jar of congee. As he couldn't finish it alone, naturally everyone benefited!
So, now she was worrying about his stomach again! And had been all afternoon!
This was a problem! Really needed treatment!
But healers don't heal themselves! She was powerless against her own problem. How many times had she scolded herself for her weakness that afternoon, yet still couldn't control her thoughts!
Just as she finally made up her mind to leave work and not wait any longer, it suddenly started pouring rain, coupled with a violent wind, the sky completely darkened.
She hadn't brought an umbrella, and staring out the window into the pitch-black sky, she hesitated, giving herself an excuse to sit back down.
At this moment, his voice could be heard, growing from a distant murmur to a clear sound, interleaved with Ding Yiyuan's questioning. The footsteps of both were hurried.
He and Ding Yiyuan came in together. He clearly and concisely explained the just-completed surgery to Ding Yiyuan, whose eyes sparkled with admiration as she followed up with questions. While he was busy with matters at hand, he continued to speak to Ding Yiyuan, seriously and meticulously, not even glancing at Ruan Liuzheng as if unaware of her existence.
Yet Ruan Liuzheng found herself, like Ding Yiyuan, listening, watching; her own eyes shimmering with waves of light. A rigorous and earnest person emits a dazzling radiance from their whole being. However, upon closer inspection, his slightly furrowed brows, the paleness of his face, and the blueish-grey hue of his lips—what were they indicating? Was he feeling unwell? Her eyebrows furrowed too.
The two of them talked for about another twenty minutes before finishing up. Ding Yiyuan was extremely impressed, sincerely exclaiming, "Teacher Ning, to tell the truth, I had my doubts before coming here, unsure whether you were too young to be my mentor. But after just the first day of learning, I've come to see you in a new light. Teacher Ning, I'll study well under you."