Chapter 39: Zhu Zixiao's Curse

Fang Zhiyan’s words brought a faint smile to Xu Qiushuang’s face. She toyed with her chopsticks, a rare blush coloring her cheeks, before she spoke slowly.

"Actually, the first time I saw you, I thought you were quite wonderful." She paused, then added, "I have a general idea of your family background, and you likely know mine as well. So, I’m quite interested in you. Why don't we give it a try?"

A brief silence hung in the air. Fang Zhiyan sat there, a gentle, modest, and polite smile on his face. His calm demeanor helped settle Xu Qiushuang’s nervous heart.

Truth be told, even Fang Zhiyan hadn't expected to be faced with such a direct confession so soon after his rebirth. Was he really that charming? Or was Xu Qiushuang simply in a hurry? Setting those questions aside, Xu Qiushuang was quite beautiful, and as an English teacher, she held a respectable job. Perhaps, he thought, it really was worth a try.

In his past life, Fang Zhiyan had been so immersed in the medical field that he had neglected his personal life entirely. In this life, he decided, he could afford to explore it. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded slowly. "I think you’re wonderful too, Teacher Xu. We can give it a try."

They looked up at the same time, their eyes meeting. There were no sparks or lightning, just a sense of calm and a hint of joy. In an instant, their relationship shifted from friends to lovers. Affection, after all, is something that grows over time. People in this era were swift in their affairs; even in the more open era Fang Zhiyan had come from, some people went from meeting to marriage in less than three days.

A smile blossomed on Xu Qiushuang’s face. She gave him a sweet look and said, "From now on, you're my boyfriend."

Fang Zhiyan nodded. "Let’s eat first, or the food will get cold. This one is on me. I’ll be getting paid soon, and after that, I’ll take you out."

Xu Qiushuang chuckled and waved a hand. "I know your situation. I think you’re very responsible. The way you insisted on separating from your family and bringing your mother with you—it’s truly impressive."

Fang Zhiyan didn't respond, focusing instead on his meal. He had spent the entire day in the emergency room, and if it weren't for Xu Qiushuang calling him, he would have eaten long ago. Seeing his silence, Xu Qiushuang began to eat as well.

The difference between how a man and a woman eat was quite apparent. Fang Zhiyan polished off his plate in a whirlwind, while Xu Qiushuang was still delicately sipping one noodle at a time. He sat quietly, watching her. In the dim light of the shabby little diner, the soft glow on her face gave her a saintly, radiant quality. There was a unique beauty to her that made it hard for him to look away.

Once they finished, Fang Zhiyan insisted on paying the bill and walked her out of the restaurant. It was dark now, and he said, "It’s getting late. You should head home."

Xu Qiushuang stood by his side. "I’m your girlfriend, aren't I? Don’t you want to spend a little more time with me?"

Fang Zhiyan turned back, feeling a sudden sense of complication. He briefly regretted agreeing, but looking at her expression, he softened. He reached out and took her hand. "Shall I walk you home? We can talk along the way."

"I'd love that."

They walked along the bus route, heading into the distance. Along the way, Xu Qiushuang was bubbling with excitement, constantly finding new topics to discuss. Fang Zhiyan kept pace, answering her, and as they walked, things began to feel more natural.

When they accidentally reached the residential complex where Xu Qiushuang lived, Fang Zhiyan stopped.

"I'm home," she said softly, waving her hand.

"Yes," he nodded. Their conversation had left a lingering warmth; he felt as though he was finally starting to experience the feeling of being in love.

Xu Qiushuang turned to leave, but suddenly pivoted back, leaned in, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "I’m really going now!" With that, she waved enthusiastically and ran off without looking back.

Everything happened so fast that Fang Zhiyan couldn't even react. Once she was out of sight, he reached up and touched his cheek with a faint smile. Well, it seemed he had truly started a relationship.

When he arrived home, his mother, Jiang Xu, had been waiting for a while. "Why are you back so late? Was there an emergency?" she asked.

Fang Zhiyan gave a wry smile. "No, just had some things to take care of."

"Have you eaten? I saved some food for you, go ahead and eat." His mother had a gentle smile on her face. Since her divorce, her mood had improved significantly, and she looked at her son as if he were the most precious thing in the world. "I spoke with your Aunt Zhang today. She has a niece, two years younger than you. See when you have some time to meet her."

Fang Zhiyan was taken aback. He scratched his head. "Mom, I have a girlfriend now. Teacher Xu and I decided to start seeing each other today."

Jiang Xu was stunned. She looked at him in disbelief. "So fast?"

"Yes."

"It doesn't matter," she said. "You’ve only just met Teacher Xu; you’re not at the stage of discussing marriage yet. I’ve already promised your Aunt Zhang—how can I back out now? Just meet her. If it doesn't work out, you can just decline. It’s the same thing."

Jiang Xu was experienced in these matters; to her, this was second nature. Fang Zhiyan hesitated but finally nodded.

After washing up, he lay in bed, wondering whether to message Xu Qiushuang. Before he could, a message from her popped up. They shared a brief, sweet exchange before drifting off to sleep, feeling content.

The next morning, Fang Zhiyan went straight to the hospital. Zhu Zixiao arrived earlier than him every day, which always made Fang Zhiyan admire the young man’s dedication. Regardless of anything else, he believed the story that Zhu had become a doctor to save his grandfather.

Seeing Fang Zhiyan, Zhu Zixiao handed him a steamed bun. "Had breakfast? Want one?"

Fang Zhiyan nodded and took it. "Thanks, Brother Xiao."

But the moment the words left his lips, he felt a sense of foreboding. He couldn't take food from Zhu Zixiao—every time he did, there was inevitably an emergency. Sure enough, the next second, the sound of gurney wheels echoed in his ears. He stared at Zhu Zixiao, speechless.

At the same time, someone shouted, "Doctor! Doctor, come quickly!"

Zhu Zixiao scratched his head helplessly, and the two of them bolted toward the sound.

"What's the situation?" Fang Zhiyan asked. Although he was only an intern, after his recent surgeries, no one in the emergency department treated him like one anymore.

"Stab wound. The wound is in the fifth intercostal space on the right anterior axillary line. There are signs of hemorrhagic shock, but it doesn't appear critical yet."