In the autumn of 2018, Ruan Mian passed her school’s graduation defense early and became a member of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at B City Union Medical College Hospital. During the first two months after entering the hospital, she was busy working around the clock. The teacher supervising her was Deputy Director Meng Fuping, famous in thoracic surgery for his strictness. Being scolded was common, and working overnight shifts was even more routine. In an instant, it was like returning to when she rotated through departments here for internship several years ago—simply exhausting to the point of mental collapse.
Before the Spring Festival, the hospital was frantically busy from top to bottom—drunk driving car accidents, fevers and high temperatures. The emergency and outpatient departments were almost lit up throughout the night.
At ten o’clock at night, Ruan Mian finished observing a surgery for a steel rod penetration injury and returned to the office together with Meng Fuping, who had served as the first surgical assistant and surgical instructor.
At that time, outside the emergency building came wave after wave of siren sounds, accompanied by the violent storm outside the window, inexplicably making one’s heart panic.
In the office, Meng Fuping walked to the water dispenser to get a cup of hot tea. He had just taken a sip when a department colleague ran in from outside, their voice carrying some urgency. “Director Meng, an emergency accident occurred in the city suburbs. Dean Zhou is calling you to go to a meeting!”
Meng Fuping responded, not even having time to properly replace the cup lid. He simply placed the water cup on the desk and ran out following the person.
Outside the window, rain pounded. The office phone suddenly rang. Ruan Mian stood up to answer it. After hearing the description from the other end, she said urgently, “Alright, I’ll come right away.”
The phone call didn’t explain in detail, only mentioning that a residential building in the city suburbs that had just been handed over recently had collapsed. One stairwell served two households, a total of twelve floors. The casualties were severe.
The hospital urgently formulated a rescue plan. Some doctors went to the scene to participate in the rescue, while other doctors stayed at the hospital to prepare to receive critically ill patients.
Ruan Mian went to the scene.
This wasn’t her first time going to a scene, but when she really arrived at the location and looked at the wailing cries all around, as well as the people who had been dug out from the rubble by firefighters and were already not breathing, she still felt as if her heart was stuffed with a ball of cotton, unable to catch her breath.
The heavy rain plus the excessively low temperature increased the rescue difficulty and also caused many people to lose possible survival chances. Ruan Mian quickly put away those unnecessary emotions and threw herself into rescuing the wounded.
The rescue mission lasted for half a month. During that time, television coverage was everywhere. The entire city and even people throughout the nation were paying attention to this matter. But the final result was not as one would wish. A building with over a hundred households—in the end, only a dozen or so people survived. Some lost parents and children, some lost brothers and sisters, but more had lost their entire families.
The building collapsed. The relationships and interests involved behind it were intricate and complex. From some important figure at the top down to a small cement supplier, all became sinners.
On the way back to Pingcheng during Spring Festival vacation, Ruan Mian saw information about how certain departments were handling this matter.
Those who should be punished—not one escaped. But this result could only barely be considered as living up to those still alive. As for those innocently departed, no matter what, in the end it was an irreparable regret.
She turned off her phone, turned her head to look out the window, and sighed lightly.
The taxi stopped at the residential complex entrance. Through the window, Ruan Mian saw her father waiting at the entrance. Smiling, she got out of the car and shouted toward the person not far away, “Dad.”
Ruan Mingke was watching elderly people in the complex play chess. Hearing the voice, he looked up and quickly came to meet her, asking with a smile, “How many days are you staying this time?”
“About a week.” Ruan Mian carried her luggage. “Next month I have to go to Luolin Village with Teacher Meng to attend a training conference. It’ll probably be busy for a while.”
Ruan Mingke sighed. “How is it that you’re busier than me now?”
Ruan Mian laughed. “How’s Grandma doing lately?”
“Pretty good.” Ruan Mingke turned his head to look at her. “Today she even said she wanted to personally cook delicious food for you—more energetic than the helper.”
“Really?”
The father and daughter talked and laughed all the way. When they got home, Zhou Xiujun was already in the kitchen busy preparing lunch with the helper. The fragrance drifted all the way to the entrance.
Ruan Mian changed her shoes and walked over. “Grandma, what are you cooking? It smells so good.”
Zhou Xiujun poked her head out from the kitchen, saying in a particularly proud manner, “What else could it be? Isn’t it all the things you love to eat?”
“Then I’m in for a treat.” Ruan Mian patted the old lady’s shoulders and neck, then reached out to pick up a piece of mixed cucumber and toss it into her mouth.
Zhou Xiujun slapped her arm, calling out, “Did you wash your hands? Eating like that. And you call yourself a doctor—not particular at all.”
Ruan Mian laughed and turned on the nearby faucet to wash her hands. She walked out to accompany Ruan Mingke in the living room watching television. The news happened to be reviewing the B City residential building collapse incident. The camera flashed, and Ruan Mingke actually saw Ruan Mian’s figure in the lower right corner.
He paused and asked Ruan Mian, “Is that you?”
Ruan Mian stared at the television screen for a while, scratched her forehead and said, “I think so.”
That should have been the second day of the rescue. The local TV station sent reporters to broadcast the scene situation live. At that time, Ruan Mian was responsible for escorting a wounded person back to the hospital. The camera probably swept over here and captured a not-very-clear profile of her. But familiar people could still recognize her at a glance.
Ruan Mingke pressed continue. The television sound resumed in the house. The coverage content also switched to the investigation results that had just been announced this morning. One group company CEO was severely implicated in the case and sentenced to death.
Ruan Mingke opened up the conversation again. “This Tang Wei is said to have invested in quite a few scientific research projects. With his arrest, those projects will probably be implicated too.”
Ruan Mian became more alert and asked, “Your project team is okay, right?”
“It has nothing to do with us. Our funding is approved from above.” Ruan Mingke frowned and thought for a while. “But one of my colleagues seems to be…”
He said half his words, then remembered something else and said to Ruan Mian, “Oh right, this colleague of mine has a son. Do you want to consider him?”
“……”
Ruan Mingke smiled. “Alright, I won’t say more. But you need to prepare yourself for your mom’s side. She’s not as easy to talk to as me.”
“……”
As a result, before Ruan Mian could prepare herself, early the next morning, Fang Ruqing came directly to the door and even brought her a batch of quality single young men’s information.
Fang Ruqing said, “These are all from the aunties’ families at Mom’s workplace, as well as some people your Uncle Zhao knows. I’ve carefully checked them all—clean family backgrounds, good jobs. See if there’s one that suits your taste.”
Looking at these things in her hand that were similar to resumes, Ruan Mian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Mom, isn’t this a bit too formal?”
“Well, isn’t it all for you?” Fang Ruqing spoke earnestly and patiently. “You’re about to turn twenty-seven in nominal age. If you keep dragging it out, all the good ones will be picked by others.”
Ruan Mian’s eyes widened slightly. She sighed lightly. “Mom, I really don’t have time to date right now. Moreover, I’ll be staying in B City to develop my career for the next few years. Would people be willing to date a girlfriend who’s so far away?”
“You can’t just stay single like this forever. At least date one person—what if it’s suitable?” Fang Ruqing went on and on saying a whole bunch more.
Ruan Mian’s ears grew calloused from listening. Finally she compromised. “How about this—after I finish training in Luolin and come back, I’ll follow your arrangements, okay?”
“Really?”
“Really, but you have to wait until I finish being busy with this period.”
“That works too. So are you spending New Year’s with your dad this year or coming to my place?” She didn’t give Ruan Mian time to think and made the decision herself. “Better come to my place. Shutang is coming back this year too, and Shuyang really misses you.”
Ruan Mian had stayed in B City last Spring Festival. Later when she came back, she didn’t stay for many days either. This time she didn’t refuse. “Alright, then I’ll come over tomorrow morning.”
The next day, after Ruan Mian went to the Zhao family’s place to spend New Year’s and stayed for two or three days, she originally wanted to arrange a meal with Li Zhi. But he had returned to his Xiping hometown and couldn’t come back for a while, so they could only make plans for next time.
After the brief vacation ended, Ruan Mian returned to B City. Before going to Luolin for training, she had a meal with He Zechuan at the international trade center.
After university, He Zechuan gave up the school’s guaranteed graduate school spot and fiddled around with several friends outside to start a gaming company. Over these years, panning for gold in the waves and sand, by now they could be counted among the industry ranks.
When Ruan Mian went to his company before, she even had to make an appointment in advance. Even this meal was arranged half a month ago.
After ordering, Ruan Mian took a sip of the lemon water on the table and joked, “It’s harder for me to see you now than it is for me to take a vacation.”
He Zechuan laughed lightly. “You got it backwards. If you want to find me, you can see me anytime. Can you take vacation anytime?”
He hadn’t changed much over these years. Except for wearing formal attire when necessary, the rest of the time he wore athletic pants and T-shirts. Plus he looked young for his age—he still looked like a college student who hadn’t left campus yet.
Ruan Mian was too lazy to bicker with him. After all, she had never won once. “By the way, last time you said your mom wanted to introduce you to someone. How did you refuse her in the end?”
“That.” He Zechuan looked at Ruan Mian, smiling somewhat inexplicably.
Ruan Mian guessed, “You didn’t tell your mom I’m your girlfriend, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Then what did you say?” Ruan Mian put down the glass. “Let me learn too.”
He Zechuan looked at her. “You really want to hear?”
“Mm.”
He nodded, his tone calm. “I told my mom I like people the same as me.”
Ruan Mian didn’t react at first and looked at him with a puzzled face.
He Zechuan enunciated word by word, “The same as me. Male.”
“……”
Probably after a few minutes passed, Ruan Mian asked very seriously, “Have you already been kicked out of the house by your mom?”
“No. She just gave up the idea of introducing me to girlfriends.” He Zechuan laughed. “Now she’s preparing to introduce me to boyfriends.”
“……” Ruan Mian pressed her lips together. Just then the waiter brought the food. She gave up on this topic. “Alright, let’s eat first.”
Later, after finishing the meal, He Zechuan drove Ruan Mian back to the hospital. When they arrived at the location, he asked Ruan Mian, “Your mom is pressuring you to find a boyfriend?”
“Mm, and very urgently too.” Ruan Mian unfastened her seatbelt. “I estimate I won’t be able to hold out much longer.”
He Zechuan moved his fingers, saying casually, “Then how about next time your mom pressures you, you use me as a shield?”
“That won’t work.” Ruan Mian got out of the car and stood outside saying, “One lie requires countless lies to maintain it. If I really use you as a shield, my mom’s next step will be to pressure me to get married.”
“Alright then.”
Ruan Mian closed the car door and said goodbye to him through the window. “I’ll head back first. Drive safely.”
He Zechuan half-leaned on the steering wheel and waved at her, watching her enter the hospital gate before driving away from there.
Over the following days, Ruan Mian remained dizzyingly busy until the night before going to Luolin when she finally finished an early shift. She went back to pack her luggage, then held an online meeting for half an hour with Meng Fuping and several other colleagues who were going to attend the training.
Early the next morning, the bus departed from the hospital to the airport to transfer flights. They didn’t arrive in Luolin until one o’clock in the afternoon. Upon arrival, Meng Fuping told them to go back to their rooms to rest and later they would go to the local hospital to observe and study.
Ruan Mian shared a room with Lin Jiahui, a colleague from the neighboring general surgery department. From their room’s window, they could see the rolling mountains opposite. Exhausted from the journey, Ruan Mian first went to the bathroom to take a shower. When she came out, she heard Lin Jiahui on the phone with her boyfriend vividly describing the beautiful mountains and clear waters here.
Ruan Mian laughed and dried her hair while looking for her phone. After unlocking it, she saw several missed calls from Meng Xinglan on it.
She called back.
After connecting, Meng Xinglan asked, “What were you doing just now? I called you several times and no one answered.”
Ruan Mian laughed. “Taking a shower.”
At this time, Lin Jiahui over there didn’t know what she was talking about with her boyfriend, but they suddenly started arguing.
Ruan Mian glanced at her and went outside the room with her phone.
Meng Xinglan asked, “Did you just finish your shift?”
“No, I’m on a business trip.”
“How did you suddenly go on a business trip? I was hoping you’d accompany me to try on wedding dresses.” Meng Xinglan and Liang Yiran officially became boyfriend and girlfriend during their junior year. Last Christmas, Liang Yiran’s proposal succeeded. The elders from both families set the wedding date for this May.
“There’s a training conference at the last minute.” Ruan Mian smiled. “When are you trying on wedding dresses?”
“End of this month. Can you make it back?”
“Not sure.” This training alone was ten days. That didn’t even guarantee there wouldn’t be other miscellaneous matters afterward. Ruan Mian didn’t dare speak too definitively.
Meng Xinglan sighed. “Alright then. I’ll send you photos when the time comes.”
“Okay.”
“Take care of your health while you’re away.” Meng Xinglan was also calling her during a work break and couldn’t chat much.
After hanging up, Ruan Mian pulled down the towel draped around her neck. She didn’t know what she was thinking about, standing outside for a few minutes before returning to the room.
The ten days of training time flew by in a flash. On the day of departure, the organizer of this training conference arranged a farewell banquet at the hotel.
Considering professional reasons, alcoholic beverages were not arranged at the banquet. Later, when everyone present recalled this day, they all felt especially fortunate about this arrangement.
Ruan Mian remembered that day was March 6, 2019, the Awakening of Insects solar term. The previous days in Luolin had been rainy and overcast, but that day was exceptionally stuffy and hot. People also felt inexplicably anxious and irritable.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Ruan Mian hadn’t eaten much when she felt stifled and uncomfortable. She got up, preparing to go to the lobby to get some air. She heard passing waitstaff discussing that something strange had happened to the ornamental fish tank placed in the front hall—the fish raised inside were all jumping around wildly as if they’d taken stimulants, splashing water from the tank all over the floor.
At the time, no one paid attention, just assuming that hotel staff had randomly fed them something.
It was midday. The hotel was open for business. There were many guests coming and going. The farewell banquet was arranged in the Bamboo Garden Hall on the second floor. The three adjacent halls were also all full of people. On the road outside the building, cars came and went. It was exactly a lively time.
Ruan Mian came back after getting some air. Her flat shoes stepped on the soft carpet laid on the floor. In a trance, she felt as if the ground had shaken slightly, but it quickly returned to calm.
She thought it was her own illusion and didn’t pay attention. But when she walked to the entrance of Bamboo Garden Hall, that previous shaking became increasingly obvious and grew stronger and stronger. The chandelier hanging on the wall also began to sway. Everything visible before her eyes was shaking.
An earthquake!
The next second after this thought surged in Ruan Mian’s heart, the entire building fell into violent shaking. The ceiling began dropping debris and dust.
It was almost an instantaneous thing—the six-story hotel building collapsed from its foundation. The entire corridor and hallway were crammed full of people.
Some people were wailing, some were screaming, others were crying. The entire world seemed like doomsday was arriving. Fear and panic almost crushed everyone.
Bamboo Garden Hall was close to the emergency exit passage, but Ruan Mian and the entire hall of medical staff were the last to evacuate. The people had just run out the front door when the building collapsed at the back.
Ruan Mian even saw someone jump down from the sixth floor, then be instantly buried by the rubble, life and death unknown.
The violent earthquake only lasted a dozen seconds or so, but what it brought was devastating catastrophe. Continuous crying sounds came from the streets.
The gray sky, aftershocks coming from time to time, all around was the aura of lives passing away. Ruan Mian suddenly thought of something. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and wrote words separately for Ruan Mingke and Fang Ruqing in the memo app.
Under such circumstances, her thoughts were all chaotic. She didn’t even quite know where to start. In the end, she could only hastily and briefly leave just a sentence or two.
In case she couldn’t go back, these few scattered words, even if insufficient to comfort the parting between life and death, at least had to give them some thought to sustain them through the pain.
Ruan Mian confirmed the memos were saved. At the instant of turning off her phone, she heard Lin Jiahui crying while leaving voice messages for her boyfriend.
That previously intense quarrel seemed to be just a brief scene of background in the drama. Her incoherent “I love you’s” were the truly sincere main act.
At this inopportune moment, Ruan Mian suddenly thought of Chen Yi.
—
**Author’s Note:** The hospital content is referenced but has been processed with vague treatment overall. It also includes some private settings, so there may be discrepancies with reality. Please forgive me, medical friends, and non-medical friends, please don’t imitate. For specific content, prioritize reality.
Next Mei You Ren Xiang Ni – Chapter they’ll more or less meet.
Everyone can guess what Chen Yi’s profession is.
The “double C” was deleted from the synopsis because some young readers might have felt “double C” encompassed both first love and physical meanings, but this text only refers to the latter, so it was deleted. The content hasn’t changed, rest assured.
Today is June 1st Children’s Day. Wishing all my darlings a happy holiday. This Mei You Ren Xiang Ni – Chapter will give out 61 red envelopes, thanks for liking =3=