“Nian, are you planning to return to China?” asked her blonde, blue-eyed advisor. “You could have secured an internship position at the hospital here.”

Shi Niannian smiled and replied in fluent English: “Yes, I’ve made up my mind.”

“All right.” Her advisor opened his arms and gave her a brief hug. “I wish you all the best.”

Just as she left the academy, she heard a clear, joyful shout from not far away: “—Niannian!!”

It was rare to hear Mandarin at school. She turned around and saw Jiang Ling.

They hadn’t seen each other for several years, and Jiang Ling had changed significantly from the schoolgirl in uniform she remembered. Now she wore a long dress, with a tall, slender figure. She had sunglasses on, which she lowered with her index finger, waving her arm vigorously: “Niannian!!!!”

Jiang Ling had texted her earlier about coming to visit. Shi Niannian smiled and ran over, embracing her: “Why did you come by yourself?”

“I had nothing better to do anyway!” Jiang Ling said excitedly.

She held Shi Niannian’s hand and circled her: “You look quite impressive in that white coat!”

She had just come from the academy and hadn’t had time to change. She was still wearing the white coat that everyone in medical school had, long enough to reach her knees.

“Wait a moment, I’ll go to my dorm to change clothes.”

After four years of college, she had been accepted into a graduate program in China. She had already packed most of her belongings and shipped them to the apartment she had rented. Only a few everyday clothes remained in her dorm. She quickly changed and tidied up before going downstairs.

She had been here for four years already. Coincidentally, after Jiang Ling had finished her undergraduate degree, she had received an offer from a school in the same city, not far from Shi Niannian’s.

She took Jiang Ling around the area, then they took the subway to a tea restaurant where she often went to study before exams.

They ordered a pot of tea and a few dim sum plates.

“Niannian, I heard that medical students all start losing their hair early, studying every day like they’re preparing for college entrance exams. How come you don’t look worn out at all?” Jiang Ling asked.

Shi Niannian smiled: “I think it’s fine. Once you get used to the intensity, it’s manageable.”

“That’s because you’re a top student. The world of top students…” Jiang Ling stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something was different. She blinked rapidly. “When you speak, you don’t stutter anymore?”

“Yes, it gradually improved after my second year here.”

Stumbling over English pronunciation was much more uncomfortable than in Chinese. The initial period had indeed been difficult, but gradually it improved considerably, especially after college, when she participated in many projects that required her to give presentations. With time, it got better—quite miraculous.

“By the way, do you remember Chen Shushu?” Jiang Ling asked.

“Of course.”

“She and Xu Fei are getting married soon.”

Shi Niannian was stunned. Memories from the past suddenly surged forward, bringing with them many recollections she thought had already become blurry.

“Getting married right after graduation? That’s so quick.”

“Yes.” Jiang Ling took a sip of tea and nodded. “Shotgun wedding. The timing is tight because they’re worried her belly will be too big later.”

Among her former classmates, Shi Niannian only kept in touch with Jiang Ling. Even that connection had gradually faded until Jiang Ling received an offer from a local university, which led to more frequent contact.

Fortunately, some friendships remain completely comfortable no matter how much time passes between meetings.

“But why did you decide to go back to China for graduate school?”

Jiang Ling remembered that Shi Niannian’s current school’s clinical medicine program ranked among the best globally, was incredibly prestigious, and extremely difficult to get into.

“I haven’t been back for too long. I want to go see.”

“And the situation with your family… has it been resolved?”

Shi Niannian let out a breath and gave a soft “Mm.”

She later learned exactly what crime her father had committed: embezzlement. For years, he had been abroad evading arrest, until her senior year, when she was busy with her thesis, working day and night, her grandmother in China passed away.

Her father had no choice but to return. He had thought that after so many years, he could return quietly unnoticed, but he was arrested and eventually committed suicide in prison.

After hiding for so many years, this was still the outcome.

“Our former classmates have truly scattered to the four winds.”

When high school classmates meet again, the conversation inevitably revolves around former classmates. Jiang Ling seemed quite informed about what had happened to everyone—who had failed the college entrance exam and chosen to repeat the final year of high school and was now only in their third year of college, who had secured admission to graduate school without taking the entrance exam, and who had already found a high-paying job.

At the end of their chat, she suddenly paused, hesitating before saying: “…But among all these people, Jiang Wang has been the most impressive.”

Shi Niannian didn’t show much reaction, simply smiling and nodding: “Yes, indeed.”

Jiang Ling asked in surprise: “Are you still in touch with him?”

“I saw him in the news back in China.”

CEO Jiang.

In the press conference footage, Jiang Wang had completely transformed from a boy into a man—dressed in a formal suit, white shirt meticulously buttoned to the top, speaking methodically and with composure.

Jiang Tian had been seriously injured in that car accident during Jiang Wang’s senior year of high school, and later passed away during his sophomore year of college—an untimely death. Jiang Wang had taken over the Jiang Group at that time.

Young and accomplished, ruthless in his methods, decisive and efficient, like father, like son—these were the evaluations Shi Niannian had read in that news report.

Jiang Ling rested her chin on her hand and sighed: “None of us seem to have stayed in touch with Jiang Wang after graduation, not even you.”

Shi Niannian responded with an “Mm,” and after a moment added: “Actually, I could say I’ve still been in touch with him, just not much.”

“Hmmm???” Jiang Ling was shocked.

Since they parted, they had tacitly agreed not to contact each other frequently. They hadn’t met, except for a “Happy New Year” greeting each year and occasional well-wishes on special holidays.

It was strange, like two strangers online.

When it comes to relationships, the most painful, most tormenting thing is to watch it fade little by little, step by step; gradually running out of common topics, gradually starting to argue, and finally feeling disheartened and proposing a breakup.

In a situation where they were both immature and powerless, they were both smart enough to tacitly choose this way to maintain their connection.

Their communication wasn’t limited to text messages.

Shi Niannian had received several packages from China over the years: a gold medal, an acceptance letter from B University, and a bracelet identical to the one from Christmas Eve.

“So are you two still together?” Jiang Ling was very surprised.

Shi Niannian shook her head lightly: “I’m not sure either.”

Their last communication was a “Happy New Year” half a year ago.

“So you’re returning to China for graduate school also because of… him?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t chat with Jiang Ling for long that day as Jiang Ling had to return to school to register, while Shi Niannian was flying back to China the next day.

“—Our plane has landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. The local time is 12:30 PM, and the outside temperature is 31 degrees Celsius…”

As the mechanical female voice made the announcement, Shi Niannian gazed at the scenery through the cabin window, her heart fluttering. After so many years, she had finally returned.

Carrying her luggage out of the airport, she looked at the bustling traffic on the road and took a deep breath. Standing on solid ground, it still didn’t feel real.

This land.

She had only spent two years here—her first and second years of high school—yet it had become the place in her heart that she considered home.

“Niannian!” a female voice called from not far away.

Shi Niannian looked over and saw her aunt wearing sunglasses, waving at her from beside a car.

Over these years, her aunt had visited her many times, but when she heard Shi Niannian was coming back for graduate school, she was beyond excited. Time hadn’t left many obvious marks on her; she was still a beautiful, elegant lady.

“Are we going to your place first?”

“I need to go organize my luggage first. I have many packages still in storage,” Shi Niannian said with a smile.

“That works. How are your mother and brother doing?”

“They’re both well.”

“Our Niannian truly excels in any environment. Your aunt always believed that about you.” Her aunt still felt emotional about this. “By the way, when do you need to report to school?”

“Tomorrow.”

“So early.”

“Yes,” she said. “I heard my graduate advisor is particularly strict and assigns tasks in advance.”

“Then you’ll be busy again.”

She smiled without saying anything, turning her head to look out the window. Then she suddenly heard her aunt ask: “So when do you plan to contact Jiang Wang?”

Her aunt only found out about their relationship later, when Xu Ningqing mentioned it. Being open-minded, she wasn’t particularly concerned, but thinking of how Shi Niannian had left back then made her feel even worse.

Shi Niannian’s smile faded slightly. Before returning, she had firmly decided to find Jiang Wang on this trip, but now that she was actually on this soil, she understood the feeling of anxiety that comes with approaching home.

She blinked, her eyes moist: “After I’ve settled the school matters.”

“He’s outstanding now,” her aunt remarked.

Her uncle’s business had collaborated with the Jiang Group, so her aunt knew a bit about the situation. Jiang Tian’s sudden death, the vast family business, the complex power dynamics—many people had been ready to watch Jiang Wang fail, but in the end, they saw him grow increasingly secure in his position.

After having lunch with her aunt, Shi Niannian returned to her apartment to organize her things.

She didn’t have many possessions. She had only brought summer clothes for now, along with many books—the notoriously heavy medical textbooks that could potentially kill someone if dropped.

Shi Niannian was already sweating profusely after moving all the books to the study. She sat on the sofa for a while, hesitantly holding her phone, but ultimately didn’t send a message about her return.

In these five-plus years, their contact consisted of just a few packages and text messages she could count on both hands. There were too many uncertainties—not knowing what they would talk about if she called or texted, or if they could even maintain a conversation.

Shi Niannian leaned back on the sofa, recalling the information and photos of Jiang Wang she had recently searched online.

The man had changed significantly. His temperament had settled, losing the unruly bad-boy vibe.

But in her memory, that boy was mischievously bad—always lazily sprawled across his desk during class, occasionally writing a few steps of calculation on paper when faced with difficult problems. His words were always naughty, and before she left, during their first meal together in the cafeteria, the boy had pressed his thumb against her eye and said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t cry, baby.”

When she left, it was still winter.

Now it was midsummer.

Shi Niannian smiled and put her phone away.

At 3 PM, she received a text from her advisor asking her to meet him at the affiliated hospital. Traffic was heavy, and by the time she arrived, it was nearly 5 PM.

Shi Niannian wore a white cotton dress that gave her a gentle appearance. She was sweating from rushing, with rosy cheeks, and asked at the service desk for the professor’s office.

She knocked on the door twice, and a voice that sounded like it belonged to an older man came from inside: “Come in.”

Her advisor was a man who appeared to be around 60 years old, wearing a white coat and staring at his computer screen. After a moment, he spared a few seconds to glance at Shi Niannian: “Shi Niannian?”

“Yes, hello, Professor Chen.” Shi Niannian bowed at a 90-degree angle.

Chen Qing waved his hand, saying rather coldly: “Don’t bow, we don’t do that here.”

Shi Niannian responded with an “Oh,” stood up straight, and greeted him again with a “Hello, Professor Chen.”

Chen Qing looked at her once more, nodded with an “Mm,” and pointed to a white coat hanging on a chair: “Put that on and accompany me to the otolaryngology department in a bit. I want to see your skill level.”

“Okay.”

Shi Niannian had chosen otolaryngology as her clinical specialty. She took the coat and went to change, then put on a mask. She took out her phone to fix her hair in the screen’s reflection, and then heard the office door being opened.

“—Professor Chen.” A man’s voice, deep and magnetic.

A voice infused with the essence of time, yet still familiar.

Shi Niannian froze and immediately turned her head to look.

There was a curtain between them, but through the gap, she finally saw him in person.

The white coat carried a faint smell of disinfectant. Her lips parted beneath her mask, her pupils contracted, and for an instant, her mind went completely blank.

She had imagined many reunion scenes.

She would actively go to his company to find him. She would stand outside the elevator, watching as the doors slowly opened, and the man inside would lift his head at the same time. A breeze would blow, and everything around would blur.

Or perhaps on a bustling street at night, she would look up and see the man in a formal suit stepping out of a black sedan. The air would be filled with the scent of camphor trees and the smell of cigarettes from the man.

Scenes of reunion after a long separation are always easy to imagine as romantic and dramatic.

But she never expected to suddenly encounter such a scene when she was completely unprepared.

He had changed—much thinner, with sharp, chiseled features, a powerful presence, his sideburns cut very short, and a cold, unapproachable demeanor.

Yet it also seemed like nothing had changed, so much so that Shi Niannian instantly recalled the times from five or six years ago: the golden sunlight, the two seats in the back corner of the classroom, good-natured Teacher Cai and the always-shouting English teacher, and that dazzling boy.

Chen Qing’s voice interrupted her increasingly distant thoughts: “Lie down over there. I’ll examine you again.”

Jiang Wang walked to the other side. Shi Niannian instinctively turned around, self-consciously readjusting her mask.

He glanced to the side, saw the woman’s back, and frowned slightly, but didn’t pay much attention. He lay down on the chair and closed his eyes wearily.

Shi Niannian secretly watched him through the glass of the cabinet in front of her and saw him raise his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, his brows slightly furrowed, looking extremely tired.

Had these years been very exhausting? And why was he visiting otolaryngology if he’d already had ear surgery?

She stood to the side, feeling heartache as she thought.

Her heart pounded loudly, deafeningly. She bit her lower lip and silently raised her hand to her chest, thinking to herself: stop beating so hard.

Chen Qing sat on the other side and turned to instruct her, asking her to get some instruments from the adjacent room.

She didn’t even dare to respond with an “Mm,” just nodded and left.

It was close to the end of clinic hours, and the corridor wasn’t as busy as when she arrived. She leaned her back against the wall and caught her breath for a moment, finally escaping the suffocating feeling from earlier.

She quickly returned with the instruments. Next to Jiang Wang stood a man in a suit who appeared to be his assistant, reporting on work matters that sounded quite complex.

Jiang Wang kept his eyes closed, only speaking when Chen Qing occasionally asked him questions.

Shi Niannian silently handed over the instruments.

“Alright, wait for me a bit. We’ll go to otolaryngology after finishing here,” Chen Qing said.

Shi Niannian nodded.

Chen Qing performed a series of examinations and advised quietly: “No matter how busy your work is, you still need to rest. Your ear has been injured before. If you continue like this, you’ll eventually go deaf.”

As an older professor, and one known for his peculiar temperament, there weren’t many people who dared to speak to Jiang Wang like this nowadays.

Jiang Wang wasn’t angered, though; he just gave an ambiguous laugh.

When he relaxed like this, he showed glimpses of his former self, making Shi Niannian’s heart beat fast again after so long.

The assistant standing nearby said: “Tomorrow evening there’s a banquet hosted by the Sheng family. Miss Sheng has extended an invitation for you to be her escort. We haven’t given a response yet.”

Jiang Wang casually tapped his fingers on the armrest twice: “I’ll go.”

He didn’t stay long. When he left, Shi Niannian made an excuse to step out to avoid him.

Her mind was filled with their conversation—Miss Sheng, escort, go.

She knew who this Miss Sheng was. She had known her from much earlier: Sheng Xiangwan, whom she had met at the high school physics competition.

Shi Niannian had also seen news about Jiang Wang and Sheng Xiangwan. She let out a small sigh, recalling the content of the news: a perfect match, with intentions of a business marriage alliance.

She had never believed it. Jiang Wang would certainly disdain a business marriage and did not need for one. But when she heard him mention Sheng Xiangwan with her ears, she couldn’t help but feel her heart tremble.

She washed her hands and returned to the office: “Professor Chen.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The two walked toward the otolaryngology department. On the way, Shi Niannian couldn’t help but ask: “That person just now, is his ear injury very serious?”

“It’s a recurrence. It’s an old problem for him.”

Chen Qing briefly explained Jiang Wang’s condition.

Only then did Shi Niannian learn about some past events.

After joining the national team, Jiang Wang had won a gold medal in his first small competition—the same gold medal now in her home. But during that time, he had been living in a daze. The high-intensity training and his physical condition at the time couldn’t sustain him, and his eardrum surgery hadn’t been long ago. He had completely lost his hearing for a period.

She suddenly felt so upset she wanted to cry: “What happened after that?”

“Fortunately, it was sudden. I remember he was in his senior year of high school then. Afterward, he couldn’t swim anymore and returned to school. Now his hearing doesn’t have major problems, just occasional pain and tinnitus.”

Shi Niannian pressed her lips together without speaking.

No one had ever told her about these things.

In their brief chat history, there had never been any record of these matters.

Chen Qing shook his head and said dispassionately: “I heard it was all for a girl. What a waste.”