Chapter 566: Ji Xiang's Unbearable Past

After the exchange outside the operating room, the scene cuts to the anesthesia recovery room.

Ji Xiang does not give up; he pursues the Family Member to communicate.

"Xiao Ji is being a bit excessive here," Liu Zhuren says. "Can every patient be like the one encountered in Hepatobiliary Surgery, agreeing to an examination after a few words? That time was just Xiao Ji's good luck; it doesn't mean he can persuade every patient."

Bai Chuzhang nods slightly.

After Ji Xiang hands the written "communication" to the Family Member, the scene does not linger in the hospital. Sunsets, traffic, and neon lights representing the passage of time in the program flash by; in a few seconds, the camera language tells the audience it is already late at night.

When the rapidly passing time returns to normal, the scene does not freeze on the Gastrointestinal Surgery Doctor's Office, nor are there new Resident Chiefs, professors, directors, or Interns chatting.

The scene does not return to Hepatobiliary Surgery or Neurosurgery either; besides Ji Xiang, the screen... unexpectedly shows the figure of Fan Dao.

"Doctor Ji Xiang, you aren't going back to rest; what are you waiting for by staying here?" Fan Dao asks.

He and Ji Xiang are sitting on the waiting chairs in the emergency hall; Fan Dao's appearance in front of the camera is slightly strange.

"I just like watching people walk back and forth," Ji Xiang says calmly.

Although this is a very nonsensical statement, coming from Ji Xiang's mouth, Fan Dao actually seems to believe it.

Fan Dao smiles and asks, "Doctor Ji Xiang, at your age, you should normally spend more time with your girlfriend. By the way, do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"There should be quite a few people chasing you." Fan Dao chats with Ji Xiang about daily life with a smile.

Liu Zhuren, in front of the television, thinks of the scene on the first day they met where Zhao Mengmeng handed a bottle of water with the cap unscrewed to Ji Xiang, a smile that all men understand on his face.

"I have psychological trauma," Ji Xiang says gently.

"Trauma? Can you tell me about it?" Fan Dao is curious.

"When I was in high school, I had an online relationship, playing King of Glory with a girl named Nennen." Ji Xiang enters memory-lane mode, his face wearing a rare, strange expression.

"We turned on voice mode, and her voice was very pleasant. We also had a lot of fun playing. King of Glory, Fan Dao, have you played it?"

"I know of it, but I haven't played it; that's the world of young people," Fan Dao replies.

Everyone in front of the screen has likely guessed a cliché love story.

Young people, having fun playing together, but heaven knows what might happen. Perhaps it's just a tiny thing that leads to an argument or a breakup.

This is a part of youth.

"I bought her gifts and did many things for her." Ji Xiang does not discuss King of Glory with Fan Dao, but continues to tell his story. "My dad was very strict with my discipline; although he wasn't home often at that time, he gave me very little pocket money."

"Oh, oh, a few dozen yuan a month?"

"Three hundred." Ji Xiang does not state a shocking number. "I spent it all buying snacks and skins for my girlfriend."

Fan Dao continues to smile.

"The high school curriculum wasn't difficult, so it didn't affect my studies. I even blocked my parents' WeChat Moments. Actually, I was too careful; I mainly used QQ. Old people, their social tool is mainly WeChat; they don't use Q."

Fan Dao listens, tears streaming down his face.

"Until one day, feeling sweet inside, I couldn't help but tell my mother about my girlfriend."

"Your mother opposed your puppy love?" Fan Dao asks.

"No, my mother didn't agree, but she didn't oppose it," Ji Xiang says. "But my mother felt I was buying the girl too many things, so she started to investigate."

"..."

"Later, I discovered that the 'first love girlfriend' who had been playing King of Glory with me all along was my dad's alt account."

"!!!"

"Sigh, no one knows a son like his father. At that moment, I felt life was very illusory, ethereal." Ji Xiang sighs. "So for the years after that, until now, I have had no interest in finding a girlfriend."

"Your dad... wasn't he afraid of causing problems?" Fan Dao asks.

Ji Xiang shakes his head and does not answer his question.

In front of the television, Liu Zhuren and Bai Chuzhang bloom into smiles.

No, two blooms.

"No wonder Xiao Ji never finds a girlfriend; so that's why!"

"What a lack of seriousness," Bai Chuzhang says with a smile. "However, it seems to make some sense."

"Shall I try it?" Liu Zhuren is somewhat tempted; he says in a low voice.

"You? Forget it." Bai Chuzhang says with disdain. "It's not like you don't know how fast Xiao Ji's hand speed is. His dad could play ranked games with him; although there was the intention of carrying his girlfriend, he definitely wouldn't fall too far behind."

Liu Zhuren does not think so.

When young, hormones surge; if a stranger drags you down, you'd curse them to pieces. But if it's a girl with great looks and a great voice, everything doesn't matter.

The two of them chat for a few sentences, but the variety show is still continuing, so they don't continue the deep conversation.

"Doctor Ji Xiang, are you alright?"

"I'm alright." Ji Xiang smiles slightly. "Speaking of psychological trauma, it's not about men and women, but that I have a feeling that I can never escape the palm of my father's hand. This feeling is terrible; fortunately, he doesn't usually manage me much."

How strong Ji Xiang is, Fan Dao already had a preliminary understanding through this period of contact. Just like how many people who raise Border Collies have their IQ crushed by the Border Collie, Fan Dao feels that if his own son were like Ji Xiang, he would be completely unable to manage him.

And that existence in the distance who has always been crushing Ji Xiang makes Fan Dao yearn for him.

"Doctor Ji Xiang, let's talk about medical matters. Do you like studying medicine?"

"It's alright."

"Then in your medical career, are there any unforgettable things?" Fan Dao asks like a news reporter.

"Unforgettable, huh." Ji Xiang ponders. "When I was an Intern, I was in the Anorectal Department and met a patient."

"What kind of patient?" Fan Dao immediately thinks of blood in the toilet after a bowel movement, and patients crying in pain while lying on the bed after surgery.

"The patient was very ordinary, a university professor," Ji Xiang says. "After he was discharged, he sent my teacher a silk banner, and on the banner was written 'Anorectal-ly Glad to Have You'."

"'Glad to have you'?" Fan Dao is startled.

"The 'Ano' from Anorectal, it's a pun," Ji Xiang smiles.

Fan Dao scratches his head; what is there to remember deeply about this?

Could it be that all the silk banners given by patients when they are discharged are inscribed with phrases like "Miraculous Hands Revive the Spring" or "Master of the Apricot Grove," and that a single pun is enough to make someone remember it for a lifetime?

"Fan Dao, try reading these four characters backward."

"Backward?" Fan Dao tried reading them in reverse, "You have a good anus!"

"That's right," Ji Xiang laughed, "This is the most down-to-earth palindrome I've ever seen; it contains praise for the Doctor, a blessing, and it even seems to carry a bit of banter, as if mocking my teacher for hurting him when changing his dressing."

"……"

As the two were chatting, the sound of an Emergency Vehicle arrived.

(End of this chapter)