I Am Diagnosed as a Medical Titan

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: As in the Past Life, So Too in This One

On the way to Cafeteria No. 2, Jiang He had a bold idea.

’What if,’ he thought, ’the moment Shen Yu sees me, all her memories from our past life come flooding back?’

’Then we’d throw caution to the wind, fall into each other’s arms, and just hold one another, sobbing our hearts out.’

It sounded a bit fantastical, but rebirth itself couldn’t be explained by science. What if?

Clinging to this strange hope, Jiang He arrived at the entrance of Cafeteria No. 2, his eyes quickly scanning the area.

He didn’t see Shen Yu.

He reached for his pocket, about to ask her where she was.

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure squatting behind a concrete pillar next to the cafeteria steps.

It was Shen Yu.

Her back was to the path, and she was holding a small piece of a sausage, intently feeding a small cat.

The autumns in the Capital City always had a dry chill to them.

Shen Yu was dressed casually today.

A white hoodie, black pants, and a pair of Converse.

She looked just like the most ordinary female college student on campus in ’08.

But the moment this ordinary silhouette entered Jiang He’s vision, his mind was thrown into chaos.

Even though he had replayed today’s reunion countless times in the dead of night.

Even though he had mentally prepared himself over and over, telling himself to be composed, to be calm.

But when the moment truly came, all his defenses crumbled silently.

A sharp sting shot through his nose, and his eyes instantly grew warm.

His vision blurred uncontrollably.

He hurriedly turned away, taking deep, gulping breaths.

The wind filled his lungs, but it couldn’t suppress the sour ache surging in his heart.

He raised a hand and rubbed his eyes forcefully, trying to wipe the tears away.

’I want so badly...’

’I want so badly to grab her and melt her into my arms.’

’I want so badly to rush over, consequences be damned, hold her tight, and say, ”Wifey, I’ve missed you so much.”’

The parting of life and death, the countless days and nights of loneliness and despair, solidified in this moment into a physical weight that almost suffocated him.

Jiang He gritted his teeth, chanting in his mind, ’Don’t be impulsive, don’t be impulsive...’

It took him a full two minutes.

To barely get himself under control.

Jiang He turned back around and stopped about a meter behind her.

Controlling his voice as much as possible, he said:

”Are you... Shen Yu?”

Hearing this, Shen Yu, who was still squatting on the ground, turned her head.

She looked up at Jiang He, stunned for a second, then immediately stood up, revealing a bright, unguarded smile.

”Yes! Are you Jiang He?”

Her eyes were bright and clear.

Untouched by the torment of illness.

Unwearied by the burdens of life.

They were filled with the youthful vitality of a nineteen-year-old girl.

Jiang He fought back the sting in his nose and said, ”Yeah, it’s me. What are you up to?”

Shen Yu pointed to the chubby little cat at her feet and introduced it, ”This cat’s name is Tuanzi. He often hangs around the cafeteria entrance begging for food. He’s super cute. Look, you can pet him however you want. He’s a good cat.”

Jiang He: ”Can I try?”

Shen Yu smiled and took a step aside, making room for him.

Jiang He took half a step forward and had just extended his hand.

Tuanzi: ”HISS!”

The little cat hissed.

Jiang He: ”?”

’I thought you said he’d let anyone pet him?’

Shen Yu couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

She explained, ”Maybe it’s because he’s never seen you before. Tuanzi is a little shy with strangers. If you come by a few more times and he gets used to your face, he’ll let you pet him.”

Jiang He pulled back his hand, stood up, and said with a hint of resignation, ”Alright.”

Shen Yu: ”Let’s go eat~”

Jiang He nodded and walked up the steps beside her.

He deliberately tried to speak as little as possible.

His throat still ached terribly and his vocal cords felt tight. He was afraid he would sound abrupt if he spoke.

Inside the cafeteria, there were very few people. The rows of stainless-steel tables and chairs were mostly empty.

After they both got their food, they found a seat by the window.

Jiang He sat across from Shen Yu, put down his chopsticks, and couldn’t resist sneaking another look at her.

’My wife... how is she so beautiful?’

This wasn’t a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder; she was objectively beautiful.

Jiang He had always been under the mistaken impression that Shen Yu was the kind of girl who wasn’t stunning at first glance, but was very comfortable to be around.

When he looked at her photo, it was too blurry to make anything out.

It wasn’t until this very moment, seeing her in person, that he had a sudden realization of just how much of a bastard his memories from his past life were...

In their past life, they had met after graduation.

Back then, Shen Yu had been struggling to make a living, working two jobs by herself. Forget dressing up; her face was often chapped from the cold.

And then came the cancer diagnosis.

The heavy burdens of life and her illness had prematurely drained her youth, casting a tragic filter over Jiang He’s memories.

As a result, he subconsciously thought of his wife as that gentle, reserved, and plain-looking woman.

He had even forgotten, if you stripped away the fog of hardship from their past life.

Just what a divine beauty Shen Yu truly was.

Now, she was only a sophomore, nineteen years old.

She wore no makeup, yet she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Especially her eyes.

Bright, clear, and full of spirit.

As her gaze shifted, it was as if she held the starlight of a midsummer night within them.

The way she ate was adorable, too.

She would first pull a hair tie from her wrist, gather her hair, and tie it up in a few swift motions.

Then she would pick up her stainless-steel spoon, scoop up some white rice, place a piece of sauce-covered diced chicken on top, and finally add a small piece of tomato as a garnish.

Only after arranging the perfect bite would she open her mouth slightly and pop it all in.

As she chewed, her eyes would immediately crinkle into a squint, revealing an expression of extreme satisfaction and bliss.

In the past, when the two of them were eating together in their cramped rental apartment, Jiang He would always say:

”Eating with Shen Yu every day, just watching her enjoy her food so much makes me want to eat two extra bowls at every meal.”

Watching her repeat these familiar motions now.

Jiang He couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized.

’In our past life... just how much did I owe her?’

He didn’t dare to look anymore. He quickly lowered his head and shoveled rice into his mouth.

Thankfully, the composure he had built up from years of life experience and medical practice allowed him to maintain a fair amount of control over his physical state, preventing his inner emotions from showing.

Shen Yu, it seemed, didn’t notice anything unusual about the guy sitting across from her either.

After taking several bites, she finally looked up and asked, ”How is it? Is it good? The Kung Pao Chicken at our Cafeteria No. 2 is a specialty.”

Jiang He swallowed the rice in his mouth, nodded, and said, ”It’s delicious.”

”Oh, right, you said you’re from the Medical University next door, right?” Shen Yu asked with sudden curiosity. ”What’s your major?”

Jiang He answered, ”I’m in clinical medicine.”

”Clinical medicine?” Shen Yu said admiringly. ”That’s so impressive. I’ve admired doctors since I was a little kid. I think healing the sick and saving lives is a really, really cool thing to do.”

Her eyes curved into crescents, and she beamed at him. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Jiang.”

Dr. Jiang.

Those two words landed like a critical hit...

In their past life, through countless days and nights, this was the name she used most often. It carried the weight of all their poverty, their struggles, their sweetness, and their final parting.

No matter how tough Jiang He’s heart was, no matter how well he thought he had disguised his feelings.

But the moment he heard those two words, completely off guard, his body betrayed his reason. He lost all control of his reaction.

Shen Yu noticed the corners of Jiang He’s eyes turning red.

She quickly sat up straight and asked with concern, ”What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Should I take you to our school’s clinic to get checked out?”

Jiang He quickly shook his head. ”No, no, I’m fine.”

Shen Yu stared at him for a few seconds, and after confirming he wasn’t about to pass out, she settled back into her seat, only half-convinced.

”Is being a doctor that hard? You get upset even while you’re eating.”

She mumbled to herself, picked up her spoon, and went back to work on the food on her tray.

On the surface, she seemed to be focused on her meal, but in her peripheral vision, she was secretly sizing up Jiang He.

’This guy... he seemed so calm and steady when we were chatting online.’

’Why does he seem so... tense, now that we’ve met in person?’

’But, setting aside his strange reactions, that frustrated and helpless look on his face when he tried to pet Tuanzi and got hissed at was actually pretty cute.’

’And besides, eating with him is very comfortable.’

’There’s a sense of familiarity, as if we’ve shared many meals together before.’

’I even felt a pang in my heart when I saw the corners of his eyes turn red.’

’Why?’

’This is the first time we’ve ever met, isn’t it?’

Shen Yu’s feelings were complicated, but she still secretly made an assessment in her heart.

’He seems like someone I could try being friends with.’

She pulled a tissue from her bag, handed it to him, and said, ”Dr. Jiang, wipe your eyes.”

Jiang He froze for a moment, then took the tissue and lowered his head, clumsily pressing it to the corner of his eye.

Despite being so tall and upright, the way he now lowered his gaze to hide his emotions made him look just like a big kid who had finally found his way home after being lost.

Watching his clumsy movements, Shen Yu froze again.

’This is so strange. Why does my heart ache for him? What is this feeling?’

’Why do I feel like crying when I see him cry? Why do I have this urge to reach across the table and hug him?’

’What’s wrong with you, Shen Yu? Did you take the wrong medicine today?’

She held back her own tears, propped her chin on one hand, and quietly watched Jiang He.

Cafeteria No. 2 was empty during the long holiday. The cool autumn sun of late September streamed through the somewhat old glass windows.

In that instant, it felt as if everything around them had faded away.

Shen Yu’s mind held no past memories of this person; her rational mind told her clearly that this was their very first meeting.

But at this moment, her body’s instincts were giving her the most honest reaction.

She didn’t dislike him.

In fact...

She was helplessly drawn to him.

In this world.

Some promises are carved into bone, blood, and soul.

Not even Meng Po Soup can wash them away, and not even the reset of time can erase them.

On a winter night in their past life, as Shen Yu warmed her cold feet in Jiang He’s arms in their dimly lit rental apartment, she had once said something to him with a smile.

At the time, Jiang He had thought it was just an ordinary sweet nothing, the kind whispered between lovers.

But he never knew that it was actually a promise she was still silently fulfilling with her very soul, even after crossing life and death, even after reversing the long course of twenty years—

”Jiang He, no matter how many times I encounter you again, I will fall in love with you without a second thought.”

It was true in their past life.

And it was true in this one, too.