A toothache isn’t a disease, but the pain can kill you. He Qingshi learned this firsthand, experiencing it deeply.
Over the past two days, the toothache hadn’t improved; instead, it had intensified. The heart-piercing, bone-gnawing pain wrapped around him tightly, making it hard to escape. It left him no choice but to drag himself to the hospital.
Deep down, He Qingshi was somewhat doctor-averse and disliked going to the hospital. For minor ailments that could be solved with medicine, he usually wouldn’t go.
But this toothache came with such ferocity that he couldn’t avoid it.
He had no classes on Friday morning, so he took half a day to go to the First Hospital, registered at the Stomatology Department, and planned to visit Lan Yi and the baby after getting his tooth checked.
The Stomatology Department of a top-tier hospital was always packed, no matter when you went. He Qingshi couldn’t get an expert appointment, so he simply booked a regular one. After all, his condition wasn’t serious, and there wasn’t much difference between seeing an expert or a regular doctor.
After registering, he sat on a chair in the waiting area, waiting for his number to be called.
“Mr. He?” A gentle female voice sounded beside his ear.
He Qingshi lifted his heavy eyelids and quickly stood up from the chair. “Doctor Huo.”
Huo Chuxue looked at the registration slip in his hand. “Mr. He, here for a toothache?”
He Qingshi said, “Yes, it hurts terribly. I have to see someone.”
Huo Chuxue glanced up at the number display screen. He Qingshi’s name was on it; he had a regular appointment, and it was almost his turn.
“You didn’t get an expert appointment?”
“I didn’t book in advance. Today’s expert slots were gone.”
Expert appointments at top-tier hospitals were always in high demand, so it was normal he didn’t get one.
She tilted her chin slightly. “I just happened to come over to see Doctor Zhou about something. I’ll take you there.”
He Qingshi: “…”
“Doctor Zhou?”
“Doctor Zhou Mo, an expert in oral medicine. He’s my childhood friend. I’ll ask him to pull some strings for you.”
He Qingshi: “…”
His face stiffened slightly, and he hesitated. “That’s not really appropriate, is it? I shouldn’t trouble you, Doctor Huo.”
Huo Chuxue straightened the cuff of her white coat and said naturally, “It’s fine. We’re all acquaintances. It’s just a word.”
He Qingshi: “…”
Her tone was unusually familiar, as if they had known each other for a long time.
She didn’t give him a chance to refuse, directly leading him to Room 226.
It was a private consultation room. A young male doctor sat behind a computer, typing. He wore a mask, so his face wasn’t clear.
Huo Chuxue walked in and said, “Old Zhou, need a favor!”
Besides Zhou Mo, there was also a young nurse in the room.
The nurse had her hair in a bun, a round face, and looked honest and cute. Seeing Huo Chuxue, she flashed a sweet smile. “Hello, Doctor Huo!”
Huo Chuxue smiled back, in a good mood. “Hello, Xiao Qi.”
Zhou Mo had just seen off a patient, so the spacious room felt particularly empty.
With no outsiders around, they could get straight to the point.
Zhou Mo shifted his gaze from the computer and said succinctly, “Go on.”
She pointed to He Qingshi beside her. “A friend. He couldn’t get your appointment this morning. Could you take a look?”
Zhou Mo lazily lifted his eyelids to glance at He Qingshi. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, leaving no trace.
He was very accommodating. “Sure, leave it to me.”
“I’ll treat you to a meal another day.” Huo Chuxue smiled knowingly. “And one more thing. My mom’s had a terrible toothache the last couple of days. She called me yesterday and asked me to get some medicine from you.”
Zhou Mo asked softly, “Auntie Xie’s tooth is acting up again?”
Huo Chuxue said, “Exactly. I told her to pull those two cavities out, but she refuses. She suffers from it every now and then.”
Zhou Mo said, “You should find time to bring her to the hospital to get them pulled. The tooth bed is already hollowed out.”
“I’ll try to persuade her later. The old lady is stubborn and scared of extractions.”
“You can head back to your department first. I’ll finish up here and then prescribe the medicine for Auntie.”
“Then I’ll come find you after work to get it.”
“No need to make the trip. I’m going back to my parents’ place for dinner with Yi Yi tonight. I can drop it off for Auntie Xie on the way.”
“Don’t!” Huo Chuxue quickly waved her hand. “Please don’t deliver it. If my mom sees you and Zou Yi, she’ll start nagging me again. For the sake of peace and quiet, I’d rather take it to her myself.”
Zhou Mo: “…”
Zhou Mo said, “Then come find me after work.”
“Okay.” Huo Chuxue looked at He Qingshi. “Then I’ll leave my friend in your hands.”
“It’s nothing, no need to be so polite!” Zhou Mo didn’t seem to mind. “By the way, some old classmates from Class 3 are planning a reunion next Sunday. Are you and Xi Xi going?”
“High School Class 3?” A look of surprise instantly appeared on Huo Chuxue’s face. “How come I haven’t heard anything about it?”
“The class monitor didn’t notify you?”
“Not at all!” So far, neither she nor Qiao Shengxi had received any notice.
“Then they probably haven’t gotten around to notifying you yet.”
Huo Chuxue raised an eyebrow. “From the sound of it, you and Zou Yi are planning to go?”
Zhou Mo said, “Yi Yi asked me to check if you and Xi Xi are going. If you two aren’t going, then we won’t either. After so many years apart, who knows what those classmates are like now. If you two aren’t there, we won’t know who to talk to; it’d be awkward. Besides, you know I’ve never liked these kinds of gatherings.”
Huo Chuxue thought about it and agreed.
“I’ll go back and ask Xi Xi, then give you an answer. These class reunions are optional. We’ll see.”
Nowadays, class reunions had become a de facto “show-off party.” Those who were doing well would boast endlessly, wishing the whole world knew they were rich. Those who weren’t doing well usually didn’t show their faces at all. Huo Chuxue and Qiao Shengxi had attended a couple of junior high and university reunions before. Less than two-thirds of the class showed up. Listening to all that showing off and bragging was utterly pointless.
After chatting briefly, Huo Chuxue said to He Qingshi, “You can wait here. I have things to do back in the department, so I’ll head back first.”
He Qingshi looked grateful. “Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Huo.”
Not long after Huo Chuxue left the consultation room, Zhou Mo finished typing, saved the file, and stood up from his chair. “Please have a seat, sir. Let me have your registration slip.”
He Qingshi sat down opposite Zhou Mo as instructed and handed him the slip.
Zhou Mo glanced at the name on it, placed it casually on the corner of the desk, and smiled. “Mr. He… this name sounds very familiar. I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
“Really?” He Qingshi lifted his eyes, looking indifferent. “Doctor Zhou, you’ve probably encountered a patient with the same name before.”
“Maybe.” Zhou Mo saw so many patients a day; running into one or two with the same name was perfectly normal.
Zhou Mo asked, “What seems to be the problem, Mr. He?”
He Qingshi replied, “Toothache.”
Back in her office, Huo Chuxue told Qiao Shengxi about the Class 3 reunion.
She originally thought her best friend wouldn’t be interested in such gatherings. To her surprise, Qiao Shengxi said directly, “Go? Of course we’re going! It’s been almost ten years. I have to see which of our old classmates is doing the best now.”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
Huo Chuxue stood behind her desk, brewing herself some chrysanthemum tea.
The fragrance of the chrysanthemums slowly unfurled and rose with the steam from the hot water.
Hearing this, she paused her movements and couldn’t help but remind her, “Nurse Qiao, don’t forget you’re a married woman.”
Qiao Shengxi said leisurely, “I am a married woman, that’s true. But you’re not! Take advantage of this reunion to snag a rich and powerful old classmate. What a bargain!”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
The wishful thinking was so blatant that Huo Chuxue was at a loss for words!
She leaned against the edge of her desk, holding a cup of chrysanthemum tea and sipping slowly. She bent one long leg, her posture somewhat casual.
She took a small sip and said softly, “To be honest, I really don’t want to go to this kind of reunion. After so many years, I won’t recognize anyone, won’t have anything to say. It sounds utterly boring!”
But Qiao Shengxi wouldn’t hear of it. “Xiaoxue, we have to go this time! I want to see how that Miss Zou Yi plans to steal the spotlight.”
Huo Chuxue: “…”
He Qingshi’s condition wasn’t serious—just gum inflammation. Zhou Mo prescribed him some medication.
Zhou Mo took the printed prescription and handed it to He Qingshi. “Go pay first, then pick up the medicine at the pharmacy. Follow the instructions for the next few days. Keep your diet light, avoid spicy food, and pay attention to oral hygiene.”
He Qingshi took the slip. “Thank you, Doctor Zhou.”
Zhou Mo said, “You’re Xiaoxue’s friend. No need to be so polite.”
He Qingshi was momentarily taken aback.
He turned and left the consultation room.
In the last second before the door closed, the nurse’s sharp voice came from inside. “Doctor Zhou, come to think of it, this is the first time Doctor Huo has sent someone to you. That guy just now… he wasn’t her boyfriend, was he? He’s really good-looking!”
Zhou Mo tapped the desk and said coldly, “Stop gossiping! That gentleman is thirty-seven. How could Doctor Huo possibly have a boyfriend that much older…”
—
After the dental visit, it was nearly noon. The sun outside shone brightly on the earth, warm and radiant.
He Qingshi sent a text message to Huo Chuxue.
“Thank you, Doctor Huo. I’ll find a way to repay you another day.”
Huo Chuxue was probably busy, as she didn’t reply immediately.
Lan Yi having her baby, this morning’s dental visit… ever since returning from Cenling, he had been constantly indebted to her.
He put away his phone and went directly to the Obstetrics Inpatient Department to visit Lan Yi and the baby.
This was the first time He Qingshi had seen the baby since its birth. The tiny infant was cradled in Gui Shu’s arms, its little eyes darting around, seemingly curious about everything.
Looking at the child, he smiled—a rare occurrence. “Very cute. Looks a bit like Yuanyuan.”
Everyone liked children, and he was no exception.
Zhang Shulan watched the baby from her bed, a smile reaching the corners of her eyes. “Not just a bit. This child looks exactly like Yuanyuan did when she was a baby.”
Seeing Zhang Shulan’s expression filled He Qingshi with relief. After ten years, she had finally emerged completely from the grief of losing her daughter.
He pursed his lips and asked, “What’s the name?”
Zhang Shulan said, “Du Jin. The ‘Jin’ from ‘today’.”
He Qingshi said, “That’s a good name.”
Zhang Shulan leaned against the headboard, her face expectant. “Son-in-Law, would you give the baby a nickname?”
He Qingshi looked out the window. The sky was a vast, clear blue, dotted with large, cotton-like clouds. Just then, a bird flapped its wings and flew past the window, gone in an instant.
He watched for a moment, then slowly withdrew his gaze. “Call it Qingtian.”
He hoped the birth of this child would bring clear skies after the rain for Lan Yi’s family.