System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

After Lu Cheng left, Mu Nanshu continued chatting with Xie Yuan’an online.

Mu Leng and Yan Sangyue had already taken a shower, and commented, ”You’re clinging to your phone all day, what’s so engrossing about it? It’s only been a little while since you’ve last seen each other.”

”Go take a shower and get to bed.”

Mu Nanshu looked up and noticed a hint of melancholy on Mu Leng’s face, and put down the phone: ”I’m not chatting with Lu Cheng, I’m chatting with Xie Yuan’an.”

”Dad, why are you so sensitive?”

”You seem to have a big issue with Lu Cheng today.”

Mu Leng denied it: ”Since when have I been sensitive?”

Unlike Mu Leng, Mu Nanshu didn’t need to maintain any so-called father’s ’dignity’: ”Actually, I also find it a little unsettling. It was busy around noon and afternoon, but by evening, it was just the three of us again.”

”Maybe next time, it will be just you and Mom left.”

In their family of three, daily life flowed like water, and the return to normalcy after the ”bustle” felt cold and empty.

”I didn’t mean to talk about this.” As Mu Leng nudged Yan Sangyue to bed, he feared that the rather emotional Yan Sangyue would tear up at these words.

Mu Nanshu stood up, smiling: ”Dad, don’t you think it’s a bit funny?”

”No matter how long we prepare, to outsiders, it’s really just a simple ceremony. Just a short topic of conversation?”

”What else would it be?”

Mu Leng suddenly felt as if Mu Nanshu matured overnight: ”Real life isn’t like TV shows or movies, there’s not that much embellishment. No matter how grand the scene, it can only be personally experienced.”

”The hardships we endure must be slowly swallowed, and the joys we receive must be slowly savored.”

Mu Leng continued: ”Your mom and I understood this truth and felt it would be nice if you and Xiao Lu could make it together.”

”Beyond the basics of food and warmth is fame and fortune, which are superficial.”

”But without the basics of food and warmth, all that’s left is just the petty daily grind.”

”Even when one achieves success and fame, upon returning home, there are still these trivial matters.”

Mu Nanshu and Mu Leng both moved towards the sofa and sat side by side. Mu Nanshu said, ”Dad, the older I get, the more I feel your words resonate deeply.”

”In my understanding, everything we experience is portrayed in a plain and unadorned manner.”

”During joyous times, we’re not exhilarated; during tough times, we don’t break down.”

”For instance, when Grandma passed away, although I was very sad, I realized that TV shows are deceptive... At that time, I even doubted myself, wondering if I didn’t like Grandma that much, thinking I was just naturally cold-hearted.”

”I felt unworthy of Grandma’s kindness towards me.”

”It took a long time to realize that thought was incorrect.”

”We’re really not good at expressing emotions.” Mu Nanshu wrapped up the topic in an adorably toned voice.

Mu Leng said, ”Emotions are cultivated through interactions, it’s about mutual support, trivial family matters, handling big and small events, it’s instinctive reactions.”

”In the era when your mom and I met, there wasn’t much talk of love. People were introduced, liked each other, and quickly got engaged and married. Life now is pretty okay.”

At that moment, more messages came buzzing in from Xie Yuan’an, and Mu Leng said, ”Go on chatting, I’m heading to bed.”

”Don’t overthink. Your mom and I find it hard to part with you, but marriage is just the way of life.”

”Fundamentally, we just want you to be happy and joyful.”

Mu Leng subtly smiled, emphasizing, ”But seeing how you and Lu Cheng can live comfortably in plain everyday life, I think you two will do well.”

Mu Nanshu chuckled lightly: ”Sometimes I feel a bit regretful, like I haven’t really had a romance.”

Mu Leng said, ”I actually think it’s just right for you two to feel this way.”

”Lu Cheng is a good kid, ambitious but not stubborn.”

Mu Nanshu said, ”Are you saying he’s a bit shameless?”

”But don’t think of it that way, at heart, Lu Cheng is quite proud and aloof, he’s secretly put in a lot of effort.”

Mu Leng: ”Who doesn’t work hard? Among the people you know, how many aren’t working hard?”

Mu Leng’s words made Mu Nanshu fall silent. She could think of one or two exceptions, but the bias of those exceptions shouldn’t be used as ’typical’ examples.

”Mindset isn’t related to working hard or being ambitious.”

”I’m not lecturing you today, Dad is happy.”

”I’m off to bed now.” Mu Leng got up and left.

Mu Nanshu acknowledged before picking up the phone to read the message from Xie Yuan’an.

After seeing Xie Yuan’an’s message, Mu Nanshu smiled knowingly.

According to Xie Yuan’an, after Professor Xie Xiao brought some suturing techniques back to E Province, quite a few colleagues there have started researching these techniques.

Xie Xiao’s team, along with some peers in E Province, have focused their attention on the practical application of these techniques in clinics.

The results of the technique research may have been reaped, but they can still act as nutrients for other endeavors, so not many are just focused on the present.

Xie Yuan’an said: ”You wouldn’t believe it, but Professor Zuo from our emergency department has treated my dad to more than ten grand meals.”

”My dad is both amused and exasperated.”

Mu Nanshu: ”Professor Zuo didn’t do anything, and suddenly a windfall came along, of course, he’s happy.”

”So he wants to give something back to balance his fortunes, right?”

Xie Yuan’an said: ”Just between us, don’t tell anyone else, but Professor Zuo also treated Professor Zhong to a meal, only to get scolded harshly by him.”

Mu Nanshu: ”Professor Zuo from the emergency department is quite an abstract character!”