Chen Xiang couldn't shake off the memory of the girl he had met in the park. Her confident tone, her playful smile, and the way she had laughed off her scraped knee kept replaying in his mind. It was rare for him to meet someone so carefree, someone who seemed to brush aside life's difficulties as though they were nothing. He thought about her more than he cared to admit, but soon his focus was pulled back to reality. The day of his mandatory health screening had arrived.
The clinic was crowded. Young men like him filled the waiting area, their faces a mix of boredom and nervousness. The antiseptic smell of the place didn't help calm his nerves. He sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the clipboard in his hands as he filled out the forms. The questions felt endless, and his mind wandered as he scratched his answers onto the paper.
"Chen Xiang," a nurse called out. He stood up and followed her through a narrow hallway into a small examination room. The space was cold and clinical, with white walls and a faint hum of machinery in the background.
"Please take a seat," the nurse instructed, handing him another clipboard. "The doctor will see you shortly." She left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Chen Xiang leaned back in the chair, tapping the pen against the clipboard. His mind drifted again, this time to his family. He wondered how they would manage without him around. His siblings might not say it, but he knew they depended on him in their own ways. His mother, too. The thought of leaving them weighed heavy on his chest.
The sound of the door opening pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked up, and his breath caught in his throat. Standing in the doorway, holding a clipboard and wearing a stethoscope around her neck, was the girl from the park.
"You again?" she said, a smile tugging at her lips.
Chen Xiang blinked, momentarily speechless. "You're... a doctor?"
"Not quite," she replied, stepping into the room. "I'm an intern, but close enough. Small world, isn't it?"
He found himself smiling despite his nerves. "I didn't think I'd see you again so soon."
"Life's full of surprises," she said, setting the clipboard down on the counter. "So, Chen Xiang, how's your knee-cleaning business going?"
He chuckled, relaxing slightly. "I've retired. But it looks like you're doing well for yourself."
"I try," she said with a playful shrug. "Now, let's get this over with. Shirt off."
Her tone was professional, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. Chen Xiang hesitated for a split second before pulling off his shirt. As he did, he caught her gaze flicker over his torso before she quickly looked back at her notes.
She stepped closer, pressing the cold stethoscope against his chest. "Deep breath in," she instructed. "And out."
Her voice was steady, her demeanor focused, but Chen Xiang couldn't ignore the proximity. Her presence filled the small room, and for a moment, everything else faded into the background.
"You're in great shape," she said, stepping back and jotting something down on her clipboard.
"I try to stay active," he replied, pulling his shirt back on.
She handed him his paperwork with a small smile. "All set. You're good to go."
As he stood to leave, he hesitated by the door. "What's your name?"
"Zhang Ruoxuan," she said, meeting his gaze. "And you?"
"Chen Xiang."
"Well, Chen Xiang," she said, her playful smile returning, "good luck with your service. Maybe I'll see you around."
"Maybe," he said, walking out of the room.
The sunlight outside was blinding, but Chen Xiang barely noticed. His thoughts were filled with the sharp-witted intern who had turned a routine checkup into something he wouldn't soon forget. For the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of something he hadn't dared to hope for. Maybe life still had some surprises left for him after all.