2

After the exam, Li Xuan took off his gloves.

Su Xingchuan quickly straightened his clothes. Putting aside the intimacy behind the screen, he was more concerned about his condition right now. He followed Li Xuan and asked, 'Is my stone serious?'

'Serious.'

'Huh?' Su Xingchuan went pale, but then couldn't help feeling doubtful. He had always had good habits—aside from the recent promotion-related socializing and work stress, he still kept up with his workouts and showered frequently, basically once a day even in winter. Overall, he was pretty healthy.

It shouldn't be that serious.

He studied Li Xuan's expression carefully, pulled a chair over and sat next to him. Li Xuan typed another line on the screen.

Su Xingchuan couldn't see clearly, so he asked, 'How serious?'

'Serious.'

'What kind of answer is that?' Su Xingchuan couldn't do anything with him, complaining, 'Spell it out—it's not cancerous, is it?'

Li Xuan's expression was grim.

Su Xingchuan's heart lurched. 'It's not really cancerous, is it?'

'Any plans to get married lately?'

'What? Me—get married? Are you kidding? I've been with you since I was twenty, so why would I get married?'

Su Xingchuan saw Li Xuan's eyelashes flutter.

Clearly, he wasn't happy with the phrase 'been with.'

'Not necessarily,' Li Xuan said coldly.

'I wouldn't do that to someone else,' Su Xingchuan snorted irritably. 'You think I'm as irresponsible as you?'

Li Xuan's expression didn't change; he straightened his back slightly and asked again, 'You don't want kids in the future either?'

What does that have to do with kids?

Not only was Su Xingchuan gay and had long tossed aside all that nonsense about marrying and carrying on the family line, but the mere mention of 'kids' was enough to ignite a nameless anger in him.

Back then, he had spoiled Li Xuan like a treasure, showering him with care and love without limit. And what happened in the end?

Ungrateful little brat.

A man's gotta love himself, Su Xingchuan thought.

But Li Xuan said calmly, 'Not wanting it now doesn't mean you won't want it later. If you keep dragging this out, you'll lose your chance.'

That scared Su Xingchuan. Could it really be cancer? Bladder cancer, prostate cancer, vas deferens cancer...

Su Xingchuan ran through every male cancer he could think of, finally even imagining kidney cancer. His face went pale, and he touched Li Xuan's hand. 'What's really going on?'

'Nothing. Just asking.'

'……'

Su Xingchuan was speechless.

Li Xuan told him the diagnosis: 'Stones caused by inflammation. You can have surgery soon.'

'What caused it?'

'Messy sex life, poor diet, work stress, or congenital dysplasia—all are possible.'

Su Xingchuan understood immediately.

It had to be the work stress.

Though he didn't know which charge Li Xuan had pinned on him.

Li Xuan turned and asked, 'Do you want surgery?'

'Will you do it for me?'

'Normally it would be the admitting doctor, but not necessarily. There could be a last-minute switch.'

'Is the surgery complicated?'

'No, it's minimally invasive.'

Su Xingchuan thought for a moment. 'Then let's do it.'

Li Xuan issued the orders; the printer rumbled. He told him, 'Come back the day after tomorrow for surgery.'

'Oh,' Su Xingchuan said, looking at Li Xuan's cool, delicate profile. Remembering their recent intimate contact, a wicked thought suddenly arose. He couldn't resist asking, 'Is Dr. Li single now?'

'What's it to you?'

'Of course... it does. The surgeon is my ex-boyfriend, and we didn't exactly part on peaceful terms. That's terrifying. When I'm lying on the operating table, unconscious under anesthesia, what if you use the opportunity for personal revenge? Who'll safeguard my future happiness? Who'll be responsible?'

'I wouldn't. Doctors have professional ethics.'

Su Xingchuan's lips curved into a sudden smile. 'So you finally admit it.'

Li Xuan paused. 'Admit what?'

'That you're my ex-boyfriend,' Su Xingchuan leaned back against the chair. 'Acting so cold, I thought you'd forgotten about me. How heartless.'

Li Xuan didn't want to engage with that topic. After verifying the documents, he signed them. 'Go pay the bill and complete the admission procedures.'

Su Xingchuan picked up the form and looked at it.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

Li Xuan's handwriting was much more mature than before.

He had finally started writing his name properly and neatly.

Before, Li Xuan didn't like the character 'Xuan' in his name, because he felt he was neither soft nor sunny—the exact opposite of its meaning. When signing, he'd deliberately write the 'sun' radical as a straight vertical line. Su Xingchuan had corrected him several times, explaining all the downsides, but Li Xuan still wouldn't listen. He'd just nestle in Su Xingchuan's arms and stare at him quietly with those lake-blue eyes. What could Su Xingchuan say to him? He'd lower his head and kiss him, saying like a foolish ruler, 'Fine, write it however you want.'

'Li Xuan.' Su Xingchuan suddenly called his name, and Li Xuan's hands, which were tidying up, stopped abruptly.

'Long time no see.'

Li Xuan's reaction was still cold.

'Mm.' He nodded.

Su Xingchuan paid the consultation and surgery fees before the outpatient clinic closed, then came out with a stack of receipts.

He looked back at the clinic hallway.

There were only a few scattered patients; the door to Li Xuan's examination room 3 was also closed.

He had forgotten to add his contact info. Su Xingchuan felt a bit annoyed.

Actually, he remembered. He'd always remembered. Even though he had deleted everything in a moment of resolve, he could still recite it by heart when waking up from a drunk.

But remembering didn't mean he could just add it back anytime.

The nurse asked him, 'Is there anything else?'

Su Xingchuan smiled and said, 'No.'

When he came out, the continuous rain of the past few days had suddenly cleared. Sunlight spilled onto the ground, dispelling the chill of the hospital.

The surgery was scheduled for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow, and he'd be admitted tomorrow.

He went to the parking lot to get his car when Xie Liang called. 'Coming out for drinks tonight?'

Xie Liang was his colleague; they both worked at an investment company. They'd been partners before, and because their interests aligned and they got along, they had always had a good relationship.

Su Xingchuan pulled out his seatbelt. 'Drinks? I'm getting admitted to the hospital tomorrow.'

'What?' Xie Liang thought he'd misheard. 'Hospital? What's wrong with you?'

Su Xingchuan was a bit embarrassed at first, but then thought, I didn't get this from a messy lifestyle; it's purely work stress. So he confessed, 'I've got a stone. No big deal. It's just that haggling over prices with Zhongjin has been exhausting, staying up late every day—I worked myself sick.'

'Where's the stone? Kidney?'

'...' Su Xingchuan didn't say anything.

'Gallstones? Or mouth?'

In the prolonged silence, Xie Liang sensed something off. 'Don't tell me it's your little brother?'

'Piss off.'

Xie Liang let out a booming laugh that filled the car. Su Xingchuan facepalmed and drove out of the parking lot.

Xie Liang could barely contain himself. 'President Su, I told you ages ago: you've gotta take your brother out to meet people. If you don't use it, problems arise. You didn't believe me, kept saying the more celibate you are, the freer you are. Look, now celibacy's brought problems!'

'Cut the crap.'

'Which hospital? I'll come with you tomorrow?'

'No need.'

'Your parents aren't here, and you don't have a partner. Just let me know before your surgery. I'll come keep you company. Even if it's minor, someone should be there waiting.'

Su Xingchuan initially wanted to refuse, but then thought he had a point.

What if his ex-boyfriend did something to him on the operating table?

Thinking of Li Xuan, Su Xingchuan suddenly let out a soft laugh.

On the other end, Xie Liang was startled. 'What are you laughing at? Meet a pretty nurse? Wait—are there male nurses?'

'No male nurses, but there is a male doctor.'

'Man, your taste has really taken a dive—all the way to a bald specialist. Didn't you say your first love looked like a porcelain doll?'

Su Xingchuan suddenly caught sight of Li Xuan in his rearview mirror.

Li Xuan had changed out of his white coat into a short padded jacket. Carrying a black backpack, he walked out of the hospital alone, picked out a shared bike from the lot at the entrance, scanned the code, and rode off.

He looked a little lonely, yet rather endearing.

He didn't ride fast—more like an old person—keeping his back very straight as he steadily coasted down the slope.

Su Xingchuan watched the whole time. His tongue slid over his back teeth, and an idea suddenly sprouted in his mind.

'You'll know when the time comes.'

*

The next afternoon, Su Xingchuan drove to the hospital with a few changes of clothes and some daily necessities.

Since it was a minimally invasive surgery, it would take less than three days in total.

Su Xingchuan didn't take it too seriously and hadn't even told his parents.

His mother had called last night to ask how he'd been. He just said 'Fine, fine, fine—just a bit busy with work.'

His mother chided him, 'Don't work so hard. You can't earn all the money in the world.'

Su Xingchuan was born into a comfortably well-off family; both his parents held jobs. When he was two, they moved into an apartment building, and when he was ten, his parents sold that place and bought an elevator apartment near a school district. With a home and a car, after retirement his parents spent their days playing a little mahjong—living quite freely.

Growing up, Su Xingchuan never thought money was very important.

That changed when he met Li Xuan later on.

Li Xuan's family was better off than his. Everything he used was branded. Although Li Xuan wasn't materialistic and didn't pursue luxury, Su Xingchuan always thought: I can't let Xiao Xuan do without.

The idea to save and earn money came to him in college. Over the past few years, he'd worked hard and saved quite a bit, but as Xie Liang said—the more you talk about celibacy meaning freedom, the more problems celibacy brings.

Money can buy happiness, but without someone to share it with, all that's left is running forward relentlessly. It's too tiring.

Plus, he still had someone on his mind. He couldn't let go.

Su Xingchuan walked into the inpatient department, and a nurse assigned him a room.

Luckily, it was a double room.

The nurse pointed to the left bed and said, 'Get yourself settled. Dr. Li will be here shortly.'

The right bed was already occupied; the belongings were there, but the person was nowhere to be seen.

'Thank you.' Su Xingchuan sent the room number to Xie Liang.

Su Xingchuan put his things down, but before he could unpack, he got a call from a client. The other party was still haggling over management fees. Su Xingchuan's tone was resigned but smiling: 'President Xu, please try to understand our position. If the management fee drops to 0.5%, we'll be left sucking air...'

After hanging up, Su Xingchuan turned around and saw Li Xuan standing by the bed in his white coat, which made him jump.

'Why didn't you say anything?'

Li Xuan opened the medical record and discussed the surgery details with Su Xingchuan. 'The surgery is scheduled for 10:30 tomorrow morning. You need to fast for eight hours before—no food, no water.'

'Got it.'

The nurse brought over the hospital gown.

Su Xingchuan touched it; the fabric was a bit rough. He suddenly said, 'You couldn't wear this gown. You'd definitely think it's too stiff.'

Li Xuan looked at him, the corners of his mouth dipping slightly.

Su Xingchuan couldn't tell if that expression meant unhappiness or grievance.

As Li Xuan was about to leave, Su Xingchuan instinctively wanted to keep him there and offhandedly asked, 'Doctor, are there any side effects from this surgery?'

'Side effects?'

'For example, after the surgery,' Su Xingchuan glanced downward, 'will it still work? Will performance decline?'

Li Xuan also looked in that direction. 'No.'

Su Xingchuan got another wicked idea and deliberately said, 'What if it doesn't? Does the doctor offer after-sales service? Can I test it with the doctor?'

He sat on the edge of the bed, leisurely looking at Li Xuan.

This scene overlapped with seven years ago, back when he used to tease Li Xuan like this.

Li Xuan parted his lips slightly, looking like he wanted to say something.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and Xie Liang walked in, talking to himself. 'I just happened to be driving by, thought I'd scout the place. This room's pretty spacious and quiet. But that fruit shop downstairs is a total rip-off—nine eight per jin for apples. Still, I bought you some.'

Li Xuan looked at Xie Liang, then at Su Xingchuan.

Su Xingchuan was dumbfounded.

His 'What if it doesn't?' was still hanging in the air.

Li Xuan's eyes suddenly darkened, and he said, 'If it doesn't, then you'll bottom.'

'……'